October 29th

King Cyrus 'the Great' of Persia marches into Babylon, freeing Jewish captives and allowing them to return home.

China announces the end of their one-child policy after 35 years.

Hurricane Sandy smashed into the eastern seaboard of the U.S., killing 117 people in the U.S. and 69 in Canada and the Caribbean. The storm caused about $50 billion in damage in the U.S.

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck Baluchistan, one of Pakistan's poorest regions. At least 200 people were killed and more than 15,000 were left homeless.

Bombings in Delhi. 3 separate bombings in India's capital city of Delhi a few days before the important festival of Diwali left about 60 people dead.

European leaders signed the European Union's first constitution.

John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, returned to space at age 77.

The National Organization for Women was founded.

The Star of India and other gems were stolen from the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Israel invaded the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula during the Suez Canal crisis.

The New York Stock Exchange crashed on Black Tuesday, precipitating the Great Depression.

The Republic of Turkey was proclaimed under Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

American newspaperman Joseph Pulitzer died in Charleston, S.C.

Red Cross founded. Also known as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Red Cross is a humanitarian institution that has been a three-time recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mozart's opera Don Giovanni debuted in Prague.

William Penn arrived in Pennsylvania.

Battle of Mbwila [Ambuila],: Portuguese forces defeat forces of the Kingdom of Kongo and decapitate King Antonio I of Kongo / Nvita a Nkanga.

Conradin, the last legitimate male heir of the German Hohenstaufen dynasty of Kings and Holy Roman Emperors, is executed with Frederick I, Margrave of Baden by Charles I of Sicily.