On this day in history - Today, May, 13

Today in History

• 1989 Thousands of students begin a hunger strike on Tiananmen Square in Beijing

  The non-violent occupation of the square was part of anti-corruption and pro-democracy demonstration

• 1981 Pope John Paul II survives an assassination attempt

  Turkish right-wing extremist Mehmet Ali Ağca fired two shots at John Paul II on St. Peter's Square.

• 1950 The first Formula One World Championship season kicks off

  Giuseppe Farina won the first FIA World Championship of Drivers for the Alfa Romeo team.

• 1940 Igor Sikorsky pilots his VS-300 helicopter's maiden flight

  The helicopter was the first successful model to use the single vertical tail rotor that most helico

• 1909 The Giro d'Italia cycle race is held for the first time

  The Giro is considered one of the world's most important cycle races. Luigi Ganna won the first edit