Today in News History

On June 18, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 860, Byzantine-Rus' War: A fleet of about 200 Rus' vessels sails into the Bosphorus and starts pillaging the suburbs of the Byzantine capital Constantinople. In 1250, Theresa of Portugal, Queen of León passed away. In 1265, A draft Byzantine-Venetian treaty is concluded between Venetian envoys and Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos, but is not ratified by Doge Reniero Zeno. In 1803, Haitian Revolution: The Royal Navy led by Rear-Admiral John Thomas Duckworth commence the blockade of Saint-Domingue against French forces. In 1882, Georgi Dimitrov, Bulgarian compositor and politician, 32nd Prime Minister of Bulgaria (died 1949) was born. In 1900, Empress Dowager Cixi of China orders all foreigners killed, including foreign diplomats and their families. In 1931, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Brazilian sociologist, academic, and politician, 34th President of Brazil was born. In 1948, Britain, France and the United States announce that on June 21, the Deutsche Mark will be introduced in western Germany and West Berlin. Over the next six days, Communists increasingly restrict access to Berlin. In 1983, Mona Mahmudnizhad, together with nine other women of the Baháʼí Faith, is sentenced to death and hanged in Shiraz, Iran over her religious beliefs. In 2022, Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, Danish politician, minister of foreign affairs (born 1941) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.