Today in News History

On July 13, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1878, Treaty of Berlin: The European powers redraw the map of the Balkans. Serbia, Montenegro and Romania become completely independent of the Ottoman Empire. In 1922, Helmy Afify Abd El-Bar, Egyptian military commander (died 2011) was born. In 1961, Tahira Asif, Pakistani politician (died 2014) was born. In 1973, Watergate scandal: Alexander Butterfield reveals the existence of a secret Oval Office taping system to investigators for the Senate Watergate Committee. In 1985, Vice President George H. W. Bush becomes the Acting President for the day when President Ronald Reagan undergoes surgery to remove polyps from his colon. In 2008, Battle of Wanat begins when Taliban and al-Qaeda guerrillas attack US Army and Afghan National Army troops in Afghanistan. The U.S. deaths were, at that time, the most in a single battle since the beginning of operations in 2001. In 2011, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1999 is adopted, which admits South Sudan to member status of United Nations. In 2014, Alfred de Grazia, American political scientist, author, and academic (born 1919) passed away. In 2020, Zindzi Mandela, South African politician, diplomat, and third daughter of Nelson Mandela (born 1960) passed away. In 2024, President of the United States Donald Trump is injured in an assassination attempt while speaking at an election campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.