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 1391, Tokhtamysh-Timur war: Battle of the Kondurcha River: Timur defeats Tokhtamysh of the Golden Horde in present-day southeast Russia. In 1815, Ludwig Freiherr von und zu der Tann-Rathsamhausen, German general (died 1881) was born. In 1835, William Cobbett, English farmer and journalist (born 1763) passed away. In 1859, First ascent of Aletschhorn, second summit of the Bernese Alps. In 1886, Alexander Wetmore, American ornithologist and paleontologist (died 1978) was born. In 1920, The Troubles in Northern Ireland (1920-1922) begin with a week of sectarian violence in Derry. In 1937, Bruce Trigger, Canadian archaeologist, anthropologist and historian (died 2006) was born. In 1958, Benjamin Britten's one-act opera Noye's Fludde premiered at the Aldeburgh Festival. In 1984, A major clash between about 5,000 police and a similar number of striking miners takes place at Orgreave, South Yorkshire, during the 1984-85 UK miners' strike. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.