Today in News History

On June 17, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1462, Vlad the Impaler attempts to assassinate Mehmed II (The Night Attack at Târgovişte), forcing him to retreat from Wallachia. In 1863, American Civil War: Battle of Aldie in the Gettysburg Campaign. In 1930, U.S. President Herbert Hoover signs the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act into law. In 1966, Mohammed Ghazy Al-Akhras, Iraqi journalist and author was born. In 1967, Nuclear weapons testing: China announces a successful test of its first thermonuclear weapon. In 1970, Will Forte, American actor, comedian, and screenwriter was born. In 1985, Space Shuttle program: STS-51-G mission: Space Shuttle Discovery launches carrying Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the first Arab and first Muslim in space, as a payload specialist. In 1992, A "joint understanding" agreement on arms reduction is signed by U.S. President George Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin (this would be later codified in START II). In 2001, Donald J. Cram, American chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1919) passed away. In 2015, Roberto M. Levingston, Argentinian general and politician, 36th President of Argentina (born 1920) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.