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 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 1950, Mike Johanns, American lawyer and politician, 28th United States Secretary of Agriculture was born. 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 1989, I. F. Stone, American journalist and author (born 1907) passed away. In 2013, Brent F. Anderson, American engineer and politician (born 1932) passed away. In 2013, Michael Hastings, American journalist and author (born 1980) passed away. In 2015, Allen Weinstein, American historian and academic (born 1937) passed away. In 2023, Notable victims of the Titan submersible implosion: Shahzada Dawood, Pakistani-British businessman (born 1975) Hamish Harding, British businessman (born 1964) Paul-Henri Nargeolet, French navy commander and explorer (born 1946) Stockton Rush, American businessman, CEO and founder of OceanGate (born 1962) passed away. In 2023, Titan, a submersible operated by OceanGate Expeditions, imploded while attempting to view the wreck of the Titanic, killing all five people on board including the co-founder and CEO of the company, Stockton Rush in the North Atlantic Ocean. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.