Summary of the Day ✨ 18 September (18/09)
On this day, South Africa legalized cannabis through a Constitutional Court ruling while Scotland voted against independence from the United Kingdom by a 55-45 margin. Meanwhile, terrorist attacks in India and Pakistan resulted in dozens of casualties, and Toys ‘R’ Us filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States and Canada.
Historical Events 📜
- 2018: Cannabis is legalized in South Africa, through a ruling of the Constitutional Court.
- 2017: Toy retail chain Toys “R” Us files for bankruptcy protection in the United States and Canada.
- 2016: The 2016 Uri attack in Jammu and Kashmir, India by terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed results in the deaths of nineteen Indian Army soldiers and all four attackers.
- 2015: Two security personnel, 17 worshippers in a mosque, and 13 militants are killed during a Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan attack on a Pakistan Air Force base on the outskirts of Peshawar.
- 2014: Scotland votes against independence from the United Kingdom, by 55% to 45%.
- 2011: The 2011 Sikkim earthquake is felt across northeastern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and southern Tibet.
- 2010: Philippe Croizon becomes the first quadruple amputee to swim across the English Channel.
- 2009: After 72 years on radio and television, CBS Television broadcasts the final episode of Guiding Light, the longest-running soap opera in American history.
- 2007: Buddhist monks join anti-government protesters in Myanmar, starting what some call the Saffron Revolution.
- 2006: The CW Television Network debuts in the US, following the merger of UPN and The WB.
- 2001: First mailing of anthrax letters from Trenton, New Jersey in the 2001 anthrax attacks.
- 1997: United States media magnate Ted Turner donates US$1 billion to the United Nations.
- 1997: The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention is adopted.
- 1992: An explosion rocks Giant Mine at the height of a labor dispute, killing nine replacement workers in Yellowknife, Canada.
- 1990: Liechtenstein becomes a member of the United Nations.
Famous Births 👶
- 2008: Jackson Robert Scott, American actor
- 2004: Santiago Castro, Argentine footballer
- 2003: Aidan Gallagher, American actor and musician
- 2002: Hugo Bueno, Spanish footballer
- 1998: Christian Pulisic, American soccer player
- 1998: Conor Timmins, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1997: Viktor Hovland, Norwegian professional golfer
- 1995: Max Meyer, German footballer
- 1995: Matt Targett, English footballer
- 1993: Patrick Schwarzenegger, American-Austrian actor and model
- 1990: Lewis Holtby, German footballer
- 1989: Serge Ibaka, Congolese-Spanish basketball player
- 1987: Marwin Hitz, Swiss footballer
- 1987: Seiko Oomori, Japanese singer-songwriter
- 1985: Mirza Teletović, Bosnian basketball player
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2024: Kesaria Abramidze, Georgian blogger, actress and model (born 1987)
- 2024: Nick Gravenites, American singer-songwriter (born 1938)
- 2024: Salvatore Schillaci, Italian footballer (born 1964)
- 2023: Brereton C. Jones, American politician, 58th Governor of Kentucky (born 1939)
- 2021: Jolidee Matongo, South African politician, 97th Mayor of Johannesburg (born 1975)
- 2021: Chris Anker Sørensen, Danish road bicycle racer (born 1984)
- 2020: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, United States Supreme Court justice (born 1933)
- 2017: Afzal Ahsan Randhawa, Pakistani writer, poet, translator and playwright (born 1937)
- 2015: Eduardo Bonvallet, Chilean footballer and manager (born 1955)
- 2015: James R. Houck, American astrophysicist and academic (born 1940)
- 2015: Mario Benjamín Menéndez, Argentinian general and politician (born 1930)
- 2014: Milan Marcetta, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1936)
- 2014: Earl Ross, Canadian racing driver (born 1941)
- 2014: Hirofumi Uzawa, Japanese economist and academic (born 1928)
- 2014: Kenny Wheeler, Canadian-English trumpet player and composer (born 1930)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Christian feast day:
Constantius (Theban Legion) - Christian feast day:
Edward Bouverie Pusey (Episcopal Church) - Christian feast day:
Eustorgius I - Christian feast day:
Joseph of Cupertino - Christian feast day:
Juan Macias - Christian feast day:
Methodius of Olympus - Christian feast day:
Richardis - Christian feast day:
September 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) - Day of National Music (Azerbaijan)
- Island Language Day (Okinawa Prefecture, Japan)
- National Day or Dieciocho (Chile)
- National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (United States)
- Navy Day (Croatia)
- World Water Monitoring Day