In History, Today on October 18

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, an event that would later contribute to the call for the Crusades.

The Basel earthquake, one of the most significant seismic events in Central Europe, struck the region, causing widespread destruction in Basel and surrounding areas.

Ferdinand II of Aragon married Isabella I of Castile, leading to the unification of Spain.

King Louis XIV of France issued the Edict of Fontainebleau, revoking the Edict of Nantes and leading to the persecution of Huguenots, many of whom fled France.

The Burning of Falmouth occurred during the American Revolutionary War, when British forces attacked and burned the town of Falmouth, Massachusetts (now Portland, Maine).

Herman Melville's novel 'Moby-Dick' was first published as 'The Whale' by Richard Bentley in London.

The United States formally took possession of Alaska after purchasing it from Russia, a transaction known as the Alaska Purchase.

The United States took possession of Puerto Rico from Spain following the Spanish-American War, as part of the Treaty of Paris.

The British Broadcasting Company (later Corporation) was founded, marking the beginning of the BBC's role as a major public service broadcaster.

Soviet forces began the liberation of Czechoslovakia from Nazi occupation during World War II, marking a significant phase in the Eastern Front.

The Soviet probe Venera 4 became the first spacecraft to enter the atmosphere of another planet, Venus, and return data back to Earth.

The German anti-terrorist unit GSG 9 successfully ended the hijacking of Lufthansa Flight 181 by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, in an operation known as Operation Entebbe.

The Loma Prieta earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay Area, causing significant damage and loss of life, and interrupting the World Series baseball game.

Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, returned to Karachi after eight years of self-imposed exile. Her return was marked by a large rally, which was tragically targeted by a suicide attack, resulting in the deaths of over 130 people.

Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas militants in 2006, was released in a prisoner exchange deal. Israel released 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit.

Mass protests erupted in Chile over a proposed subway fare increase, which quickly expanded into a broader movement against inequality and the high cost of living. The protests led to significant political changes, including a referendum on a new constitution.

New Zealand's Labour Party, led by Jacinda Ardern, won a landslide victory in the general election, securing a majority government for the first time since the introduction of the mixed-member proportional representation system in 1996.