On this day: October 18

Leaked Royal Phone Calls Expose Tensions in 1992 British Monarchy

In October 1992, the British monarchy was jolted when private telephone conversations involving senior royals were leaked to the press, intensifying public scrutiny amid a year already marked by royal troubles.

Nationwide Fuel Shortages Grip the United States, October 1979

Beginning in October 1979, the United States faced widespread gasoline shortages driven by a complex mix of crude oil market turmoil, refinery constraints, and domestic policy responses, producing long lines at pumps and renewed political debate over energy policy.

German authorities reveal neo‑Nazi terror cell linked to racially motivated murders

On October 18, 2011, German security services publicly acknowledged the existence of a neo‑Nazi terror cell suspected of carrying out a string of racially motivated murders and bombings over several years, prompting major criticism of investigative failures and demands for reforms.