German politician Helmut Kohl, who presided over the integration of East Germany into West Germany in 1990 and became the first chancellor of a unified Germany since 1945, died at age 87.** Kohl served as chancellor of Germany from 1982 to 1998, and is widely credited with helping to bring about the reunification of Germany. He was also a key figure in the European Union, and helped to shape the Maastricht Treaty, which established the euro.
* **Liu Yang became the first Chinese woman in space when she and two other crew members were launched aboard the spacecraft Shenzhou 9.** Yang’s mission was a major milestone for China’s space program, and she became a national hero. She spent 13 days in space, conducting experiments and performing maintenance tasks.
* **The Lausanne Conference, held to liquidate Germany’s payment of reparations to the former Allied and Associated powers of World War I, opened.** The conference was a major diplomatic success for the United States, which had been pushing for a reduction in Germany’s reparations payments. The conference resulted in a new agreement that reduced Germany’s payments by more than half.
* **After more than 30 years, American game show host Bob Barker stepped down as host of The Price Is Right.** Barker was a beloved figure on television, and his retirement was met with sadness by many fans. He was succeeded by Drew Carey.
* **American singer Ella Fitzgerald—who was known for her enormous vocal range and inventive interpretations, in both ballads and jazz improvisations known as scat—died at age 79.** Fitzgerald was one of the most popular and influential singers of the 20th century. She won 13 Grammy Awards, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998.

These are just a few of the notable things that happened today, June 15, 2023.