Today in News History

On July 2, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 866, Battle of Brissarthe: The Franks led by Robert the Strong are defeated by a joint Breton-Viking army. In 1566, Nostradamus, French astrologer and author (born 1503) passed away. In 1645, Battle of Alford: Wars of the Three Kingdoms. In 1823, Bahia Independence Day: The end of Portuguese rule in Brazil, with the final defeat of the Portuguese crown loyalists in the province of Bahia. In 1933, Peter Desbarats, Canadian journalist, author, and playwright (died 2014) was born. In 1934, The Night of the Long Knives ends after three days of killings. In 1940, World War II: The SS Arandora Star is sunk by U-47 in the North Atlantic with the loss of over 800 lives, mostly civilians. In 1990, In the 1990 Mecca tunnel tragedy, 1,400 Muslim pilgrims are suffocated to death and trampled upon in a pedestrian tunnel leading to the holy city of Mecca. In 2012, Maurice Chevit, French actor and screenwriter (born 1923) passed away. In 2013, The International Astronomical Union names Pluto's fourth and fifth moons, Kerberos and Styx. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.