Today in News History

On July 11, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1937, Pai Hsien-yung, Chinese-Taiwanese author was born. In 1943, World War II: Allied invasion of Sicily: German and Italian troops launch a counter-attack on Allied forces in Sicily. In 1960, Congo Crisis: The State of Katanga breaks away from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1962, Pauline McLynn, Irish actress and author was born. In 1968, Michael Geist, Canadian journalist and academic was born. In 1971, John W. Campbell, American journalist and author (born 1910) passed away. In 1977, Martin Luther King Jr., assassinated in 1968, is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 1977, Brandon Short, American football player and sportscaster was born. In 1978, Los Alfaques disaster: A truck carrying liquid gas crashes and explodes at a coastal campsite in Tarragona, Spain killing 216 tourists. In 1997, Ryan Rolison, American baseball player was born. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.