1915- Italians lose battle of al Ghardabiya, their biggest defeat since invading Libya in 1911.
1949- The International Olympic Committee approves Japan’s accession to the Olympic games.
1991- Tropical cyclone strikes the Chittagong district in Bangladesh, killing at least 138,000 people and leaving as many as 10 million homeless.
1992- Riots in Los Angeles following acquittal of police officers over police brutality incident.
2004- US Marines start withdrawal from the Iraqi city of al-Fallujah.
Born today
1818- Alexander II, emperor of Russia from 1855 to 1881.
Passed away
1933- Constantine P. Cavafy, the first modernist Greek poet.
Reem/H.Said