American singer and dancer Michael Jackson, who was renowned worldwide as the “King of Pop,” died at age 50 from a lethal combination of sedatives and propofol, an anaesthetic. 2009
British comedian and actor Ricky Gervais, whose credits notably included the television series The Office (2001–03), was born. 1961
Korean War begun
On this day in 1950, North Korea unleashed an attack southward across the 38th parallel, after which the UN Security Council (minus the Soviet delegate) passed a resolution calling on UN members to assist South Korea.
China’s lunar probe Chang’e 6 returned to Earth, carrying the first samples from the far side of the Moon. 2024.
Canadian politician Kim Campbell was sworn in as the country‘s prime minister, becoming the first woman to hold the post; she served for less than five months. 1993.
Anne Frank‘s The Diary of a Young Girl was first published, appearing in the Netherlands under the title Het Achterhuis (“The Secret Annex”); it became a classic of war literature. 1947.
