Egypt’s historic port city Alexandria is shaken by a major earthquake centered in Crete. What remains of Alexandria is completely destroyed hours later when a massive tsunami caused by the quake arrives after crossing the Mediterranean.

The Senegalese Tirailleurs are created as an infantry regiment of the French Army. The unit is composed of Africans from French West Africa, and will later include soldiers from other French colonies in Africa. Considered an essential fighting force for the French, the unit will provide 200,000 troops for World War I (135,000 will be sent to fight in Europe, where 30,000 will be killed) and World War II (179,000 troops, with 40,000 sent to Europe). (pic: Tirailleurs Sénégalais Lieutenant Yora Comba, 38, in a photo taken in 1889)

Southern Africans are given the chance to fly in airplanes as Airoad Motors Ltd begins a six month tour of Northern and Southern Rhodesia (Zambia and Zimbabwe), taking passengers on short trips aboard a converted military biplane.

Job Maseko, a South African Lance Corporal with the Native Military Corps who was captured by the Nazi German army during World War II and subjected to forced labour, blows up and sinks a German ship. He uses his experience with explosives that he gained as a pre-war gold miner to improvise a bomb, and he places it inside the ship while he and his fellow prisoners are unloading cargo. His heroic action warrants receiving the Victoria Cross for valour from Britain. Because of he is black, he will be denied the honour, and he will be given a lesser citation. After South Africa’s racist apartheid policies are ended in the 1990s, a school and naval vessel will be named in his honour.

Egyptian Television begins broadcasting, in partnership with the U.S. firm RCA. At 7 pm, transmission begins with a recitation from the Quran, followed by coverage of the opening of Egypt’s parliament, and a speech by President Gamal Abdel Nasser. The broadcast ends after five hours with the playing of the national anthem, a news bulletin and a final reading from the Quran.

Egypt displays its first missiles, developed with the secret assistance of German engineers. The largest, the Al Ared (Pioneer) rocket, has a range of 1,000 km. (pic: Egypt President Gamal Nasser on right)

Nobel Peace Prize recipient, South Africa’s Chief Albert Luthuli, who heads the anti-apartheid African National Congress, is killed by a train in Groutville, Natal Province, according to claims made by the South African security forces that have been tasked with ensuring that he did not leave that town. Few believe the police story. In 2022, South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority will announce that it is collecting evidence for a new inquest into Luthuli's death.

Aswan High Dam opens in Aswan, Egypt. The world’s largest embankment dam was built across the Nile River to control downstream flooding that Egyptians have endured for thousands of years.

The Libyan Government confiscates the property of all Italians and Jews in the country. The 20,000 Italians who are deported receive no compensation. Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi says the Italians illegally took Libyan property while occupying the country between 1911 and World War II. Jews will be given Government bonds payable over 15 years.

The Egyptian-Libyan War (Four Day War) begins when a Libyan tank battalion crosses the border and Egypt responds with a counter-attack. Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi is angry that Egypt will not join Libya as a single country, and has sought to undermine Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. Skirmishes continue for three more days until the two armies return to their respective countries.

Air Mauritius resumes flights after 14 years to Indian Ocean neighbor Seychelles. The flights boost air freight trade as well as business/tourism travel to popular sites like Port Louis, Mauritius’ Le Caudan Waterfront, whose fashion boutiques line streets are now shaded by an ever-changing array of umbrellas.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, born in Greece of Nigerian parents, leads his U.S. basketball team, the Bucks, to their first NBA championship in 50 years. The basketball star is the first player since LeBron James in 2016 to score 40 points in two consecutive finals games.