On May 31, 1916, during World War I, British and German fleets fought the naval Battle of Jutland off Denmark; there was no clear-cut victor, although the British suffered heavier losses.

Ten years ago

The U.S. said it would join in face-to-face talks with Iran over its disputed nuclear program if Tehran first agreed to put challenged atomic activities on hold; Iran dismissed the offer as “a propaganda move.” NBC’s “Today” show threw a going-away party for 15-year host Katie Couric, who left to become anchor of “The CBS Evening News.”

Five years ago

Angered by civilian casualties, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he would no longer allow NATO airstrikes on houses. Former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic was placed in a U.N. detention unit in the Netherlands to await trial on genocide charges. Atlanta became the first city in the NHL’s modern era to lose two hockey teams as the Thrashers’ owners agreed to sell the struggling franchise to a group that moved it to Winnipeg (Atlanta had also lost the Flames to Calgary in 1980).

One year ago

The U.S. Senate held an extraordinary Sunday session during which it failed to produce an 11th-hour deal to extend the National Security Agency’s authority to collect Americans’ phone records in bulk. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry broke his leg in a bicycle crash near Geneva.

— By The Associated Press