Editorials

Today’s Highlight in History: 

On Aug. 29, 1944, 15,000 American troops marched down the Champs Elysees in Paris as the French capital celebrated its liberation from the Nazis. 

On this date: 

In 1943, responding to a clampdown by Nazi occupiers, Denmark managed to scuttle most of its naval ships. 

In 1957, South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond (then a Democrat) ended a filibuster against a civil rights bill after talking for more than 24 hours. 

In 1965, Gemini Five, carrying astronauts Gordon Cooper and Charles (“Pete”) Conrad, splashed down in the Atlantic after eight days in space. 

In 1966, the Beatles concluded their fourth American tour with their last public concert. It was at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. 

Ten years ago: The U.N. Security Council agreed to send 3,000 more relief troops to Somalia to guard food shipments. About 13,000 people staged an anti-extremist rally in Rostock, Germany, even as right-wingers continued attacks on foreigners. 

Five years ago: Hooded men killed more than 300 people in an Algerian farm village in the worst carnage since an Islamic insurgency began.  

One year ago: George Rivas, the ringleader of the biggest prison breakout in Texas history, was sentenced to death for killing an Irving policeman, Aubrey Hawkins, while on the run. 

Today’s Birthdays: TV personality Robin Leach is 61. Singer Michael Jackson is 44. Actress Rebecca DeMornay is 40.