Milestones

Ten years ago: In an interview, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev acknowledged that his country was engaged in “Star Wars”-related research, but said there were no plans to build a space-based system against nuclear attack.

Five years ago: The U.S. Supreme Court sustained women’s basic right to abortion, voting 6-3 against reviving a 1990 Guam law that would have prohibited nearly all such procedures.

One year ago: Some 150,000 people filled the streets of Belgrade to protest against Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic. Novelty singer Tiny Tim, best remembered for his ‘60s rendition of “Tiptoe Thru’ the Tulips,” died.