Flash back

Today is Saturday, June 4, the 155th day of 2005. There are 210 days left in the year.

Today’s highlight in history:

On June 4, 1942, the Battle of Midway began during World War II.

Ten years ago: At the Tony Awards, “Sunset Boulevard” won best Broadway musical while “Love! Valour! Compassion!” by Terrence McNally was chosen best play.

Five years ago: President Clinton and Russian President Putin ended their summit by conceding differences on missile defense, agreeing to dispose of weapons-grade plutonium and pledging early warning of missile and space launches. A powerful earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra, killing at least 100 people. “Copenhagen” was chosen best play, “Contact” best musical and “Kiss Me, Kate” best musical revival at the Tony Awards.

One year ago: A powerful bomb blast ripped through a crowded outdoor market in central Russia, killing at least 11 people. President Bush nominated former Missouri Sen. John Danforth to be America’s U.N. ambassador.

On this date: In 1812, the Louisiana Territory was renamed the Missouri Territory.

In 1878, Turkey turned Cyprus over to the British.

In 1892, the Sierra Club was incorporated in San Francisco.

In 1896, Henry Ford made a successful pre-dawn test run of his horseless carriage, called a “quadricycle,” through the streets of Detroit.

In 1940, the Allied military evacuation from Dunkirk, France, ended.

In 1944, the U.S. Fifth Army began liberating Rome during World War II.

In 1947, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the Taft-Hartley Act.

In 1954, French Premier Joseph Laniel and Vietnamese Premier Buu Loc initialed treaties in Paris according “complete independence” to Vietnam.

In 1986, Jonathan Jay Pollard, a former Navy intelligence analyst, pleaded guilty in Washington to spying for Israel. (He is serving a life prison term.)

In 1989, hundreds, possibly thousands of people died as Chinese army troops stormed Beijing to crush a pro-democracy movement.