Milestones

Ten years ago: South African President P.W. Botha announced his resignation after losing a bitter power struggle within his National Party.

Five years ago: Eight children who were left alone died in an early morning house fire in Carbondale, Ill.

One year ago: A federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., ruled that the Food and Drug Administration had no authority to regulate tobacco, striking down FDA rules making it harder for minors to buy cigarettes; the Clinton administration said it would appeal.