TODAY is Thursday, August 29, the 241st day of 2019. There are 124 days left in the year. Highlights in history on this date:

1996 - A Tupolev 154 chartered by a Russian mining company crashed on the way to the remote Arctic island of Spitzbergen, killing all 129 passengers and 12 crew.

2002 - Ethiopia, Eritrea release all prisoners of war in

detention following 1998-2000 border conflict. 2003 - In Iraq, a car bombing killed 83 Iraqis, including top Shi’ite Muslim leader Ayatollah Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim, in an apparent assassination at the Imam Ali mosque in Najaf.

2004 - Greece staged an exuberant closing ceremony

to bring the curtain down on the Athens Games,

which took the Olympics back to their roots and provided drama right down to the last gold medal. (Pictured)

2005 - Hurricane Katrina rammed into the U.S. Gulf Coast with 140 mph (225 kph) winds and a 30foot (9-metre) storm surge, devastating the city of New Orleans and killing 1,330 people across the region.

2012 - Samsung launches world’s first smart phone using Microsoft Corp’s latest mobile software, days after losing a crucial patent battle with Apple Inc..

Athletes enter the Olympic Stadium during the closing ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 29, 2004. Greece staged a giant party to celebrate having brought the Games back to their spiritual home in triumphant style.