THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Today is Sunday, Oct. 4, the 278th day of 2020. There are 88 days left in the year.

IN THE NATION

2002: “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh received a 20- year sentence after a sobbing plea for forgiveness before a federal judge in Alexandria, Va. He was released from prison in May 2019.

IN THE WORLD

1957: The Space Age began as the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, into orbit.

1990: For the first time in nearly six decades, German lawmakers met in the Reichstag for the first meeting of reunified Germany’s parliament.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

Author Roy Blount Jr. is 79. Author Anne Rice is 79. Baseball Hall of Famer Tony La Russa is 76. Actor Clifton Davis is 75. Actor Susan Sarandon is 74. Musician Duke Robillard is 72. Actor Christoph Waltz is 64. Musician Chris Lowe ( The Pet Shop Boys) is 61. Musician Gregg “Hobie” Hubbard ( Sawyer Brown) is 60. Actor Liev Schreiber is 53. Actor Alicia Silverstone is 44. Actor Melissa Benoist is 32. NBA All- Star Derrick Rose is 32. Actor Dakota Johnson is 31.