Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 October 25

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Today's featured article
HMAS Australia was one of three Indefatigable-class battlecruisers built for the defence of the British Empire. She was launched in 1911, and commissioned as flagship of the fledgling Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 1913. At the start of World War I, Australia was tasked with finding and destroying the German East Asia Squadron, which was prompted to withdraw from the Pacific by the battlecruiser's presence. Repeated diversions to support the capture of German colonies in New Guinea and Samoa, as well as an overcautious Admiralty, prevented the battlecruiser from engaging the German squadron before the latter's destruction. Australia was then assigned to North Sea operations, which consisted primarily of patrols and exercises, until the end of the war. During this time, Australia was involved in early attempts at naval aviation, and 11 of her personnel participated in the Zeebrugge Raid. Post-war budget cuts saw Australia's role downgraded to a training ship before she was placed in reserve in 1921. The disarmament provisions of the Washington Naval Treaty required the destruction of Australia as part of Britain's commitment, and she was scuttled off Sydney Heads in 1924. (more...) Recently featured: The Political Cesspool – Calabozos – Liberal Movement Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that Eucalyptus grandis (pictured) seedlings can put on seven metres (23 ft) of growth in their first year? ... that the Angel Orensanz Center is housed in a Gothic Revival synagogue building built in 1849? ... that after the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, dean Peter Beck was described as a "figurehead of the city"? ... that the plans for a popular front between communists and socialists in Poland collapsed after the launching of the newspaper Oblicze Dnia in 1936? ... that Grant Enfinger will compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2012 for a team owned by an Argentine businessman? ... that Lakes Mall in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, home to the first Office Depot and Sports Authority stores, was otherwise completely vacant in August 1990? ... that a reviewer for John Grisham's new novel The Litigators praised it for avoiding clichés such as somebody being murdered for "stumbling too close to the truth"? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (pictured) is re-elected for a second term. Floods in central Thailand reach Bangkok, affecting more than two million people. A 7.2-magnitude earthquake strikes the eastern Turkish city of Van, leaving hundreds of people dead or missing. Italian motorcycle racer Marco Simoncelli dies after an accident at the Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix. The Rugby World Cup concludes with host nation New Zealand defeating France in the final. Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud dies in New York. Basque separatist group ETA announces a cessation of armed activity. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
October 25: Constitution Day in Lithuania; Retrocession Day in the Republic of China (Taiwan); Armed Forces Day in Romania 1861 – The Toronto Stock Exchange, the stock exchange with the most mining and petrochemical companies listed in the world, was established. 1875 – The first performance of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, one of his most popular compositions, was given in Boston with Hans von Bülow (pictured) as soloist. 1920 – Irish playwright and politician Terence MacSwiney died after 74 days on hunger strike in Brixton Prison, bringing the Irish struggle for independence to international attention. 1983 – The United States and Caribbean allies invaded Grenada, six days after Bernard Coard seized power in a violent coup d'état. 1997 – Denis Sassou Nguesso seized the presidency of the Republic of the Congo after ousting Pascal Lissouba after the first phase of the Congolese civil war. More anniversaries: October 24 – October 25 – October 26 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now October 25, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A crab of the species Carpilius convexus (left) feeding on a slate pencil urchin. Crabs are omnivores, feeding primarily on algae, and taking any other food, including molluscs, worms, other crustaceans, fungi, bacteria and detritus, depending on their availability and the crab species. For many crabs, a mixed diet of plant and animal matter results in the fastest growth and greatest fitness.

Photo: Mila Zinkova

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