Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 July 1

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Today's featured article
Rwanda is a country in central and eastern Africa located a few degrees south of the Equator, bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. All of Rwanda is at high elevation, with a geography dominated by mountains in the west, savanna in the east, and numerous lakes throughout the country. The climate is temperate. The predominantly rural population of 11.7 million people forms three main groups: the Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa. After Rwanda was first settled by hunter-gatherers in the Stone and Iron Ages, the population coalesced into clans and then into a Tutsi-led kingdom. It was colonised by Europeans in the 19th century and gained independence from Belgium on 1 July 1962 after a Hutu revolt led to massacres of Tutsis and the establishment of a Hutu-dominated republic. In 1990 the Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) launched a civil war, which was followed by the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, in which Hutu extremists killed an estimated 500,000 to 1 million Tutsi and moderate Hutu but were ultimately defeated by the RPF. The economy suffered during the genocide, but has since strengthened and depends heavily on subsistence agriculture. (more...) Recently featured: Yogo sapphire – Olivia Shakespear – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and the Belyayev circle Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the creator of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies—Rudolf Ising—served in the First Motion Picture Unit, which made films like Camouflage (pictured) during World War II? ... that Swakopmund tracking station is a ground station of the Chinese manned space programme located in the African country of Namibia? ... that the Jru' language, an indigenous language of Laos, was once written in a secret script? ... that Senegalese fashion designer Adama Ndiaye organized the Dakar Fashion Week exhibition, now in its 10th year? ... that along with appearing as a young Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man, child actor Max Charles will be providing the voice of Sherman in Mr. Peabody & Sherman? ... that the Body of Proof episode "Helping Hand" was directed by John Terlesky, best known for directing Ugly Betty which starred Tony Plana, who also appeared in this Body of Proof episode? ... that at Euro 2012, the Pukka Pies England Band was banned from playing at England's game against France despite having UEFA approval? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
UNESCO lists the Church of the Nativity (pictured) in Bethlehem as the first World Heritage Site in the State of Palestine. The U.S. Supreme Court upholds a majority of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a statute reforming health insurance in the country. Barclays is fined a total of £290 million for attempting to manipulate the Libor and Euribor rates. The European Court of Justice rejects an appeal by Microsoft, confirming a fine of €860 million for the abuse of its dominant position in the market. American director, playwright and screenwriter Nora Ephron dies at the age of 71. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
July 1: Canada Day; Republic Day in Ghana (1960); Independence Day in Rwanda (1962) 1770 – Lexell's Comet passed closer to the Earth than any other comet in recorded history, approaching to a distance of 0.015 AU. 1867 – The British North America Act came into effect, uniting the Province of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia into the Canadian Confederation (Canadian flag pictured). 1915 – World War I: German fighter pilot Kurt Wintgens became the first person to shoot down another plane in aerial combat. 1935 – Grant Park Music Festival, the United States' only annual free outdoor classical music concert series, began its tradition of free symphonic music concerts in Chicago's Grant Park. 1943 – Tokyo City was dissolved, with its territory divided into the special wards of the newly-created Tokyo Metropolis. 2006 – The Qinghai–Tibet Railway, the only railway line to the Tibet Autonomous Region, was inaugurated. More anniversaries: June 30 – July 1 – July 2 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now July 1, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A drawing depicting the death of John F. Reynolds, a United States Army officer who was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. Reynolds was commanding the "left wing" of the Army of the Potomac. As he was exhorting his troops, "Forward men! For God's sake forward!", he fell from his horse with a wound in the back of the upper neck, or lower head, and died almost instantly. His death essentially selected the location for the battle, to fight on that ground with forces that were initially numerically inferior to the Confederates that were concentrating there.

Artist: Alfred Waud; Restoration: Jujutacular/PLW

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