Wikipedia:Main Page history/2013 June 3

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From today's featured article

The Huế chemical attacks occurred on June 3, 1963, when soldiers of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam poured liquid chemicals from tear gas grenades onto praying Buddhists in Huế, South Vietnam (location of attacks pictured). The Buddhists were protesting against religious discrimination by the regime of President Ngo Dinh Diem, a Roman Catholic. The attacks caused 67 people to be hospitalised for skin blistering and respiratory ailments, and led the United States to threaten privately to withdraw support for Diem. The protests were part of a Buddhist campaign for religious equality after nine people were killed while defying a ban on flying the Buddhist flag. An inquiry determined that the chemical used failed to vaporise as it should have done, exonerating the soldiers from charges that they had used poison or mustard gas. However, Diem had already been forced to appoint a panel of three cabinet ministers to meet with Buddhist leaders for negotiations regarding religious equality. The talks led to the signing of the Joint Communique, but the policy changes it provided were not implemented and widespread protests continued, leading to the assassination of Diem in a military coup. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

From Wikipedia's newest content:

... that in 1905, Fredrikke Marie Qvam (pictured) as head of a women's voting rights organization gathered about 300,000 signatures from women in support of the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden?

... that there were two Citra Awards for Best Leading Actor given in 1955, but none in 1980?

... that Ming Dynasty courtesan Xue Susu was an accomplished archer who gave public performances?

... that many species of fungi involved in ectomycorrhizas are capable of degrading and mineralizing a variety of persistent organic pollutants found in the soil?

... that English botanist Richard Eric Holttum wrote the first book on gardening in Singapore?

... that the Bach cantata Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, BWV 100, includes up to 24 demisemiquavers per bar?

... that Athous haemorrhoidalis can click and flick itself high into the air?

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In the news

The asteroid (285263) 1998 QE₂ and its moon make their closest approach to Earth for the next two centuries.

Police response to environmentalist demonstrations in Istanbul provokes anti-government protests across Turkey.

Clashes over control of gum arabic production leave 64 people dead and 6,500 displaced in South Darfur, Sudan.

Aurornis xui is described as the most basal species of Avialae, potentially unseating Archaeopteryx as the oldest known bird.

The ICTY convicts six Croatian leaders in the Bosnian War, including Jadranko Prlić, of war crimes against Bosniaks and Serbs.

Digital currency service Liberty Reserve is shut down and charged with facilitating US$6 billion of illegal financial transactions.

Recent deaths: Jean Stapleton – Rituparno Ghosh

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On this day...

June 3: Feast day of Saint Charles Lwanga and the Uganda Martyrs (Roman Catholic Church, Church of England, Lutheranism); Queen's Official Birthday in New Zealand (2013); Western Australia Day (2013)

1658 – Pope Alexander VII appointed François de Laval (pictured) as vicar apostolic of New France.

1781 – American Revolutionary War: Jack Jouett made a "midnight ride" to warn Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia legislature of coming British cavalry who had been sent to capture them.

1943 – Off-duty US sailors fought with Mexican American youths in Los Angeles, spawning the Zoot Suit Riots.

1973 – At the Paris Air Show, a Tupolev Tu-144 broke up in mid-flight and disintegrated, killing the six members of the crew and eight bystanders on the ground.

1982 – An assassination attempt on Shlomo Argov, the Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom, failed; this was later used as justification for the 1982 Lebanon War.

More anniversaries: June 2 – June 3 – June 4

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From today's featured list

A white-skinned man posing in front of the camera; he is wearing a green cricket cap and shirt

Thirty-five centuries have been scored by Steve Waugh (pictured) during his career in international cricket. Making his Test debut against India in 1985, Waugh's first century came four years later against England. His career best score of 200—his only double century—came against West Indies in April 1995. Waugh is the only player to make scores exceeding 150 in an innings against all Test-playing nations. As of 2013, he is eighth in the list of leading century makers in Test cricket. Although Waugh made his One Day International (ODI) debut in 1985, it was not until 1996 that he scored an ODI century. He went on to score two more centuries till the end of his career. Waugh's highest score of 120 was recorded against South Africa during the 1999 Cricket World Cup. (Full list...)

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Today's featured picture

Murugan, also known as Kartikeya, is the Hindu war god, worshiped particularly by Tamil Hindus. Murugan has a peacock as a mount and is often depicted with six heads and twelve arms holding a variety of weapons. His consorts, pictured here, are Valli and Deivayanai.

Painting: Raja Ravi Varma

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