Wikipedia:Main Page history/2013 May 6

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From today's featured article

A Journey is a 2010 memoir by Tony Blair (pictured) discussing his tenure as leader of the British Labour Party (1994–2007), and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1997–2007). Under Blair's stewardship the party was rebranded as New Labour and secured a party record of three successive terms in office. Two of the book's major themes concern Blair's strained relationship with his Chancellor Gordon Brown, and his controversial decision to participate in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Blair discusses Labour's future after its defeat at the 2010 general election, his relations with the Royal Family, and how he came to respect President George W. Bush. A Journey received mixed reviews; some criticised Blair's writing style, but others called it candid. Financial Times editor Lionel Barber described it as "part psychodrama, part treatise on the frustrations of leadership in a modern democracy". Blair donated his £4.6 million advance, and all subsequent royalties, to the British Armed Forces charity The Royal British Legion. It became the fastest-selling autobiography of all time at the bookstore chain Waterstones, but promotional events were marked by antiwar protests. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

From Wikipedia's newest content:

... that Pieter Goos was the first man to map Christmas Island, which he labelled "Mony" in his 1666 map (pictured) of the East Indies?

... that each frame in the world's smallest film is only 45 nanometers wide?

... that completion of the Hector-class ironclad HMS Valiant was delayed for nearly five years by a shortage of rifled muzzle-loading guns?

... that with more than 1.3 million visitors in 2010, the Mont Saint Michel Abbey was among most visited cultural sites in France?

... that while governor of Mecca, Khalid al-Qasri declared that he was prepared to demolish the Kaaba and transport it to Jerusalem?

... that Cyclone Favio was the first known tropical cyclone that passed south of Madagascar to strike Africa as an intense tropical cyclone?

... that Oscar Wilde's tomb had controversial testicles?

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Today's articles for improvement

Fashion accessory – Little John – Space Age

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In the news

Israeli warplanes strike multiple targets in southwestern Syria, near Damascus.

In horse racing, Orb, ridden by Joel Rosario, wins the Kentucky Derby.

Harvard researchers unveil the smallest flying robot ever created, with a wingspan of 3 centimeters (1.2 in).

Indian national Sarabjit Singh, imprisoned in Pakistan for espionage, dies after being attacked by fellow inmates on death row.

Following the planned abdication of his mother Beatrix, Willem-Alexander (pictured) becomes King of the Netherlands.

The European Union passes a two-year ban on neonicotinoid insecticides, which are suspected to be the primary cause of colony collapse disorder.

The Herschel Space Observatory, a far-infrared space telescope, ends its mission after running out of liquid helium coolant.

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On this day...

May 6: St George's Day in Bulgaria

1782 – Construction began on the Grand Palace of Bangkok, the official residence of the King of Thailand.

1801 – French Revolutionary Wars: The outmanned and outgunned HMS Speedy captured the 32-gun Spanish frigate El Gamo.

1882 – U.S. President Chester A. Arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion Act into law, implementing a ban on Chinese immigration to the United States that remained until the Magnuson Act was enacted in 1943.

1937 – The German zeppelin Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed (pictured) during an attempt to dock at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey, killing 36 people.

1941 – American entertainer Bob Hope performed the first of his many shows for the United Service Organizations.

1984 – Pope John Paul II canonized 103 of the Korean Martyrs, who were the subjects of religious persecution against Christians in 19th-century Korea.

More anniversaries: May 5 – May 6 – May 7

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From today's featured list

A portrait of Satyajit Ray wearing a white Kurta and right-hand kept on his chin

Often regarded as one of the greatest directors of world cinema, Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray's work in motion pictures spanned more than 40 years. Ray worked prominently in Bengali cinema and started his career as a junior visualizer. He made his directorial debut in 1955 with much acclaimed Pather Panchali. Ray's work got wide critical acclaim and his Apu Trilogy (1955–1959) appeared in Time's All-Time 100 Movies. Aside from directing, Ray composed music, wrote screenplays and also produced films. He was often credited as a fiction writer, illustrator, and calligrapher, and some of his short stories have been adapted into films by other directors. Ray received numerous awards throughout his career, including several Indian National Film Awards and an honorary Academy Award at the 64th Academy Awards in 1992. He was awarded with India's highest award in cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, in 1984 and India's highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, in 1992. (Full list...)

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Today's featured picture

A panoramic view of Srinagar, the largest city of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Built on both the sides of the Jhelum River, Srinagar is home to over 1.2 million people. It serves as the state's summer capital.

Photo: KennyOMG

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