Wikipedia:Main Page history/2015 August 3

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

From today's featured article

Irataba (c. 1814 – 1874) was a leader of the Mohave Nation, known as an advocate for peace with whites and a mediator with the United States. He was a renowned orator and one of the first Mohave to speak English. He became the Mohave Nation's Aha macave yaltanack, an elected, as opposed to hereditary, leader. As a result of his many interactions with US officials and settlers, Irataba was invited to Washington, D.C., in 1864 for an official meeting with members of the US military and government, including President Abraham Lincoln. He was the first Native American from the Southwest to meet an American president. Upon his return he negotiated the creation of the Colorado River Indian Reservation, which caused a split in the Mohave Nation when he led several hundred of his supporters to the Colorado River valley. Some historians consider Irataba a great leader who championed peace, but others feel he could have done more to defend the Mohave way of life. In March 2015, Mohave Tribal chairman Dennis Patch credited Irataba with ensuring that "the Mohaves stayed on land they had lived on since time immemorial." (Full article...)

Recently featured:

Did you know...

Sarpa Satra

... that according to legend, emperor Janamejaya organised the Sarpa Satra yagna (pictured) to exterminate all snakes after his father Parikshit died of a snake bite?
... that Romanian poet Otilia Cazimir had her pen name chosen by two celebrated mentors, with Mihail Sadoveanu suggesting the "Otilia", while Garabet Ibrăileanu came up with "Cazimir"?
... that the edible mushroom Tricholoma columbetta can have pink, violet, or green spots?
... that Miss Utah 2015 Krissia Beatty is the fifth person in her family, after her grandmother, mother, and two aunts, to be crowned Miss Washington County?
... that the music video for Demi Lovato's single "Cool for the Summer" is her "most sexually liberated video" and marks "a new chapter of her career"?
... that Daniel McBreen won the A-League Golden Boot in the 2012–13 season after scoring 17 goals for the Central Coast Mariners?
... that the upcoming film Christ the Lord, based on Anne Rice's novel Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, revolves around the fictional life of Jesus at age seven?
... that Michael I Komnenos Doukas, ruler of Epirus, fought with the Bulgarians against the Latins, and with the Latins against the Bulgarians?

In the news

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Beijing is selected by the International Olympic Committee as the host city of the 2022 Winter Olympics.
The Taliban confirms that its former leader, Mohammed Omar, died in April 2013.
Scientist and former President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (pictured) dies at the age of 83.
In cycling, Chris Froome wins the Tour de France for a second time.
Pierre Nkurunziza is re-elected president of Burundi for a third term.
After a suicide bombing in Suruç that killed 32 people, Turkey launches airstrikes against ISIL and Kurdistan Workers' Party camps in Iraq.

Ongoing events
Recent deaths:

On this day...

August 3: Civic Holiday in most areas of Canada (2015); Independence Day in Niger (1960); Flag Day in Venezuela

Roger Casement

1795 – The United States signed the Treaty of Greenville with the Western Confederacy coalition of Native Americans, ending the Northwest Indian War.
1916 – Irish nationalist Sir Roger Casement (pictured) was hanged at London's Pentonville Prison for treason for his role in the Easter Rising, a rebellion to win Irish independence from Britain.
1940 – World War II: Italy began their invasion of British Somaliland.
1960 – Niger officially gained independence from France as part of the decolonization of the French Community.
2005 – Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former Mayor of Tehran, began his term as the sixth President of Iran.

More anniversaries:

From today's featured list

Tropical Storm Georgette

Eighty-one known tropical cyclones and their remnants have impacted the inland U.S. state of New Mexico. There have been 68 known tropical cyclones from the Eastern Pacific that affected the state, compared to only 13 such Atlantic hurricanes. The biggest threat from such storms in the state is their associated rainfall and flooding. The wettest storm was from the remnants of an Atlantic storm in 1941 that produced 11.33 in (288 mm) of precipitation. Since 1950, the highest rainfall total recorded was 9.8 in (250 mm) in Canton, also associated with an Atlantic storm in 1954. The rains in 1954 resulted in flooding in six towns that killed at least four people. Other deadly rainfall events from tropical cyclone remnants include Hurricane Dolly in 2008 and Tropical Storm Georgette in 2010. The former swept away a person along the Rio Ruidoso and caused $25 million in damage (2008 USD), which was the most damaging storm event. The floods damaged 500 buildings and destroyed 13 bridges. The latter caused heavy rains that resulted in one death in the Rio Grande. (Full list...)

Recently featured:

Today's featured picture

Nine Dragons is a handscroll painting by Chinese artist Chen Rong from 1244. Depicting the apparitions of dragons soaring amidst clouds, mists, whirlpools, rocky mountains and fire, the painting refers to the dynamic forces of nature in Daoism. The depicted dragons are associated with nine sons of the Dragon King, while the number nine itself is considered auspicious in Chinese astrology and folk beliefs. The work is now in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

Painting: Chen Rong

Recently featured:

Archive
More featured pictures...

Other areas of Wikipedia

Community portal – Bulletin board, projects, resources and activities covering a wide range of Wikipedia areas.
Help desk – Ask questions about using Wikipedia.
Local embassy – For Wikipedia-related communication in languages other than English.
Reference desk – Serving as virtual librarians, Wikipedia volunteers tackle your questions on a wide range of subjects.
Site news – Announcements, updates, articles and press releases on Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation.
Village pump – For discussions about Wikipedia itself, including areas for technical issues and policies.