Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 May 3

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Today's featured article
The invasion of Tulagi, on 3–4 May 1942, was part of Operation Mo, the Empire of Japan's strategy in the South Pacific and South West Pacific Area in 1942. The plan called for Imperial Japanese Navy troops to capture Tulagi and nearby islands in the Solomon Islands Protectorate. The occupation of Tulagi by the Japanese was intended to cover the flank of and provide reconnaissance support for Japanese forces that were advancing on Port Moresby in New Guinea, provide greater defensive depth for the major Japanese base at Rabaul, and serve as a base for Japanese forces to threaten and interdict the supply and communication routes between the United States and Australia and New Zealand. Without the means to capably resist the Japanese offensive in the Solomons, the British Resident Commissioner and the few Australian troops assigned to defend Tulagi evacuated just before the Japanese forces arrived on 3 May. Despite considerable losses inflicted by carrier-based American planes, the Japanese occupied the islands. (more...) Recently featured: Golding Bird – Disintegration – Planets beyond Neptune Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that French revolutionary forces in Rennes evicted almost forty nuns from their abbey residence, the Palais Saint-Georges (pictured), and used the building as a barracks? ... that the leadership of Zen Buddhism's Sōtō School under Koun Ejō led to a schism of the community within only a generation of its founding? ... that the proceeds of the 2008 Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup were donated to a two-year-old child diagnosed with a rare form of cancer? ... that in 2010, artist Neltje Doubleday Kings made the largest estate gift ever to the University of Wyoming? ... that the fossil pelican Pelecanus schreiberi from North Carolina was possibly the largest species of pelican ever? ... that Blake Beavan, the losing pitcher of Philip Humber's perfect game, threw a perfect game of his own while in high school? ... that Krasta, the highest town in Albania, was founded in 1970 as a chromium mining town? ... that while serving as mayor of Portland, Oregon, Allen G. Rushlight once climbed inside the city crematory to repair it? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
The Scream (pictured), by Edvard Munch, sells for a record US$120 million in an auction in New York City. Bolivia announces plans to nationalise local assets of the Spanish electricity company Red Eléctrica de España. Guggenheim Partners, LLC purchases the Los Angeles Dodgers for US$2.1 billion, a record for a professional sports franchise. A ferry capsizes in Assam, India, killing at least 103 people on board. Saudi Arabia closes its embassy and consulates in Egypt following protests over the Saudi detention of Egyptian lawyer Ahmed al-Gizawi. Malaysian police arrest more than 500 protesters in Kuala Lumpur rallying for election reform. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
May 3: World Press Freedom Day; Constitution Day in Poland (1791) and Japan (1974); National Day of Prayer in the United States (2012) 1491 – Nkuwu Nzinga of the Kingdom of Kongo was baptised as João I (pictured) by Portuguese missionaries. 1915 – The oldest continually operational Royal Air Force station, RAF Northolt, opened as the home to No. 4 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron. 1920 – Relying on the 11th Soviet Red Army operating in neighboring Azerbaijan, Bolsheviks attempted to stage a coup d'etat in Georgia. 1945 – Second World War: German ocean liner Cap Arcona, left to float defencelessly in the Bay of Lübeck with thousands of prisoners from various concentration camps on board, was attacked and sunk by RAF Typhoons. 1960 – The Off-Broadway musical comedy The Fantasticks made its premiere, eventually becoming the world's longest-running musical. More anniversaries: May 2 – May 3 – May 4 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now May 3, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

Women of the Gondi, the largest tribe of Indian aboriginals in central India. They are classified as a scheduled tribe in most Indian states. The Gondi language is related to Telugu and other Dravidian languages. About half of Gonds speak Gondi languages, while the rest speak Indo-Aryan languages including Hindi. For many years during the British colonial period, the Gonds were considered to have performed human sacrifices, although this notion was later discredited.

Photo: Yann

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