Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 September 22

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Today's featured article
The Zanzibar Revolution saw the 1964 overthrow of the Sultan of Zanzibar and his mainly Arab government by local African revolutionaries. Zanzibar, an island off east Africa, had been granted independence by Britain in 1963; however, a series of parliamentary elections resulted in the Arab minority retaining the hold on power it had inherited from Zanzibar's former status as an overseas territory of Oman. Frustrated by under-representation in parliament, despite winning 54% of the vote in the July 1963 election, the mainly African Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP) allied itself with the Umma Party; on 12 January 1964, ASP member John Okello mobilised around 600–800 revolutionaries on the main island of Unguja. Having overrun the country's police force and appropriated their weaponry, the insurgents proceeded to Zanzibar Town, where they overthrew the sultan and his government. A moderate ASP leader, Abeid Karume, became the country's new president and head of state, and positions of power were granted to Umma party members. Karume negotiated a merger of Zanzibar with Tanganyika, forming the new nation of Tanzania. The revolution ended 200 years of Arab dominance in Zanzibar, and is commemorated on the island each year with anniversary celebrations and a public holiday. (more...) Recently featured: Hubert Walter – Rhabdomyolysis – "Stark Raving Dad" Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the portrait (pictured) of Italian nobleman Gian Galeazzo Sanvitale by late Renaissance artist Parmigianino in 1524 was once thought to be a portrait of Christopher Columbus? ... that after the English Civil War, a statue of King Charles I was hidden by a metalsmith whilst he sold cutlery that he claimed was made from its melted-down metal? ... that the venom of the lesser Asian scorpion contains proteins that are toxic to Plasmodium falciparum, a pathogenic parasite that causes malaria in humans? ... that Brian Epstein was so angered that The Beatles were paid in loose change for a gig at the Aintree Institute, he never booked with the venue's promoter again? ... that Markus Flaig brought Handel's darkness and great light to St. Martin, Idstein? ... that Ali Jawad al-Sheikh was killed when he was allegedly hit by a tear gas canister during protests after an initial government crackdown in Bahrain? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Juan Carlos Navarro The members of American rock band R.E.M. announce they are splitting up after 31 years together. In basketball, EuroBasket 2011 concludes with Spain defeating France in the final (tournament MVP Juan Carlos Navarro pictured). Monsoon rains cause flooding in Pakistan's Sindh province, killing at least 230 people and damaging more than a million homes. A 6.9-magnitude earthquake near the India–Nepal border results in at least 102 deaths. In Gaelic football, Dublin defeat Kerry to win the All-Ireland Senior Championship Final for the first time since 1995. In Latvia's early parliamentary election, Harmony Centre, led by Nils Ušakovs, wins a plurality in the Saeima. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
September 22: Independence Day in Bulgaria (1908) and Mali (1960); Day of Baltic Unity in Latvia and Lithuania 1792 – French Revolution: One day after the National Convention voted to abolish the monarchy, the French First Republic came into being. 1914 – World War I: German naval forces bombarded Papeete in French Polynesia. 1922 – After nine days, the Great Fire of Smyrna was extinguished, having caused tens of thousands of deaths. 1961 – The U.S. Congress authorized President John F. Kennedy's executive order to establish the Peace Corps (logo pictured). 1994 – The Nordhordland Bridge, which crosses Salhusfjorden between Klauvaneset and Flatøy in Hordaland, and is the second-longest bridge in Norway, was officially opened. More anniversaries: September 21 – September 22 – September 23 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now September 22, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The Fujiwhara effect, named after Japanese meteorologist Sakuhei Fujiwhara, is a type of interaction between two cyclonic vortices, causing them to "orbit" each other. One example was in October 2009, when Typhoon Melor forced Typhoon Parma (right and left, respectively) to reverse course and head southeast, where it battered the Philippine island of Luzon for a second time.

Photo: NASA MODIS Rapid Response Team, GSFC

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