Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 January 3

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Today's featured article
The Battle of Bardia was fought over three days between 3 and 5 January 1941, as part of Operation Compass in the Second World War. Australian Major General Iven Mackay's 6th Division assaulted the strongly held Italian fortress of Bardia, Libya, assisted by air support and naval gunfire, and under the cover of an artillery barrage. The 16th Infantry Brigade attacked at dawn from the west, where the defences were known to be weak. This allowed the infantry and 23 Matilda II tanks of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment to enter the fortress and capture all their objectives, along with 8,000 prisoners. In the second phase of the operation, the 17th Infantry Brigade exploited the breach made in the perimeter. On the second day, the 16th Infantry Brigade captured the township of Bardia, cutting the fortress in two. On the third day, the 19th Infantry Brigade advanced south from Bardia, supported by artillery and the Matilda tanks. Meanwhile, the Italian garrisons in the north surrendered to the 16th Infantry Brigade and the Support Group of the British 7th Armoured Division. The victory at Bardia enabled the Allied forces to continue the advance into Libya and ultimately capture almost all of Cyrenaica. (more...) Recently featured: 2006 Gator Bowl – "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" – Typhoon Tip Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the Russian nuclear-powered submarine K-114 Tula (pictured) launched the R-29RMU Sineva missile for a record 11,547 km (7,175 mi) in 2008? ... that the short story "A Stroke of Good Fortune" by Flannery O'Connor features early versions of characters from O'Connor's first novel, Wise Blood? ... that George Harrison wrote the song "Wah-Wah" in response to his frustration with Beatles bandmates John Lennon and Paul McCartney? ... that St Leonard's Church in St Leonards-on-Sea was partly crushed by a collapsing cliff, and later destroyed when a damaged doodlebug crashed outside its doors? ... that Bao Guo'an won the 1995 Golden Eagle Award for Best Actor for his role as Cao Cao in the 1994 television series Romance of the Three Kingdoms? ... that in 1920, Irish footballer Jack Doran achieved the rare feat of being the top goalscorer for two English clubs in the same season? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Portia Simpson-Miller Azerbaijan, Guatemala, Morocco, Pakistan, and Togo join the UN Security Council as non-permanent members. Scores of people are killed and 20,000 more displaced by inter-tribal fighting in Pibor, South Sudan, despite the presence of UN peacekeepers. The People's National Party, led by Portia Simpson-Miller (pictured), wins a majority in the Jamaican general election. Samoa and Tokelau switch to the western side of the International Date Line, skipping 30 December entirely. Kim Jong-un is declared the new supreme leader of North Korea. The first stage of China's Compass satellite navigation system becomes operational, covering the China region. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
January 3 1888 – The 91 cm refracting telescope at the Lick Observatory (pictured) near San Jose, California, at the time the largest telescope in the world, was used for the first time. 1911 – A 7.7 M_w earthquake destroyed the city of Almaty in Russian Turkestan. 1919 – Emir Faisal of Iraq signed an agreement with Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann on the development of a Jewish homeland in Palestine and an Arab nation in a large part of the Middle East. 1976 – The multilateral International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, part of the International Bill of Human Rights, came into effect. 1990 – United States invasion of Panama: General Manuel Noriega, the deposed "strongman of Panama", surrendered to American forces. More anniversaries: January 2 – January 3 – January 4 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now January 3, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The Common Indian Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) is native to South Asia. It grows to about 20 cm (8 in) long and breeds during monsoon season. These toads are often seen at night under street lamps especially during times when winged termites swarm. They have been noted to feed on a wide range of invertebrates, including scorpions.

Photo: Lokionly

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