Wikipedia:Main Page history/2016 December 15

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From today's featured article

The Yugoslav torpedo boat T1 was a sea-going vessel operated by the Royal Yugoslav Navy between 1921 and 1941. Launched on 15 December 1913 as a 250t-class torpedo boat for the Austro-Hungarian Navy under the name 76 T, she was armed with two 66 mm (2.6 in) guns and four 450 mm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes, and could carry 10–12 naval mines. The vessel performed anti-submarine operations and convoy, escort and minesweeping tasks during World War I. She was escorting the dreadnought SMS Szent István when that ship was sunk by Italian torpedo boats in June 1918. Following Austria-Hungary's defeat, the torpedo boat was allocated to what became the Royal Yugoslav Navy. During the German-led Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, the vessel was captured by the Italians. She served with the Royal Italian Navy, but was returned to the Royal Yugoslav Navy-in-exile following the Italian capitulation in September 1943. She was commissioned by the Yugoslav Navy after World War II and, after a refit, served as Golešnica until 1959. (Full article...)

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Guan bowl, 12th–13th century

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In the news

St. Peter and St. Paul's Church

Bill English becomes Prime Minister of New Zealand.
A bombing at St. Peter and St. Paul's Church (pictured) in Cairo, Egypt, kills at least 25 people and injures 49 others.
A church collapses in Uyo, Nigeria, killing at least 23 people.
Two explosions outside a football stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, kill 46 people and injure more than 150 others.
A freight train derails, explodes and catches fire at Hitrino, Bulgaria, killing 7 people and injuring 29 others.

On this day...

December 15: Kingdom Day in Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten (1954); Zamenhof Day in Esperanto culture

Emperor Hailingwang of Jin

1161 – Emperor Hailing (bust pictured) of the Jin dynasty was assassinated in a military camp near the Yangtze River front following Jin losses in the Battle of Caishi.
1791 – The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified.
1906 – The Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway, a 14.17-kilometre (8.80 mi) long deep-level underground tube railway connecting Hammersmith and Finsbury Park, London, opened.
1946 – US-backed Iranian troops brought an end to the Iran crisis when they marched upon the breakaway Republic of Mahabad and recaptured the territory.
1961 – Former Nazi leader Adolf Eichmann was sentenced to death after being found guilty on fifteen criminal charges, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.

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Today's featured picture

Tiger beetles are a large group of beetles known for their aggressive predatory habits and running speed. The fastest species of tiger beetle can run at a speed of 9 km/h (5.6 mph), or about 125 body lengths per second. As of 2005, about 2,600 species and subspecies are known, with the richest diversity in the Indomalayan realm, followed by the Neotropics.

Photograph: Muhammad Mahdi Karim

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