Wikipedia:Main Page history/2013 May 13

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The State Trunkline Highway System in Michigan consists of all the state highways, including those designated as Interstate, United States, or State Trunkline highways. Maintained by the Michigan Department of Transportation, the system comprises 9,716 miles (15,636 km) of trunklines in all 83 counties of the state. Its components range in scale from 10-lane urban freeways to two-lane rural undivided highways to a non-motorized highway on Mackinac Island, where cars are forbidden. The longest highway is nearly 400 miles (640 km) long, while the shortest is about three-quarters of a mile (about 1.2 km). A constitutional prohibition on state involvement in roads was removed in the early 20th century and on May 13, 1913, the State Reward Trunk Line Highways Act was passed, creating the system. Highway numbers were first posted on signs in 1919, making Michigan the second state to do so. Michigan's first freeways were built during the 1940s. Construction on Michigan's Interstates started in the late 1950s and continued until 1992. Few additional freeways have been built since 1992, and in the early years of the 21st century, projects are underway to bypass cities with new highways. (Full article...)

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... that although the native language spoken daily by the islanders (pictured) of Wallis and Futuna is the 'Uvea language, the official language is French?

... that the military career of Major Ernest Gambier-Parry was ended by wounds sustained in a campaign to avenge the grisly death of renowned General Charles George Gordon?

... that Kigali City Tower is the tallest building in Rwanda?

... that in 1344 Derby Black Friary was ransacked by a group of over 40 men, who stole £60 worth of goods?

... that the Danish poet Karl Gjellerup, who in 1917 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, was born at Roholte's rectory in 1857?

... that Hong Leong Group founder Kwek Hong Png was one of the world's richest men with an estimated net worth of $3 billion?

... that the Wizard beat Iron Man?

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Today's articles for improvement

Grocery store – Ruler – Double standard

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In the news

A Guatemalan court finds former president Efraín Ríos Montt guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity.

At least 46 people are killed by a pair of car bombs in Reyhanlı, Turkey.

Measurements of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere exceed 400 parts per million, the highest level since the Pliocene epoch.

The Kurdistan Workers' Party begins to leave Turkey following a ceasefire agreement.

Roberto Azevêdo is announced as the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization.

Alex Ferguson, winner of 13 English Premier League titles as manager of Manchester United, announces his retirement.

Recent deaths: Bryan Forbes

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On this day...

May 13: Rotuma Day in Fiji

1888 – Princess Isabel (pictured) of the Empire of Brazil signed the Lei Áurea into law, formally abolishing slavery in Brazil.

1909 – The first Giro d'Italia long distance road bicycle racing stage race began in Italy, with Italian professional road racing cyclist Luigi Ganna becoming the eventual winner.

1917 – Ten-year-old Lúcia Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto reportedly began experiencing a Marian apparition near Fátima, Portugal, now known as Our Lady of Fátima.

1958 – Australian Ben Carlin became the only person to circumnavigate the world in an amphibious vehicle, having travelled over 80,000 kilometres (50,000 mi) by land and sea.

1992 – Li Hongzhi introduced Falun Gong in a public lecture in Changchun, Jilin province, China.

2005 – Uzbek Interior Ministry and National Security Service troops fired into a crowd of protesters in Andijan, Uzbekistan, killing anywhere from 187, the official count of the government, to a reported 5,000 people.

More anniversaries: May 12 – May 13 – May 14

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From today's featured list

There have been 23 Prime Ministers of Pakistan since the country was established in 1947 by the Indian Independence Act. The prime minister is the political leader and head of government of Pakistan, responsible for nominating the rest of the government, chairing Cabinet meetings and deciding when to call general elections for the National Assembly. Liaquat Ali Khan (pictured), the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, was assassinated in 1951. Six further prime ministers served until 1958, when the post was abolished until 1973 (although Nurul Amin was prime minister for 13 days in 1971). Zulfikar Ali Bhutto held the office from 1973 to 1977; he was overthrown by Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq during Operation Fair Play and the post was vacant until 1985. Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were elected for two non-consecutive terms each during 1988–99. Pervez Musharraf took over the office through a military coup d'état in 1999. Mir Hazar Khan Khoso is the current Prime Minister of Pakistan. (Full list...)

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Lina Rafn (b. 1976) is a Danish singer, songwriter and producer active with the band Infernal. She had previously been a VJ on the show The Voice TV Danmark.

Photo: Jepsen

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