Wikipedia:Main Page history/2016 March 16

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From today's featured article

Hurricane Charley was the costliest tropical cyclone of the 1986 Atlantic hurricane season. The third tropical storm and second hurricane of the season, Charley formed as a subtropical low on August 13 along the Florida panhandle. It became a tropical storm on August 15 off the coast of South Carolina, then as a hurricane traversed eastern North Carolina. It weakened over the north Atlantic Ocean before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone on August 20. Its remnants remained identifiable until crossing the British Isles and dissipating on August 30. In the U.S. Hurricane Charley caused an estimated $15 million in damage (equivalent to $32.4 million in 2016). As an extratropical cyclone, Charley brought heavy rainfall and strong winds to Ireland and the United Kingdom, causing at least 11 deaths. Ireland saw a record for the greatest daily rainfall total in the country, 7.8 inches (200 mm). In the Dublin area, 451 buildings were flooded, some up to a depth of 8 ft (2.4 m). In the United Kingdom, the storm flooded rivers and brought down trees and power lines. (Full article...)

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In the news

Total solar eclipse, viewed from Balikpapan

An explosion in Ankara, Turkey, kills 37 people and injures at least 125 others.
At least 18 people are killed in shootings at a beach resort in Grand-Bassam, Ivory Coast.
Google DeepMind's AlphaGo computer program wins a series against Lee Sedol, one of the world's best Go players.
A total solar eclipse occurs, with totality (pictured) visible from Indonesia and the North Pacific.
In the Slovak parliamentary election, Direction – Social Democracy remains the largest political party but loses its majority in the National Council.

Ongoing events:
- Zika virus outbreak
- European migrant crisis
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On this day...

March 16: Latvian Legion Day

Aldo Moro, during his detention by Red Brigades

1244 – Following their successful siege of Montségur, French royal forces burned about 210 Cathar Perfecti and unrepentant credentes.
1802 – The United States Congress authorized the establishment of the US Army Corps of Engineers in order to operate the US Military Academy at West Point, New York.
1926 – American scientist Robert H. Goddard launched the world's first liquid-fueled rocket, which flew for two-and-a-half seconds before falling to the ground.
1978 – Former Prime Minister of Italy Aldo Moro (pictured) was kidnapped in Rome by Mario Moretti and the Red Brigades.
1988 – Iran–Iraq War: Iraqi forces began attacking the Kurdish town of Halabja with chemical weapons, killing up to 5,000 people.

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Today's featured picture

A platoon sergeant at the Officer Candidate School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, a base dedicated to training, educating, evaluating and screening candidates for the United States Marine Corps. In the Marines, the billet of platoon sergeant is usually held by a staff sergeant (E-6) or a gunnery sergeant (E-7), depending on the type of platoon. The sergeant's duties include taking care of the Marines and the platoon's operational control and advising the platoon commander.

Photograph: John Kennicutt, U.S. Marine Corps

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