Wikipedia:Main Page history/2013 June 3

The Huế chemical attacks occurred on June 3, 1963, when soldiers of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam poured liquid chemicals from tear gas grenades onto praying Buddhists in Huế, South Vietnam (location of attacks pictured). The Buddhists were protesting against religious discrimination by the regime of President Ngo Dinh Diem, a Roman Catholic. The attacks caused 67 people to be hospitalised for skin blistering and respiratory ailments, and led the United States to threaten privately to withdraw support for Diem. The protests were part of a Buddhist campaign for religious equality after nine people were killed while defying a ban on flying the Buddhist flag. An inquiry determined that the chemical used failed to vaporise as it should have done, exonerating the soldiers from charges that they had used poison or mustard gas. However, Diem had already been forced to appoint a panel of three cabinet ministers to meet with Buddhist leaders for negotiations regarding religious equality. The talks led to the signing of the Joint Communique, but the policy changes it provided were not implemented and widespread protests continued, leading to the assassination of Diem in a military coup. (Full article...)

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June 3: Feast day of Saint Charles Lwanga and the Uganda Martyrs (Roman Catholic Church, Church of England, Lutheranism); Queen's Official Birthday in New Zealand (2013); Western Australia Day (2013)

Thirty-five centuries have been scored by Steve Waugh (pictured) during his career in international cricket. Making his Test debut against India in 1985, Waugh's first century came four years later against England. His career best score of 200—his only double century—came against West Indies in April 1995. Waugh is the only player to make scores exceeding 150 in an innings against all Test-playing nations. As of 2013, he is eighth in the list of leading century makers in Test cricket. Although Waugh made his One Day International (ODI) debut in 1985, it was not until 1996 that he scored an ODI century. He went on to score two more centuries till the end of his career. Waugh's highest score of 120 was recorded against South Africa during the 1999 Cricket World Cup. (Full list...)