The 2002 Bou'in-Zahra earthquake occurred on June 22, 2002, in a region of northwestern Iran which is crossed by several major fault lines. The earthquake's epicenter was near the settlement of Bou'in-Zahra in Qazvin Province, an area known for destructive earthquakes. Measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale and 6.3 on the moment magnitude scale, the earthquake killed at least 261 people and injured 1,500 more. Over 20 aftershocks followed the earthquake. According to the International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES), the earthquake was felt as far away as the capital city of Tehran, approximately 290 kilometres (180 mi) east of the epicenter, although no damage was reported there. Most houses in the region were single-story masonry buildings, and virtually all of these collapsed. The public became angry due to the slow official response to victims who needed supplies. (more...)

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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1689:

The Tsardom of Russia and Qing Dynasty China signed the Treaty of Nerchinsk, establishing the Russian–Chinese border almost as it stands today. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Nerchinsk

1810:

Napoleonic Wars: The French Navy defeated the British Royal Navy , preventing them from taking the harbour of Grand Port on Île de France. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Grand_Port

1928:

Over sixty nations signed the Kellogg–Briand Pact, renouncing war as an instrument of national policy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kellogg%E2%80%93Briand_Pact

1985:

The Nigerian government of Muhammadu Buhari was overthrown by Ibrahim Babangida. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammadu_Buhari

2009:

The Burmese military junta and ethnic armies began three days of violent clashes in the Kokang Special Region. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokang_incident

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

best (v): To beat in a contest; to surpass in skill or achievement http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/best

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Ambiguity of language is philosophy's main source of problems. That is why it is of the utmost importance to examine attentively the very words we use. --Giuseppe Peano http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Peano