Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 January 14

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

Today's featured article
The Privy Council is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom. Its membership is mostly made up of senior politicians who are (or have been) members of either the House of Commons or the House of Lords. The Privy Council, the modern-day successor to the Privy Council of England, was formerly a powerful institution, but its policy decisions are now exclusively in the hands of one of its committees, the Cabinet. The Council formally advises the Sovereign on the exercise of the Royal Prerogative, and together they issue executive instruments known as Orders in Council, which among other things are used to make Regulations. The Council by itself also has a delegated authority to issue Orders of Council, which are mostly used to regulate certain public institutions. It advises the Sovereign on the issuing of Royal Charters, which are used to grant special status to incorporated bodies, and city or borough status to local authorities. (more...) Recently featured: Art Ross – Compsognathus – Mathew Charles Lamb Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that cattle are being re-introduced to Rosenannon Downs in Cornwall, UK, to benefit the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterfly (pictured)? ... that Stoke Edith House has been cited as a good example of Williamite architecture from the late 17th-century period? ... that George Pechiney was the Cleveland Blues' Opening Day starting pitcher for the baseball franchise's first game in the Major Leagues in 1887? ... that National Hero of Indonesia Teungku Chik di Tiro led a holy war against the Dutch in 19th-century Aceh? ... that Afghanistan returned to the Asian Games after the fall of the Taliban government in the midst of ongoing war? ... that The Fool's The Fool guitar helped Eric Clapton achieve his signature "woman tone"? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
The cruise ship Costa Concordia runs aground and capsizes off the coast of Tuscany, killing at least three people. In Burma, government officials and the Karen National Union agree on a ceasefire to end an internal conflict that began in 1948. Scientists describe a new species of frog, Paedophryne amauensis (pictured), the smallest known vertebrate. Malam Bacai Sanhá, President of Guinea-Bissau, dies in office at the age of 64. Anwar Ibrahim, leader of the Malaysian opposition and former Deputy Prime Minister, is acquitted of a sodomy charge. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
January 14: New Year (Julian calendar); Arba'een (Shi'a Islam, 2012); National Forest Conservation Day in Thailand; Ratification Day in the United States (1784) 1900 – Giacomo Puccini's opera Tosca, based on the play La Tosca by French dramatist Victorien Sardou, premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome. 1939 – Norway claimed Queen Maud Land in Antarctica as a dependent territory. 1957 – Kripalu Maharaj became the fifth Jagadguru ("world teacher"), a Hindu spiritual leader. 1960 – The Reserve Bank of Australia (headquarters pictured), the country's central bank and banknote-issuing authority, was established. 1967 – The counterculture Human Be-In was held in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, launching the Summer of Love. More anniversaries: January 13 – January 14 – January 15 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now January 14, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The American five-lined skink (Eumeces fasciatus) is one of the most common lizards in the eastern United States, as well as one of the five lizard species extant in Canada. It is a small to medium sized skink growing to about 12.5 to 21.5 cm (4.9 to 8.5 in). Juveniles (as seen here) are dark brown to black with five distinctive white to yellowish stripes running along the body and a bright blue tail.

Photo: Thegreenj

Recently featured: Woolly bear caterpillar – Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after the 2010 earthquake – US Navy recruitment poster

Archive – More featured pictures...

Other areas of Wikipedia

Community portal – Bulletin board, projects, resources and activities covering a wide range of Wikipedia areas.
Help desk – Ask questions about using Wikipedia.
Local embassy – For Wikipedia-related communication in languages other than English.
Reference desk – Serving as virtual librarians, Wikipedia volunteers tackle your questions on a wide range of subjects.
Site news – Announcements, updates, articles and press releases on Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation.
Village pump – For discussions about Wikipedia itself, including areas for technical issues and policies.