Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 December 30

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Today's featured article
Charles Stewart (1868–1946) was a Canadian politician who served as the third Premier of Alberta from 1917 until 1921. As Premier, Stewart tried to hold together his Liberal Party, which was divided by the Conscription Crisis of 1917. He endeavored to enforce prohibition, which had been enshrined in law by a referendum during the premiership of his predecessor, Arthur Sifton, but found that the law was not widely enough supported to be effectively policed. His government took over several of the province's financially troubled railroads, and guaranteed bonds sold to fund irrigation projects. Several of these policies were the result of lobbying by the United Farmers of Alberta (UFA), with which Stewart enjoyed good relations; even so, the UFA was politicized during Stewart's premiership and ran candidates in the 1921 election. Unable to match the UFA's appeal to rural voters, Stewart's government was defeated at the polls and he resigned as premier. After leaving provincial politics, Stewart was invited to join the federal cabinet of William Lyon Mackenzie King, in which he served as Minister of the Interior and Mines. He served in King's cabinet until 1930, when the King government was defeated; in 1935, so too was Stewart. He died in December 1946 in Ottawa. (more...) Recently featured: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier – Peace dollar – Knowle West, Bristol Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that New Zealand's Blue Lake (pictured) has the clearest fresh water reported anywhere in the world? ... that when the Dalai Lama visited Taiwan in 1997, he was treated as a Republic of China national without household registration? ... that Frank Langella is the only person to win the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play more than once? ... that Texas Governor Hardin Richard Runnels signed a bill into law allowing a free Negro to return to slavery by selecting a new master? ... that the Triple Alliance of 1788, formed on the verge of the French Revolution, almost led to the war which would have pitted England and Prussia against Russia? ... that the deputy mayor of Safed was indicted for selling paintings from the museum that Emanuel Romano founded for his father, the sculptor Enrico Glicenstein? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Samoa and Tokelau switch to the western side of the International Date Line, skipping 30 December entirely. The first stage of China's Compass satellite navigation system becomes operational, covering the China region. Multiple bombings occur in Nigeria, killing at least 39 people. Two coordinated bombings kill at least 44 people in Damascus, Syria. A series of coordinated bombings in Baghdad kills at least 65 people. Soyuz TMA-03M (pictured), launched from Baikonur, carries a crew of three men to the International Space Station. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
December 30: Rizal Day in the Philippines (1896) 1066 – A Muslim mob stormed the royal palace in Granada, crucified vizier Joseph ibn Naghrela and massacred most of the Berber Jewish population of the city. 1702 – Carolina colonial governor James Moore abandoned the siege against the Castillo de San Marcos at St. Augustine, Spanish Florida, and retreated to Charles Town in disgrace. 1924 – Astronomer Edwin Hubble announced that Andromeda (pictured), previously believed to be a nebula, is actually another galaxy, and that the Milky Way is only one of many such galaxies in the universe. 1965 – Ferdinand Marcos, who went on to rule the Philippines for 21 years, took office, beginning his first term as President. 2006 – Basque nationalist group ETA detonated a van bomb at Madrid-Barajas Airport in Madrid, Spain, ending a nine-month ceasefire. More anniversaries: December 29 – December 30 – December 31 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now December 30, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

Pure (99.97+%) iron chips, electrolytically refined, as well as a high purity 1 cm³ iron cube for comparison. Iron is the most common element (by mass) on Earth, forming much of the outer and inner core, as well as the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust.

Photo: Alchemist-hp

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