Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 August 16

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Today's featured article
José Paranhos, Viscount of Rio Branco (1819–1880) was a politician, monarchist, diplomat, teacher and journalist of the Empire of Brazil. In 1871, Rio Branco became the President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) for the first time. He would become the Council's longest-serving president, and his cabinet the second longest, in Brazilian history. His government was marked by a time of economic prosperity and the enactment of several necessary reforms—though they proved to be seriously flawed. The most important of these initiatives was the Law of Free Birth, which granted freeborn status to children born to slave women. Having become one of the main leaders of the Conservative Party, the passage of this law increased Rio Branco's popularity. However, his government was plagued by a long crisis with the Catholic Church that had resulted from the expulsion of Freemasons from its lay brotherhoods. After more than four years heading the Cabinet, Rio Branco resigned in 1875. Following a long vacation in Europe, his health swiftly declined and he was diagnosed with oral cancer. Rio Branco died in 1880 and was widely mourned throughout the country. He is regarded by most historians as one of Brazil's greatest statesmen. (more...) Recently featured: Manhunter – DNA nanotechnology – Gray mouse lemur Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the troops besieging the British in Gibraltar in 1727 (pictured) included the founder of the original Hellfire Club? ... that Javed Miandad is the youngest batsman, and the only teenager, to score a double century in Test cricket? ... that job attitude influences performance, rather than the other way around? ... that Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford's great-grandfather won three Football League First Division titles with Newcastle United? ... that an individual sponge, Neofibularia nolitangere, may have tens of thousands of parasitic worms, Haplosyllis spongicola, living within its tissues? ... that Korean-Canadian film director Helen Lee made her debut in her pyjamas? ... that after winning her first Olympic medal at her fourth Olympic Games, British judoka Karina Bryant hasn't ruled out competing at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio? ... that "The Mermaid" is a sea ballad, not a sea shanty? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
British bank Standard Chartered agrees to pay the US state of New York a $340 million fine to settle money laundering charges. The closing ceremony (pictured) of the Summer Olympics is held in London. Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy wins the PGA Championship by a record eight strokes. Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi orders Defense Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi to resign and cancels military-declared constitutional amendments. In the Olympics, Jamaica and the United States set world records in the men's 4 × 100 metres relay and the women's 4 × 100 metres relay, respectively. At least 306 people are killed and 3,000 others injured in two earthquakes near Tabriz, Iran. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
August 16: Children's Day in Paraguay 1777 – American Revolutionary War: The Americans, led by General John Stark, routed British and Brunswick troops under Friedrich Baum at the Battle of Bennington in Walloomsac, New York. 1891 – The Basilica of San Sebastian in Manila, the only all-steel church in Asia, was officially consecrated. 1896 – A group led by Skookum Jim Mason (pictured) discovered gold near Dawson City, Yukon, Canada, setting off the Klondike Gold Rush. 1900 – Second Boer War: A 10,000-strong column of soldiers left by Lord Kitchener broke a 13-day siege of a small garrison. 1987 – Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashed after takeoff in Detroit, Michigan, US, killing all of the crew and passengers except one. 2009 – Y. E. Yang won the 2009 PGA Championship to become the first Asian-born golfer to win a men's major golf championship. More anniversaries: August 15 – August 16 – August 17 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now August 16, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The golden toad (Bufo periglenes) is an extinct species of true toad that was once abundant in a small region of high-altitude cloud-covered tropical forests, about 30 km² (12 sq mi) in area, above the city of Monteverde, Costa Rica. The last reported sighting of a golden toad was on 15 May 1989. Its sudden extinction may have been caused by chytrid fungus and extensive habitat loss.

Photo: Charles H. Smith, USFWS

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