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January 9

How are years written in India? (December 29)

It's so annoying when you draft a reply to a comment and when you come to post it the discussion has archived. Couldn't the bot be programmed not to archive discussions until at least 24 hours after the last comment? I did in fact read that article before my last comment, and I saw no evidence of the phenomenon you describe. It appears to me to be a discourse on numbers generally, with no specific reference to dates. I know thgere are terms such as lakh and crore (which the government is trying to stamp out) which create anomalies in the way a number is punctuated. 2A02:C7B:228:3400:A180:B29C:E1CD:CF6B (talk) 13:35, 9 January 2024 (UTC)

There's actually a current discussion about this bot's archiving parameters at User talk:scs § Discussions updated very recently were archived. Additional  Courtesy link: Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2023 December 29 § How are years written in India? Folly Mox (talk) 14:46, 9 January 2024 (UTC)

January 10

Military and police face covers

I've noticed that many soldiers and police officers across various countries (from Ecuador to Azerbaijan and Russia) now often cover their lower face parts, also on some propaganda posters from social media as well. To me this looks like a relatively recent trend (wasn't that frequent say 10 or 20 years ago). Is it a known noted thing? Brandmeister^talk 22:59, 10 January 2024 (UTC)

The gunmen who stormed a TV studio in Ecuador during a live broadcast were committing a criminal act for which they, if identified, could expect to be prosecuted.^[1] The fear of retaliation after having been identified has also become a factor for members of regular personnel participating in violent enforcement operations. Before everyone was going around carrying a camera cum video recorder the risk was minimal, so no precautions were needed.  --Lambiam 09:31, 11 January 2024 (UTC)

That was my guess exactly. Somewhat amusing how this fear started to transcend many countries. Brandmeister^talk 10:21, 11 January 2024 (UTC)

Not sure how that's amusing. The fear of retaliation by someone using a facial recognition system to take a screen grab from a news report and find you on Facebook or Instagram seems easily doable. 20 years ago - not so much. 41.23.55.195 (talk) 14:16, 11 January 2024 (UTC)

Well, if police starts to hide faces fearing own citizens during ordinary protests or routine patrols that's amusingly odd and rings some bells for the government IMO. But face covering when confronting armed criminals instead is perfectly understandable. Brandmeister^talk 17:04, 11 January 2024 (UTC)

It has become common that first responders reporting to an incident are attacked.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} Amusing?  --Lambiam 17:26, 11 January 2024 (UTC)

IANAL but, in Spain, riot police cover their faces. To provide some degree of accountability, they carry an alphanumeric identifier on their riot vests. Hopefully, in case of misconduct, they can be identified and investigated. es:Ley Orgánica de protección de la seguridad ciudadana (2015) forbid taking pictures of police officers (riot or not) on duty, but, according to the article, the Spanish Constitutional Court toned it down. --Error (talk) 09:57, 12 January 2024 (UTC)

In some countries, there need be no identification at all: Unidentified Federal Police Prompt Fears Amid Protests in Washington. Alansplodge (talk) 12:23, 12 January 2024 (UTC)

A more accurate headline for that article would have been, "Unidentifiable Federal Police Prompt Fears Amid Protests in Washington".  --Lambiam 10:15, 13 January 2024 (UTC)

January 13

India Tropical Cyclone

I'm currently working on a draft here. In this article, I'm primarily looking for Indian sources which document the impacts of this cyclone. Are there any sources which could fit? ''Flux55'' (talk) 19:25, 13 January 2024 (UTC)

January 15

How are British ministers/secretaries of state appointed

Famously, an incoming British PM is received in an audience by the King and formally invited to form a government in the King's name.

What about Cabinet secretaries and junior ministers? Of course, it's become common in recent times for their appointments to be announced on X (formerly known as Twitter).

1. But how are they appointed in practice? Does the King also have to formally meet and appoint them or is another official empowered to do so on his behalf (the PM/the Lord President)?

2. Are any ministers so important that they're personally appointed in the King's presence (e.g., the DPM, the Lord President, the Lord Chancellor, the Great Offices)?

3. Is there any difference between ministers/secretaries who are already privy counsellors and those who aren't?

4. Some secretaries/ministers have seals associated with their officers (e.g., obviously the Lord Privy Seal). Does that change anything? 09:57, 15 January 2024 (UTC) 123.193.182.167 (talk) 09:57, 15 January 2024 (UTC)

Those who follow the news will know that the Prime Minister can hire and fire his ministers at will. It's quite common for a Member of Parliament to be appointed to the Privy Council on assuming office. They remain members - which is why the body is so large. Because of its size, there is no automatic right to attend meetings (except on the demise of the Crown). 78.146.96.26 (talk) 11:39, 15 January 2024 (UTC)

January 16

Taiwanese presidential swearing-in ceremony

Having checked the official website and this photo, I couldn't find major differences between it and Nazi salute. The only difference I'm seeing is that elbow is bent, but not all people on that photo do that. Is there a formally prescribed instruction on that to compare? 213.134.142.249 (talk) 13:20, 16 January 2024 (UTC)

In the Taiwanese photo, it is important that everyone is holding a paper or leaflet of some kind. If they weren't, it is very likely that they would make the same gesture with both hands. With the palm facing outward, it is a gesture of surrender that is very often seen in religious settings. Members of the congregation hold their palms foward as a surrender to whom or whatever they are worshipping. In many countries, the leader of a country is given a religious reverence. The Nazi salute is similar, but the arm should be as close to 45 degrees as possible and the palm facing down. The fingers should be directed at the person directing whatever is being done. For example, members of a parade do not point their arms forward. They point them at the leader, rotating as they march by. 12.116.29.106 (talk) 16:39, 16 January 2024 (UTC)