Wikipedia:Main Page history/2013 January 29

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From today's featured article

The dreadnought was the predominant type of battleship in the early 20th century. The first of the kind, the Royal Navy's Dreadnought, had such an impact when launched in 1906 that similar subsequent battleships were referred to as "dreadnoughts". Her design had two revolutionary features: an "all-big-gun" armament scheme and steam turbine propulsion. As dreadnoughts became a crucial symbol of national power, the arrival of these new warships renewed the naval arms race, principally between the United Kingdom and Germany but reflected worldwide, including South America (a Brazilian Minas Geraes-class battleship pictured). The concept of an all-big-gun ship had been in development for several years before Dreadnought's construction. The Imperial Japanese Navy had begun work on an all-big-gun battleship in 1904, but finished the ship as a semi-dreadnought; the United States Navy was also building all-big-gun battleships. Technical development continued rapidly through the dreadnought era and within ten years, new battleships outclassed Dreadnought herself. Most of the original dreadnoughts were scrapped after the end of World War I under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty. Large dreadnought fleets only fought once, at the Battle of Jutland. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

From Wikipedia's newest content:

... that Michael Winner (pictured) wanted to greet future visitors to Woodland House as a talking waxwork statue?

... that Hasan ibn Zayd, the founder of the Zaydid emirate of Tabaristan, was succeeded by his brother Muhammad, who lost it to the Samanids?

... that the listed buildings in Northwich, Cheshire, include three structures designed so that they could be lifted in the event of further subsidence in the town due to salt extraction?

... that the New York-based Russian Symphony Orchestra Society gave the first American performance of Igor Stravinsky's The Firebird?

... that basketball player Cookie Belcher set Big 12 Conference records for steals in a season and a career?

... the Roman temple from the second century at al-Masmiyah, Syria, has rare niches for statues in its cella?

... that Norwegian footballer Kai Risholt could not sleep for 22 days?

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In the news

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands

Queen Beatrix (pictured) announces that she will abdicate the Dutch throne at the end of April.

The World Men's Handball Championship concludes with Spain defeating Denmark in the final.

More than 230 people are killed and over 160 others are injured in a nightclub fire in Santa Maria, Brazil.

Miloš Zeman is elected President of the Czech Republic.

At least 50 people are killed in a prison riot in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.

Protests coinciding with the second anniversary of the 2011 Egyptian revolution result in widespread injuries and deaths in Egypt.

Syrian civil war – Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...

On this day...

January 29: Mawlid (Shia Islam, 2013)

904 – Sergius III (pictured), whose pontificate was marked with feudal violence and disorder in central Italy, came out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed antipope Christopher.

1863 – Indian Wars in North America: The United States Army led by Patrick Edward Connor massacred Chief Bear Hunter and forces of the Shoshone at the Bear River Massacre in present day Franklin County, Idaho.

1943 – World War II: The Battle of Rennell Island, the last major naval engagement between the United States Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Guadalcanal Campaign, began.

1991 – Gulf War: The Battle of Khafji, the first major ground engagement of the war, as well as its deadliest, began.

2009 – The Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt ruled that people who did not adhere to one of the three government-recognised religions are also eligible to receive government identity documents.

More anniversaries: January 28 – January 29 – January 30

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It is now January 29, 2013 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

Three types of nail clippers, used to cut finger- and toenails as part of grooming. The left cutter is in the plier style, while the centre and right ones are in the compound lever style. Like most clippers on the market, these three are made of stainless steel.

Photograph: Evan-Amos

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