Wikipedia:Main Page history/2018 January 31

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From today's featured article

The Cape sparrow (Passer melanurus) is a southern African bird. A medium-sized sparrow at 14–16 centimetres (5.5–6.3 in), it has distinctive grey, brown, and chestnut plumage, with large pale head stripes in both sexes. The male has some bold black and white markings on its head and neck. The species inhabits semi-arid savannah, cultivated areas, and towns, from the central coast of Angola to eastern South Africa and Swaziland. Cape sparrows primarily eat seeds, along with soft plant parts and insects. They typically breed in colonies, and search for food in large nomadic flocks. The nest can be constructed in a tree, bush, cavity, or disused nest of another species. A typical clutch contains three or four eggs, and both parents are involved, from nest building to feeding the young. The species is common in most of its range and coexists successfully in urban habitats with two of its relatives, the native southern grey-headed sparrow and the house sparrow, an introduced species. The Cape sparrow's population has not decreased significantly, and is not seriously threatened by human activities. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

Persoonia elliptica flowers

... that the Western Australian shrubs Persoonia elliptica (pictured) and Persoonia saccata are known as snottygobbles?
... that New York City's Broadway Junction station sees 100,000 daily riders, the vast majority using it to make transfers?
... that Ilona Durigo, one of the leading concert contraltos of her time, performed in the first recording of Bach's St Matthew Passion, conducted by Willem Mengelberg?
... that Oneco referred to the gift of a ceremonial sword from Charles II of England as proof of the legal equality of the Mohegan sachemate with the English monarchy?
... that the company developing the SSM-A-23 Dart anti-tank missile changed ownership twice while the project was underway?
... that Mildred Dilling's first fee for a harp performance was a dozen carnations and a jar of pickles?
... that a newly appointed count of the Székelys was entitled to a horse from each of the Székely seats?
... that of the six known Anglo-Saxon helmets, the Shorwell helmet was originally mistaken for a pot, the Pioneer helmet for a bucket, and the Coppergate helmet for a rock?

In the news

Miloš Zeman

Miloš Zeman (pictured) is re-elected for a second term in the Czech presidential election.
In Yemen, separatists from the Southern Transitional Council seize government buildings in Aden from President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi's forces.
A bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan, kills at least 103 people and injures more than 200 others.
In Miryang, South Korea, a hospital fire kills 37 people and injures more than 130 others.
Chinese scientists announce the creation of two identical monkeys, the first primates to be cloned using the SCNT technique.

On this day...

January 31: Independence Day in Nauru (1968); Tu BiShvat (Judaism in 2018)

Damage caused by the Pemex explosion

314 – Sylvester I, during whose pontificate many churches in Rome were constructed by Emperor Constantine I, began his reign as pope.
1578 – Eighty Years' War: Spain won a crushing victory in the Battle of Gembloux, leading to a break up of the United Seventeen Provinces, leading to a division of the Netherlands in the Union of Arras (Catholic South) and Union of Utrecht (Protestant North).
1945 – Second World War: The British 3rd Commando Brigade's victory in the Battle of Hill 170 was important in causing the 28th Japanese Army to withdraw from the Arakan peninsula of Burma.
1957 – A Douglas DC-7B operated by Douglas Aircraft collided in mid-air with a U.S. Air Force F-89 and crashed into a schoolyard in Pacoima, California.
2013 – A gas leak underneath the Pemex Executive Tower in Mexico City caused an explosion (damage pictured) that killed at least 37 people and injured another 126.

Manuel Alberti (d. 1811) · Justin Timberlake (b. 1981)

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Today's featured picture

Nina Sublatti (b. 1995) is a Georgian singer, songwriter, calligrapher, and model. Having previously won the 2013 Georgian edition of Idols, she achieved international attention when she represented her country in Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with her song "Warrior". She has since served as a judge on X Factor Georgia and Idols.

Photograph: Ailura

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