Wikipedia:Main Page history/2019 January 26

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From today's featured article

Pairs figure skaters

The 1956 Winter Olympics was a multi-sport event celebrated in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, from 26 January to 5 February. Cortina, which had originally been awarded the 1944 Winter Olympics, beat out Montreal, Colorado Springs and Lake Placid for the right to host the 1956 Games. The Cortina Games were the first to rely heavily on corporate sponsorship for funding. Thirty-two nations—the largest number of participating Winter Olympic countries to that point—competed in four sports and twenty-four events. The Italian army transported large amounts of snow to cover the alpine skiing courses. Toni Sailer of the Austrian team became the first person to win all three alpine skiing events in a single Olympics. The figure skating competition (pictured) was held outdoors for the last time. These games were the first Winter Olympics televised to a multi-national audience. For the first time at an Olympic Games, the venues were built with television in mind. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

Marble bust of Epicurus

... that the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus (bust pictured) taught that the only reliable way to learn about the world is through empirical observation?
... that the superhero form of the fictional character Marinette Dupain-Cheng was based on a woman wearing a ladybug-themed T-shirt who once worked with the creator of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir?
... that Denver community activist Arlene Hirschfeld lives in Shangri-La?
... that the International Encyclopedia of Women Composers was written partially in response to a comment by Thomas Beecham who said, "There are no women composers, never have been and possibly never will be"?
... that James A. Doonan purchased the cannons in front of Healy Hall, which date to 1634?
... that inflating balloons into lung arteries may be considered for people with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension who are not suitable for surgery?
... that Marianne Schech appeared as the Dyer's Wife in the U.S. premiere of Die Frau ohne Schatten by Richard Strauss at the San Francisco Opera?
... that a Sportsman sank twelve Axis ships during World War II?

In the news

Paul Kaba Thieba

More than a hundred Afghan National Security Forces members are reportedly killed in an attack on a military compound in Maidan Shar.
Ten Chadian United Nations peacekeepers are killed in an attack by al-Qaeda in Mali in apparent retaliation for the normalisation of diplomatic relations between Chad and Israel.
In Burkina Faso, Prime Minister Paul Kaba Thieba (pictured) and all members of his cabinet resign from office after a series of terrorist attacks.
More than ninety people are killed and dozens of others are injured in an explosion at an oil pipeline near Tlahuelilpan, Mexico.

On this day

January 26: Australia Day (1788); Republic Day in India (1950)

Arthur Phillip

1699 – The signing of the Treaty of Karlowitz to conclude the Austro-Ottoman War marked the end of Ottoman control in much of Central Europe and the rise of the Habsburg Monarchy as the dominant power in the region.
1788 – Captain Arthur Phillip (pictured) and the British First Fleet landed at Sydney Cove on the shore of Port Jackson in present-day Sydney, establishing the first permanent European settlement in Australia.
1905 – The Cullinan Diamond, the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found at 3,106.75 carats (621.350 g), was discovered at the Premier Mine in Cullinan, Gauteng, South Africa.
1949 – The Hale Telescope at Palomar Observatory in California, the largest aperture optical telescope in the world for 28 years, saw first light.
2009 – Rioting broke out in Antananarivo, Madagascar, sparking a political crisis that led to the deposal of President Marc Ravalomanana.

Harry Ricardo (b. 1885) · Athanase David (d. 1953) · David Kato (d. 2011)

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Today's featured picture

The Appearance of Christ Before the People is an oil-on-canvas painting by the Russian painter Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov (1806–1858). It is regarded as his magnum opus and took twenty years to complete, between 1837 and 1857. In the center of the painting John the Baptist, wearing an animal skin, is standing on the banks of the River Jordan. He points towards the figure of Jesus in the distance, approaching the scene. To the left stands the young John the Apostle, behind him Saint Peter, and further on Andrew the Apostle and Nathanael. In the foreground we see people, both old and young, who watch the scene unfold but are undecided what to do. The painting hangs in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

Painting: Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov

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