Wikipedia:Main Page history/2019 February 23

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From today's featured article

Map of Constantinople

Istanbul, Turkey, known before 330 as Byzantium and between 330 and 1930 as Constantinople, is a transcontinental city of Europe and Asia, straddling the Bosporus strait between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Its commercial and historical center lies on the European side; about a third of its residents live on the Asian side. The population of the city has increased tenfold since the 1950s to around 15 million, making Istanbul one of the world's most populous cities and the fourth-largest city proper. Founded on the Sarayburnu promontory around 660 BCE, the city grew in size and influence. It was an imperial capital for almost 16 centuries, during the Roman and Byzantine (330–1204), Latin (1204–1261), Palaiologos Byzantine (1261–1453) and Ottoman (1453–1922) empires. Although Ankara was chosen as the new capital after the Turkish War of Independence, Istanbul remains Turkey's economic and cultural center. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

Lancewood

... that the bark of the lancewood (pictured) smells like violets when cut or exposed?
... that Armenia's anthem is based on Mikayel Nalbandian's poem, inspired by Italian unification?
... that Chinese director Ying Liang was exiled from Shanghai for filming When Night Falls?
... that a 12-hour hearing for Mexican businesswoman Rosalinda González Valencia was held behind closed doors because the government was presenting sensitive evidence about a drug cartel?
... that the Cavalry Staff Corps is regarded as Britain's first standing military police force?
... that African-American rapper Leikeli47 always masks her face while performing, saying it makes her feel "free"?
... that former prime minister of India Manmohan Singh called the events of the First War of Indian Independence in 1857 a testimony to Hindu–Muslim unity?
... that an engraving in 1500 by Master MZ shows a woman lifting her skirts to protect or hide an owl?

In the news

Karl Lagerfeld

German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld (pictured), best known for his creative work at Chanel, dies at the age of 85.
A suicide bombing attack near Pulwama, in Indian-administered Kashmir, kills 40 security personnel.
NASA concludes the 15-year Opportunity Mars rover mission after being unable to wake the rover from hibernation.
The Republic of Macedonia changes its name to the Republic of North Macedonia as the Prespa agreement takes effect, ending a 27-year naming dispute with Greece.

On this day

February 23

Aluminum

1739 – The identity of English highwayman Dick Turpin was uncovered by his former schoolteacher, who recognised his handwriting, leading to Turpin's arrest.
1886 – American inventor Charles Martin Hall discovered an inexpensive method of producing aluminum (sample pictured).
1909 – The Silver Dart was flown off the ice of Bras d'Or Lake on Cape Breton Island, making it the first controlled powered flight in Canada.
1947 – The International Organization for Standardization, responsible for worldwide industrial and commercial standards, was founded.
1991 – The government of Thai prime minister Chatichai Choonhavan was deposed in a bloodless coup by General Sunthorn Kongsompong.

Herbert II, Count of Vermandois (d. 943) · Nicholas Fuller (d. 1620) · Johnny Carey (b. 1919)

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Cardiss Collins (1931–2013) was an American politician from Illinois who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1973 to 1997. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the fourth African-American woman in Congress and the first to represent a Midwestern state. Collins had previously worked as an accountant in various state government positions. She was elected to Congress in a special election to fill the seat left vacant by her husband, George W. Collins (1925–1972), who had died in the United Airlines Flight 553 plane crash. She was re-elected to the seat eleven times but did not seek a thirteenth term. At different times during her almost 24-year tenure in Congress, Collins served as chairwoman of several committees and as president and later vice chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Photograph: U.S. Congress; restored by Adam Cuerden

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