Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 March 12

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Today's featured article
The Government of the Han Dynasty had its capital at Chang'an, and later Luoyang. The emperor headed the government, promulgating all written laws, serving as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and presiding as the chief executive official. He appointed all government officials who earned a salary of 600 bushels of grain or more with the help of advisors who reviewed each nominee. Near the beginning of the dynasty, semi-autonomous regional kings rivaled the emperor's authority. This autonomy was greatly diminished when the imperial court enacted reforms following the threats to central control like the Rebellion of the Seven States. The empress dowager could either be the emperor's actual or symbolic mother, and was in practice more powerful than the emperor, as she could override his decisions. The emperor's executive powers could also be practiced by any official upon whom he bestowed the Staff of Authority. These powers included the right to execute criminals without the imperial court's permission. The highest officials in the central bureaucracy, who provided advisory, censorial, executive, and judicial roles in governing the empire, consisted of cabinet members known as the Excellencies, heads of large specialized ministries known as the Nine Ministers, and various metropolitan officials of the capital region. Local government divisions, in descending order by size, were the province, commandery, county, and district. (more...) Recently featured: Joseph Szigeti – Thoroughbred – 2006 Pacific hurricane season Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that Belinda Meuldijk, whose father Wim Meuldijk created the Dutch TV character Pipo de Clown (pictured), continued her father's legacy with the 2003 movie Pipo en de p-p-Parelridder? ... that Ford's 1990s foray into electric vehicles ended after several of its Ecostar's sodium-sulfur batteries burst into flame during charging? ... that All Saints Church, East Horndon, Essex, has been damaged by a bomb, a tramp, and vandals? ... that Civil War historian Gilbert R. Tredway refuted the claim that Democrats in his native Indiana were less supportive of the Union war effort than were their Republican neighbors? ... that although the Kern, Bolton and Wodehouse musical Leave It to Jane was written for the Princess Theatre, it premiered elsewhere because another musical by the same creators was already running there? ... that Murad Pasha Mosque in Damascus, Syria, served as a center for the Naqshbandi Sufi order? ... that the White Star Line ocean liner SS Zealandic was disguised as a decoy version of the British carrier HMS Hermes during WW II and was sunk by German submarine U-106? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
An explosion at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant (pictured) raises fears of a nuclear meltdown. An 8.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Japan triggers a 10-metre (33 ft) tsunami, killing more than 500 people. Amid a continued uprising in Libya, France becomes the first country to recognize the National Transitional Council as Libya's legitimate government. A 5.4-magnitude earthquake strikes Yunnan, China, severely damaging more than 18,000 houses and apartment buildings. Belimumab becomes the first drug in over 50 years to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of lupus. At least 25 people are killed and 127 others are wounded in a car bomb attack in Faisalabad, Pakistan. The Supreme Court of India lays out guidelines for passive euthanasia. Middle East and North Africa protests Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
March 12: Independence Day in Mauritius (1968); Arbor Day in China and Taiwan 515 BCE – Construction of the Temple in Jerusalem was completed. 538 – Vitiges, king of the Ostrogoths, ended his siege of Rome, leaving the city in the hands of the victorious Roman general, Belisarius. 1622 – Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier, founders of the Jesuits, were canonized as saints by Pope Gregory XV. 1930 – Gandhi began the Dandi March (pictured), a 24-day walk to defy the British tax on salt in colonial India. 1947 – Cold War: U.S. President Harry S. Truman proclaimed the Truman Doctrine to help stem the spread of Communism. 1971 – The Turkish Armed Forces executed a coup by memorandum, forcing the resignation of Prime Minister Süleyman Demirel. More anniversaries: March 11 – March 12 – March 13 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now March 12 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A stitched panoramic view of Canberra, the capital city of Australia, as seen from the top of Black Mountain Tower. Among the many landmarks visible are (left-to-right) Mount Ainslie, Canberra International Airport (in the distance near the horizon), Australian National University (slightly below the city centre), and Lake Burley Griffin (centre-right).

Photo: JJ Harrison

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