Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 August 16

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José Maria da Silva Paranhos in 1879

José Paranhos, Viscount of Rio Branco (1819–1880) was a politician, monarchist, diplomat, teacher and journalist of the Empire of Brazil. In 1871, Rio Branco became the President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) for the first time. He would become the Council's longest-serving president, and his cabinet the second longest, in Brazilian history. His government was marked by a time of economic prosperity and the enactment of several necessary reforms—though they proved to be seriously flawed. The most important of these initiatives was the Law of Free Birth, which granted freeborn status to children born to slave women. Having become one of the main leaders of the Conservative Party, the passage of this law increased Rio Branco's popularity. However, his government was plagued by a long crisis with the Catholic Church that had resulted from the expulsion of Freemasons from its lay brotherhoods. After more than four years heading the Cabinet, Rio Branco resigned in 1875. Following a long vacation in Europe, his health swiftly declined and he was diagnosed with oral cancer. Rio Branco died in 1880 and was widely mourned throughout the country. He is regarded by most historians as one of Brazil's greatest statesmen. (more...)

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  • In the news

    A phoenix-shaped decoration and the caldron bearing the Olympic flame

  • British bank Standard Chartered agrees to pay the US state of New York a $340 million fine to settle money laundering charges.
  • The closing ceremony (pictured) of the Summer Olympics is held in London.
  • Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy wins the PGA Championship by a record eight strokes.
  • Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi orders Defense Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi to resign and cancels military-declared constitutional amendments.
  • In the Olympics, Jamaica and the United States set world records in the men's 4 × 100 metres relay and the women's 4 × 100 metres relay, respectively.
  • At least 306 people are killed and 3,000 others injured in two earthquakes near Tabriz, Iran.
  • On this day...

    August 16: Children's Day in Paraguay

    Skookum Jim Mason

  • 1777American Revolutionary War: The Americans, led by General John Stark, routed British and Brunswick troops under Friedrich Baum at the Battle of Bennington in Walloomsac, New York.
  • 1891 – The Basilica of San Sebastian in Manila, the only all-steel church in Asia, was officially consecrated.
  • 1896 – A group led by Skookum Jim Mason (pictured) discovered gold near Dawson City, Yukon, Canada, setting off the Klondike Gold Rush.
  • 1900Second Boer War: A 10,000-strong column of soldiers left by Lord Kitchener broke a 13-day siege of a small garrison.
  • 1987Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashed after takeoff in Detroit, Michigan, US, killing all of the crew and passengers except one.
  • 2009Y. E. Yang won the 2009 PGA Championship to become the first Asian-born golfer to win a men's major golf championship.
  • More anniversaries: August 15 August 16 August 17

    It is now August 16, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

    Today's featured picture

    Golden toad

    The golden toad (Bufo periglenes) is an extinct species of true toad that was once abundant in a small region of high-altitude cloud-covered tropical forests, about 30 km2 (12 sq mi) in area, above the city of Monteverde, Costa Rica. The last reported sighting of a golden toad was on 15 May 1989. Its sudden extinction may have been caused by chytrid fungus and extensive habitat loss.

    Photo: Charles H. Smith, USFWS

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