Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 December 19

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From today's featured article
James Tod (1782–1835) was an English officer of the British East India Company and an Oriental scholar. He combined his official role and his amateur interests to create a series of works about the history and geography of India, particularly the area then known as Rajputana (present-day Rajasthan). He travelled to India in 1799 as a cadet in the Bengal Army and rose quickly in rank. After the Third Anglo-Maratha War, during which Tod was involved in the intelligence department, he was appointed Political Agent for some areas of Rajputana. His task was to help unify the region under the control of the East India Company. While Tod was initially successful, his methods were questioned. Over time, his work was restricted and his areas of oversight were significantly curtailed. In 1823, due to declining health and reputation, Tod resigned and returned to England. He then published a number of academic works about India, based on materials collected during his travels. His major works have been criticised as inaccurate and biased. However, he is highly regarded in some areas of India and his accounts of India in general and the Rajputs in particular had a significant impact on British views for many years. (Full article...) Recently featured: Final Fantasy – "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo" – 1950 Atlantic hurricane season Archive – By email – More featured articles...
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In the news
Shinzō Abe (pictured) is elected Prime Minister of Japan as the Liberal Democratic Party gains an absolute majority in the House of Representatives. Twenty-eight people, including the gunman, are dead following a shooting at an elementary school in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Twenty-three people are injured in a knife attack at a primary school in the Chinese province of Henan. In Denmark, the discovery of "The Tallow Candle", a previously unknown story by author Hans Christian Andersen, is confirmed. North Korea successfully launches its first satellite, Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2, using a Unha-3 carrier rocket. Indian sitar player and classical composer Ravi Shankar dies at the age of 92. Recent deaths: Daniel Inouye – Dina Manfredini – Páidí Ó Sé Syrian civil war – Wikinews – More current events...
On this day...
December 19: Liberation Day in Goa (1961) 1154 – Henry II was crowned King of England in London's Westminster Abbey. 1828 – Nullification Crisis: Vice President of the United States John C. Calhoun (pictured) wrote the South Carolina Exposition and Protest to protest the Tariff of 1828. 1932 – The BBC's World Service was launched as BBC Empire Service. 1964 – The Army of the Republic of Vietnam, the ruling junta of South Vietnam led by Nguyen Khanh, initiated a coup, dissolving and arresting members of the High National Council, a civilian advisory body. 1997 – SilkAir Flight 185 crashed into the Musi River in Indonesia in what was determined to be a murder-suicide by the captain. More anniversaries: December 18 – December 19 – December 20 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now December 19, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

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A billet of enriched uranium, which is uranium where the percent composition of uranium-235 (²³⁵U) has been increased through the process of isotope separation. Enriched uranium is a critical component for both civil nuclear power generation and military nuclear weapons.

Photo: United States Department of Energy

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