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Today's featured article The national flag of Japan is a white rectangular flag with a large red disc (representing the Sun) in the center. It is officially called Nisshōki in Japanese, but more commonly known as the Hinomaru. Although considered the de facto flag, it was designated as Japan's national flag on 13 August 1999. In early Japanese history, the Hinomaru motif was used on flags of daimyos and samurai. During the Meiji Restoration both the Sun disc and the Rising Sun Ensign were symbols in the Japanese Empire. Use of the Hinomaru was restricted during the American occupation after World War II, but this was later relaxed. The flag is not frequently displayed due to its association with extreme nationalism. For nations occupied by Japan, the flag is considered to be a symbol of aggression and imperialism. Despite negative connotations, Western and Japanese sources claim that the flag is an enduring symbol to the Japanese. (Full article...) Recently featured: Worlds (Porter Robinson album) Yugoslav torpedo boat T2 Phoolan Devi On this day... August 13 Damage caused by Hurricane Charley 1704 – War of the Spanish Succession: The Duke of Marlborough led Allied forces to a crucial victory at the Battle of Blenheim. 1724 – Bach led the Thomanerchor in Leipzig in the first performance of the chorale cantata, Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott, BWV 101. 1999 – The Act on National Flag and Anthem was adopted, formally establishing the Hinomaru and "Kimigayo" as the Japanese national flag and anthem, respectively. 2004 – Merely 22 hours after Tropical Storm Bonnie struck the U.S. state of Florida, Hurricane Charley inflicted further damage to the region (example pictured). Jules Massenet (d. 1912) Bobby Clarke (b. 1949) Ida McNeil (d. 1974) Tigran Petrosian (d. 1984) More anniversaries: August 12 August 13 August 14

In the news The ATR 72 involved in the crash Voepass Linhas Aéreas Flight 2283 (aircraft pictured) crashes in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, killing all 62 people on board. Sheikh Hasina resigns as the prime minister of Bangladesh following anti-government protests, and Muhammad Yunus is appointed leader of an interim government. Following a mass stabbing in Southport, far-right protesters riot in England and Northern Ireland. The United States, Russia, and their respective allies agree to a prisoner exchange of 26 people. Ongoing: Israel–Hamas war timeline Russian invasion of Ukraine timeline Sudanese civil war timeline Recent deaths: Ida Bagus Ardana Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez Jon McBride Susan Wojcicki Kalatiku Paembonan Taberon Honie Picture of the day Wikipedia:POTD row/August 13, 2024 Did you know? Possible T. rex coprolite ... that the Poozeum holds fossilized dinosaur feces (pictured) which may have come from a T. rex? ... that Suleiman of Germiyan allowed the Ottoman annexation of much of his territory to pay his daughter's dowry? ... that a £142 wine fridge was smuggled into Downing Street on 11 December 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom? ... that voice teacher Verna Osborne retired at the age of 101? ... that researchers estimated that training the model for ChatGPT used the equivalent energy footprint of "driving 123 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles for a year"? ... that Felix Eberty was called "an original and ingenious person" by Albert Einstein? ... that the H. Wortman Pumping Station has four pumps, but is only used in exceptional circumstances? ... that frontier physician Isaac Coe is credited with saving Indianapolis from an 1821 outbreak of malaria? ... that an art collective released a dating simulator dedicated to preparing the player's income taxes?

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