I've noticed that many soldiers and police officers across various countries (from Ecuador to Azerbaijan and Russia) now often cover their lower face parts, also on some propaganda posters from social media as well. To me this looks like a relatively recent trend (wasn't that frequent say 10 or 20 years ago). Is it a known noted thing? Brandmeister^talk 22:59, 10 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

The gunmen who stormed a TV studio in Ecuador during a live broadcast were committing a criminal act for which they, if identified, could expect to be prosecuted.^[1] The fear of retaliation after having been identified has also become a factor for members of regular personnel participating in violent enforcement operations. Before everyone was going around carrying a camera cum video recorder the risk was minimal, so no precautions were needed.  --Lambiam 09:31, 11 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

That was my guess exactly. Somewhat amusing how this fear started to transcend many countries. Brandmeister^talk 10:21, 11 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Not sure how that's amusing. The fear of retaliation by someone using a facial recognition system to take a screen grab from a news report and find you on Facebook or Instagram seems easily doable. 20 years ago - not so much. 41.23.55.195 (talk) 14:16, 11 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Well, if police starts to hide faces fearing own citizens during ordinary protests or routine patrols that's amusingly odd and rings some bells for the government IMO. But face covering when confronting armed criminals instead is perfectly understandable. Brandmeister^talk 17:04, 11 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

It has become common that first responders reporting to an incident are attacked.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} Amusing?  --Lambiam 17:26, 11 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

IANAL but, in Spain, riot police cover their faces. To provide some degree of accountability, they carry an alphanumeric identifier on their riot vests. Hopefully, in case of misconduct, they can be identified and investigated. es:Ley Orgánica de protección de la seguridad ciudadana (2015) forbid taking pictures of police officers (riot or not) on duty, but, according to the article, the Spanish Constitutional Court toned it down. --Error (talk) 09:57, 12 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

In some countries, there need be no identification at all: Unidentified Federal Police Prompt Fears Amid Protests in Washington. Alansplodge (talk) 12:23, 12 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

A more accurate headline for that article would have been, "Unidentifiable Federal Police Prompt Fears Amid Protests in Washington".  --Lambiam 10:15, 13 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I'm currently working on a draft here. In this article, I'm primarily looking for Indian sources which document the impacts of this cyclone. Are there any sources which could fit? ''Flux55'' (talk) 19:25, 13 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Famously, an incoming British PM is received in an audience by the King and formally invited to form a government in the King's name.

What about Cabinet secretaries and junior ministers? Of course, it's become common in recent times for their appointments to be announced on X (formerly known as Twitter).

1. But how are they appointed in practice? Does the King also have to formally meet and appoint them or is another official empowered to do so on his behalf (the PM/the Lord President)?

2. Are any ministers so important that they're personally appointed in the King's presence (e.g., the DPM, the Lord President, the Lord Chancellor, the Great Offices)?

3. Is there any difference between ministers/secretaries who are already privy counsellors and those who aren't?

4. Some secretaries/ministers have seals associated with their officers (e.g., obviously the Lord Privy Seal). Does that change anything? 09:57, 15 January 2024 (UTC) 123.193.182.167 (talk) 09:57, 15 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Those who follow the news will know that the Prime Minister can hire and fire his ministers at will. It's quite common for a Member of Parliament to be appointed to the Privy Council on assuming office. They remain members - which is why the body is so large. Because of its size, there is no automatic right to attend meetings (except on the demise of the Crown). 78.146.96.26 (talk) 11:39, 15 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Naturally Will takes precautions against being struck by human projectiles. Clarityfiend (talk) 22:05, 16 January 2024 (UTC) [reply]

What??? Alansplodge (talk) 13:21, 17 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

"fire his ministers at will". Clarityfiend (talk) 16:59, 17 January 2024 (UTC) [reply]

I couldn't find anything about a ministerial appointment procedure, but ministers are not included in this article about audiences with the King, except the Chancellor of the Exchequer who has an audience before each budget. Note that parish priests in the Church of England are also appointed by the King, but only get given a certificate. Alansplodge (talk) 13:21, 17 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Nice find. On doing more research I found in Kissing Hands this snippet: "When appointing a Secretary of State (the top rank in the UK government), the protocol also involves the delivery by the King or Queen of the seals of office into the hands of the appointee. This is also valid for other officers who are keepers of seals, such as the Lord Privy Seal or the Lord Chancellor, who is also keeper of the Great Seal of the United Kingdom." It's a little vague on whether the King delivers the seals personally or has them delivered by someone else though. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 113.196.51.134 (talk) 03:08, 18 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Having checked the official website and this photo, I couldn't find major differences between it and Nazi salute. The only difference I'm seeing is that elbow is bent, but not all people on that photo do that. Is there a formally prescribed instruction on that to compare? 213.134.142.249 (talk) 13:20, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

In the Taiwanese photo, it is important that everyone is holding a paper or leaflet of some kind. If they weren't, it is very likely that they would make the same gesture with both hands. With the palm facing outward, it is a gesture of surrender that is very often seen in religious settings. Members of the congregation hold their palms foward as a surrender to whom or whatever they are worshipping. In many countries, the leader of a country is given a religious reverence. The Nazi salute is similar, but the arm should be as close to 45 degrees as possible and the palm facing down. The fingers should be directed at the person directing whatever is being done. For example, members of a parade do not point their arms forward. They point them at the leader, rotating as they march by. 12.116.29.106 (talk) 16:39, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

In central Europe, a similar oath-taking gesture, but with only three extended fingers, is called a Schwurhand. Alansplodge (talk) 18:34, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Ah, thanks. 212.180.235.46 (talk) 20:03, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Some of those schwurhands look like Scout sign and salutes, and some of them are two-fingered salutes. DuncanHill (talk) 00:45, 18 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

It doesn't quite look like the Nazi salute. It seems more like a variant of "raise your right hand" upon taking an oath. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:52, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Bear in mind that pre-WWII, Americans pledging allegiance to the flag used the 45 degree, open palm salute. The hand over the heart replaced it once a certain German became associated with the gesture. DOR (ex-HK) (talk) 21:20, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

One of many things he ruined. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:49, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I used to have an old coin (1920s or 1930s) with various good luck symbols on it. Including a swastika. I doubt such a coin would be minted anywhere in the West at any point since 1945. Though it is good to remember that in other areas and cultures it remains a holy symbol. --User:Khajidha (talk) (contributions) 22:11, 18 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Oh prepare for some curiousities: My friend visited Indonesia for a scholarship like fifteen years ago... and she said it ain't a problem to purchase a t-shirt with that German there, as the events were quite far away and they considered him to have been a great warrior. It's OR but I swear it's true. --Ouro (blah blah) 16:06, 20 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

• 
  figure 1
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  figure 2
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  figure 3
• 
  figure 4

What is the name of those export stickers for cars that now are a genre of bumper sticker (see figure 1)? Shops online selling them seem to call them 'Eurostyle' stickers but I can't figure out what if anything Eurostyle Costruzione Carrozzerie e Automobili (Q43282430) has to do with it. Arlo James Barnes 08:17, 17 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

See International vehicle registration code regarding the country codes on the things and a list of what they'ce been called. --142.112.220.136 (talk) 09:01, 17 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks! I've started sorting by code on Commons. Arlo James Barnes 21:32, 17 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

While I don't know why this kind of white oval plates or stickers, such as those with a VRI code, are referred to as Eurostyle, I am pretty sure the short-lived Italian automobile body manufacturer had nothing to do with it.  --Lambiam 10:00, 17 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Presumably as in Wikt:Eurostyle: Etymology - Euro- +‎ style. Noun - Eurostyle (uncountable) - European style.. I imagine that they were much more common in Europe than in North America, due to the frequency with which people drive across international borders. Note that this sort of sticker is less often seen in Europe now that the national code is usually included on the vehicle registration plate. Alansplodge (talk) 13:05, 17 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

In the UK the space where the national code used to be is being used by the EV green stripe. Has anyone any ideas how the Europeans are doing things? EDIT: See figure 4. Martin of Sheffield (talk) 21:50, 17 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

By way of explanation (but no clue where the national code now goes):

Green number plates explained: about the UK’s electric car registration plates. Alansplodge (talk) 13:26, 17 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Most European countries have licence plates with the leftmost stripe being reserved for the country code and the twelve stars of the EU symbol. And if by 'things' You mean marking the vehicle as an EV, I know that in Poland, the EV licence plates have a slightly greenish background instead of the usual white (it's just sufficiently green to make them out from among white plates, but not in-your-face green (see figure 2) and in Germany EVs have a large capital letter E at the end of the licence plate, in the typeface of the plates themselves (see figure 3). --Ouro (blah blah) 19:38, 17 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

In the Netherlands, there's no indication on the number plate showing it's an electric vehicle, and there's no need for such an indication. From next year, municipalities can create zero-emission zones, which are only open for zero-emission vehicles (currently electric or hydrogen). This only applies to goods vehicles. The only people who have to know that a vehicle qualifies as zero-emission are the operators, who're supposed to know their vehicle, and law enforcement, who can read the number plate and perform a database look-up. It's only marginally slower than a human-readable indication on the number plate and at the same time tells law enforcement some other interesting stuff. I suppose linking car registration databases across Europe isn't that hard and is useful in other ways too (checking insurance, paying tolls, localising stolen cars). PiusImpavidus (talk) 11:58, 18 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Doubt that it would be easy given that a) database systems are most likely different from one another; b) different languages; c) channels you have to go through to get info (red tape); d) GDPR; e) other. I'm just realistically looking at things. Your idea is good. --Ouro (blah blah) 22:23, 18 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

f) removes the bragging rights for the owner to prove their assumed moral superiority. Martin of Sheffield (talk) 22:35, 18 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Bragging rights are important. Enough people buy very expensive and rather large Tesla cars to get a green image, then charge them with electricity from fossil fuels. PiusImpavidus (talk) 10:30, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Illegal pushbacks by law enforcement agencies are increasing, and not only at the borders. Linking the various national identification and registration databases can also support authoritarian tendencies in which the "other" is, by definition, the bad guy.  --Lambiam 22:58, 18 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Do you have an example in mind? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 23:02, 18 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Road toll collection by number plate recognition already exists. I don't think it will take long before it works all over the EU, including toll differentiation for different vehicle types. Whether you like it or not. PiusImpavidus (talk) 10:34, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

The alternative would be toll booths, thus slowing down the traffic, which I suspect most drivers would find annoying. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:42, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Electronic toll collection.  --Lambiam 16:00, 20 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Toll booths are fantastic, great places to wait for rides when hitch-hiking. Did me a great service when I was in France and Croatia. --Ouro (blah blah) 16:05, 20 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I can hear flies in my walls. They are so loud that I can hear them from several metres away. For a couple of days I thought they were between the spaces between the windows and curtains but after an almost endless amount of times I have looked behind the curtains and found nothing, I am certain that the flies are inside the walls. What could they be to be this loud? How could they even get in the walls? —Panamitsu (talk) 03:11, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

If you were in Australia, I would guess that you had an infestation of European wasps. HiLo48 (talk) 03:15, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Depends on the wall structure. If there are hollow areas inside then organisms will find their way inside them and thrive. Life seeks to live. I used to live at an old townhouse and we once had an infestation of Hylotrupes... scared us all to hell but we called a specialist who took care of them. --Ouro (blah blah) 06:30, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Both species referred to as "European wasps", German wasps and common wasps, have been introduced to New Zealand as well.^[7] A significant portion of German wasp nests are found in artificial structures. You should see them flying about on the outside.  --Lambiam 06:51, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

It must be wasps. I've found a hole in the wall which is where I'm guessing they came in from. One interesting thing I've learnt though is that wasps — or whatever insect these may be — appear to sleep at night, as I never hear any buzzing at night. —Panamitsu (talk) 10:20, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

They're cold-blooded. Their whole metabolism slows down into a stupor as they get cold, and speeds up as they heat up. They don't "sleep" like you or I. Martin of Sheffield (talk) 10:26, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Sources? Googling do bees sleep finds a number of web pages that suggest that bees do indeed sleep. As nighttime does not necessarily equate to cold, this should be easy enough to test - just keep bees in a warm place at night and see what happens. Bees do hibernate for sure, but that is separate from sleeping at night. 85.76.100.252 (talk) 14:29, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Carpenter bees make holes in houses, live in the walls, buzz during the day, and sleep at night. Other than simply seeing them fly around, they are also identified by their scraping and crunnching sounds. Further, honey bees will enlarge a hole if they find one and get into walls to make a nest. They buzz and hum and the wall get very warm because they put off a lot of heat. 75.136.148.8 (talk) 15:44, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

A scientific study [8]. 2A00:23C7:9C86:4301:1893:FCCC:8E9B:6198 (talk) 16:13, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

While a considered reply, this is not an experimental or observational study, which is usually understood by "scientific study". The issue discussed is how one might define the notion of "sleep" as applied to insects. The answer to the question whether bees sleep depends on one's definition.  --Lambiam 22:21, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

The statement was also qualifed as "like you or I". Given the massive anatomical and physiological differences between bees and humans, I have no problem with the statement that bees don't sleep like you or I, regardless of whether they canbe said to sleep at all. --User:Khajidha (talk) (contributions) 22:31, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

If you're hearing noises in the walls, it would be prudent to bring in an exterminator and figure it out before they overrun your place. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Baseball Bugs (talk • contribs) 01:07, 20 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

So in other words, get rid of his place wall bugs :) --Viennese Waltz 08:23, 21 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I'm researching my genealogy and am getting stuck with this place name. I find the convoluted interdivisions of England hopelessly complicated, but Battersea and Surrey are non-overlapping places, correct? Assuming that the St. Mary mentioned is St Mary's Church, Battersea, does "Battersea, Surrey" make sense? My naive use of Google Maps says that they're an hour apart. But maybe there's more than one Battersea? More than one Surrey? My source could simply be wrong, of course, but it seems scrupulously researched for the most part and it has used this place designation more than once. Matt Deres (talk) 14:48, 21 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Battersea St Mary is the name of an old parish in Wandsworth and Clapham which makes up what we know as Battersea today. The other old parish was Battersea St George. St Mary was the Parish Church. this website has a number of the parish records and images. As per the Battersea article "Until 1889, the parish of Battersea was recognised as part of Surrey, after which the newly formed County of London came into being and took over administration of the area." Nanonic (talk) 15:21, 21 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]