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Today's featured article Poppy Meadow is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Rachel Bright. She was introduced by executive producer Bryan Kirkwood on 11 January 2011 as the best friend of established character Jodie Gold (Kylie Babbington) in scenes filling in for those cut from a controversial baby-swap storyline. Poppy returned to the series in June 2011 as a supporting character and comedy element, in a move that was generally welcomed by the tabloid press; her storylines focused on her friendship with Jodie and their intertwined love lives. Both Jodie and Poppy left the series on 14 November 2011, but the possibility was left open for Poppy to return in the future. In June 2012 Bright reprised her role as Poppy, quickly moving into Walford and resuming her employment at the local beauty salon. Poppy was introduced into the series in what critics described as "bizarre and utterly irrelevant" and "pointless" scenes, which substituted for cut scenes of the dead baby's parents at the graveside. Guardian critic Stuart Heritage considered Poppy to be "perhaps the greatest television bit-part character of the modern age" and several Daily Mirror writers gave Poppy positive reviews upon both of her returns. (more...) Recently featured: Stephen Trigg – Aries – Jovan Vladimir Did you know... From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that St Oswald's Church, Grasmere, Cumbria (pictured), is notable for its associations with William Wordsworth and its annual ceremony of rushbearing? ... that 2012 Olympics track cyclist Melissa Hoskins took up the sport after participating in a talent identification event? ... that the Cretaceous snakefly Necroraphidia arcuata takes its name, in part, from the Latin word for "bent" and the Greek word for "dead"? ... that Norwegian footballer Kent Bergersen left the Greek club Panionios G.S.S. because the club didn't pay his salary? ... that, after low first-run viewership, the Nielsen ratings of Cheers improved during the summer between the finale of the first season and the second season premiere? ... that 2012 Olympic 800 metre freestyle swimmer Jessica Ashwood started swimming when she was four years old? ... that the last song to reach number one on the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart of 2011 was Wale's collaboration featuring Miguel, "Lotus Flower Bomb"? ... that Kuldeep Joshi is a blind student who continuously played the tabla for twelve hours?

In the news A power grid failure in India leaves 20 states in the country without electricity, affecting 600 million people. A referendum to impeach Romanian President Traian Băsescu (pictured) fails to meet the required voter turnout. Fighting intensifies in Aleppo, Syria, as the Syrian Armed Forces launch an attack to regain control of the city. The Opening Ceremony of the Summer Olympics is held in London. At least 58 people are killed and 200,000 displaced in ethnic violence between Bodos and immigrant Muslims in Assam, India. At least 42 people are killed in clashes between rebels and Tajik government troops in Gorno-Badakhshan. Ghanaian President John Atta Mills dies at the age of 68 and is succeeded by Vice President John Dramani Mahama. On this day... August 1: Lughnasadh (Northern Hemisphere); Imbolc (Southern Hemisphere); Siyum HaShas (Judaism, 2012); Lammas in England and Scotland; 527 – Upon the death of Justin I, Justinian the Great became the sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire. 1774 – British scientist Joseph Priestley (pictured) discovered oxygen gas, corroborating the prior discovery of this element by German-Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele. 1834 – The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 came into force, officially abolishing slavery in most of the British Empire. 1966 – Charles Whitman climbed the University of Texas at Austin tower and went on a shooting spree at the school, killing 10 with sniper fire before being shot and killed by police. 2009 – A shooting attack at the Gay and Lesbian Association building in Tel-Aviv, Israel, resulted in the deaths of two people. More anniversaries: July 31 – August 1 – August 2 It is now August 1, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture Five views of the shell of a sacred chank (Turbinella pyrum), a species of sea snail (also known as a conch) found in the Indian Ocean. The name "chank" is derived from the Sanskrit name shankha. The shell is of religious importance in Hinduism and Buddhism, where it is recognized as one of the eight auspicious symbols. Photo: H. Zell Recently featured: G. D. Falksen – Christmas tree worm – European bison (wisent)

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