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From today's featured article

Raichu is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon media franchise, and the evolved form of the series mascot, Pikachu. Introduced in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue, it was created by Atsuko Nishida at the request of lead designer Ken Sugimori, with the design finalized by Sugimori. It has appeared in multiple games including Pokémon Go and the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and in merchandise. Classified as an Electric-type Pokémon, Raichu is a large orange mouse with a tail shaped like a lightning bolt, and yellow sacs on its cheek that can generate electricity. Designed to be a stronger counterpart to Pikachu, who evolves into Raichu through the use of a "Thunder Stone", Raichu was initially intended to be able to evolve into "Gorochu" before the latter was removed. While early reaction from media outlets was negative, in light of Pikachu's status as the franchise's main mascot, later reception has been more favorable. (Full article...)

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Did you know ...

Sneeze Achiu

... that Sneeze Achiu (pictured) had documents listing him as Caucasian so that he would not be segregated from his teammates?
... that a nationwide survey found that one in three Japanese people have an oshi?
... that in 1900 Isabel Fidler was appointed as tutor to the 70 women students at the University of Sydney; by the time of her retirement in 1939 there were more than 800?
... that Luciano Berio composed Sequenza III for diverse mouth sounds interspersed with ecstatic singing?
... that Tjoo Tik Tjoen stood for the Indonesian Communist Party in a 1955 election, despite not having officially joined the party?
... that Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2 features a mini-game called sushi-bowling?
... that the United States agreed Australian staff would support the Joint Geological and Geophysical Research Station in Alice Springs, but the United States Air Force runs it instead?
... that the Deer Creek Fire developed a nearly stationary fire tornado?
... that the appeal of the children's poem "On the Ning Nang Nong" has been attributed to the absurdity of its nonsense sounds, like teapots going "Jibber Jabber Joo"?

In the news

Philip Pierre

In Saint Lucia, the Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre (pictured), retains its majority in the House of Assembly.
Playwright and screenwriter Tom Stoppard dies at the age of 88.
In motorsport, Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais win the World Rally Championship.
The New Democratic Party, led by Godwin Friday, wins the Vincentian general election.

On this day

December 5: Krampusnacht in parts of Central Europe

Nelson's Column during the Great Smog of London

1484 – Pope Innocent VIII issued the papal bull Summis desiderantes affectibus, which gave the Dominican inquisitor Heinrich Kramer the explicit authority to prosecute witchcraft in Germany.
1952 – The "Great Smog of London" (pictured) began and lasted for five days, causing 12,000 deaths and leading to the Clean Air Act 1956.
1965 – The "glasnost meeting" took place in Moscow, becoming the first demonstration in the Soviet Union after World War II and marking the beginning of the civil rights movement in the country.
1972 – Gough Whitlam took office as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia and formed a duumvirate with his deputy Lance Barnard, ending 23 years of Liberal–Country Party government.

Phillis Wheatley (d. 1784)
Arthur Currie (b. 1875)
Louise Bryant (b. 1885)
Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (b. 1985)

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From today's featured list

Elvis Presley

Record charts in the UK began life in 1952 when Percy Dickins from New Musical Express (NME) imitated an idea started in American Billboard magazine and began compiling a hit parade. Prior to this, a song's popularity was measured by the sales of sheet music. Initially, Dickins telephoned a sample of around 20 shops asking for a list of the 10 best-selling songs. These results were then aggregated to give a Top 12 chart published in NME on 14 November 1952. In terms of number-one singles, Frankie Laine, Guy Mitchell and Elvis Presley (pictured) were the most successful artists of the 1950s, having four singles reach the top spot. The longest duration of a single at number one was eighteen weeks, achieved by Frankie Laine's "I Believe", which still holds the record for the most non-consecutive weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart. (Full list...)

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Today's featured video

Till the Clouds Roll By is a 1946 American Technicolor musical film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and a fictionalized biopic of composer Jerome Kern, portrayed by Robert Walker. Kern was involved with the production, but died before its completion. It was the first in a series of MGM biopics about Broadway composers. The film, directed by Richard Whorf, premiered on December 5, 1946, in New York City.

Film credit: Richard Whorf

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