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Coin of Theodosius III

Theodosius III was the Byzantine emperor from around May 715 to 717. Before rising to the throne of the Byzantine Empire, he was a tax collector in Adramyttium. In 715, the Byzantine navy and the troops of the Opsician Theme, one of the Byzantine provinces, revolted against Anastasius II, acclaiming the reluctant Theodosius as emperor. He led his troops to Chrysopolis and then Constantinople, seizing the city in November 715. Anastasius did not surrender until several months later, accepting exile in a monastery in return for safety. Many themes viewed Theodosius to be a puppet of the troops of the Opsician Theme, and his legitimacy was denied by the Anatolics and the Armeniacs under their respective strategoi (generals) Leo the Isaurian and Artabasdos. Leo entered Constantinople and definitively seized power in 717, allowing Theodosius and his son to retire to a monastery. When Theodosius died is uncertain, but it may have been in 754. (Full article...)

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Did you know ...

General Motors Technical Center

... that the opening of the General Motors Technical Center (pictured) featured an appearance by Indonesia's president and a speech from the US president?
... that Palestinian author Tareq Baconi, after studying MENA water scarcity and Hamas, wrote a memoir about queer identity, family displacement, and political awakening?
... that a New York railroad once operated a special train to a former train station so that people could see model trains?
... that Leon Russianoff never took a college music lesson, but an obituary stated that he was "considered by many to be the Godfather of American clarinetists"?
... that an American government database was named after a rock band?
... that the author of Kaiten no Albus did not decide the protagonist's objective until after the first chapter was written?
... that a Florida TV station was named after Columbia Pictures, even though a merger with that company fell through?
... that Gemma Hayter was inspired to return to playing darts after eight years when her friend became world champion?
... that multiple police raids failed to retrieve a book that was once valued at more than US$900 million?

In the news

Lando Norris

In Australia, a ban on the use of certain social-media platforms by under-16s comes into effect.
In motorsport, Lando Norris (pictured) wins the Formula One World Drivers' Championship.
In a military offensive, the Southern Transitional Council seizes most of southern Yemen from the government.
In Benin, a coup attempt by members of the armed forces is thwarted.
Architect and designer Frank Gehry dies at the age of 96.

On this day

December 12: Beginning of the Yule Lads' arrival in Iceland

HMS Duchess

1388 – Unable to defend her possessions, Maria of Enghien sold the lordship of Argos and Nauplia to the Republic of Venice.
1939 – The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duchess collided with HMS Barham, the battleship she was escorting, sinking with heavy loss of life.
1942 – World War II: German troops began Operation Winter Storm, an attempt to relieve encircled Axis forces during the Battle of Stalingrad.
1964 – Jomo Kenyatta became the first president of the Republic of Kenya.
1979 – A magnitude-8.2 earthquake struck just off the shore of Tumaco, Colombia, causing at least 300 deaths, mostly by the resulting tsunami.

John Boydell (d. 1804)
Anne Liburd (b. 1920)
Doris Blackburn (d. 1970)
Evelyn S. Lieberman (d. 2015)

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From today's featured list

Valentine Holmes

Hat-tricks have been achieved 72 times at the Rugby League World Cup, 70 times with tries and twice with field goals. The first player to do this was Alex Watson, who achieved the feat for Australia against New Zealand in the inaugural tournament. Players for Australia have scored the most hat-tricks at the Rugby League World Cup, with 30, while Papua New Guinean players have conceded the most, with 11. Of the 72 hat-tricks scored, seven players have achieved the feat twice, these being Ian Schubert, Billy Slater, Akuila Uate, Manu Vatuvei, Jarryd Hayne, Suliasi Vunivalu, Valentine Holmes (pictured) and Josh Addo-Carr. Fifteen players have scored an additional try on top of the hat-trick. Holmes and Addo-Carr have each scored five tries in a single game, while Holmes is the only player to score six tries in a single game. (Full list...)

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Today's featured picture

The guanaco (Lama guanicoe) is a species of mammal in the family Camelidae, the camelids. Closely related to the llama, the guanaco is native to the steppes, scrublands and mountainous regions of South America, including Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Argentina. It is a diurnal animal, living in small herds consisting of either one male and several females with their young, or separate bachelor herds. It can run at speeds of up to 64 km/h (40 mph), important for avoiding predation. A herbivore, the guanaco grazes on grasses, shrubs, herbs, lichens, fungi, cacti, and flowers, while its natural predators include the puma and the culpeo (Andean fox). Some guanacos are found domesticated in zoos and private herds around the world, and its fiber is also harvested for use in luxury fabrics, being noted for its soft, warm feel. This guanaco was photographed in Torres del Paine, Chile.

Photograph credit: Charles J. Sharp

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