Carsten Borchgrevink (1864–1934) was an Anglo-Norwegian polar explorer
and a pioneer of modern Antarctic travel. He was a precursor of Robert
Falcon Scott, Ernest Shackleton, Roald Amundsen and others associated
with the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. He began his exploring
career in 1894 by joining a Norwegian whaling expedition, from which he
brought back a collection of the first specimens of vegetable life
within the Antarctic Circle. From 1898 to 1900 Borchgrevink led the
British-financed Southern Cross Expedition, which in 1899 became the
first to overwinter on the Antarctic mainland and the first to visit the
Great Ice Barrier in nearly 60 years. There he set a Farthest South
record at 78° 50′ S. He was one of three scientists sent to the
Caribbean in 1902 by the National Geographic Society to report on the
aftermath of the Mount Pelée disaster. Recognised and honoured by
several countries, he received a handsome tribute in 1912 from Amundsen,
conqueror of the South Pole.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carsten_Borchgrevink>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1894:
London's Tower Bridge, a combined bascule and suspension bridge
over the River Thames, was inaugurated.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Bridge>
1922:
An agreement was signed to end the United States occupation of
the Dominican Republic.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_occupation_of_the_Dominican_Republic_%281916%E2%80%931924%29>
1960:
The Belgian Congo gained independence from colonial rule,
beginning a period of instability that would lead to the dictatorship of
Joseph-Désiré Mobutu.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congo_Crisis>
2015:
An Indonesian Air Force military transport aircraft crashed
near a residential neighborhood in Medan, killing 139 people total.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Sumatra_Indonesian_Air_Force_C-130_crash>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
at the best of times:
(idiomatic) Even under the most favourable conditions.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/at_the_best_of_times>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
We, the Heads of State and Government of the North Atlantic
Alliance, have gathered in Madrid as war has returned to the European
continent. We face a critical time for our security and international
peace and stability. We stand together in unity and solidarity and
reaffirm the enduring transatlantic bond between our nations. NATO is a
defensive Alliance and poses no threat to any country. … We are united
in our commitment to democracy, individual liberty, human rights, and
the rule of law. We adhere to international law and to the purposes and
principles of the Charter of the United Nations. … We condemn
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in the strongest possible
terms. Russia bears full responsibility for this humanitarian
catastrophe. … We will continue and further step up political and
practical support to our close partner Ukraine as it continues to defend
its sovereignty and territorial integrity against Russian aggression.
… Today, we have decided to invite Finland and Sweden to become
members of NATO, and agreed to sign the Accession Protocols. In any
accession to the Alliance, it is of vital importance that the legitimate
security concerns of all Allies are properly addressed. … The
accession of Finland and Sweden will make them safer, NATO stronger, and
the Euro-Atlantic area more secure.
--NATO
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/NATO>