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Victoria in 1882

Victoria (1819–1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death, the longest reign in British history to that point. Victoria was the only child of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn (the fourth son of George III), and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. Edward died in 1820, and Victoria eventually inherited the throne aged 18 since Edward's elder brothers had all died without surviving legitimate issue. Victoria married her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1840. Their children married into royal families across Europe, and Victoria was dubbed "the grandmother of Europe". After Albert's death in 1861, Victoria went into deep mourning and avoided public appearances. As a result, British republicanism gained strength. Her popularity later recovered, and she became a national icon. Her Golden and Diamond Jubilees were times of national celebration. Victoria was succeeded by her son Edward VII. (Full article...)

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Curiosity's descent seen by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

... that the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter photographed Curiosity (pictured) as it landed on Mars?
... that the Orangeburg Massacre was the first time police shot and killed students on an American university campus?
... that heritage properties cared for by An Taisce include a guildhall, a marsh, a castle, a Quaker cemetery, and Babe's Bridge?
... that David Dayen, executive editor of The American Prospect, argues in his 2020 book that monopolies are so interwoven with our lives that it is impossible to escape them?
... that much of the research in dress history has been done from documents, illustrations, and photographs rather than by studying items of clothing?
... that when Zhu Cilang was asked why his family lost the Mandate of Heaven, he blamed it on their "treacherous ministers"?
... that State Auto Mutual's life-size nativity scene was donated to the Museum of Catholic Art and History in 2023 for display at St. Joseph Cathedral?
... that Naomi Klein and Naomi Wolf are Doppelgangers?

In the news

Evika Siliņa

A ceasefire is announced following Azerbaijan's military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Canada accuses India of being linked to the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, causing a diplomatic crisis.
Evika Siliņa (pictured) takes office as Prime Minister of Latvia.
In Hanoi, Vietnam, a fire at an apartment building kills at least 56 people.

On this day

September 24: Heritage Day in South Africa; Independence Day in Guinea-Bissau (1973)

Norodom Sihanouk

1645 – English Civil War: Royalists commanded by King Charles I suffered a significant defeat at the Battle of Rowton Heath.
1869 – Jay Gould, James Fisk, and other speculators plotted but failed to control the United States gold market, causing prices to plummet.
1890 – Wilford Woodruff, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, wrote the first draft of a manifesto that officially disavowed the future practice of plural marriage.
1941 – Operation Barbarossa: A Wehrmacht training event known as the Mogilev Conference began, marking an increase in violence against Jews and other civilians in the areas under General Max von Schenckendorff's command.
1993 – Norodom Sihanouk (pictured) became King of Cambodia with the restoration of the monarchy after a 23-year interregnum.

Pope Liberius (d. 366)
Howard Florey (b. 1898)
Esther Eng (b. 1914)
Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine (d. 1950)

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Today's featured picture

Aegirine is a member of the clinopyroxene group of inosilicate minerals. It is the sodium endmember of the aegirine–augite series, and has the chemical formula NaFeSi₂O₆, in which the iron is present as the ion Fe³⁺. Aegirine occurs as dark green monoclinic prismatic crystals. This photograph depicts a 5-centimetre-tall (2 in) sample composed of aegirine crystals with minor feldspar found at Mount Malosa in Zomba, Malawi.

Photograph credit: Ivar Leidus

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