Friday, February 20, 2026

What happened on this day – February 20

• 1547 – Edward VI is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey, beginning a short but pivotal Protestant reign in Tudor Europe.​

• 1872 – The Metropolitan Museum of Art opens in New York City, which will grow into one of the world’s leading art museums.​

• 1931 – An anarchist uprising in Encarnación briefly turns the Paraguayan city into a revolutionary commune, a rare radical episode in South America’s history.​

• 1962 – John Glenn orbits Earth three times aboard Friendship 7, making him the first American to orbit the planet and a global Cold War-era icon.

• 1986 – The Soviet Union launches the Mir space station, which becomes a major international laboratory in orbit for 15 years.​

• 2005 – Spain becomes the first country to hold a national referendum approving the European Union Constitution, a milestone in European integration debates.​

1. Biggest political story in Canada
   a) Yesterday (Feb 19): Attention remained on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s push toward a working majority after Alberta MP Matt Jeneroux’s defection from the Conservatives to the Liberals earlier in the week, sharpening debate over the balance of power in Ottawa.
   b) Today (Feb 20, expected): Watch for further reaction to Carney’s strengthened position as parties recalibrate strategies ahead of a possible early election, and for signals on how Ottawa plans to respond to escalating U.S. tariff threats.​​

2. Yesterday’s biggest political story in the US
   Growing tension over Iran dominated U.S. politics as President Donald Trump publicly warned Tehran it had roughly “10, 15 days” to reach a new agreement, raising fears of a looming military strike.
   Lawmakers from both parties moved to reassert war powers, with plans for a congressional resolution aimed at constraining any unilateral attack on Iran.

3. Worldwide, what yesterday (Feb 19) will be remembered for
   The day will likely be remembered for mounting global anxiety over a possible U.S.–Iran confrontation, as diplomatic warnings, military movements, and public ultimatums pushed the crisis toward a decisive moment.

4. Quotation of the day
   “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” – Albert Camus

5. Ottawa sunrise and sunset – Feb 20, 2026

• Sunrise: 6:57 a.m.

• Sunset: 5:36 p.m.​

6. Moon phase for Ottawa – Feb 20, 2026

• Waning crescent, about 9% illuminated.​