On this day in history – March 13
1781 – Astronomer William Herschel observes a new “comet,” later recognized as the planet Uranus, expanding humanity’s map of the solar system.
1888 – The Great Blizzard of 1888 paralyzes parts of the eastern United States, prompting major changes in urban infrastructure and emergency planning.
1954 – Vietnamese forces begin the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, a turning point that accelerates the end of French colonial rule in Indochina.
1961 – President John F. Kennedy launches the Alliance for Progress, a long-term program aimed at reshaping U.S.–Latin American economic and political relations.
1996 – A gunman kills 16 schoolchildren and a teacher in Dunblane, Scotland, catalyzing some of the world’s strictest gun-control laws and reshaping U.K. firearms policy.
2013 – Pope Francis gives his first full day of audiences after his election the day before, signaling an emerging focus on humility, simplicity, and social justice in the Catholic Church.
Canada – politics (March 12 & 13, 2026)
a) Yesterday (Mar 12): Ottawa was still digesting Nunavut MP Lori Idlout’s floor-crossing from the NDP to the governing Liberals, a move that edges Prime Minister Mark Carney’s minority closer to an effective majority and reshapes the House math.
b) Expected today (Mar 13): Attention remains on how the government leverages its strengthened position as Carney sells a new Northern and Arctic defense and transformation plan unveiled in Yellowknife, with opposition parties probing costs, sovereignty implications, and Indigenous partnership.
United States – biggest political story yesterday
Yesterday’s dominant U.S. political story was President Trump’s push for the “SAVE America Act,” which would require proof of citizenship to register and photo ID to vote, alongside pressure on Senate Republicans to change filibuster rules to pass it.
The debate sharpened partisan divides over voting rights, election security, and the balance of power between the White House and Congress.
Worldwide – what yesterday will be remembered for
March 12, 2026 will likely be remembered for the deepening U.S.–Israel–Iran conflict, as Iran expanded drone and missile strikes across the Gulf and against regional oil and transport infrastructure, and Israel continued strikes in Gaza despite an existing ceasefire framework.
These attacks disrupted oil terminals, hit airports and shipping near the Strait of Hormuz, and reinforced fears of a prolonged regional war with global economic and security repercussions.
Quotation of the day
“History is a race between education and catastrophe.” – H. G. Wells
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