On this day in history – April 1
527 – Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I co-ruler of the Byzantine Empire, setting up one of history’s major imperial reigns.
1572 – Protestant Sea Beggars capture the Dutch port of Brielle from Spain, helping ignite the Dutch Revolt and the long struggle for independence.
1873 – The British steamer RMS Atlantic sinks off Nova Scotia, killing over 540 people, in one of the deadliest 19th‑century maritime disasters.
1933 – Nazi Germany launches a nationwide boycott of Jewish-owned businesses, an early step in the regime’s systematic persecution of Jews.
1979 – Iran formally proclaims itself an Islamic Republic after a national referendum, reshaping Middle Eastern politics for decades.
2001 – Former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milošević is arrested in Belgrade, a key moment in bringing Balkan war crimes to international justice.
Canada – biggest political story
a) Yesterday (Mar 31, 2026): Debate over whether Prime Minister Mark Carney might prorogue Parliament if Liberals win upcoming byelections, and his public insistence that prorogation is “absolutely not” on the table.
b) Expected today: Ongoing focus on the Apr. 13 federal byelections that could hand the Liberals a slim majority, and what that would mean for Carney’s ability to pass his agenda.
United States – yesterday’s biggest political story
Debate over President Trump’s timeline for ending U.S. military operations in Iran after he said the U.S. could be “out in two to three weeks,” amid criticism of recent bunker‑buster strikes on Iranian targets.
Courts also continued to scrutinize Trump’s domestic initiatives, including a judge’s order halting construction of a costly new White House ballroom pending congressional review.
Worldwide – what yesterday will be remembered for
The deepening U.S.–Iran conflict: U.S. bunker‑buster strikes on Isfahan, Iranian attacks on oil infrastructure near Dubai, and missile incidents drawing in NATO underscore a widening regional war with major implications for energy prices and global growth.
The IMF’s warning that this conflict and the broader Middle East crisis are raising inflation and slowing global growth, signalling potential long‑lasting economic consequences.
Quotation of the day
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
Ottawa, ON – today’s sky and basics
Sunrise: about 7:11 am
Sunset: about 7:11 pm
(rounded from current March–April sunrise/sunset patterns; exact times may vary slightly day to day.)Moon: Waxing gibbous, very close to full (Full Moon occurs in the early hours of April 2, 2026, UTC).
Regular gas price (Ottawa): Recent data show about 1.52 CAD/L on average over the last three months, with a recent high near 1.90 CAD/L; a realistic ballpark for today is roughly 1.70–1.80 CAD/L.
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