Wednesday, May 27, 2026

 

What happened on this day – May 27

1. 1703 – Tsar Peter the Great founds Saint Petersburg, opening Russia’s “window to Europe” and reshaping its geopolitical orientation for centuries.

2. 1905 – At the Battle of Tsushima, Japan decisively defeats Russia’s Baltic Fleet, marking the first modern victory of an Asian power over a European empire and altering global power balances.

3. 1963 – The Organization of African Unity (now African Union) is formally established in Addis Ababa, laying groundwork for continental cooperation and decolonization support across Africa.

4. 1999 – The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia indicts Slobodan Milošević for war crimes in Kosovo, a milestone in holding sitting leaders accountable in international law.

5. 2015 – The landmark Lausanne climate talks help shape the path toward the Paris Agreement, strengthening global momentum for coordinated climate action.

6. 2020 – Mass protests against racial injustice and police violence spread worldwide following the killing of George Floyd, energizing global debates on systemic racism and policing.

Biggest political story in Canada
a) Yesterday: Canadian coverage focused on federal debates over defence spending and Canada’s role in responding to renewed tensions in the Middle East, with opposition parties pressing the government for clearer commitments.
b) Today: Ottawa-watchers expect attention on a new fiscal update and affordability measures, as MPs brace for questions about inflation, housing costs, and the long-term sustainability of federal programs.

Yesterday’s biggest US political story
In the United States, the major story was mounting pressure in Congress over President Trump’s foreign policy after fresh U.S. strikes in southern Iran, with lawmakers split over escalation risks and war-powers limits.

Worldwide: what yesterday will be remembered for
Yesterday will likely be remembered for a sharp escalation in the Iran–U.S. confrontation, after U.S. forces sank two Iranian ships in what Washington called “self‑defense” strikes, raising fears of a wider regional war.
Global health officials also warned that the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa continues to expand, with hundreds of suspected cases and deaths in Congo and Uganda, underlining the persistent threat of new pandemics.

Quotation of the day
“Thousands of geniuses live and die undiscovered – either by themselves or by others.” – Mark Twain, written on this date in 1907.

Ottawa (ON) – sky and fuel

• Sunrise today (Ottawa): first light about 4:45 a.m., sunrise around 5:21 a.m.; sunset about 8:38 p.m., last light near 9:14 p.m.

• Moon: waxing gibbous phase around this date in 2026.

• Regular gas price (Ottawa): recent Ontario government data show average gasoline in May 2026 in the 150–160 cents per litre range in major Ontario cities; Ottawa is typically near this provincial average.