The "Gub" Blog: Wednesday, May 6, 2026

On this day in history – May 6

1527 – The Sack of Rome by imperial troops devastates the city and is often seen as marking the end of the Italian Renaissance.
1889 – The Eiffel Tower is officially opened to the public at the Paris World’s Fair, becoming a global icon of modern engineering.
1937 – The German airship Hindenburg bursts into flames and crashes in New Jersey, dramatically ending the era of passenger zeppelins.
1940 – John Steinbeck receives the Pulitzer Prize for “The Grapes of Wrath,” cementing his place as a major voice on social justice and hardship.
1954 – Roger Bannister, a British medical student, becomes the first person to run a mile in under four minutes, a defining moment in athletics.
1994 – The Channel Tunnel (“Chunnel”) linking the United Kingdom and France is officially opened, transforming cross‑Channel travel and trade.

Canada – biggest political story

Yesterday: Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the appointment of former Supreme Court justice and UN war‑crimes prosecutor Louise Arbour as Canada’s next Governor General, a choice widely read as signaling a stronger focus on human rights and international engagement.
Expected today: Political discussion is set to focus on the implications of Arbour’s appointment for Canada’s global role and on how her record on civil liberties may shape the tone of the Carney government’s agenda.

Federal prosecutors announced a new indictment count against Cole Tomas Allen, the California man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, adding a charge of assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon.
The case is sharpening debate over political violence, security at high‑profile Washington events, and the broader climate surrounding Trump’s presidency.

Ongoing confrontation around the Strait of Hormuz continued to rattle global markets as the U.S.–Iran standoff and partial closure of the waterway kept oil prices elevated, reinforcing fears of a prolonged energy shock.
The IMF and other global voices warned that sustained conflict in the Middle East and disruption of key shipping routes are already feeding higher inflation, threatening slower global growth and rising food and fertilizer costs into 2026 and beyond.
Intensifying strikes and attacks in Ukraine and along Russia’s Black Sea infrastructure also drew attention for their long‑term environmental and economic fallout, from coastal pollution to persistent instability in energy and grain markets.

“History is a race between education and catastrophe.” – H. G. Wells

(This is a classic public‑domain line that feels apt on a day shaped by past crises and present geopolitical risks.)

Gas price (regular, Ottawa):

Local reports suggest pump prices are moving toward the high‑$1.80s to around $1.90 per litre this week, with forecasts of levels “above $1.90” today as wholesale and carbon costs push retail prices higher.