The "Gub" Blog: Sunday, June 21, 2026

On this day in history

1788 – U.S. Constitution takes effect
New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify the United States Constitution, bringing the document into effect and reshaping governance in North America.
1893 – First Ferris wheel opens
The world’s first Ferris wheel opens to the public at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, showcasing American engineering at a global fair.
1942 – Rommel captures Tobruk
In North Africa, German General Erwin Rommel’s forces seize the strategic Libyan port of Tobruk from the British, a major turning point in the desert war of the Second World War.
1945 – Okinawa surrenders
Japanese forces on the island of Okinawa surrender to U.S. troops, ending one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific theatre and shaping post‑war strategy in Asia.
1949 – East Germany is formed
The German Democratic Republic (East Germany) is established, formalizing the Cold War division of Germany that will define European politics for decades.
1961 – India’s first talking film remembered
Film historians mark the legacy of Alam Ara as India’s first “talkie,” a milestone that helped launch the massive Hindi‑language film industry later known as Bollywood.

Biggest Canadian political story – yesterday (June 20, 2026)
Ottawa imposes a 10% surtax on selected canned vegetable imports as a safeguard measure, signalling a tougher stance on food‑sector trade and domestic producers.
Biggest Canadian political story – expected today (June 21, 2026)
Federal and provincial responses to the new surtax—and its impact on food prices amid broader inflation pressures—are expected to dominate political discussion and media analysis in Canada today.

(Both lines can be tightened further depending on how much text you want to post.)

Yesterday’s biggest U.S. political story (June 20, 2026)
Coverage continues to focus on President Donald Trump’s weakening approval ratings as the war in Iran and the associated global energy shock drive inflation and raise the stakes for this year’s U.S. midterm elections.

Energy, inflation, and the Iran war
Yesterday will likely be remembered globally as part of the deepening energy and inflation crisis linked to the war in Iran and the closure or disruption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which is driving higher fuel prices and pressuring central banks toward further interest‑rate hikes.
Rising risk of a broader economic downturn
International organizations now warn that if energy disruption persists, global growth in 2026–27 could slow markedly, with lasting consequences for employment, public finances, and political stability in many regions.

“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt

(Attribution by author only, no extended copyrighted text.)

Sunrise and sunset – Ottawa (June 21, 2026)
- Sunrise: 5:14 a.m.
- Sunset: 8:54–8:55 p.m. (civil sunset around 8:55 p.m.)
  Daylight runs to roughly 15 hours 40 minutes.
Moon phase – Ottawa (June 21, 2026)
The Moon is in its First Quarter phase this evening, about 45–48% illuminated, high in the southern sky around sunset and visible until close to midnight.

Regular gas – Ottawa (approximate)
Recent data show average gasoline prices in Canada around 1.30–1.40 USD per litre in May 2026, translating to roughly 1.75–1.90 CAD per litre in many cities; Ottawa’s pump prices this week are likely in that general range, with local variation day‑to‑day.