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Rising Tensions Leave Ships Stranded in Key Oil Passage

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz ⁠was closed for a fourth day on Tuesday, choking off a key artery accounting for about 20% of global oil and gas supply. Greece’s Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, has raised urgent concerns over an increasingly alarming situation in the Strait of Hormuz, where dozens of vessels remain stranded amid escalating conflict involving Iran. He emphasized the need to safeguard global shipping and protect seafarers as the strategic waterway—responsible for roughly 20% of global oil and gas flows—remains closed for a fourth consecutive day.  The closure has disrupted international trade routes and heightened anxiety across the maritime sector. Greek authorities have urged shipowners to exercise maximum caution and avoid high‑risk zones in the wider Persian Gulf region as tensions continue to rise. The prolonged shutdown underscores the vulnerability of global supply chains to geopolitical instability and highlights th...
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Total Solar Eclipse: A Celestial Spectacle Over Canada

 

The path of totality, where the sun goes directly behind the moon, will first cross through southwestern Ontario around 3:15 p.m. on Monday. From there, it will move east through Quebec and Atlantic Canada, exiting Newfoundland around 3:45 p.m. Eastern Time. Cities and towns along this path have braced for their populations to swell with eclipse chasers, with Ontario’s Niagara region even declaring a preemptive state of emergency.

As the total eclipse approaches, the sky will darken, and wildlife may fall silent as if nighttime nears. Temperatures will dip, and winds may change. The moon’s shadow will creep up on the landscape to the west. Some lucky observers may even witness shadow bands, resembling waves of light on the bottom of a swimming pool. And then, in a shared moment of awe, eclipse watchers will see the sun move directly behind the moon, casting the world into a temporary twilight.

While the next total solar eclipse in Canada is expected to pass through western provinces in 20 years, this celestial alignment only graces any given location roughly once every 360 years by some estimates. Much of Canada will still be able to witness a partial eclipse, but those gathered along the path of totality—ranging from 164 to 196 kilometers wide—will get the full show, weather permitting.

For Iyalie Russell and Gabby Gregor, their path to the solar eclipse watch spot at Niagara Falls, Ont., began in a history of astronomy course at York University. Their friendship sparked there, and they laid plans to eventually watch the solar eclipse together. Brian Rogers and his family traveled from the United States to Niagara Falls, eager to experience the eclipse framed by the iconic falls. Rogers recalled the last eclipse, saying, “It was kind of surreal because all the crickets and animals around us started making night noises, and that was pretty neat. They were confused about the situation” .

So, whether you’re in the path of totality or witnessing a partial eclipse, take a moment to look up, marvel at the cosmic dance, and let the celestial awe wash over you. 

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