Good morning. We’re catching up on the latest from Venezuela, Alberta’s health care controversy, plus more stuff we may have missed because of a turbulent start to 2026 – that’s below, along with recipe testing and prime minister painting. But first:
Today’s headlines
- Rio Tinto is in talks to acquire Glencore, which would make it the world’s largest miner
- Iranians answered calls from an exiled crown prince to protest before the internet was cut
- Heated Rivalry is a (pirated) hit in China, despite a crackdown on LGBTQ content
Family members of imprisoned Colombians wait for news of their loved ones on the Simon Bolivar International Bridge in Cúcuta, Colombia, Jan. 8.Yader Guzman/The Globe and Mail
Explainers
So far in 2026
The first week of the year was certainly not sleepy, but I was. While most of us were shaking off the holiday rest, lots has been going on. So far, 2026 has been hectic, to say the least. If you need an extra moment to catch your breath and get up to speed on the news, we have an explainer below.
The state of Venezuela
Venezuela has started to release political prisoners. One senior member of the country’s ruling regime described the move as an international olive branch in the wake of the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. U.S. President Donald Trump said in response, he had cancelled a second wave of attacks.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate rebuked Trump over his attack on Venezuela, voting to take up a War Powers Resolution to bar him from further military action in the South American country. This is mostly symbolic: even if it passes both chambers, Trump could veto it. U.S. proxy rule in Venezuela could go on for years, he told The New York Times in an interview published yesterday.
Back home, travel advisers across Canada say they’ve been fielding questions from people now worried about winter getaways during a peak travel period to destinations such as St. Lucia, Aruba and even Mexico.
The state of Minneapolis
Protesters confronted federal officers in Minneapolis the day after a woman was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. School was cancelled as a precaution and tensions remain high.
Renee Nicole Macklin Good, was a 37-year-old mother of three and was a U.S. citizen born in Colorado.
State and local officials demanded that the ICE agents leave the state, but Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said agents won’t be going anywhere. Drew Evans, the head of Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said federal prosecutors have barred the state agency from jointly investigating the shooting alongside the FBI. Gov. Tim Walz has publicly demanded that the state be allowed to take part.
Tariff talk and trade turbulence
The Canada-U.S. trade war is almost a year old. Today, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue rulings as it weighs cases with major implications including the legality of Trump’s sweeping global tariffs.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he was confident in the ability to reconstitute any lost tariff revenue by imposing duties under other legal authorities if the Supreme Court rules against Trump.
Still, the challenge to Trump’s tariffs marks a major test of presidential powers and could impact the global economy. Other important cases are also awaiting rulings at the court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority.
The Alberta Health Services saga continues
Athana Mentzelopoulos, the former head of Alberta Health Services (AHS), says she has been subject to a campaign of intimidation since she launched a wrongful-dismissal lawsuit against the provincial government last year. Mentzelopoulos spoke publicly about the allegations for the first time.
A former director on the AHS board, Sandy Edmonstone, also alleges he was singled out in a campaign of harassment and intimidation because he is a potential witness in Mentzelopoulos’s lawsuit and pushed back against the decision to fire her. In a recently unsealed affidavit, he alleges someone surveilled him and took surreptitious photos they threatened to distribute to his partner.
Edmonstone recently obtained a rare court order to seize evidence from the homes and electronic devices of David Wallace, who hosts a podcast called The Political Dark Arts Report, as well as James Di Fiore, another podcaster. New court records show that Wallace said he was retained by an Edmonton-based lawyer for “unspecified work.”
New Canadian laws and rules in 2026
This year brings new regulations both federally and provincially, some of which could have an impact on you. For example, Canada’s federal minimum wage, which applies to those working in federally regulated industries, is projected to take effect on April 1, rising to $18.10 an hour. The minimum hourly wage in many provinces and territories will also increase, with more details still to come.
The Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act came into effect on Jan. 1, to make it easier to buy, sell and transport goods and services across the country.
Plus, there are plenty of rules that affect your finances. Ottawa adjusted federal tax brackets using a 2 per cent inflation rate while the tax-free savings account limit and the Canada Pension Plan contribution rate will both remain unchanged. Starting March 12, banks will be restricted in how much they can charge customers for non-sufficient funds. Maybe a sign of the times?
The Shot
‘Everyone can spread choux in a tin.’
Food culture reporter Dakshana Bascaramurty made karpatka, a show-stopping dessert that tastes like it came from a patisserie.Dakshana Bascaramurty/The Globe and Mail
In a new cooking series, Recipe Lab, we explore what makes a recipe work. First up: making karpatka, a show-stopping dessert.
The Wrap
What else we’re following
At home: Ontario Premier Doug Ford asks Prime Minister Mark Carney not to cut tariffs on Chinese EVs.
Abroad: Aid workers from some groups are now barred from Gaza unless staff register with Israel.
On the web: Rogers is investing $50-million over five years to address excessive screen time among youth.
On the wall: Stephen Harper’s official portrait as prime minister will be unveiled next month.