Politics

Many Gazans are hoping the Rafah crossing will reopen after Israel said it recovered the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza; officials have not given a reopening date.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says a Royal Canadian Navy Arctic patrol vessel will be present when she opens a new Canadian consulate in Nuuk, Greenland next week.

International Criminal Court judges ruled that former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial after medical assessments, and the court has rescheduled a pretrial hearing for Feb. 23; his defence announced it will seek an appeal.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer proposed a North American customs-union approach and President Trump reportedly threatened 100% tariffs on Canada; the article says a customs union would centralize external trade policy and could constrain Canada's independent trade choices.

The White House said law‑abiding Americans have a constitutional right to carry firearms while protesting, a position that conflicted with comments from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel following the death of Alex Pretti.

A federal judge heard arguments Monday on whether to temporarily halt the federal immigration operation in Minnesota after two recent fatal shootings involving federal officers; a separate hearing on preserving evidence is also scheduled and the timing of any ruling is unclear.

Israel announced it has recovered and identified the remains of the last hostage in Gaza and said there are no more hostages in the enclave; officials linked the development to preparations for the ceasefire's next phase, including a likely reopening of the Rafah crossing.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the Canadian Groceries and Essentials Benefit, which includes an increase to the GST credit that returns part of the federal sales tax to lower-income Canadians.

Israel's military said it recovered and identified the remains of the last hostage in Gaza and that the remains will be returned for burial; officials linked the recovery to a condition of the first phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire and to reopening the Rafah crossing.

Officials said recent Abu Dhabi talks involving envoys from Ukraine, Russia and the United States were constructive, but no major breakthrough was reported and negotiators are set to meet again on Feb. 1.

Algonquin College has proposed cutting more than 30 programs, including its paralegal and law clerk programs; the board of governors will decide on the recommendations on Feb. 23.

A University of Michigan student from Myanmar was stranded in Singapore after President Trump's travel ban on 12 countries, including Myanmar, interrupted his attempt to renew a U.S. student visa.

Federal authorities have mounted a large ICE operation in Minnesota and the recent shooting of Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol agent has prompted sustained protests and political disputes.

The Timberwolves and Warriors resumed a postponed game after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a federal officer; both teams observed moments of silence and coaches spoke about the community's grief.

Quebec economy minister Christine Fréchette has announced she will run for the Coalition Avenir Québec leadership and will launch her campaign in Trois‑Rivières; the party will choose its leader at a convention on April 12, 2026.

Israeli officials say a ceasefire plan cannot advance while the last hostage remains unreturned and Hamas remains armed; U.S. leaders in Davos reiterated the need for the hostage's return and for demilitarization.

Officials told The Globe and Mail that Canada has drafted plans to send a small contingent of soldiers to Greenland to join Danish-led NATO exercises, and the deployment is awaiting final approval from Prime Minister Mark Carney.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a U.S. security guarantees document for Ukraine is "100% ready" after two days of talks and is awaiting partners to set a signing date; the document would then go to the U.S. Congress and the Ukrainian parliament for ratification.

ICE has launched a statewide operation called "Operation Catch of the Day" in Maine, and Governor Janet Mills has said state officials will not assist with obscuring federal vehicle identities.

At the Parti Québécois convention in St-Hyacinthe, leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon urged members not to be swayed by fear as the party prepares for another referendum, and delegates are set to vote on a program that pledges a referendum in a first mandate.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has travelled to several countries since taking office and is expected to visit multiple nations and attend global summits in 2026 as part of efforts to expand trade and attract investment.

Family members identified the man shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37‑year‑old intensive care nurse, and the Department of Homeland Security said he was shot after approaching officers with a handgun.

Defence Minister David McGuinty said Canada will not forget the sacrifices of its service members in Afghanistan, noting more than 150 Canadian deaths, and he declined to say whether U.S. President Donald Trump should apologize after remarks that downplayed allied contributions.

Ukrainian officials reported one person killed and 31 wounded in overnight attacks, and envoys from Ukraine, Russia and the United States were meeting in Abu Dhabi for a second day of talks aimed at ending the nearly four-year conflict.

Overnight Russian drone and missile strikes cut power in parts of Kyiv and Kharkiv while Ukrainian and Russian negotiators resumed a second day of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi.

The article examines Pierre Poilievre's conservative approach and the coalition of younger, more working-class voters he built, and asks whether that approach can translate into governing strength after a Liberal comeback and amid shifts tied to Donald Trump's return to the U.S. presidency.

Shinzo Abe's 2022 assassination focused attention on the Unification Church and led to political and legal scrutiny in Japan and South Korea.

At Davos, Prime Minister Carney said the post‑war 'rules‑based international order' has become a system of great‑power rivalry and urged middle powers to respond; commentators say the speech signals a shift in Canadian foreign policy while raising questions about how Canada will balance international commitments with domestic priorities.

The Carney Liberals return to the House two seats short of a majority after Chrystia Freeland's resignation, and the budget implementation act will be a confidence vote that could prompt an election.

President Barack Obama campaigned with Hillary Clinton in Charlotte and said he was "ready to pass the baton." The rally came hours after FBI Director James Comey said he would not recommend charges over Clinton's email practices while calling her handling of classified material "extremely careless."