ICYMI: Jan. 12-18
Your weekly roundup and blogroll.
Blogroll
Story of the Week
Alberta separatist lawyer threatened ‘war crimes,’ ‘murder’ charges over COVID vaccine, law society claims, Jonny Wakefield, Edmonton Journal (Jan. 13)
Separatist lawyer Jeffrey Rath is challenging claims he breached professional conduct rules by writing to government officials during the COVID-19 pandemic — but admits he used “overly aggressive” language in several letters.
Rath began a Law Society of Alberta disciplinary hearing Tuesday on three misconduct charges, including allegations he inappropriately contacted the CEO of Alberta Health Services (AHS) and threatened to have federal and provincial officials charged with murder, war crimes and crimes against humanity for their approval of COVID vaccines.
Rath — a leading figure in the Alberta separatist movement who claims to have once had meetings with Trump administration officials — pleaded not guilty to two of the charges, but admitted to using language that was “discourteous, offensive or otherwise inconsistent with the proper tone of professional communication from a lawyer” in his COVID-era correspondence.
Alberta
The Politics of Polling, Laurence Miall, Alberta Views (January/February 2026)
A referendum in Alberta could be Donald Trump’s 51st state opportunity, Tony Keller, Globe and Mail (Jan. 13)
Alberta’s oilpatch cut 10,000 jobs last year — even as production soared, Zac Delaney, Edmonton Journal (Jan. 14)
Danielle Smith Working With Trump Official Who Wants to Annex Greenland, Mary Stuart, DeSmog (Jan. 14)
Long lineups in central Alberta to sign petition for province to leave Canada, Nadeer Hashmi and Lina Elsaadi, CBC News (Jan. 15)
Anti-racism watchdog fields complaint arising from immigration comments made at separatist town hall, Steven Sandor, Edmonton Journal (Jan .16)
‘Democracy Is a Fraud.’ Inside Prolife Alberta, the Political Party, Brett McKay, The Tyee (Jan. 16)
Alberta Law Foundation board members ousted, staff resign in wake of controversial justice bill, Jonny Wakefield, Edmonton Journal (Jan. 16)
Canada
Photographer and news outlet sue RCMP, alleging wrongful arrest at pipeline protest, Canadian Press (Jan. 12)
Donations for Ukraine spent on pizzas and payment to convicted felon, former Mriya Report official alleges, David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen (Jan. 12)
How residential school denialism has fuelled Canada’s church-burning panic, Taylor Noakes, Ricochet (Jan. 13)
RCMP report says Bishnoi gang ‘acting on behalf of’ Indian government, Stewart Bell, Global News (Jan. 13)
Quebec Premier François Legault announces resignation, Franca G. Mignacca and Benjamin Shingler, CBC News (Jan. 14)
Canada reaches tariff deal with China on electric vehicles, canola, Steven Chase and Bill Curry, Globe and Mail (Jan. 15)
Former CBC human resources employee sues over workplace so toxic staff were given a ‘crying room’, Adrian Humphreys, National Post (Jan. 16)
Trudeau’s use of Emergencies Act to clear convoy protests unjustified, appeal court rules, David Ebner, Globe and Mail (Jan. 16)
Trump’s latest Western Hemisphere fixation: Canada, Katherine Doyle, Carol E. Lee, Courtney Kube and Kristen Welker, NBC News (Jan. 18)
U.S.
New York Attorney General Shuts Down Pro-Israel Group Betar for Biased Harassment of Arabs, Muslims, Jacqueline Sweet and Noah Hurowitz, The Intercept (Jan. 13)
Tucker Carlson Platforms Another Groyper—Only This One Is Running for Florida Governor, Ben Lorber, The Nation (Jan. 13)
CBS News report on ICE officer’s injuries drew ‘huge internal concern’, Jeremy Barr, The Guardian (Jan. 16)
The Campaign to Destroy Renee Good, Parker Molloy, WIRED (Jan. 16)
They Wanted a University Without Cancel Culture. Then Dissenters Were Ousted. Evan Mandery, Politico (Jan. 16)
Hootsuite could receive up to $2.8 million USD for contract with US immigration enforcement, Josh Scott and Sarah Rieger, Betakit (Jan. 16)
Spanberger EO “gives new Governor the option” to end relationship between ICE and Virginia State Police, Brad Kutner, Radio IQ (Jan. 17)
NYC may reinvest in Israel bonds in defiance of mayor Mamdani’s stance, Sun Yu, Financial Times (Jan. 17)
World
Sudan’s army renewing military effort to retake Kordofan, Darfur from RSF, Adam Hancock, Al Jazeera (Jan. 12)
‘Big step forward’: Myanmar military faces Rohingya genocide case at UN court, Rebecca Ratcliffe, The Guardian (Jan. 12)
Somalia cancels all agreements with UAE over alleged sovereignty violations, Faisal Ali, Al Jazeera (Jan. 12)
U.S. Government initiated 4.5-year lawfare program against Chinese nickel mining through Indonesian labor unions, Jack Poulson, All-Source Intelligence (Jan. 13)
Adelaide Writers Week canceled as 180 speakers withdraw after the exclusion of a Palestinian writer, Charlotte Graham-McLay, Associated Press (June 13)
South Korea prosecutors seek death penalty for ex-President Yoon, Stephen Quillen, Al Jazeera (Jan. 13)
Canadian oil tycoon proposes aiding US in Venezuela’s oil revival, Amanda Stephenson, Reuters (Jan. 13)
Donald Trump’s first Venezuela oil sale deal goes to megadonor’s company, Malcolm Moore and Jamie Smyth, Financial Times (Jan. 15)
Middle East
How the UAE’s Decade-Long Project in Yemen Ended in 48 Hours, Iona Craig, Drop Site News (Jan. 12)
Iran’s Regime Is Unsustainable, Robin Wright, New Yorker (Jan. 13)
Israel’s Somaliland gambit reflects a doctrine of endless escalation, Omar H. Rahman, +972 (Jan. 13)
Israeli Government Accuses Haaretz of ‘Supporting Enemy in Wartime,’ Citing Gaza Reporting, Chen Maanit, Haaretz (Jan. 13)
Whose revolution is it? How Iran’s protests are being reframed abroad, Shenaz Kermalli, Ricochet (Jan. 15)
How Iran’s Islamic revolution devoured itself, Christopher de Bellaigue, Financial Times (Jan. 15)
Carney to accept Trump’s offer to join ‘Board of Peace’ in rebuild of Gaza, Annie Bergeron-Oliver, Daniel Otis, Elianna Lev and Hunter Crowther, CTV News (Jan. 16)
A Long History of Betrayal, Steva Gunitsky, Foreign Policy (Jan. 16)
Iran supreme leader acknowledges thousands killed during recent protests, Jack Burgess and Ghoncheh Habibiazad, BBC News (Jan. 17)
Trump’s ‘board of peace’ appears to seek wider mandate beyond Gaza, Al Jazeera (Jan. 18)
Syria agrees ceasefire with Kurdish-led forces after two weeks of clashes, Rachel Hagan, BBC News (Jan. 18)