In the news: Shifting trade policies, High coffee prices, Ukraine peace-plan talks

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed …

Carney’s foreign policy shift to trade, security prompts questions about human rights

As Prime Minister Mark Carney puts trade and security at the centre of Canada’s foreign policy, observers say Ottawa is also shifting how it asserts its values on the world stage.

The change in priorities is prompting some criticism — including when Prime Minister Mark Carney announced in November that Canada no longer has an explicitly feminist foreign policy.

The government has also faced backlash for courting investment from the United Arab Emirates amid claims the country is fuelling ethnic violence in Sudan.

Stephen Nagy, with International Christian University in Tokyo, says trying to advance values like feminism is not welcome by most Asian governments, but adds Ottawa can make real progress by focusing on economic growth programs that include giving women more well-paying jobs.

Popularity persists for Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew two years into government mandate

The popularity of Manitoba’s premier shows few signs of sagging more than two years after his NDP government was elected, despite ongoing challenges in health care, justice and the province’s finances.

Wab Kinew has consistently ranked at the top of monthly Angus Reid polls, although the latest numbers suggest a drop of 10 points from earlier this year.

Christopher Adams, an adjunct professor of political science at the University of Manitoba, says part of the reason for Kinew’s popularity is the premier showing some progress on key issues, including health care.

Kinew’s promise to balance the budget before the 2027 election also appears to face a steep uphill battle, and he tells The Canadian Press that doing so will require some belt-tightening.

From small farms to your cup: What it takes to make that one cup of fresh coffee

Canada’s coffee business is facing a new financial reality with the price of unroasted coffee beans rising significantly over the past three years.

Data from Statistics Canada shows Canadian shoppers paid almost 28 per cent more for coffee at grocery stores in November compared with a year ago.

Adam Pesce from Reunion Coffee Roasters says the surge has meant absorbing some cost increases while passing the rest on to his clients.

Climate change, drought and crop disease have disrupted the global coffee supply, hurting many small farmers and increasing sticker shock for consumers, which experts say is likely to continue.

P.E.I. researchers look at how cow poop can strengthen soil, reduce emissions

Researchers on Prince Edward Island are looking into how cow manure can strengthen soil while reducing emissions.

The Living Labs P.E.I. project, which is being overseen by Dr. Judith Nyiraneza, has partnered with farmers to test theories in real-world conditions and on a large scale.

Nick Green, a cattle farmer, says he’s happy to see his herd contributing to a positive conversation about climate change.

Nyiraneza says P.E.I.’s soil is great for food production, but it’s fragile, noting that using manure to fertilize fields has been done for centuries, but has fallen off in recent years.

Trump says Ukraine and Russia are ‘closer than ever’ to peace after talks with Zelenskyy

U-S President Donald Trump says Ukraine and Russia are closer than ever to a peace deal that would see the end to their nearly four-year war, but warns talks could still collapse.

Trump met Sunday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida and also had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump says major sticking points remain over the occupied Ukrainian territory, as well as security guarantees for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy has said Ukraine is ready for peace and confirmed ongoing work on a draft agreement that U-S officials say is about 90 per cent complete.

—

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2025.

The Canadian Press