TREE HOUSE NEWS 🏡

NEWS AGGREGATOR & COMMENTARY

May Great Spirit bless 🙏

It's partly cloudy this morning 🌥️, and it's mild at 37° F. Not bad, I guess, for this time of year. At least we're not getting snowed on like a lot of other places all around us have. I drank a glass of sour milk this morning; it didn't taste sour, but it all curdled up when I put it in my coffee. I hope it doesn't upset my finicky stomach. I don't need that today, thank you. What a horrible thought 👺 🔱 👿 🤢 🤮 That's about all of the personal events I have to report from the Newsroom this morning.

🙏 PRAYER 🙏

My prayer for the day is that the Great Spirit watches over you all, and that you be blessed and guided to do what your heart tells you is the right thing to do. May this day be a better day than yesterday, one day at a time. G-d Bless.

- Google Search -

People write "G-d" with a dash instead of an "o" out of reverence, stemming from Jewish tradition to avoid writing or destroying God's holy names.

- Me -

For me: The dash - means that the entity in question, the Great Spirit, is infinite and cannot be contained within a finite descriptor or in a word; G-d with a dash is an appropriate way to show respect to the GREAT SPIRIT.

Be well, be safe, and be blessed.AMEN! 🙏

TODAY'S DISCUSSION

The Hot Topic of the day:

CRITICAL MINERALS

"These critical minerals include a mix of commodities, including aluminum, cobalt, copper, lead and nickel. The list also includes 15 rare earth elements, such as scerium, dysprosium, neodymium and samarium. Rare earths refer to a category of 17 specific metallic elements.

These commodities are essential inputs in everyday technologies, such as phones, batteries and TV screens, as well as military and defense equipment, such as lasers, fighter jets and missiles."

Taken from the article below.

BREAKING NEWS:

Venezuela has a ton of oil. It also has something else America needs

New York

—

President Donald Trump says US companies will now have access to Venezuela’s vast *oil reserves*. But the country’s other commodities have also caught his administration’s attention. Venezuela has unverified amounts of minerals, metals and potentially *rare earth elements,* experts say. These raw materials are indispensable for industries from defense to technology, and the administration has repeatedly stressed their importance for US national security.

But while Washington might aspire to secure Venezuela’s critical elements, it’s a tall order, experts say, and wouldn’t do much to bolster America’s supply chain. The quantity and economic viability of Venezuela’s mineral resources are uncertain. Companies also face major risks mining in Venezuela without sustained security guarantees.

Many of these regions have guerrilla soldiers and armed groups engaging in illegal gold mining, experts say. Energy-intensive rare earths mining can also *harm the environment*...

• China’s role in the supply chain:
• Critical minerals and rare earth elements:
• Critical minerals in Venezuela:

Read More:

PUBLISHED Jan 11, 2026, 4:00 AM ET - 5 hr ago

- CNN -

Then we have The Ring of Fire in Northern Ontario, and the Hudson Bay area. Shovels are in the ground for road and railway beds this summer.

- Google Search -

No, major construction hasn't fully started yet, but significant agreements and approvals are in place, with plans aiming for road construction to begin in *mid-2026 (around June)* for the Webequie Supply Road, following federal-provincial streamlining of environmental reviews, paving the way for mining development in the Ring of Fire region.

- UPDATE -

- Google Search -

In 2026, the Ontario and Canadian governments are working to accelerate the development of the Ring of Fire road through a new "one project, one process" agreement, with a goal of potentially starting construction in August 2026.

Key news regarding the Ring of Fire road in 2026 includes:

Regulatory Streamlining: In December 2025

“With this historic agreement, our two governments are working together to protect Ontario and Canada by removing the unnecessary red tape and regulatory duplication that has stood in the way of nation-building projects for too long,” said Premier Doug Ford. “I want to thank Prime Minister Carney for his leadership in speeding up major projects that will create good-paying jobs, build a more competitive and self-reliant economy and help us unlock the enormous economic opportunity of the Ring of Fire.”

From News article below:

Ontario and Canada Sign Historic Cooperation Agreement to Eliminate Federal Duplication and Unlock the Ring of Fire

*New ‘One Project, One Process, One Decision’ model will remove duplication, attract investment, and get shovels in the ground years faster*

TORONTO — Ontario and Canada have signed a historic cooperation agreement that will significantly streamline environmental approvals for major infrastructure and resource projects through a new ‘one project, one process, one decision’ model that is now in effect...

Read More:

December 18, 2025

- News-Ontario-ca -

Other Breaking News:

Iran warns against potential US involvement as protesters defy crackdown

Where Things Stand

• Eyewitnesses have reported violence on the streets of Iran as the country enters its third week of anti-government protests which have spread across all of its 31 provinces. Two people reported security forces armed with rifles killing “many people” while another saw “bodies piled up on each other” in a hospital.

• In a warning to the US, Iran’s parliamentary speaker said American military and commercial bases will be treated as targets for retaliation if Washington intervenes militarily. President Donald Trump yesterday said the US was ready to help the Iranian people.

• At least 78 protesters have been killed and more than 2,600 people arrested, according to a US-based human rights group. Iran has now been offline for more than 60 hours after the authorities shut down internet access and telephone lines amid the turmoil...

Read More:

7 min ago

"Never, ever seen such a thing." Iran's internet shutdown is unprecedented in its reach, expert says

More To Read:

Updated 10:04 AM EST, Sun January 11, 2026

- CNN -

CANADIAN NEWS:

How a 1st year resident in St John's helped solve a medical mystery, and didn't stop there

A new episode of Atlantic Voice tracks east coast innovations for a rare disease

Ian Gillies Sr. still can't look at the pictures he took during his son's two-month stint at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John's. Remembering what happened is enough for him, and for now — he's trying looking ahead.

"We've been through hell and back, and it really gives you a different perspective," he said. That hell began in the summer of 2023. Ian Gillies Jr. had just graduated from the College of North Atlantic...

LISTEN | East coast innovations in a rare disease:

• Stumping the experts:
• 'Kind of a nerd':
• First diagnosis in N.L.:
• The breakthrough:
• 'A whole life':

Posted: Jan 11, 2026 4:30 AM EST | Last Updated: 6 hours ago

- CBC -

Illegal drugs advertised on social media; more airline competition taking off: CBC Marketplace cheat sheet

The consumer news you may have missed this week.

We're back!

Good morning!

'It's like on Amazon': Illegal drugs advertised online, delivered by Canada Post:

WATCH | Websites are selling illegal drugs online. Here's why it's so hard to stop them:

Viral video on WestJet plane sparks debate over passenger legroom, calls for more regulation:

WATCH | WestJet goes viral over new, tightly configured seating plans:

Canadian airlines could be forced to 'up their game' as Ottawa allows more competition from Middle East

WATCH | Eased restrictions on Middle East flights puts pressure on Canadian airlines:

Posted: Jan 11, 2026 8:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

- CBC -

Ford urges Carney not to cut Chinese EV tariffs ahead of Beijing visit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgxbTMU33og