The Cuban government has said 32 of its nationals were killed during the US operation to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
It said the dead were members of its armed forces and intelligence agencies, with two days of national mourning declared.
A short statement did not elaborate on the role of the Cubans in Venezuela, but the two governments are long-standing allies, with Cuba providing security support in exchange for oil.
Justin Trudeau was unavailable for comment.
Catching flies is that simple🐈 pic.twitter.com/bqc37LJUYr
— Cats with Aura 😺 (@catwithaura) January 4, 2026
Chrystia Freeland named as economic adviser by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
OTTAWA — A former Trudeau cabinet minister and federal Liberal leadership hopeful has a new job.
On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he’d appointed Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s former deputy prime minister — and catalyst for the downfall of former prime minister Justin Trudeau, as an economic advisor.
So Freeland is gonna suck and blow.
— Blazingcatfur (@fancypants_s) January 5, 2026
Hey Z I’ll swing a few billion your way for a “Job”
h/t Mauser
Many of those who tuned in to US President Donald Trump’s news conference on Saturday were probably hoping to hear dramatic details of how US forces seized Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, in a pre-dawn raid.
But arguably a more surprising moment came when Trump announced that now that Maduro was in custody, the US would “run” Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition”.
In another unexpected development, he added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been speaking to Maduro’s Vice-President, Delcy Rodríguez, who he said was “essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again”.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says the Liberal government’s oil tanker ban, which led to the cancellation of a pipeline that would have transported Alberta oil to British Columbia for international markets, has put Canada in a “weakened and dependent” position.
Poilievre’s remarks came shortly after the United States announced on Jan. 3 that it had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States will run Venezuela until a peaceful transition of power is completed, adding that it will be heavily involved in the nation’s oil industry.
Bonus Gilmore h/t all who sent this in
It is genuinely horrifying how much the education system in Ontario failed Rachel Gilmore. pic.twitter.com/vciYc41AVp
— Wyatt Claypool (@wyatt_claypool) January 3, 2026
Driver was in the wrong https://t.co/XfHYY5hqjX
— Blazingcatfur (@fancypants_s) January 4, 2026
h/t Patti Jo
María Corina Machado, the international figurehead of the Venezuelan opposition who collected the Nobel peace prize last month, has so far been reduced to a peripheral role after the US intervention in her country on Saturday.
President Trump appeared to dismiss the prospect of involving her in the political transition, describing her as a “very nice woman” but saying it would be “tough” for her to lead the nation because she did not have the “respect within or the support within the country”.
FOR CLARITY
In 2024, Maria Corina Machado overwhelmingly won the popular vote to represent opposition to dictator, Maduro for the presidency in Venezuela.Maduro, with the help of his corrupt courts and military, BANNED her from the ballot.
Edmundo González replaced her on the… pic.twitter.com/N0H2sqwTpT
— Bree A Dail (@breeadail) January 3, 2026
The American Justin Trudeau… https://t.co/wevaEMuyQc
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) January 4, 2026
h/t Patti Jo
A Canadian woman has been charged in the United States with crossing into Washington state and kicking a border agent in the face.
The accused is facing one count each of assault on a federal officer and improper entry after the incident Tuesday.
In U.S. district court documents, the FBI alleges the woman was denied entry at the Peace Arch border crossing, south of Surrey, B.C., because she had a marijuana vape pen.
The owner of the Swiss ski bar at the centre of a New Year’s Day inferno that claimed 40 lives and left 119 injured spent time in prison for ‘fraud, kidnapping and false imprisonment’ and was a known pimp, it emerged today.
French national Jacques Moretti, who is in his 60s, faces charges for the inferno at Le Constellation, in Crans–Montana, Switzerland, on New Year’s Day.
His venue became a death trap, after sparklers placed inside champagne bottles ignited the basement ceiling.
EDMONTON – A political scientist says U.S. President Donald Trump’s interest in transforming Venezuela’s oil-rich sector is a reminder for Canada’s oil and gas industry to not panic and stay competitive.
Heather Exner-Pirot, director of energy, natural resources and environment with the think-tank Macdonald-Laurier Institute, says Canada has always competed with other oil-rich countries, and Trump’s recent claims his country will “run” oil-rich Venezuela is a medium-term risk to Canada.
The Roman Empire was pluralistic and multicultural. It allowed all sorts of religious practices and beliefs, but it could not tolerate Christianity. Christians were considered to be seditious because of their refusal to offer sacrifices to Roman gods.
Eventually, however, the empire became Christianized to a degree, and over time, political and religious liberty would become widespread.
(Incognito)
FOR young professionals and working families, living in London is an increasingly distant dream. London property is among the most expensive in the world; rent alone can be £3,500 a month or more.
Given this, a social housing tenancy – owned by a local authority or housing association – can save a London renter thousands of pounds a year. Over a lifetime, the benefit is comparable to a lottery win.
It is the season for New Year’s Resolutions, always an exciting time. Diets begin and exercise regimens commence; people commit to look for new jobs, new relationships, new hobbies… addicts try to give up their demons, from candy to alcohol, from television to video games. Everything begins anew.
And if you look closely, you can even see it in the news coverage.
