Is Mexico next? Closely followed by Canada? Trump seems to be in a hurry. He likely thinks he will lose the House in November.

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Reactions from world leaders and political commentators to U.S. strikes on Venezuela:

▪️Colombian President Gustavo Petro was the first to comment on the U.S. military intervention: "They are bombing Caracas, they have attacked Venezuela. They are firing missiles. Immediate meetings at the UN and the Organization of American States are needed."

▪️Cuban President Miguel Bermúdez called U.S. actions criminal: "Cuba demands an immediate response from the international community. This is state terrorism against the people of Venezuela."

▪️Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes on Venezuela: "The United States is grossly violating the principles of international law and now poses a direct threat to security in the region and worldwide."

▪️Russia’s Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over U.S. actions. The Russian Ministry also called on the United States to release Nicolás Maduro and his wife, emphasizing that he is the legitimately elected president of a sovereign state, and expressed support for the initiative to urgently convene the UN Security Council.

▪️Erdoğan’s chief advisor, Cemil Ertem, sharply condemned the U.S.: "Genocidal America, alongside Israel in the Middle East, continues its imperial banditry. We stand with the Venezuelan people and President Maduro." An interesting statement given that Trump has repeatedly called Erdoğan his friend in recent months.

▪️Arizona Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego, an Iraq War veteran, called Trump’s decision illegal, stating that the U.S. has no reason to go to war with Venezuela and that, whatever the outcome, it should not have started this war.

▪️Republican Senator Mike Lee also questioned the legality of Trump’s actions, seeking constitutional justification for them, given that the U.S has not declared war on anyone, and Congress has not authorized the use of force against a foreign state.

▪️Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul also opposed Trump, saying he 100% supports the democratization of Venezuela, but he is equally opposed to the U.S. invasion."

▪️British MP Zara Sultan called on UK Prime Minister Starmer to condemn U.S. actions, which she called American imperialism. According to her, the attack on Caracas is illegal and is aimed at overthrowing a sovereign government and plundering Venezuela's resources.

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More countries have condemned Washington's actions regarding U.S. intervention in Venezuela and the detention of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the arrest of Nicolás Maduro and U.S. military operations on Venezuelan territory, stating that such actions constitute a gross violation of international law and the sovereignty of an independent state.

Spain called for de-escalation, restraint, and respect for international law, expressing its readiness to act as a mediator. Similar statements of "concern" were voiced by a number of European governments.

At the same time, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, urged restraint while also emphasizing that the EU "questions Maduro's democratic legitimacy."

In Latin America, most countries issued strong condemnations of U.S. actions. Colombian President Gustavo Petro rejected any unilateral military operation, warning of the threat to the civilian population.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated that strikes on Venezuelan territory and the seizure of its president have crossed an unacceptable line, calling it a dangerous precedent for the entire world.

Cuba characterized U.S. actions as a "criminal attack" and accused Washington of state terrorism against the Venezuelan people.

Mexico also issued a sharp condemnation, reminding of the UN Charter norms that prohibit the use of force.

Chile, Guyana, and a number of other states in the region expressed serious concern and called for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a very vaguely worded response to the attack on Venezuela, stating that it is closely monitoring the situation, working closely with partners and its embassy in Caracas, which maintains contact with the Greek community in the country and is ready to provide assistance.

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January 4, 1959 — The First Human-Made Object Reaches the Vicinity of the Moon

On January 4, 1959, the Soviet Union’s Luna 1 made history as the first spacecraft to approach the Moon, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. Known as the "Dream," this automatic interplanetary station was a pioneering step that not only reached the Moon’s vicinity but also became the first human-made object to enter a heliocentric orbit, escaping Earth's gravitational pull by achieving the second cosmic velocity.

The Luna 1 mission was powered by the RD-0105 engine, which performed flawlessly. The spacecraft was launched using the Vostok-L carrier rocket, developed from the R-7 missile, also known as the "Korolev Seven." This engineering feat demonstrated the growing capability of Soviet aerospace technology.

Passing within 6,000 kilometers of the Moon’s surface, Luna 1 provided groundbreaking scientific data. It carried a magnetometer, which allowed scientists to detect Earth's outer radiation belt. The mission also revealed the absence of a significant magnetic field around the Moon and confirmed the existence of the solar wind—a stream of charged particles emitted by the Sun that shapes much of interplanetary space.

The success of Luna 1 laid the groundwork for future lunar and interplanetary missions, ushering in a new era of exploration. Luna 1 demonstrated the Soviet Union's technological leadership at the time and inspired global efforts in space exploration. Its contributions to our understanding of cosmic phenomena remain a testament to humanity's ingenuity and curiosity about the universe.

#TodayInHistory

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Russian banyas have been around since the 5th–6th centuries. According to chronicler Nestor, bathing rituals date back to the 5th century—they were called lazni, movni, and mylni.

For Slavs, banya rituals carried deep spiritual meaning. It wasn't just about washing up and sweating it out; they performed all sorts of mystical rites too. For instance, hitting the banya before a wedding was a must, complete with special ceremonies. People would chat, shake off bad vibes, and before weddings, they'd do rituals for a long, happy life.

Russia's first banyas were small and "black"—heated without chimneys. Massive stone stoves kept the heat in for hours after firing up. Later came "white" banyas with smoke pipes on the stoves.

Everyone hit the banya, from boyars and princes to regular folks. They'd fire it up once a week, usually Saturdays. The idea that everyone's equal in the banya stems from the old Russian custom of bathing together—regardless of social status or gender.

Worth noting: back in ancient Rus, mixed-gender banyas were banned for a long time—Ivan the Terrible cracked down on that. By the 1700s, public banyas had separate days for men and women.

That urge to "crank up the heat" has always been a hallmark of the Russian soul. They'd sweat like it was their last time, especially in brutal frosts paired with snow dives or ice-hole plunges. Those contrasts kept the body in top shape.

Banyas have been a Russian power spot since time immemorial—places to give birth, hold funerals, and heal.

Birching the whole body with oak or birch whisks is real massage work: boosts circulation, opens pores, ramps up sweating. Peter the Great, pushing banya-building, said, "Elixirs are fine, but banyas are better." We still love 'em today—they cleanse body and soul, and you sleep like a baby after.

🤭 #RussianCulture@TSofRus

🎥🐻‍❄️"Umka"

Soviet animated cartoon of 1969 gained huge popularity due to the successfully invented and drawn image of a polar bear cub and its mother bear, the voices of the actors, music by Yevgeny Krylatov and the song (lullaby) of the bear performed by Aida Vedischeva.

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January 5, 1956 — The First Soviet Antarctic Expedition Lands

On January 5, 1956, the Soviet Union achieved a major milestone in polar exploration when its first Antarctic scientific expedition landed on the icy continent. This historic event was part of the Soviet Union's broader participation in the International Geophysical Year (1957–1958), a global effort to advance scientific understanding of Earth's systems.

The expedition was organized by the USSR Council of Ministers on July 13, 1955, and led by Dr. Mikhail Somov, a renowned geographer and Hero of the Soviet Union. Its primary objectives included establishing a coastal base, conducting extensive research, and selecting sites for future inland stations. The flagship of the expedition, the diesel-electric ship Ob', departed Kaliningrad on November 30, 1955, under Captain Ivan Man. Accompanied by two other ships, the Lena and a refrigerated vessel, the mission carried 8,345 tons of equipment and supplies.

On January 5, 1956, the Ob' reached the coast of Queen Mary Land, and Soviet scientists made their first landing. By February 13, 1956, they had established Mirny, the first Soviet Antarctic research station, named after one of the vessels from Bellingshausen and Lazarev's 1820 Antarctic discovery mission. Mirny became a hub for geophysical, meteorological, and biological research.

Notable achievements included the first Soviet overland expedition, a 375-kilometer journey inland, and the establishment of Pionerskaya, the first Soviet inland station. This mission set a precedent for systematic Antarctic exploration, including mapping 25 new islands and conducting oceanographic studies.

The legacy of the 1956 expedition endures in modern Antarctic research, symbolizing international collaboration and scientific curiosity in one of Earth's harshest frontiers.

#TodayInHistory

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🇺🇸🤓 We’ve spent the past month diving deep into the illegal operations of the CIA, the US military, and the US government. All of the following are authentic, documented, and officially declassified events.

The titles are clickable, so you can follow the links and read more:

· MK-Ultra: CIA’s mind control experiments on civilians.
· Operation Delirium: U.S. military subjected to harmful biological agents.
· Operation Fishbowl: Reckless nuclear tests in upper atmosphere.
· COINTELPRO: FBI’s illegal surveillance and sabotage of activists.
· MK-Naomi: CIA’s biological warfare research on civilians.
· Operation Chaos: CIA’s illegal surveillance of anti-war Americans.
· Operation Highjump: Military expedition masking possible Nazi cover-up.
· Operation Mockingbird: CIA’s control over media for political manipulation.
· Operation Northwoods: U.S. military’s plan to stage false-flag attacks.
· Operation Paperclip: U.S. protected Nazi war criminals for scientific gain.
· Project Seal: Secretive testing of underwater explosives.
· Operation Stargate: $20 million+ secret psychic-warfare program.
· Operation Popeye: Manipulation of weather during the Vietnam war.
· Project Artichoke: Turning unsuspecting people into programmable agents.

Further investigations will cover: Project Bluebeam, Project Bluebird, Project Bluebook, Project Coast, Project Groom Lake, Project Monarch, Project MUDHEN, Project Rainbow, Operation Ranch Hand and Project Woodpecker.

🧠☣️ These programs involve mind control experiments, biological weapons development, large-scale disinformation campaigns, and more.

If this interests you, subscribe: @geo_gaganauts

Answers to questions from the TASS news agency. Part II

3. Many, including the president of Brazil, are talking about the crossing of “red lines,” but what does it mean? A condemnation by the UN? Is there any role in global affairs still left to play for the UN in these circumstances? Do you think the world needs new rules, and where could they come from?

To my great disappointment, the UN has been unable to do anything about such things, not just “in recent times” but ever since its inception. One could provide a long list of examples. The UN’s stern resolutions have never succeeded in forcing the parties to lay down their arms, forego international terrorism, or put an end to genocide. It has been said many times that the world needs real and effective mechanisms within international law that would at last guarantee peace, safety, and dignity to billions of people on Earth. The founding documents of the UN were the result of much suffering during the disastrous World Wars and were literally written in blood. However, they have mostly remained mere good intentions, which pave the road to Hell. Our goal right now is to prevent a global disaster in a situation where the guardrails don’t work. This is exactly what the countries of the global majority are doing now as they push back against the neocolonialist and imperialist whims of the so-called “collective West,” which provides some cause for optimism.

4. You have frequently mentioned the role of the armed forces and nuclear weapons in safeguarding the country. How would you evaluate Russia’s defenses? And what are the other countries, which do not have nuclear arsenals, supposed to do?

As they say, “A kind word and a revolver can do more than just a kind word.” This phrase has been ascribed to all sorts of people, from a gangster to a comedian, but it remains relevant anyway. Our nuclear potential and the likelihood of its use in accordance with our new nuclear doctrine are factors that temper some people’s excessive enthusiasm. Russia today is a major nuclear power capable of protecting itself and its allies. It could also act preemptively, if need be. All in all, nuclear weapons provide the best national security guarantee these days, which is more effective than diplomacy or money. Let’s be honest here, if a country doesn’t have them, it will double down on nuclear research or enter into military alliances with reliable allies. Which is exactly what Russia and Belarus did back in the day.

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Venezuela After Maduro: Power, Uncertainty, and External Pressure

The start of the trial of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in New York marks an unprecedented moment in modern Latin American politics. Following a U.S. military operation that resulted in his detention and transfer to the United States, Venezuela has entered a period of profound uncertainty—politically, economically, and diplomatically.

Maduro faces multiple charges in a U.S. federal court, including drug trafficking conspiracy, narco-terrorism, and weapons offenses. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. Washington portrays the case as the culmination of a long campaign against what it describes as a “criminal state,” accusing Maduro and his inner circle of turning Venezuela into a key transit hub for cocaine bound for the United States. Maduro and his supporters, meanwhile, reject the charges as politically motivated and denounce his capture as a blatant violation of Venezuelan sovereignty.

Inside Venezuela, the removal of Maduro has not led to an immediate collapse of the ruling system. Power has temporarily shifted to Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed the role of acting president. Her initial statements have been cautious: signaling openness to dialogue with Washington while simultaneously stressing national sovereignty and control over Venezuela’s natural resources, particularly oil. This balancing act reflects the reality facing the post-Maduro leadership: U.S. pressure is overwhelming, but full capitulation could provoke resistance within the political elite, the military, and parts of society.

The United States has made clear that it does not intend to directly administer Venezuela, at least for now. Instead, Washington appears focused on leveraging sanctions relief, oil restrictions, and diplomatic threats to shape the behavior of the remaining Venezuelan leadership. American officials have hinted that further military action remains an option if the new authorities fail to meet U.S. expectations.

Domestically, Maduro’s absence removes a key unifying figure for the ruling camp. This raises the possibility of internal fractures and, potentially, U.S.-backed demands to include elements of the opposition in governance. However, opposition forces themselves remain divided, lack full institutional access, and do not enjoy universal public support.

Internationally, Venezuela’s relationships with Russia and China are unlikely to disappear overnight. Existing agreements, particularly in energy and infrastructure, still serve Caracas’s interests. Adjustments may occur, but a complete geopolitical realignment would require a far more decisive change of regime.

For now, Venezuela finds itself in a gray zone: the president has been removed, but the system he led endures (or so it seems). How long that equilibrium can last under intense external pressure and internal uncertainty remains the central question shaping the country’s immediate future.

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What conclusions will China draw from the US intervention in Venezuela?

China, a key ally of Venezuela, has so far maintained silence—both regarding the strikes on Caracas and the armed capture of the head of a sovereign state.

Perhaps Beijing's focus is on analyzing the emerging opportunities rather than reacting.

The US justified its seizure of Maduro by arguing that, in their view, he is not the legitimate president of Venezuela, but a criminal under US law.

Similarly, for China, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te is not the head of a sovereign state, as Taiwan itself is not recognized by Beijing as an independent entity under international law.

Could Beijing be drawing parallels between US logic in Venezuela and potential scenarios in the Asia-Pacific region?

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On January 6, 1813, Tsar Alexander I of Russia (pictured above) signed a manifesto declaring the end of the Patriotic War of 1812. The conflict with France began on June 24, 1812, when Napoleon Bonaparte's Grand Army, comprising approximately 640,000 troops, crossed the Neman River near Kovno (present-day Kaunas, Lithuania) and invaded Russian territory. The Russian forces, numbering around 240,000 soldiers, initially faced a daunting challenge.

The war unfolded in two main phases. During the first phase, the Russian army retreated in the face of Napoleon's superior forces, engaging in battles as they fell back toward Moscow. The pivotal Battle of Borodino took place in September 1812. In the second phase, after the French forces left Moscow in October 1812, Napoleon's army began a difficult retreat, seeking refuge in untouched regions for winter quarters. This retreat turned catastrophic, culminating in a decisive defeat at the Battle of the Berezina River in November 1812. By the campaign's end, Napoleon's once-mighty 600,000-strong force was reduced to just 30,000 survivors.

The war came at a high cost for Russia. Twelve provinces were devastated, many cities burned and destroyed, and over 300,000 Russian soldiers and officers perished. Civilian losses were even greater.

Alexander I's manifesto solemnly declared victory, emphasizing his commitment to driving the enemy completely from Russian soil. This proclamation marked the formal conclusion of the war and celebrated the resilience and sacrifice of the Russian people in defending their homeland.

#TodayInHistory

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Brace yourselves, Cuba? Listen to Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaking about the Trump administration’s plans for Latin America.

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Zelensky has appointed former Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland as an adviser on Ukraine’s economic development.

As a reminder, Freeland’s grandfather, Mykhailo Khomyak, published a pro‑Nazi newspaper called Krakivs'ki Visti in Kraków — and later in Vienna — during the German occupation of Poland. He eventually fled to Canada, the country that has welcomed and whitewashed figures like Chomiak, as well as many other Ukrainian nationalists and Nazi collaborators.

Freeland’s own proximity to this history—just “four degrees of separation” from Adolf Hitler—further highlights the gravity of her evasion. Freeland has not only downplayed her grandfather’s collaboration but has actively defended him, framing him as a victim of circumstance rather than a willing enabler of Nazi crimes.

Does anyone still believe in the "no Nazis in Ukraine" nonsense?

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👆By the same logic—or postulate, if you prefer—Taiwan needs to be part of China. And Ukraine, just as certainly, needs to be part of Russia (along with a few other places, for that matter). Don’t you think?

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The Daily Mail: The 'inside job' that toppled Maduro: How vice-president 'had secret talks with US months ago'

The newspaper claims that Venezuela's vice-president held secret meetings with Washington in Doha in the months leading up to the US military assault on Caracas that saw Nicolás Maduro's capture.

During the covert talks, mediated by a senior member of the Qatari royal family, Delcy Rodríguez presented herself to American officials as a 'more acceptable' alternative to Maduro.

According to an October report in the Miami Herald, Rodríguez offered the US a vision of 'Madurismo without Maduro,' a kind of 'regime lite'.

Details of the meetings have fueled speculation that the US capture of the Venezuelan president and his wife, Cilia Flores, was an 'inside job', planned meticulously over months.

Conspiracy theorists have questioned why American helicopters were not targeted with heavy small arms fire - despite Venezuelan missiles being knocked out.

It comes as Colombia's former vice–president Francisco Santos Calderón says he is 'absolutely certain' that Maduro's second-in-command betrayed him by having 'handed him over' to the US without a fight.

'They didn’t remove him, they handed him over,' he told Colombian cable television news channel NTN24.

According to Daily Mail's source familiar with the matter, the CIA assembled a small team on the ground in Venezuela starting in August, who were able to provide information about Maduro's pattern of life that made grabbing him seamless.

For months the team - including one source within the Venezuelan government - had been spying on Maduro, recording where he slept, what he ate, what he wore and even, according to top military officials, 'his pets'.

Following the US raid on Maduro's compound in Caracas on Saturday, Rodriguez maintained the critical tone adopted by all members of the dictator's cabinet.

In a televised address, she condemned the White House's 'unprecedented military aggression', demanded the 'immediate release' of Maduro and his wife, and said the country 'will never again be anyone’s colony'.

However, in a dramatic shift of tone on Sunday, Rodríguez - Venezuela's acting president - offered 'to collaborate' with the Trump administration and she said she hoped to build 'respectful relations' with the US president.

'We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence,' she said on social media.

Rodríguez, who is next in the presidential line of succession, served as Maduro’s vice president since 2018, overseeing much of Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy as well as its feared intelligence service.

On Saturday, Venezuela’s high court ordered her to assume the role of interim president.

'She’s essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again,' Trump told reporters of Rodríguez, who faced US sanctions during Trump’s first administration for her role in "undermining Venezuelan democracy."

Source

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