News roundup, 5 Jan 2025

- The US has abducted Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife after a series of intense strikes on the country early Saturday morning. He was quickly spirited out of the country and incarcerated in New York; Donald Trump says that the US will "run" Venezuela for the foreseeable future. Whatever you can say about Maduro (and most of it is not good), this is a pretty big demonstration (as if one were needed) that the Trump regime doesn't care about international law - or stability. Mark Carney seems nervous about rocking the boat, though, reminding anyone who will listen that his government does not recognize Maduro as the legitimate ruler of the country, while calling on "all parties" to respect conventions. The NDP and Greens were more direct, condemning the attack. Regardless, the consequences of the invasion may well impact Canada, as if the US is able to get a firm grip on Venezuela (a big if, mind you) it will dump a lot of oil on the market that competes directly with Alberta. The implications for the rest of Latin America, of course, are far more ominous, and in fact Trump is already making thinly veiled threats towards Columbia, Mexico, and Cuba. Oh, and he also wants to remind us that he still wants Greenland.

- Abacus Research has concluded that prospective referenda in Quebec and Alberta are unlikely to succeed due to what they call a "precarity mindset".

- One of the Alberta MLAs facing a recall has preempted the process by resigning. UCP MLA Rebecca Schulz will stay on until the spring, after which a byelection must be called within 6 months. Another 25 MLAs, 23 from the UCP and two from the NDP, are also facing possible recall in the near future.

- Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have very little in common - but one thing they agree on is that maybe, just maybe, the boom in AI data centres shouldn't be allowed to proceed unchecked, due if nothing else to the impact on electricity prices.

- Following last year's highly destructive fire season, the insurance industry is warning that Manitoba is facing increases in premiums on residential and cottage insurance.