SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the U.S. has no valid reason to carry out a military attack against the island or to attempt to depose him.

Speaking in an interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press program, the president said an invasion of Cuba would be costly and affect regional security. But should it happen, Díaz-Canel said, Cubans would defend themselves.

“If the time comes, I don’t think there would be any justification for the United States to launch a military aggression against Cuba, or for the U.S. to undertake a surgical operation or the kidnapping of a president,” Díaz-Canel said, speaking through a translator.

He added: “If that happens, there will be fighting, and there will be a struggle, and we will defend ourselves, and if we need to die, we’ll die, because as our national anthem says, ‘Dying for the homeland is to live’.”

His comments come as tensions between Cuba and the U.S. remain high despite both sides acknowledging talks, although no details have been shared.

Díaz-Canel has accused the U.S. government of implementing a “hostile policy” against Cuba and said it has “no moral to demand anything from Cuba.” He noted that Cuba is interested in engaging in dialogue and discussing any topic without conditions, “not demanding changes from our political system as we are not demanding change from the American system, about which we have a number of doubts.”

Cuba blames a U.S. energy blockade for its deepening woes, with a lack of petroleum affecting the island’s health system, public transportation and the production of goods and services.

Cuba produces only 40% of the fuel it consumes, and it stopped receiving key oil shipments from Venezuela after the U.S. military attacked the South American country in early January, seized President Nicolás Maduro and took him to New York to face drug trafficking charges. Then, with cooperation from ruling party leaders, the Trump administration began implementing a phased plan to end Venezuela’s entrenched crisis.

The arrival of a Russian tanker carrying 730,000 barrels of crude oil in Cuba in March marked the island’s first oil shipment in three months. Russia has promised to send a second tanker.

Despite threatening tariffs in January on countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba, the Trump administration allowed the tanker to proceed.

“Cuba’s finished,” President Donald Trump said at the time. “They have a bad regime. They have very bad and corrupt leadership and whether or not they get a boat of oil, it’s not going to matter.”

Díaz-Canel said his government takes Trump’s words as a warning.

“You hear that Cuba is next, that Cuba is going to be next, that there are, there’s a way out, that they’re going to take over Cuba,” he said. “So, from the position of responsibility within the leadership of the country, that is a warning. And we need to responsibly protect our people, protect our project and protect our country.”

A 60-year-old Ontario man is facing several charges, including arson and assault, in relation to an intimate partner violence incident last week.

Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to a 911 call at approximately 5:20 p.m. on Friday for a domestic assault in progress at a residence on North River Road in Phelps Township. The District of Nipissing Paramedic Services also responded.

Police say they then received a second call from the victim, who reported the residence was on fire.

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The Phelps Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched and the victim was confirmed to have made it out of the home safely.

Police found the home fully engulfed in flames.

The suspect later exited an outbuilding on the property and surrendered to police.

The 60-year-old suspect faces two counts of arson, one each for disregard for human life and for damage to property, two counts of spousal assault, and one charge of mischief that destroyed or damaged a property.

The suspect remains in custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario court of justice in North Bay, Ont., on Monday.

According to police, the name of the accused will not be released to protect the identity of the victim due to the domestic nature of the incident.

Police say the North East Region forensic identification services and North Bay OPP crime unit are assisting in the investigation.

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A New Brunswick musician remains in hospital after he was the victim of a violent attack outside a Moncton venue where he had taken the stage only a short time prior this past weekend.

John McLaren, a solo musician from Shediac, N.B., had been performing at Happy Craft Brewing on Moncton’s Main Street on Saturday prior to the attack.

According to Codiac Regional RCMP, police responded to a report of an assault in the area at about 11:50 p.m.  They said they responded to the report near 889 Main St., but that based on details from their investigation, the assault is likely to have occurred near 806 Main St.

Happy Craft Brewing is located at 800 Main St.

When they arrived on scene, they found a 37-year-old injured and unconscious. He was rushed to hospital with what were believed to be serious injuries.

As of Monday, McLaren remains in the intensive care unit.

“John’s a great guy, straight moral compass, he would never want anything negative upon anyone,” said Ryan Mazerolle, a guitarist of the band Before the Dinosaurs. “The fact that it happened to him is very devastating to the overall community.”

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In the days since the attack, some in the province’s artistic community say they’re now hesitant to play in the Moncton area due to safety concerns.

Michel LeBlanc, another New Brunswick musician, told Global News that McLaren was “such a good person” and that there was “no way” he did anything to deserve being attacked.

“Disappointed that these things keep happening in Moncton, and especially to someone like him,” LeBlanc said.

With concerns of violence, some musicians say they take extra steps when loading and unloading equipment at venues to ensure safety.

“Even before our first gig I was telling them that we need to post up a sentry system where someone is on stage and someone is at the trunk and there is two guys going between with the gear,” Mazerolle said. “So there are eyes on everyone’s shoulders at all times.”

One agency that manages artists and books their shows in the province, Folk’d Up Records, told Global News they’ve had multiple bands express they are worried about performing in Moncton.

“I have had some musicians that have told me directly that they do not want to play around the Moncton area,” said Mitch Biggar, president of Folk’d Up Records.

RCMP have not made any arrests as of Monday in the case, and said the suspect fled the area before officers arrived.

They also told Global News the circumstances of the assault are under investigation.

As police continue to search for a suspect, LeBlanc said he believes more needs to be done.

“It’s getting worse; it doesn’t feel like it’s getting any better and we are on our own out here,” LeBlanc said.

—with files from Global News’ Johnny James

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Moncton woman says RCMP were dismissive when she reported mugging

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MOSCOW — A court in Moscow in Thursday convicted 19 people of involvement in the 2024 shooting rampage in a Moscow concert hall that killed 149 people and wounded over 600 in one of the deadliest attacks in the capital in years.

A faction of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the March 22, 2024, massacre at the Crocus City Hall concert venue in which four gunmen shot people who were waiting for a show by a popular rock band and then set the building on fire.

All 19 defendants were handed lengthy prison terms: 15 were sentenced to life in prison, one was handed 22 1/2 years in prison, and three others were given 19 years and 11 months each.

The trial began in August 2025 in a military court, as is customary for terrorism charges, and took place behind closed doors, with the authorities citing security concerns.

President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have claimed, without presenting evidence, that Ukraine had a role in the attack. Kyiv has strongly denied any involvement.

The Investigative Committee, Russia’s top criminal investigation agency, has said that the attack had been “planned and carried out in the interests of the current leadership of Ukraine in order to destabilize political situation in our country.” It also noted the four suspected gunmen tried to flee to Ukraine afterward.

The four, all identified as citizens of Tajikistan, were arrested hours after the attack and later appeared in a Moscow court with signs of being severely beaten.

Those tried alongside them included three men who sold the suspected gunmen a car, a man they rented an apartment from, and 10 others accused of terrorist ties, according to independent Russian news site Mediazona.

A Hamilton Police Service officer has been charged with child exploitation offences following an investigation by Halton Regional Police.

In a statement, Hamilton police said Const. Dave Hamilton, a 19-year member of the service, was charged with possession and transmitting of child sexual abuse and exploitation material.

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Police said the charges were laid by the Halton Regional Police Service.

The officer has been suspended without pay, according to Hamilton police.

Const. Hamilton is scheduled to appear in a Milton court at a later date.

“The matter is now before the courts. Out of respect for the court process, Hamilton Police Service will not be providing further comment,” the service said in its release.