US military forces boarded a second oil tanker in the Indian Ocean, targeting illicit oil connected to Venezuela, the Pentagon announced on Sunday. This action comes amidst ongoing international developments, including peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Geneva and a foiled IS plot to massacre Jews in Manchester. Additionally, Mexico grapples with a surge in disappearances, and the Canadian community of Tumbler Ridge rallies after a school shooting.
The US military's boarding of the sanctioned tanker, the Veronica III, followed its tracking from the Caribbean Sea after it left Venezuela. According to the Pentagon, this effort is part of a broader strategy to disrupt Venezuela's illicit oil trade, which has been subject to US sanctions for several years. Former President Donald Trump had previously ordered a quarantine of sanctioned tankers in December, aiming to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro before his apprehension in January during a US military operation (Source 4).
Meanwhile, delegations from Russia and Ukraine prepared to meet in Geneva for another round of peace talks, with the focus likely on territorial issues. These talks, beginning on Tuesday, come just days before the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. US President Donald Trump is reportedly pushing for an end to the conflict, the biggest in Europe since World War II (Source 5).
In the UK, an undercover operation thwarted a plot by two IS terrorists to massacre Jews in Manchester. Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein were sentenced to life imprisonment after attempting to carry out the attack. Saadaoui, who had pledged allegiance to Islamic State, had previously worked as a holiday entertainer and restaurateur (Source 1).
Mexico is facing a significant increase in disappearances, with over 130,000 people considered missing or disappeared in the country. This represents a 200% surge over the last 10 years, as drug cartels expand their operations. One example is the case of Ángel Montenegro, a construction worker who went missing in August 2022 (Source 2).
In Tumbler Ridge, Canada, the community is receiving an outpouring of support following a school shooting. Jim Caruso, who traveled 700 miles to be there, said, "I wanted to be here to bring some level of comfort. I wanted to hug people, pray for them and, most importantly, to cry with them" (Source 3). A makeshift memorial has been growing on the steps of the town hall.
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