By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News|
U.S. Seizes Venezuela-Linked Oil Tanker as Crackdown Intensifies in the Caribbean
The United States military has seized a Venezuela-linked oil tanker in the Caribbean, marking the seventh such interception since the start of President Donald Trump’s intensified campaign to control Venezuela’s oil exports.
In a statement issued Tuesday, U.S. Southern Command confirmed that it apprehended the motor vessel Sigita without incident. The command is currently overseeing nearly a dozen warships and thousands of troops deployed across the Caribbean region.
U.S. officials said the seizure demonstrates Washington’s resolve to ensure that oil leaving Venezuela does so only through lawful and coordinated channels. The move comes amid a broader U.S. strategy aimed at isolating sanctioned vessels and asserting control over Venezuelan oil flows.
President Trump has made Venezuela a focal point of his foreign policy in Latin America. After diplomatic efforts failed, U.S. forces conducted a high-profile operation on January 3, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in an overnight raid. Since then, Trump has indicated that the United States plans to exercise long-term control over Venezuela’s oil resources as part of a proposed US$100 billion plan to rebuild the country’s deteriorating energy sector.
Trinidad PM Signals Willingness to Regulate Social Media Use for Children
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said her government is prepared to consider legislation regulating social media use for children under the age of 12.
In a public statement, Persad-Bissessar acknowledged growing concerns over online risks facing young users, while cautioning against measures that could infringe on constitutional freedoms. She noted that regulating children’s access to social media would not be unprecedented, pointing to international efforts aimed at protecting minors in digital spaces.
The Prime Minister warned that social media platforms expose children to harmful content, including exploitation, bullying, harassment, pornography, predatory behavior, and manipulation. She also raised the possibility of strengthening legal protections for private citizens subjected to online abuse, arguing that too many law-abiding individuals lack the resources to defend themselves against anonymous online attacks.
Spain Suspends Rail Services After Deadly Train Crashes
In international news, commuter rail services in northeastern Spain’s Catalonia region were suspended on Wednesday following a deadly train crash near Barcelona.
Authorities confirmed that one person was killed and at least 37 others injured when a commuter train struck a retaining wall that collapsed onto the tracks near the town of Gelida. The victim was identified as a conductor in training.
The incident occurred just two days after Spain’s worst railway disaster since 2013, when a high-speed train collision in southern Spain killed 43 people. Rescue crews continued search efforts at both crash sites as investigators worked to determine the causes.
Three days of national mourning were declared as emergency officials reported that dozens of passengers remained hospitalized, while many others were treated and released. The disruption caused major traffic congestion across roads leading into Barcelona as rail services remained suspended.
