Top News Summary

President Trump signed an executive order aimed at preventing states from implementing their own regulations on artificial intelligence, asserting that a patchwork of state laws could hinder the U.S. in its competition with China.

He emphasized the need for a unified approach to ensure that American tech firms can operate without facing 50 different state regulations. The order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to establish a task force to challenge state laws and to create a list of problematic regulations.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government has intensified sanctions against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro following the seizure of an oil tanker named The Skipper, which was transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.

The operation involved special operations forces and was executed off the coast of Venezuela, marking a significant escalation in U.S.-Venezuela relations. Additionally, catastrophic flooding in western Washington has forced families to evacuate their homes, highlighting the increasing challenges posed by climate change.

Lastly, a 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the northern coast of Japan, occurring just days after another tremor in the area raised concerns about seismic activity and preparedness in a nation frequently affected by natural disasters.

In a separate legal controversy, President Trump granted a pardon to Tina Peters, a former election official convicted in state court of election-related crimes, raising questions about the limits of presidential pardon powers and state rights.