Trump administration creates new militarized zone in California along southern US border

The U.S. military has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, a move confirmed by President Donald Trump. The White House intends to hold the vessel at a Texas port while releasing the crew upon docking. This action marks a significant escalation in U.S. military operations in the region, part of an ongoing pressure campaign against the Venezuelan government.

OpenAI is facing a lawsuit in California, marking the first case that links its chatbot technology to a murder-suicide incident. The lawsuit alleges that the chatbot's functionalities may have contributed to the tragic event, raising serious concerns about the implications of AI technology on mental health and safety.

A gas explosion occurred in Hayward, California, on Thursday morning, injuring at least six individuals after a construction crew accidentally damaged a gas line. The explosion triggered a three-alarm fire, prompting a significant emergency response with multiple fire engines and trucks deployed to the scene.

Yana Leonova, a Belarusian woman extradited to the U.S. by the FBI, is facing deportation after immigration officials issued a sudden order to detain her. She is charged with multiple offenses, including fraud and conspiracy related to smuggling U.S. aviation parts to Russia. This abrupt action has led to legal turmoil surrounding her case, which was previously under federal prosecution for over a year.

The U.S. military has seized the Skipper, an oil tanker previously sanctioned in 2022, off the coast of Venezuela, reportedly carrying 1.1 million barrels of Venezuelan oil. This operation, confirmed by President Donald Trump, marks a significant escalation in U.S. military actions in the region, which has seen increased military presence, including the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier.

Dominic LeBlanc, the Canadian minister responsible for Canada-U.S. relations, stated that there is no indication the Trump administration plans to withdraw from the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). He emphasized that this is not the message being communicated by U.S. officials.

The U.S. military has seized a crude oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, marking a significant escalation in the Trump administration's pressure campaign against the Venezuelan government led by Nicolás Maduro. This operation was confirmed by President Trump and involved coordination with various federal departments, including the Coast Guard and Departments of Defense and Justice.

María Corina Machado, a prominent Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner, expressed her support for the recent U.S. seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast, describing it as a necessary action against Nicolás Maduro's regime. This operation was conducted by U.S. forces and is part of a broader strategy to apply pressure on Maduro's government, which has faced international sanctions for years.