Key Senators Strike Deal To Pause State AI Laws For Five Years
The Senate is poised to approve a controversial provision preventing some US states from regulating artificial intelligence, marking a victory for the tech companies, venture capital firms and startups that backed it.
The language, which is part of President Donald Trump's signature tax legislation, had drawn opposition from a handful of Republican senators who derided the provision as a giveaway to the biggest tech companies.
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San Francisco Chronicle
6 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Asian shares are mixed after US stocks hit an all-time high
BANGKOK (AP) — Asian shares started the week with gains after U.S. stocks closed at an all-time high following their recovery from the shocks of the Trump administration's trade policies. Canada's decision to cancel a plan to tax U.S. technology firms that had led President Donald Trump to halt trade talks helped to steady the markets. U.S. stock futures advanced after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the talks had resumed. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 climbed 0.6% to 40,395.99. Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 0.3% to 24,207.36, while the Shanghai Composite index advanced 0.5% to 3,438.46. China reported that its factory activity improved slightly in June after Beijing and Washington agreed in May to postpone imposing higher tariffs on each others' exports, though manufacturing remained in contraction. In South Korea, the Kospi gained 0.5% to 3,070.93. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 jumped 0.6% to 8,560.80. Taiwan's Taiex lost 1.4% and the Sensex in India was down 0.4%. In Bangkok, the SET was up 0.3%. On Friday, the S&P 500 rose 0.5% to 6,173.07, above its previous record set in February. The key measure of Wall Street's health fell nearly 20% from Feb. 19 through April 8. The Nasdaq composite gained 0.5% to 20,273.46, its own all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1% to 43,819.27. The gains on Friday were broad, with nearly every sector within the S&P 500 rising. Nike soared 15.2% for the biggest gain in the market, despite warning of a steep hit from tariffs. An update on inflation Friday showed prices ticked higher in May, though the rate mostly matched economists' projections. Inflation remains a big concern. Trump's on-again-off-again tariff policy has made it difficult for companies to make financial forecasts and strained household budgets. A long list of businesses from carmakers to retailers have warned that higher import taxes will likely hurt their revenues and profits. The U.S. has 10% baseline tariffs on all imported goods, along with higher rates for Chinese goods and other import taxes on steel and autos and the threat of more severe tariffs continues to hang over the economy. The current pause on a round of retaliatory tariffs against a long list of nations is set to expire on July 9. Failure to negotiate deals or further postpone the tariffs could once again rattle investors and consumers. In an interview with Fox News Channel's 'Sunday Morning Futures,' Trump said his administration will notify countries that the trade penalties will take effect unless there are deals with the United States. Letters will start going out 'pretty soon' before the approaching deadline, he said. The Federal Reserve is monitoring the tariff situation with a big focus on inflation. The rate of inflation has been stubbornly sitting just above the central bank's target of 2%. In a report Friday, its preferred gauge, the personal consumption expenditures index, rose to 2.3% in May. That's up from 2.2% the previous month. The Fed cut interest rates three times in late 2024 following a historic series of rate hikes to cool inflation. The PCE was as high as 7.2% in 2022 while the more commonly used consumer price index hit 9.1%. The Fed hasn't cut rates so far in 2025 over worries that tariffs could reignite inflation and hamper the economy. Economists still expect at least two rate cuts before the end of the year. Bond yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.28% from 4.27% late Friday. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for what the Federal Reserve will do, stood at 3.74%.
Motor Trend
6 minutes ago
- Motor Trend
2026 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Lineup Gains New "Sport Trims" Mirroring Light Duty Offerings
If you're looking for more interesting pickup trucks, 2025 has been the year for you. Ford recently expanded the sporty Lobo package to the F-150 from the smaller Maverick, GMC's adding an AT4 off-road version of its all-electric Sierra, and now Ram—after bringing the Hemi V-8 back to its 1500 lineup—is expanding both the Warlock and Black Express trims to the 2500 Heavy Duty truck line. Ram refers to these trims as their 'Sport Truck' options, but maybe don't think too hard about how any Heavy Duty truck can be 'sporty.' The 2026 Ram 2500 lineup introduces the Black Express and Warlock sport trims, based on the affordable Tradesman model. Both feature powerful engines and distinct styling, with prices starting at $53,735 and $57,165, respectively. Available for order, deliveries begin in Q3 2025. This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article Read Next What will be great news to these potential owners is that both of these 2026 Ram 2500 sport trims are based on the affordable Tradesman model and slot below the Rebel HD in the HD hierarchy. Both trims can come with either the 6.4-liter gas-fed Hemi V-8 with 405 hp and 429 lt-ft of torque or the Cummins 6.7-liter turbodiesel with 430 hp and 1,075 lb-ft of torque. Either engine will also come with the Torqueflite HD eight-speed automatic transmission. Both get Crew Cab bodies that will come in Diamond Black, Bright White, Granite Crystal, Silver Zynith, Forged Blue, Flame Red, Ceramic Grey, and Molten Red. They will both also come with power adjustable Convex tow mirrors, 20-inch wheels, cloth bench seats, and cloth carpet as standard. From here, the Black Express and Warlock deviate. The 2026 2500 Black Express is offered in rear- or four-wheel drive with a long or short bed, making it a bit more tailored to a working environment while still being a 'Sport Truck.' The body features a sport performance hood and body-color bumpers and grille surround. Along the rocker panels will be a set of black cab-length side steps while the 20-inch wheels will be finished in black. Inside drivers and passengers will see carpeted floor mats while the driver will have added assurance while parking with the standard front and rear parking sensors. In all, the Black Express will add a very reasonable $2,495 to the cost of the 2026 2500 Tradesman for a starting price of $53,735. The 2026 2500 Warlock is only available with four-wheel drive and the short bed, which wears 'Warlock' decals on its bedsides. The grille surround, flares, and bumpers are all finished in black, while the 20-inch diamond cut wheels are wrapped in 34-inch Goodyear Duratrac A/T tires and the transfer case gets a skid plate. Oddly, the Warlock doesn't get any sort of step bar or rock slider option for its rocker panels, though it is possible such pieces would be available through Mopar later on. It's also mechanically distinguished from both the standard Tradesman and the Black Express thanks to a standard limited slip rear differential, Bilstein dampers tuned for both pavement and off-roading, and hill descent control. Inside, the major difference comes in the form of all-weather floor mats for front and rear bench seat occupants. This also means that the price of the Warlock is higher than the Black Express, boosting the price of a Tradesman by $2,995 to a starting ask of $57,165. If either of these trims tickle your fancy, you can order these 2026 Ram 2500 Tradesman-based Black Express or Warlock right now and it should arrive at your dealer by the third quarter of this year, after being assembled at the Saltillo, Mexico plant.
San Francisco Chronicle
6 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Israel's strike on Iran's Evin prison sparks fear for political prisoners
BEIRUT (AP) — Sayeh Seydal, a jailed Iranian dissident, narrowly escaped death when Israeli missiles struck Tehran's Evin Prison, where she was imprisoned. She had just stepped out of the prison's clinic, moments before it was destroyed in the blasts. The June 23 strikes on Iran's most notorious prison for political dissidents killed at least 71 people, including staff, soldiers, visiting family members and people living nearby, Iranian judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir said Sunday. In the ensuing chaos, authorities transferred Seydal and others to prisons outside of Tehran — overcrowded facilities, known for their harsh conditions. When she was able to call her family several days ago, Seydal pleaded for help. 'It's literally a slow death,' she said of the conditions, according to a recording of the call provided by her relatives, in accordance with Seydal's wishes. 'The bombing by the U.S. and Israel didn't kill us. Then the Islamic Republic brought us to a place that will practically kill us,' she said. Activists fear Israel's attacks will lead to crackdown Iran's pro-democracy and rights activists fear they will pay the price for Israel's 12-day air campaign aiming to cripple the country's nuclear program. Many now say the state, reeling from the breach in its security, has already intensified its crackdown on opponents. Israel's strike on Evin — targeting, it said, "repressive authorities' — spread panic among families of the political prisoners, who were left scrambling to determine their loved ones' fates. A week later, families of those who were in solitary confinement or under interrogation still haven't heard from them. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, a veteran activist who has been imprisoned multiple times in Evin, said that Iranian society, "to get to democracy, needs powerful tools to reinforce civil society and the women's movement.' 'Unfortunately, war weakens these tools,' she said in a video message to The Associated Press from Tehran. Political space is already shrinking with security forces increasing their presence in the streets of the capital, she said. Fears of looming executions Many now fear a potential wave of executions targeting activists and political prisoners. They see a terrifying precedent: After Iran's war with Iraq ended in 1988, authorities executed at least 5,000 political prisoners after perfunctory trials, then buried them in mass graves that have never been accessed. Already during Israel's campaign, Iran executed six prisoners who were sentenced to death before the war. The Washington-based Human Rights Activists in Iran documented nearly 1,300 people arrested, most on charges of espionage, including 300 for sharing content on social media in just 12 days. Parliament is fast-tracking a bill allowing greater use of the death penalty for charges of collaboration with foreign adversaries. The judiciary chief called for expedited proceedings against those who 'disrupt the peace' or "collaborate' with Israel. 'We know what that means. That means show trials and executions,' said Bahar Ghandehari, director of advocacy and media at the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran. Prisoners scattered after the strike Evin Prison, located in an upscale neighborhood on Tehran's northern edge, housed an estimated 120 men and women in its general wards, as well as hundreds of others believed to be in its secretive security units under interrogation or in solitary confinement, according to HRA. The prisoners include protesters, lawyers and activists who have campaigned for years against Iran's authoritarian rule, corruption and religious laws including enforcement of Islamic attire on women. Authorities have crushed repeated waves of nationwide protests since 2009 in crackdowns that have killed hundreds and jailed thousands. The strikes hit Evin during visiting hours, causing shock and panic. Seydal, an international law scholar who joined protest movements over the past two decades and has been in and out of jail since 2023, recounted to her family her near brush with death in the prison clinic. The blast knocked her to the ground, a relative who spoke to Seydal said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. Visiting halls, the prosecutor's office and several prisoner wards were also heavily damaged, according to rights groups and relatives of prisoners. One missile hit the prison entrance, where prisoners often are sitting waiting to be taken to hospitals or court. 'Attacking a prison, when the inmates are standing behind closed doors and they are unable to do the slightest thing to save themselves, can never be a legitimate target,' Mohammadi said. Mohammadi was just released in December when her latest sentence was briefly suspended for medical reasons. During the night, buses began transferring prisoners to other facilities, according to Mohammadi and families of prisoners. At least 65 women were sent to Qarchak Prison, according to Mohammadi, who is in touch with them. Men were sent to the Grand Tehran Penitentiary, housing criminals and high-security prisoners. Both are located south of Tehran. Mohammadi told AP that her immediate fear was a lack of medical facilities and poor hygiene. Among the women are several with conditions needing treatment, including 73-year-old civil rights activist Raheleh Rahemi, who has a brain tumor. In her call home, Seydal called Qarchak a 'hellhole.' She said the women were packed together in isolation, with no hygiene care, and limited food or drinkable water. 'It stinks. Just pure filth,' she said. 'She sounded confused, scared and very sad,' her relative said. 'She knows speaking out is very dangerous for her. But also being silent can be dangerous for her.' On Sunday, Sayeh made another call to her family, saying she was briefly taken back to Evin to bring her belongings. The stench of 'death' filled the air, her relative quoted her as saying. The 47-year-old Seydal was first sentenced in 2023. In early 2025, her furlough was canceled, and she was assaulted by security and faced new charges after she refused to wear a chador at the prosecutor's office. A brother disappears Reza Younesi's father and younger brother, Ali, have both been imprisoned at Evin for years. Now the family is terrified because Ali has disappeared. Ali, a 25-year-old graduate of a prestigious technical university, was serving a 16-year sentence for "colluding to commit crimes against national security.' The sentence, widely criticized by rights groups, was reduced but then the Intelligence Ministry launched a new case against him on unknown charges. Days before the strike on Evin, Ali was dragged out of his ward and taken to an unknown location, according to his brother. After the strike, their father, Mir-Yousef Younesi, saw no sign of Ali as he and other prisoners were transferred to the Great Tehran Penitentiary. The father managed to get a call out to his family, in a panic. Disappearances in Evin are not uncommon. Guards sometimes remove political prisoners from wards for interrogation. In some cases, they are sentenced in secret trials and executed. After the strikes, Swedish-Iranian academic Ahmadreza Djalali, sentenced to death in 2017, was transferred from the Tehran prison to an undisclosed location, according to Amnesty International, which expressed fear he could be executed. Reza Younesi said the family lawyer was unable to find out any information about his brother or the new charges. 'We are all worried,' he said, speaking from Sweden where he is an associate professor at Uppsala University. 'When there is no information from a prisoner, this almost in all cases means that the person is under interrogation and torture.' 'All hope is gone' Mehraveh Khandan grew up in a family of political activists. She spent much of her childhood and teen years going to Evin to visit her mother, rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was imprisoned there multiple times. Her father, Reza Khandan, was thrown into Evin in December for distributing buttons opposing the mandatory headscarf for women. Now living in Amsterdam, the 25-year-old Mehraveh Khandan frantically tried to find information about her father after the strike. The internet was cut off, and her mother had evacuated from Tehran. 'I was just thinking who might die there,' she said. It took 24 hours before she got word her father was OK. In a family call later, her father told how he was sleeping on the floor in a crowded cell rife with insects at the Grand Tehran Penitentiary. At first, she thought the Evin strike might prompt the government to release prisoners. But after seeing reports of mass detentions and executions, 'all this hope is gone,' she said.
