President Trump Insists on July 9 Tariffs Deadline
Donald Trump is sticking to his July 9 deadline for higher duties to kick in again, and deepened his criticism of Japan, saying 'I'm not sure we're going to make a deal.' Japan said it's engaging in talks in good faith, but the threat fueled fears of a worst-case scenario and raised doubts over Tokyo's tactics. One of the bigger sticking points is the auto sector. As a reminder, here's our definitive guide to Trump-style trade talks.
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American Military News
19 minutes ago
- American Military News
Pentagon plans ‘reaction force' for ‘domestic civil disturbance: Report
A new report claims that President Donald Trump's administration is developing plans to potentially create a 'Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force' of 600 U.S. National Guard troops that could be quickly deployed in the event of civil unrest. According to internal Pentagon documents obtained by The Washington Post, the Trump administration's 'Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force' plan would involve roughly 600 National Guard troops being ready to deploy at all times. The outlet noted that the National Guard troops would be separated into two groups of 300 troops at military bases in Arizona and Alabama and would be ready to deploy in as little as one hour. The Washington Post reported that while the Pentagon documents have been marked as predecisional, the documents contain comprehensive plans and discussions regarding the potential implications of the creation of a National Guard 'reaction force.' According to The Washington Post, the plans have been compiled by the National Guard and have time stamps from late July and early August. READ MORE: Trump deploys Nat'l Guard in DC, takes federal control of DC police Fox News reported that the Trump administration's reported plans for a National Guard 'reaction force' would require the president to use Title 32, which would allow Trump to bypass normal restrictions regarding the use of the military for domestic purposes and would authorize National Guard troops to use certain law enforcement powers. The Washington Post reported that it is not yet clear whether the plans for the 'Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force' have been reviewed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. In a statement obtained by The Washington Post, Kingsley Wilson, a Pentagon spokesperson, said, 'The Department of Defense is a planning organization and routinely reviews how the department would respond to a variety of contingencies across the globe. We will not discuss these plans through leaked documents, pre-decisional or otherwise.' The Pentagon's potential plans for a 'reaction force' come after Trump has deployed the National Guard multiple times in response to domestic issues. In response to June's anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) riots in Los Angeles, the president deployed thousands of National Guard members and U.S. Marines to maintain order in the city and provide protection for ICE officials and government property. According to Fox News, Trump also deployed 800 D.C. National Guard troops on Monday as part of his plan to federalize Washington, D.C., and crack down on surging crime in the nation's capital.
Entrepreneur
19 minutes ago
- Entrepreneur
AI PCs: Why Adoption Is Still a Challenge In India
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. The advent of AI PCs has marked a significant milestone in the evolution of personal computing, promising to reshape how we work, create, and connect. While AI PCs are beginning to make their mark in India, particularly within the enterprise and premium consumer sectors, we're still in the early innings of widespread adoption. What was initially seen as a futuristic concept has now started resonating with users, for features such as AI-assisted writing, image generation, performance tuning, and intelligent battery optimization. Counterpoint estimates that by the end of 2025, one-third of new PCs sold in India will have on device AI capabilities such as Generative AI or Agentic AI. However, this still remains a premium and high tier focus and yet to trickle down to the mass market. Currently, AI PCs are positioned in the premium category owing to the advanced chipsets, built-in Neural Processing Units (NPUs), and software innovations, particularly considering it as a new category. Over time, as volumes scale and the ecosystem matures, price points will gradually decrease, much like previous transitions in technology leading to better adoption. The Growth So Far Dell Technologies have been working on AI integration in PCs for over two decades, with purpose-built accelerators that enhance performance, productivity, and user experience. In April 2025, Dell Technologies launched its latest business AI PC lineup featuring the Dell Pro and Dell Pro Max series. "Today, in India, we believe AI will be a cornerstone in defining the next generation of computing. As users demand more intelligent, adaptive, and efficient solutions, AI PCs are becoming central to meeting these needs. Features such as real-time personalization, contextual responsiveness, and predictive performance are no longer optional; they are becoming the norm. And with the upcoming Windows 10 end of cycle in October, we anticipate a major refresh cycle across the market. This presents a pivotal opportunity for users to transition to AI-powered PCs, unlocking new levels of productivity and user-centric computing," said Indrajit Belgundi, senior director and general manager, client solutions group, Dell Technologies India. As adoption accelerates, Dell foresees AI becoming indispensable in computing, especially in a dynamic and diverse market like India, driving transformation across sectors and empowering users with smarter, more intuitive tools. Acer India expects exponential growth in the next two–three years. The shift from cloud-based AI to on-device AI is accelerating demand for hardware that can support these capabilities natively. Government initiatives, digital learning, remote work, and a rising creator economy are also contributing to this momentum. "At Acer, our AI PC range—led by devices like the Acer Swift 14 AI and Predator Helios AI—has seen strong momentum. This growth is a result of ongoing efforts to demonstrate how on-device AI can make everyday tasks smarter, faster, and more personalized. The market's positive response reinforces our view that AI PCs are not a passing trend, but a transformative evolution in personal computing, and we remain committed to driving awareness and meaningful engagement in this space," said Sudhir Goel, Chief Business Officer, Acer India. Acer is among the early movers in the AI PC space in India, and while the AI PC category is still evolving in terms of formal market share metrics, "We've carved a strong position across both consumer and gaming segments. Our focus so far has been on building awareness, educating customers about the practical benefits of on-device AI, and ensuring availability across key online and offline channels. Our share in AI PC within our portfolio will be in the early double digit," Goel added. Over the last year, specific user groups, especially creators and professionals have been expecting to do more with their devices. "Despite current penetration still being modest, expectations are for AI PC volumes in India to grow 8–10 times from today's levels by the end of this year as replacement cycles kick in and Windows 10 devices reach end-of-support," said Arnold Su, Vice President, Consumer and Gaming PC, System Business Group, ASUS India. ASUS has seen strong growth across the board and believes that it will drive the next product replacement cycle for PCs. In the consumer segment, it has achieved an 18.5 percent market share backed by a 21.9 percent Y-O-Y growth. AI PCs penetration is expected to double by next year, and globally, they are projected to make up nearly 50 percent of the market by 2027. Driving this momentum are hybrid lifestyles, government-led digitization, and India's thriving SMB sector. "Our OMEN range of PCs are also equipped with AI features to enable a better gaming experience. With in-built AI features like HP AI Companion - a chatbot for smarter productivity, and Poly Camera Pro with noise cancellation, auto framing, and clear audio, we're helping users reimagine how they work, create, and collaborate in the new era," said Vineet Gehani – senior director, personal systems, HP India. What To Expect From OEMs To expand its reach further, Acer is intensifying efforts across three pillars—awareness, accessibility, and advocacy. Through targeted digital campaigns, influencer engagement, and strategic pricing, Acer aims to drive broader adoption and make AI PCs a mainstream choice across user categories in the coming quarters. "We plan to scale up retail and experiential campaigns that demystify AI use cases for consumers, particularly in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. We are also working closely with platform partners, ecosystem players like Microsoft and Intel, and our own R&D teams to continuously evolve our product offerings with AI-first innovations," Goel explained. ASUS has already started making AI-ready devices available in the affordable category. Its Snapdragon-powered Vivobook 16 is among the AI-capable devices in the segment and was launched at an accessible price. "This is just the beginning, we're committed to expanding this portfolio further and ensuring that meaningful AI adoption is not limited to premium users alone. At ASUS, we've always believed in making next-gen technology more accessible for the wider market. We're not just focusing on premium users; our goal is to expand across price points and usage needs. On the product front, we are actively building richer and more intuitive user experiences with features like adaptive dimming and adaptive lock, which use AI to optimize screen usage and extend battery life by up to 40 percent," Su added. HP, with an AI PC portfolio, designed for enterprises, SMBs, creators, gamers, and everyday consumers, its latest OmniBook and EliteBook AI PCs—powered by high-performance NPUs delivering up to 55 TOPS— claims to bring intelligence and performance together. "We are also making AI PCs accessible across price points, ensuring that every audience—from students and SMBs to professionals and creators—can be ready for the future of work. With prices starting at INR 70,000, we are delivering innovation within reach for all segments of the Indian market," Gehani added. The Near Future According to IDC, by 2028, nearly 98 percent of all PCs are expected to be AI PCs equipped with NPUs that can run AI tasks directly on the device. This shift means faster performance, enhanced security, and improved energy efficiency, transforming productivity and collaboration. This shift will mirror what we saw with transitions to smartphones. Once the utility becomes evident and accessible, adoption accelerates quickly and this is already happening with AI PCs in India. India has seen a strong initial wave of interest translating into real adoption, especially among creators, working professionals, and students who are constantly multitasking or managing high-volume content workflows. However, this won't be without its challenges, "These models commanding a 10-15 percent price premium over traditional models is a significant barrier. Its visibility in offline retail channels—especially outside of major metro areas—is still limited, mostly dominated by older inventory with basic AI capabilities. To truly accelerate this market, we need to see more concerted efforts in trade, consumer education and the development of localized AI applications that clearly demonstrate the value of these devices to give instant ROI for the users purchasing an advanced AI PC," said Anshika Jain, senior research analyst, Counterpoint Research.
Gizmodo
19 minutes ago
- Gizmodo
Faster NextGen Acela Trains Are Coming to the U.S. at the Worst Time
When former President Joe Biden unveiled his US$1.9 trillion infrastructure plan in 2021, he found the perfect place to go public: Philadelphia's 30th Street Station rail yard. Over the din of crackling wires and grumbling engines, the president made his case for revitalizing the country's roads, ports, airports and rail lines. Behind Biden sat rows of gleaming Amtrak trains. Among them was a prototype of NextGen Acela, a sleek machine engineered to deliver the fastest passenger service in American history. On Aug. 28, 2025, NextGen will finally hit the rails, after years of delays. As the author of a book on the Northeast Corridor, the rail line that connects Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, I know this new train cannot come soon enough for many seaboard riders, even though it launches at a time of diminished political will for passenger rail. The French-designed, American-manufactured NextGen arrives years late due to mechanical defects and failed simulation tests mandated by the Federal Railroad Administration. The new Acela will begin whisking passengers along the corridor after a chaotic year that saw downed wires, busted circuit breakers and brushfires disrupt Amtrak operations. Gone is Amtrak's White House champion, railfan-in-chief Biden, replaced by Donald Trump, whose one-time adviser, Elon Musk, called Amtrak a 'sad situation,' and who proposed replacing the government-owned carrier with private competitors. Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner resigned in March 2025, and, in May, Amtrak cut 450 employee positions. NextGen Acela promises an American rail renaissance in a moment when federally sponsored trains are fighting for their lives, as Biden's infrastructure ambitions fall to an administration bent on cutting government costs. These contradictions, however, are nothing new. America's love-hate relationship with fast trains stretches back to October 1964, when Japanese National Railways opened its Shinkansen high-speed line between Tokyo and Osaka. Japan's iconic 130-mph bullet train entranced audiences, many of whom saw footage of the new service during televised coverage of the Tokyo Olympics. Americans wanted their own bullet train but were reluctant to pay the massive infrastructural costs of a Shinkansen system. When Congress passed the High-Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965, it prioritized the development of trains over the reconstruction of tracks, power systems and maintenance facilities. The resulting services underperformed. On Dec. 20, 1967, a gas turbine train manufactured by United Aircraft topped 170 mph while testing in New Jersey. But when the so-called TurboTrain entered service, it managed an average pace of just 63 mph on the weaving track between New York and Boston. The electric-powered Metroliner, which began service in 1969, boasted similar potential but rarely held triple-digit speeds in service and broke down so often that its carrier, the Penn Central Railroad, struggled to keep the trains running between New York and Washington. Historians usually regard these high-speed forays as resounding failures. But riders loved them. Technical flaws aside, both the TurboTrain and Metroliner were a hit with northeastern riders, so much so that Amtrak retained the Metroliner brand until 2006, long after it had retired the '60s-era trains. Reflecting in 1999, rail journalist Don Phillips expressed disbelief 'that those dogs were actually popular with the riding public.' Amtrak opened a new era of high-speed rail in 2000 when it launched Acela Express. Derived from France's acclaimed TGV design, Acela carries passengers at speeds up to 150 mph on the Northeast Corridor. Like the Metroliner before it, Acela suffered from design problems and mechanical faults, including cracked yaw dampers and brake discs, which temporarily sidelined the trains. Rail writer Joseph Vranich described Acela as both 'Amtrak's crown jewel' and a 'remarkable fiasco.' And yet riders flocked to the service. Acela became one of Amtrak's most popular and lucrative trains – so attractive that it lured business travelers off regional airlines. When Acela entered service in 2000, Amtrak trains claimed just 37% of air-rail traffic between New York and Washington. By 2021, it had 83%. Between New York and Boston, that figure jumped from 20% to 75%. Now, NextGen Acela takes up the fraught legacy of American high-speed rail. What can we expect of the new train? NextGen is faster than the original Acela but will not set any world speed records. Its top velocity of 160 mph falls short of global benchmarks set by China's Fuxing, which hits 217 mph, and Japan's newest Shinkansens, which reach 200 mph. With better tracks and signals, NextGen could conceivably ramp up to 186 mph, though such speeds won't be possible anytime soon. For now, NextGen will make do with an imperfect corridor. The train's lightweight design means faster acceleration and lower energy consumption. An enhanced dynamic tilting system will let carriages lean into curves on the corridor's twisting track, so they lose less speed on turns. The original Acela also tilted, but not as much. The upgraded onboard experience includes winged headrests, seat-side USB ports and 5G Wi-Fi. More importantly, each NextGen train can seat 82 more passengers than its predecessor. When Amtrak's full fleet of 28 NextGens enters service, sending the first-generation trains into retirement, Acela service capacity will have increased by 4,728 seats. This figure may be the train's greatest achievement in a congested region at a time when Amtrak is posting record ridership. The effects of the Northeast's post-pandemic passenger surge are nowhere more visible than the Philadelphia rail yard where Biden spoke four years ago. Amtrak is constructing a new maintenance shop beside the Schuylkill River that will service NextGen trains and cement Philly's role in the railroad's addition of a million annual seats to its non-Acela corridor trains. Powered by conventional electric locomotives, these slower, cheaper 'Regionals' accounted for 77% of corridor ridership in 2024 and will continue to carry the bulk of northeastern passengers. Meanwhile, a quarter-mile south of the maintenance shop, America's third-busiest passenger hub, 30th Street Station, is receiving a generational overhaul with a new food court, exterior plaza, shops and underground access to rapid transit. These projects demonstrate the economic power of fast, frequent trains in Philly and throughout trackside communities of the Northeast. America's embattled but resilient high-speed rail tradition may never be the world's best, but even incremental improvements, like NextGen, cannot help but transform the places they serve. For Amtrak's corridor region, the stakes have never been higher. Read more of our stories about Philadelphia. David Alff, Associate Professor of English, University at Buffalo
