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UPI
5 days ago
- Automotive
- UPI
Elon Musk says improved Tesla full self-driving technology is coming soon
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Wednesday that the company is working on a new full self-driving model for its vehicles. File photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced Wednesday that the U.S. automaker is working on an improved full-self driving, or FSD, model that may be ready to roll soon. "Tesla is training a new FSD model with ~10X params and a big improvement to video compression loss," he posted to X. "Probably ready for public release end of next month if testing goes well." "Params" refers to a larger parameter size, which has to do with its artificial intelligence. An increase in parameters usually means that the AI is a larger model that is more capable and has been trained on more data. In a self-driving car, this means its AI can better use its cameras and sensors to recognize its surroundings and better navigate. Tesla has been scrutinized in the past by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which in October of last year announced its Office of Defects Investigation was examining the records related to the use of Tesla's self-driving systems. According to the ODI, it identified four reports of a Tesla vehicle crashing after entering an area of "reduced roadway visibility conditions." Each crash occurred with the FSD function engaged, in conditions like fog, sun glare or airborne dust. The ODI reported that a pedestrian was fatally struck by a Tesla using its FSD, and another person was injured in a separate incident. Tesla stock price has been down nearly 19% year-to-date as of Tuesday.
Black America Web
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Black America Web
Texas Creates 5 New House Seats In Areas Trump Won In 2024
Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Texas Republicans stunned legislators nationwide earlier this month when Governor Greg Abbott announced a special legislative session for flood relief would also focus on drafting a new electoral map ahead of the 2026 midterms. Texas' redistricting effort resulted in a map that creates five new House seats in districts President Trump won by double digits in 2024. According to Politico, the new electoral map was revealed on Wednesday, and as expected, it entirely benefits state Republicans. The new map makes districts held by Democratic Reps Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez redder, while also packing Democratic voters into reliably blue districts. The map forces Democratic Representatives Greg Casar and Lloyd Doggett to primary against each other and creates five empty seats in districts Trump won by 10-15 points last year. With just over a year until the 2026 midterms, both Democrats and Republicans will have to rush to recruit candidates to campaign for these seats. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries met with state Democrats in Austin on Wednesday to discuss how to respond to the new map. Texas Democrats have repeatedly floated walking out of the special session to break quorum and prevent the map from gaining approval. The special session is set to end on Aug. 19, though Gov. Abbott could call another special session to make sure the map is approved. Texas's redistricting effort has spurred several other states to review their electoral maps as well. Ohio Republicans have also begun a redistricting effort, specifically targeting Democratic Rep. Emilia Sykes' seat. While many Democratic leaders have criticized Texas's redistricting effort as blatant gerrymandering, that hasn't prevented several Democrat-led states from publicly floating the idea of beginning a redistricting effort themselves. New York recently unveiled a bill allowing the state to engage in a mid-decade redistricting if another state did it first, though any new map in the state wouldn't come into play until 2028 at the soonest. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been the most bullish on redistricting, pushing for state Democrats to approve drawing up a new map to go tit for tat with Texas. While in Texas, the power to redistrict lies solely with the state legislature, in many Democrat-led states, redistricting power lies with independent commissions, thus creating constitutional constraints on their ability to quickly draw up new maps. It's worth noting that while the Texas special session was announced under the pretense of flood relief, few of the bills submitted during the pre-file period had anything to do with the recent floods. Add in the fact that we've heard more about this new map than any legislation intended to provide assistance to those affected by the floods, and it gives the appearance that the Texas GOP exploited this devastating tragedy to further their own political agenda. The fact that we're talking about widespread redistricting in 2025 is incredibly unusual, given that traditional redistricting only occurs once every decade. Currently, the GOP only holds a razor-thin majority in the House, with Democrats only needing to net three seats for control to flip next year. Texas's redistricting effort came at the behest of President Trump, who wants to maintain the Republican majority by any means necessary. Apparently, the best way to do that isn't by implementing policies that are actually popular and beneficial for the American public, but by rigging maps for political advantage. It's efforts like these that make it hard to have faith in American democracy. It's no longer about the best ideas and policies winning, but who can manipulate systems the best. This apparent race to the bottom is terrible for Americans of all backgrounds. No matter who's doing the gerrymandering, the end result is a specific group (often Black folks, let's be real) getting disenfranchised. SEE ALSO: Texas Dems Fight Redistricting Effort Through Filibusters Critics Call Texas Governor's New Congressional Map Gerrymandering SEE ALSO Texas Creates 5 New House Seats In Areas Trump Won In 2024 was originally published on
Boston Globe
28-07-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Several economic reports are set to be released this week. Here's what to watch for.
Here's a look at what to expect this week. Advertisement Ongoing trade negotiations The Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up In April, Trump Meanwhile, on Thursday, the US Court of Appeals will hear arguments on whether Trump had the authority to Fed rate decision Federal Reserve officials will meet Wednesday to decide on interest rates, amid ongoing political pressure from the White House. While Trump has Advertisement President Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell tour the Federal Reserve's headquarters renovation project in Washington, D.C., on July 25. Chip Somodevilla/Photographer: Chip Somodevilla/G Inflation The Fed's inflation gauge, the Personal Consumption Expenditures index, will be released on Thursday. Inflation Rising inflation has created a political challenge for Trump, who campaigned on lowering costs but has since imposed a series of tariffs that have added pressure on businesses and consumers. Despite the increase, Trump's global tariffs deadline On April 2, As that 90-day period drew to a close earlier this month, Trump sent letters to some countries notifying them of their updated tariff rates, which are scheduled to take effect Aug. 1. Related : On Sunday, Trump Trump reached a similar Jobs report The Labor Department will release the monthly jobs report on Friday, provide yet another clue about the state of the economy. Advertisement Material from the Associated Press were used in this report. Alyssa Vega can be reached at
National Post
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- National Post
BREAKING: Wrestling great Hulk Hogan dead at 71
Professional entertainer and wrestler Hulk Hogan speaks on stage on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 18, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Photo by Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images Hulk Hogan, the wrestler credited by many as making professional wrestling part of mainstream media during his 1980s heyday, has died. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors According to TMZ, paramedics were called to his Florida home on Thursday after he went into cardiac arrest. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
Toronto Sun
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Trump tours Texas flood sites, defends officials amid mounting questions about response
July 4 disaster killed at least 129 people and left more than 170 missing Published Jul 11, 2025 • 5 minute read U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a round table event at the Hill Country Youth Event Center to discuss last week's flash flooding, in Kerrville, Texas, Friday, July 11, 2025. Photo by Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images KERRVILLE, Texas — President Donald Trump on Friday toured the devastation from catastrophic flooding in Texas and lauded state and local officials, even amid mounting criticism that they may have failed to warn residents quickly enough that a deadly wall of water was coming their way. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Trump has repeatedly promised to do away with the Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of his larger pledges to dramatically shrink the size of government, and he's fond of decrying officials in Democrat-run states hit by past natural disasters and tragedy. But the president struck a far more somber and sympathetic tone while visiting America's most populous Republican state — highlighting the heartbreak of what happened while effusively praising elected officials and first responders alike. 'The search for the missing continues. The people that are doing it are unbelievable,' Trump, seated with officials around a table with emblazoned with a black-and-white 'Texas Strong' banner, said at a makeshift emergency operations centre inside an expo hall in Kerrville. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He later added, 'You couldn't get better people, and they're doing the job like I don't think anybody else could, frankly.' Since the July 4 disaster, which killed at least 129 people and left more than 170 missing, the president has been conspicuously silent on his past promises to shutter FEMA and return disaster response to the states. Instead, he's focused on the once-in-a-lifetime nature of what occurred in central Texas' Hill Country and its human toll. 'We just visited with incredible families. They've been devastated,' the president said of a closed-door meeting he and first lady Melania Trump had with the relatives of some of those killed or missing. Honouring the victims Trump's shift in focus underscores how tragedy can complicate political calculations, even though he has made slashing the federal workforce a centrepiece of his administration's opening months. He spent a lot of time Friday discussing the victims from Camp Mystic, the century-old all-girls Christian summer camp where at least 27 people were killed. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'They were there because they loved God. And, as we grieve this unthinkable tragedy, we take comfort in the knowledge that God has welcomed those little beautiful girls into his comforting arms in heaven,' Trump said. The first lady described meeting 'beautiful young ladies' from the area who she said gave her a 'special bracelet from the camp in honour of all the little girls that lost their lives.' She promised to return to support the camp in the future. Trump approved Texas' request to extend the major disaster declaration beyond Kerr County to eight additional counties, making them eligible for direct financial assistance to recover and rebuild. 'All across the country Americans' hearts are shattered,' he said. 'I had to be here as president.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Despite saying that he didn't want to talk politics, Trump couldn't help himself. During the roundtable, he bragged briefly about his administration reducing the cost of eggs around the country and, in a response to a question about Democratic criticisms of the flood response, said, 'All they want to do is criticize.' 'They're getting just absolutely clobbered 'cause everyone sees what an incredible job the governor did,' Trump said of Democrats. 'Everybody in this room, everybody at this table in particular.' In praise of FEMA He also still insisted 'we've got some good people' running FEMA. That is nonetheless a far cry from his call mere weeks ago to begin 'phasing out' FEMA. At the White House, Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, similarly dodged questions Friday about FEMA's future. He said that the agency has billions of dollars in reserves 'to continue to pay for necessary expenses.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We also want FEMA to be reformed,' Vought said. 'The president is going to continue to be asking tough questions of all of us agencies, no different than any other opportunity to have better government.' On the ground in devastated communities, meanwhile, some state and local officials have faced questions about how well they were prepared and how quickly they acted — including if warning systems might have given more people time to evacuate. Asked about such concerns during his appearance at the operations centre in Kerrville, Trump called a reporter 'evil' and said he thought 'everyone did an incredible job under the circumstances.' 'I admire you, and I consider you heroes,' Trump said of the officials around him. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He also praised a long list of Texas Republicans and had especially kind words for Rep. Chip Roy, who represents some of the hardest-hit areas. A staunch conservative, Roy initially opposed Trump's sweeping tax-cut and spending package but ultimately supported it. 'He's not easy, but he's good,' Trump said of Roy. The congressman, for his part, bristled at questions about authorities' flood response, calling the queries about inadequate flood warnings 'ridiculous.' Read More Seeing the damage close-up Prior to the roundtable, Air Force One landed in San Antonio and Trump deplaned in a suit while the first lady wore more casual clothing — though both wore ball caps against the heat. The Trumps then boarded a helicopter to Kerrville and saw the flooding aftermath from the air. They later walked close to the Guadalupe River to receive a briefing from officials near an overturned tractor trailer, numerous downed trees and other debris. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Roads in the centre of town were shut down, and people lined the streets, some wearing Trump hats and T-shirts and waving American flags. Green ribbons recognizing the lives lost at Camp Mystic were tied around trees, poles and along bridges, and marquees featured slogans such as 'Hill Country Strong' and 'Thank you first responders.' Harris Currie, a rancher from Utopia, Texas, near Kerrville, said the flood devastation can be fully understood only by seeing it firsthand. 'Pictures do not do it justice,' Currie said. Asked what officials on the ground needed most urgently from federal sources, Kerr County Commissioner Jeff Holt, who also is a volunteer firefighter, stressed the need for repairs to nonworking phone towers and 'maybe a little better early warning system.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Trump himself has suggested that a major warning system should be established, though few details have been offered on what that might eventually entail. Friday's visit was far different from the other times the first couple visited natural disaster sites, during Trump's first weekend back in the White House in January. They toured North Carolina to scope out damage from Hurricane Helene and saw the aftermath of wildfires in Los Angeles, and the president sharply criticized the administration of his predecessor, President Joe Biden, and officials from deep-blue California. 'The state of Texas, No. 1 they do it right and they've done it right for a long time,' Trump said. 'And it's a very special place to me.' — Weissert reported from Washington. Editorial Cartoons World World Relationships MLB
