West Ham midfielder Matías Fernandes’ pursuit of a summer move to Manchester United continues, but Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in the Portuguese star.
Man United are interested in Portugal and West Ham midfielder Matisse Fernandes. (Photo: Getty Images)
Manchester United are facing stiff competition from Tottenham Hotspur for West Ham star Matías Fernandes. The Portuguese midfielder is understood to be set for a move to Old Trafford this summer.
But a free report indicates that the Hammers insist on a significant proportion of any agreed price up front. It is also claimed that Spurs have offered a superior package overall.
Fernandes is said to have a higher wage offer than United, and the 21-year-old is keen on the move. It is therefore clear that the Reds will need to offer Fernandes a higher wage, more money in front of West Ham, and a bigger overall financial package to the Hammers, as well.
West Ham have slapped an £85m price tag on Fernandes, but that would be the starting point for talks with a club that needs to raise the cash to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Manchester City’s £120m plus bid for Elliott Anderson shows the market for the midfielder is huge. Top midfielders are in high demand, and clubs will reap the most cash in possession of these players.
Anderson was seen as a dream signing at Old Trafford, so it is no surprise that United are also considering Fernandes. The Portuguese star may have more upside than the England international, as he is two years younger, so he should continue to improve.
Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal have also been linked with Fernandes, so United may need to act quickly if they are to secure his signature.
Mateus Fernandes is a key transfer target for Manchester United. (Photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
And his former coach Vasco Cebra has spoken about him. Radio Renasenka: Why Fernandes is so sought after by Europe’s biggest clubs
He said, “He’s got a huge range of abilities. I mean he’s got technical quality and he’s a kid with a great heart and mentality.
“We expected, and I especially expected, that he would reach the top teams rapidly, but it would be wrong to say that I hoped that after two years, he could be in Real Madrid’s plans. He was really young when he came through us.”
Cebra backs Fernandes to succeed in the Premier League. He added: “I expected him to reach the Premier League level in a very short period of time. He really had a mindset and a daily commitment, both in training and in matches, that made me believe he could reach a very high level.”
Midfield is a priority position that United are looking to strengthen and the Reds have already agreed a deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta. The Brazilian will join after an initial fee of £35m between the two clubs plus £3.8m in add-ons.
Now Open is a yearlong series celebrating some of 2026’s most exciting new restaurants. Throughout the year, we’ll check in with teams in Chicago, New York City, and Washington, D.C., to hear what it’s really like behind the scenes of a buzzy opening.
Then, we’ll host exclusive meals at these restaurants as part of Dinner Party, presented by Capital One. Read along for challenges, candid reflections, and advice from the proprietors behind some of the country’s hottest new openings.
After opening in 2016, Tail Up Goat quickly became D.C.’s go-to fine dining restaurant for celebrations of all sizes, racking up national accolades including a Michelin star and James Beard Award nods. But after nearly a decade of service and a wave of new challenges for the hospitality industry, the restaurant’s owners knew they needed to make a big change.
Rather than give up the lease to their Adams Morgan spot, co-owners Jill Tyler and Jon Sybert decided to shift the concept into a counter-service model called Rye Bunny. Guests file into the restaurant and order before shifting into table service that feels exactly like your standard restaurant experience.
Tyler and Sybert say this fresh concept gives guests access to the same top-notch seasonal dishes—just in a format that they believe is better for both guests and staff. As the couple launches their reimagined concept, we checked in with Tyler to learn more about how they melded Rye Bunny to fit changing dining habits while supporting the team’s mission to make hospitality careers more sustainable.
Liz Provencher: After running Tail Up Goat for nearly 10 years, what made you decide to shift into a more casual concept?
Jill Tyler: We were coming up on our 10-year lease and deciding what was next. I don’t know that we were sure it was restaurants. The last five years, post-pandemic, have been incredibly challenging in many, many ways, and we weren’t really sure what we were going to do. Then my friend Arjav, who has a restaurant in Austin called Birdie’s, said, “
You need to open a counter-service restaurant. It’s the only way restaurants will work in the future. This is what you should be doing and the model you should be looking at.”
Were you immediately sold?
I was really reticent. At that point, I’d only ever seen counter service equal fast-casual, and that’s not what I wanted to run. There are many great things about that side of the business. And it can be very profitable, especially looking at some of the D.C. IPOs in the last 10 years. But it wasn’t what I love about what I do. So I went to Austin and staged with him. An hour into my stage, he was like, “What are you going to do?” And I said, “I’m going to open a counter-service restaurant.”
So what changed your mind?
Restaurants are kind of broken, so I wanted to build something that worked. Even if it might have worked when we were new and everyone wanted to see the new thing for a year, it wasn’t a sustainable business. We knew the things that were critical to us: providing competitive wages, PTO, and healthcare. All these things make it a much more expensive business to run, so we started with our non-negotiables and then tried to figure out how we could build a sustainable business that occupies the middle responsibly.
Going out to eat is now expensive. It’s a treat to do regardless of what level you’re doing it at. So for us, it was like, Okay, how do we responsibly occupy a middle space that might be something where neighbourhood folks come in every other week and for other people it’s a special occasion?
And how do we do that in a way that aligns with our values and who we want to be as owners? That’s how we ended up with Rye Bunny. Jon and I want to run something where we build a community—and that means we have to be more accessible, so that’s why we’re here.
Rye Bunny operates with a counter-service model. Farrah Skeiky
What were the major pain points you wanted to solve with this new concept?
The main pain point at Tail Up Goat post-pandemic was that everything was pricier. You have yearly rent increases; you have inflation that’s done a number on food and wages; and healthcare premiums are going up anywhere between 12 and 17 per cent every year, year over year. All the things that were important for us to provide became much pricier.
Dining habits also just changed. We were no longer seeing one or two turns on a weekday. We were filling reservations between 6 and 8 p.m., but we never got back to seating until 10 p.m. So much of it changed in a way where the pieces just didn’t fit back together.
Why do you think counter service is a more sustainable model?
One of the main things we had to figure out was labour. We were running a $100,000 payroll every two weeks, which is not sustainable. This model allows us to run with fewer people. Compared to Tail Up Goat, our back-of-house team has one fewer person in the morning and one fewer person in the evening, but we’re still putting out this amazing food. But on the front-of-house side, we don’t have hosts anymore, and we’re running with one fewer manager and two fewer servers, so we’ve cut our team quite significantly.
With this counter-service [and] full-service hybrid model, you still have a server and a team of people taking care of you once you sit down. I don’t think it feels lacking. We didn’t want to open a business that pulled back on hospitality because that’s our favourite part of going out to eat. It’s just repackaged in how it all comes together.
Giving back to the community also appears to be important to you and Jon, and I know that you offer limited reservations with a fee that’s donated to charity. Can you tell me more about that?
Before COVID, we had been able to give $100,000 in cash to organisations that we wanted to support in D.C. through event fundraising efforts a few times a year. It was truly remarkable when I look back. But after that, there were just never any more pennies to rub together to do something like that, so it was really important to me that we had some sort of giving plan baked in.
There are so many wonderful organisations, but I don’t think we’re doing our best, most impactful work by just saying yes to every [charitable] gift card or event request. So Jon and I really wanted to pick two organisations that were important to us and make those the focus. We knew if we selected local organisations, throughout the course of the year, [we’d be] able to get up to $10,000 in their coffers. That makes a really big difference for those organisations and allows them to grow their work.
Knowing we were going to be a walk-in-only restaurant, I realised there was an opportunity for a fairly nominal fee. Again, $25 is not the most expensive. If four of you are going out, that’s six bucks each. You can skip the line and go straight to a table, and that fee is donated to our nonprofit partners.
We’re working with Dreaming Out Loud, which is an incredible organisation that does urban farming and food and security work in [D.C.’s] Wards 7 and 8, and the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, which is working with folks facing deportation in the DMV area. They are both causes that are important to Jon and me and reflective of the ethos of our staff overall.
As white owners from a place of privilege, we believe it’s crucial to clearly communicate our identity, values, and commitment to supporting our community.
So far, is this hybrid service model helping support the type of employee-centred business you want to run?
Yeah, I think it will. It’s still early days. We’re one P&L in, so we’ll see how everything develops over the next year. We’re also not fully operating yet. We added a sixth day in June and the seventh in July because we wanted it to be a sustainable opening. Openings were kind of wild, so slowly adding them as the staff felt really good about it was our plan. But so far, it seems like it’s going to be much more sustainable.
Since you mentioned opening craziness, how has this opening differed from Tail Up Goat?
I’m 10 years older. So I joke that I definitely feel it differently. But I’m also 10 years wiser. Part of the magic of Tail Up Goat when we opened was, gosh, we were so naive. The three of us had never opened restaurants before.
There was so much stuff I’d never seen. I had never really managed a P&L in any meaningful way before we opened Tail Up Goat. My perspective has shifted a lot just growing up in the space, too. I put value on different things. I think it’s easier this time to trust what we’re doing and let some of the noise not get in—and that’s taken 10 years to learn.
Today’s Afghan proverb illustrates the relationship between power and persuasion.
Among the many proverbs that have emerged from the crossroads of Central and South Asia, few are as influential as this Afghan proverb: “What can be killed with sugar should not be killed with poison. “It’s easy to understand but the underlying importance teaches a lesson or two about why force should not be the answer everywhere.
Whom sugar can kill…
This saying begins with a contradiction. Poison is designed to kill, while sugar is associated with pleasure, hospitality, and nourishment. One would naturally assume that poison is the strongest weapon. This saying reverses that expectation. It suggests that if a person can be defeated, persuaded, controlled or influenced through sweetness, it is unnecessary to adopt harsh methods. Wisdom lies in recognising that direct force is often less effective than indirect influence.
Sugar often accomplishes what poison cannot.
History provides countless examples. Empires have conquered territories through armies, but they have also often held onto those territories through incentives, privileges, and alliances. Businesses usually do not force customers to buy a product. Instead, they attract them through advertising, rewards, and carefully crafted experiences. Politicians know that winning hearts can be more valuable than winning debates. In every case, “sugar” often accomplishes what “poison” cannot.
Force creates fear; fear is not the solution
This saying highlights a reality that many people only learn through experience: humans are not always motivated by fear. They are often driven by desire. Fear can compel obedience, but only temporarily. Desire can create willing cooperation. A person threatened with action may protest as soon as they can. A person who believes they are receiving a benefit may continue to volunteer.
Why afghan proverb very true
Consider the workplace. A manager who constantly criticises employees may secure short-term compliance. Workers act because they fear the consequences. Yet morale drops, creativity suffers and resentment increases. Another manager provides recognition, encouragement, and opportunities for advancement. Employees are motivated not by fear but by aspiration. The second manager achieves better results without resorting to pressure. The same principle also applies to education. Teachers who rely solely on punishment can maintain discipline, but those who inspire curiosity often lead to deeper learning. Students work harder when they want success, not when they just want to avoid failure.
But sweetness also means flattery
Sweetness is not always true. Sugar can be used strategically. Flattery, gifts, praise and promises can become instruments of influence. Throughout history, individuals have been induced to act against their own interests because someone offered them something attractive. Many frauds succeed not because victims are intimidated, but because they are enticed. A scammer promises money. A dishonest leader promises glory. A corrupt official offers benefits. The target willingly accepts what seems good, but later the hidden consequences are revealed. In this sense, the proverb reminds us that our desires can become weaknesses. People often imagine themselves to be immune to obvious threats. They believe that if the poison is presented openly, they will recognise it. Yet few people are equally alert when encountering something pleasant. The sweet offer seems harmless. The compliment feels genuine. The reward seems worthy. The proverb suggests that these attractive possibilities can sometimes be more dangerous than the dangers visible.
A lesson about efficiency
There is also a lesson in efficiency. Why put in more effort when a simple approach will suffice? An experienced negotiator understands this intuitively. If two parties can reach an agreement through negotiations, why is the conflict increasing? If goodwill can solve a problem, why create animosity? Why engage in costly conflict if cooperation can be achieved through a small concession? This practical mindset has deep roots in traditional societies. Resources are limited. Energy is precious. Successful leaders learn to accomplish objectives with the least possible resistance. This proverb presents that philosophy in a memorable form. This saying also talks about emotional intelligence. Many conflicts persist because people focus on what they want rather than what motivates others. He believes that pressure is the solution when understanding would be more effective. Imagine that two neighbours are involved in a dispute. Threatens a legal action. The other takes time to understand the concerns involved and propose mutually beneficial solutions. The second approach is often successful because it addresses underlying interests rather than superficial conditions. So the “sugar” in the proverb can represent empathy, diplomacy, and insight. These qualities may appear soft, but they can be remarkably powerful. “What can be killed with sugar should not be killed with poison” is a meditation on the power of attraction over coercion. It teaches that persuasion can outperform force, that incentives can outweigh threats, and that understanding human desires is often the key to achieving any objective. At the same time, it urges caution. What makes us happy can also deceive us. The things we most readily welcome can sometimes have the greatest impact on us. This saying endures because it recognises a fundamental truth about human behaviour: people are not always swayed by what they fear. Mostly, they conquer what they want.
Password manager maker LastPass is informing customers that their personal information and customer support case records were recently stolen during a hack of one of its technology partners, marking the company’s latest data breach in recent years.
In an email shared with TechCrunch by an affected customer, LastPass said the breach occurred at market research firm Clue, not its systems. However, hackers abused their access to obtain a tonne of data about LastPass customers.
LastPass is the latest in a growing list of cybersecurity companies
that have reported data breaches as a result of the breach at Clue, which the company disclosed last week. Several other affected companies include HackerOne, Recorded Future, and Tanium.
In a blog post sharing information about the incident, LastPass said that the hackers took customers’ names, phone numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses, as well as customer support case data and sales-related data.
LastPass said that the company’s own infrastructure, including customers’ password vaults, remained unaffected.
It is not yet known what the contents of the customer support tickets were, although they likely contained pieces of potentially private or sensitive information. Customers typically contact customer service when they have a billing issue or need assistance gaining access to their accounts. Previous incidents involving customer support tickets have involved credentials and government-issued identification documents.
LastPass spokespeople did not immediately respond to TechCrunch’s requests for comment or questions about the incident, including how many customers are affected by the incident.
LastPass’s website states that it has more than 33 million users and approximately 1.6 million paying customers as of 2024.
LastPass previously experienced a data breach in 2022, in which hackers stole the entire store of the company’s customer password vault, which is used to store their sensitive credentials, such as passwords, tokens, and other personal and credit card numbers.
While the vaults were encrypted with a master password known only to the customer, the breach allowed hackers to crack the vault offline using the weakest master password and subsequently access the secrets inside. Many crypto thefts later Linked to the LastPass breach When hackers were suspected of breaking into the victim’s password vault and stealing his wallet keys.
Clue CEO Jason Smith said in a blog post that the company had identified the hackers in its system on June 12. A hacking and extortion group called ‘Icarus’ took credit for the breach and publicly threatened to release the stolen data if a ransom was not paid.
Smith did not respond to TechCrunch’s email regarding the incident, including how many customers were affected or whether the company has been in contact with the hackers.
the breath with the mind, and man with the source from which we came and to which we return. The world has tried to practise yoga to relieve pain and calm the restless mind, and yoga has generously provided these benefits.
Science now confirms what the sages silently knew: Steady the breathing, and you steady the heart. But yoga was never just about health; it is a way of life, a daily practice of restraint, awareness, gratitude and service. Yoga whispers to a weary world: slow down, breathe, come back to yourself, and you will find the divine waiting there.
It’s a miracle how far this gift travelled. Across the Gulf in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and even Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, yoga is practised and loved by thousands, led by certified teachers, and is hailed by the Government of India and its embassies as a living bridge between civilisations.
Nouf Marwai, Saudi Arabia’s first certified yoga instructor and founder of the Arab Yoga Foundation, was awarded the Padma Shri in 2018; she is the first Arab recipient of this honour and now leads the Saudi Yoga Committee. His statement is evidence of a quiet truth: yoga does not conflict with one’s faith, because it asks nothing about faith and everything about sincerity. The practice does not change the mind; it clears it. A Muslim who breathes consciously becomes a better Muslim; A Christian who sits quietly prays more deeply; a Hindu who serves with awareness comes closer to God.
Long before the term ‘interfaith’ was coined, India’s Sufi and Nath yogis sat together not as strangers but as seekers. It is narrated in our shared heritage that the Chishti saint of Punjab, Hazrat Baba Farid Ganj-e-Shakar, met the wandering yogis of his age and exchanged the secrets of breath: a yogi’s pranayam and a Sufi’s habs-e-dum, guarding every breath in the memory of the beloved. Each recognised in the other a fellow climber from the same mountain, but by a different route. The disciplines of posture, breathing and stillness of mind of Gorakhnath and Nath yogis flowed to the spiritual soil of India and met with Zikr and Murakba, the Sufi science of Sufi meditation. That meeting brought not confusion, but compassion. This legacy is our civilisational heritage: unity without uniformity, unity that respects difference.
Beneath our many names, the human heart beats with a longing for God. The mat and prayer rug, asanas and sajdas, om and zikr are all the body’s ways of expressing the soul’s one word: return.
This practice, then, is the yoga for inter-religious harmony, not to weaken any tradition, but to discover the stable point where all traditions touch. In a world divided by borders, it offers a wordless peace that needs no translation. It heals the body so that the heart can be free.
When we breathe together, we cannot hate each other. May every breath drawn be a prayer for peace.
Both ITV and BBC Sport have star-studded line-ups for their commentary, presenter and pundit teams at the 2026 World Cup.
With 104 matches in the United States, Canada and Mexico, fans will be able to watch 54 games on BBC television, while ITV Sport will cover 29 group stage matches from its Brooklyn studio.
And fans can look forward to some fresh insight from former Premier League stars, some household names, as well as BBC Sport coverage.
Gabby Logan will host the BBC’s coverage of England v Ghana, with Wayne Rooney in the pundit team and Alan Shearer on co-commentary.
Here are the pundits and commentary lineups to watch for this summer’s tournament:
Pandit
BBC Sports
Alan Shearer
Wayne Rooney
Micah Richards
Joe Hart
Paul Robinson
Steph Houghton
Alan White
Danny Murphy.
Scott Brown
Rachel Corsi
James McFadden
Oliver Giroud
Gail Clichy
Cesar Azpilicueta
Benny McCarthy
Ashley Williams
Thomas Frank
Hasan Kachlool
Darren Kane
ITV Sport
Roy Kane
Ian Wright
Gary Neville
Patrick Vieira
Karen Carney
Ange Postecoglou
John Mata
Emma Hayes
Duncan Ferguson
Joby McEnuff
Bradley Wright-Phillips
Christina Uncle
Gary Lineker – The former BBC presenter appeared as a pundit during ITV’s coverage on Saturday, June 20.
Commentator
BBC Sports
Guy Mowbray
Steve Wilson
Steve Bower
Jonathan Pearce
Robin Cowan
Steven Wyeth
Liam McLeod
ITV Sport
Sam Materface
Jon Champion
Seb Hutchinson
Joe Speight
BBC Sport has unveiled its World Cup 2026 line-up. (The BBC)
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A dangerous heatwave is going on in Europe; millions of people are in the grip of the heatwave. Meteorologists blame the giant heat dome, a series of high pressures that trap hot air coming off North Africa. Scientists warn that human-induced climate change is making extreme heat more frequent and more intense. NBC’s Molly Hunter reports for TODAY. 23 June 2026
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On Sunday, President Donald Trump made a dramatic announcement: repairs to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool would begin right away. Trump inspects the Reflecting Pool and says work will begin ‘immediately’ — but the inspection itself raised eyebrows. According to reporters travelling with the president, Trump conducted his inspection from a helicopter while returning to the White House from Camp David, rather than visiting the site on the ground.
The iconic pool, stretching 2,030 feet between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, has become the centre of a growing controversy. Despite a recent multi-million-dollar renovation, the pool is plagued by bright green algae and peeling paint—problems Trump has blamed on vandalism.
What Happened?
On Sunday, Trump took to Truth Social to announce that “work will begin immediately on fixing the seriously vandalised Reflecting Pool.” He wrote:
“I just inspected it and could only say to myself and those gathered around me, WOW, who would do such a thing? SICK, DERANGED PEOPLE! “
The announcement came as the administration scrambles to address the pool’s problems just days before the nation’s 250th Independence Day celebration on July 4.
The Problems: Algae, Peeling Paint, and More
The Reflecting Pool has faced a series of issues:
Problem
Details
Green Algae
An algae bloom has turned the water bright green, despite recent chemical treatments.
Peeling Paint
The new “American flag blue” coating is peeling from the bottom of the pool.
Vandalism Claims
Trump claims vandals used a blade to put a “250-foot-long gash” into the pool’s surface.
Leaks & Deterioration
The century-old pool has long suffered from leaks, faulty pipes, and structural issues.
The renovation project, which Trump initially said would cost around $1.8 million, has ballooned to an estimated $13 million to $14 million. The project was part of Trump’s beautification efforts for America’s 250th birthday.
The Vandalism Controversy
Trump has blamed the pool’s problems on “disgraceful vandalism”, claiming that unnamed saboteurs poured “corrosive and destructive chemicals into the pool”. However, he has offered no evidence to substantiate these claims.
According to a senior administration official, five people have been arrested for vandalism, and five more were issued citations. A total of 14 police reports have been filed.
The Olympian’s Arrest
One of those arrested is David “Davey” Hearn, a 67-year-old former Olympic canoeist from Bethesda, Maryland.
Hearn told the BBC and AP that he was simply curious about the peeling paint during a bike ride. He reached into the pool to touch a piece of paint that was already peeling but did not remove anything.
“I didn’t destroy, rip, tear, peel, or remove any part of the paint. The condition of any part of the reflecting pool didn’t change. It was the same before I got there as when I walked away from it.”
Despite this, Hearn was detained by National Guard troops and Park Police for five hours before being released. He called his arrest an “arbitrary, capricious prosecution”.
What Happens Next?
The pool may need to be drained and refilled for a second time this month. Officials have been using chemicals, including hydrogen peroxide, to combat the algae bloom.
US Attorney for Washington, DC Jeanine Pirro has vowed to “aggressively prosecute” anyone found to have damaged the pool.
However, experts note that the green algae, identified as a species called Desmodesmus, is “absolutely harmless” to people and animals.
Conclusion
The saga of the Reflecting Pool highlights the challenges of rushing major renovations—and the political controversy that can follow. Trump inspects the Reflecting Pool and says work will begin ‘immediately’, but with algae returning, paint peeling, and arrests making headlines, it remains unclear whether the repairs will be finished in time for the July 4 celebrations.
What is clear is that the iconic pool, a symbol of American history and the site of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, has become the latest flashpoint in a broader debate about the Trump administration’s approach to public projects.
FAQ Section
Q: When did Trump inspect the Reflecting Pool? A: Trump conducted his inspection on Sunday, June 21, 2026, while flying over the site in a helicopter on his way back from Camp David.
Q: Why is the Reflecting Pool green? A: An algae bloom has turned the water bright green. Experts have identified the algae as Desmodesmus, which is harmless to humans and animals.
Q: How much did the renovation cost? A: The project was initially estimated at $1.8 million but has ballooned to approximately $13-14 million.
Q: Was the pool really vandalised? A: Trump claims it was vandalised, but he has not provided evidence. Critics suggest the problems may stem from shoddy workmanship.
Q: Who was arrested at the Reflecting Pool? A: Among those arrested is David Hearn, a 67-year-old former Olympic canoeist who said he was simply touching peeling paint out of curiosity.
Ethan Thornton dropped out of MIT at the age of 19 to pursue weapons manufacturing. First, a hydrogen-powered system he prototyped with parts from Home Depot and Amazon didn’t work — “Hydrogen was a bad bet in general,” he told me at TechCrunch last week. The StrictlVC incident in Los Angeles. Three years later, his company, Mach Industries, is running a six-arm programme and, earlier this month, closed a $300 million Series C round at a valuation of $1.8 billion. The startup has now raised about $485 million in total.
Thornton grew up in Burnet,
Texas, a town of about 6,500 residents, is in a family with deep military ties. Around 2017 or 2018 – when he was still in his teens – he began, by his account, to be “really, really concerned” about the rise of China and what he saw as an impending major-power conflict. That concern eventually turned into a conviction that unmanned systems would redefine warfare and that the US was moving too slowly to meet this moment.
What that looks like, in practice, in mid-2026, is six simultaneous weapons programmes and a company that has a lot to prove rather than focusing on one thing, getting it right, and then expanding. Thornton knows that Mac’s diffuse focus creates some lingering questions for outsiders. “It’s very hard,” he said, volunteering Thursday night. But he doesn’t think defence rewards the kind of single-minded focus that rocket launches require. “It’s a chess game you’re playing with an opponent,” he said, adding that “hundreds of different products have to be shipped if we want protection.” Pick just one, he suggested, and you’ve already lost the game.
These are not ordinary products. MAC is working on a vertical-takeoff strike aircraft; a long-range anti-ship missile; two stratospheric systems; an inexpensive surface-to-air interceptor designed to shoot down drones; and – announced earlier this week – a 40-foot, nearly 4,000-pound Navy logistics-and-strike aircraft that flies almost vertically and can range more than a thousand miles with a payload of a thousand pounds. Takes flight.
That last flight is a significant advance for a company whose largest plane to date has been nearly 13 feet long. And none of the six are yet in full-rate production. Thornton says MAC has won about 13 government contracts, most of which are in the middle stages of defence procurement – past preliminary design and in testing at the government threshold but far below the rate-manufacturing level that fewer than 10 industry-wide programmes have ever reached.
He says that we should see operational deployment of several systems by the end of this year, and his goal is to push three of the six into rate manufacturing in the same window — which would mean going from hundreds of units per month to hundreds of thousands in a factory that Thornton says Mack plans to stand up soon.
It’s an aggressive timeline placed on top of already aggressive stakes. But Mac’s underlying thesis is that the US can’t produce more than China, so it has to make more of it – just as Ukraine has sought a first-mover advantage against Russia, despite producing more. “I don’t think we’re going to beat China,” Thornton said. “The US continues to perform well time and again compared to China, which focuses on creativity and productisation,” he said.
Thornton argues – as do other defence tech startups –
that the real hurdle isn’t building different platforms – it’s the supply chains that support them. “The hard part is actually getting the stuff into the building,” he said: jet engines, solid rocket motors, and radar. Mack built and ran two jet engines in about eight months, a process he says traditionally takes four years; it acquired Exquadrum, a 24-year-old solid rocket motor company, in May for $50 million, beating out about eight other bidders by its account. Now almost half of Mac’s revenue comes from selling not only vehicles but also parts.
Mac’s approach is entirely different from some of his peers. Shield AI, founded in 2015, spent years as essentially a product company around its V-BAT drone before unveiling a second platform, the autonomous X-BAT Fighter, last October — and even that is being positioned as a big, deliberate bet, not a portfolio. Saronic, founded in 2022, builds only autonomous surface vessels with an integrated autonomy stack in hull sizes ranging from six feet to 180 feet.
Both have been rewarded for that discipline: Shield AI raised $2 billion this year at a $12.7 billion valuation; Saronic raised $1.75 billion to $9.25 billion.
The company’s strategy is very similar to that of Anduril, which is bigger, older, and a company against which every other defence tech startup is measured, objectively or not. Thornton himself makes the comparison, although he argues that there is a meaningful difference between the two companies. “Anduril’s playbook has been very top-down, starting with the software stack,” he said. “We’re very bottom up, starting with the hardware stack and then wrapping software around it.”
It’s a difference, yes, but Mach is still essentially operating in Anduril’s shadow. Anduril raised $5 billion in May at a valuation of $61 billion – more than 30 times that of MAC – and in March landed a 10-year, $20 billion army enterprise contract with a maximum cap, consolidating more than 120 separate procurement activities. Whatever Mac is building toward, Anduril got years and tens of billions of dollars in advance.
Thornton says that the field is not zero-sum.
He points to the scale of the problem: China reportedly makes about a thousand cruise missiles a day; The US builds one approximately every three days. “X company and Y company and Z company could all be manufacturing these things and it still wouldn’t be enough production,” he said. They also argue that the Pentagon would not structurally allow a monopoly, deliberately keeping two or three vendors alive in each category rather than choosing one winner.
Whether that’s a generous read of the competitive landscape or not, I told him that Anduril’s most famous co-founder, Palmer Luckey, has never publicly acknowledged Mac, as far as I can tell. Thornton dismissed any suggestion that Anduril has no interest in making room for Mach, telling me he respects Lucki and that they are “on the same team”, fighting for the same goal of Western sovereignty.
His investors, including Sequoia, Khosla Ventures and Ribbit Capital, are clearly indifferent. Founder-genius framing – Take away the Texas workshop and the MIT dropout story, including this one, and what’s left is a really interesting experiment led by a founder who, at least, seems to know what he doesn’t know.
Thornton has stated candidly that the hardest part of running a Mac changes every six months: first engineering, then sales, and now mass manufacturing, which he expects to dominate the next year. He says he tries to spend four or five hours a day thinking and “battling for the future,” sometimes taking colleagues off work to do the same with him – which, he admits, “can sometimes frustrate them.”
Regarding who puts pressure on him – who keeps a fast-rising founder honest – Thornton said the most valuable feedback doesn’t come from investors or even his executive team, who can end up in the same echo chamber as the CEO. “It comes from people who are actually doing the work,” he said.
He described regular company-wide forums, his COO’s idea, where employees get microphones and ask him anything. It started with Thornton quietly recruiting a few trusted aides to ask aggressive questions. Since then, it has become harder to control – and, he suggested, all the more useful for that. “I basically stand there for about an hour and have people in the company ask me the most invasive possible questions,” he said. It looks like he’s enjoying it.
Late singer Oliver Tree’s body returned to the US after the Brazil helicopter crash as family, friends, and fans continue to mourn the loss of the popular American musician. Tree, known for his unique style, viral music videos, and hit songs such as Life Goes On, Miss You, and Alien Boy, died at the age of 32 following a tragic helicopter collision in Brazil earlier this month.
The return of his remains to California marks an emotional moment for his loved ones, who have also announced plans to honour his final wishes through a charitable foundation that will support emerging artists.
Tragic Helicopter Crash in Brazil
The accident occurred on 14 June 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when two helicopters collided in mid-air. The crash resulted in the deaths of six people, including Oliver Tree and several other passengers. One of the helicopters crashed into a vehicle dealership, causing a fire that reportedly destroyed multiple vehicles. Authorities immediately launched an investigation into the cause of the collision.
At the time of the accident, Tree was travelling as part of his ambitious world tour, which included performances across multiple continents. The musician had recently released his fourth studio album and was set to perform dozens of shows around the globe.
Family Confirms Return to California
The focus keyword, late singer Oliver Tree’s body returned to the US after a Brazil helicopter crash, became a major headline after a statement was posted on the artist’s official Instagram account.
According to the statement, Tree’s remains have now been returned to California, where his family says he can “finally rest”. The message thanked fans worldwide for their support and the many tributes shared since his death.
The family described the overwhelming response from supporters as a source of comfort during an extremely difficult period. Messages from fellow musicians, content creators, and fans have poured in from around the world, reflecting the impact Tree had on modern music and internet culture.
Honouring His Final Wish
One of the most significant developments following Tree’s death is the announcement of a new foundation that will carry forward his creative legacy.
Before his death, Tree reportedly included instructions in his will to establish a charitable programme called “Dr Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant for Baby Geniuses”. The initiative aims to provide funding for artists and creative projects. His family has pledged to make sure the foundation becomes a reality.
According to statements released by his team, Tree believed strongly in supporting artistic creation and wanted his resources to help future generations of artists bring their ideas to life. The foundation will focus on funding creative work and encouraging artistic expression.
A Unique Career and Global Following
Oliver Tree built a distinctive career that blended music, comedy, internet culture, and visual storytelling. Born in California in 1993, he gained international recognition through viral content and a series of successful music releases.
His unconventional appearance, with his signature bowl haircut and oversized outfits, became instantly recognisable to fans worldwide. Over the years, he developed a reputation for combining humour with emotional songwriting, which helped him stand out in a crowded music industry.
Songs such as Hurt, Life Goes On, Miss You, and Alien Boy attracted millions of listeners and generated billions of online streams. His popularity extended beyond music, with his videos and public appearances often becoming viral talking points across social media platforms.
Tributes Continue to Pour In
Following the announcement that the late singer Oliver Tree’s body returned to the US after the Brazil helicopter crash, tributes have continued from across the entertainment industry.
Musicians, influencers, and friends have praised Tree’s creativity, originality, and positive impact on those around him. Fans have shared personal stories about how his music helped them through difficult periods in their lives, while fellow artists have highlighted his willingness to support and encourage others.
Many tributes have focused on Tree’s ability to blend humour and authenticity, creating a unique artistic voice that resonates with audiences around the world. His influence on modern alternative pop music remains widely recognised.
Investigation Into the Crash Continues
Brazilian aviation authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the helicopter collision. Officials are examining flight records, communications, and other evidence to determine exactly what happened. Investigators have indicated that reaching a final conclusion may take considerable time.
The news that late singer Oliver Tree’s body returned to the US after the Brazil helicopter crash has brought a measure of closure to his family and supporters. While the music world continues to mourn the loss of a talented and unconventional artist, efforts are already underway to preserve his legacy through the foundation he envisioned before his death.
Oliver Tree’s music, creativity, and influence touched millions of people around the world. Through his songs and the charitable initiative planned in his name, his legacy is expected to continue inspiring future generations of artists and fans alike.
