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Taiwan places export controls on Huawei and SMIC

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Chinese companies Huawei and SMIC may have a difficult time accessing resources needed to build AI chips, due to Taiwanese export controls.

Bloomberg reports that Taiwan’s International Trade Administration placed the two companies and their subsidiaries on an updated list of entities designated as strategic high-tech commodities. That means Taiwanese businesses will need government approval before they can ship anything to either company.

As a result, Huawei and SMIC will lose access to Taiwan’s plant construction technologies, materials, and equipment, potentially setting back China’s efforts to develop new AI semiconductors, Bloomberg says.

“On June 10, we added some 601 entities from Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Myanmar and mainland China including Huawei and SMIC to the entity list to combat arms proliferation and address other national security concerns,” the trade administration said in a statement.

NBA free agency 2025 – Deals 10 stars should get this summer

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There is a cold reality when it comes to NBA free agency this summer.

Outside of players re-signing with their current teams or agreeing on sign-and-trades, free agents are staring at the Brooklyn Nets, who are the only team with enough salary cap room to offer a contract greater than $30 million. However, half the league has the $14.1 million non-tax midlevel exception.

To show the complexities of negotiating in free agency, we chose 10 of the biggest free agents this offseason and examined what their next contract should be.

This list won’t include Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, as ESPN’s Shams Charania reported in May that signs point to James opting in to his $52.6 million salary for next season. If James does become a free agent, the 40-year-old would be eligible to sign up to a three-year, $175 million contract with the Lakers.

(Note: The order below is based on Kevin Pelton’s top 25 free agent rankings for the 2025 offseason.)

LA Clippers | Guard
Free agent ranking: 2

  • Best free agent fit: LA Clippers

  • The deal I’d offer: Two years, $79 million. (The $41 million second-year salary has $10 million in guaranteed money. It increases to $25 million if the Clippers reach the conference finals and becomes fully guaranteed if LA reaches the NBA Finals.)

An All-Star appearance and an All-NBA nod for the first time since 2020 should have Harden seeking a raise and multiyear contract.

Harden logged the fifth-most minutes of any player this season and appeared in 79 games, his most in the regular season since 2016-17. As a result, Harden became the only player this season with 1,500 points, 500 assists, 100 steals and 50 blocks.

“Because James has a player option, it would be irresponsible for me not to have contingency plans with it,” Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said after the season. “But I’m going in with the intent that if he doesn’t pick up his option, that we’re going to be able to reach an agreement that works well for James and works well for the Clippers.”

Considering the lack of teams with cap space, Harden’s age (he recently turned 37) and the importance of financial flexibility in the 2026 offseason, the Clippers can be creative with their next contract.

The $38 million salary in the first year is an increase from his $36.3 million player option, but it still gives them flexibility to use their full $14.1 million non-tax midlevel exception.

The second year not only benefits Harden financially but also the Clippers if they reach the conference finals for the first time since 2021.

Dallas Mavericks | Guard
Free agent ranking: 3

  • Best free agent fit: Dallas

  • The deal I’d offer: Three years, $113 million.

The $113 million contract is a win-win for Irving and the Mavericks.

The $35 million price tag next season is $8 million lower than Irving’s player option and gives Dallas greater flexibility to operate below the second apron. The Mavericks now have access to the $5.7 million tax midlevel exception to sign a temporary replacement for Irving. If the nine-time All-Star opts in to his $43 million salary, the Mavericks have only the veteran minimum exception and are over the second apron.

While there is a drop in salary next season, Irving is guaranteed an additional $70 million in new money. The 33-year old tore his left ACL in March but still remains part of the Mavs’ future.

“The team we’re bringing back is a championship-caliber team,” Mavs GM Nico Harrison said after the season. “We fully expect to have Kyrie back with us next year. When he gets healed from his injury, we believe we’ll be competing for a championship.”

Irving’s three-year contract aligns with that of Anthony Davis.

Minnesota Timberwolves | Forward
Free agent ranking: 4

  • Best free agent fit: Minnesota

  • The deal I’d offer: Four years, $121 million. (The fourth year of the contract becomes guaranteed if the Timberwolves reach the NBA Finals in 2026, 2027 or 2028.)

Randle is not a restricted free agent like Giddey and Kuminga but is faced with a daunting market if he declines his $30.9 million player option and enters free agency. That does not mean the forward and the Timberwolves should not compromise on a new contract.

Randle’s strong play to finish the regular season (he averaged 18.2 points in the final 21 games), carried over to the first two rounds of the playoffs, where he had eight 20-point games and averaged 23.9 points. But in Games 2 and 4 in the Wolves’ conference finals loss to the Thunder, Randle scored a combined 11 points.

The four-year, $121 million new contract (the player option is replaced with a new salary), is a win-win for Randle and the Timberwolves.

The $4 million in savings (Randle’s first-year salary would be $27 million), has Minnesota positioned to bring back reserves Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker while remaining below the second apron.

“We’re very appreciative of what the market might look like,” Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said after the season. “We’re pretty cautiously optimistic we’re in a good place with all of the guys [Randle, Reid and Alexander-Walker]. Most importantly, they want to be here.”

The contract is greater than the $117 million extension Randle signed with New York in 2021 and gives him nearly $90 million in guaranteed money for the next three seasons.

Houston Rockets | Guard
Free agent ranking: 5

  • Best free agent fit: Houston

  • The deal I’d offer: Three years, $80 million. (The second year has $15 million in guaranteed money and the third season is a team option.)

The next contract for VanVleet will play a role in how much flexibility Houston has this offseason and in future years.

The Rockets could exercise his $44.9 million team option by June 29 and then use the guard as a valuable trade chip if a deal materializes (potentially for Kevin Durant). However, by picking up the option, Houston becomes a luxury tax team over both aprons.

The more logical play is to decline the option and work out a new contract with additional years but less money in the first year. For example, a salary that starts at $29 million (and then declines each season) has Houston $20 million below the second apron. VanVleet eventually recoups the $44.9 million option that is declined, but over two seasons.

Because of possible extensions for young Rockets forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason, the second year for VanVleet is partially protected and the third season is a team option. In the unlikely scenario Houston declines the option and does not sign VanVleet, they would have the $14.1 million non-tax midlevel exception available.

Indiana Pacers | Center
Free agent ranking: 6

  • Best free agent fit: Indiana

  • The deal I’d offer: Three-years, $90 million. (The third year of the contract increases to full if Turner is named All-Defensive first-team in 2026 or 2027.)

The Pacers and their longest-tenured player are in a unique situation.

Because Turner renegotiated and extended his contract in January 2023, he is not allowed to extend prior to June 30. (Both sides are allowed to negotiate a new contract starting after the NBA Finals.)

Indiana has not paid a luxury tax penalty since 2005-06. However, as both ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Charania reported, Indiana is willing to dip into the tax to sign their starting center. They are $20 million below the tax entering the offseason.

A contract that starts at $30 million and remains flat would accomplish two things:

Because of a change in the CBA this offseason, teams pay a less punitive tax penalty if they are up to $11.4 million over the tax. A contract that starts at $30 million costs Indiana only a $16 million penalty after their roster is filled out. The Turner signing also leaves them $7 million below the second apron.

There is concern that a Turner contract starting at $30 million could impact the Pacers’ elite depth, as both Aaron Nesmith and Bennedict Mathurin are extension-eligible this offseason. Mathurin is a restricted free agent next summer if a new deal is not reached.

The new contract would give Turner the 10th-highest salary among all NBA centers. Turner had 144 blocks this season, third most in the league. He is the only player with at least 150 3-pointers and at least 125 blocks.

Chicago Bulls | Guard
Free agent ranking: 7

  • Best free agent fit: Chicago

  • The deal I’d offer: Five years, $125 million.

The $25 million average salary seems low, considering Giddey is coming off the most complete season of his career.

He joined Michael Jordan as the only Bulls players to average at least 10 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists in a season. And since mid-February, Giddey averaged 22.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists. Giddey’s six triple-doubles tied for the fourth most in a single season in franchise history.

Numbers aside, there is a realization that restricted free agency should give the Bulls a competitive advantage on the price to keep Giddey, especially with Brooklyn the only team that could sign the guard to a significant offer sheet.

“I think he fits really well here,” Bulls executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas told reporters during his end-of-season media availability. “I hope to see him here for the next few years to come. I feel really good about Josh and his future here.”

Golden State Warriors | Forward
Free agent ranking: 9

  • Best free agent fits: Golden State, Brooklyn

  • The deal I’d offer: Three years, $81 million. (The final year is a player option.)

Projecting a new contract for Kuminga is like trying to master the Rubik’s Cube.

Like Giddey, the 22-year-old is a restricted free agent and Golden State has leverage, considering the lack of available money teams have to offer in free agency.

However, unlike the Bulls guard, Kuminga’s fourth year was a roller coaster. He went from coming off the bench to start the season, to an undefined role after the Jimmy Butler trade, to averaging 21 points in the Warriors’ second-round loss to the Timberwolves.

As for his next contract, the only thing guaranteed is that Golden State will tender the forward a $7.9 million qualifying offer before June 29.

“I know how we can work with him better,” GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. said after the Warriors’ season ended. “But in terms of guessing how it’s all going to play out or what the contract might look like or sign-and-trades and things like that, honestly, I’d be totally guessing at this point.”

A contract that starts at $25 million gives Golden State the flexibility to fill out its roster and remain below the second apron.

Cleveland Cavaliers | Guard
Free agent ranking: 15

  • Best free agent fits: Cleveland, Atlanta, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Sacramento

  • The deal I’d offer: Four years, $40 million. (The final year is a team option.)

Jerome is one of the better backup guards in free agency and should see a considerable pay increase off his $2.6 million salary in Cleveland last season.

After playing only two games last season, Jerome finished second in Sixth Man voting in 2024-25. Finally healthy, Jerome played 70 games, averaging career highs in points (12.3), field goal percentage (52%) and 3-point percentage (43%). Cleveland was plus-11 points per 100 possessions with Jerome on the court during the regular season.

Re-signing in Cleveland should be the obvious choice, considering starter Darius Garland could miss the start of the regular season after toe surgery and the Cavaliers can offer up to a four-year, $64 million contract, the maximum of any team outside of Brooklyn.

However, Cleveland is not only a luxury tax team for the first time since 2018 but also $13 million over the second apron. A starting salary of $14 million adds an additional $80 million in tax penalties and puts Cleveland further over the second apron. President of basketball operations Koby Altman told the media after the season that owner Dan Gilbert has given the front office “no restrictions of going into the tax.”

Atlanta, Brooklyn, Charlotte and Sacramento all have a void at starting or backup point guard and have the full $14.1 million non-tax midlevel exception available to offer. A starting salary of $10 million is comparable to the extension T.J. McConnell signed with the Pacers last season.

Naz Reid

Minnesota Timberwolves | Forward
Free agent ranking: 17

  • Best free agent fits: Minnesota, Detroit

  • The deal I’d offer: Three years, $57 million. (The final year is a player option.)

Because of the Timberwolves’ finances and the majority of other teams with no more than $14.1 million to spend in free agency, Reid’s next contract is difficult to project despite the former Sixth Man of the Year having his best season.

Reid averaged a career high in points (14.2), rebounds (6.0) and assists and ranked second among reserves in points during the 2025 postseason. He finished first in the 2024 postseason.

By declining the $15 million player option and signing a three-year, $57 million contract with the Timberwolves or a team that has cap space, Reid gets a slight increase in salary. More importantly, he has the option to extend or become a free agent in 2027.

The Pistons, meanwhile, could create up to $17 million in cap space (or possibly more with a trade) but at the expense of free agents Tim Hardaway Jr., Dennis Schroder and Malik Beasley.

Minnesota and Reid could reach an extension before the start of free agency or he could opt in to his contract and then extend in July. Reid is allowed to sign a four-year, $87.2 million extension starting on June 27. The $15 million player option for next season is replaced with a starting salary of $19 million. Reid could also opt in and then sign a four-year, $94.2 million extension. The $21 million salary in the first year starts in 2026-27.

Milwaukee Bucks | Forward
Free agent ranking: NR

  • Best free agent fits: Milwaukee, Atlanta, Detroit

  • The deal I’d offer: Three years, $54 million.

At the very least, Portis will get an increase from his $13.4 million player option.

However, similar to Reid, Portis’ market consists of signing (or extending) with his current team or targeting teams with the $14.1 million non-tax midlevel exception.

His next contract in Milwaukee could be tied to free agent center Brook Lopez. If Lopez elects to sign elsewhere, the Bucks have the flexibility to give Portis a raise and also use their full non-tax midlevel exception to bring back Gary Trent Jr. or sign a starting point guard to replace the injured Damian Lillard.

Best Earplugs for Sleeping, Concerts, Travel, and More

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Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more.  

Whether you’re heading to a loud concert, trying to sleep through snoring, or looking for some peace and quiet while traveling, earplugs are an essential item for many situations.

With festivals like Coachella and Stagecoach drawing large crowds and creating high noise levels, earplugs are a must for protecting your ears without missing out on the fun.

They’re also great for blocking out distractions when you’re trying to sleep in a noisy hotel room or on a long flight. The right pair of earplugs can help you sleep better, enjoy concerts without the ringing in your ears, and travel in comfort without being disturbed by background noise.

With so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to find the best pair for your needs. That’s why I’ve rounded up the top-rated earplugs for sleeping, snoring, concerts, and travel, all highly recommended by thousands of users for their noise-canceling power and comfort.

Top Earplugs for Concerts, Sleeping, and Travel

‘Retreat over grooming gangs’ and ‘Say sorry for delay’

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The front page of the Daily Mail. The headline reads "Starmer in full retreat over grooming gangs".

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer features on the front of a number of Monday’s papers, for different reasons. The Daily Mail says Sir Keir is in a “full retreat” after announcing a national inquiry into grooming gangs, something he previously refused to do.

The front page of the Daily Express. The headline reads "Say sorry for delay in sex gangs probe". There is an image of Prince William with his arms around his three children.

The Daily Express joins coverage of the prime minister’s change of direction, while quoting Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s call for Sir Keir to apologise for the delay in launching the inquiry. The paper also features a photograph of the Prince of Wales with his children, released on Father’s Day.

The front page of the Daily Mirror. The headline reads "World crisis" and features two images. One is of Sir Keir Starmer and another is of a ruined building in Israel.

The Daily Mirror is among a number of papers reporting on the continued conflict between Israel and Iran. The paper says there is a “World crisis”, reporting that Sir Keir is joining world leaders for at a G7 summit in Canada where calls will be made for the warring countries not to deepen the conflict.

The front page of the Guardian. The headline reads: "Israel and Iran broaden war as G7 leaders seek ceasefire. There is an image of two rescue workers helping a woman and her dog leave a partially destroyed building in Israel.

The Guardian also reports on the G7 summit, reporting that member countries will call for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. A large image illustrates the human cost of the conflict, where rescue workers are helping a a woman and her dog flee a damaged building in Israel.

The front page of the Financial Times. The headline reads "Israel and Iran step up retaliatory strikes". There is an image of a destroyed residential area. The paper does not specify the location

The Financial Times comments on the back and forth of strikes between Israel and Iran, highlighting how the reciprocal missile strikes are devastating residential areas. Elsewhere, the paper reports on the “historical moment” of a woman being made chief of MI6 for the first time.

The front page of the Metro. The headline reads "You'll have to pay a heavy price" and features an image of Benjamin Netanyahu and also an image of Israeli people in a bomb shelter.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stares at the camera in a picture on the front of the Metro. Netanyahu is quoted for the paper’s headline, warning Iran they will “pay a heavy price” for killing civilians in their strikes. In a second image, Israelis huddle in a bomb shelter.

The front page of the i Paper. The headline reads "RAF on standby to defend Israel as conflict with Iran escalates".

The i Paper reports that the RAF is on standby to defend Israel. The prime minister has previously said the deployment is “for contingency support across the region”. The paper reports fears that British forces could be “dragged into Middle East war”.

The Daily Telegraph's front page. The headline reads "Trump vetoed plan to kill Iran leader". The paper also features a large image of tennis player Tatjana Maria holding a trophy.

Blaise Metreweli, the new female lead of MI6, features on the front of the Daily Telegraph. The paper shares a piece of trivia that Ms Metreweli once rowed in the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race. Elsewhere, the paper quotes “American officials” on how US President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameini.

The front page of The Times. The headline reads "Trump says 'full might' of US ready for conflict". An image shows Iran's Mashhad airport from afar, there is a large blaze and smoke rising.

Trump is also featured on the front page of The Times, which quotes the president’s threat to use the “full might” of the US if they are drawn into Israel-Iran conflict. An image of a large blaze at Iran’s Mashhad airport is also on display.

The front page of The Sun. The headline reads "Bullying probe at BBC Breakfast". There is a smiling image of Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty.

The Sun reports on an alleged “bullying probe” at BBC Breakfast. The paper alleges a feud between presenters Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty. The paper also says BBC Breakfast boss Richard Frediani has been accused of “tyrannical behaviour”. A spokesperson for the BBC said: “We do not comment on individual HR issues.”

The front page of the Daily Star. The headline reads: "Costa Bravo"- 'Mediterranean Melt' wafts up from Spain this week.

The Daily Star says Britain set to experiences of up to 33C this coming week, with hot weather drifting up from Spain.

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Minnesota officials describe multi-pronged manhunt for shooting suspect

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Minnesota officials on Sunday evening described a multifaceted manhunt for the suspect accused of killing a state lawmaker and her husband over the weekend, saying they believe the gunman is still alive.

Authorities have issued state and federal warrants for Vance Boelter, the 57-year-old man accusing him of murder and attempted murder as well as seeking to avoid prosecution. More than 100 law enforcement officers are involved in the manhunt, including local, state and federal agencies.

Officials at a press conference Sunday evening suggested the suspect could be on foot or using “various modes of transportation” to evade authorities.

“We have not concluded exactly how he is getting around the area,” said Drew Evans, superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in Minnesota.

Evans said authorities are unaware of the suspect having a particular destination.

Investigators have received more than 400 tips as they conduct their search. The FBI is offering up to $50,000 as a reward for information leading to Boelter’s arrest. 

There is no indication the alleged gunman worked with others in carrying out the shootings, Evans said.

“We have no indication that the individual that is wanted here did anything other than conduct these acts by himself,” he said.

Minnesota state Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband Mark were killed early Saturday morning at their Brooklyn Park home. Authorities say Boelter, who described himself online as a security professional, fatally shot the couple while posing as a police officer.

State Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife were also shot multiple times at their homes 8 miles away. The pair have since received surgery to treat their gunshot wounds. 

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) shared an update from Hoffman’s wife, Yvette, on Sunday afternoon. Each were struck by more than half a dozen bullets and were continuing to recover at the hospital, according to a statement shared to social media.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) has described the shootings as “politically motivated.”

Evans on Sunday evening shared more context about material recovered by authorities, including a document that he said was not a “traditional manifesto.” He described it as a “notebook” with a list of lawmakers and other names mixed in with other writing.

An official who had seen the list told The Hill’s sister network NewsNation that it included “prominent pro-choice individuals in Minnesota, including many Democratic lawmakers who have been outspoken about pro-choice policy positions.”

“I don’t want the public to have the impression that there’s this long manifesto that’s providing all this information and details and then associating it with names,” Evans said, while urging the public not to speculate about a motive.

“We often want easy answers for complex problems,” he said.

Evans noted that authorities have so far “not located any prior threats with this individual toward anybody.”

“We are anxiously awaiting news of justice and will not rest until that happens,” said Mayor Ryan Sabas of Champlin, Minn.

Why Barbara Corcoran Says Now Might Be the Best Time To Buy a House

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Once you navigate through the housing market, mortgage rates and competition among buyers, you may be left with a feeling of uncertainty. However, “Shark Tank” host, money expert and all-around real estate guru Barbara Corcoran says if you’re looking to purchase a home, you should do it now.

Learn More: 25 Places To Buy a Home If You Want It To Gain Value

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Last year, interest rates for real estate hit a 23-year high. The real estate mogul said in an Instagram Reel that this news is pushing more buyers to the sidelines in an attempt to wait it out. Here’s why buyers should be brave and prioritize buying a house now.

Corcoran stressed that what makes now the best time to buy a house is that “everyone is scared.” Though it sounds bad, this could be good news for buyers as it affects everything from existing home sales to supply and demand to even determining the best time of year to fork over a down payment.

A much more frightening aspect for buyers out of the market to consider is what the market might look like if interest rates do drop again. While Corcoran said the days of 2% to 3% interest rates are effectively gone, she also added that interest rates will come down.

“The minute [interest rates] drop and come to anything with a five in front of it, the whole world is going to jump back into the market,” said Corcoran.

Lower interest rates, however, present a few issues when buying a home. The first is that there will be no houses available to buy, and the second is that home prices will go up as soon as they hit the market, with Corcoran predicting a 10% or 15% price increase. As of June 2025, current mortgage rates are generally in the 6% to 7% range for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, averaging about 6.81%.

If you don’t take Corcoran’s word for it you could also factor in that in the early months of 2025, mortgage rates dropped, which can create a little more relief and wiggle room in your housing budget. Despite that fact, the housing market is less than booming thanks to other economic uncertainties like tariffs, global trade, pending resurgence of inflation, rumors of recession and the stock market’s performance moving forward.

Read Next: Barbara Corcoran: This Is the ‘Real Problem’ With the Housing Market Right Now

For buyers who are brave enough to be in the current real estate market, Corcoran recommends following these three tips.

  1. This doesn’t have to be your forever home. The home you buy now can be traded up later, according to Corcoran.

  2. Your budget won’t go as far as it used to. Instead of looking at the added cost of a house or a mortgage, Corcoran said to figure out how much the mortgage payment is and to ask yourself if you can afford that.

  3. Don’t forget to shop for the best possible rate. “People don’t do this,” said Cororan, adding you can start by reaching out to your bank to see if they have any special customer discounts.



The U.S. Navy is more aggressively telling startups, ‘We want you’

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While Silicon Valley executives like those from Palantir, Meta, and OpenAI are grabbing headlines for trading their Brunello Cucinelli vests for Army Reserve uniforms, a quieter transformation has been underway in the U.S. Navy.

How? Well, the Navy’s Chief Technology Officer Justin Fanelli says he has spent the last two and a half years focused on cutting through the red tape and protracted procurement cycles that once made working with the military a nightmare for startups. The efforts represent a less visible but potentially more meaningful remaking, one where the government is moving faster and being smarter about where it’s committing dollars.

“We’re more open for business and partnerships than we’ve ever been before,” Fanelli told TechCrunch in a recent Zoom interview. “We’re humble and listening more than before, and we recognize that if an organization shows us how we can do business differently, we want that to be a partnership.”

Right now, many of these partnerships are being facilitated through what Fanelli calls the Navy’s innovation adoption kit, a series of frameworks and tools that aim to bridge the so-called Valley of Death, where promising tech dies on its path from prototype to production. “Your granddaddy’s government had a spaghetti chart for how to get in,” he said. “Now it’s a funnel, and we are saying, if you can show that you have outsized outcomes, then we want to designate you as an enterprise service.”

In one recent case, the Navy went from a Request for Proposal (RFP) to pilot deployment in under six months with Via, an eight-year-old, Somerville, Mass.-based cybersecurity startup that helps big organizations protect sensitive data and digital identities through, in part, decentralization, meaning the data isn’t stored in one central spot that can be hacked. (Another of Via’s clients is the U.S. Air Force.)

The Navy’s new approach operates on what Fanelli calls a “horizon” model, borrowed and adapted from McKinsey’s innovation framework. Companies move through three phases: evaluation, structured piloting, and scaling to enterprise services. The key difference from traditional government contracting, Fanelli says, is that the Navy now leads with problems rather than predetermined solutions.

“Instead of specifying, ‘Hey, we’d like this problem solved in a way that we’ve always had it,’ we just say we have a problem, who wants to solve this, and how will you solve it?” Fanelli said.

Fanelli’s drive to overhaul Navy tech is personal. Originally a scholarship cadet in the Air Force studying electrical engineering, he was disqualified from military service due to a lung issue. Determined to serve anyway, he chose the Navy over private sector offers more than 20 years ago because he “wanted to be around people in uniform.” Since then, his career has spanned roles across defense, intelligence, DARPA, and open source initiatives, before returning to the Department of the Navy.

The change he’s overseeing is opening doors to companies that previously never considered government work and may have thought it a waste of time to try. Fanelli points, for example, to one competition run through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), wherein the Navy expected a handful of bidders for a niche cybersecurity challenge but received nearly 100 responses – many from companies that had never worked with the DoD before but were already solving similar problems in the private sector.

Fanelli says his team has documented dozens of success stories altogether, including one where a venture-backed startup used robotic process automation to zip through a two-year invoice backlog in just a couple of weeks. Another example involved rolling out network improvements to an aircraft carrier that saved 5,000 sailor hours in the first month alone.

“That not just changed their availability, but it changed their morale, esprit de corps, how much time they could spend doing other tasks,” Fanelli noted, explaining that time saved is one of five metrics that the Navy uses to measure the success of a pilot program. The other four are operational resilience, cost per user, adaptability, and user experience.

As for what the Navy is looking for right now, Fanelli outlined several high-priority areas, including AI, where the service is actively talking with teams. For starters, the Navy wants to accelerate AI adoption beyond basic generative AI use cases into more agentic applications for everything from onboarding and personnel management to data processing on ships. He also cited “alternative” GPS, explaining that the Navy is quickly adopting alternative precision navigation and timing software, particularly for integration with unmanned systems. And he mentioned “legacy system modernization,” saying that some of the aging technology that the Navy is looking to modernize includes air traffic control infrastructure and ship-based systems.

So how much money is it looking to put to work each year? Fanelli said he wasn’t at liberty to provide specific budget breakdowns, but he said the Navy currently allocates single-digit percentages to emerging and commercial technology versus traditional defense contractors — a balance that he expects to evolve significantly as AI continues to advance.

As for the most common reason that promising technologies fail when trialed, he said it isn’t necessarily because of technical shortcomings. Instead, he said, the Navy operates on long budget cycles, and if a new solution doesn’t replace or “turn off” an existing system, funding becomes problematic.

“If we’re getting benefit and we’re measuring that benefit, but there’s no money [getting to the startup] in a year and a half — that’s a really bad story for their investors and our users,” Fanelli explained. “Sometimes it’s a zero sum game. Sometimes it’s not. And if we’re going to flip the public-private sector to more private and ride that wave, we do have a lot of technical debt that we need to cut anchor on.”

During our call, we also asked Fanelli if the Trump administration’s “America first” policies are impacting these processes in any way. Fanelli answered that the current focus on domestic manufacturing aligns well with the Navy’s “resilience” goals (he pointed to digital twins, additive manufacturing, and on-site production capabilities that can reduce supply chain dependencies).

Either way, the Navy’s message for entrepreneurs and investors is pretty clearly that it’s a genuine alternative to traditional commercial markets, and it’s a pitch that appears to be gaining traction in Silicon Valley, where there’s growing receptiveness to partnering with the U.S. government.

Meta’s Andrew Bosworth recently observed at a recent Bloomberg event in San Francisco: “There’s a much stronger patriotic underpinning than I think people give Silicon Valley credit for.”

As longtime industry observers can attest, it’s a marked change from the more skeptical stance that characterized much of the Valley in previous years.

Now, Fanelli hopes to attract more of that interest to the Navy specifically. He told TechCrunch, “I would invite anyone who wants to serve the greater mission from a solution perspective to lean in and to join us in this journey.”

If you’re interested in hearing our full conversation with Fanelli, you can check it out right here.

Shane van Gisbergen wins NASCAR Cup race at Mexico City

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avrotusa
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Jun 15, 2025, 07:15 PM ET

MEXICO CITY — Shane van Gisbergen once again mastered a new track — this one the iconic Mexico City road course — to win NASCAR’s first Cup Series points-paying race outside the United States in the modern era.

The New Zealander led 60 of 100 laps Sunday at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez to earn his first Cup victory since he won in his NASCAR debut at the inaugural 2023 street course race in Chicago. That victory changed his career trajectory, and van Gisbergen left Australia V8 Supercars, where he was a multiple champion, for a full-time move to NASCAR.

Although he had success in the Xfinity Series — he won three races last year as Trackhouse Racing developed him for a Cup Series ride — van Gisbergen has struggled this year at NASCAR’s top level.

He started the race ranked 33rd in the Cup standings with only one top-10 finish through the first 15 races of the season. But his victory in Mexico City earned him an automatic berth into NASCAR’s playoffs with a shot to race for the Cup Series championship.

Van Gisbergen benefitted from an early pop-up rain shower on the first lap of the race because he’s an exceptionally skilled driver on a wet surface. His win at Chicago was in monsoon-like conditions.

He won the pole in Mexico City and started the race as the betting favorite, particularly since rain was in the forecast. He had to contend with several challengers, Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing among them, but took the lead for good with 31 laps remaining.

Trackhouse now has two of its drivers — Ross Chastain and van Gisbergen — locked into the playoffs. But it was a bit of a disappointment for Daniel Suarez, the Monterrey native who thrilled the hometown crowd with a win in the Xfinity Series race on Saturday, as he failed to challenge his teammate for the win and finished 19th.

Suarez, who appeared to be blinking back tears as he sang along with the Mexican national anthem in pre-race ceremonies, desperately wanted the home win in this contract year with Trackhouse. He was the face of this event as NASCAR ventured outside the U.S. with its top series for the first time since 1958.

Bell finished second in a Toyota for JGR — 16.567 seconds behind the winner. He was followed by Chase Elliott in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Alex Bowman, who hurt his back in a crash last week at Michigan, withstood the pain for a fourth-place finish in his Hendrick Chevrolet.

Michael McDowell of Spire Motorsports was fifth and followed by John Hunter Nemechek in a Toyota for Legacy Motor Club. Chase Briscoe of JGR was seventh and followed by Cole Custer for Haas Factory as the highest-finishing Ford driver. William Byron of Hendrick was ninth and Chris Buescher of RFK Racing rounded out the top 10.

Chevrolets took five of the top-10 positions, including the victory.

Bad day for Busch

Kyle Busch, who started the race at the bottom of the playoff standings, suffered a massive setback when he crashed out of the race on the sixth lap and finished last in the 37-car field.

Busch, who was ranked 15th in the Cup Series standings when he arrived in Mexico City, blamed the incident on the wet track.

“Just in the rain, and I went down into (Turn) 11 and got on the brakes pretty hard, and everything was fine, everything was comfortable, stopped really good,” he said. “And I’m like ‘OK I can be a little more aggressive getting into 1,’ and I figured it was going to be fine, and as soon as I went to the brakes, it was like being on ice, and I was just sliding.

“About a second a half or so, I was trying to figure out which direction to go, and I was like I’ve got to turn this thing around backward, because I’m going to nail some people. Hate it for all those involved in my mishap. I hate that the rain came and now it’s nice and dry. Just have to go fight for more points in another week.”

Gordon gives command

NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon was selected to give the command for drivers to start their engines and admitted before the race he’d done some practicing.

Why? Because he incorporated both English and Spanish in his delivery of the most famous words in racing.

“Hola Mexico!” Gordon shouted. “Pilotos start your engines!

Up Next

NASCAR races next Sunday at Pocono Raceway, where Ryan Blaney won last year.

Larry Birkhead on Dannielynn Birkhead Modeling Like Anna Nicole Smith

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avrotusa
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Larry Birkhead is being cautious. 

The photographer got candid about his and Anna Nicole Smith‘s 18-year-old daughter Dannielynn Birkhead following in her late mom’s footsteps by pursuing a career in modeling and acting.  

“I’m hesitant,” Larry exclusively told E! News’ Francesca Amiker ahead of Father’s Day 2025. “I’ll support her if she chooses it, but it’s not my first choice. Then again, it’s not my life.”

The 52-year-old explained that his reluctance has more to do with other people than Dannielynn, who was born six months before her mom died of a fatal overdose in 2007. 

“People are quick to judge,” Larry continued. “They’ll say, ‘Oh, here she goes—following in her mom’s footsteps.’ And because her mom passed away, people attach a negative connotation to it.”

But just because he’s hesitant doesn’t mean he won’t allow the teen to step into the entertainment world.

“As a dad, my job is to say: ‘Here’s what you might face,'” Larry shared. “I worked as a reporter and photographer. I’ve seen the industry from the other side. I know what Anna went through. I just throw all that into a pot and say, ‘Are you sure this is what you want to do?’ I want her to make an informed decision.”

Chris Brown starts UK tour in Manchester days before next court hearing

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avrotusa
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US singer Chris Brown has kicked off his UK tour in Manchester, days before he is due back in court after being arrested in the city last month.

The Grammy-winning star performed to thousands of fans at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena on Sunday, with a string of stadium dates to follow in other cities.

On Friday, he will appear in court in London for the latest hearing after he was charged with grievous bodily harm over an alleged assault in a nightclub in 2023. The 36-year-old, who is free on £5m bail, has not yet been asked to enter a plea.

“Thank you for coming and supporting me,” he said to fans in Manchester. “And thank you to the jail,” he joked. “It was really nice.”

A video montage was shown of his career highs and lows, including brief clips of TV news footage from outside the Manchester court after he was arrested, which was met by a supportive roar from his loyal fans.

The star is accused of inflicting an “unprovoked attack” on a music producer with a tequila bottle at a nightclub in London while on his last UK tour in 2023.

He was arrested when he returned to the country a month ago, when detectives from London’s Metropolitan Police travelled to the hotel in which he was staying in Salford, Greater Manchester.

He was held in custody for almost a week, before being released after agreeing to pay a £5m security fee to the court.

A security fee is a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court. Mr Brown could be asked to forfeit the money if he breaches bail conditions.

However, the judge agreed that the singer could go ahead with his tour as part of his bail conditions, and he played the first night in Amsterdam last weekend.

The singer’s Breezy Bowl XX tour is marking 20 years in the music industry. He has had 19 singles in the UK top 10 over that time, including number one hits Turn Up The Music and Freaky Friday.

Last week, he won the prize for best male R&B/pop artist at the BET Awards in Los Angeles.

After performing a second night in Manchester on Monday, he will move on to Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Thursday.

He will then appear at court on Friday with his co-defendant, Omololu Akinlolu, a 38-year-old who performs under the name HoodyBaby, also from the US.

After the hearing, Mr Brown is scheduled to play at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday and Sunday, before further stadium shows in Birmingham and Glasgow, and two more arena dates in Manchester.

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