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President Donald Trump really wants to fly on an upgraded Air Force Onebut making that happen could depend on whether he’s willing to cut corners with security.As government lawyers sort out the legal arrangement for accepting a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family, another crucial conversation is unfolding about modifying the plane so it’s safe for the American president.Installing capabilities equivalent to the decades-old 747s now used as Air Force One would almost certainly consign the project to a similar fate as Boeing’s replacement initiative, which has been plagued by delays and cost overruns.Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told lawmakers Thursday that those security modifications would cost less than $400 million but provided no details.Satisfying Trump’s desire to use the new plane before the end of his term could require leaving out some of those precautions, however.A White House official said Trump wants the Qatari jet ready as soon as possible while adhering to security standards. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, did not provide details on equipment issues or the timeline.Trump has survived two assassination attempts, and Iran allegedly also plotted to kill him, so he’s well aware of the danger he faces. However, he seems willing to take some chances with security, particularly when it comes to communications. For example, he likes to keep his personal phone handy despite the threat of hacks.He boasted this week that the government got the jet “for free,” saying, “We need it as Air Force One until the other ones are done.”Here’s a look at what it would take to make the Qatari plane into a presidential transport: What makes a plane worthy of being Air Force One? Air Force One is the call sign for any plane that’s carrying the president. The first aircraft to get the designation was a propeller-powered C-54 Skymaster, which ferried Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference in 1945. It featured a conference room with a bulletproof window.Things are a lot more complicated these days. Boeing has spent years stripping down and rebuilding two 747s to replace the versions that have carried presidents for more than three decades. The project is slated to cost more than $5.3 billion and may not be finished before Trump leaves office.A 2021 report made public through the Freedom of Information Act outlines the unclassified requirements for the replacement 747s under construction. At the top of the listsurvivability and communications.The government decided more than a decade ago that the new planes had to have four engines so they could remain airborne if one or two fail, said Deborah Lee James, who was Air Force secretary at the time. That creates a challenge because 747s are no longer manufactured, which could make spare parts harder to come by.Air Force One also has to have the highest level of classified communications, anti-jamming capabilities and external protections against foreign surveillance, so the president can securely command military forces and nuclear weapons during a national emergency. It’s an extremely sensitive and complex system, including video, voice and data transmissions.James said there are anti-missile measures and shielding against radiation or an electromagnetic pulse that could be caused by a nuclear blast.“The point is, it remains in flight no matter what,” she said. Will Trump want all the security bells and whistles? If the Qatari plane is retrofitted to presidential standards, it could cost $1.5 billion and take years, according to a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details that aren’t publicly available.Testifying before Congress this week, Meink discounted such estimates, arguing that some of the costs associated with retrofitting the Qatari plane would have been spent anyway as the Air Force moves to build the long-delayed new presidential planes, including buying aircraft for training and to have spares available if needed.In response, Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., said that based on the contract costs for the planes that the Air Force is building, it would cost about $1 billion to strip down the Qatar plane, install encrypted communications, harden its defenses and make other required upgrades.James said simply redoing the wiring means “you’d have to break that whole thing wide open and almost start from scratch.”Trump, as commander in chief, could waive some of these requirements. He could decide to skip shielding systems from an electromagnetic pulse, leaving his communications more vulnerable in case of a disaster but shaving time off the project.After all, Boeing has already scaled back its original plans for the new 747s. Their range was trimmed by 1,200 nautical miles, and the ability to refuel while airborne was scrapped.Paul Eckloff, a former leader of protection details at the Secret Service, expects the president would get the final say.“The Secret Service’s job is to plan for and mitigate risk,” he said. “It can never eliminate it.”If Trump does waive some requirements, James said that should be kept under wraps because “you don’t want to advertise to your potential adversaries what the vulnerabilities of this new aircraft might be.”It’s unlikely that Trump will want to skimp on the plane’s appearance. He keeps a model of a new Air Force One in the Oval Office, complete with a darker color scheme that echoes his personal jet instead of the light blue design that’s been used for decades. What happens next? Trump toured the Qatari plane in February when it was parked at an airport near Mar-a-Lago, his Florida resort. Air Force chief of staff Gen. David Allvin was there, too.The U.S. official said the jet needs maintenance but not more than what would be expected of a four-engine plane of its complexity.Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said it would be irresponsible to put the president and national security equipment aboard the Qatari plane “without knowing that the aircraft is fully capable of withstanding a nuclear attack.”“It’s a waste of taxpayer dollars,” she said.Meanwhile, Boeing’s project has been hampered by stress corrosion cracks on the planes and excessive noise in the cabins from the decompression system, among other issues that have delayed delivery, according to a Government Accountability Office report released last year.Boeing referred questions to the Air Force, which said in a statement that it’s working with the aircraft manufacturer to find ways to accelerate the delivery of at least one of the 747s.Even so, the aircraft will have to be tested and flown in real-world conditions to ensure no other issues.James said it remains to be seen how Trump would handle any of those challenges.“The normal course of business would say there could be delays in certifications,” she said. “But things seem to get waived these days when the president wants it.” AP writer Lolita C. Baldor in Wasington contributed to this report. Tara Copp and Chris Megerian, Associated Press
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E-Commerce
Warner Bros Discovery said on Monday it would split into two companies, separating its studios and streaming business from its fading cable television networks as the parent of HBO and CNN looks to compete better in the streaming era. The breakup is the latest sign of the great unraveling of decades of media consolidation that have created global conglomerates spanning content creation, distribution and in some cases, telecommunications. The strategic reset would provide Warner Bros Discovery’s streaming unit more room to scale by producing hit studio content without being bogged down by the declining cable networks business. Its CEO David Zaslav will lead the streaming and studios business after the breakup, while CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels will head the global networks unit. “By operating as two distinct and optimized companies in the future, we are empowering these iconic brands with the sharper focus and strategic flexibility they need to compete most effectively in today’s evolving media landscape,” Zaslav said. The separation for the company formed out of a merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery in 2022 will be structured as a tax-free transaction and is expected to be completed by mid-2026. WBD shares were up nearly 6% in premarket trading. The company had laid the groundwork for a possible sale or spin-off of its declining cable TV assets in December by announcing a separation from its streaming and studio operations. The split will align the company with Comcast, which is spinning off most of its cable TV networks such as MSNBC and CNBC. Bank of America research analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich has said Warner Bros Discovery’s cable television assets are a “very logical partner” for Comcast’s new spin-off company. WBD also said on Monday it launched tender offers to restructure its existing debt, funded by a $17.5 billion bridge facility provided by J.P. Morgan. The bridge loan is expected to be refinanced ahead of the planned separation, it said, adding that global networks will retain up to a 20% stake in streaming and studios, which it plans to monetize to further reduce debt. J.P. Morgan and Evercore are advising WBD on the deal, while Kirkland & Ellis is serving as legal counsel. Aditya Soni and Akash Sriram, Reuters
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E-Commerce
Ballers, a social multisport venue and members’ club, just received a $20 million Series A investment joined by tennis star Andre Agassi ahead of its Philadelphia flagship opening in July. With the location, Ballers aims to combine competition with culture. It will include courts where members can play pickleball, squash, and padel. There will also be a golf practice area with real sand traps and a large turf field where members can play soccer. These are all social sports, cofounder David Gutstadt tells Fast Company. Theyre cool, relevant, elevated, but most importantly social. Courting crosscourt players Pickleball, specifically, is Americas fastest growing sport; participation has increased by 311% in the last three years, according to data from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). But almost half of racket sports players are crosscourt consumers, meaning they enjoy playing more than one of these sports, according to research by RacquetX. [Rendering: Ballers] And racket sports as a whole are in a growth phase, with five out of seven increasing their year-over-year participation totals, according to SFIA. By creating a dedicated space for these sports, Gutstadt says he hopes to bring country club sports to the city. As consumers seek richer social interactions, competition has evolved from pastime to platform, Lloyd Danzig, a managing partner at Sharp Alpha, a firm that co-led the investment, wrote to Fast Company. More locations on the horizon Founders Gutstadt and Amanda Potter say that Ballers is the first of its kind: a multisport venue with a focus on hospitality and creating a culture. Outside of just offering sports practice and competition areas, the Ballers space also includes a full bar, a restaurant, and social activations like DJs or art installation pop-ups. The Ballers space has been constructed from the shell of an old power plant, giving the club a unique but grand and majestic look, Potter says. Throughout the rest of 2025 and 2026, expect to see Ballers locations pop up in Boston, Downtown Los Angeles, and Miami. [Rendering: Ballers] Ballers has amassed a group of celebrity and athlete investors that represent the venues array of sports offerings. These investors include tennis stars Agassi, Kim Clijsters, and Sloane Stephens; pickleballer Connor Garnett; and soccer player/padel aficionado Maarten Paes. As lifelong tennis lovers, Gutstadt and Potter told Fast Company that working with Agassi was a dream come true. Agassi was the obvious first pick to represent Ballers, says Potter, because he represents a shift in racket sports fashion and culture. Andre Agassi came into a sport that was pretty buttoned up and properyou know, white collar shirts and Wimbledon mentality, Potter says. He came in with a bit of an attitude and shook things up. And thats what we want for Ballers. Correction: Agassi took part in the investment but did not lead it as an earlier version of this story and headline stated.
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E-Commerce
A significant recall of 1.7 million dozen eggs is underway. The eggs were believed to be the source of a salmonella outbreak that has sickened dozens of people across seven states and so far led to 21 people being hospitalized. They were distributed to several major retailers, including Walmart and Safeway. Heres what you need to know about the recall and outbreak. Shell eggs recalled due to salmonella fears On June 6, the August Egg Company of Hilmar, California, issued a voluntary recall of 1.7 million dozen eggs produced at its facilities. The company initiated the recall after it discovered that the eggs are feared to have been contaminated with salmonella, a potentially deadly bacterium. On the same day, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published August Egg Companys recall notice on its website, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced an investigation into a multistate outbreak of salmonella linked to eggs. Dozens sickened and hospitalized across 7 states The CDCs investigation has found that eggs produced by August Egg Company are linked to dozens of cases of people becoming ill after consuming them. The agencys latest data shows that there are so far 79 cases linked to the August Egg Companys recalled products. Of those cases, 21 have resulted in hospitalizations. Thankfully, no deaths have been reported so far. The cases are spread across seven states: Arizona, California, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, Nevada, and Washington. Of those states, California has the most number of cases, at 63, followed by Washington and Nevada, with four cases each. Arizona has had three cases, Nebraska and New Jersey two cases, and Kentucky has one. However, many people who become sick with salmonella see their symptoms resolve without contacting a health professional, so the actual number of cases could be higher. When and where were the eggs distributed? According to the notice posted on the FDAs website, the recalled eggs were distributed between February and May. The retail locations that received the eggs include: Walmart Save Mart FoodMaxx Lucky Smart & Final Safeway Raley’s Food 4 Less Ralphs The eggs were distributed between February 3 and May 15, to Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raley’s, Food 4 Less, and Ralphs locations in California and Nevada. Those eggs had sell-by dates ranging from March 4 to June 4. The eggs were also distributed between February 3 through May 6, to Walmart stores in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana, and Illinois. Those eggs had sell-by dates ranging from March 4 to June 19. What eggs are included in the recall? Over two dozen egg products packaged under multiple brands are included in the recall. The recall notice states that the eggs were packaged in fiber or plastic cartons and have a plant code number P-6562 or CA5330 with the Julian Dates between 32 and 126. Photographs of the cartons can be found here. The item names of the egg products included in the recall, along with their plant number and carton UPC are: Item NamePlant NumberCarton UPCClover Organic Large Brown 12 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330070852010427First Street Cage Free Large Brown Loose 1 case=150 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330041512039638Nulaid Medium Brown Cage Free 12 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330071230021042Nulaid Jumbo Brown Cage Free 12 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330071230021011O Organics Cage Free Large Brown 6 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330079893401522O Organics Large Brown 12 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330079893401508O Organics Large Brown 18 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330079893401546Marketside Organic Large Cage Free Brown 12 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330681131122771Marketside Organic Large Cage Free Brown 18 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330681131122801Marketside Large Cage Free Brown 12 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330681131122764Marketside Large Cage Free Brown 18 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330681131122795Raleys Large Cage Free Brown 12 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330046567033310Raleys Large Cage Free Brown 18 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330046567040325Raleys Organic Large Cage Free Brown 12 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330046567028798Raleys Organic Large Cage Free Brown 18 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330046567040295Simple Truth Medium Brown Cage Free 18 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330011110099327Simple Truth Large Brown Cage Free 18 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330011110873743Sun Harvest Organic Cage Free Large Brown 12 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330041512131950Sun Harvest Organic Cage Free Large Brown 18 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330041512145162Sunnyside Large Brown Cage Free 12 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330717544211747Sunnyside Large Brown Cage Free 18 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330717544211754Sunnyside Organic Cage Free Large Brown 12 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330717544201441Sunnyside Organic Cage Free Large Brown 18 eggsP-6562 or CA-5330717544211761Loose Small Brown Cage Free-1 box= 6 flats (1 flat= 30 eggs)P-6562 or CA-5330NALoose Medium Brown Cage Free -1 box= 6 flats (1 flat= 30 eggs)P-6562 or CA-5330NALoose Medium Brown Organic -1 box= 6 flats (1 flat= 30 eggs)P-6562 or CA-5330NALoose Large Brown Organic-1 box= 6 flats (1 flat= 30 eggs)P-6562 or CA-5330NALoose Jumbo Brown Cage Free -1 box=5 flats(1 flat=20 eggs)P-6562 or CA-5330NALoose Jumbo Brown Organic -1 box=5 flats(1 flat=20 eggs)P-6562 or CA-5330NA What is salmonella? Salmonella is a potentially deadly bacteria that is usually contracted after eating contaminated foods. The CDC says that typical symptoms of a salmonella inection include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, which typically present between six hours and six days after exposure to the bacteria. Typical salmonella infections last between four and seven days, and most people recover without treatment. However, salmonella infections can also cause severe illness in individuals, especially those who are younger than 5 years old, older than 65 years old, or have weakened immune systems. What should I do if I have the recalled eggs? According to the CDC, if you have the recalled eggs in your possession, you should not consume them. Instead, you should throw the eggs out or return them to their place of purchase for a refund. You should also sanitize all surfaces that may have come into contact with the eggs. Consumers who think they may have the recalled eggs in their possession are urged to read the full recall and investigation notices.
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Today, Apple is holding its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). While WWDC is historically a developer-focused conference, where programmers who create iPhone, Mac, and iPad apps can attend online sessions to learn about Apple’s latest software technologies, it is also an event that draws significant interest from consumers and the media. Thats because Apple kicks off each WWDC with a keynote presentation, in which the company showcases its upcoming softwarethe operating systems that power its devices, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and more. These operating systems will be previewed for the first time today before they become available to the general public in the fall. Fast Company has a detailed report on the software announcements and features that Apple is expected to make at todays WWDC25 keynote. All of the companys operating systems are expected to get a visual design overhaulthe most radical in years. The operating systems Apple is expected to reveal include iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and watchOS 26. You can see those announcements by watching the WWDC25 keynote when Apple broadcasts it later today. Heres how. What time is Apples WWDC 25 keynote? Apples 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference keynote takes place today, Monday, June 9. The keynote starts at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. Heres how that time translates into times in other time zones around the world: Hawaii Standard Time (HST): 7 a.m. Pacific Time (PT): 10 a.m. Mountain Time (MT): 11 a.m. Central Time (CT): 12 p.m. Eastern Time (ET): 1 p.m. BST (British Summer Time): 6 p.m. CET (Central European Time): 7 p.m. EEST (Eastern European Summer Time): 8 p.m. MSK (Moscow Standard Time): 8 p.m. IST (Indian Standard Time): 10:30 p.m. ICT (Indochina Time): 11 p.m. CST (China Standard Time): 1 a.m. (June 10) JST (Japan Standard Time): 2 a.m. (June 10) AWST (Western Australia Standard Time): 2 a.m. (June 10) AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time): 3 a.m. (June 10) NZST (New Zealand Standard Time): 5 a.m. (June 10) How can I livestream Apples WWDC 25 keynote? Apple offers a variety of ways for you to watch its WWDC25 keynote. Heres how: On Apple.com here. On YouTube here. On the Apple TV app on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Windows PC, or other supported device here. You can also watch the WWDC25 keynote right here on FastCompany.com. Weve embedded the WWDC25 YouTube stream on this page below.
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E-Commerce
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