Hegseth disclosed sensitive military strike details on Signal before attacks on Houthi militants, raising concerns over classified information leaks.

In Short

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed military strike details against Houthi militants in Yemen via group chat, insisting the information wasn’t classified.

This has raised concerns among lawmakers about the sensitivity of shared information and potential risks to U.S. troops.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosed military strike details against Houthi militants via a group chat before the operation in Yemen.

Texts published by Atlantic magazine revealed specific timings and types of weaponry set to be used in the attack.

Hegseth confirmed sharing updates with Trump officials but claimed the information was not classified. He insisted he merely provided mission updates without revealing secret details typically guarded by the Pentagon.

The texts indicated that the weather was suitable for the operation and confirmed when the first bombs would be dropped.

‘Significant figure’

National security adviser Mike Waltz later reported that the strike had successfully targeted a significant Houthi figure.

Republican lawmakers expressed concern over the sensitivity of information shared, questioning whether it required classification.

Former officials stated that military targeting plans are typically classified to prevent adversaries from gaining insight into U.S. operations.

The White House defended the authenticity of the texts, insisting no classified material was disclosed.

Concerns were raised regarding the potential dangers posed to U.S. troops if sensitive strike details were intercepted.

The Pentagon recently warned military personnel about vulnerabilities in using the Signal app for sharing classified information.

BYD surpasses Tesla with $107 billion in annual sales, leading EV market and unveiling groundbreaking battery technology.

In Short

BYD’s annual revenue of 777 billion yuan for 2024 surpasses Tesla’s, driven by strong hybrid vehicle sales. The company has introduced groundbreaking battery technology, potentially revolutionising electric vehicle charging and positioning itself as a leader in the automotive market.

Chinese automaker BYD has reported annual revenue of 777 billion yuan, equivalent to $107 billion for 2024. This achievement surpasses that of U.S. competitor Tesla, which reported annual revenue of $97.7 billion.

BYD’s revenue increase of 29% from the previous year is attributed to strong sales of its hybrid vehicles.

Wang Chuanfu, BYD’s chairman, commented on the company’s swift growth, highlighting its status as the first automaker to roll out 10 million new energy vehicles by November.

He noted that BYD is now a leader in batteries, electronics, and new energy vehicles. This marks a significant shift in the global market, challenging established foreign brands.

In a recent announcement, BYD introduced a new battery technology claiming to enable electric vehicles to charge almost as fast as refuelling a petrol car.

The company’s Super e-Platform is reported to allow vehicles to achieve approximately 249 miles of range with just five minutes of charging.

Analysts have described BYD’s new battery platform as groundbreaking, suggesting that it could significantly alter consumer behaviour regarding electric vehicle ownership.

As competition in the electric vehicle sector intensifies, BYD’s advancements position it strongly against Tesla and other rivals in the industry.

The developments signal an important moment in the evolution of electric vehicles, with potential implications for the future of automotive technology.

US and Ukraine announce Black Sea truce, contingent on Kremlin’s sanctions relief conditions.

In Short

The US announced a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea, contingent on Russia lifting certain sanctions.

Both sides have committed to observing the truce, yet achieving a complete ceasefire remains uncertain, with potential future concessions from Russia.

The United States announced that Russia and Ukraine have reached a ceasefire agreement in the Black Sea, conditioned on the removal of specific sanctions by the Kremlin.

The agreement emerged from three days of technical talks in Saudi Arabia, focusing on ensuring safe navigation in the Black Sea and preventing military use of commercial shipping. The US pledged assistance in restoring Russian access to global agricultural markets and reducing maritime insurance costs.

President Donald Trump noted that conditions from the Kremlin would be considered, particularly regarding sanctions on banks involved in agricultural exports. The truce would take effect upon lifting restrictions on the Russian Agricultural Bank and others, tying them to the SWIFT international payment system.

Ukrainian forces

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced an immediate observance of the truce by Ukrainian forces. The two sides also agreed on mechanisms to enforce a ban on attacks against energy infrastructure, effective for 30 days.

While the talks advanced some agreements, achieving a full ceasefire remains challenging, as Russia may seek to extract further concessions from the US.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov expressed confidence in US support for compliance with the agreements. However, full ceasefire timelines proposed by the Trump administration appear overly ambitious to some officials.

Zelenskiy confirmed Ukraine’s commitment to a full ceasefire, highlighting the contrast between Ukraine’s intentions and Russia’s position.