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As dawn broke over the Mexican-US border on US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day,” Raul Hernandez steered his semi-trailer carrying Toyota pick-up trucks towards California, worried how tariffs would affect him.If Trump goes ahead with his plan to impose sweeping import duties and manufacturers move their plants to the United States, many workers in Mexico will suffer, he said.”A lot of people are going to lose their jobs here if he does that,” the 37-year-old told AFP, waiting in a long queue to cross into San Diego.Factories operated by foreign companies are vital for Mexican border cities like Tijuana and the armies of workers who keep them running, Hernandez said.”They provide jobs. They support families. If the plants really stop because of tariffs, it will hurt Mexico and the Mexican people,” he added.Behind him in the queue, Omar Zepeda was also transporting Tacoma pick-up trucks from a nearby Toyota plant.Like Hernandez, he was nervous about the impact of tariffs.”I think there will be a lot less work for us because the products will become more expensive and fewer people will buy them,” the 40-year-old said.”There’s a reason why the plants are here. Maybe the people who work here are more efficient and the labor is cheaper.”- ‘Difficult times’ -Mexico’s northern industrial borderlands are home to thousands of factories thanks to tax breaks and free trade agreements dating back several decades.”Most of the families in Tijuana work in factories and transportation,” Zepeda said.”It’s very uncertain. We don’t know what’s going to happen,” he added. “I think difficult times are coming, but let’s wait and see.”Taking a break from his work at the Toyota plant on the outskirts of Tijuana, Apolos Vela said tariffs would deal a heavy blow across the city.”It is worrying because it would mean that many people would be left without jobs ,” he said.- ‘Tragic for Tijuana’ -In Mexican border cities like Tijuana, where poverty and crime are a part of everyday life, it is not just factory and haulage workers who rely on cross-border trade worth hundreds of billions of dollars a year.Selling burritos to hungry truckers at her roadside stall next to the border fence built to keep out undocumented migrants, Charito Moreno said tariffs would hurt all of Tijuana if plants fire workers.”Everyone depends on those businesses. The week the tariffs were introduced, many people took time off, and that’s why the economy is slowing down,” the 44-year-old said.If companies heed Trump’s call to relocate from Mexico to the United States, “it would be tragic for Tijuana, because many workers would be left without jobs,” Moreno said, urging the two countries to come to an agreement.Jumping out of his truck carrying parts for swimming pools in the United States to grab a burrito, Antonio Valdez said truckers already had more paperwork to deal with.”A procedure used to take an hour. Now it takes all day to calculate and pay taxes,” he said before leaping back into his truck to head to the border.Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday she was working on a wide-ranging program of economic reforms in response to the tariffs.”It’s in our interest to strengthen the Mexican economy,” she said.Trucker Alejandro Espinoza said Mexico should hit the United States where it hurts.”If they impose tariffs on us, we won’t send them avocados and see what they do then,” he said with a chuckle.

Starbucks was facing another lawsuit over a spilled hot drink Wednesday, just weeks after a court ordered the coffee giant to pay $50 million to a man who was injured by a cup of tea.A lawsuit lodged in California claims Sabrina Michelle Hermes was seriously hurt when hot liquid tipped into her lap at a drive-through in Norwalk, near Los Angeles, two years ago.The suit, filed at the city’s superior court, claims one of the cups in her order was not properly secured when it was handed to her, and the drink sloshed out onto her legs, a hip, a knee and her feet, causing severe injuries.Starbucks “owed a duty to exercise reasonable care with respect to the preparation, handling and service of hot beverages so as to prevent them from spilling onto and injuring customers such as plaintiff,” the suit says.The negligence suit seeks unspecified general and special damages, including reimbursement for past and future medical costs and lost earnings.A spokesperson for Starbucks told AFP on Wednesday the company would be contesting the claim.”We have always been committed to the highest safety standards in our stores, including the handling of hot drinks,” the spokesperson said.”We are aware of Ms. Hermes’ claims and firmly believe they are without merit. We look forward to presenting our case in court.”Last month a jury in Los Angeles ordered the firm to pay $50 million to delivery driver Michael Garcia, who suffered burns when a super-sized drink spilled in his lap at a drive-through.Garcia’s lawyers claimed the server who handed him three large drinks in February 2020 did not push one of them into the cardboard cupholder properly.Starbucks said at the time of the ruling that it would appeal the award, which it said was “excessive”.A landmark legal ruling against McDonalds in New Mexico in 1994 established something of a precedent for Americans suing fast food companies when 79-year-old Stella Liebeck was awarded over $2.8 million after spilling hot coffee on herself.Although the award was reduced on appeal, the case was often cited as an example of the need to reform US tort laws.

In the Canadian city of Sarnia, on the Canada-US border, residents say they are exhausted and exasperated over once again being held hostage by President Donald Trump’s policies.In the morning, John Perz likes to come with a coffee to the banks of the river that separates the two countries, where the Canadian and American flags flutter. But today, this border serves as a harsh reminder of the growing tensions between neighbors.Trump is destroying the relationship between two allies by imposing “very harmful” tariffs that “frighten people,” Perz said.The US president is scheduled later Wednesday to announce — on what he has called “Liberation Day” — new global tariffs that are supposed to usher in a “golden age” in America but could seriously destabilize the Canadian, and world, economy.”It’s not ‘Liberation Day’ for anyone. That’s such a crazy statement,” said Perz.The 63-year-old, who has worked his entire life in the manufacturing sector, hopes Canada will fight back.It’s a position shared by Ron Zerh, 59, who fishes for trout and salmon nearby.”I’m glad to see Canadians bonding together and becoming a little more stronger as a nation,” he said.He is mystified by Trump’s motives.”We sell them cheap energy,” he said, wading in the water in rubber boots.”I said before the election that if he won, all it would be is a revenge tour. And so far it looks like I’m right.”- Perpetual uncertainty -The petrochemical industry is central to the economy of the Sarnia region in Ontario, home to several refineries and oil and gas pipelines that pass through the United States. The region also includes dozens of chemical plants.”Everything about the last couple of months has been associated with uncertainty, and uncertainty continues to be the phrase of the day,” Matthew Slotwinski, head of the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership, which represents the region’s industries, told AFP.All sectors are on high alert, he said.In a downtown cafe, tariffs and the upcoming Canadian elections are on everyone’s lips.Several tariff options are circulating in the press. Will the United States impose a single 20 percent tax on all imports? Or variable tariffs depending on the country of origin of the goods?”No one talked about tariffs before,” said Jordan Denomme, 39. “And now they’re affecting everybody in a negative way, and honestly, putting our long-term economy in question.”It presents an opportunity for the country to diversify its economy, he believes, by seeking new trading partners and strengthening its economy, because “the United States is no longer an ally.”

A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, while sharply criticizing apparent efforts by Donald Trump’s administration to use the case as political leverage over the city leader.Judge Dale Ho dismissed the case permanently — depriving the government of the right to revive the charges at a later date.The Department of Justice had been accused of requesting dismissal in exchange for Adams agreeing to enforce Trump’s immigration crackdown — with a view to potentially holding the prospect of reinstating charges over the mayor’s head if he did not follow through.”Everything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the Indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions,” Ho wrote.Adams — once an up-and-coming Democratic Party star — was accused of wire fraud, soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations and a bribery conspiracy involving Turkish citizens and at least one Turkish official.The judge argued that any possibility of the charges being reinstated would mean the mayor “might be more beholden to the demands of the federal government than to the wishes of his own constituents.””Today, we turn the page,” Adams said in a televised statement, describing the litigation as “a baseless case that should have never been brought in the first place.”- Cooperation with Trump -Critics have suggested that Trump sought to discontinue the prosecution against Adams because the mayor has declined to criticize the president and indicated he would participate in the immigration crackdown.New York is currently a sanctuary city, meaning local police and authorities do not assist federal immigration agents in their pursuit of undocumented migrants.In March, Adams signed an order allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel access to the Rikers Island jail complex, a significant policy shift.Trump’s push to quash the charges against Adams prompted a wave of protest resignations by Justice Department attorneys in New York and Washington.Adams has consistently denied the fraud charges and resisted calls to resign, and earlier announced plans to run again for mayor of America’s largest city in November.He has angered many New Yorkers with his closeness to Trump, and was forced to deny reports he could switch to the Republican Party.In a joint appearance with Trump’s border czar Tom Homan on Fox News in February, the two described their newfound collaboration on immigration enforcement.”If he doesn’t come through, I’ll be back in New York… saying, ‘Where the hell is the agreement we came to?'” Homan said.- ‘Disturbing’ -The judge said Wednesday he granted the motion to dismiss the graft case not on the basis of the DOJ’s arguments, but because the court “cannot force the Department of Justice to prosecute a defendant.”He also ruled that there was no evidence to suggest prosecutors had acted improperly in pursuing Adams or that the investigation amounted to “election interference” in the mayoral race, as Trump’s DOJ had argued.Ho said the DOJ’s assertion that investigations that may inhibit officials’ ability to enforce federal policies should be dropped was “disturbing.”The argument implied “that public officials may receive special dispensation if they are compliant with the incumbent administration’s policy priorities.”

A US judge on Wednesday dismissed corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, while sharply criticizing apparent efforts by Donald Trump’s administration to use the case as political leverage over the city leader.Judge Dale Ho dismissed the case permanently — depriving the government of the right to revive the charges at a later date.The Department of Justice had been accused of requesting dismissal in exchange for Adams agreeing to enforce Trump’s immigration crackdown — with a view to potentially holding the prospect of reinstating charges over the mayor’s head if he didn’t follow through.”Everything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the Indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions,” wrote Judge Ho.Adams — once an up-and-coming star of the Democratic Party — was accused of wire fraud, soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations and a bribery conspiracy involving Turkish citizens and at least one Turkish official.The judge argued that any possibility of the charges being reinstated would mean that the mayor “might be more beholden to the demands of the federal government than to the wishes of his own constituents.”- Cooperation with Trump -Critics have suggested that Trump sought to discontinue the prosecution against Adams because Adams has declined to criticize the new US president and indicated he would participate in the immigration crackdown.New York is currently a sanctuary city, meaning local police and authorities do not assist immigration agents in their pursuit of undocumented migrants.In March, Adams signed an executive order allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel access to the Rikers Island jail complex, a significant policy shift. Trump’s push to quash the charges against Adams prompted a wave of protest resignations in the Manhattan district attorney’s office and in Washington.Adams has consistently denied the fraud charges and resisted calls to resign, and earlier announced plans to run again for mayor of the largest US city in a November election.He has angered many New Yorkers with his closeness to Trump, and was forced to deny reports that he could switch to the Republican Party.In a joint appearance with Trump’s border czar Tom Homan on Fox News in February, the two described their newfound collaboration on immigration enforcement.”If he doesn’t come through, I’ll be back in New York… saying, ‘Where the hell is the agreement we came to?'” Homan said.- ‘Disturbing’ -The judge said Wednesday he granted the motion to dismiss the graft case not on the basis of the DOJ’s arguments, but because the court “cannot force the Department of Justice to prosecute a defendant.”He also ruled that there was no evidence to suggest prosecutors had acted improperly in pursuing Adams or that the investigation amounted to “election interference” in the mayoral race, as Trump’s DOJ had argued.Ho said that the DOJ’s assertion that investigations that may inhibit officials’ ability to enforce federal policies should be dropped was “disturbing.”The argument implied “that public officials may receive special dispensation if they are compliant with the incumbent administration’s policy priorities.”

US President Donald Trump geared up to unveil sweeping new “Liberation Day” tariffs on Wednesday in a move that threatens to ignite a devastating global trade war.Key US trading partners including the European Union and Britain said they were preparing their responses to Trump’s escalation, as nervous markets fell in Europe and America.Trump will unveil the levies in a grand ceremony with his cabinet members in the White House Rose Garden — just as Wall Street stocks close at 4:00 pm (2000 GMT).”IT’S LIBERATION DAY IN AMERICA!” Trump posted a one-liner on his Truth Social platform early Wednesday.The 78-year-old has promised so-called reciprocal tariffs on friends and foes alike if they target the world’s largest economy, saying the levies will stop the United States being “ripped off.”But Trump has kept the world guessing until the last minute about the scale and scope, with the White House saying he was still “perfecting” them with just hours to go.Reports say he could either hit countries with tit-for-tat tariffs, impose blanket 20 percent tariffs — or, more probably, give some countries preferential treatment depending on their deficits.The Republican president said in his last public appearance Monday that he would be “very kind” but gave little away.- ‘Tug-of-war’ -Critics say US businesses and consumers could bear the burden if importers pass on the cost, adding that the policy could increase risks of a recession.”If this trade war continues through Labor Day (on September 1), the US economy will likely suffer a recession this year,” Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, told AFP.Trump’s long-awaited announcement is also causing global turmoil, with stock markets jittery for days and countries in the crosshairs scrambling to decide how to react.European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warned Wednesday that whatever steps other countries take “it will be negative anyway the world over.”America’s neighbors Mexico and Canada, whose economies are closely linked with the United States, are those that could suffer the most from a bruising trade war.”I understand that it’s a game of tug-of-war,” truck driver Alejandro Espinoza told AFP as he waited in a queue to cross the Mexican-US border. “But unfortunately, we’re the ones who pay in the end.” Major economies have however vowed retribution The European Union will react to new Trump tariffs “before the end of April,” said a French government spokeswoman.The 27-nation bloc’s initial salvo would counter US actions on steel and aluminum, followed by sector-by-sector measures.British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has made intense but so far fruitless efforts to win a carve-out from Trump, said a “trade war is in nobody’s interests.” “We have prepared for all eventualities — and we will rule nothing out,” he told parliament.- ‘Rebirth’ -Germany warned Wednesday that trade wars hurt “both sides.”Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, who goes into elections later this month dominated by tensions with Trump, said his country would be “very deliberate” in its response.The White House said Trump’s tariffs would come into effect “immediately” after Wednesday’s announcement, effectively ruling out delays for negotiations.Sweeping auto tariffs of 25 percent are due to take effect April 3, after Trump earlier imposed duties on steel and aluminum imports and goods from China.But Trump has wobbled on several other tariff announcements since returning to office in January, blinking at the last minute with allies such as Canada and Mexico.The billionaire has had a long love affair with tariffs, insisting in the face of experts that they are a cure-all for America’s trade imbalances and economic ills.Trump insists the levies will bring a “rebirth” of America’s hollowed-out manufacturing capacity, and says companies can avoid tariffs by moving to the United States.The tariffs meanwhile underscore the growing and profound gulf between Trump’s America and many of its closest allies, not only on trade but on security, defense and almost everything else.burs-dk/gv

A California man who flew across the country with a plan to assassinate a conservative US Supreme Court judge will plead guilty to the attempted killing, lawyers said Wednesday in a court filing.Nicholas Roske, 29, was arrested in June 2022 outside Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s house in a Maryland suburb of the US capital carrying a semi-automatic Glock 17 pistol, a knife and tactical vest, according to documents filed earlier in federal court.He told officials at the time he was upset about mass shootings and looming Supreme Court rulings on abortion and gun rights.In a letter to a federal judge in Maryland filed on Wednesday, public defenders for Roske said he has agreed to plead guilty to the charge of attempting to a assassinate a justice of the United States.An attached letter said Roske intended to kill Kavanaugh and “took a substantial step” toward actually doing it.Roske faces a maximum punishment of life in prison and a $250,000 fine, the letter said.He had been scheduled to go on trial in June.Roske was spotted outside Kavanaugh’s house by two US Marshals standing guard.He walked away and called emergency services, telling them he was feeling suicidal and had come from California to kill Kavanaugh, according to court documents. Roske was arrested without incident by local police while he was still on the phone.He later told police “that he was upset about the leak of a recent Supreme Court draft decision regarding the right to abortion, as well as the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas,” an FBI affidavit said at the time.In a landmark ruling, the high court went on to overturn the long-standing federal right to abortion in America.”Roske indicated that he believed the justice that he intended to kill would side with Second Amendment decisions that would loosen gun control laws,” the affidavit added.Appointed by Donald Trump during his first term as president, Kavanaugh is one of six justices in the court’s conservative wing, against three progressives.

Tesla reported a 13 percent drop in first quarter auto sales Wednesday amid lower production during factory upgrades and blowback over CEO Elon Musk’s work for President Donald Trump’s administration.Musk’s electric vehicle company delivered 336,681 autos in the quarter ending March 31, missing analyst expectations, as it pointed to the “loss of several weeks of production” while it ramps up upgrades for its Model Y output.Tesla shares fell more than six percent in early trading but later partially rebounded.The weak car sales add to questions about Musk’s continued stewardship at the automaker, which has been targeted for consumer boycotts and vandalism as the billionaire has helped engineer thousands of job cuts across the US government.Wedbush’s Dan Ives, a prominent technology analyst who has been a longtime believer in Tesla’s growth potential, called the figures “a disaster on every metric,” according to a note.”It’s a fork in the road moment,” said Ives, who has called for Musk to publicly outline how he is balancing his Tesla commitments with his work for Trump.”The more political he gets… the more the brand suffers, there is no debate. This quarter was an example of the damage Musk is causing Tesla,” he added.”This continues to be a moment of truth for Musk to navigate this brand tornado crisis moment and get onto the other side of this dark chapter for Tesla.”Ives and other long-term Tesla bulls have viewed the company as poised for potentially massive growth, viewing Musk as a guru in state-of-the-art autonomous driving and artificial intelligence technology expected to play a growing role for the foreseeable future.While Tesla’s release Wednesday did not break out sales for the Cybertruck, the figures suggest anemic sales for the futuristic vehicle, which Musk has passionately embraced. In March, Tesla announced it was recalling essentially all of the Cybertrucks because of a defect that can lead an exterior panel to detach, posing a crash risk.Tesla also did not specify deliveries by country, but figures from national auto authorities have shown big drops across Europe, where Musk’s association with Trump has sparked criticism.In March alone, Tesla sales fell by more than one-third in France, and almost two-thirds in Sweden. Sales fell 56 percent in Denmark in the first quarter.Tesla shareholder Ross Gerber of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, who has previously called for the board to remove Musk as CEO, slammed the figure on X, the former Twitter platform now owned by Musk.”These numbers suck,” Gerber posted. “The Cybertruck is basically not selling. The brand is broken and may not be fixable. The board of directors is 100 percent responsible.”Near 1440 GMT, Tesla shares were down 2.7 percent. 

US President Donald Trump is poised to unveil sweeping new “Liberation Day” tariffs on Wednesday, but kept the world guessing until the last minute about the scope of an onslaught that could spark a global trade war.Trump will unveil the measures flanked by cabinet members in the Rose Garden of the White House at 4:00 pm (2000 GMT) — after Wall Street markets close — promising that they will stop America being “ripped off” and will deliver a new “golden age” of US industry.While Trump insisted he had decided on the reciprocal tariffs hitting countries that have targeted the world’s biggest economy, the White House admitted he was still ironing out details hours before the announcement.Early Wednesday, Trump posted a one-liner on his Truth Social platform: “It’s Liberation Day in America!”The Republican billionaire has had a long love affair with tariffs, insisting in the face of economic experts that they are a cure-all that will tackle America’s trade imbalances with friends and foes alike.Critics say US businesses and consumers could bear the burden if importers pass on the cost, adding that the policy could increase risks of a recession.”If this trade war continues through Labor Day (on September 1), the US economy will likely suffer a recession this year,” Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, told AFP.Global markets have been jittery for days ahead of Trump’s announcement, while the countries most likely in the crosshairs have called for talks — even as they ready retaliatory measures.- ‘Immediately’ -The move also underscores the growing and profound gulf between Trump’s America and many of its closest allies, not only on trade but on security, defense and almost everything else.The 78-year-old US president has trailed the measures for weeks, initially suggesting that the tariffs would simply match whatever levies other countries impose.He said Monday that he would be “very kind” but gave little away.As the deadline approached, US media reported that he had been considering blanket 20 percent tariffs — and then that he was looking at a third option where some countries would get preferential treatment.A broad 20 percent tariff on imports could cost the average US household at least $3,400, according to the Budget Lab at Yale University.White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was meeting top advisors on the eve of his announcement, “to make sure this is a perfect deal.”The tariffs would come into effect “immediately” after Wednesday’s roll-out, she said, effectively ruling out delays for negotiations with other countries.Trump has wobbled on several other tariff announcements since returning to office in January, blinking at the last minute with allies such as Canada and Mexico.His plans have however sparked growing fears of a painful global trade war that could drive up prices and cause widespread disruption.European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warned Wednesday the impacts will “unsettle the trade world as we know it,” speaking with Irish radio station Newstalk.- Hurting both sides -Major economies including the European Union and Canada have vowed retaliation.The EU will react to new tariffs “before the end of April,” said the French government spokeswoman.An initial response planned for mid-April counters US action on steel and aluminum, and this will be followed by a sector-by-sector study.The spokeswoman said: “A European decision should be announced before the end of April.”Germany warned Wednesday that trade wars hurt “both sides.””We are going to be very deliberate in terms of the measures we take,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday.Elsewhere, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Trump on talks towards a trade deal, while Vietnam said it would slash duties on various goods.Other top exporters are seeking to build up alliances to counter Washington, with China, Japan and South Korea speeding up talks on a free trade agreement.The former property tycoon insists the levies will bring a “rebirth” of America’s hollowed-out manufacturing capacity, and says companies can avoid tariffs by moving to the United States.Sweeping auto tariffs of 25 percent are due to take effect April 3, after Trump earlier imposed duties on steel and aluminum imports and goods from China.

The United States is increasing the number of aircraft carriers deployed in the Middle East to two, keeping one that is already there and sending another from the Indo-Pacific, the Pentagon said Tuesday.The announcement comes as US forces hammer Yemen’s Huthi rebels with near-daily air strikes in a campaign aimed at ending the threat they pose to civilian shipping and military vessels in the region.The Carl Vinson will join the Harry S. Truman in the Middle East “to continue promoting regional stability, deter aggression, and protect the free flow of commerce in the region,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.”To complement the CENTCOM maritime posture, the secretary also ordered the deployment of additional squadrons and other air assets that will further reinforce our defensive air-support capabilities,” Parnell said, referring to the US military command responsible for the region.”The United States and its partners remain committed to regional security in the CENTCOM (area of responsibility) and are prepared to respond to any state or non-state actor seeking to broaden or escalate conflict in the region,” he added.The Huthis began targeting shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden after the start of the Gaza war in 2023, claiming solidarity with Palestinians.Huthi attacks have prevented ships from passing through the Suez Canal, a vital route that normally carries about 12 percent of world shipping traffic. Ongoing attacks are forcing many companies into a costly detour around the tip of southern Africa.- ‘Real pain’ -A day before the carrier announcement, US President Donald Trump vowed that strikes on Yemen’s Huthis would continue until they are no longer a threat to shipping.”The choice for the Huthis is clear: Stop shooting at US ships, and we will stop shooting at you. Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come, for both the Huthis and their sponsors in Iran,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.Trump added that the Huthis had been “decimated” by “relentless” strikes since March 15, saying that US forces “hit them every day and night — Harder and harder.”On Wednesday, the Huthis accused the United States of killing four people in fresh air strikes on Hodeida province.The US president has also ramped up rhetoric towards Tehran, threatening that “there will be bombing” if Iran does not reach a deal on its nuclear program.Satellite images seen by AFP showed that Washington had between March 26 and Wednesday doubled the number of B-2 bombers at a US-UK military base in the Indian Ocean, from three to six.The photos from imaging company Planet Labs PBC also showed the presence of six Stratotanker in-flight refuelling aircraft at the Diego Garcia base, within range of Iran.Trump’s threats come as his administration battles a scandal over the accidental leak of a secret group chat by senior security officials on the Yemen strikes.The Atlantic magazine revealed last week that its editor — a well-known US journalist — was inadvertently included in a chat on the commercially available Signal app where top officials were discussing the strikes.The officials, including Trump’s National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, discussed details of air strike timings and intelligence — unaware that the highly sensitive information was being simultaneously read by a member of the media.