The Daily Factum
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Russian Intelligence Accused of Cyber-Espionage Campaign Against UK and US
Broke On: Thursday, 07 December 2023Russian intelligence officers have been conducting a cyber-espionage campaign against the UK and US since 2015. The hackers, identified as Ruslan Aleksandrovich Peretyatko and Andrey Stanislavovich Korinets, compromised the computers of employees at multiple US government agencies between October 2016 and October 2022. In the UK, the campaign included the leak of U.K.-U.S. trade documents and the hacking of think tanks defending democracy against disinformation. Escalating Venezuela-Guyana Border Dispute Over Oil-Rich Region Draws International Concern
Broke On: Wednesday, 06 December 2023Venezuela has reactivated its claim to the Esequibo region and won backing in a referendum to create a new state. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has prohibited Venezuela from taking any action that would change the status quo. Brazil has reinforced its troops near its own border, and the United States has urged calm. The United States plans to conduct flight operations within Guyana amid growing border tensions. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's threats to annex a large portion of Guyana have sparked international concern. Significant Advancements in Particle Physics: A Billion Collisions and Emergence of Magnetic Monopoles
Broke On: Monday, 04 December 2023Alice, the world's largest heavy-ion collider, has achieved its first billion collision milestone. Researchers at the University of Cambridge have used diamond quantum sensing to observe the emergence of magnetic monopoles in hematite, a type of iron oxide. A study has explored the use of encoder-decoder machine-learning models to reconstruct parton distribution functions (PDFs) of hadrons. Particle physicists have outlined a roadmap for the next decade in particle physics, suggesting building a revolutionary particle collider in the United States that would collide muons. NCAA Proposes New Subdivision for Wealthiest Schools, Raises Questions on Title IX Compliance
Broke On: Tuesday, 05 December 2023NCAA President Charlie Baker has proposed a new subdivision within Division I for the wealthiest schools. Schools in the new subdivision would be required to invest a minimum of $30,000 per athlete annually into an enhanced educational trust fund. The proposal has raised concerns about Title IX compliance and equitable compensation for women athletes. The proposal aims to address challenges related to NIL opportunities and the transfer portal. World No. 3 Golfer Jon Rahm Set to Join LIV Golf in Multi-Million Dollar Deal
Broke On: Thursday, 07 December 2023Jon Rahm, the world's third-ranked golfer, is set to join LIV Golf, a Saudi-backed professional golf tour. The deal is expected to exceed three years and $300 million. Rahm's move follows similar contracts with Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, whose deals exceed $100 million. Rahm's decision to join LIV Golf comes as a surprise, as he had previously expressed loyalty to the PGA Tour. The PGA Tour and LIV Golf have agreed to merge, creating a new entity backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund. Oprah Winfrey Reveals Weight Loss Transformation at 'The Color Purple' Premiere
Broke On: Thursday, 07 December 2023Oprah Winfrey revealed her weight loss transformation at 'The Color Purple' premiere. Winfrey dismissed speculation about using weight-loss drugs, attributing her new figure to a challenging and sustainable path. Winfrey also talked about her role as a producer in the upcoming movie musical adaptation of 'The Color Purple'. Yellowstone Creator Taylor Sheridan Sues Star Cole Hauser Over Coffee Brand Dispute
Broke On: Wednesday, 06 December 2023Taylor Sheridan's company, Bosque Ranch, has accused Cole Hauser's company, Free Rein, of trademark infringement, unfair competition, and false advertising. The lawsuit alleges that the logo of Free Rein is too similar to the registered trademark of Bosque Ranch. The lawsuit seeks a jury trial, profit restitution, and the destruction of all products with the infringing logo. Realme GT5 Pro Introduces Palm Unlock Feature and Advanced Specifications
Broke On: Thursday, 07 December 2023Realme GT5 Pro introduces a palm unlock feature that uses the phone's selfie camera to detect palm prints. The phone is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, a 5,400mAh battery with 100W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and an OLED display with a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. The GT5 Pro is equipped with a 50MP main camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 50-megapixel 3x periscope telephoto lens. Universal Basic Income: A Tale of Two Methods
Broke On: Wednesday, 06 December 2023The Welsh government is ending its Universal Basic Income (UBI) project in 2025 due to cost concerns. A study in Kenya found that both lump sum and monthly payments had positive effects on low-income households. A separate study suggests that lump-sum payments may be more effective in building long-term wealth, but have less impact on mental health. Greece and Turkey Pledge to Improve Relations Amid Historical Tensions
Broke On: Monday, 04 December 2023Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Athens, pledging a 'new era' in ties with Greece. Greece and Turkey have agreed to expand ties in tourism and culture, aiming to focus on good neighborly relations, open communication channels, military confidence-building measures, and increased trade volumes. Erdogan expressed dissatisfaction with the United States' role in promoting hostilities between Greece and Turkey, criticizing the sale of F-16s to Greece instead of Turkey.