The Daily Factum
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NCAA Football Transfer Window Opens: A Surge in Player Mobility
Broke On: Monday, 04 December 2023The 2023 NCAA football transfer window has opened, with a record number of players expected to enter the portal. Notable players entering the portal include Ohio State's Kyle McCord, Washington State's Cam Ward, Duke's Riley Leonard, Oregon State's DJ Uiagalelei, UCLA's Dante Moore, Brock Vandagriff, LT Overton, Andrew Mukuba, Patrick Payton, Gunnar Gundy, Jeff Sims, Raheim Sanders, and Tyler Shough. The transfer portal offers fresh opportunities and potentially more money for players, but it has also led to a lack of defined boundaries and a certain level of pandemonium. LogoFAIL: UEFI Firmware Vulnerabilities Expose Millions of Devices to Risk
Broke On: Monday, 04 December 2023LogoFAIL is a set of vulnerabilities discovered in the UEFI firmware that affects both x86 and ARM-based systems. The vulnerabilities can compromise the security of millions of devices by allowing attackers to execute arbitrary payloads and bypass critical security features. The vulnerabilities were found in firmware from Insyde, AMI, and Phoenix, with over half assigned a high severity rating. The impacted firmware is shipped with devices from companies such as Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung, potentially exposing millions of devices worldwide. Mitigation steps include regularly updating firmware, staying informed about security advisories from device manufacturers, employing security solutions that monitor firmware integrity, conducting regular security audits, and following cybersecurity best practices. McDonald's Announces Global Expansion and Menu Updates
Broke On: Wednesday, 06 December 2023McDonald's plans to open 10,000 new restaurants globally by 2027. The company is partnering with Google Cloud to enhance automation and improve food quality. McDonald's is updating its menu, introducing burgers with softer buns and more Big Mac sauce by 2026. Despite a slight decline in US traffic, McDonald's reported a nearly 9% increase in same-store sales globally in the third quarter. U.S. Private Sector Adds 103,000 Jobs in November Amid Slowing Wage Growth
Broke On: Wednesday, 06 December 2023Private sector employment in the U.S. increased by 103,000 jobs in November. Wage growth hit its lowest level since 2021, with a 5.6% year-over-year increase. Small businesses added 6,000 jobs, while mid-sized businesses added 68,000 jobs. Service jobs increased by 117,000, while goods-producing jobs declined by 14,000. The leisure and hospitality industry shed 7,000 jobs. Tensions Escalate on Lebanese-Israeli Border; Freed Hostages Criticize Israeli Government
Broke On: Friday, 01 December 2023Israeli bombing in the Lebanese border town of Mays Al-Jabal has resulted in casualties and retaliation from Hezbollah. The French foreign ministry expressed regret over the Israeli strike, and the Lebanese caretaker foreign minister instructed a complaint to be submitted to the UN Security Council. Families of captives freed from Gaza expressed anger at the Israeli government for taking credit for the release when it was Hamas who negotiated their return. Controversy Surrounds Blurring of Faces in January 6 Riot Footage
Broke On: Tuesday, 05 December 2023House Speaker Mike Johnson has promised to release over 44,000 hours of footage from the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, but only 90 hours have been released so far. The delay in the release of the remaining footage has been attributed to the time-consuming process of blurring the faces of the individuals involved in the riot. Over 1,200 people have been charged in connection with the events of January 6, including 117 individuals accused of using a deadly weapon or causing serious bodily injury to a police officer. George Latimer to Challenge Jamaal Bowman in Democratic Primary
Broke On: Tuesday, 05 December 2023George Latimer, the Westchester County Executive, is challenging Representative Jamaal Bowman in the Democratic primary. The race is expected to highlight the growing divide within the Democratic Party over the war in the Middle East. Latimer has deep ties to the Democratic establishment, while Bowman is a member of the progressive 'Squad'. Pro-Israel groups are backing Latimer, while Bowman has received early endorsements from fellow Squad member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Working Families Party. Six Dead, Three Injured in Texas Shooting Spree; Suspect in Custody
Broke On: Wednesday, 06 December 2023Six people were killed and three injured in a series of shootings in Austin and San Antonio, Texas. The suspect, identified as Shane James, was arrested and charged with capital murder. The shootings occurred over an eight-hour period on Tuesday. The nature of the relationship between the victims and the shooter is currently unknown. The United States has reached a record number of mass killings this year. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Announces Resignation from Congress
Broke On: Wednesday, 06 December 2023Former Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, has announced his resignation from Congress, effective at the end of the year. McCarthy's departure will further reduce the already narrow GOP majority in the House. McCarthy remained loyal to former President Donald Trump throughout his tenure. California Gov. Gavin Newsom will declare a special election to fill the vacant seat. Trump Set to Testify in Ongoing Civil Fraud Trial
Broke On: Monday, 04 December 2023Former President Donald Trump is set to testify in his ongoing civil fraud trial. The trial centers around allegations that Trump and his companies inflated asset values for favorable loans and insurance deals. The defense argues that the assets had no objective value and that differing valuations are common in real estate. The value of Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida is a significant focus of the trial.