The Daily Factum
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Upcoming CPI Report and US Earnings: Market Impact and Expectations
Broke On: Thursday, 11 July 2024Investors prepare for Thursday's Consumer Price Index report, expected to show 3.1% yearly inflation and a 0.2% monthly increase. Anticipated numbers are a good sign for the Fed, but non-housing services may indicate bumps in price stabilization. US stocks closed higher on Wednesday ahead of earnings season starting with Delta Air Lines and PepsiCo, while China stocks remain mixed due to disappointing data and tariff talk. Oil prices edge higher on strong gasoline demand. 
Costco Announces First Membership Fee Increase in Seven Years: What You Need to Know
Broke On: Wednesday, 10 July 2024Costco raised its membership fees for the first time since 2017, with the standard Gold Star Membership increasing to $65 and Executive Membership to $130 per year. The increase comes amidst inflation and supply chain disruptions, following similar moves by competitors Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale Club. Costco reported collecting $4.6 billion in membership fee revenue in 2023, a significant source of revenue for the company. Despite these changes, Costco remains committed to keeping prices low for members and generating value through its membership model. 
Uncertain Future: Macron's Call for a Governing Pact Amidst Unexpected French Election Results
Broke On: Tuesday, 09 July 2024French President Emmanuel Macron's call for a 'governing pact' following unexpected legislative elections has left Europe bracing for weakened leadership. The New Popular Front coalition won the majority, while Rassemblement National fell to third place. The outcome hinders Macron's naming of a new prime minister, potentially delaying the formation of a new government during the Paris Olympics. 
House Passes Two Bills to Enhance Election Security and Voter Eligibility: The SAVE Act and the Election Integrity Act
Broke On: Wednesday, 10 July 2024The House passed two bills this week to enhance election security and voter eligibility: the SAVE Act, which requires proof of citizenship for federal voting registration, and the Election Integrity Act with photo ID requirements. The SAVE Act heads to the Senate amid opposition from Democrats and concerns over impact on marginalized communities. 
High-Profile Democrats Call for Biden to Withdraw or Be Replaced After Poor Debate Performance
Broke On: Wednesday, 10 July 2024High-profile Democratic politicians, including Senators Peter Welch, Michael Bennet, Sherrod Brown, Jon Tester and others have publicly or privately called for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race or be replaced following his poor debate performance against Donald Trump. The pressure comes after Biden's stumbling words and raspy voice during their first general election debate raised concerns about his ability to effectively lead the nation for another four years and win against Trump in November. 
Firefighting Plane Crash: Pilot Killed While Battling Montana's Horse Gulch Fire
Broke On: Wednesday, 10 July 2024On July 10, 2024, a firefighting plane crashed near Hauser Reservoir in Montana during efforts to contain the Horse Gulch Fire. The sole occupant, a 45-year-old female pilot, did not survive. The wildfire had already burned over 600 acres with no containment and threatened nearby communities due to extreme heatwave conditions. Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing. 
Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Six Lives Lost, Including Two Members of a Roadwork Crew
Broke On: Sunday, 26 March 2023A cargo ship's power outage and subsequent collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on March 26, 2023, resulted in its catastrophic collapse and six fatalities. Julio Cervantes Suarez, part of a roadwork crew filling potholes on the bridge during a break, narrowly escaped drowning by clinging to a piece of floating concrete. The National Transportation Safety Board and FBI are investigating the incident while legal battles over liability unfold. 
Record-Breaking Number of Dengue Fever Cases in New Jersey and Illinois: What Travelers Need to Know
Broke On: Wednesday, 10 July 2024At least 68 Americans in New Jersey and Illinois have been infected with dengue fever after traveling to areas with known virus transmission, according to the CDC. With over 9.7 million reported cases in the Americas this year, dengue fever is experiencing a record-breaking surge. The mosquito-borne virus can cause symptoms such as fever, nausea, and joint pain but currently has no treatment or cure. Prevention includes avoiding mosquito bites and controlling their population growth. 
New Discovery: Massive Intermediate-Mass Black Hole Identified in Omega Centauri Star Cluster by Astronomers using Hubble Space Telescope Data
Broke On: Wednesday, 10 July 2024Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope discovered an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) in the star cluster Omega Centauri, with a mass of at least 8,200 Suns. They identified it by analyzing seven stars with unusually high velocities in the cluster's core. This rare find challenges previous beliefs about IMBH scarcity and sheds light on their formation and growth. 
Promising Progress in Time Travel and Quantum Physics: Two Studies Reveal New Time-Traveling Quantum Sensors
Broke On: Wednesday, 10 July 2024Researchers from Washington University, NIST, and the University of Cambridge have made strides in time travel and quantum physics with separate studies on time-traveling quantum sensors using entangled qubits. One study demonstrates a new type of sensor that uses quantum entanglement for time travel, allowing hindsight to set the best direction for spin measurement. The other constructs a coherent superposition of quantum evolution with two opposite directions in a photonic system, achieving time-reversal properties and obtaining a time-reversal simulator. These findings reveal potential advancements in our understanding and application of quantum physics, but they are still theoretical.