The Daily Factum
Deprogramming the News
Breaking News
FTC and Microsoft Disagree Over Xbox Game Pass Changes: Price Hike or Value Addition?
Broke On: Thursday, 18 July 2024The FTC and Microsoft clash over Xbox Game Pass price hike and changes, with Microsoft arguing that the new tiers offer more value despite the removal of day-one exclusives and increase in cost. The FTC contests this, claiming that consumers are losing valuable benefits. 
Elon Musk Leaves California: SpaceX and X Headquarters Move to Texas Over Transgender Law
Broke On: Tuesday, 16 July 2024Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter), announced moves to relocate both companies' headquarters from California to Texas in response to a new law restricting school disclosure of transgender or gay students' information. The decision follows previous threats over Covid-19 restrictions and Musk's growing conservative political stance, which includes supporting former President Trump through a $45 million PAC. 
CrowdStrike's Software Update Disrupts Global Operations: A Wake-Up Call for Robust Testing and Diverse Cybersecurity Solutions
Broke On: Friday, 19 July 2024A software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike disrupted critical infrastructure worldwide on July 19, 2024, affecting sectors including emergency call centers, banks, airlines, and hospitals. The incident raised concerns about the company's testing processes and potential risks of relying on a single solution for cybersecurity protection. Microsoft Windows users were affected by the outage caused by CrowdStrike's update to their software. Experts emphasized the importance of diverse cybersecurity solutions to mitigate risks. 
UK Government and Defence Industry Deepen Cooperation with Ukraine for Military Support Amidst Russian Aggression
Broke On: Friday, 19 July 2024The UK government and defence industry have pledged deeper cooperation with Ukraine, including δ3bn annual military support and industrial production boosts. BAE Systems provides maintenance services for Ukrainian weapons, while Sheffield Forgemasters supports vehicle repair. Zelenskyy congratulated Trump on his nomination but condemned an assassination attempt against him. 
Houthis Claim Responsibility for Deadly Drone Strike on Tel Aviv: First Fatalities in Israel
Broke On: Friday, 19 July 2024On July 19, 2024, Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a deadly drone strike on Tel Aviv, Israel, marking the first fatalities in the country. The Houthis used long-range drones with Iranian components to penetrate Israeli defenses and cause damage near the US Embassy branch office, resulting in one fatality and injuries. This attack was described as a 'new phase' by Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Palestinians. 
Israeli Air Force Strikes Gaza Structure Used by Hamas for Terror Funding
Broke On: Saturday, 20 July 2024Israeli Air Force strikes Gaza structure used by Hamas for terror funding and activities, leading the ongoing conflict's latest escalation. The Elkahira company, responsible for transferring funds to Hamas' military wing, was based in the targeted building. Over 38,900 lives have been lost since the Israel-Hamas War began. International efforts towards a ceasefire continue but remain elusive. 
Democratic Lawmakers Urge Biden to Consider Exit from Re-election Race Amid Pressure from Within Party
Broke On: Friday, 19 July 2024Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Jim Hines, Adam Smith, Lloyd Doggett, Eric Sorensen, Pat Ryan, Hillary Scholten, and Mike Levin, as well as Senators Sherrod Brown and Elizabeth Warren call for President Joe Biden to step down from his re-election bid due to concerns about his age and performance. Vice President Kamala Harris is suggested as a potential replacement. Biden faces pressure from both within the Democratic Party and Republicans. 
The Shrinking Great Red Spot of Jupiter: New Study Suggests Smaller Storms Are Starving the Iconic Anticyclonic Storm
Broke On: Wednesday, 17 July 2024A team of researchers led by Caleb Keaveney from Yale University, North Carolina State University, and the University of Louisville discovered that smaller storms may be causing the Great Red Spot on Jupiter to shrink by blocking its access to essential nutrients. The findings suggest that these interactions could explain why the size of this iconic anticyclonic storm has significantly decreased from 40 degrees of longitude in the late 19th century to just 14 degrees today. The Great Red Spot, a high-pressure region with counterclockwise rotation and rosy ammonia cloud tops, is known for its mysterious origins and size larger than Earth. 
Microsoft Windows Update Causes Global IT Outage, Resulting in Flight Cancellations and Delays: A Look at the Root Cause and Impact on Airlines
Broke On: Friday, 19 July 2024A defective Microsoft Windows update by CrowdStrike caused a global IT outage on July 19, 2024, resulting in over 980 flight cancellations and nearly 1,400 delays for major airlines like United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines. The issue stemmed from an error in Channel File 291 of Falcon sensor software used for communication in Windows systems. Despite the update's intended purpose to protect against malicious named pipes used in cyberattacks, it instead triggered a system crash on impacted systems running Falcon sensor for Windows version 7.11 and above. 
Bangladesh's Worst Civil Unrest in Decades: Students Protest Against Government Job Quotas, Over 100 Deaths
Broke On: Saturday, 20 July 2024Bangladesh is in the midst of violent protests led by students against the reinstatement of government job quotas, resulting in over a hundred deaths and widespread unrest. The movement, fueled by economic struggles and frustration with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government, has grown into a larger opposition against quota-based recruitment. Protests began after the High Court ordered the reinstatement of quotas for specific groups, including women, veterans' families, disabled individuals, and ethnic minorities. The protests have led to a nationwide curfew and military deployment.