Friday, July 19, 2024
Worldwide IT outages
There were widespread IT outages around the world today that caused thousands of flight cancellations and disrupted operations at hospitals, governments, and banks. The outages caused some Microsoft-based computers to stop working. The cause is a software issue from CrowdStrike, an American cybersecurity business that provide services to a multitude of industries. CrowdStrike said a software update happened to have a defect for Windows hosts and that they already found a fix for it, but it could take some time for systems to be back and running. The system outages were so serious as to cause American Airlines, United and Delta to ask the FAA for a global ground stop on all fights and for a major hospital in Boston to cancel all elective surgeries. Some 911 services were halted. It shows how much of our world depends on computers and the internet.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/american-airlines-issues-global-ground-stop-flights/story
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Motel to pay $2M after guest dies from 150-degree shower
NBC News reported that in 2021, a guest at the Econo Lodge in Erlanger, Kentucky was seriously injured by a scalding hot shower where water temperatures reached at least 150 degrees F. The man, Alex Chronis, fell in the tub as the water continued to burn him. He was pulled away by two others who heard his screams. Alex was hospitalized and stayed there for several months but passed away in 2022. He did not have a wife or children but his niece filed a lawsuit against the motel on his behalf. A court ordered the motel to pay Alex’ family over $2 million.
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U.N. top court says Israel settlements violate international law
The United Nations’ top court, the International Court of Justice, wrote an opinion that Israel’s policies and practices in its occupation of Palestinian territories are in breach of international law. The court said Israel should cease all new settlement activities and evacuate settlers from Palestinian territories, which include the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said the court’s decision is false and that Jewish people are not conquerors in their own lands. Netanyahu previously said Israel does not recognize the ICJ as being legitimate.
NBC News explained that the court took the case after the UN General Assembly made a request to deliver an opinion on Israeli policies and practices towards Palestinians in January 2023, prior to the war in Gaza.
The court’s decision is not legally binding but it could have a political impact.
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American reporter sentenced 16 years in Russia
American reporter Evan Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years in a Russian penal colony on charges of espionage. He was working as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal when he was arrested more than a year ago. The newspaper and the U.S. government said the charges are bogus. It is possible that Russia wanted to arrest him in order to get leverage for a prisoner swap.