AT&T Data Breach: A massive data breach exposed call and text message records for tens of millions of AT&T customers, nearly all of their customers, the company revealed this morning. AT&T said the leaked data includes phone numbers for “nearly all” of its mobile phone customers and wireless provider customers who use its network between May 1, 2022 and October 31, 2022. The records also include data such as logs of all messages between AT&T customers and customers of other networks, and the total number and duration of all calls. AT&T said the content of these communications was not leaked.
SpaceX Grounded: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Starlink satellites suffered a major malfunction after taking off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Thursday evening. The rocket’s second stage, responsible for propelling the spacecraft into orbit, suddenly stopped, releasing the Starlink internet satellites at a lower orbit than planned without reaching the planned altitude. Both SpaceX and Starlink are owned by Elon Musk, who posted on his social media platform (formerly known as Twitter) that the upper stage appeared to have exploded. The FAA has decided to ground all Falcon 9 rockets that have carried humans into space until a full investigation is completed.
Wholesale price increases: Despite recent good news on inflation and a small decline in consumer prices, wholesale prices rose through June, with the Producer Price Index (a measure of the average prices of producers and manufacturers’ goods and services) rising to 2.6% for the year to June, up 0.2% after remaining stable at 2.4% through May. However, economists note that PPI rates can be volatile, with sharp changes in certain categories.
Milwaukee man killed in hotel: D’Vontay Mitchell, a black man, died after being pinned to the ground at the Hyatt Regency in Milwaukee on June 30. Two hotel security guards held Mitchell, a guest at the Hyatt Regency, down outside the hotel in a video that recently drew attention to the incident. Aimbridge Hospitality, which operates the hotel, has fired the two security guards. Local authorities have told media that four murder charges have been filed in connection with the incident.
Niger Prison Break: A prison break occurred Thursday night at Niger’s maximum security Koutkale prison. The facility holds many extremists, including those with ties to Islamist groups such as Boko Haram and al-Qaida. Local authorities have been searching the surrounding area for prisoners and imposed a curfew in the nearby Tillabéri region, but have not given further details. Jihadist forces in the area have been a threat to regional governments in the region since 2012.
Germany to Ban Chinese Technology: Germany announced yesterday that it will phase out Huawei and ZTE components used in its 5G wireless networks. Over the next five years, Germany will eliminate network components made by the Chinese companies, with some domestic telecommunications companies agreeing to remove them from their “core networks” by the end of 2026. Germany cited cybersecurity concerns and a drive to develop its domestic industry as reasons for the decision.
