Microsoft Patches Windows Zero-Day Actively Exploited by North Korea's Lazarus Group in Defense Sector Attacks
North Korea's Lazarus Group has been exploiting a newly patched Windows WinSock zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2026-68820) since June to target defense and aerospace companies across France, Germany, Brazil, and India. The attacks, part of Operation Dream Job, use fake job offers to deliver multiple backdoors including a new variant of the FudModule rootkit, which the group uses to disable security tools and maintain persistent access to compromised systems.
Iran appoints new IRGC and armed forces commanders as US escalates sanctions amid Middle East conflict
Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei announced six senior military appointments, including Ahmad Vahidi as IRGC commander and Ali Abdollahi as armed forces chief, replacing predecessors killed in earlier U.S.-Israeli strikes. The reshuffle came the same day the U.S. imposed its eighth round of sanctions on Iran this year, with Tehran's government rejecting pressure and signaling continued military readiness.
DOJ declines to appeal Texas ruling striking NFA registration for suppressors and short-barreled rifles; first transfers begin
A federal judge in Texas ruled that the National Firearms Act's registration requirements for suppressors and short-barreled rifles are unconstitutional now that their federal tax has been reduced to zero. The DOJ confirmed it will not appeal the ruling, and Silencer Shop completed the first suppressors transfers without NFA registration on August 13, 2026.
Fed holds rates steady as three regional presidents dissent for higher rates, first such split since 2016
The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged at 3.50%-3.75% on July 28-29, but three regional Fed presidents voted to raise rates by a quarter point—the first time three dissenters have aligned in the same direction since September 2016. The fractured vote reflects intensifying internal debate over persistent inflation, with Chair Kevin Warsh's elimination of forward guidance encouraging more forceful public statements from individual policymakers ahead of critical upcoming inflation data.
Belarus Forms New Air Assault Brigade Near Ukraine Border as Military Buildup Accelerates
Belarus announced the formation of a new air assault brigade in the Homyel region, roughly 40 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, marking the sharpest escalation signal in months of military activity near the border. The development follows a pattern of infrastructure construction, ammunition and fuel storage sites, and revised military planning that analysts suggest could enable Russia to open a second front against Ukraine, though Ukrainian officials say they currently see no signs of imminent Russian troop deployments in Belarus.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Earns $145M Second Weekend, Third-Largest in History
Sony's Spider-Man: Brand New Day grossed $145 million in its second weekend, a 59% drop from its record-breaking $355 million debut, securing the third-largest second weekend ever and the highest 10-day domestic total in box office history. The film has accumulated $1.67 billion globally in just 12 days and is on pace to potentially become the first movie to earn $1 billion purely from domestic grosses.
University of Sydney study quantifies minimum daily improvements in sleep, exercise, and diet needed to extend lifespan by years
A University of Sydney analysis of 59,078 UK Biobank participants found that small combined improvements across sleep, physical activity, and nutrition—as little as 5 minutes more sleep, 1.9 minutes of moderate exercise, and a 5-point diet quality increase daily—can add one year to lifespan. The study found that coordinating improvements across all three behaviors produces outsized health gains, with optimal habits (7.2 hours sleep, 42 minutes exercise, high diet quality) associated with nearly a decade of additional healthy life.
Michael Brennan Wins Wyndham Championship with Five-Birdie Streak, Earns Playoff Spot from No. 105 FedExCup Ranking
Michael Brennan won the Wyndham Championship on Sunday with a dramatic comeback, running off five straight birdies to finish at 22-under 258 and secure a spot in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. The 24-year-old came into the final regular-season tournament ranked 105th in the FedExCup standings and needed the victory to qualify, earning his second PGA Tour win and an invitation to the Masters.