Cybersabotage, Katie Ledecky, and Hot-Tubbing Bears

Malware Hunt

The Biden administration is actively searching for malware it believes was secretly installed by China in systems controlling the United States' power grids, water infrastructure, and more, according to reports over the weekend.

Concerns about China's ability to attack critical US infrastructure have increased in recent years. The 2023 Annual Threat Assessment from the director of national intelligence said China "almost certainly" has the capability to disrupt key US systems. The nation's top cybersecurity official, Jen Easterly, called Chinese cybersabotage capabilities a top threat at a public forum last month. In May, Microsoft said it uncovered evidence that Chinese-affiliated hackers installed malware in Guam, home to a significant US military presence.

Some estimates concluded China had between 50,000 and 100,000 individuals engaged in global cyberwarfare. Details on specific systems, structures, and locations—and how widespread the problem is—involved in the current probe were not revealed. 

Ledecky Passes Phelps

US swimmer Katie Ledecky claimed her 16th individual gold medal at this month's World Aquatics Championships in Japan, surpassing US legend Michael Phelps' 15. She also won a record sixth gold in the same individual event—the 800-meter freestyle, where she owns the top 30 fastest times globally.

The milestone comes 11 years after Ledecky's debut at the Olympics in London at age 15, where she won gold in the 800-meter freestyle (see bio). She has since won six more Olympic golds and 21 world golds, including team events, firmly establishing her as the winningest woman swimmer ever. She currently holds the world record in the women's 800-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle events. Only two others—Phelps and fellow American Ryan Lochte—have more total world medals than the 26-year-old Marylander.

Elsewhere at worlds, Australian swimmer Mollie O'Callaghan became the first woman ever to sweep the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle events. See the tournament medal table here.

Bombing in Pakistan

At least 44 people were killed and almost 200 others injured after a bomb exploded during a political rally in northwest Pakistan yesterday. The violence comes ahead of general elections in the country, scheduled for November. 

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of this writing, which appeared to target supporters of Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl. The religious-political faction is a part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's governing coalition and espouses hardline Islamist views—though is perceived as not strict enough by some jihadist groups. The region was also the stronghold for the Taliban affiliate Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan until it was forced out by the country's military in recent years. 

The attack came hours before Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng arrived in the country's capital of Islamabad to celebrate economic ties between the two countries. See footage of the aftermath here. 

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