Colombia quake kills 260+, Midwest floods threaten 20 million, Navy denies carrier morale crisis

President Abelardo de la Espriella announced that the recent Colombian earthquake has resulted in more than 260 confirmed deaths and left nearly 500 individuals missing, with over 150 aftershocks recorded since the main shock on Monday. The government declared an economic emergency as rescue operations continue across the affected regions. Across the Atlantic, Europe endures its fifth summer heat wave, while the U.K. records its hottest day of the year so far.

In the United States, relentless storms have triggered flood alerts for roughly 20 million people in the Midwest; Indiana experienced several feet of water, leading the governor to issue a statewide emergency and leaving over 250,000 homes and businesses without power. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth refuted media claims that poor conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have caused low morale and suicide attempts, labeling the reports completely misrepresented. Meanwhile, Wall Street closed higher across major indices.