Global security and economic stability remained in flux this hour, headlined by a major 7.4 magnitude earthquake in western Colombia that struck near San José del Palmar, compounding challenges for the newly inaugurated administration of President Abelardo De La Espriella, who has already launched a military offensive against FARC dissidents backed by a proposed $1 billion in U.S. security aid. Conflict persists in Eastern Europe as well, where Ukrainian drone strikes deep within Russia killed 13, and Kazakhstan was forced to reroute oil exports following continued disruptions in the Black Sea energy sector. U.S. markets reacted to these geopolitical stresses, with oil prices hitting $80 per barrel amid growing doubt over a potential resolution to the Strait of Hormuz standoff; President Trump indicated a shift toward 'low keying' de-escalation with Iran, prioritizing economic pressure over military options as negotiations stall. Domestically, the administration faces ongoing legal friction, as a federal appeals court blocked White House ballroom construction—prompting a planned appeal—and the Supreme Court prepared to review the constitutionality of six-person juries in Kian v. Florida. In the political sphere, Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed outlined aggressive subpoena tactics to hold Trump officials accountable should Democrats regain Senate control, while Justice Samuel Alito confirmed he will remain on the bench for another term. Corporate landscapes saw significant activity, including Intel’s $15 billion equity offering that pressured its stock, and Archer Aviation’s move to acquire three Boeing subsidiaries. Meanwhile, environmental liabilities materialized as DuPont and affiliated firms agreed to pay $2.5 billion for PFAS contamination in New Jersey. Amid these developments, U.S. commercial Chapter 11 bankruptcies declined 27% year-over-year, and security researchers continued to grapple with autonomous system risks, as AI-powered red teams uncovered hundreds of potential vulnerabilities in Bitcoin repositories.