Politics & World Affairs — August 15, 2026

Indonesia earthquake kills at least 38. A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Indonesia's Flores island early Saturday, collapsing buildings and killing at least 38 people. Authorities issued and later lifted a tsunami warning.

The quake was shallow, according to BBC World, a factor that can intensify shaking near the surface. Search and rescue teams are now working through affected areas of the eastern Indonesian island to locate survivors trapped in the wreckage. The death toll of 38 is preliminary and could change as crews reach more sites, and the lifted tsunami alert allowed coastal residents to return from higher ground.

BBC World · Read more →

USS Abraham Lincoln heads home. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said the carrier is returning after a record 260-plus-day Iran-war deployment marked by reports of poor conditions. President Trump dismissed the concerns as overblown.

The Hill reported that the carrier's extended deployment drew scrutiny over food shortages, broken plumbing and mental health problems among sailors aboard. Those reports prompted questions about how long crews can sustain operations at sea, with the announcement from Hung Cao coming Friday amid public disagreement between the Navy's account of conditions and the president's characterization of them.

The Hill · Read more →

Five killed in Michigan shooting. Michigan State Police said a suspect killed five people Friday at two homes and a wooded area in northern Michigan. Officers later found him dead after a manhunt.

According to Reuters, Michigan State Police confirmed the suspect's death after the search concluded, though authorities have not publicly detailed a motive or the relationship between the gunman and the victims. The shootings unfolded across multiple locations, which prompted the manhunt. Investigators are expected to release additional information as they piece together the sequence of events at the two residences and the wooded area.

Reuters · Read more →