MORNING NEWS UPDATE: FEBRUARY 16, 2026

U.S. News

1. Partial shutdown at Department of Homeland Security (DHS): A funding lapse has led to a partial shutdown affecting DHS operations, including border security, immigration, and the U.S. Coast Guard (which operates under DHS). Congress is on recess, and much of the rest of the federal government remains funded, but this impacts travel, disaster response, and more.
2. Ongoing search and developments in high-profile cases: Updates continue on cases like the Nancy Guthrie abduction (FBI increases reward and releases suspect details) and various local incidents, including home explosions and fires reported in regions like the Eastern Shore and Aberdeen.
3. Presidents' Day observances: Many government offices, including federal and some tribal, are closed for the holiday, with reports on what's open/closed nationwide.
4. Winter Olympics coverage: Ongoing events in Milan-Cortina, Italy, including U.S. performances and issues like athletes experiencing the "yips."

5. DHS Shutdown Deepens: The partial government shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security continues with no clear path to a resolution. Lawmakers remain dug in over oversight and border funding.

6. Search for Nancy Guthrie: The FBI has released surveillance images of a masked individual in the search for the mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing in Arizona.

7. Historic Discovery: Shipwreck hunters have located the wreck of a luxury steamer in Lake Michigan that was lost over 150 years ago.

Politics

1. DHS partial shutdown amid funding disputes: Democrats and Republicans clash over immigration enforcement changes, with no quick resolution as Congress recesses.
2. Iran nuclear talks and diplomacy: Iran's top diplomat arrives in Geneva for indirect talks with the U.S., expressing readiness to discuss the nuclear program if sanctions are eased; separate reports on U.S. officials meeting allies like Hungary's Orbán for nuclear cooperation.
3. Redistricting and congressional map fights: Republican senators oppose moves in states like Maryland; Republicans urge the Supreme Court to restore New York's congressional map for 2026 elections.
4. Trump administration influences: Reports on Fed rate cut pushes and broader foreign policy alignments.

5. Civilizational Erasure Spat: At the Munich Security Conference, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas explicitly rejected the Trump administration’s December strategy claim that Europe faces "civilizational erasure" due to immigration and birth rates.

6. Primary Season Kickoff: Tomorrow marks the start of early voting for the March primaries in states like Texas, setting the stage for the 2026 midterm elections.

7. Border Czar Drawdown: "Border Czar" Tom Homan announced that a small security force will remain in Minnesota following a significant drawdown of enforcement actions in the region.

World Affairs

1. Iran protests and nuclear discussions: Massive demonstrations against Iran's government continue in places like Munich; indirect U.S.-Iran talks in Geneva amid Strait of Hormuz drills.
2. Ukraine-Russia developments: Ukraine team heads to Geneva talks as both sides build military pressure; related Olympic coverage mentions Russia-Ukraine context.
3. North Korea housing for fallen soldiers: Completion of a new district in Pyongyang for families of troops killed in Ukraine.
4. Middle East updates: Israel begins contentious West Bank land registration; Indonesia prepares troops for potential Gaza peacekeeping; U.S. airstrikes target ISIS in Syria.
5. Syria shifts: Syrian Army advances into Kurdish regions, potentially unifying control.

6. Iran Nuclear Talks: Iran’s top diplomat met with the IAEA head in Geneva today, ahead of a high-stakes second round of U.S.-Iran negotiations hosted by Oman.

7. Israel West Bank Registration: The Israeli government has approved a process to register West Bank land as "state property," a move sparking sharp condemnation from Arab nations and international critics.

8. China Visa-Free Entry: Starting tomorrow, China is granting visa-free entry to citizens of Canada and the UK, bringing the total number of countries with such access to 79 in an effort to boost tourism.

Education

1. Academic honors announcements: Universities like Alabama release Dean's and President's List recognitions for fall 2025.
2. K-12 funding and ROI debates: Discussions on tracking educational return on investment amid high national spending; federal Department of Education budget signed at $79 billion.
3. Local recognitions: Students highlighted for leadership, like at Santa Fe High School.
4. Policy and privacy concerns: Panels on digital learning tools and privacy issues in schools.

5. IIM Guwahati Inauguration: Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the first academic session of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Guwahati, a major milestone for higher education in Northeast India.

6. Digital Marking Shift: Following the CBSE's lead, the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) announced it will introduce on-screen digital evaluation for answer sheets starting with the March 2026 exams.

7. JEE Main Results: The National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to release the January session results for the JEE Main 2026 by the end of today.

Economy

1. Big Tech AI spending backlash: Major tech stocks (e.g., Microsoft, Amazon) lose hundreds of billions in market value amid fears that heavy AI infrastructure spending may not yield returns.
2. Global economic previews: Flash PMI surveys, GDP, and inflation data expected this week; Japan's narrow growth defies tariff impacts.
3. Market closures: U.S. markets closed for Presidents' Day.
4. Broader trends: Concerns over memory chip shortages threatening AI buildout and global supply chains.

5. "Big Tech Flex": Politico has dubbed 2026 the year of the "big tech flex," as Silicon Valley billionaires pour record amounts of cash into California elections to influence the race for Gavin Newsom’s successor.

6. Tariff Debate: Economic analysts are weighing the impact of the "America First" tariffs as primary campaigns begin, with affordability remaining the top concern for voters.

7. Global Shares: Most global shares advanced today, though Japan saw a slight dip ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays.

Technology

1. AI market wipeout and spending fears: Trillions potentially at risk as investors reassess AI's disruptive impact; big tech signals $600B+ in AI infrastructure plans but faces valuation drops.
2. Memory chip shortage crisis: Industry leaders (e.g., Tim Cook, Elon Musk) warn of global crunch due to AI data center demand inflating prices and hitting profits.
3. Data center backlash: Rural communities push back against Big Tech AI data center builds promising jobs but raising local concerns.
4. Other AI developments: Accusations like Google allegedly using voices for AI tools without permission.

5. AI Video Controversy: Hollywood groups have officially condemned ByteDance’s new AI video generator, alleging widespread copyright infringement of cinematic assets.

6. India AI Summit: NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang unexpectedly canceled his visit to the high-stakes AI Impact Summit in India, citing "unforeseen circumstances," though the event proceeds with 20 other global leaders.

7. Autonomous Payments: Waystar (Nasdaq: WAY) was recognized for its "AltitudeAI" suite, which has reportedly prevented $15.5 billion in healthcare claim denials through automated workflows.

Health

1. Kaiser Permanente strike ongoing: Over 31,000 workers (including nurses) in fourth week of walkout demanding better pay/staffing, disrupting appointments and care in California and Hawaii.
2. Bipartisan bill to curb health conglomerates: Proposal to prohibit companies from both providing services and setting payments to reduce conflicts and costs.
3. Jet lag compound discovery: Japanese scientists identify a potential compound to speed recovery from jet lag.
4. Veteran support expansions: Initiatives like Narcan vending machines in Michigan hospitals.

5. Narcan Vending Machines: A regional initiative in Michigan has expanded access to life-saving Narcan vending machines at several hospitals to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic.

6. Study on Fasting: A new study released today suggests that intermittent fasting may be no more effective for long-term weight loss than standard calorie-restricted diets.

7. Cancer Prevention: New dietary guidelines from leading oncologists emphasize specific plant-based shifts to reduce lifetime cancer risks.

Sports

1. 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina: U.S. men's hockey beats Germany 5-1 (Auston Matthews scores twice) to stay undefeated and clinch strong seeding; ongoing figure skating and other events.
2. NBA All-Star Game 2026: New USA vs. World format revives excitement; Team USA Stars (MVP Anthony Edwards) wins title in final rout.
3. Daytona 500: Tyler Reddick wins with last-lap pass; mentions of Michael Jordan as a "winner" in context.
4. Other highlights: Real Madrid affiliates top tables in soccer; various college/high school recognitions.

5. Winter Olympics: In a major comeback story, American skier Lindsey Vonn announced she is returning to the U.S. for further surgeries after a heavy crash in the downhill event effectively ended her Olympic dream.

6. NBA All-Star Review: Media outlets are dissecting a "high and low" All-Star weekend, praising the competitive game but largely panning the dunk contest.

7. T20 World Cup: India defeated Pakistan in a tense group stage match in Colombo; notably, the Indian team declined the customary post-match handshake.

Note: It's Presidents' Day in the U.S., so some coverage is lighter, with focus on holidays, ongoing events like the Olympics, and carryover stories from the weekend.

EDUCATION SPECIAL
TOP US EDUCATION NEWS TODAY
TOP WORLD EDUCATION NEWS TODAY

Today is Monday, February 16, 2026. Education systems are currently undergoing significant shifts, particularly in the United States, where federal policy is being rapidly restructured under the second Trump administration.

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🇺🇸 Top US Education News

The domestic landscape is defined by a "Returning Education to the States" initiative and intensified civil rights investigations.

• Investigation into "Race-Based" Budgeting: The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has launched a high-profile investigation into the Louisiana Board of Regents. The probe targets a Master Plan that allegedly prioritized student recruitment and graduation based on race (excluding white and Asian students), which the administration claims violates Title VI.

• FAFSA 2027-28 Kickoff: In an effort to avoid the technical disasters of previous years, the Department has already published the information collection for the 2027-28 FAFSA form, signaling an earlier-than-usual start to the federal aid cycle.

• A "Year of Disruption" in Review: New reports marking the first year of the second Trump term highlight approximately $12 billion in education funding disruptions. This includes the cancellation of federal research projects and the dismantling of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives across universities.

• National Tour: Secretary of Education Linda McMahon is currently on the "Returning Education to the States" tour, visiting schools in Alabama and Illinois to promote local control and vocational training.

• LSAT Security Overhaul: The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) recently announced it is moving back toward in-center testing for the LSAT, ending the primary online option due to growing cheating concerns.

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🌍 Top World Education News

Global trends are focusing on the "Future Readiness" of universities and the impact of AI on student mobility.

• TIME 2026 World University Rankings: TIME has released its inaugural global rankings, with the University of Oxford taking the #1 spot. A major focus of this year's data is "Innovation and Economic Impact," where FSU (ranked #1 in Florida) and several Chinese institutions have shown massive gains.

• UK's "Decade of National Renewal": The British government has unveiled a 10-year Education Estates Strategy to fix crumbling school infrastructure. This follows years of neglect and recent safety crises involving "RAAC" (aerated concrete) in school buildings.

• UNESCO's Youth Push: In preparation for the International Day of Education, UNESCO is highlighting a "participation gap" in educational decision-making. New reports show that while youth under 30 are the primary "consumers" of education, they are largely excluded from policy-making.

• Global AI Skills Gap: At the Apollo–Leicester Education Summit, leaders warned of a "social divide" if AI and computing skills aren't integrated into core curricula globally. Currently, Singapore leads the world with 3 in 4 teachers using AI, while France and Japan remain below 20%.

• International Student Mobility: Student visa caps in Canada and the US are beginning to shift the market. Projections suggest the "Big Four" (US, UK, Canada, Australia) will see their market share of international students drop to 35% as students seek more flexible destinations.