Wednesday, February 18, 2026

MORNING NEWS UPDATE: FEBRUARY 18, 2026

 

MORNING NEWS UPDATE: FEBRUARY 18, 2026

U.S. News

  1. Democrats plan boycott of Trump's State of the Union address — Several Democratic lawmakers intend to skip President Trump's upcoming State of the Union speech and attend a counter-rally called the "People’s State of the Union" on the National Mall, aiming to avoid distractions and present a unified resistance message.
  2. Avalanche in California leaves skiers missing — Rescue efforts continue after an avalanche near Lake Tahoe; 6 people rescued, but 9 California skiers remain missing amid winter storms.
  3. ICE-related incidents and restrictions — Protests in Savannah, Georgia, follow a teacher's death during an ICE operation; Maryland Gov. Moore signs new legislation restricting ICE, and a judge extends protections in related cases.
  4. Mark Zuckerberg testifies in social media trial — Meta's CEO takes the stand in a case examining whether platforms like Instagram contribute to teen mental health issues.

  5. FBI Investigates ICE Brutality: Federal authorities have launched an investigation into the arrest of a Mexican citizen in Minnesota that left the man with eight skull fractures.

  6. ICE Detention Backlash: A conservative town in Georgia (Social Circle) is making headlines for pushing back against a proposed ICE detention center, citing concerns over emergency services and community safety.

  7. Avalanche in Northern California: Search and rescue teams are currently looking for nine missing skiers following a major avalanche in the Northern California mountains; six others have been rescued.

Politics

  1. Democrats boycott/counter Trump's State of the Union — House Democrats organize a boycott and alternative rally to respond to Trump's address, learning from past distractions.
  2. Trump administration pushes on immigration and tariffs — Adviser suggests punishing Fed researchers over tariffs views; DHS workforce doubled for ICE under Trump.
  3. Speculation on Supreme Court retirement — Discussions swirl about Justice Samuel Alito potentially retiring, allowing Trump a fourth appointment.
  4. U.S. envoy reports progress in Ukraine-Russia talks — But sessions end quickly with limited breakthroughs.

  5. Jesse Jackson Tributes: Civil rights icon Jesse Jackson passed away yesterday at age 84. World leaders and activists are sharing tributes today, celebrating his legacy in civil rights and Arab-American empowerment.

  6. Colbert vs. CBS: Late-night host Stephen Colbert is feuding with CBS and Paramount after the network pulled an interview with a Texas Democratic candidate, allegedly over fears of violating new FCC guidance.

  7. Trump Administration Moves: The administration is currently facing pushback from states regarding the use of AI in insurance, while also making efforts to reconcile with pharmaceutical companies over policy disputes.

World Affairs

  1. U.S.-mediated Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Geneva stall — Talks conclude without major progress on territory or key political issues; Zelenskyy accuses Russia of dragging out negotiations.
  2. U.S.-Iran nuclear talks show "good progress" — Initial discussions in Geneva yield understanding on guiding principles, though Trump sets red lines.
  3. France launches Epstein-related probes — Investigations into human trafficking and financial fraud tied to Jeffrey Epstein's contacts.
  4. Ongoing Winter Olympics in Italy — International focus on events like Mikaela Shiffrin's performances.

  5. U.S.-Iran Nuclear "Guiding Principles": In a major diplomatic development in Geneva, the U.S. and Iran have reached an understanding on "guiding principles" for a nuclear deal, though both sides continue to ramp up military posturing.

  6. Russia-Ukraine Negotiations: Difficult U.S.-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine concluded in Geneva with plans for more negotiations as the conflict remains at a stalemate.

  7. Japan-EU Security Dialogue: Japan and the EU held a Political Directors Dialogue in Tokyo today, pledging to elevate their strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions.

Education

  1. U.S. Dept. of Education's "History Rocks!" tour — Secretary Linda McMahon launches civics initiative with partners like Turning Point USA and Hillsdale College to promote "God-centered" history education amid department changes.
  2. Ongoing board exams in India — CBSE Class 12 Physical Education and Maharashtra HSC Chemistry exams held; analyses and student reactions widespread.
  3. Teacher suspensions for cheating — In India, five teachers suspended for aiding mass copying in Class 12 exams.

  4. Wharton's "Resilient Leader" Program: The Wharton School launched a new executive program today focused on leading through "structural uncertainty," treating resilience as a strategic capability rather than a personality trait.

  5. Global Higher Ed Mapping: The American Council on Education (ACE) released new tools to help universities map internationalization and assess student outcomes for non-first-time students.

  6. Federal Aid Debate: New research released today suggests that federal aid levels rarely impact the tuition policies of individual colleges, countering long-held arguments that aid drives up costs.

Economy

  1. Stock market mixed but tech rebounds — Major indexes edge higher; tech stocks recover as AI concerns ease, with Nvidia deals (e.g., multi-year with Meta) boosting sentiment.
  2. Pre-market futures point up — Investors await Fed minutes; Berkshire Hathaway reduces stakes in major firms like Amazon and Apple.
  3. Commodity surges — Gold hits record highs around $5,600/oz, silver surges 300%.

  4. Social Security COLA Increase: 71 million Americans are seeing higher checks today as the SSA deposits payments for mid-month birthdays, reflecting a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).

  5. Small Business Energy Crisis: A new NFIB report reveals that 80% of small businesses are being significantly impacted by rising energy costs, with most absorbing the hit through lower profits rather than job cuts.

  6. Japan's Export Surge: Japan reported a 16.8% jump in exports for January—the fastest growth in three years—driven by pre-Lunar New Year shipments to China.

Technology

  1. Tech stocks rebound on easing AI worries — Nvidia leads gains after announcing chip sales to Meta; broader megacap recovery.
  2. Google I/O 2026 date announced — Alongside Apple prepping AI hardware like smart glasses and wearables.
  3. Anthropic releases Claude Sonnet 4.6 — New AI model update; other developments in iOS betas and sharing features.

  4. Google I/O 2026 Dates: Google officially announced that its annual developer conference will take place May 19–20, with high expectations for the reveal of Android XR-powered smart glasses.

  5. Anthropic's Claude 4.6: Anthropic released Claude Sonnet 4.6 today, continuing the rapid cycle of generative AI model updates.

  6. Apple AI Hardware: Rumors are intensifying around a new lineup of dedicated Apple AI hardware devices expected to be teased in upcoming developer betas.

Health

  1. Lifelong learning linked to lower Alzheimer's risk — Study shows pursuit of knowledge delays onset by years and reduces risk significantly.
  2. FDA reverses and reviews Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine — Agency agrees to evaluate for potential approval after initial rejection.
  3. Military rations pilot for "real food" — HHS program to improve meal quality at bases amid pesticide concerns.

  4. Roundup Settlement: Bayer has proposed a $7.25 billion settlement to resolve thousands of U.S. lawsuits alleging that the weedkiller Roundup causes cancer.

  5. Pollution & Alzheimer’s: A massive study of 27.8 million Americans published today suggests a direct link between air pollution and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

  6. FDA Vaccine Reversal: In a pivot, the FDA is reviewing a flu vaccine it had previously rejected, as CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz urges the public to get measles shots amid rising infection rates.

Sports

  1. Mikaela Shiffrin wins Olympic gold in slalom — Redemption for the U.S. skier in her best event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, after earlier misses.
  2. U.S. silver in cross-country team sprint — Ogden and Schumacher medal; Diggins falls short.
  3. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo wins 10th gold — Norwegian dominates; broader Day 12 Olympic events in curling, alpine, etc.

  4. 2026 Winter Olympics: As the Games continue, a major theme has emerged: longevity. Analysts are focusing on "40 being the new 30" as older elite athletes dominate the standings.

  5. MMA Comebacks: MMA legends Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano have officially announced they are ending their retirements for a high-profile fight scheduled for this May.

  6. College Swimming Awards: The MAAC announced its Swimming & Diving Coach of the Year awards today, with Fairfield University’s Jake Lichter sweeping the honors for both men's and women's teams.

These reflect prominent stories circulating today—politics and Olympics are especially dominant. Stay safe out there!


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

Today in education, news is dominated by aggressive federal civil rights investigations in the U.S. and a major controversy involving AI and academic integrity in India.

Top US Education News

1. Federal Civil Rights Investigations Intensify

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has launched several high-profile investigations this week:

  • Portland Public Schools: A Title VI investigation was opened into the district's "Center for Black Student Excellence." The probe alleges that the center's exclusive academic interventions and support for Black students discriminate against other student groups who face similar challenges.

  • Louisiana Board of Regents: The OCR is probing whether the state's "Master Plan for Higher Education" violates federal law by allegedly using race-based priorities in its executive budget.

  • Puyallup School District (WA): A directed investigation is underway following reports of a female wrestler being sexually assaulted by a male competitor, raising significant Title IX concerns.

2. FAFSA 2027–28 Kickoff

The Department of Education has officially begun the development process for the 2027–28 FAFSA form, aiming for an October 1, 2026 launch. Key changes announced include "pre-populating" data for returning students to make renewals faster and stripping out complex jargon to make the form more "family-friendly."

3. Curricular and Accreditation Shifts

  • "Controversial" Teaching Restrictions: The University of Texas System is currently reviewing a proposal that would restrict the teaching of "controversial" subjects. Faculty groups have criticized the policy as "sweeping and vague."

  • Law School Review: Top judicial officials have formed a new working group to review law school accreditation standards, specifically looking at how the American Bar Association (ABA) sets requirements for bar exam eligibility.

Top World Education News

1. India: AI Scandal at Galgotias University

A major controversy erupted at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi today. Galgotias University faced immediate backlash (and an eviction order from the summit) after a professor allegedly presented a Chinese-made robot dog (the Unitree Go2) as the university's own proprietary invention, "Orion." The incident has sparked a national debate about academic honesty and the pressure to produce "homegrown" AI tech.

2. UNESCO: Media Law Reforms in Lebanon

UNESCO has welcomed the finalization of a new draft Media Law in Lebanon. The law is a significant milestone for regional education and journalism, as it abolishes the imprisonment of media professionals for publication offenses and strengthens the independence of media organizations from political interference.

3. Global Higher Ed Trends for 2026

A series of reports released today highlight a "demographic cliff" hitting global universities. Key trends include:

  • International Enrollment Drops: New international student enrollment in the U.S. is reportedly down 17%, driven by restrictive visa policies and rising costs.

  • The "Career KPI": University systems are overhauling strategic plans to make job placement the primary measure of success, moving away from traditional graduation rates.

  • Micro-credentials: There is a massive global shift toward "stackable" digital badges and short-term certifications as students increasingly question the ROI of a traditional four-year degree.


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