MORNING NEWS UPDATE: FEBRUARY 13, 2026

U.S. News

1. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the brink of shutdown — Congress remains deadlocked on funding, potentially leading to a partial government shutdown focused on DHS amid disputes over immigration enforcement.
2. End of immigration crackdown in Minnesota — Border Czar Tom Homan announced the termination of the months-long ICE operation following protests and incidents, including fatal shootings.
3. Ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie — The FBI doubled its reward to $100,000 for information on the abduction of Savannah Guthrie's mother, with new details released on day 13 of the investigation.
4. University campus shooting in South Carolina — A shooting incident occurred, drawing national attention to campus safety.
5. Goldman Sachs executive resigns over Epstein-linked emails — A top lawyer is stepping down following revelations tied to Jeffrey Epstein communications.

6. Controversial Deportation Costs: A Senate report reveals the Trump administration paid over $32 million to five foreign governments (including Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea) to accept 300 non-citizen deportees—averaging over $1 million per person.

7. EPA Rule Change: President Trump and EPA Director Lee Zeldin announced that the EPA will no longer regulate greenhouse gases, a move that has sparked immediate legal threats from environmental groups.

8. Minnesota Coaching Milestone: P.J. Fleck’s contract has been revised to $7.9 million annually as he enters his 10th season with the Gophers, placing him among the top 10 highest-paid coaches in the Big Ten.

Politics

1. DHS funding deadlock and potential shutdown — Lawmakers left Washington without a deal, risking a third funding lapse in Trump's second term, centered on immigration policy.
2. Trump administration actions and announcements — Border czar ends Minnesota ICE surge; Trump plans military meetings and weighs options on Iran; pardons issued for former NFL players.
3. Munich Security Conference tensions — U.S. officials face criticism from European leaders (e.g., German Chancellor Merz) over shifts in American foreign policy and NATO relations.
4. Criticism of Trump from Kamala Harris — The former VP spoke out against normalizing certain administration behaviors during a public appearance.
5. Court order on Venezuelan migrants — A judge requires the administration to facilitate returns for some deported under the Alien Enemies Act.

6. USS Gerald R. Ford Deployed: The world’s largest aircraft carrier has been ordered to the Middle East from the Caribbean as the White House weighs military options regarding Iran.

7. Voting Rules Legislation: The House passed the Save America Act, a Trump-backed bill aimed at imposing new federal voting rules, though it faces a steep climb in the Senate.

8. DHS Funding Standoff: Senate Democrats have officially blocked DHS funding in a protest against current immigration and deportation tactics.

World Affairs

1. Munich Security Conference underway — Discussions highlight irritation in NATO over U.S. remarks, with German leaders warning the "rules-based international order no longer exists" amid Trump's foreign policy reorientation.
2. U.S.-Iran tensions — President Trump weighs potential military action against Iran's nuclear sites, with ongoing military buildup.
3. Gaza ceasefire and policing plans — Under Trump's plan, Arab countries and the EU would train a new Gaza police force.
4. Britain's court ruling on Pro-Palestinian group — A ban on Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was deemed disproportionate.
5. Other global notes — China's alleged secret nuclear tests and broader alliance pressures.

6. U.S. Syria Withdrawal: CENTCOM confirmed the U.S. military has completed its withdrawal from the al-Tanf base in southern Syria after a decade-long presence.

7. Bangladesh Election Upheaval: The BNP has claimed a landslide victory in Bangladesh’s elections, marking a return to power after 20 years.

8. Storm Nils Hits France: A severe storm has left nearly 850,000 households without power in southern France, causing widespread flooding and at least one confirmed death.

Education

1. Higher ed trends and challenges — Discussions on diversity hiring reckoning, threats to private colleges from public baccalaureate expansions (e.g., in Iowa), and surveys on what keeps administrators up at night.
2. Initiatives in India — Launches like the IndiVerse Comics Challenge for folklore storytelling and free AI courses via Coursera/IndiaAI Mission.
3. U.S. efforts — Focus on increasing Black educators through higher ed pathways and industry-aligned programs/tutoring models in various states.
4. Other developments — Bans on certain graduations and faculty incidents tied to broader controversies.

5. EdTech Market Surge: A new report shows the K12 education technology market is projected to reach $39.92 billion this year, driven by AI integration and VR/AR classroom tools.

6. Fact-Checking Clubs: In response to rising digital misinformation, several universities have launched student fact-check clubs (like "Mei" at Stella Maris College) to build media literacy skills.

7. Indo-Austrian Research: A high-level delegation from Austria is in New Delhi this week to finalize new higher education and research collaborations between the two nations.

Economy

1. Stock market sell-off — Major indexes fell sharply (Dow -1.3%, S&P -1.6%, Nasdaq -2%) due to tech/AI sector concerns despite big tech's massive AI spending.
2. Inflation report anticipation — Markets await January CPI data, expected to show cooling, offering consumer relief amid tariff and policy uncertainties.
3. Housing market decline — January home sales dropped significantly due to weather and low confidence.
4. Dollar volatility — Ongoing weakening and concerns over reserve currency stability.

5. Inflation Update: Annual inflation slowed to 2.4% in January, providing some relief to consumers, though financial stress gauges remain at historic highs due to rising consumer debt.

6. Major Wealth Merger: Nuveen (TIAA’s investment arm) has agreed to acquire London-based Schroders for £9.9 billion, creating a global asset management giant with $2.5 trillion under management.

7. Mortgage Rates: Despite declining inflation, mortgage rates remain a focal point for the housing market as the Fed signals a "wait and see" approach for the spring.

Technology

1. AI funding boom — Anthropic raises $30 billion at a $380 billion valuation, underscoring the relentless AI arms race.
2. Nvidia and AI infrastructure — Shares cool despite ballooning capex from Meta, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Amazon exceeding $600 billion estimates.
3. Quantum computing race — High-stakes investments and venture capital flood the sector for advances in drug discovery, ML, cybersecurity, and more.
4. Fintech leadership changes — Upstart promotes CTO Paul Gu to CEO.
5. Other — Bitcoin decline and NASA allowing personal cellphones in space.

6. SpaceX Crew-12: NASA and SpaceX successfully launched the Crew-12 mission early this morning; the Dragon capsule Freedom is currently en route to the International Space Station.

7. Genesis Mission AI: The Department of Energy announced 26 "Genesis Mission" challenges, a flagship initiative to double U.S. research productivity through AI-enabled science and security.

8. Russia Blocks WhatsApp: In a major digital crackdown, Russia has attempted to fully block WhatsApp to force citizens toward state-monitored surveillance apps.

Health

1. Rise in colorectal cancer among under-50s — Highlighted by actor James Van Der Beek's death at 48, as it becomes a leading cancer killer in younger adults.
2. Outbreak alerts — Extensively drug-resistant Salmonella linked to moringa powder capsules.
3. Cancer care access — Study suggests rural patients may not need to travel to urban centers for lung/colon cancer treatment, with similar outcomes.
4. ACA policy proposals — Trump team eyes catastrophic coverage to address rising premiums.
5. Other — Microplastics research and maternal health initiatives.

6. Colorectal Cancer Warning: Health officials and the media are highlighting a rise in colorectal cancer in adults under 50, following the recent death of actor James Van Der Beek at age 48.

7. Vegan Diet & Diabetes: A new study suggests a low-fat vegan diet can reduce insulin needs by nearly 30% for those with Type 1 diabetes.

8. Depression Prevention: Research released today indicates that swapping just one hour of TV daily for physical activity significantly slashes the risk of major depression in middle-aged adults

Sports

1. 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina — Day 7 highlights include Ilia Malinin competing for figure skating gold, Team USA women's hockey entering knockout round vs. Italy (strong group play), and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo winning his eighth gold in cross-country skiing.
2. Ongoing events — Multiple medal events in figure skating, hockey, and more.

3. Big Ten Basketball: No. 2 Michigan rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat Northwestern 87-75, while the No. 7 Michigan women's team dominated Northwestern 80-58.

4. State Gymnastics: The Class A and AA state gymnastics meets kick off today in Mitchell, SD, with Harrisburg and Mitchell Kernels favored for the titles.

5. Olympic Disqualification: A Ukrainian skeleton athlete was disqualified from the Winter Games today for wearing a helmet featuring portraits of fallen soldiers, cited as a violation of political neutrality rules.

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

These reflect the dominant headlines circulating today—politics and immigration enforcement remain particularly prominent amid the Trump administration's second term.

Here is a summary of the top education news for February 13, 2026.

---

🇺🇸 Top US Education News

The domestic landscape is currently dominated by major shifts in federal funding and local legal battles over school safety and inclusion.

• Federal AI Literacy Framework: The U.S. Department of Labor officially released a new Artificial Intelligence Literacy Framework today. It aims to guide K-12 and workforce education systems in teaching students how to navigate an AI-driven economy safely and effectively.

• DEI Funding Cancellations: Major reports highlight the immediate fallout from mid-year cuts to federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) grants. Over $160 million in "community school" grants were recently canceled, leading to the sudden loss of after-school clubs, tutoring, and mental health services in several states.

• Conflict Over Immigration Enforcement: Two school districts and a teachers union in Minnesota have filed a lawsuit to prevent ICE agents from entering school property. The suit alleges that recent immigration enforcement actions on or near campuses are disrupting the educational environment and causing widespread student fear.

• Pentagon Cuts Ties with Harvard: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the termination of graduate-level training programs for military personnel at Harvard University, citing concerns over "radical ideologies" and a shift toward more traditional "warrior-focused" training.

• School Closures & Strikes: San Francisco educators remain on strike over salary and healthcare disputes, while heavy winter storms in the D.C. metro area have forced several districts into their sixth consecutive day of closures or delays.

---

🌍 Top World Education News

Global headlines focus on long-term learning declines and regional policy shifts.

• World Bank Warning on "Human Capital": A major new report from the World Bank warns of a "deterioration" in global education, specifically in low- and middle-income countries. It notes that learning outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa are lower than they were 15 years ago, threatening the future earning potential of an entire generation.

• UAE Ramadan Schedule: The UAE Ministry of Education announced that government schools will shift to remote learning every Friday during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan to support "wellbeing and family engagement."

• UK Rejoins Erasmus+: In a major move for European higher education, the UK government has hailed a "colossal" budget for 2027 as it prepares to rejoin the Erasmus+ student exchange program, signaling a thaw in post-Brexit academic relations.

• Indian Education "Brain Drain": New data from The PIE Live India 2026 conference reveals that Indian students spent an estimated ₹6.3 trillion (approx. $75B) studying abroad last year, prompting calls for India to accelerate the opening of international branch campuses at home.

• Canada School Shooting: Tragedy struck in British Columbia, where a shooting at a school and a nearby home left 10 people dead, including the suspect, sparking a renewed international debate on campus security protocols.