MORNING NEWS UPDATE: FEBRUARY 24, 2026

U.S. News

1. President Trump's first State of the Union address of his second term is set for tonight at 9:00 PM ET, with expectations he'll focus on the economy, affordability, border security, and recent policy wins amid Democratic boycotts and a planned response from Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger.
2. Northeast recovery from a major winter storm, with ongoing weather impacts and cleanup efforts highlighted in local and national reports.
3. Justice Department withheld Epstein-related files involving allegations against President Trump, according to an NPR investigation into public database omissions.
4. NFL Scouting Combine underway in Indianapolis, with live updates from coach and GM sessions as teams evaluate prospects for the 2026 draft.

5. State of the Union Address: President Trump is set to deliver his first State of the Union address of his second term tonight. Key themes include his 15% global tariff plan and a hardline stance on Iran. Governor Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) will deliver the Democratic response.

6. Supreme Court Tariff Ruling: The Supreme Court recently struck down the President's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose broad tariffs. In response, Trump has vowed to use Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to implement a 15% global tariff.

7. Taxpayer Travel Scrutiny: FBI Director Kash Patel is facing renewed criticism for his use of taxpayer funds to travel to the Winter Olympics in Italy.

8. Winter Olympics Conclusion: Team USA has officially capped its "golden run" at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games, which saw a 96% increase in viewership compared to the 2022 Beijing Games.

Politics

1. Trump's State of the Union address dominates coverage, amid economic pressures and diplomatic tensions; some Democrats plan to boycott, and the speech follows recent Supreme Court setbacks.
2. Trump considering targeted military strike against Iran, with his top general (Gen. Dan Caine) privately warning of high risks and casualties despite public optimism from Trump.
3. Administration scrambles post-Supreme Court tariff ruling, with Trump raising global tariffs to 15% (from 10%) effective immediately, despite the court's decision striking down key elements.
4. Democrats select Gov. Abigail Spanberger to deliver the response to the State of the Union.

World Affairs

1. Ukraine marks the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, entering its fifth year with President Zelenskiy vowing to fight on and seek peace/justice; allies remain divided amid frontline attrition and robotic warfare shifts.
2. U.S. military buildup near Iran intensifies, with concerns over potential strikes and ongoing nuclear talks; protests against Iran's regime have restarted.
3. Violence surges in Mexico after the killing of cartel leader "El Mencho," leading to over 70 deaths in related clashes.
4. EU warns Trump's new tariff policy breaks trade agreements, heightening global trade tensions.

5. Ukraine War 4-Year Anniversary: President Emmanuel Macron marked the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion by calling the war a "triple failure" for Russia. Reports indicate Russian casualties have exceeded 1.2 million.

6. U.S.-Iran Tensions: The U.S. has ordered non-emergency personnel to leave the embassy in Beirut. Diplomatic tensions remain high following reports of a potential military buildup near Iran.

7. Mexico Cartel Violence: Following the killing of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader "El Mencho," retaliatory violence has surged across parts of Mexico, sparking concerns about a power vacuum.

Education

1. California releases new guide to its school data dashboard, fulfilling a promise to help parents and the public better understand and decipher K-12 performance metrics amid modest student gains.
2. U.S. Education Department partners with State Department to track universities' foreign funding and gifts, part of broader efforts to review compliance and potential national security threats.
3. William & Mary hosts AI in education sprint, rethinking teaching and research with generative AI for an AI-enabled future.
4. Global online education market updates highlight competitive landscapes, mergers, and innovations in edtech.

5. AI in Higher Ed: William & Mary hosted its second annual "AI Sprint," where faculty and students are redesigning curriculum to focus on "agentic AI" and ethical judgment rather than traditional rote learning.

6. Autism Care AI: A new AI app developed at UT San Antonio is being hailed as a "game changer" for caregivers of children with autism, helping bridge communication barriers in rural areas.

Economy

1. Trump imposes/raises global tariffs (starting at 10%, now to 15%) via temporary import surcharge to address trade deficits, despite Supreme Court ruling; businesses face uncertainty and stock markets dip on policy concerns.
2. Stock market closes lower, dragged by tech stocks amid tariff uncertainty, AI disruption fears, and factory orders decline.
3. Fed official sees limited rate impact from tariff ruling, with ongoing uncertainty around policy and economic data like consumer confidence.
4. Jamie Dimon warns investors to "take a deep breath" amid high asset prices and potential risks in the bullish market.

5. Global Trade Uncertainty: The European Union has paused a major U.S. trade deal as it seeks clarity on the new 15% global tariffs. Markets have reacted with volatility, particularly affecting companies reliant on international supply chains.

6. Argentina Mining Debate: Lawmakers in Argentina are debating changes to the "National Glacier Law" to allow mining for critical minerals near freshwater sources, following a new economic deal with the U.S.

7. Stock Market Volatility: U.S. stocks saw a dip today as investors dumped potential "AI losers" and braced for the impact of new trade levies on consumer goods.

Technology

1. Nvidia earnings preview as a major test for the AI market, with expectations around data center revenue, Blackwell chip sales, and competition from custom AI chips by hyperscalers.
2. IBM stock plunges sharply (over 13%) after Anthropic touts AI-driven modernization of legacy systems like Cobol, raising fears of disruption in traditional tech sectors.
3. Banking tech updates include migrations to modern cores (e.g., Temenos, Mambu) and innovations in fintech.
4. AI concerns weigh on stocks, with countdown to Nvidia results amid debates on whether the AI boom is plateauing.

5. OpenAI Hardware Push: Reports emerged today that OpenAI is developing its first consumer hardware—a $200 smart speaker with a built-in camera—slated for a 2027 release.

Health

1. Novo Nordisk/United Labs obesity drug trial shows up to 19.7% weight loss in mid-stage results for their "triple G" candidate, advancing competition in the GLP-1 space.
2. U.S. News & World Report names top home health agencies for 2026, recognizing over 1,300 for high performance in care quality and patient experience.
3. Scientists engineer bacteria to target and consume cancer tumors from within, in promising new research.
4. Intense training may rewire gut bacteria, with studies linking harder workouts to microbiome changes and potential health benefits.

5. Measles Outbreak: Hospitals across the Carolinas are struggling with a measles outbreak. Public health officials are concerned as many current doctors have never seen the disease in person, leading to delays in quarantine.

6. Home Health Rankings: U.S. News & World Report released its first-ever ratings for "Best Home Health," evaluating over 12,000 Medicare-certified agencies to help families manage post-acute care.

Sports

1. 2026 NFL Scouting Combine continues with key interviews and evaluations in Indianapolis, building toward the draft.
2. Duke rises to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll for a record 148th time, with shifts for Florida and Alabama.
3. UCLA wins outright Big Ten regular-season title in men's basketball with a strong victory.
4. Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina conclude, with Team USA finishing strong (notably in hockey and other events).

5. Mayweather-Pacquiao Rematch: Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao have officially agreed to a rematch this September. The fight will be held at The Sphere in Las Vegas and streamed on Netflix.

6. College Basketball: No. 18 North Carolina narrowly defeated No. 24 Louisville (77-74) behind a career-high 30-point performance from Seth Trimble.

These stories capture the most prominent developments circulating today. For real-time updates, especially on the State of the Union, check major news outlets.

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

Today's education landscape is marked by a pivot toward "results-driven AI" and significant policy shifts regarding international student mobility. Here are the top stories for February 24, 2026.

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🇺🇸 Top US Education News

The domestic focus today is on legislative oversight of emerging technologies and a significant tightening of higher education oversight.

• Congressional Hearing on AI in Schools: Today at 2:00 PM, the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education is holding a key hearing titled "Building an AI-Ready America: Teaching in the AI Age." Expert witnesses, including state superintendents, are testifying on how to integrate generative AI into K-12 classrooms while managing risks like plagiarism and data privacy.

• International Enrollment "Re-Routing": A major report released today by GMAC reveals a sharp "Trump Effect" in higher education. Approximately 40% of international graduate candidates now say they are less likely to study in the US due to recent policy shifts. New international enrollments fell 19% year-over-year as of the latest data, with the sharpest declines coming from India and China.

• Special Education Surge: Federal data analyzed today shows a 3.8% increase in the number of US students qualifying for special education services (IDEA). Autism and developmental delays remain the fastest-growing categories, putting renewed pressure on district budgets.

• Accreditation Reform: The Department of Education is moving forward with its "Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization" (AIM) initiative. The goal is to dismantle what the administration calls a "protectionist system," moving toward a model that prioritizes data-driven student outcomes over traditional institutional standards.

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🌍 Top World Education News

Globally, the "Big Four" study destinations (US, UK, Canada, Australia) are seeing a redistribution of talent due to new restrictive visa caps.

• Canada's New International Cap: Canada has officially implemented its reduced cap for 2026, dropping from 300,000 to 155,000 new study permits. Notably, Master’s and PhD students remain exempt, signaling a shift toward prioritizing high-level research over general undergraduate enrollment.

• The Rise of the "Skills Economy": A global trend report released today highlights a massive shift toward modular learning. In Europe and South Asia, governments are increasingly funding micro-credentials and technical apprenticeships over traditional three-year degrees to address immediate labor shortages in green energy and tech.

• Online Education Market Boom: The global online education market is now projected to reach $880 billion by 2033, growing at a rate of over 11% annually. Today's industry analysis highlights that "flexible, AI-powered platforms" (like Coursera and Duolingo) are seeing record adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

• UK Erasmus+ Re-entry Preparations: Discussions have intensified today regarding the UK's potential path back into the Erasmus+ program by 2027. However, new "Basic Compliance" rules are causing friction, as universities fear penalties for high visa refusal rates among international applicants.

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Note on AI Trends: Both US and international reports today emphasize that 2026 is the year of "Coherence over Convenience." Schools are moving away from having dozens of disconnected apps toward "Instructional Operating Systems" where AI is embedded directly into the core curriculum.