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Global News Update: February 13, 2026 Good morning. It is Friday, February 13th, 2026. The clock is ticking in Washington this morning as the Department of Homeland Security faces a midnight funding deadline. While the rest of the federal government remains open, this specific lapse is keeping defense and transportation stocks on edge. Markets are treading water, waiting to see if a last minute deal can be struck to avoid furloughing thousands of essential security personnel. In the technology sector, Applied Materials has delivered a sober warning to the chip industry. Despite beating revenue estimates late yesterday, the equipment giant issued cautious guidance for the coming quarter. Management cited the mounting cost of new U.S. export controls, signaling that geopolitical friction is finally starting to bite the bottom line of the artificial intelligence boom. Finally, global trade routes are shifting in real time. The new U.S. India trade pact is already diverting container tra...