WORLD Radio News - WORLD Radio News: 2-16-26 (1/3)

Episode Date: February 16, 2026

The latest headlines in three minutes from WORLD updated three times throughout the day.Sign-up for the daily Sift email at thesift.org.Support sound journalism, grounded in facts and Biblical truth at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from WatersEdge. Competitive rates and supporting churches. 4.55% APY on a 13-month term investment. WatersEdge.com/invest

With World Radio News, I'm Kent Covington. The Department of Homeland Security shutdown continues with no end in sight. Democrats continue to deny funding as they demand changes to immigration enforcement. Republicans agreed to some of those demands, but said others would hinder or endanger enforcement agents. Republican Congressman Tom Cole said of Democratic lawmakers. But what they've managed to do is shut down, make sure the Secret Service isn't paid,

make sure TSA and air traffic controllers don't get paid, make sure the Coast Guard doesn't get paid, make sure that we don't have FEMA to take care of any disaster relief. But House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats intend to, quote, hold the line. And it's on Republicans. If the Coast Guard shuts down, if FEMA is shut down, and if TSA is shut down. Congress won't return until next Monday, meaning DHS, almost certainly will not be funded anytime this week. Most Homeland Security workers still report to work, but will not be.

be getting paid while the shutdown continues. Speaking in Germany, over the weekend, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told European leaders that America wants to strengthen its friendship with its largest ally, but he also lamented what the Trump administration sees as Western decline in Europe. We do not want our allies to be weak, because that makes us weaker. We want allies who can defend themselves so that no adversary will ever be tempted to test our collective strength.

Speaking at the Munich, Security Conference, Rubio pushed the Trump administration's priorities, talking about controlling mass migration, building stronger economies, and boosting military strength. And as for the military component of that, British Prime Minister Kier-Starmer echoed that message, telling fellow leaders that Europe must be ready to stand on its own two feet when it comes to defense. But the European Union's foreign policy chief pushed back on Rubio's criticisms, Kayakalus rejected the notion that immigration policies and declining birth rates have Europe on the decline. Contrary to what some may say, woke, decadent Europe is not facing civilizational erasure. In fact, people still want to join our club.

Collis said when visiting Canada last year, she was told that more than 40% of Canadians have an interest in joining the European Union, and she said there is a long waiting list to join the EU. The U.S. military says it has boarded another sanctioned oil tanker this time in the Indian Ocean. The Pentagon said in a statement Sunday that U.S. forces bordered the Veronica 3 after tracking it from the Caribbean Sea. Venezuela has faced U.S. sanctions on its oil for several years and relied on a shadow fleet of tankers. The Pentagon says U.S. forces bordered the vessel early Sunday morning, but has not said whether the ship was formally seized. For World Radio, I'm Kent Covington. For more sound journalism grounded in facts and biblical truth, visit world radio.com.

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