New refugee order; Iran unrest; Olympics Day 13

Your afternoon news update

ADVERTISEMENT View in Browser | APNews DONATE View in Browser | APNews DONATE AP Afternoon Wire Advancing the Power of Facts Policy changes, but facts endure. AP delivers accurate, fact-based journalism to keep the world informed in every administration. Support independent reporting today. Donate. By Amy Langfield February 19, 2026 By Amy Langfield February 19, 2026 Good afternoon and welcome to your afternoon news update from AP. Today, a new Trump administration order could lead to the detention of thousands of legal refugees; what to know as the U.S. moves military assets to the Mideast; and the sport of ski mountaineering makes its Olympic debut. UP FIRST Hundreds of people attend a rally in the rotunda of the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, to urge leaders to support economic recovery in the wake of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in the state. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski) New Trump administration order could lead to the detention of thousands of legal refugees The Trump administration has issued a sweeping new order that could lead to the arrest of tens of thousands of refugees who are lawfully in the United States but do not yet have permanent residency, overturning years of legal and immigration safeguards. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ HUD proposes rule that would force noncitizens from public housing How a defendant in Minnesota went free because of Justice Department turmoil Trump gets pledges for Gaza reconstruction and troop commitments at inaugural Board of Peace talks Live updates: Trump heads to Georgia after securing Board of Peace pledges WATCH: Putin tells Cuban foreign minister Russia will not accept recent US sanctions against Cuba An arts panel made up of Trump appointees approves his White House ballroom proposal Slavery exhibit removed by Trump administration is returning to Independence Mall in Philadelphia US civil rights agency sues Coca-Cola distributor for excluding men from casino work trip Trump's refusal to invite all governors to a White House meeting prompts group to back out US trade deficit declined in 2025, but gap for goods hits a record despite Trump tariffs Transportation Department says more than 550 driving schools must close over safety failures Wisconsin GOP leader Robin Vos, who clashed with Trump, leaving office after reshaping the state Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger to give Democratic response to Trump's State of the Union address FCC chairman says the agency is investigating ABC's 'The View' over equal time rule US pays about $160 million of the nearly $4 billion it owes the United Nations TOP STORIES Iranians grieve defiantly for thousands killed in last month's crackdown Iranians across the country are still reeling with shock, grief and fear after massive nationwide protests were crushed by the deadliest crackdown ever seen under the rule of the 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Thousands were killed and tens of thousands are believed to have been arrested. But a vein of defiance persists. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: Trump warns 'bad things will happen' if Iran doesn't make a deal What to know as US moves military assets to Mideast and Iran nuclear talks have yet to reach a deal Ski mountaineering makes Olympic debut on snowy day as Marianne Fatton of Switzerland wins 1st gold The sport of ski mountaineering made its long-awaited Olympics debut Thursday and crowned its first champion at the Milan Cortina Games in Marianne Fatton of Switzerland. Shortly after, Oriol Cardona Coll of Spain followed suit to take the men's race. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Winter Olympics Medal Tracker Tenley Albright, 90, takes in Olympic figure skating 70 years after winning gold Hockey star Laila Edwards' family cheers at Olympic debut, thanks to Kelce brothers and a GoFundMe One Extraordinary Photo: Ski mountaineering makes its debut at the Olympics Olympic photo highlights from Day 13 of the Milan Cortina Winter Games ADVERTISEMENT IN OTHER NEWS Ramon Pucha demonstrates how to turn a leaf into a hat to protect himself from the sun while looking for seeds to grow on his family's farm, where he preserves native species in Alto Ila, in Ecuador's Amazon region, Feb. 3. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa) Seed guardians of the Amazon: A family's solitary fight to save endangered plants BREAKING: Former Prince Andrew arrested and held for hours on suspicion of misconduct over ties to Epstein 'Campaign of destruction': UN experts say destruction by Sudan's rebels in el-Fasher in October bears 'hallmarks of genocide' West Bank: Israeli settlers kill 19-year-old Palestinian-American, officials and witnesses say Arizona: Genealogical sites have helped solve major crimes. Police in Nancy Guthrie's case might turn to them Old sins, new confessions: Catholics return to confession focused on grace, not a get-out-of-hell-free card  Iconic hotel: Man who lived rent-free in New Yorker Hotel, then claimed to own it, pleads guilty to fraud charge Be Well: As the US population ages, more employees are seeking caregiver benefits at work WATCH: Michelle Yeoh gets a Walk of Fame star TRENDING A view of the Degemar Quarry near Tivoli, Italy, on Friday, where 17th-century Baroque architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini selected travertine for the colonnade of St. Peter's Square. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) The travertine quarries that built ancient Rome are carving rock for a new generation of temples The same travertine quarries near Rome that built St. Peter's Basilica and the Colosseum are still being dug out today, providing the distinctive pock-marked rock to build a new generation of churches, temples and mosques worldwide. Please let us know what you think of this newsletter. You can sign up for more and invite a friend here. For news in real time visit APNews.com. - Amy Please let us know what you think of this newsletter. You can sign up for more and invite a friend here. For news in real time visit APNews.com. - Amy SUPPORT THE AP. DONATE. Manage preferences | Privacy policy | Unsubscribe   *Advertisers have no control over editorial decisions or content. If you're interested in advertising, contact us here. ADVERTISEMENT