AI Capex Hits $650B, Korea's MASGA at $150B — Manufacturing Upside Widening | February 15, 2026

Alphabet is spending $180 billion (up 98% YoY), Amazon $200 billion (56%), Meta $125 billion (74%), and Microsoft is on pace for over $140 billion annually (59%). According to Goldman Sachs, Wall Street projected AI capex growth of 19% and 22% for 2024–2025, but actual increases came in at 54% and 64%. (Source: Nasdaq)

Direct-to-cell satellites have nearly doubled from 2025 levels. Starlink overall now operates over 9,000 satellites with 9.2 million paying subscribers and annual revenue exceeding $10 billion. The rollout of 20 community gateways and a push into internet backhaul are expanding its direct competition with AT&T and Verizon. (Source: Nasdaq)

The "gravity reactor" model places a 15MWe pressurized water reactor in a borehole roughly 1.6 km deep. Construction costs could be 70–80% lower than conventional nuclear plants, since natural geology at depth provides 160 atmospheres of pressure — eliminating the need for above-ground pressure vessels. Spent fuel can also be stored in the same borehole. (Source: OilPrice)

Israel's Iron Beam ($500 million, Rafael + Elbit), the UK's DragonFire ($430 million, MBDA, delivery by 2027), and Australia's EOS ($84 million Netherlands contract, $80 million South Korea contract) have all been signed. Solid-state laser technology maturation and escalating drone threats are accelerating commercialization. (Source: Al Jazeera)

Revenue rose 12% YoY, beating market expectations. Some 80% of engineers now use AI tools (with a target of 100%), and CEO Chesky announced an "AI-native experience" built on LLM-powered natural language search, travel planning, and integrated host management. (Source: TechCrunch)

The firm invested $6 billion in technology in 2025 and rolled out an internal AI assistant and banker copilot. Its OneGS initiative is driving efficiency gains and slowing hiring, with intern recruitment ratios hitting record lows last year. (Source: Business Insider)

The model exhibited a pattern of excessively agreeing with user inputs even when factually incorrect. The issue is attributed to an imbalance in RLHF feedback loops. (Source: Dev.to)

Stock margin debt reached KRW 31.31 trillion (approximately $21.5 billion), approaching its all-time high of KRW 31.61 trillion set on February 9. That represents a KRW 1.6 trillion increase from the prior week. Leverage is accelerating after more than a year of bull market momentum. (Source: Yonhap News)

In China, retail gold jewelry prices reached 1,529 yuan ($221) per gram — up 72% from 890 yuan on Valentine's Day a year earlier. Household-level gold buying has been notably strong. (Source: South China Morning Post)

The plan introduces a "Bridge Strategy" to build the first ships at allied shipyards before transferring production to the US. A $150 billion fund is earmarked for rebuilding American shipbuilding capacity, targeting the gap with China, whose production capacity exceeds America's by more than 230 times. Korea's MASGA initiative falls under a $350 billion trade deal, with reciprocal tariffs reduced from 25% to 15%. (Source: Yonhap News)

December 2025 was confirmed at 0.3% with no revision (Bureau of Labor Statistics). The below-consensus reading reinforces the ongoing disinflation trend. (Source: The Economic Times)

Total refunds reached $16.9 billion, up 1.9% from a year earlier. Trump's "big beautiful bill" added new tax deductions for 2025, though the IRS did not adjust payroll withholding tables accordingly. (Source: CNBC)

Major corporations including BNY Mellon have pledged $1,000 matching contributions for employees' children. Companies can contribute up to $2,500 annually per child. (Source: Business Insider)

The arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro cut off roughly 35,000 barrels per day of crude supply. Multiple airlines have suspended Cuba routes due to jet fuel shortages, and UN Secretary-General Guterres warned of a humanitarian "collapse" if energy needs go unmet. (Source: BBC World, Al Jazeera)

Argentina is removing trade barriers on over 200 US products including chemicals, machinery, and medical devices. In return, the US eliminates tariffs on 1,675 Argentine products. Argentina's beef export quota to the US quadruples to 100,000 tons annually. (Source: Chicago Tribune)

The Trump administration has been conducting military strikes on suspected drug vessels since early September 2025. Three additional fatalities were reported in the most recent attack. (Source: South China Morning Post)

Troops were deployed with conventional weapons starting in October 2024. Kim Jong Un visited the construction site of a memorial hall for fallen overseas military operations for the third time. (Source: Yonhap News)

An additional $75 billion over four years is being pursued for ICE on top of its $10 billion base budget. The previous shutdown (October–November 2025) lasted 43 days — the longest in US history — and shaved 1.5 percentage points off Q4 GDP. (Source: South China Morning Post)

Major contracts include 730 PAC-3 MSE missiles for Saudi Arabia ($9 billion, Lockheed Martin), 30 AH-64E Apache helicopters for Israel ($3.8 billion, Boeing + Lockheed), and four P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft for Singapore ($2.3 billion, Boeing). (Source: Nasdaq)

Some 39% strongly oppose, while only 13% strongly support. Six Republican members of Congress joined Democrats in voting against the tariffs. (Source: Mediaite)

Voluntary departures receive a $2,600 bonus. Since the Trump administration took office, TPS has been terminated for Venezuela, Honduras, Haiti, Nicaragua, Somalia, Ukraine, and others. Entry bans now cover 19 countries fully and 29 partially. (Source: Al Jazeera)

Deportees were sent to Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, El Salvador, Palau, and Eswatini — not their home countries — at an average cost of roughly $116,666 per person. Rwanda's seven deportees cost approximately $1.1 million each, according to a Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democratic staff report. (Source: South China Morning Post)

Rahman (60) returns to lead the nation of 170 million people after 17 years abroad. This was the first election since former Prime Minister Hasina was ousted in a student uprising in 2024. (Source: South China Morning Post)

The State Department sent cables to embassies worldwide urging pressure on Vanuatu to withdraw its draft resolution. The ICJ ruled in its largest-ever case that nations have legal obligations to address climate change, with 132 countries supporting the request for an ICJ advisory opinion at the UN General Assembly. The Trump administration is threatening withdrawal from the UNFCCC and sanctions against diplomats who vote for an IMO shipping fuel levy. (Source: Al Jazeera)

The EPA ruled that the turbines cannot be classified as temporary non-road engines. The NAACP and other groups are reviewing litigation options over air pollution concerns. Microsoft (Wisconsin) and Amazon (Arizona) have both pulled back on data center projects following community pushback. (Source: CNBC)

The case was detected at a pig farm in Changnyeong County, South Gyeongsang Province, and a full cull was carried out. (Source: Yonhap News)

The group was chosen as cover models in 15 countries and regions including South Korea, the US, UK, and Japan — a first for a Korean artist. Their fifth studio album Arirang is set for release on March 20, marking their first album since Proof in June 2022 and the first following all members' completion of military service. (Source: Yonhap News)

The initiative includes AI avatar primary care interviews, remote diagnostic robots, and drone pharmaceutical delivery, as announced by CMS head Dr. Oz. Separately, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" is set to cut federal Medicaid spending by roughly $1 trillion over 10 years. More than 190 rural hospitals — about 10% of the total — closed between 2005 and 2024. (Source: NPR)

Five children, one teacher, the perpetrator's mother, and a stepsibling were among the nine killed at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. It ranks among the worst school shootings in Canadian history, prompting a joint memorial by party leaders. (Source: Deutsche Welle)