Curling at the Olympics, Iran protests, Autism diagnosis

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By Elizabeth Both

February 15, 2026

By Elizabeth Both

February 15, 2026

 
 

Good morning and welcome to the Sunday edition of Morning Wire, where we give you the weekend rundown to get ready for the week ahead. Today, a look at the growing push to separate profound autism into its own diagnosis, the ongoing curling controversy at the Olympics, and Carnival parties in Brazil. 

 

Morning Wire will be on hiatus Monday in observance of the Presidents Day holiday in the United States. Be sure you are signed up for AP News Alerts so you don't miss any major breaking news.

But first, a European official dismisses "civilizational erasure" claims from the Trump administration. 

 

UP FIRST

AP Morning Wire

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas speaks during the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany on Sunday. (AP Photo/ Michael Probst)

Europeans push back at US over claim they face ‘civilizational erasure’

A top European Union official on Sunday rejected the notion that Europe faces “civilizational erasure,” pushing back at criticism of the continent by the Trump administration. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas addressed the Munich Security Conference a day after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a somewhat reassuring message to European allies. He struck a less aggressive tone than Vice President JD Vance did in lecturing them at the same gathering last year but maintained a firm tone on Washington’s intent to reshape the trans-Atlantic alliance and push its policy priorities. Read more.

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TOP STORIES

Connor Murphy takes a break from a matching problem during an applied behavior analysis after school in his home in Ayer, Mass., on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.  (AP Photo/ Shelby Lum) 

As some people push to make profound autism its own diagnosis, this family is raising twins with it

Autism rates have been rising for decades, and two of the main reasons for the increase have, in a strange twist, taken some of the focus off helping people with round-the-clock needs. The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, adopted in 2013, is now very broad, including many people with low support needs. There’s a growing push to separate profound autism — in which people need constant care for life, have a certain level of intellectual disability and are nonspeaking or minimally verbal — into its own diagnosis. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

  • Should people with autism and very high needs have a separate diagnosis? Takeaways from AP’s report

Curling controversy widens amid higher surveillance as Britain accused of same infraction as Canada

The curling controversy at the Winter Olympics widened Sunday as increased surveillance of the matches resulted in the removal of a stone thrown by the British men’s team for the same alleged violation that burned the Canadians two days in a row. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

  • More conflict in curling as Canadian women are accused of the same violation as men
  • Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen wins giant slalom, earns South America’s 1st medal at Winter Games
  • Lindsey Vonn is preparing to fly back to the US with more surgeries to come, team official tells AP
  • Eileen Gu says she’s disappointed she can’t get help with her packed Olympic schedule
 

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A reveler attends the Mud Block carnival party in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

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