February 18, 2026

Two killed, three injured in car crash on NH-44 near Shadnagar

Two men died and three were hurt when their car hit a heavy vehicle on NH-44 near Shadnagar early Wednesday. The victims were returning from a pilgrimage.

February 18, 2026

Punjab Confirms Basant Festival to Return in February 2027 with Bigger Celebration

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari announced that Basant, revived recently in Lahore, will officially be celebrated again in February 2027. The government praised the recent safe event and confirmed no plans to hold Basant before 2027.

February 18, 2026

12 Dead in Hubei Firework Explosion Days After Similar Blast Hits Jiangsu

Twelve people died in a deadly firework shop explosion in Hubei, China, just days after eight died in Jiangsu. Authorities blame unsafe firework handling and vow tighter controls during Lunar New Year.

February 18, 2026

Kerala Govt Challenges High Court Stay on Nava Keralam Outreach Programme in Supreme Court

Kerala government has moved the Supreme Court against the High Court's suspension of the Nava Keralam Citizen Response Programme and its ₹20 crore budget. The government says the High Court interfered with public policy and governance powers.

February 18, 2026

Gadchiroli Police and CRPF Demolish 44 Maoist Monuments in Major Operation

Gadchiroli Police and CRPF demolished 44 Maoist monuments across several Maoist strongholds. The operation involved 800 personnel and aimed at ending insurgent symbols and boosting peace.

February 18, 2026

FDA Reverses Decision to Review Moderna’s mRNA Flu Vaccine Application

After initially rejecting it, the FDA will now review Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine for adults 50 and older. A final decision is expected by August 5.

February 18, 2026

Spanish Man Hacked Hotel Booking System, Reserved Luxury Rooms for One Cent

A 20-year-old man in Spain hacked a hotel booking site to reserve luxury rooms priced up to €1,000 per night for just one cent. Police caught him after losses hit over €20,000 during multiple stays, including a 4-night stay costing €4,000 in Madrid.

February 18, 2026

Reform UK Drops Lancashire Libraries from Free Refugee Support Scheme Over Costs

Reform UK has ended Lancashire libraries' participation in the free Libraries of Sanctuary program, citing taxpayers' money concerns. The move, which surprised many, drew sharp criticism from other parties as libraries offer vital refugee support.

February 18, 2026

Air Force One to Get New Gold, Red and Navy Paint Inspired by Trump

The US presidential jet Air Force One is being repainted with gold, deep red, and navy blue colors influenced by Donald Trump’s preferences. A new Boeing 747 donated by Qatar will also sport the fresh colors as the fleet undergoes maintenance.

February 18, 2026

Bone Cement Shortage Threatens NHS Hip and Knee Surgery Wait Times

A global bone cement shortage is forcing NHS hospitals to delay non-urgent hip and knee operations. Main supplier Heraeus Medical halted production due to a packaging fault. Hospitals must prioritize urgent cases, affecting patients waiting months for surgery.