Top News | February 18, 2026

Rohit Pawar says two extra fuel tanks on Ajit Pawar’s plane, demands setting up of monitoring committee

A day after the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the plane crash that killed its chief, Ajit Pawar’s nephew and NCP (Sharad Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) alleged that the plane was loaded with extra fuel tanks, questioning why no action has been taken against VSR Aviation company.

Ukraine war talks in Geneva end without agreement on territory

Ukraine and Russia made some progress at U.S.-mediated talks in Geneva but did not find a compromise on the key issue of territory, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday (February 18, 2026). The United States has been pushing for an end to the nearly four-year war, which has killed tens of thousands and destroyed much of eastern and southern Ukraine, but Moscow and Kyiv remain at odds over who gets what land in a post-war settlement.

Over 1.70 lakh illegal foreigners detected under Assam Accord in 40 years: Minister

Over 1.70 lakh illegal foreigners have been detected in the State so far under provisions of the Assam Accord, while about 31,000 have been pushed back in the last 40 years, the Assembly was informed on Wednesday (February 18, 2026. Assam Accord Implementation Minister Atul Bora also stated that the fencing of the India-Bangladesh border in Assam has been nearly completed, except for a 4.35 km stretch objected to by the border guarding force of the adjoining country.

India AI Summit 2026: Galgotias University ousted for showing off imported robotic dog at expo

The India AI Impact Summit’s organisers removed a stall put up by Galgotias University at the summit’s expo, government officials said on Wednesday (February 18, 2026), after representatives exhibited a robodog (robotic dog) that was imported from China as though it were an original creation.

Can’t say when I’ll return to India; legally barred from leaving U.K.: Mallya to Bombay HC

Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, facing multiple cases of fraud and money laundering, told the Bombay High Court on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) that he cannot say when he will return to India as he is legally barred from leaving the U.K. In a statement submitted through his counsel Amit Desai to the High Court, Mr. Mallya said he did not have an active passport after it was revoked and hence, he cannot give a definite date of return to India.

ECI officials flouting Supreme Court directives, issuing instructions on WhatsApp, alleges TMC’s Abhishek

Hitting out at the Election Commission, senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) alleged that poll officials were continuing to flout Supreme Court directives by issuing directions to their subordinates through WhatsApp during the SIR exercise in West Bengal.

I-PAC raids case: Supreme Court to decide if ED is ‘weaponised’ or ‘terrorised’

The West Bengal government in the Supreme Court on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) said the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is being “weaponised” by the Centre to tackle political rivals in Opposition-ruled States, while the Central agency retorted that it is actually being “terrorised” by the Mamata Banerjee government.

Two men killed in Gujarat car crash; 677 liquor bottles recovered from vehicle

Two men were killed after their Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) carrying 677 bottles of liquor crashed into a tree near Vav-Tharad district in Gujarat on Wednesday (February 18, 2026), police said. A case has been registered against the driver under the Prohibition Act, and for using a duplicate number plate, they said.

I’m not a ‘Rahulian’ as he’s far too distant from me in life: Mani Shankar Aiyar

Congress veteran Mani Shankar Aiyar on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) said he is a “Gandhian”, a “Nehruvian” and a “Rajivian”, but not a “Rahulian” because Rahul Gandhi “is far too much younger than me and far too distant from me in his political life”.

ED attaches asset linked to Malayalam actor Jayasurya in money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached an immovable asset worth ₹39 lakh of popular Malayalam actor Jayasurya as part of a money laundering investigation, official sources said on Wednesday (February 18, 2026). The actor and his wife were questioned by the federal probe agency in December 2025 in a case of alleged cheating of some persons through an ‘online bidding’ application called ‘Save Box’.

Kremlin says neither China nor Russia have carried out secret nuclear tests

The Kremlin said on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) that ​neither China nor Russia have carried ‌out secret nuclear tests, noting Beijing ​had denied U.S. accusations ⁠that it had done so. The United States this month accused China of conducting ‌a secret nuclear test in 2020 as it called ‌for a new, broader ‌arms control ⁠treaty that would bring in ⁠China as well as Russia.

Japan reappoints Sanae Takaichi as Prime Minister following election

Japan’s lower house formally reappointed Sanae Takaichi as Prime Minister on Wednesday (February 18, 2026), 10 days after her historic landslide election victory. Ms. Takaichi, 64, became Japan’s first woman premier in October and won a two-thirds majority for her party in the snap lower house elections on February 8.