The day

Wednesday 18 February 2026

15 stories, biggest first.

1. 1

   Politics2028 Philippine presidential election

   Philippine vice president Sara Duterte announces her candidacy in the next presidential election.

2. 2

   NewsUnited States intervention in Syria

   The United States announces that it will withdraw all remaining military troops from Syria, formally ending its 12-year military presence in the country.

3. 3

   NewsMyanmar civil war

   The state-run Myanmar Alin newspaper reports that Bo Nagar, leader of the anti-government Burma National Revolutionary Army, surrendered to the Burmese military after clashes with other rebel groups.

4. 4

   NewsMiddle Eastern crisis

   A security officer is killed and another is injured in an attack by the Islamic State in Raghib, Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria.

5. 5

   NewsCambodian–Thai border dispute

   Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet claims that Thai forces are occupying Cambodian territory beyond Thailand's claimed territory.

6. 6

   NewsEcuadorian conflict

   Four people are killed and two others are injured in a drive-by shooting outside of a school in Guayaquil, Guayas Province, Ecuador.

7. 7

   NewsGaza war

   Two Palestinians, including one child, are killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza.

8. 8

   CrimeTerrorism in Australia

   Australia issues a temporary exclusion order barring one citizen held in a Syrian detention camp from returning to the country under counter-terrorism legislation, citing the citizen's possible links to Islamic State members.

9. 9

   Politics2026 Japanese general election

   Sanae Takaichi is re-appointed Prime Minister of Japan by the House of Representatives after winning the legislative election.

10. 10

    PoliticsCensure of José Jerí

    Following two rounds of voting, José María Balcázar succeeds the removed José Jerí as interim President of Peru.

11. 11

    News

    A gas explosion at a lead mine in Bashar, Plateau State, Nigeria, kills at least 38 miners working underground and injures 27 others.

12. 12

    News

    Twelve people are killed in an explosion and fire at a fireworks shop in Xiangyang, Hubei, China.

13. 13

    ScienceHuman rights in Gabon

    Gabon indefinitely suspends access to social media platforms YouTube and TikTok citing concerns they undermine social cohesion and threaten national security.

14. 14

    NewsChina–Poland relations

    Poland bans all Chinese-made vehicles from entering its military sites, citing data security concerns regarding onboard sensors.

15. 15

    Money

    American e-commerce company eBay announces it will acquire Depop from Etsy for $1.2 billion, merging two of the largest secondhand e-commerce platforms in the world.

Stories adapted from Wikipedia’s Current events portal for 18 February 2026, by Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.