Daily Current Affairs- 18th February 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 18th February 2026

Iran's Strait of Hormuz Shutdown: A Drill or a Global Warning?

In the News: Iran temporarily restricted parts of the Strait of Hormuz during live-fire military drills conducted by the Revolutionary Guard, coinciding with escalating Iran-US tensions and renewed indirect nuclear negotiations in Geneva, reigniting global concerns over energy security and maritime chokepoint vulnerability.

Key Points:

• The Incident: Iran's Revolutionary Guard declared the Strait of Hormuz closed for several hours, conducting live-fire missile drills and surface firing exercises. Tehran described it as a routine safety and maritime precaution — marking the first time Iran publicly announced a temporary closure of the waterway in this context.
• Strategic Significance of the Strait: The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most critical maritime chokepoint, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean. At its narrowest, it spans nearly 33 km, handles approximately 13 million barrels of oil per day (2025), and accounts for roughly 31% of global seaborne crude trade.
• Dual Purpose — Safety and Signalling: Analysts interpreted the drills as both operational and symbolic. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stern warning that Iran would respond strongly to any aggression, signalling that military action against Iran could disrupt global energy flows.
• Geneva Nuclear Talks: The drills coincided with indirect Iran-US negotiations in Geneva, mediated by Oman. The US delegation was led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. While limited progress was reported, key differences remain over uranium enrichment levels and stockpile caps. Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful; the US seeks firm non-weaponisation guarantees. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later expressed hope for a sustainable, negotiated solution.
• Iran-US Tensions: The backdrop includes recent US interception of an Iranian drone, maritime harassment reports, and expanded US naval deployments.

Why the Adani-Marseille Pact Could Be a Game-Changer for Global Shipping

In the News: The MoU signed on February 18, 2026, between APSEZ and the Port of Marseille Fos is being viewed as a transformative development in global shipping, as it operationalises a critical missing link in the IMEC corridor and offers a structured alternative to traditional Eurasian trade routes at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.

Key Points:

• Completing the IMEC Chain: The pact effectively completes the end-to-end IMEC corridor — from Mundra and Hazira on India's western coast through West Asia to Marseille Fos as the European terminus — creating a seamless, coordinated multimodal trade spine between India and the EU.
• Alternative to Suez and China-Dependent Routes: With growing instability around the Red Sea–Suez Canal route (due to Houthi attacks and regional tensions) and geopolitical pressure to reduce dependence on China-dominated supply chains, the Adani–Marseille axis offers a secure, competitive, and politically diversified alternative for Eurasian trade flows.
• Green Maritime Corridor: The development of the Mundra–Marseille Fos Green Maritime Corridor signals a shift toward sustainable shipping, focusing on alternative fuels, shore power supply, and low-carbon bunkering — aligning with global decarbonisation goals in the maritime sector.
• Digital and Smart Port Integration: The partnership prioritises port digitalisation, smart port platforms, data interoperability, and cybersecurity — modernising trade infrastructure and enabling real-time cargo tracking and logistics management across the corridor.
• India–EU FTA Multiplier Effect: The India–EU Free Trade Agreement creates a significant surge in bilateral trade volumes. The Adani–Marseille pact provides the physical and logistical infrastructure needed to handle this growth efficiently, acting as a force multiplier for the FTA's economic benefits.
• IMEC Ports Club as an Institutional Framework: The proposed IMEC Ports Club will bring together key ports along the corridor, creating a governance mechanism for coordinated investment, policy advocacy, and operational standards — transforming IMEC from a vision into an institutionalised trade architecture.

Modi & Macron Launch H125 Project – India Enters Elite Helicopter League

In the News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron virtually inaugurated India's first private-sector helicopter manufacturing facility — the Final Assembly Line (FAL) of the Airbus H125 Light Utility Helicopter — at Vemagal Industrial Area in Kolar, Karnataka. The launch coincided with India and France elevating their bilateral ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership.

Key Points:

• The Facility: The H125 Final Assembly Line is a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Airbus Helicopters, located at Vemagal, Karnataka — making it India's first private-sector helicopter manufacturing plant. The facility will initially produce 10 H125 helicopters per year, with plans to scale up to meet a projected demand of 500 helicopters over the next 20 years.
• First Made-in-India H125: The first domestically assembled H125 helicopter is expected to fly by early 2027, marking a landmark achievement under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make-in-India missions.
• About the H125 Helicopter: The H125 is a globally renowned single-engine light utility helicopter, celebrated for its "hot and high" performance. It holds the distinction of being the only helicopter in history to have landed on the summit of Mount Everest — making it uniquely suited for India's high-altitude operational environments in the Himalayas.
• C295 Aircraft — A Parallel Milestone: This is the second major TASL–Airbus collaboration, following the C295 military transport aircraft Final Assembly Line in Vadodara, Gujarat. The first Made-in-India C295 is expected to roll out by September 2026. Of the 56 C295 aircraft ordered by the Indian Air Force, 16 have been delivered from Spain, while the remaining 40 are being manufactured in India with approximately 70% domestic component sourcing and 37 Indian suppliers onboard.
• India–France Special Global Strategic Partnership: India and France elevated their bilateral relationship to a Special Global Strategic Partnership, with 21 major outcomes announced across defence, technology, innovation, health, skilling, and critical minerals.

Highways That Help Honeybees? NHAI’s ‘BeeCorridors’ Plan Could Change India’s Green Future

In the News: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced India's first-of-its-kind BeeCorridors initiative along National Highways. Under this eco-friendly plan, NHAI will develop pollinator-friendly corridors with flowering trees and plants, with nearly 60% of 40 lakh trees to be planted in 2026–27 designated as bee-friendly species — marking a landmark shift toward sustainable highway development and pollinator conservation.

Key Points:

• The BeeCorridors Initiative: NHAI's BeeCorridors plan marks a fundamental shift from ornamental roadside plantations to ecological plantations along National Highways. Instead of decorative plants, NHAI will focus on nectar- and pollen-rich native species that actively support honeybees and other pollinators, ensuring a continuous food supply throughout the year.
• Plantation Targets for 2026–27: NHAI plans to plant approximately 40 lakh trees during 2026–27, with nearly 60% planted under the BeeCorridors initiative. At least three pollinator corridors will be developed during this period. Field offices across India will identify suitable National Highway stretches and vacant land parcels based on agro-climatic conditions.
• Native Species to be Used: The initiative will utilise a mix of trees, shrubs, herbs, and grasses. Key native species include Neem, Karanj, Mahua, Palash, Bottle Brush, Jamun, and Siris — chosen for their nectar and pollen richness and their suitability across different agro-climatic zones of India.
• Scientific Planning — Staggered Flowering: The plantation design ensures staggered flowering across different seasons, maintaining year-round nectar availability for pollinators. Clusters of flowering trees will be planted at intervals of 500 metres to 1 km, aligning with the average foraging distance of honeybees — making the corridors biologically functional rather than merely aesthetic.
• Why Pollinator Conservation Matters: Pollinators, especially honeybees, are critical to agriculture and horticulture. Nearly one-third of global food production depends on pollination. Increasing ecological stress and habitat loss have severely affected pollinator populations across India. The BeeCorridors initiative directly addresses this by transforming National Highway plantation zones into ecological support systems.

Kuno National Park Cheetah Population Rises to 38

In the News: Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the birth of three new cheetah cubs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, raising India's total cheetah population to 38. The cubs were born to Gamini, a South African cheetah and a second-time mother, coinciding with the completion of three years since cheetahs were reintroduced to India under Project Cheetah.

Key Points:

• The Latest Birth: Gamini, a South African cheetah relocated under Project Cheetah, successfully delivered three cubs at Kuno National Park — her second successful litter — marking a significant milestone in India's cheetah conservation journey. The announcement was made by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on X (formerly Twitter).
• Population Milestone: With the three new additions, India's total cheetah population has risen to 38. The number of surviving Indian-born cheetah cubs now stands at 27, and this birth marks the ninth successful litter recorded on Indian soil since reintroduction began.
• About Project Cheetah: Launched in 2022–23, Project Cheetah marked the world's first inter-continental translocation of a large carnivore. A total of 20 cheetahs were brought from Namibia and South Africa to India. PM Narendra Modi personally released the first batch of eight cheetahs at Kuno National Park on 17 September 2022.
• Three Years of Reintroduction: The latest births coincide with the completion of three years since cheetahs from South Africa arrived in India, underscoring the programme's growing success and the species' adaptability to Indian ecological conditions.
• Location — Kuno National Park: Located in Madhya Pradesh, Kuno National Park was selected as the primary site for cheetah reintroduction due to its suitable grassland and scrub forest habitat, adequate prey base, and low human pressure relative to other candidate sites.