Current Affairs 18 February 2026

NHAI Launches "BeeCorridors" to Boost Pollinator Conservation.

• National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a first-of-its-kind initiative to develop pollinator or bee corridors along National Highways.
• Corridors will use native species and staggered flowering for year-round blooming, supporting pollinator health.
• Three corridors per field office will be developed in 2026–27; 40 lakh trees planned, with 60% under this ecological initiative.

Lucas Wins Gold, Earns Brazil's 1st Winter Olympics 2026 Medal.

• Lucas Pinheiro Braathen claimed Brazil’s and South America’s first-ever Winter Olympics medal, winning Giant Slalom gold at Milano Cortina 2026.
• He defeated Swiss defending champ Marco Odermatt by 0.58 seconds in tough foggy conditions.
• Norway leads the Milano Cortina medal table (20 medals, 10 gold), with Italy 2nd and the U.S. 3rd.

India, Ireland Hold Talks to Boost Cooperation on Telecom.

• Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia & Ireland’s Jack Chambers discussed strengthening India-Ireland innovation-driven ties, focusing on digital economy and emerging tech.
• Talks highlighted India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (UPI, DBT), rapid 5G expansion, rural broadband.
• Both countries explored collaborative opportunities in Quantum Communications, AI, and regulatory innovation.

Telangana CM Inaugurates BioAsia 2026 Summit in Hyderabad.

• CM A. Revanth Reddy inaugurated the 23rd BioAsia 2026 summit in Hyderabad, themed TechBio Unleashed – AI, Automation, and Revolutionary Changes in Life Sciences.
• The two-day conference gathers global experts to discuss AI-driven R&D, next-gen biologics, digital transformation, and the future of life sciences.
• The event showcases Telangana’s ambition as a world-class biopharma hub by 2047.

GalaxEye Partner with NSIL to Market Indigenous Satellite Imagery.

• Space startup GalaxEye signed a deal with ISRO’s arm, NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), making it the first private Indian satellite operator to launch a data reseller partnership.
• NSIL will globally promote & sell GalaxEye’s SyncFused OptoSAR satellite imagery.
• Supports high-precision solutions in agriculture, disaster management, environment, and more.