Daily News Summary: February 18, 2026

Your Wednesday briefing focuses on a pivotal day in global diplomacy, the passing of a civil rights giant, and major AI-driven shifts in healthcare and enterprise.

Global Headlines & Geopolitics

• Geneva Progress Reported: Iran’s foreign ministry states that "good progress" was made during Tuesday's nuclear talks with the U.S. in Geneva. While the U.S. remains circumspect, noting "wide gaps" still exist, both sides have agreed to resume negotiations in two weeks.
• Tributes to Jesse Jackson: The world is mourning the passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died Tuesday at age 84. Global leaders are eulogizing him as a "bridge" in civil rights advocacy whose influence spanned international diplomacy and domestic justice for over half a century.
• West Bank Tensions: Over 80 UN member states have formally condemned Israel's de facto annexation of the West Bank. Meanwhile, Israeli raids and settler attacks continue to be reported across the territory.
• Philippines Political Shift: Vice President Sara Duterte has officially announced her run for the presidency in 2028, despite facing multiple impeachment complaints and allegations of corruption.

Business & Technology

• AI Reshaping the Frontline: A new Gartner survey reveals that 91% of customer service leaders are under executive pressure to implement AI in 2026. Nearly 80% of organizations plan to transition human agents into more complex, judgment-heavy roles as AI takes over routine tasks.
• AI-Enabled Drug Discovery: Merck and the Mayo Clinic have announced a major R&D collaboration. The partnership will use Mayo’s clinical and genomic data alongside Merck’s AI "virtual cell" technologies to accelerate drug discovery and precision medicine.
• Autonomous Infrastructure: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has begun demonstration experiments for ramp merging support technology for autonomous vehicles on Tokyo's Metropolitan Expressway, targeting the complex traffic conditions of high-volume urban routes.
• Bayer Settlement: Agrochemical giant Bayer has proposed a $7.25 billion settlement to resolve ongoing Roundup cancer lawsuits, aiming to put a massive legal overhang behind the company.

National & Regional News

• Capitol Security Incident: Police arrested a man carrying a shotgun as he was running toward the U.S. Capitol building earlier today. No injuries were reported, and the building remained secure.
• Ramadan Announcement: The first day of the holy month of Ramadan has been officially declared as February 19, 2026, for several regions including Indonesia and Singapore.
• Environmental Action: The Ohio Department of Agriculture has expanded its Spotted Lanternfly quarantine to include all counties in the state to combat the invasive species.

Sports & Entertainment

• Winter Olympics Day 12: Snowboarding legend Mark McMorris competed in the men’s slopestyle finals in Livigno, Italy. Meanwhile, figure skating and speed skating continue to be major highlights of the Milano Cortina Games.
• Cricket Milestone: Afghanistan's Rashid Khan has made history by becoming the first bowler to reach 700 wickets in T20 cricket.
• NBA All-Star Aftermath: Following the All-Star break, the league is buzzing over Anthony Edwards' MVP performance, with teams now pivoting toward the final playoff push.