On February 17, 2026, an annular solar eclipse will create a stunning “Ring of Fire” as the Moon covers 96% of the Sun, leaving a bright fiery halo visible mainly over Antarctica.

• The Republic of Kosovo marks the 18th anniversary of its independence.
• On February 17, 2008, the Assembly of Kosovo declared the country's independence, making it an independent, sovereign and democratic state. 
• The Declaration of Independence of Kosovo was made on February 17, 2008 at 15:39 p.m.in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo in Pristina.
• In an extraordinary meeting attended by 109 out of a total of 120 members of parliament, the Assembly of Kosovo unanimously declared Kosovo an independent, sovereign and democratic state.

The major cultural holiday that began on February 17, 2026, is the Lunar New Year (also known as the Spring Festival in China), which marks the beginning of the Year of the Fire Horse

The 3rd International Ayush Conference & Exhibition will be held from 15–17 February 2026 at the prestigious Dubai World Trade Center

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) launched new Arctic mission named Arctic Sentry to strengthen regional security.

Extra Information

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a political and military alliance formed in 1949 after signing the North Atlantic Treaty.
• It currently has 32 member countries
• Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
• Arctic Sentry is led by Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFC Norfolk). Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFC Norfolk) connects North America and Europe within NATO structure. The main aim is to safeguard member nations, protect territory and maintain Arctic stability.

SCALP, also called Storm Shadow, is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile developed jointly by France and the United Kingdom.

Spain has announced a nationwide ban on social media access for children below 16 years of age. It became the first European country and the second globally after Australia to take this step. The ban is expected to come into force within a week. Social media companies must enforce strict age verification and compliance. Australia introduced a similar ban in December 2025, leading to removal of over 5.5 lakh underage accounts. The move may influence other European Union countries to adopt stricter digital child protection laws.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched its Global Appeal 2026, seeking $4.7 billion to aid 41 million people. This "humanitarian reset" addresses a crisis of record proportions: 83.4 million people are internally displaced, climate-driven displacement has surged to 9.8 million, and 2024 stands as the deadliest year on record with over 9,197 migrant deaths. Currently, a critical $3.4 billion funding gap jeopardizes these essential rescue and support efforts.