Jose Balcazar (C) receives the presidential sash at the Congress of the Republic of Peru, in Lima, Peru, on Feb. 18, 2026.
Peru's Congress on Wednesday elected lawmaker Jose Balcazar as its new leader, who assumes the country's presidency under constitution.
Balcazar was sworn in as Peruvian president shortly after the vote. His term will run through July 28, 2026, in accordance with the current presidential mandate. (Peru's Congress/Handout via Xinhua)
People watch a televised news report on Yoon Suk-yeol's court trial at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Feb. 19, 2026.
South Korea's former President Yoon Suk-yeol was sentenced to life in prison on charges of insurrection stemming from his declaration of emergency martial law, live footage showed Thursday.
The Seoul Central District Court delivered its ruling, which was broadcast live to the public, saying the crux of Yoon's martial law case was the fact that troops were deployed to the National Assembly. (Photo by Park Jintaek/Xinhua)
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt gestures during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Feb. 18, 2026. The White House on Wednesday declined to set a deadline for the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, saying Tehran is expected to present more details on its negotiating position within weeks. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)
This photo taken on Feb. 19, 2026 shows the crescent moon in Beirut, Lebanon. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)
Gu Ailing of China reacts during the qualification of freestyle skiing women's freeski halfpipe at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Livigno, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang)
A molten iron fireworks show integrated with dragon dance is staged in Xiangyang City, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 17, 2026. During the Spring Festival, various folk activities and performances are held across China. (Photo by Yang Dong/Xinhua)
A staff member comforts a child inside a quiet carriage of train D2719 travelling from Xi'an of northwest China's Shaanxi Province to Wuwei of northwest China's Gansu Province, Feb. 18, 2026. During the Spring Festival travel season, civil aviation, railway, and other departments have increased transportation capacity and optimized convenient services such as air-rail intermodal transport, quiet carriages, luggage delivery, and priority channels for vulnerable groups, taking multiple measures to ensure passengers' safe and smooth travel. (Photo by Liu Xiang/Xinhua)
A child interacts with a performer at a folk culture show in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, Feb. 18, 2026. During the Spring Festival, various folk activities and performances are held across China. (Photo by Hou Chonghui/Xinhua)
Ning Zhongyan of China celebrates after winning the speed skating men's 1500m event at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Wei)
A full-size LEGO 1950s Cadillac convertible is on display at the 2026 Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto, Canada, Feb. 18, 2026. A full-size LEGO 1950s Cadillac convertible, made from over 418,000 bricks, is featured at the 2026 Canadian International AutoShow from February 13 to 22. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)
