UK Unemployment Hits Five-Year High; US, Russia Report Incidents
LONDON/MEXICO CITY/WASHINGTON/ST. PETERSBURG - February 17, 2026 - Unemployment in the United Kingdom reached its highest level in nearly five years, while the United States military conducted strikes against alleged drug-trafficking vessels, and an explosion rocked a Russian military site, according to reports released Tuesday. These events occurred amidst a backdrop of rising disappearances in Mexico and a decline in Chinese tourism to Japan.
The UK's unemployment rate climbed to 5.2% in the three months ending December, up from 5.1% the previous month, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Young people were particularly affected, with unemployment for those aged 16-24 reaching 16.1%, the highest in over a decade, according to BBC Business. While wages continued to rise faster than prices, the growth rate slowed. Many businesses had also slowed hiring, citing measures in recent budgets.
Meanwhile, the US military carried out three strikes against alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 people, Al Jazeera reported. US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) stated that the attacks, part of Operation Southern Spear, occurred late Monday.
In Russia, an explosion at a military police facility near St. Petersburg caused several floors of the building to collapse, Al Jazeera also reported. According to St. Petersburg's 78 news channel, at least three people were killed and several wounded in the blast in Sertolovo.
The news comes as Mexico grapples with a surge in disappearances. According to The Guardian, disappearances have increased by 200% over the past decade, with over 130,000 people currently considered missing or disappeared. The article cited the case of Ángel Montenegro, a construction worker who went missing in 2022.
Adding to the global news, Chinese tourists are increasingly avoiding Japan, with the number of visitors expected to drop by up to 60% during the lunar new year holidays, The Guardian reported. This decline is attributed to ongoing tensions over Japan's stance on Taiwan.
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