Business3 min readAI

Unemployment Soars, World Leaders Fall, Talks Begin

UK Unemployment Hits Five-Year High, Peru's President Ousted, US Strikes Kill 11

LONDON/LIMA/GENEVA - February 18, 2026 - Unemployment in the United Kingdom reached its highest level in nearly five years, while Peru's interim president was ousted in an express impeachment, and the United States military conducted strikes that resulted in 11 fatalities. These events occurred amidst ongoing economic challenges, political instability, and international negotiations.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the UK unemployment rate climbed to 5.2% in the three months leading up to December 2025, up from 5.1% the previous month. The BBC reported that young people were particularly affected, with unemployment for those aged 16 to 24 reaching 16.1%, the highest in over a decade. While wages continued to rise faster than prices, the growth rate slowed. Many businesses have slowed hiring, pointing to measures in Chancellor Rachel Reeves's last two Budgets.

In Peru, interim president José Jerí was removed from office following an "express impeachment," as reported by The Guardian. Lawmakers voted 75 to 24 to remove Jerí, who had been in office for just four months. The impeachment followed a scandal concerning his secretive meetings with Chinese businessmen, dubbed "Chifagate."

Meanwhile, the US military launched assaults on three alleged drug-smuggling boats, resulting in 11 fatalities, according to The Guardian. The strikes, part of a campaign against alleged traffickers, brought the total number of fatalities from US strikes to 145 since September. US Southern Command posted video of the strikes on social media.

In other international news, the US and Iran reached an understanding on key guiding principles at indirect nuclear talks in Geneva, mediated by Oman, according to Al Jazeera. No immediate comment was available from the US side, and no date has been set for a third round of talks.

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Synthesized from multiple sources. Reviewed for accuracy.

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