The week in photos: February 14-20, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – On February 18, Vice President Sara Duterte announced that she will run for president in 2028. The declaration comes a week before the International Criminal Court holds the pre-trial hearing of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who has been detained in The Hague since March 2025 for alleged crimes against humanity in relation to the bloody drug war.

In the evening after the announcement, another impeachment complaint was filed with the House of Representatives against the Vice President, raising the total number of such petitions to four. The complaint was filed by lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera and endorsed by Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega and Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr.

On February 19, a South Korean court sentenced former president Yoon Suk-yeol to life in prison after finding him guilty of masterminding an insurrection linked to his December 2024 attempt to impose martial law. It is the most consequential of a series of trials for the ousted leader, whose bid triggered a national political crisis and tested democratic resilience.

Meanwhile, King Charles’ younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, celebrating his 66th birthday on February 19, was arrested and questioned by detectives on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he sent confidential government documents to Jeffrey Epstein. The former prince was later released from police custody.

Catch more stories in these photos from the week that was:

A newborn lamb rests under a heat lamp on Eugene McLarnon’s farm as all his livestock remains inside due to the wettest start to the year in living memory, in Portglenone, Northern Ireland, on February 14, 2026. PHOTO BY CATHAL MCNAUGHTON/REUTERS

Models take a foot rest backstage before the Bibhu Mohapatra Fall and Winter 2026 show during New York Fashion Week in New York City on February 15, 2026. PHOTO BY ANGELINA KATSANIS/REUTERS

Members of 41 Canadian Brigade Group, as part of Task Force Grizzly, watch a signal fire as Canadian Armed Forces deploy to ‘Operation Nanook-Nunalivut,’ an annual series of drills designed to highlight the military’s ability to defend the Canadian Arctic, in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, on February 15, 2026. PHOTO BY CARLOS OSORIO/REUTERS

Lee Jeong-min of South Korea is seen in action during the semifinals of the Short Track Speed Skating-Men’s 5000m Relay semifinals at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, in Milan, Italy, on February 16, 2026. PHOTO BY PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW/REUTERS

Children rest during Carnival celebrations in Caracas, Venezuela, on February 16, 2026. PHOTO BY GABY ORAA/REUTERS

A carnival float depicts US President Donald Trump and the Statue of Liberty with a ‘MAGA’ gag across her mouth, at the traditional ‘Rosenmontag’ Rose Monday carnival parade in Mainz, Germany, on February 16, 2026. PHOTO BY HEIKO BECKER/REUTERS

People carry ‘Lion and Sun’ pre-Iranian Revolution national flags as they gather near the United Nations office, as the second round of nuclear talks between the US and Iran takes place, in Geneva, Switzerland, on February 17, 2026. PHOTO BY PIERRE ALBOUY/REUTERS

Members of the Kosovo Security Force march at a parade during celebrations of the 18th anniversary of Kosovo’s independence in Pristina, Kosovo, on February 17, 2026. PHOTO BY FLORION GOGA/REUTERS

People view ‘Space,’ an immersive light and sound installation by Luxmuralis, featuring space‑themed imagery and digital stained‑glass effects, projected across the exterior and interior of the St. Martin‑in‑the‑Fields church in London, Britain, on February 17, 2026. PHOTO BY JAIMI JOY/REUTERS

Performers take part in a lion dance during celebrations on the first day of the Lunar New Year of the Horse at the Dongyue Temple in Beijing, China, on February 17, 2026. PHOTO BY MAXIM SHEMETOV/REUTERS

Palestinians gather to break their fast by eating Iftar meals on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, near the rubble of residential buildings destroyed during the two-year Israeli offensive, in Gaza City, on February 18, 2026. PHOTO BY DAWOUD ABU ALKAS/REUTERS

Catholic devotees queue to receive ashes on their foreheads, at the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran, Paranaque City, on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026. PHOTO BY RAPPLER

Vice President Sara Duterte greets media workers before a press conference announcing her bid for the presidency in 2028, at the OVP headquarters in Mandaluyong City on February 18, 2026. PHOTO BY JIRE CARREON/RAPPLER

La Union 1st District Representative Paolo Ortega and Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr. endorse the fourth impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, on February 18, 2026. PHOTO FROM THE OFFICE OF REPS PAOLO ORTEGA AND BENNY ABANTE

Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg departs the court after taking the stand at a trial in a key test case accusing Meta and Google’s YouTube of harming kids’ mental health through addictive platforms, in Los Angeles, California, on February 18, 2026. PHOTO BY MIKE BLAKE/REUTERS

A person watches a news report after a court sentenced South Korean former president Yoon Suk-yeol to life in prison following a guilty verdict in his insurrection case, stemming from his short-lived declaration of martial law in December 2024, in Seoul, South Korea, on February 19, 2026. PHOTO BY KIM SOO-HYEON/REUTERS

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, younger brother of Britain’s King Charles, formerly known as prince Andrew, leaves Aylsham Police Station, on a vehicle on the day he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, after the US Justice Department released more records tied to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in Aylsham, Britain, on February 19, 2026. PHOTO BY PHIL NOBLE/REUTERS

Members of the House of Representatives, dignitaries, students, and representatives from various community organizations gather for a public consultation on anti-political dynasty measures convened by the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms at the University of the Philippines Cebu on February 19, 2026. PHOTO BY JACQUELINE HERNANDEZ/RAPPLER

A camera screen displays Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivering her policy speech in the parliament, in Tokyo, Japan, on February 20, 2026. PHOTO BY KIM KYUNG-HOON/REUTERS

Members of the Adamson University community gather for a candlelight ceremony and noise barrage as part of the EDSA@40 coalition’s buildup activities ahead of the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, on February 20, 2026. PHOTO BY RAPPLER

– with reports from Reuters/Rappler.com