(260218) — TOKYO, Feb. 18, 2026 (Xinhua) — Sanae Takaichi (C) bows after profitable Japan’s prime ministerial designation vote within the House of Representatives in Tokyo, Japan, Feb. 18, 2026. Sanae Takaichi, president of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, was elected because the nation’s a hundred and fifth prime minister on Wednesday by lawmakers in parliament. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)

