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Thursday, 19 February 2026

BRAZIL: Lula partially vetoes legislation to raise gov’t salaries

On 18 February Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva struck down parts of several bills which proposed measures to boost the income of public sector staff who serve as aides, clerks, and secretaries for institutions such as congress and the federal audit court (TCU).

Thursday, 19 February 2026

CUBA: Rubio reportedly in secret talks with Castro grandson

On 18 February US news website Axios reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been holding secret talks with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of Cuba’s former president Raúl Castro (2008-2018).

Thursday, 19 February 2026

MEXICO: Sheinbaum continues push for ‘Republican Austerity’

On 18 February Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that she would send a reform initiative to congress to reduce the pensions received by former high-level officials.

Thursday, 19 February 2026

ARGENTINA: Strikes begin ahead of labour reform vote

On 18 February workers affiliated with Argentina’s maritime workers federation, Federación Sindical Marítima y Fluvial (Fesimaf), began a 48-hour strike in protest against President Javier Milei’s labour reform, ahead of a general strike called by the Confederación General del Trabajo (CGT), Argentina’s largest trade union, today (19 February).