Politics

• Thursday, February 19th 2026 - 01:33 UTC

  Flávio Bolsonaro mocks samba school’s demotion after Lula tribute, says the “next drop” will be him

  

  Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (Liberal Party, PL), seen as a potential right-wing contender in Brazil’s October presidential election, said that after the samba school that paid tribute to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was relegated in Rio de Janeiro’s carnival standings, the “next drop” will be Lula’s — and that of the Workers’ Party (PT).

• Thursday, February 19th 2026 - 00:23 UTC

  Peru’s Congress heads to runoff vote to pick José Jerí’s successor

  

  Peru’s Congress moved to a second-round vote to elect a new head of the legislature, who will automatically become president after José Jerí was removed on Tuesday amid allegations of influence peddling and suspicious links to Chinese businessmen.

• Wednesday, February 18th 2026 - 12:04 UTC

  Marco Rubio holds discreet contacts with Raúl Castro’s grandson, Axios reports

  

  U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has held discreet talks with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson and caretaker of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, bypassing official Cuban government channels, Axios reported, citing sources familiar with the outreach.

• Wednesday, February 18th 2026 - 03:38 UTC

  Senate commission to review Cardama contract after Uruguay cancels ocean patrol vessel deal

  

  A pre-investigative commission will begin work on Wednesday in Uruguay’s Senate to examine the contract with Spanish shipbuilder Cardama for two ocean patrol vessels (OPVs), recently cancelled by President Yamandú Orsi’s government.

• Wednesday, February 18th 2026 - 03:12 UTC

  Argentina clears US oceanographic cruise in the South Atlantic as debate grows over “dual-use” data

  

  Argentina’s Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) recorded that it had “no objections,” within its remit, to a United States request for a marine scientific research cruise by the R/V Roger Revelle inside Argentina’s Exclusive Economic Zone between March 5 and March 30, 2026. In the same document, the council asked for “all basic data” plus “preliminary and final reports” to be submitted to Argentine authorities prior to any publication of results.

• Tuesday, February 17th 2026 - 23:59 UTC

  Peru’s Congress ousts interim President José Jerí

  

  Peru’s Congress voted on Tuesday to remove interim President José Jerí, just four months after he took office, deepening political uncertainty only weeks before the April 12 general election.

• Tuesday, February 17th 2026 - 23:59 UTC

  Argentine court declares “king of beef” bankrupt as he remains hospitalized in Punta del Este

  

  An Argentine commercial court has declared meat businessman Alberto Samid—widely known in Argentina as the “king of beef”—bankrupt, ordering broad asset restrictions and imposing a travel ban until July 3, 2026. The ruling emerged as Samid was hospitalized at the Cantegril clinic in Punta del Este, Uruguay, and he has now been transferred to Buenos Aires on a medical flight.

• Tuesday, February 17th 2026 - 03:47 UTC

  Colombian pro-Trump lawmaker asks Petro for help after ICE arrests her son

  

  Colombian Conservative congresswoman Ángela Vergara says her 22-year-old son, Rafael Alfonso Vergara, has been detained in the United States by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and had spent “18 days jailed and chained” when she first went public.

• Monday, February 16th 2026 - 17:11 UTC

  Argentina’s CGT calls 24-hour general strike on the day lower house debates Milei’s labor reform

  

  Argentina’s main labor umbrella, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), confirmed on Monday it will stage a 24-hour nationwide strike on the day the Chamber of Deputies debates President Javier Milei’s labor reform, hardening its stance as the bill enters the final stage of the legislative process after clearing the Senate.

• Monday, February 16th 2026 - 17:03 UTC

  Brazilian opposition announces legal action against Lula over Rio Carnival tribute

  

  Brazil’s opposition said it will file complaints with the country’s electoral courts against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, arguing that a Rio Carnival tribute staged by samba school Acadêmicos de Niterói amounted to illegal early campaigning funded, at least in part, with public money.