❗️⚖️ INSS Investigation Gets New Rapporteur: André Mendonça Takes Over

Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) has reassigned the investigation into alleged fraud at the National Institute of Social Security (INSS). The move, ordered by STF President Minister Luís Roberto Barroso, followed a recommendation from the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) to randomly select a new rapporteur. The case is now under the supervision of Minister André Mendonça.

The reassignment came after Attorney General Paulo Gonet advised that the case should no longer be handled by Minister Dias Toffoli. According to Gonet, there were no legal grounds to justify keeping the investigation with Toffoli. Consequently, the case files were sent to the STF presidency for redistribution.

🇺🇸 🇦🇫 The US Department of Defense is conducting an additional in-depth investigation into the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan under the Biden administration, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said.

According to him, the investigation will be completed by mid-2026. By that time, the department intends to conduct a thorough analysis to "understand what happened."

🇧🇷🇨🇳 Brazil sells nickel mines to China, rejecting a higher bid from a European company.

🇧🇷🚩💰 Brazil announces R$ 12 billion credit line for industry; measure aims to ease impact of U.S. tariffs

The Brazilian government announced on Monday, August 25, a R$ 12 billion funding package to support the modernization of the national industry, focusing on the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies. The resources come from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), which contributes R$ 10 billion, and the Financing Agency for Studies and Projects (Finep), which contributes R$ 2 billion.

The program offers interest rates between 7.5% and 8.5% per year, depending on the borrower’s risk profile. The aim is to encourage the purchase of machinery and equipment that incorporate technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and sensors, increasing competitiveness and reducing operational costs for Brazilian companies (gov.br).

Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, highlighted that the measure aims to modernize an industrial park with an average age of 14 years, promoting greater energy efficiency and cost reduction. He also emphasized that the credit line is exclusively for capital goods and that the rates will be significantly lower than market rates (gov.br).

It is important to note that this R$ 12 billion package is separate from the emergency measures announced earlier to support companies affected by U.S. import tariffs. These tariffs, which came into effect in August 2025, imposed rates of up to 50% on Brazilian products, impacting various sectors of the national economy. The Brazilian government has already announced a separate R$ 40 billion program to assist companies that suffered significant losses due to these tariffs (terra.com.br).

For more details on the new credit line and how to access the resources, consult the official Palácio do Planalto website.

—With the upcoming elections, the Brazilian government is trying to get closer, especially to the agribusiness sector, an audience more aligned with the right.

—Regarding the approval of the current president according to a recent survey: Lula’s approval rises 3 points, reaching 42.9%.

Such polls are not widely trusted by the national population, as they are often seen as biased. However, I believe the current government may face defeat, and it is likely that the new Brazilian right will come strongly in the upcoming elections.

—Despite biased reports from Al Jazeera claiming that the attack that killed 21 people in a Gaza hospital was carried out by the State of Israel, I have my doubts. Not long ago, there was another attack on a hospital in the Gaza Strip where Israel was prematurely accused. Later, footage revealed that the strike had actually been launched from a Hamas rocket platform.

Given these facts, I do not rule out the possibility of a false flag orchestrated by Hamas to divert global attention. Hamas is a terrorist group that deliberately puts civilians in highly vulnerable situations. By attacking their own people and blaming Israel, what can we expect from such actors? Certainly not anything good.

🇧🇷 - The Brazilian federal police will increase surveillance at Bolsonaro's residence. The Supreme Court is expected to formally recommend that the police assign standby teams on a full-time basis to monitor in real time the precautionary measures that have been implemented.

🇦🇺🇮🇷 Albanese: We have stopped all our diplomatic activity in Iran, all our diplomats there have been moved to a safe place in another country.

🇨🇦 Canadian Foreign Ministry: Shocked by Israel's unacceptable attack on the hospital in the Gaza Strip.

🇮🇷🇦🇺 Iranian Foreign Ministry: The decision to expel the Iranian ambassador from Australia is due to local internal pressures, we are examining our response.

🇮🇷🇬🇧🇫🇷🇩🇪 Iranian Foreign Ministry: Concerned about the possibility of sanctions being renewed following the activation of the snapback mechanism.

🇨🇳 Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Israel needs to stop the military operation in Gaza.

🇺🇸🇱🇧 Tom Barrack, Trump's special envoy to Syria and Lebanon, after a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun: The Lebanese government will present by August 31 a plan to convince Hezbollah to disarm, Israel will respond with its own proposal.

🇩🇪 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz: We will not join our allies in a move to recognize a Palestinian state at this time.