The rapprochement between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Workers' Party) and the President of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (Brazilian Union Party - Conservative), is beginning to produce concrete effects on the Congressional agenda. After weeks of estrangement, the two share a public agenda in Amapá this Monday (17), while priority government agendas advance in the House commanded by the senator.

On Friday (14), Alcolumbre forwarded to the Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) the PEC that provides for the end of the 6×1 schedule . The proposal had been stalled in the Senate since it was approved by the Chamber in May. The move occurred after meetings between Lula and the president of Congress, who also unblocked the processing of the Public Security PEC .

The advancement of the 6x1 proposal brings back to the center of the debate one of the main social banners of the Lula government. The proposal foresees the reduction of the workday and the end of the model in which workers work six days followed by only one day of rest. In the Senate, the expectation is that the matter will be analyzed by the CCJ (Committee on Constitution, Justice and Citizenship) and may be included in the concentrated effort planned for the end of August and the beginning of September.

The Public Security Amendment is also among the priorities that have gained new momentum with the resumption of dialogue between the Executive Branch and the Senate. The text expands the Union's participation in the coordination of public security policies and is treated by the government as an important piece in reorganizing federal action in the sector.

The movement is occurring precisely at the official start of the electoral race. On one side, Lula is trying to transform the reduction of working hours and the expansion of labor rights into a concrete agenda for the coming months. On the other, the opposition is already signaling that it intends to delay the discussion of the 6x1 (referring to the 6x1 reform of the electoral reform) until after the elections. The coordinator of Flávio Bolsonaro's (Liberal Party) campaign, Rogério Marinho (Liberal Party), argued that the topic should only be debated after the election.

The new rapport between Lula and Alcolumbre , therefore, has effects that go beyond Monday's agenda in Amapá. After the strain caused by the rejection of Jorge Messias's nomination to the Supreme Federal Court, the dialogue between the two is once again functioning as one of the keys to unlocking issues of interest to the government in the Senate, precisely at a time when Congress is becoming increasingly focused on the 2026 election campaign.

More than 200 people were injured after Saturday’s 7.7-magnitude earthquake. On Monday, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) confirmed that 9,963 Indonesians are staying in makeshift shelters after being forced to leave their homes Saturday due to the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck off the coast of Flores island, killing 68 people and injuring more than 200.

The NGO Save the Children said many earthquake victims are spending the night outside their homes in the hardest-hit areas of East Nusa Tenggara province. In the Ende district, nearly 1,000 aftershocks have been recorded, including a magnitude 5.7 earthquake that shook Flores again Monday. About 2 million people live on the island. No tsunami warning was issued.

The new earthquake occurred at 8:46 a.m. local time at a depth of 35.6 kilometers (22.1 miles), with its epicenter 42.1 kilometers (26.2 miles) north-northwest of Ende, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported. In the past 24 hours, the Indonesian government raised the death toll from the earthquake from 53 to 68. The quake also injured 213 people with injuries of varying severity, while rescue teams continue searching for survivors. Authorities have not provided a figure for the number of people missing.

At least 914 homes were virtually destroyed in cities such as Ende — the most populated locality on Flores, with nearly 90,000 residents — while 93 schools and 36 health centers suffered partial or severe damage. The report, released by the United Nations Humanitarian Aid Coordination Agency, includes data on minor damage to numerous roads in the province, located about 600 kilometers from the island of Bali.

In response to the growing scale of the disaster, the provincial government declared a state of emergency in the region for the next 14 days, with the aim of coordinating aid with central authorities. Similar measures have also been officially adopted in the affected districts and cities.

According to estimates by Save the Children, more than 8,000 children face safety risks after losing their homes, places of study, their parents’ or legal guardians’ sources of income, or because of delays in the arrival of humanitarian aid in some hard-to-reach areas. “People are distressed and scared, especially children and older adults,” the NGO said, urging authorities and humanitarian organizations to provide a comprehensive aid plan that prioritizes shelter and food but also includes other needs such as health and recreation.

Although the government of Prabowo Subianto has not requested international assistance, China offered Monday to provide aid.

Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV sent a message of spiritual solidarity and closeness to those affected in Indonesia, the country with the world’s largest Muslim population, in which he “encourages ecclesiastical and civil authorities to continue providing humanitarian assistance and prays for emergency personnel dedicated to recovery efforts.”

Flores is an exception in the archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, with a majority Catholic population. Indonesia lies on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of intense seismic and volcanic activity where numerous earthquakes occur every year, most of them moderate.

Colombia earthquake death toll reaches 289, with 3,935 injured and 320 missing as rescue teams and volunteers support affected communities.

The Colombia earthquake has killed at least 298 people, injured 3,935 and left 320 missing, according to the latest report from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, known as UNGRD.

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck on August 10 at approximately 7:34 a.m. local time, with its epicenter near San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó.

The earthquake was felt across large areas of Colombia, including the western and central regions. Strong shaking affected cities and municipalities in Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, Caldas and Quindío.

The UNGRD said the disaster had affected 115,461 people in 448 municipalities across 15 departments. More than 54,000 families were listed as victims or otherwise affected by the emergency.

The number of victims is expected to change as rescue teams reach isolated communities, search collapsed buildings and complete technical evaluations of the damage.

The official balance released on Saturday increased the death toll by six from the previous report. It also confirmed that 353 people had been rescued during the continuing search and rescue operation.

The earthquake caused extensive damage to homes and public buildings. Authorities recorded 81,506 damaged homes and 14,493 destroyed residences, while 66 buildings collapsed completely.

The destruction has displaced thousands of families and forced many communities to seek temporary shelter in schools, public buildings, sports facilities and open areas.

The crisis has also affected critical infrastructure. The UNGRD reported damage to 241 health centers, 2,612 educational institutions and 3,621 community facilities.

The damage to medical centers has complicated emergency care at a time when hospitals are receiving large numbers of injured people.

Schools have also been closed in several areas because of structural risks. Some educational facilities are being used as shelters or distribution centers for food, water and other supplies.

The transportation network suffered severe disruption. Authorities reported damage to 298 roads, 59 aqueducts, 44 vehicle bridges and five pedestrian bridges.

The destruction of roads and bridges has made it difficult to reach rural areas and deliver emergency supplies. Some communities remain isolated because landslides, collapsed structures and damaged routes have blocked access.

Five airports were also affected by the earthquake. The damage has complicated the movement of rescue personnel, medical teams, equipment and humanitarian aid.

The UNGRD has activated satellite-monitoring cooperation to improve its assessment of the affected areas. The International Charter on Space and Major Disasters provides access to satellite imagery that can help authorities identify damaged infrastructure and isolated communities.

The Colombia earthquake has triggered a large-scale search and rescue operation involving national and local authorities, firefighters, police officers, military personnel, medical workers and community volunteers.

Emergency teams continue searching for people believed to be trapped beneath the ruins of homes and public buildings. The operation is becoming more difficult as time passes, but authorities remain focused on locating survivors and recovering victims.

International assistance has also been approved. The UNGRD said Colombia would receive support from certified search and rescue teams from the United States, Ecuador and Israel.

Specialized teams can provide equipment for detecting people beneath rubble, removing concrete and stabilizing damaged structures.

Rescuers must work carefully because buildings damaged by the earthquake may collapse without warning. Engineers inspect structures before teams enter, while emergency personnel establish safety perimeters around unstable sites.

The recovery of survivors is only one part of the response. Teams are also providing medical care, evacuating residents from dangerous areas and assessing whether homes can be safely occupied.

Authorities are conducting technical censuses to identify the extent of the destruction and determine which families require shelter, food, water, medical services and financial assistance.

The earthquake has also affected animals. Official records list 578 animals impacted, of which 188 had been rescued by Saturday.

Veterinary teams and animal-protection groups have been working alongside rescue crews to remove animals from damaged homes, provide treatment and reunite them with their owners.

The inclusion of animal rescue in the emergency response is important because many families refuse to leave damaged areas without their pets. Protecting animals can also help reduce the emotional burden on children and displaced families.

The humanitarian response has required the coordination of national institutions, municipal governments and local communities. Emergency shelters must receive food, drinking water, blankets, hygiene products and medicines.

Authorities are also monitoring sanitation conditions. Damaged aqueducts and overcrowded shelters can increase the risk of waterborne diseases, particularly among children and older people.

The loss of homes has created an urgent need for temporary housing. Families whose residences were destroyed cannot return until engineers certify that the structures are safe.

In rural areas, residents face additional challenges because emergency teams must travel long distances over damaged roads. Some communities have limited access to communication networks and may not yet have received full assistance.

The government has called on citizens to follow official instructions and avoid entering dangerous areas. It has also urged people to rely on verified information during the rescue and relief operation.