Shailesh Djedjurika appointed Chairman of P&G Board of Directors, replacing John Muller

The satellite internet service Starlink is constantly expanding in Brazil, consolidating itself as the 13th largest fixed broadband provider in the country, according to Ookla data. Currently, the company has 791 thousand subscribers, although Starlink itself mentions a total of 1 million subscribers.

Performance in Rural vs. Urban Areas

Starlink's growth is particularly notable in the rural segment, where it surpasses the market share of established competitors like Claro and Vivo. It is estimated that in the first half of 2026, Starlink will hold 9.34% of the fixed broadband market in Brazilian rural regions. In contrast, Claro and Vivo register shares of 6.52% and 5.4%, respectively.

Although Starlink also has a relevant subscriber base in large urban centers, such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, its penetration in these locations is lower (1.34%) compared to the rural scenario. Ookla attributes this difference to the fact that fiber optic deployment is much more extensive in urban areas.

Growth and Speed Comparison

Between May 2025 and May 2026, there was an 8.3% growth in Starlink's rural customers, while Vivo registered an increase of 9.88% in the urban segment. Regarding speed, Starlink presents average download speeds that are below the fiber optic services offered by competitors.

Ookla points out that, in both urban and rural areas, Starlink users frequently find download rates between 50 and 200 Mb/s, rarely exceeding 300 Mb/s. On the other hand, Claro, Vivo, and TIM, which predominantly use fiber optics, can deliver speeds ranging from 300 Mb/s to 1 Gb/s, depending on the contracted plan.

Technically, satellite internet operation is more complex, and Starlink network capabilities tend to decrease as the customer base expands and more devices are connected simultaneously. Specifically, Starlink's average download rate in Brazil was 149.5 Mb/s during the early morning hours, dropping to 90.6 Mb/s at 1:00 PM, according to the first quarter of 2026. Despite this, for many residents in rural areas, the Starlink service represents the only viable option, being considered superior in quality and availability compared to local providers.

GWM has introduced two new configurations for the ORA 5 model in China: the GT and Sport versions. These additions focus on offering a sporty aesthetic appeal and differentiated finishes, although the Chinese manufacturer has not confirmed any modifications to the powertrain or handling adjustments.

Details of the Sport and GT versions

The Sport variant features more subtle changes, including a two-tone paint job with a white roof, larger diameter alloy wheels, red painted brake calipers, and a LiDAR sensor positioned on the top of the roof. This component, currently exclusive to purely electric versions sold in China, indicates a more sophisticated suite of driving aids, integrated into GWM's own Coffee Pilot 3 system.

The GT configuration adopts a bolder look. It incorporates a front splitter, side skirts, and a rear spoiler, in addition to red accents applied to the headlights, wheels, brake calipers, and aerodynamic components. The vehicle's electric nature is identified only by the charging port located on the front fender, which raises the possibility that this version might replace the old Ora 03 GT in the Chinese lineup.

Mechanical specifications and production in Brazil

Despite the more striking design, GWM has kept silent about the mechanical aspects. No increases in power, suspension revisions, or performance recalibrations have been reported, suggesting that the changes are primarily aesthetic.

In China, the ORA 5 is available in electric versions, equipped with a 204 hp front motor and 45.3 kWh and 58.3 kWh LFP batteries, providing ranges of 480 km and 580 km in the CLTC cycle. Hybrid and combustion options are also available, the latter featuring a 1.5-liter turbo engine producing 184 hp. The starting price for the line begins at 69,800 yuan, approximately R$ 53 thousand, and the prices for the new packages have not yet been disclosed.

In Brazil, the ORA 5 was launched in June in a single version, priced at R$ 159,900. The electric SUV uses the same 204 hp and 26.5 kgfm motor, reaching 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds and having its maximum speed electronically limited to 160 km/h. The 58.3 kWh battery offers a range of up to 349 km according to the INMETRO cycle and supports fast DC charging up to 120 kW, allowing it to go from 20% to 80% in 20 minutes, as informed by the manufacturer.

National production plan

Domestic production has been confirmed for the brand's second factory in the country, located in Aracruz, Espírito Santo. This plant will receive an investment of R$ 4.6 billion in the first phase, as part of the total R$ 10 billion plan announced for Brazil. The unit will be multi-energy, capable of manufacturing electric, hybrid, and combustion models on the same line. Its projected capacity is 200,000 units annually, four times greater than the Iracemápolis (SP) unit, which produces the Haval H6, Haval H9, and Poer P30, but operations will not begin until 2029. Currently, the GT and Sport versions are only presented in Chinese materials, and GWM has not specified whether these configurations will be exported.

Kevin Warsh acknowledged that the Committee meeting was not unanimous, describing the discussions as a true 'family dispute'. The Committee's final decision was not unanimous, recording three dissenting votes and nine votes in favor of maintaining interest rates.

Stance and Economic Perspectives

Although he framed the debates as 'active and robust', Warsh did not elaborate extensively on the reasons for the disagreement, stating his belief that his team is best positioned to define the direction of monetary policy. He highlighted that the economy demonstrates 'impressive resilience', even in the face of recent shocks.

Warsh reaffirmed the Committee's commitment to achieving the Fed's 2% inflation target, declaring there would be no flexibility on this matter. However, he did not confirm a potential interest rate hike at the next session.

Inflation and Interest Rate Analysis

The Fed leader mentioned that they are analyzing inflationary dynamics, given that prices have remained high for five years, but did not present specific measures to meet the target. Furthermore, the Fed president reinforced that the institution will stop providing future projections, expecting the market to react in real time, 'without filters' and with less constraint due to these forecasts.

After a two-day meeting, the Fed decided to keep interest rates in the range of 3.50% to 3.75%, as announced in a statement. This decision reflects support for the Federal Reserve's dual mandate.

Decision Details and Global Context

The statement indicated that economic activity is growing solidly, despite the high uncertainty partly caused by the conflict in the Middle East. The Fed observed that productivity growth and capital investment are strong, and that employment growth accompanies the growth of the active population, keeping the unemployment rate nearly stable.

In contrast, inflation remains above the Committee's 2% target, attributed partly to supply shocks that raised prices in certain sectors, such as energy. The Fed guaranteed that it will ensure price stability. The statement also specified that the dissenting votes on the monetary policy measure were cast by Beth M. Hammack, Neel Kashkari, and Lorie K. Logan, who advocated for a 0.25 percentage point increase in interest rates.

Inflation has exceeded the central bank's target for over five years. The war in Iran contributed to economic uncertainty and drove up energy prices, intensifying inflationary pressure and creating a dilemma for Federal Reserve decision-makers. Hammack, Kashkari, and Logan had already expressed willingness to raise interest rates to combat high prices, according to the Associated Press.