Modi and Lula discuss Trump's tariffs amid strained trade relations with US

(As expected, Trump's ridiculous tariff plan (raise more taxes from the American people to cover costs of giving trillions to Big Business and billionaires) is only succeeding in 1. making our economy scream and 2. driving other nations closer together in trade and their hatred of us. Promises made, promises kept.) 

from PressTV

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have spoken by phone regarding various issues, including the tariffs recently imposed by the United States on goods from both nations.

Lula confirmed a state visit to India in early 2026 during the call on Thursday, a day after the Brazilian leader told Reuters news agency he would initiate a conversation among the BRICS group of countries on addressing US President Donald Trump's tariff measures.

The group of major emerging economies also includes China, Russia and South Africa.

Lula's office confirmed that in the call, both leaders discussed the international economic situation and the unilateral tariffs affecting Brazil and India, which are among the nations most impacted by Trump's actions.

Trump recently imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods, raising the total tariff to 50%, alleging that India continues to purchase Russian oil.

He also imposed similar tariffs on Brazil, affecting sectors including aircraft, energy, and orange juice.

During the conversation, Modi and Lula reiterated their goal of increasing bilateral trade to over $20 billion annually by 2030, up from approximately $12 billion last year.

They also agreed to enhance the scope of their preferential trade agreement and discussed virtual payment platforms to facilitate trade...

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Brazilians Rally Around Lula After Trump Tariff Threat

from Common Dreams

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva may have gotten a political boost thanks to the intervention of U.S. President Donald Trump.

On Wednesday, Trump announced he was slapping all Brazilian imports with a 50% tariff to protest the criminal trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a longtime Trump ally who was indicted on charges related to an alleged coup plot to illegally remain in power after he lost the 2022 general election.

However, it does not appear that Trump's intervention into Brazil's domestic politics is helping Bolsonaro in the court of public opinion and Brazilian publication Globo reports that Brazilians have been swarming the U.S. president's Instagram account and leaving messages telling him to "leave Brazil in peace" while insisting their country is "not a lawless land."

In an analysis piece published by the São Paulo-based Folha, journalist Igor Gielow declared that Bolsonaro was an "immediate loser" of Trump's decision, as in the past he has declared Trump to be his political idol and the two are generally seen as joined at the hip. What's more, Gielow argues that the Trump tariffs are most likely to hurt Brazil's agribusiness sector, which is where the core of Bolsonaro's political support lies...

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Musk wants to sow dissent against democratically-elected president of Brazil: Journalist

from PressTV

The feud between American tech mogul Elon Musk and the Brazilian government is due to Musk’s close links with the US Republican Party is opposed to the government of Lula da Silva, says a Brazilian journalist.

In an interview with the Press TV website, Lucas Leiroz, a Brazilian journalist and political analyst, said the owner of X has made a series of attacks on the Brazilian president and Alexandre de Moraes, an influential jurist who heads the Supreme Electoral Court in the South American country.

In recent months, Musk repeatedly attacked Moraes, labeling him a dictator.

On Friday, the judge ordered the full and immediate suspension of X, formerly known as Twitter, over the social media platform’s role in disseminating disinformation in South America’s largest country.

He said the ban will remain in force until all related court orders are complied with, including the payment of fines amounting to 18.5 million reais ($3.28 million) and the nomination of a legal representative in Brazil.

"We have a right to defend fundamental rights. Those who violate democracy, who violate fundamental human rights, whether in person or through social media, must be held accountable," he said in a speech on Friday.

Leiroz said there is a narrative that platform X owned by Musk is dominated by “extremist groups” who spread “hate speech” on the internet and censor content related to Palestine...

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Lula Visits Chomsky Recovering from Stroke: "You Are One of the Most Influential People in My Life"

from Democracy NOW

Brazil’s president withdraws his country’s ambassador to Israel after criticizing the war in Gaza

from the AP

Brazil withdrew its ambassador to Israel on Wednesday after months of tensions between the two countries over the war in Gaza, the latest repercussion from a South American nation over Israel’s military campaign in the Palestinian territory.

The move was announced in Brazil’s official gazette.

Israel’s foreign ministry said no official message has yet been received from the Brazilian government on the matter. However, following the media reports, the Brazilian chargé d’affaires was summoned to appear at the ministry on Thursday for a meeting.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been a frequent critic of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, which he compared to the Holocaust earlier this year. That led Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz to summon the Brazilian ambassador, Frederico Meyer, to the national Holocaust museum in Jerusalem for a public reprimand...

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Understanding Lula: Compromise is Not Compromised

The question of what Lula da Silva is doing right now is a rather nuanced one. He has a history of getting involved in world affairs and setting himself up to try to negotiate ends to conflicts. This appears to be what he is doing now with Ukraine and Russia. Let's take a closer look so we can better understand whether he is compromising in order to gain credible neutrality in the effort or whether he is just plain compromised. 

More Info on What Lula Has Been Doing Since Taking Office

For your edification.

Why Greenwald Promotes Regime Change Disinfo Targeting Brazil

Lula does not support sanctions against Russia. Lula is opening up trade deals with China. Lula wont send weapons and munitions to Ukraine. And oh yeah, Lula is setting up Latin American common currency to use for trade to get off US dollar. Same thing Gaddafi did.