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We Will Reciprocate If Trump Hikes Tariffs – Brazilian President

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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Thursday that if US counterpart Donald Trump hiked tariffs on Brazilian products, he would reciprocate — but that he would prefer improved relations over a trade war.

The Latin American giant is one of the countries that Trump has threatened with higher tariffs.

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It’s very simple: if he taxes Brazilian products, Brazil will reciprocate in taxing products that are exported from the United States,” the 79-year-old Lula told a press conference.

Lula, currently in his third term, said he would prefer to “improve our relationship with the United States” and boost trade ties with Brazil’s second-largest trading partner after China.

“I want to respect the United States and for Trump to respect Brazil. That’s all,” he said.

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Citing Trump’s comments that he plans to take back the Panama Canal or get control of Greenland, Lula said “he just has to respect the sovereignty of other countries.”

Lula also underscored the global threats facing democracy.

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“For me, democracy is the most important thing in humanity right now … Either we keep democracy working or we will have states more authoritarian than Hitler and fascism.”

Lula, whose country will host the COP30 UN climate talks in the Amazonian city of Belem in November, added that Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord was “a step back for human civilization.”

He said he did not want a summit where “measures are approved, everything looks very nice on paper and then no country complies,” slamming wealthy nations for failing to meet previous promises to give billions of dollars to help developing nations deal with the fallout of climate change.

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READ ALSO: Deportation: Trump Administration Revokes Protected Status For Venezuelans

We want something very real so that we can know if we are serious or not about the climate issue.”

The president held a wide-ranging press conference in the capital Brasilia, urging journalists not to hold back in their questions as his government seeks to reclaim the narrative after battling a wave of disinformation.

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After undergoing emergency surgery to stop a brain bleed in December linked to an earlier fall, Lula vowed he was fully recovered and had “the energy of a 30-year-old.”

With less than two years left of his third presidential term, Lula’s approval rating has sunk to 47 percent, according to a Quaest poll published this week, with a notable drop in support from his key electoral base in the low-income northeast of the country.

Lula said he was “not worried” about opinion surveys, and brushed off concerns about high interest rates and public debt.

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As expected, the central bank on Wednesday hiked the key interest rate by one point to 13.25 percent, despite a new bank president being appointed by Lula — who has in the past criticized interest rate hikes.

“The president of the central bank cannot make a U-turn in a stormy sea,” Lula said, adding that he had faith in new bank chief Gabriel Galipolo who would have “autonomy to do whatever is necessary.”

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Lula also sought to ease concerns over government interventions to lower food prices and vowed his commitment to “fiscal responsibility.”

His government is weighing reducing import tariffs on certain goods, and he highlighted the need to provide more financing to ramp up production, saying he was working on a plan with banks for “the largest credit program in the history of this country.”

Concerns over Brazil’s ability to curb public spending in December sent its currency, the real, to record lows against the dollar.

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Ghana Land Dispute Clashes Kill 31, Displace 48,000

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Communal clashes in northern Ghana that started late last month have killed at least 31 people and displaced nearly 50,000, officials said Thursday, with more than 13,000 fleeing across the border into Ivory Coast.

The violence in Ghana’s Savannah Region broke out on August 24 in the village of Gbiniyiri, near the Ivorian border, the result of an escalating land dispute that has engulfed a dozen communities.

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The conflict began when the local chief sold a parcel of land to a private developer, without broader community consent. When the developer attempted to access the land to begin work, residents resisted violently.

Frustration reached a peak when the chief’s palace was set on fire.

READ ALSO:Ghana’s President Sacks Chief Justice Over Corruption Allegations

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Communal conflicts over land and chieftaincy disputes are recurrent in Ghana’s north, though displacement on this scale is rare.

Interior Minister Mubarak Muntaka said in a radio interview Thursday that 13,253 Ghanaians had crossed into Ivory Coast, citing figures from Ivorian authorities.

Philippe Hien, president of the Bounkani regional council, told AFP that “there are 13,000 people who have arrived in 17 villages” in the area, which is already home to 30,000 refugees from conflict-hit Burkina Faso.

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Ghana’s National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) said around 48,000 people had been forced from their homes, mostly women and children.

READ ALSO:Three Ghanaian Nationals Extradited To US In $100m Online Fraud Case

For the past five days we haven’t had any gunshots, killings or attacks,” Savannah Regional NADMO Director Zakaria Mahama told AFP, adding that many displaced are beginning to return home.

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Both Mahama and Muntaka confirmed the toll of 31 dead.

Some families are sheltering several dozen relatives in cramped rooms, while those in makeshift displacement camps often only have one meal a day, Mahama said.

READ ALSO:FULL LIST: Ghana Releases Identities Of Helicopter Crash Victims

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On the security front, Muntaka said more than 700 military and police officers had been deployed and a curfew instituted.

Savannah Regional Minister Salisu Bi-Awuribe said calm was gradually returning as chiefs and elders worked with security agencies to prevent further clashes.

Authorities fear food shortages after families abandoned farms and livestock during the exodus.

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An investigative committee is being set up with traditional rulers and the National Peace Council to probe the causes and promote reconciliation.

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Top 5 Leading Mobile Phone Manufacturing Countries In The World

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The global mobile phone industry remains one of the fastest-moving manufacturing sectors among countries in the world.

As of 2025, production has shifted noticeably: China remains the largest single manufacturing base, but rapid capacity growth in countries such as India and Vietnam is reshaping where smartphones are assembled and exported.

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The percentages below are industry estimates drawn from market research (June–July 2025) and reflect production/assembly share of global smartphone output: not brand market share or design R&D.

1. China

China remains one of the the world’s largest phone manufacturing countries by overall installed capacity and output. China’s ecosystem, from component suppliers to large contract manufacturers and major domestic brands, keeps it at the center of the supply chain even as some production is relocated elsewhere. Recent industry commentary stresses China’s continued importance despite a gradual rebalancing of assembly to other markets.

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2. India

India has seen exceptional growth in 2024–2025 driven by government incentives (e.g., production-linked incentives), rising ‘Made in India’ exports (notably iPhones and other premium models), and new greenfield capacity from multiple brands. Counterpoint Research projects India to reach roughly 20% of global smartphone manufacturing output in 2025. India also became the largest source of smartphones shipped to the U.S. in Q2 2025, reflecting a sharp export push.

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3. Vietnam

Vietnam continues to be a major alternative to China for assembly, hosting large Samsung facilities and plants for other international brands. Its share is commonly reported near the low double digits in 2025 estimates and remains a core export hub for phones and some components.

READ ALSO:Full List: 3 African Countries Ranked Among World’s Best Countries

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4. South Korea

South Korea is a major manufacturing and component-exporting nation (displays, memory, some finished units from Samsung). Its contribution to finished-phone assembly is smaller than China/India/Vietnam but significant because of high-value production and components.

5. United States

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The U.S. remains dominant in design, software, and high-value R&D but has limited mass assembly compared with Asian producers. Recent years have seen some onshore, high-end, or specialized assembly and final-stage manufacturing, and the U.S. share of global assembly output is modest (often cited near ~2–3%).

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PHOTOS: Xi, Putin, Kim At Beijing Parade As China Flaunts Military Might

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In a spectacle of military might, China commemorated the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II with a grand parade on Wednesday, leaving observers worldwide questioning the balance of global power.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, flanked by Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, oversaw the event at Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

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The event showcased an array of cutting-edge weapons, including nuclear, artificial intelligence-powered, laser, and robotic weapons, that highlighted China’s rapid advancements in defence technology, a development heavily scrutinised by Western defence officials, according to the BBC.

The parade, dubbed Victory Day, featured over 10,000 troops, hundreds of vehicles, and aircraft flyovers, drawing at least 50,000 spectators and leaders from more than 25 nations, including allies like Iran.

READ ALSO:Xi, Putin Discuss Immortality, Organ Transplants At Beijing Parade

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But BBC reported it was notably boycotted by Western countries. According to Al Jazeera, only two European leaders, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, were present.

Xi’s address emphasised China’s “unstoppable” rise and that “the Chinese nation is never intimidated by any bullies and always forges ahead.”

He insisted the country “should stay firmly on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.”

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China unveils new weapons even Trump can’t overlook

Central to the parade was the unveiling of groundbreaking weapons systems that tell China’s leap in military strength.

READ ALSO:Russia Hits Out At Macron For Calling Putin ‘Ogre’

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Beijing’s power is not just in its numbers, backed by its huge economy, but also by increasing innovation and self-reliance.

Its hypersonic glide and cruise missiles, for example—weapons that travel at above Mach 5—are largely unmatched by anything the US or its allies have in their arsenal.

Its J20 ‘Mighty Dragon’ fighter jet employs 5th generation stealth technology, while its LY-1 directed-energy laser system (DEW), mounted on an eight-wheeled truck and described as the “world’s most powerful” for intercepting missiles and drones.

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The JL-1 air-launched ballistic missile also made its first appearance, alongside giant underwater submarine drones, drone boats, unmanned helicopters, and multiple new unmanned aerial vehicles.

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Trump, who was notably missing from the grand parade, berated Xi in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday for not recognising US’s contribution to China’s emancipation.

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The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and ‘blood’ that the United States of America gave to China to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader,” Trump posted.

Many Americans died in China’s quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honoured and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!”

Trump also criticised Putin and Kim for conspiring against his country.

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Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America.

“May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration.”

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World’s mightiest arsenal: US or China?

Observers view the parade as a direct message to Washington, especially amid trade disputes and regional flashpoints in regions like Taiwan and the South China Sea.

An analyst, famously known as Trademan on X, said on Wednesday, “While the West debates, Beijing fires photons,” adding that the event is a message that China isn’t just playing catch-up but rewriting the rules of engagement.

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However, experts believe that while China is fast catching up, the US still maintains an edge in terms of operations.

Speaking with BBC, assistant professor in the military transformations programme at the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore, Michael Raska, argued the US military has a culture that gives more leeway for units on the ground to make decisions and innovate, “whereas China is top-down.”

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“You can have flashy platforms and systems, but they will not move a finger until they receive an order from the top.”

“The US military excels because there’s a bottom-up mission type of culture, where units can make decisions as the situation evolves,” he said.

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