2026 ~ ANDY AMAG

South Korea, Brazil agree to expand cooperation in key minerals, trade

By Kyu-seok Shim and Joyce Lee

SEOUL, Feb 23 (Reuters) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held summit talks in Seoul on Monday with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio ‌Lula da Silva, where they agreed to expand cooperation in sectors including trade, key ‌minerals, technology and culture.

The leaders plan to elevate the bilateral relationship into a strategic partnership, and for the countries to work together to support stability on the Korean Peninsula, Lee said.

"Peace, built on conditions where conflict isn't needed, is the strongest form of security," the South Korean president told a joint press conference.

The leaders oversaw the signing of 10 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) spanning trade and industrial policy, core minerals, digital economy ‌including AI, agriculture, health and biotech, ⁠small-business exchanges and joint policing against cybercrime, narcotics and other transnational threats.

In earlier remarks, Lee said the two sides adopted a four-year action plan to ⁠map out concrete steps for expanding bilateral cooperation, from strategic minerals to defence and space industries, as well as food security.

Brazil is South Korea's largest trading partner in South America, making economic cooperation a key part of the agenda.

Lula said Brazil holds large rare-earth reserves and has substantial nickel deposits, and ‌that his government hoped to attract investment from South Korean companies.

In a message posted to X earlier in the day, Lee welcomed Lula, who is in Seoul for his first state visit in 21 years, pointing out the similarities in their backgrounds.

"As a former child labourer, you proved with your whole life that democracy is the most powerful tool for social and economic progress," Lee wrote.

"I ‌support your life, your struggle and your achievements, which will remain forever in the history of global democracy."

The leaders, who first met at the G7 summit in Canada last year and later at the G20 summit in South ‌Africa, appear to have bonded over shared experiences of childhood factory work and workplace injuries.

The talks took place in South Korea's presidential Blue House, the first large-scale official welcome ceremony to be held since Lee moved his office back to the building.

A state banquet is scheduled for ‌Monday evening where barbecue dishes and Brazilian bossa nova pieces are due to be performed by a Korean jazz band alongside a children's choir, Lee's office said.

(Reporting by Kyu-seok Shim and Joyce LeeEditing by Ed Davies)

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helmikuuta 22, 2026

South Korea, Brazil agree to expand cooperation in key minerals, trade

By Kyu-seok Shim and Joyce Lee SEOUL, Feb 23 (Reuters) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held summit ta...

73 Times People Didn't Realize How Cringe They Were Being (New Pics)

Awkwardnessis a powerful emotion. It's so potent that you can viscerally feel it even through secondhand means, much like the photos you're about to see.

These are from theCringe Picssubreddit, and the page profile says it all: "When it hurts just to look." Indeed, these images may make you go "Yikes," then leave you shaking your head out of pity and embarrassment.

We've picked some of the photos that stood out to us, which may give you the same emotions as someone whofaceplantsin front of a large crowd. But be warned, your face may get tired fromall the cringing.

"Cringe" as we know it today is fairly new. These days, people take some satisfaction in seeing others' cringeworthy moments.According topsychotherapistNicholas Balaisis, it's a way to feel superior while also recognizing that we may be vulnerable to this type of "failed self-display."

"As we increasingly occupy more space online—posting about ourselves as part of the routine of everyday life—we make ourselves vulnerable to inadvertently posting cringeworthy content," he noted.

Indeed, there has been a prevalent fear of "being cringe," especially among young people who are always online. So much so that it has become a source of anxiety and worry, according to psychologistLauren Zannetino.

"They're stopping themselves from being authentic … and doing the things that they want to do out of fear that it's going to be filmed by someone and posted online," Zannetino toldABC News Australia.

My police department posted this stupid photo of their sheriffs. This is our taxes at work. They think they're part of Tropic freaking Thunder.

However, there is a bit of an upside in keeping in mind what cringeworthy behavior is, especially online. According to Balaisis, it's a form of "psychological discipline" that helps us shape the parameters of what we should and shouldn't post.

"It is perhaps no wonder that we also see a rise in public apologies that try to mitigate self-inflicted damages to our public profile and persona," he said.

Meanwhile, Zannettino believes that being cringe should be seen as a sign of authenticity and vulnerability, rather than something shameful. She says, "In order to be free, we have to be a little bit cringe."

But if you're all about avoiding looking cringeworthy for the internet to see, Balaisis has one piece of advice: pay constant attention to your online presentation of self. That means constantly updating it and staying aware of current trends.

"In short, managing your online self involves a great deal of labour and attention," he said.