Among those taken hostage are four members of the Brazilian delegation, who were participating in a nonviolent humanitarian mission in international waters near the island of Crete while sailing toward the Gaza Strip. The flotilla was intercepted by Israeli military forces.
“The Israeli attacks on the vessels and the illegal detention of humanitarian activists in international waters constitute flagrant violations of international law and international humanitarian law,” wrote the foreign ministers of the aforementioned countries.
In the statement, they call for the immediate release of the activists and “urge the international community to fulfill its moral and legal obligations to respect international law, protect civilians, and ensure accountability for these violations.”
The performance on Saturday (May 2) opened with a drone show that traced the outline of a wolf in the Rio sky, as the animal is the singer’s symbol. Shakira began the show wearing an outfit in the colors of the Brazilian flag - green, yellow, and blue - and spoke in Portuguese about her long history of visits to Brazil.
The three medical stations set up in Copacabana provided 400 consultations, with 64 people requiring transport to nearby municipal hospitals. The main reasons for seeking medical attention were general malaise, minor injuries, and alcohol intoxication.
Urban cleaning crews collected 362 tons of waste during and after the concert. The operation involved approximately 2,000 street cleaners, from the pre-cleaning phase on Friday (1) until the work was completed in the early hours of Sunday (3).
The Municipal Secretariat of Economic Development estimates that the concert generated approximately BRL 800 million for the city’s economy, driven by increased spending in sectors such as accommodation, food service, transportation, and retail.
The “Todo Mundo no Rio” project is organized by the city of Rio in partnership with the production company Bonus Track and is sponsored by various private companies. Concerts featuring internationally renowned artists are scheduled to continue through at least 2028.
According to municipal authorities, the performances have already led to an increase in tourist traffic to the “Marvelous City.” In 2024, the number of tourists during the May 1 national holiday, Labor Day, grew by 34.2 percent compared to the previous year. In 2025, the increase was 90.5 percent compared to 2023.
The city’s revenue from the tax on services related to tourism, events, transportation, and associated activities was 23.2 percent higher in May 2025 compared to 2023. For city officials, concerts also boost Rio’s international profile, driving tourism during other times of the year.
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