External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira in New Delhi on Friday as diplomatic engagements intensified ahead of the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit.

The meeting comes a day before the main leaders’ summit, scheduled for September 12–13, with India hosting the expanded BRICS grouping in the national capital. Brazil is among the founding members of the bloc, alongside India, Russia, China and South Africa.

Jaishankar, Vieira Discuss BRICS Priorities

The meeting between Jaishankar and Vieira comes at a time when BRICS is seeking to translate its growing membership and economic weight into more practical cooperation.

The New Delhi summit is expected to focus on global governance, multilateralism, trade and investment, technology, food and energy security, disaster resilience and critical supply chains.

The two foreign ministers’ engagement provides an opportunity to discuss shared priorities ahead of negotiations among BRICS leaders.

India and Brazil Share Global South Focus

India and Brazil have increasingly worked together on issues concerning the Global South, including development, multilateral institutions and reform of global governance structures.

Both countries have also sought a greater voice for developing and emerging economies in international decision-making.

That shared outlook gives New Delhi and Brasília considerable scope for coordination within BRICS, particularly on issues where the grouping wants to strengthen the representation of developing countries.

BRICS Faces a Complex Geopolitical Environment

The meeting takes place against a challenging international backdrop.

The expanded BRICS grouping now includes 11 members, bringing together countries with differing geopolitical interests and relationships with major global powers. The ongoing conflict involving Iran has created additional complications, as Iran and the UAE—both BRICS members—have found themselves on opposing sides of the conflict.

The ability of the grouping to find common ground on major international issues will be closely watched during the New Delhi summit.

Trade and Economic Cooperation in Focus

Economic cooperation is another major component of India's BRICS presidency.

New Delhi has been pushing for stronger trade links, resilient supply chains, improved payment connectivity and greater cooperation in technology and innovation.

The BRICS Business Forum has also placed emphasis on making economic cooperation more practical for businesses, including through discussions on local-currency trade and payment-system connectivity.

These issues are particularly relevant for India and Brazil, two large emerging economies with significant agricultural, industrial and services sectors.

Brazil’s Role in the Expanded BRICS

Brazil remains an important voice within BRICS and has traditionally emphasised multilateralism and greater representation for developing countries.

Its engagement with India can therefore help shape discussions on the future direction of the grouping as it expands beyond its original five-member structure.

For New Delhi, maintaining coordination with Brazil also strengthens its broader effort to position BRICS as a platform for cooperation among emerging economies rather than as an exclusively geopolitical grouping.

Leaders Prepare for Key New Delhi Summit

The ministerial-level meeting comes as New Delhi prepares to host leaders from across the expanded BRICS membership.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders are expected to participate in the summit, while the event will address both economic priorities and major global and regional developments.

For India, the summit represents a major diplomatic opportunity as it seeks to balance economic cooperation, strategic autonomy and its wider engagement with the Global South.

Focus Shifts to Summit Outcomes

With the leaders’ meeting beginning on September 12, attention will now turn to whether BRICS can convert broad areas of agreement into concrete initiatives.

The Jaishankar-Vieira meeting is part of the wider diplomatic consultations taking place before those decisions are finalised.

The outcome of the New Delhi summit will be closely watched for progress on economic cooperation, global governance reform, technology, supply-chain resilience and the bloc’s response to current geopolitical challenges.

Four people, including three Colombian tourists from the same family, were killed after a helicopter crashed in Rio de Janeiro's Tijuca National Park on Saturday, August 8.

The victims included the helicopter's pilot and three women who were travelling as part of a Colombian family group visiting Rio de Janeiro.

Brazilian firefighters confirmed that all four people on board died in the crash. Images released by the Rio de Janeiro Fire Department showed firefighters working at the crash site, where the helicopter came down on a steep and difficult-to-access hillside.

Three Colombian Tourists Killed

Colombia's Consul General in Rio de Janeiro, Diana Paez, told AFP that the three women were members of the same family.

According to Paez, the family had travelled from Colombia to Rio de Janeiro to celebrate a girl's 15th birthday.

The group consisted of six people, but they had to split into two groups because the helicopter could accommodate only three passengers at a time.

The girl's grandmother, aunt and cousin were among those who boarded the first flight and were killed in the crash.

The teenager was scheduled to take a second helicopter flight later with her father and his partner.

Crash in Tijuca National Park

The helicopter crashed in Tijuca National Park, a densely forested mountainous area in the heart of Rio de Janeiro.

The aircraft went down near Vista Chinesa, a well-known tourist viewpoint featuring a Chinese-style pagoda and panoramic views of the city.

The location made rescue and recovery operations particularly difficult because of the steep terrain and dense vegetation.

Firefighters released images showing the aircraft's wreckage smoking after the crash.

Victim Identification Underway

The Colombian consulate assisted Brazilian authorities with the identification of the victims.

The process was complicated by the condition of the bodies following the crash and fire.

Brazilian authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, including the condition of the helicopter, flight operations and the cause of the crash.

No immediate official explanation for the accident was provided.

Mayor Calls for Safety Monitoring

Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere said he had asked Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency to immediately increase monitoring of helicopter flights.

The move comes amid renewed concerns about the safety of helicopter tourism in the city.

Helicopter rides are a popular attraction in Rio de Janeiro, offering tourists aerial views of the city's beaches, mountains, forests and other landmarks.

Another Deadly Helicopter Accident in Rio

The latest crash comes just weeks after another helicopter accident in the Rio region.

In June, two helicopters collided in mid-air over Rio de Janeiro, killing six people. The victims included American singer Oliver Tree and Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim, according to reports.

The latest accident is likely to renew scrutiny of helicopter tourism and flight safety standards in one of Brazil's most visited tourist destinations.

Authorities are continuing to examine the crash site and work to determine what caused the helicopter to go down.

Renato Bayma Gaia, 32, and his girlfriend Naiara Roberta Ribeiro de Marins, 33, have entered the Guinness World Records books for the most kisses shared in 30 seconds by a pair, racking up an eye-watering 195 smooches in half a minute. The attempt was timed deliberately to coincide with International Kissing Day, held earlier this week.

Both Renato and Naiara are doctors who worked frontline shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic before turning their attention to record-breaking. They've been together for around a year and a half, and told Guinness World Records they took on the challenge because they consider themselves the "best couple in the world." During the attempt, Renato rapidly planted kisses on Naiara's cheek without breaking rhythm, while she smiled through the entire thirty seconds.

This isn't Renato's first entry in the record books. He already held titles for the fastest time to set up and topple ten books — a brisk 6.68 seconds — and the largest foot rotation by a man, at 210.66 degrees. With the new kissing title added to his collection, he believes he's now the Brazilian with the most Guinness World Records to his name. For Naiara, though, this marks her first appearance in the record books, something Renato said was part of the point — he wanted her name listed alongside his.

Beyond the novelty, Renato said the record carries a message he cares about. He described himself as a bone marrow donor who lives with ADHD, adding that he wants to prove people with the condition are "capable of everything they want." A taekwondo black belt, he's previously described himself as simply "addicted to winning."

The couple isn't done yet. Their next target is the record for most kisses in one minute by a pair, currently held by Japan's Cherry Yoshitake — known as "Mr Cherry" — and Kumiko Shiratori, who managed 277 kisses. Renato and Naiara say they're already preparing their next attempt.

Not everyone's convinced the record deserves the attention it's getting — some online reactions have questioned why a kissing count qualifies as a Guinness title at all. Record or not, though, the couple seem more interested in the milestone for themselves than the internet's approval.

Brazil's FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign ended in heartbreak as Norway produced one of the tournament's biggest upsets, defeating the five-time champions 2-1 in the Round of 16. The defeat not only sent Norway into the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in their history but also marked the end of Neymar's international career.

The 34-year-old Brazilian forward, who had announced before the tournament that it would likely be his final World Cup, confirmed his retirement from international football after the match. An emotional Neymar broke down in tears at the final whistle before being consoled by teammates following Brazil's earliest World Cup exit since 1990.

Erling Haaland proved to be the difference-maker for Norway, scoring both goals to secure a famous victory at MetLife Stadium. The Manchester City striker's brace also strengthened his bid for the tournament's Golden Boot, taking his tally to seven goals.

Brazil struggled to find rhythm throughout the contest and only managed a late consolation after Neymar converted a penalty in stoppage time. However, the goal was not enough to prevent the South American giants from crashing out of the competition.

Speaking after the match, a visibly emotional Neymar confirmed that his journey with the national team had come to an end.

"I tried, I tried. Now, it's over. I started here; I finished here," he told Brazilian broadcaster Globo.

The moment carried symbolic significance, as Neymar had made his senior Brazil debut at the same venue—then known as the New Meadowlands Stadium—against the United States in August 2010, scoring on his debut. He now retires as Brazil's all-time leading men's international scorer with 80 goals, surpassing Pelé's official tally.

Neymar also became only the second Brazilian male footballer after Pelé to score in four different FIFA World Cup tournaments. He finishes his international career with 130 appearances, second only to Cafu's 142 matches for Brazil.

Injuries, however, once again limited Neymar's impact on the biggest stage. A recurring right calf injury restricted him to just two appearances during the tournament. He featured briefly against Scotland in the group stage before coming off the bench against Norway in the Round of 16.

Despite entering the match late, Neymar remained involved until the end. The closing moments witnessed a heated exchange between the Brazilian forward and Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland before Neymar calmly converted his penalty. After scoring, he responded with a sarcastic smile toward the Norwegian goalkeeper, but the brief confrontation could not change Brazil's fate.

For Neymar, the World Cup remained the one major title that eluded his glittering career. In 2014, his campaign ended prematurely because of injury before Brazil's historic semifinal defeat to Germany. Belgium knocked Brazil out in the 2018 quarterfinals, while Croatia eliminated the Seleção on penalties in 2022 despite Neymar scoring in extra time. Norway's victory has now brought his international journey to a close without the coveted World Cup trophy.

Meanwhile, Norway celebrated a landmark achievement as Haaland's clinical performance carried the Scandinavian nation into uncharted territory. They will now face England in the quarterfinals.

England booked their place after defeating co-hosts Mexico 3-2 in a dramatic Round of 16 encounter at the iconic Estadio Azteca. Jude Bellingham scored twice in quick succession during the first half before Julián Quiñones reduced the deficit for Mexico.

England's challenge became more difficult early in the second half when defender Jarell Quansah received a straight red card for a dangerous studs-up tackle, forcing his side to play with ten men.

Harry Kane restored England's two-goal advantage from the penalty spot before later conceding a penalty that Raúl Jiménez converted for Mexico. Despite relentless late pressure from the hosts, England held firm to secure victory and set up a quarterfinal clash against an inspired Norwegian side.

With Neymar's farewell and Norway's historic breakthrough, the Round of 16 delivered one of the most memorable days of the FIFA World Cup 2026, signalling the end of an era for Brazilian football while opening a new chapter for one of Europe's emerging footballing nations.

The result marked one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, with Norway advancing to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history. They will now face England, who secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over hosts Mexico to book their place in the last eight.

At MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Norway produced a disciplined and clinical performance led by star striker Erling Haaland, who scored both goals to eliminate one of football’s traditional powerhouses. Brazil, despite enjoying significant possession and creating several opportunities, failed to convert key chances and paid the price against a resilient Norwegian side.

The match remained goalless at halftime, though Brazil had an excellent opportunity to take the lead in the 15th minute. Following a VAR review, the South American giants were awarded a penalty. However, midfielder Bruno Guimaraes saw his effort brilliantly saved by experienced Norwegian goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, who went on to make several crucial stops throughout the contest.

Nyland denied attempts from Gabriel Martinelli and Vinicius Junior as Norway held firm under sustained Brazilian pressure. The missed penalty proved costly as Norway grew into the game after the break.

The breakthrough arrived in the 72nd minute when Andreas Schjelderup delivered an inviting cross from the left flank and Haaland powered home a header to give Norway a 1-0 advantage. Brazil pushed forward in search of an equaliser but left themselves exposed at the back.

Deep into stoppage time, Haaland struck again. The Manchester City forward calmly beat his marker before slotting the ball through defender Danilo’s legs and into the net, effectively sealing Norway’s historic victory. The goals took Haaland’s tally in the tournament to seven, drawing him level with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot.

Neymar pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 100th minute, but the goal only reduced the deficit. Moments later, the final whistle confirmed Brazil’s earliest World Cup elimination since 1990.

The match also marked the end of an era for Brazilian football. Shortly after the defeat, Neymar announced his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on a distinguished career with the national team.

“I gave everything I had. My journey started here and now it ends here. My chapter with Brazil is over,” the 34-year-old said after the match.

The symbolism was significant. Neymar made his Brazil debut at the same venue in 2010 against the United States and chose the same stadium to bid farewell to international football. He confirmed that he will continue playing club football and remains under contract with Brazilian side Santos FC.

Despite injury struggles in recent years, Neymar leaves behind an extraordinary international legacy. He represented Brazil in 130 matches, making him the country’s second-most capped player behind Cafu. His goal against Norway took his international tally to 80 goals, surpassing Pele’s record of 77.

The strike also saw Neymar equal another iconic milestone, becoming only the second Brazilian after Pele to score in four different FIFA World Cup tournaments.

Brazil’s elimination extended another unwanted trend. It was the sixth consecutive World Cup in which the Selecao were knocked out by a European nation, following defeats to France (2006), the Netherlands (2010), Germany (2014), Belgium (2018), Croatia (2022) and now Norway (2026).

Elsewhere, England advanced to a third successive World Cup quarter-final after overcoming Mexico 3-2 in a thrilling contest. Jude Bellingham scored twice in quick succession before Harry Kane added a penalty in the second half. England held on despite playing with ten men for more than 35 minutes following Jarell Quansah’s red card.

The quarter-final clash between Norway and England now promises to be one of the most intriguing matchups of the tournament, with Norway chasing another historic milestone and England seeking a return to the World Cup semi-finals.