A tragic collision between a passenger bus and a truck early Saturday claimed the lives of 22 people on a highway in Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, authorities reported. Emergency services from the Minas Gerais fire department responded to the scene and confirmed that 13 other individuals were injured and transported to hospitals near Teofilo Otoni. The bus, which had departed from Sao Paulo, was carrying 45 passengers at the time of the accident. Pakistani health workers' boycotting halts polio vaccination drive in southwest Officials stated that a blown tire caused the bus driver to lose control, leading to the collision with the truck. A separate car carrying three passengers was also involved in the crash, but all its occupants survived, the fire department added. Rescue operations are still underway at the site, with efforts to retrieve additional victims, said Lt. Alonso of the fire department. Governor Romeu Zema announced via X that he had instructed the Minas Gerais government to fully mobilize resources to support the victims and their families. “We are committed to helping families cope with this devastating tragedy, particularly as it occurs so close to Christmas,” Zema said. Gunmen clash in a Libyan city and fires erupt at a nearby oil refinery, officials say According to Brazil's Ministry of Transportation, more than 10,000 people have died in road accidents across the country in 2024. Earlier this year, in September, another deadly accident occurred when a bus carrying the Coritiba Crocodiles football team overturned, resulting in three deaths. The team, based in Curitiba, was en route to Rio de Janeiro for the national American football championship, which was canceled following the tragedy.  

The Al-Hilal player, who has recently resumed training with his Saudi League team, is set to elevate his off-field investments by acquiring a private island. Currently, he has been renting the island, Ilhao do Japao, at a cost of €50,000 per day. Neymar has faced challenges over the past year due to a serious knee injury that has kept him sidelined. While he has returned to training, it is anticipated that he won't be back in action for several months. The winger is taking a cautious approach to his recovery to prolong his career. Meanwhile, he is continuing to enjoy a lavish lifestyle and pursue investments, including the island purchase. Read: Coach says Neymar is not ready for an imminent return to Al-Hilal The island, Ilha do Japao, is reportedly being sold for around €9 million. Brazilian journalist Leo Dias revealed that Neymar previously rented the island to explore it thoroughly before making the purchase. The current owner, a Canadian investor, has lowered the price by €3 million, attracting interest from Neymar and other potential buyers. Given its proximity to Rio de Janeiro, Neymar appears to have a particular interest. The island can accommodate up to ten guests and features a heliport, providing a 35-minute journey from a popular coastal town. Alternatively, it can be reached by boat. Spanning approximately 3 hectares, it includes an Indonesian-style main villa, two suites, a koi pond, and three sea-view bungalows. Read more: Lionel Messi scores 2 in Argentina's World Cup qualifying win over Peru; Brazil's Neymar injured This will not be Neymar's first luxury acquisition; he already owns a six-bedroom mansion in the Mangaratiba resort area and previously purchased a glass-fronted palace near São Paulo for €3 million in late 2021.

Brazil lost the chance to win back-to-back Copa America after becoming 2nd best to Argentina at home in 2021. They will now look to regain their glory. For that, they have announced their 23-man squad ahead of Copa America 2024 which will kick off on the 20th of June. Brazil Squad for Copa America 2024 Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Éderson (Manchester City), Bento (Athletico-PR). Defenders: Danilo (Juventus), Yan Couto (Girona), Guilherme Arana (Atlético-MG), Wendell (FC Porto), Beraldo (Paris Saint-Germain), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), and Militão (Real Madrid). Midfielders: Andreas Pereira (Fulham), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), João Gomes (Wolverhampton), and Lucas Paquetá (West Ham). Forwards: Endrick (Palmeiras), Martinelli (Arsenal), Evanilson (Porto), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Savinho (Girona), and Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid).  Read more: From fan to hero, super sub Joselu lifts Real Madrid past Bayern and into Champions League final Analysis of the Brazil Squad for Copa America 2024 The new coach of Brazil, Dorival Júnior, has opted to go on the mission of winning Copa America with a fresh squad. As a result, many familiar and experienced faces over the years for Brazil have been left out of the team. The list includes Thiago Silva, Alex Sandro, Dani Alves, and Fabinho, the players Dorival did not pick from the squad for World Cup 2022.  He also left out some players because of form and injury issues. Therefore, star players like Neymar, Casemiro, Richarlison, and Gabriel Jesus make the list of prominent absentees from the squad. The wealth of experience missing in the squad can be a huge miss for Brazil as it is hard to replace. However, it has also allowed Brazil to test and get new winners for their team. Young Prodigy Endrick and Savio have been called up along with Yan Couto, Douglas Luiz, Beraldo, and João Gomes after impressive performances this season. Their attack on paper is one of the best in the world currently. Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo are on their way to leading Real Madrid to their 15th UCL and League-UCL double. Savinho has been performing brilliantly to take Girona to the UCL this season. He is one of the best dribblers in Europe this season as well. Endrick already has 2 goals in his first 92 minutes for Brazil. Martinelli, Raphinha, and Evanilson can also shine on their day. Their attack looks secure and blazing. It is the strongest unit of their team. Their defense also has a solid starting unit. Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães are a tested duo for them and quite reliable as well following their performances at PSG and Arsenal this season. Due to their form this season, Wendell and Yan Couto are possible starting full-back candidates. However, their backup of these players might be a point to worry about. Militão has been out for almost the whole season through injury. Beraldo is a solid CB but quite young as well. Yet their defense looks good to go. Goalkeeping is one of the least concerns for them having two of the best in business Alisson Becker and Éderson fighting for the spot. The midfield has been a problem for quite some years now for Brazil. Even after having some of the best players in the world, it just doesn’t seem to click for them. The coaches also often fail to figure out the best combination of midfield. The concern remains this time too.  Though they have names like Bruno Guimarães, Andreas Pereira, Douglas Luiz, and Lucas Paquetá in their arsenal who can create plenty from the midfield, they don’t have a specialist defensive midfielder to play the destroyer role in the team. This might be a big issue for them in the tournament. Bruno Guimarães has been starting regularly for them since the World Cup and is supposed to lead their midfield this time. He might join with two of Douglas Luiz, Andreas Pereira, and Lucas Paquetá. Nonetheless, it would be interesting to see what combination will Dorival Junior choose for the Copa America 2024. Read more: Maradona's 1986 Golden Ball heads to auction Key Players from Brazil Squad of Copa America 2024 Alisson Becker The goalkeepers always have a big role to play in such tournaments. Alisson Becker would have to do the same for Brazil. They should pass the group stage ahead of Columbia, Paraguay, and Costa Rica. But the knock-out stage can be tricky with the tie-breaker equation. Alisson has to be the biggest savior of Brazil here.  Bruno Guimarães With the absence of Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães has an enormous responsibility to lead and carry the Brazilian midfield. He is capable in every sense of doing the job. However, Brazil will largely depend on him to dominate the middle of the park which has not been working for quite some time now. Therefore, he will be a differentiating player for Brazil this time. Vinícius Júnior Vinícius Júnior is arguably the best winger in the world currently. He is going to be the spearhead of the Brazilian attack. After leading Real Madrid to the La Loga title this season and on the verge of winning the UEFA Champions League with 32 goal contributions, not many people would doubt him being the force to win the Copa America 2024 for Brazil. Rodrygo Rodrygo was the helping hand of Vinícius Júnior for what Real Madrid has achieved this season. He has overall 26 goal contributions and played a massive part in their success. If he can pair up with Vinícius Júnior for Brazil as he does at Real Madrid, great things are waiting for Brazil in this Copa America 2024. Endrick Endrick might be the trump card for Brazil. The new young prodigy of this great footballing nation has. He has taken the world by storm after scoring against England and Spain in back-to-back games this March. He scored 2 goals in 92 minutes of game-time for Brazil. With Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, he can cause havoc on the opponent's defense which is the best output for Brazil. Read more: César Luis Menotti, coach who led Argentina to its first World Cup title in 1978, dies at 85 Performance of Brazil Since the 2022 FIFA World Cup Table: Overview of Brazil’s stats after the last World Cup Brazil Since FIFA World Cup 2022 Played Won Loss Draw Goals Scored Goals Conceded 11 4 5 2 19 17 Brazil have been in a shaky position since the 2022 FIFA World Cup. They have played 11 games of which they have won only 4 while losing 5. They scored 19 goals but conceded 17 too. Additionally, the most productive player of the squad was Neymar in these games who will be unavailable for this game. Although, Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo are capable of filling that void. Yet they are not providing as much as fans would hope for them to.  Additionally, despite having a solid defensive core, their goal-conceded ratio is alarming which raises a question about Brazil’s defense. Adding to that, their midfield is not very strong this time. At least compared to the rivals, they may fall short in this department which can cause them woes. Compared to the solid performances of the teams like Argentina and Uruguay, they are not the top favorites this time. However, they should easily march on to the semi-finals of how the draw has gone. From there on, it is anybody's game. And you never write off Brazil, or the players they have this time. Verdict Brazil are supposed to go to the semis of Copa America 2024 quite comfortably. Considering the depth in attack, Brazil is one of the best in the world, and the defense created by in-form defenders remains their biggest strength. If these players click well, Brazil are very much on course for their 10th Copa America title. Read more: UEFA Champions League Final 2023/2024: Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid Prediction

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a meeting held on Monday (April 8, 2024) with the visiting Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and his delegation, underscored the significant potential for enhancing bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Brazil.  “There is immense scope to increase bilateral trade between the two countries,” she was quoted as saying. The meeting took place at the Prime Minister's office, where Sheikh Hasina highlighted the opportunity for Brazil to augment its import of readymade garment (RMG) products directly from Bangladesh, thus eliminating the need for intermediaries and making the process more cost-effective. The briefing to reporters post-discussion was provided by PM's speechwriter M Nazrul Islam.  He revealed that the Prime Minister expressed a desire to deepen the current bilateral relationship between the two nations. Noting the current trade imbalance heavily skewed in favour of Brazil — with Bangladesh importing substantial amounts of sugar, soybean oil, and cotton from Brazil and exporting only a minimal amount of RMG products in return — she pointed out the considerable scope for Brazil to diversify its imports to include not only more RMG products but also jute, jute goods, leather, and leather goods from Bangladesh. Reflecting on the historical connections, Prime Minister Hasina remarked on Brazil's significant role as the first country in South America to recognise Bangladesh's independence in 1971, shortly after the Liberation War.  Multilateral Forums: PM likely to visit Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Gambia from April 24 to May 6 She emphasised the shared perspectives and stances of Bangladesh and Brazil in various international forums. The conversation also veered towards sports, with the Prime Minister expressing an interest in Brazilian football and seeking cooperation to elevate the standards of football in Bangladesh. In a gesture of diplomatic goodwill, the visiting Brazilian Foreign Minister extended an invitation from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to Prime Minister Hasina to attend the final meeting of the G20 Task Force for the creation of Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty in Rio de Janerio on 24th July. The prime minister accepted the invitation. The G20 is made up of 19 countries and the EU. The 19 countries are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, and the US. Brazil holds the Presidency in 2024. The discussions further ventured into global political arena, with Vieira commending Bangladesh for its stance against the ongoing conflict in Gaza and aligning with Bangladesh's condemnation of the Israeli aggression as genocide.  “They (Israel) have violated all kinds of international norms, they bombed hospitals, continue killing in the shelter camps… this is not a war, this is genocide,” the PM was quoted as saying. She mentioned that Israeli forces are not even sparing children, women and the elderly. Praising the socio-economic progress of Bangladesh under Prime Minister Hasina's leadership, Vieira expressed Brazil's interest in learning from Bangladesh's development experience, noting the similarities between the two populous nations in their battles against poverty and hunger. Govt steps cut down child and mortality rate in Bangladesh: PM Hasina The visit, marked by Vieira's presentation of a Brazil National Football Team jersey to Prime Minister Hasina, bearing her name, underscored the amicable discussions and the mutual desire to explore avenues for cooperation and shared growth.  Leading a delegation of high officials and a robust trade team, this is the Brazilian Foreign Minister’s first visit to Bangladesh, opening new chapters in the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Brazil.

Lionel Messi scored twice in Argentina's 2-0 win at Peru in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, playing the entire match for his national team. The 36-year-old appeared fit after he was sidelined for several matches with his club Inter Miami because of muscular pain Also Tuesday, Brazil — the archrival of the defending World Cup champion — took two serious blows at Uruguay. Brazil lost 2-0 to the hosts, its first defeat in 37 World Cup qualifying matches, and saw its star Neymar leave the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo on crutches with a left knee injury. Elsewhere, Venezuela beat Chile 3-0. Yeferson Soteldo opened the scoring shortly before the break, Salomón Rondón added a goal in the 72nd minute, and Darwin Machis scored seven minutes later. Last week, Venezuela earlier had a 1-1 draw against Brazil. Ecuador and Colombia had a scoreless draw, and Paraguay beat Bolivia 1-0 on Antonio Sanabria's goal in the 69th minute. Read: ICC World Cup 2023: Australia beat Sri Lanka in first win Argentina leads South American qualifying with 12 points in four matches. Uruguay, Brazil and Venezuela have seven points and are separated by goal difference. Colombia has six points, and Ecuador, Paraguay and Chile have four each. Peru has one point and Bolivia has zero. The next World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada will include 48 teams, meaning direct entry for the top six teams in South America. The seventh-place team will contest an intercontinental playoff for a berth. Two more rounds of South American World Cup qualifying will be played in November. Brazil and Argentina will face off at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Nov. 21. ARGENTINA 2, PERU 0 Messi increased his total to 106 goals in 178 international appearances, moving within two of Iran's Ali Daei for second on the career list behind Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo at 127. The defending World Cup champion never faced risks at Lima's National Stadium against a Peruvian team that has yet to score in four qualifying matches. Argentina's confident performance could be traced to Messi finally playing as a starter and appearing fully healthy. The 36-year-old made it 1-0 after a counterattack in the 32nd minute. Enzo Fernández passed to Nico González on the left. A low cross found Messi at the edge of the box, and he shot it to the left angle of goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. Read: Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho arrives in Dhaka Wednesday Messi scored again 10 minutes later after Enzo Fernández found him nearly at the same spot. Messi shot it on Gallese's right corner. He later had a goal disallowed for a low margin offside caught by video review in the 57th minute. “Yes, we have a good group and a good environment in our dressing room and things are much easier. We enjoy being together and playing together," Messi said. “After we won the World Cup we got confidence, we are more united and firm. I hope we can keep growing.” Peruvian and Argentinian fans tried to invade the field after the match to hug Messi, who led the World Cup champions to their eighth straight victory since they won last year’s title in Qatar. Last Thursday, Messi played for almost an entire half of Argentina's 1-0 victory over Paraguay. URUGUAY 2, BRAZIL 0 After a slow start to the match in Montevideo, Maximiliano Araujo easily beat Marquinhos on the left flank and crossed the ball to Darwin Núnez, who headed it into the net. Read: FIFA World Cup: Bangladesh to play Maldives in a do or die match on Tuesday The second half started with Brazil still doubtful and Uruguay ready to counterattack. One of those transitions was enough for a close-range finish by Nicolás de la Cruz in the 77th minute. “In the short run we need to be realistic, we need to improve,” Brazil captain Casemiro said. “For Neymar to leave the match it is surely something serious. But I hope it isn’t at the end. He has had those injuries whenever he starts picking up his pace again, it is hard.” With and without Neymar, Brazil had its worst performance under new coach Fernando Diniz, who will remain in the job at least until next year's Copa America. Uruguay, now coached by Argentinian Marcelo Bielsa, had its first win against Brazil in 22 years. “We had to play against a tough and direct rival,” Núñez said. “Today we made history.”

Neymar became the top goal scorer for Brazil's national team after surpassing the total of three-time World Cup winner Pelé on Friday. The goal that put the 31-year-old Neymar on the top of Brazil's scoring record with 78 came in the 61st minute in a World Cup qualifying match against Bolivia in the Amazon city of Belém. It was Brazil's fourth goal of the match in a 5-1 win, with the last goal of the game also being scored by Neymar during injury time. Read : Neymar completes Saudi move to Al Hilal after 6 seasons with Paris Saint-Germain Neymar's record-breaking goal came after a low cross into the penalty box, which the striker finished with accuracy from close range. He celebrated with a punch in the air, as Pelé usually did. Earlier, the Al-Hilal striker missed a penalty in the 17th minute, which goalkeeper Billy Viscarra saved. Neymar's second goal in the match came in similar fashion near the final whistle, with another low cross by Raphinha. Brazil's soccer confederation considers Pelé as its top goal scorer with 95 goals in 114 matches. FIFA does not count goals the three-time World Cup winner had at national team friendlies against clubs. Read : Neymar’s publicity representative Robin Miah meets Brazilian envoy in Dhaka "78 times Neymar," the Brazilian soccer body said on social media after Neymar's record-breaking goal. "Neymar scores the fifth for the Selecao," it said after the striker's second goal against Bolivia. Pelé's Foundation, however, acknowledged Neymar's achievement. "Congratulations, Neymar Jr, for surpassing the King in goals for the Brazilian National Team in official FIFA matches," it said on social media. "Surely Pelé is applauding you today!" Pelé died from cancer on Dec. 29 in Sao Paulo at the age of 82. Striker Rodrygo, who also scored two goals against Bolivia, said he's still very much a Neymar fan. "Neymar is very much a hero of mine," Rodrygo said. "This will be in my memory, this was a very special day." Read : Messi scores from a free kick to give Argentina 1-0 win in South American World Cup qualifying Neymar's most-recent match for Brazil before the victory over Bolivia was the World Cup quarterfinal loss last year to Croatia. He left Qatar with doubts about his future in the national team and did not play the Selecao's first three games this year. New Brazil coach Fernando Diniz said Neymar came to play for Brazil "to score goals, break records, show that he is very much willing to live this (the national team.)" "He is a great hero," Diniz said. "People have to recognize it and accept it. He doesn't do anything to get this adoration he gets from the crowd, it is because of the natural talent he has."

Flooding from a cyclone in southern Brazil washed away houses, trapped motorists in vehicles and swamped streets in several cities, killing at least 31 people and leaving 2,300 homeless, authorities said Wednesday. More than 60 cities have been battered since Monday night by the storm, which has been Rio Grande do Sul state's deadliest, Gov. Eduardo Leite said. “The fly-over we just did, shows the dimension of an absolutely out of the ordinary event,” Leite said in a video posted on the state's social media accounts. “It wasn’t just riverside communities that were hit, but entire cities that were completely compromised.” Flooding in Sylhet, Chattogram shows Bangladesh’s vulnerabilities to impacts of climate change: UK Videos shot by rescue teams Tuesday and published by the online news site G1 had shown some families on the top of their houses pleading for help as rivers overflowed their banks. Some areas were entirely cut off after wide avenues turned into fast-moving rivers. Leite said Wednesday that the death toll had reached 31, and state emergency authorities said at least 2,300 people were made homeless. Another 3,000 had to temporarily evacuate their houses. Flood in Kurigram: 7000 families still stranded In Mucum, a city of about 50,000 residents, rescuers found 15 bodies in a single house. Once the storm had passed, residents discovered a trail of destruction along the river with most buildings swept away down to the ground level. Images showed a sheep hanging from an electrical line — an indication of how high the water had risen. “The water arrived very fast, it was rising two meters (6½ feet) an hour,” Mucum resident Marcos Antonio Gomes said, standing on top of a pile of debris. “We have nothing left. Not even clothes.” In an indication of how long people might be stranded, the Mucum city hall advised residents Tuesday to seek out supplies to meet their needs for the next 72 hours. Other towns called on their citizens with boats to help with rescue efforts. Gomes, a 55-year-old businessman, said it was the fourth time in 15 years that his house was damaged by floods. He said this one was the worst so far, and he expects more flooding in the future. “There's no way we can live here. This will come back. We have to abandon (this place)," Gomes said. 11 dead, resources worth over Tk 400cr damaged in Bandarban floods: DC Many of the victims died from electrical shock, or were trapped in vehicles, online news site G1 reported. One woman died as she was swept away during a rescue attempt. Search and rescue teams have focused on the Taquari Valley, about 150 kilometers (30 miles) northwest of the state capital, Porto Alegre, where most of the victims and damage were recorded. But those efforts expanded farther west on Wednesday morning, with helicopters sent to the Rio Pardo Valley. More heavy rains were expected to hit the state’s center-south region, while possibly sparing worst-hit areas. Authorities maintained three flooding alerts on Wednesday — for the Jacui, Cai and Taquari rivers. Rio Grande do Sul was hit by another cyclone in June, which killed 16 people and caused destruction in 40 cities, many of those around Porto Alegre.

At least 21 people died in southern Brazil due to a fierce storm that caused floods in several cities, authorities said Tuesday. Rio Grande do Sul Gov. Eduardo Leite said the death toll is the state’s highest due to a climate event. He said about 60 cities had been battered by the storm, which was classified as an extratropical cyclone. Leite said 15 of the deaths occurred in one house in Mucum, a city of about 50,000 residents. The Rio Grande do Sul state government said it had recorded 1,650 people made homeless since Monday night. Rain from Tropical Storm Hilary lashes California and Mexico, swamping roads and trapping cars TV footage showed familes on the top of their houses pleading for help as rivers overflowed their banks. The city hall at Mucum recommended that residents seek out supplies to meet their needs for the next 72 hours. The governor said one of the dead was a woman who was swept away during a rescue attempt. “I regret the death of a woman in a rescue attempt over the Taquari river,” Leite said in his social media channels. “The wire broke, she and a rescuer fell. Unfortunately the woman did not survive and the rescuer is seriously injured.” Powerful Hurricane Hilary heads for Mexico's Baja. Rare tropical storm watch issued for California Rio Grande do Sul was hit by another extratropical cyclone in June, which killed 16 people and caused destruction in 40 cities, many of those around state capital of Porto Alegre. Tropical Storm Mawar brings heavy rains, landslide risk to Japan's southern islands

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has joined soccer clubs and players in coming out to support star striker Vinícius Júnior after he once more faced racist abuse in a Spanish league match on Sunday. The latest incident took place in Real Madrid's 1-0 loss at Valencia, a match that had to be temporarily stopped after the Brazil forward said he was insulted by a fan behind one of the goals at Mestalla Stadium. Valencia fans were filmed making monkey chants toward Vinícius, who is Black. Lula told a news conference in Japan on the sidelines of a G7 meeting that he hopes FIFA, the Spanish League and other soccer bodies "take measures so we don't allow racism and fascism to take over" in the sport. Also Read: Vinicius Junior says Spanish league ‘now belongs to racists’ after enduring more abuse "It is not fair that a poor boy who is winning in his life, becoming one of the best in the world, certainly the best at Real Madrid, is insulted in every stadium he goes to," Lula said. Several of his cabinet ministers also backed Vinicius and were critical of the Spanish league. Brazil's Human Rights Minister Silvio Almeida, who is Black, said on Twitter: "The behavior of Spanish authorities and of the entities that govern its soccer is criminal." "It shows undeniable acceptance of racism," Almeida said. "(Vinicius) I will be on your side to hold those that attack you accountable, but also those who omit themselves." Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes used expletives on Twitter to insult Spanish league president Javier Tebas, who criticized Vinicius following the incident for his comments on the lack of action of the sport's national authorities every time he is racially abused during matches. "You want to blame the victim, you idiot?" Paes posted. Ednaldo Rodrigues, the first Black president of the Brazilian soccer confederation, said he is troubled by the lack of action in Spain after another racist incident against Vinicius. "Until when will we have to see episodes like the one we just witnessed, yet again in La Liga?" Rodrigues said. "Until when will we have to fight for concrete and efficient measures on and off the pitch? There is no joy where there is racism." Flamengo, the club where Vinicius started his career, issued a statement saying "it is even more shocking to know that it is not the first time and that so little has been done to fight (racism in the Spanish league) and stop it from happening again." Other Brazilian clubs made similar comments. Many of Vinicius' teammates in the national team also showed their support for the 22-year-old forward, who has been subject to racist abuse since moving to Spain five years ago. "They always did whatever they could to stop Blacks from coming near the top," striker Richarlison said. "They enslaved, marginalized and killed. But they will never knock down those who were born to be big. History forgets the rats and makes those fighting these bad people much bigger. I am with you always, Vini." Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti considered replacing Vinícius after he said fans at the Mestalla Stadium chanted "monkey" toward him. He said Vinícius initially didn't want to continue playing. He was later sent off after an altercation with Valencia players, and gestured to home fans about their team's fight against relegation as he left the field.    

A man who invaded a daycare center with a hatchet killed four children and injured at least three others Wednesday in southern Brazil, authorities said. Santa Catarina state's Gov. Jorginho Mello confirmed the killings in the city of Blumenau on his Twitter account, and wrote that the killer has been arrested. The state’s firefighters corps confirmed the man attacked with a hatchet and that three children were taken to the hospital. Images broadcast on television showed weeping parents outside the private daycare center, named Cantinho do Bom Pastor. Local media reported the attacker scaled a wall to enter the daycare center wielding a hatchet. Neither the state’s military police nor its security secretariat immediately responded to Associated Press requests for more information. School attacks in Brazil had been uncommon, but have begun happening with greater frequency in recent years. Last week, a student in Sao Paulo stabbed a teacher, killing her, and also wounded several others in Sao Paulo. “May God comfort the hearts of all families in this moment of deep pain,” Gov. Mello wrote on Twitter. Blumenau, a city of 366,000 people, is famous for its annual Oktoberfest festival.