Pop singer Lady Gaga set the record for biggest attendance for a female performer during a free performance in Rio de Janeiro over the weekend.
The 39-year-old singer attracted a crowd estimated to be 2.5 million people strong for her Saturday night show at Copacabana Beach. The concert was sponsored by the local government in an effort to help stimulate the local economy.
During her performance, Gaga told the crowd, “Your spirit may be heard around the world tonight. Two and a half million people,” per <a href="https://variety.com/2025/music/news/lady-gaga-free-concert-rio-copacabana-beach-draws-record-breaking-2-5-million-people-1236386386/">Variety</a>. “Tonight, we’re making history,” she added. “Thank you for making history with me… The people of Brazil are the reason why I can shine.”
The outlet noted that the “Bad Romance” singer last performed in Rio 12 years ago. Fans stood in line for hours hoping to get a good spot.
During Saturday’s show, Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, performed older songs like “Poker Face,” “Bloody Mary,” and “Alejandro” along with songs from her newly released album, “Mayhem.”
The record for most concert attendees for a single female performer was previously held by Madonna, who played for a crowd of 1.6 million at the same location in May 2024, also during a free concert.
While free concert attendance is only based on estimates and is therefore impossible to determine for sure, it’s believed that the <a href="https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/73085-largest-free-rock-concert-attendance">most attended concerts</a> overall were those of French composer Jean-Michel Jarre in Moscow 1997 and Rod Stewart&#8217;s concert in Copacabana in 1994, which are both believed to have attracted audiences of about 3.5 million people.
Lady Gaga’s latest show is also making headlines due to two suspected terror attacks, which were never carried out. Per <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/04/americas/brazil-lady-gaga-bomb-plot-rio-intl-latam">CNN</a>, two people were arrested for attempting to “recruit” people to deploy explosives and Molotov cocktails on the crowd. Per the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro, these individuals were targeting LGBT revelers and wanted to “[gain] notoriety on social media.”
Another person planning to perform a “satanist ritual by killing a child or a baby” during the show was arrested and charged with terrorism offenses, the outlet noted.
In a post on Instagram, Lady Gaga thanked fans, saying, “nothing could prepare me for the feeling I had during last night’s show – the absolute pride and joy I felt singing for the people of Brazil.”
The singer wrote that “the sight of the crowd during my opening songs took my breath away. Your heart shines so bright, your culture is so vibrant and special, I hope you know how grateful I am to have shared this historical moment with you.”

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga Breaks Crowd Size Record With Massive Brazil Show

Brazil

concert

Music

Rio de Janeiro

World

The cause of death for the Brazilian fan who died during a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift</a> concert in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/rio-de-janeiro">Rio de Janeiro</a>, Brazil in November, has been determined, per a forensic report obtained by the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/dead-fan-brazil-taylor-swift-6cc6a79fd8c845419f0600b4148acb29">Associated Press</a>.
Ana Clara Benevides’ cause of death is recorded as heat exhaustion, and the report said that the woman’s heat exposure led to a cardiorespiratory arrest, also noting that she did not have preexisting conditions or markers of substance abuse.
The outlet reported that Benevides, 23, fainted during Swift’s second song at the show on November 17.  She died hours later after being transported to a local hospital. Temperatures in Rio were recorded to be around 40 degrees Celsius (105 Fahrenheit) that day.
The company that organized the Brazil stops on Swift’s Eras Tour, Time For Fun, is now under investigation after it was reported that fans were prohibited from bringing water into the venue and were not given adequate access to water while waiting in line to attend the concert.
But event organizers said in a statement that the company “followed the best practices” and “distributed thousands of bottles of water” to fans. Time For Fun also denied claims that they prohibited fans from bringing in their own water. One of Benevides&#8217; friends told local media that they were provided water before the concert began, the AP noted.
Swift expressed her despair on social media after learning of Benevides’ death. 
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“I can’t believe I’m writing these words, but it’s with a shattered heart that I say we lost a fan earlier tonight before my show,” the “Bad Blood” singer wrote in a statement shared on social media.
“I can’t even tell you how devastated I am by this,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;There’s very little information I have other than the fact she was so incredibly beautiful and far too young.” 
“I’m not going to be able to speak about this from the stage because I feel overwhelmed by grief when I even try to talk about it,&#8221; Swift concluded. &#8220;I want to say now I feel this loss deeply and my heart goes out to her family and friends.&#8221;
Swift later invited Benevides’ friends and family to attend her show and meet with Swift backstage.

Taylor Swift

Cause Of Death Revealed For Taylor Swift Fan Who Died At Rio Concert

Death

Entertainment

The family of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/taylor-swift" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Taylor Swift</a> fan who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/death" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died</a> at an Eras Tour show in Rio de Janeiro earlier this month attended the singer’s show on Sunday.
Ana Clara Benevides Machado’s family and friends were invited to Swift’s final Brazil performance, per <a href="https://people.com/family-of-taylor-swift-fan-who-died-before-her-concert-attends-show-8406702" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a>. A photo of them posing with the singer was posted on multiple fan accounts on X.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Taylor Swift se encontrou com a família da Ana Clara Benevides antes do show de hoje, em São Paulo.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaoPauloTSTheErasTour?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaoPauloTSTheErasTour</a> <a href="https://t.co/Tz3MqmWelg">pic.twitter.com/Tz3MqmWelg</a>
&mdash; Update Swift Brasil (@updateswiftbr) <a href="https://twitter.com/updateswiftbr/status/1728944578143871406?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Swift had previously expressed her grief over Ana Clara’s death on November 17. The 23-year-old attended Swift’s concert at Estadio Nilton Santos during a heat wave. The outlet noted that she felt ill from the heat and was assisted by first responders before being transferred to a nearby hospital, where she later died.
Swift shared her thoughts about the incident on her Instagram Story.
“I can’t believe I’m writing these words, but it’s with a shattered heart that I say we lost a fan earlier tonight before my show,” the “Blank Space” singer wrote. “I can’t even tell you how devastated I am by this. There’s very little information I have other than the fact she was so incredibly beautiful and far too young.”
Swift continued, “I’m not going to be able to speak about this from the stage because I feel overwhelmed by grief when I even try to talk about it. I want to say now I feel this loss deeply and my heart goes out to her family and friends.”
“This is the last thing I ever thought would happen when we decided to bring this tour to Brazil,” she added.
Ana Clara’s father, Weiny Machado, told Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, “I lost my only daughter, a happy and intelligent girl.”
&#8220;She was about to graduate in psychology next April, saving money,” Weiny said. “I have no words to express my pain. She left home to fulfill a dream and came back dead.”
The outlet noted that fans were prohibited from bringing water into the venue or having any water while waiting in line. The company that organized Swift&#8217;s Brazil shows, Time4Fun, is now under investigation for its role in the tragedy. 
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A spokesman for the Civil Police Department of Rio de Janeiro told <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/brazilian-officials-investigating-company-taylor-swift-shows-rio-de-ja-rcna126446" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC News</a> its consumer delegations department is probing the alleged “crime of endangering the life and health” due to not providing or allowing water in the venue, where thousands of fans were admitted amid the dangerously high temperatures. 
Temperatures in Rio during the show were close to 102 degrees Fahrenheit, which felt more like 138 degrees due to the 70% humidity.
A video of Swift struggling to catch her breath during her Rio performance also made the rounds online. 
Time4Fun CEO Serafim Abreu posted a video apology directed toward concertgoers who “did not have the best possible experience.”
“We know the enormous responsibility we have to organize an event of this scale, which is why we did not economize in our efforts or resources to follow the best global practices in our industry to guarantee the comfort and safety of all,” Abreu wrote.

Family Of Taylor Swift Fan Who Died After Her Show Attends Singer’s Final Brazil Performance

Family Of Taylor Swift Fan Who Died After Her Show Attends Singer's Final Brazil Performance

New leftist Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva allowed the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Islamic Republic of Iran</a> to dock two warships in Rio de Janeiro over the weekend, sparking fears about how close a U.S. adversary is operating near America&#8217;s shores.
The city&#8217;s port authority said in a statement that the IRIS Makran and IRIS Dena naval vessels docked at the port on Sunday.
Brazil did not allow the ships to dock at the port last month when Lula flew to Washington, D.C., to meet with President Joe Biden, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/brazil-allows-two-iranian-warships-dock-rio-despite-us-pressure-2023-02-27/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
With Lula now back from D.C., Brazilian officials gave the ships permission to dock at the port from February 26 until March 4.
&#8220;In the past, those ships facilitated illegal trade and terrorist activities, and have also been sanctioned by the United States,&#8221; U.S. Ambassador Elizabeth Bagley said at a press conference earlier this month. &#8220;Brazil is a sovereign nation, but we firmly believe those ships should not dock anywhere.&#8221;
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) responded to the news that the ships had docked in a Western Hemisphere port by explaining the danger that the situation represents to Americans.
&#8220;The docking of Iranian warships in Brazil is a dangerous development and a direct threat to the safety and security of Americans,&#8221; Cruz <a href="https://freebeacon.com/national-security/iranian-warships-dock-in-brazil/">said</a>. &#8220;These Iranian warships are already sanctioned, and so the port in Rio de Janeiro where they docked is now at risk of crippling sanctions, as are any Brazilian companies that provided them services or accepted payments—and so are all foreign companies that entangle themselves with the port or those Brazilian companies in the future.&#8221;
&#8220;The Biden administration is obligated to impose relevant sanctions, reevaluate Brazil&#8217;s cooperation with U.S. antiterrorism efforts, and reexamine whether Brazil is maintaining effective antiterrorism measures at its ports,&#8221; Cruz added. &#8220;If the administration does not, Congress should force them to do so.&#8221;
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Iranian warships plan to get even closer to the U.S., according to the commander of Iran’s Navy, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-is-a-tremendous-escalation-iran-plans-warships-in-panama-canal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> last month that Iran&#8217;s navy plans &#8220;to be present in the Panama Canal.&#8221;
Joseph Humire, the executive director of the Center for a Secure Free Society (SFS), <a href="https://freebeacon.com/national-security/iran-to-station-warships-in-panama-canal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> The Washington Free Beacon that Iran’s goal “has always been to have a military presence in Latin America, so it’s not surprising at all for its navy to announce it’s going to make moves on the Panama Canal. … This is a tremendous escalation if it is to happen. Many people may discount Iran in terms of its capabilities … but I would not discount it because they have been building to this for a very long time.”

BRAZIL-IRAN-WARSHIP-IRIS-MAKRAN

Brazil’s New Leftist Regime Allows Iran To Dock Two Warships Involved In Terrorism In Rio De Janeiro

Brazil's New Leftist Regime Allows Iran To Dock Two Warships Involved In Terrorism In Rio De Janeiro

Biden Administration

Global Politics

Iran

A small town in southern Brazil has constructed a statue of Jesus Christ that is even larger than the famous &#8220;Christ the Redeemer&#8221; statue in Rio de Janiero.
Encantado, a town of about 23,000 people in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, nearly 1,000 miles south of Rio de Janeiro, unveiled the statue, known as &#8220;Cristo Protetor&#8221; or &#8220;Christ the Protector&#8221; on April 22. The project was funded by a local volunteer organization called the Associação Amigos de Cristo (Friends of Christ Association).
&#8220;The Associação Amigos de Cristo de Encantado … announces that the first stage of the construction of the complex (the construction of the monument) is being concluded, lacking only the internal coating and its pedestal,&#8221; the organization said in a <a href="https://cristoencantado.com.br/primeira-etapa-da-construcao-do-complexo-do-cristo-protetor-esta-sendo-finalizada/">statement</a> on its website. &#8220;In this first stage, so far more than 37,500 visitors have been able to see the Christ being built and have been able to contribute directly or indirectly to the project.&#8221;
The AACE added that the second phase of construction, which will build the surrounding structure and tourist complex around the statue, will begin soon, and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2022. <a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/christ-the-protector-statue-encantado-brazil">Travel and Leisure</a> magazine notes that the completed complex will have shops, restaurants, and other viewing points around the statue. &#8220;The city of Encantado and the entire region of Vale do Taquari is already preparing to offer more tourist attractions to all visitors that are expected,&#8221; AACE said on its website.
The statue stands at a total height of about 140 feet, making it more than 40 feet taller than the world-famous &#8220;Christ the Redeemer&#8221; statue in Rio de Janeiro, which is about 98 feet tall. The arm span from hand to hand measures at around 128 feet. The statue also has a heart-shaped opening in the chest area, which will be used as a viewing platform. Visitors will be able to take an elevator inside the statue up to the platform, where they will be able to look out on panoramic views of the town of Encantado, as well as Lake Garibaldi and the Taquari Valley. “It will be a glass opening from where people will be able to film and photograph the valley,” Artur Lopes de Souza, head supervisor of the project, said on the AACE website, as quoted by Travel and Leisure.
Without taking the pedestal into account, the statue measures 37.5 meters (about 123 feet) in height, making it the largest Christ statue in the world, the website states. Including the pedestal, it is the third largest Christ statue in the world, behind the Jesus Buntu Burake statue in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and the statue of Christ the King in Swiebodzin, Poland, the <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/05/10/town-in-brazil-completes-jesus-statue-christ-the-protector/">New York Post</a> notes.
Construction on the statue began in 2019. The statue was the brainchild of local mayor Adroaldo Conzatti, who passed away from COVID-19 in March 2021. It was designed by sculptor Genesio Gomes Moura and his son, Markus. Construction was originally planned to be completed by the end of 2021, but the state government of Rio Grande do Sul extended that deadline through January 2022, the <a href="https://www.ncregister.com/cna/brazil-completing-statue-of-jesus-larger-than-christ-the-redeemer">National Catholic Register</a> reported. The complex is expected to open to visitors in 2023.

Jesus

Brazilian Town Builds Jesus Statue Even Taller Than ‘Christ The Redeemer’

Brazilian Town Builds Jesus Statue Even Taller Than 'Christ The Redeemer'

Christianity

Jesus Christ

South America

Statues

If you think nasty Third Reich anti-Semitism in Europe died when American troops liberated Germany&#8217;s* concentration camps, think again. Outside of the Arab world, Europe ranks among the most Jew-hating regions on the globe. 
And it shows. 
On Monday, Italian soccer fans put their hands up in a Nazi salute during the Italian national anthem just as Israel was set to play Italy at the 2018 World Cup qualifier match in Haifa, Israel of all places. The Italian fans also loudly booed during Israel&#8217;s national anthem. Some fans even assaulted religious Jews at the match, spitting at them and taunting them as if they were enemy combatants.
Police ultimately removed the threatening fans from the stadium. There were no arrests, however.
This vile behavior has forced the Israel Football Association to issue a formal complaint to the Italian Football Federation. &#8220;The Israeli Football Association will send the photos to the Italian federation with which we have a warm and brave relationship so that it can find and prosecute the sickening minority that wanted to tarnish the visiting fans, their team and their country,&#8221; <a href="http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Sports/Italian-fans-boo-Israeli-anthem-give-Nazi-salute-at-world-cup-qualifier-467197">said</a> the IFA in a statement.
For the most part, Italian authorities have signaled support for Israel&#8217;s claim against the anti-Semitic fans. 
In a call to the Israeli ambassador to Italy, Italian Football Federation President denounced the incident. &#8220;The relevant authorities can determine as soon as possible what happened and identify those responsible,&#8221; he <a href="http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Sports/Italian-fans-boo-Israeli-anthem-give-Nazi-salute-at-world-cup-qualifier-467197">said</a>.
This comes just weeks after Israeli Olympic athletes were forced to confront a slew of indignities directed at them by Egyptian and Jordanian competitors at the games in Rio. 

*Correction: The original article stated that American troops liberated concentration camps in Poland. Soviet troops were primarily responsible for liberating Eastern Europe. American and British troops liberated camps in Germany, including Dachau.

Italians Hit Israelis With Nazi Salute At Soccer Game Before Spitting and Taunting At Religious Jews

Anti-Semitism

Israel

Jews

Olympics

On Thursday, Brazilian police charged US Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte with filing a false robbery report, citing evidence that contradicts Lochte&#8217;s testimonies.
Lochte first told police that he and his three swimming teammates were robbed at gunpoint on August 14 by gunmen wearing badges. He claimed that he and his fellow swimmers were on the way back to their hotel rooms at Olympics Village after a night out partying when the robbery occurred. 
But the most shocking part of his testimony was quickly walked back. Shortly after telling police that a gun was placed to his forehead, he took back this plot line, claiming that a gun was simply directed toward him.
Brazilian police later accused Lochte along with his teammates Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen of vandalizing a bathroom at at gas station near the location the swimmers&#8217; alleged they were robbed.
Aside from grainy surveillance footage showing Lochte and crew at the gas station, Brazilian police have been unable to prove that the swimmers committed acts of vandalism. 
According to a <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2016/08/25/rio-police-charge-lochte-with-false-report-of-robbery/89365796/">USA Today Sports investigation</a>, &#8220;Lochte pulled down a metal advertisement and the swimmers urinated behind the gas station restroom [but] there was no other evidence of vandalism.&#8221;
USA Today also notes that police never interrogated the swimmers about the alleged acts of vandalism. Rather they waited until reports of the swimmers being robbed made national headlines to finally disclose their accusations.
Lochte&#8217;s legal team claims that it hasn&#8217;t received an official notice specifying the charges. However, the likelihood that the United States will extradite one of its own to face petty and seemingly unfounded charges in Brazil is incredibly small.

Brazilian Police Charge US Olympic Swimmer Ryan Lochte With Filing False Report

Sports

After Japan&#8217;s Saori Yoshida scored an admirable silver but failed to claim the gold medal in her fourth consecutive Games, teammate Risako Kawai was overjoyed to bring home the top prize in the 63-kg freestyle competition &#8211; so overjoyed that she threw her coach around the mat like a bean-bag.
<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
When you&#8217;ve just won an Olympjc gold in wrestling, this is how to thank your coach. <a href="https://t.co/Y5QIuwOWrH">pic.twitter.com/Y5QIuwOWrH</a>
&#8212; SimonNRicketts (@SimonNRicketts) <a href="https://twitter.com/SimonNRicketts/status/766594078926667776">August 19, 2016</a></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt class="media-element file-default" data-fid="11158" data-media-element="1" height="284" src="https://dw-wp-dev.imgix.net/2019/09/kawai_gold.jpg" width="436" /></div>
Apparently it&#8217;s also a tradition for this coach to be hoisted on his athlete&#8217;s shoulder&#8217;s and carried around with their national flag waving. 
<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/SimonNRicketts">@SimonNRicketts</a> Same coach, different wrestler a couple of days before: <a href="https://t.co/TMMYu7Vi2c">pic.twitter.com/TMMYu7Vi2c</a>
&#8212; furtho (@furtho) <a href="https://twitter.com/furtho/status/766601578631618560">August 19, 2016</a></blockquote>
</div>
The 21-year-old Kawai was making her Olympic debut after winning the silver at last year&#8217;s World Championships. She told <a href="http://www.japantoday.com/category/olympics/view/kawai-wins-gold-yoshida-gets-silver-in-womens-wrestling" target="_blank">Japan Today</a>, &#8220;At the worlds, I was happy just to make it to the final and wasn&#8217;t totally myself, and I knew that it would have to be a big stage like this to get my revenge so I went in thinking I&#8217;m definitely going to win the gold medal.&#8221; Kawai scored three takedowns in a 6-0 decision and as seen above, kept team tradition by flipping team leader Kazuhito Sakae twice on the mat and then taking the coach for a victory lap.
Kawai added, &#8220;When I saw three (Japanese wrestlers) win gold medals yesterday, I really wanted one more than ever. I was determined that no matter what I was going to bring a gold medal home with me.&#8221;
Exit thought for coach Sakae:
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/SimonNRicketts">@SimonNRicketts</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Midleton_Rare">@Midleton_Rare</a> bet he&#8217;s glad he wasn&#8217;t coaching her Javelin throwing
&#8212; Silenus (@Bia_agus_deoch) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bia_agus_deoch/status/766596333444685824">August 19, 2016</a></blockquote>
</div>

kawai_gold

WATCH: This Wrestler Had The Most Hilarious Reaction To Winning A Gold Medal

Japan

After winning the bronze medal at the Rio Olympics and returning home to Israel, judo fighter Ori Sasson shared his perspective on his Egyptian opponent&#8217;s infamous handshake snub. Refusing to shake Sasson&#8217;s hand (the most basic gesture of respect in martial arts), disgraced Egyptian judo fighter Islam El Shehaby officially left professional judo shortly after leaving Rio and getting reprimanded by the Olympic committee. Since then, he has garnered international attention for poor sportsmanship and raw hatred, highlighting the disease of Arab anti-Semitism on the world stage.
On Tuesday, Sasson provided extra insight into his encounter with El Shehaby in an interview with Israel&#8217;s Yedioth Ahronoth. El Shehaby and his coach &#8220;said Allahu Akbar&#8217; to each other&#8221; before the fight,&#8221; Sasson <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4842699,00.html">said</a> in the interview. &#8220;This shouting reminded me of what&#8217;s going on in Israel, before a terror attack.&#8221;
Sasson suggested he didn&#8217;t harbor any animus toward his opponent before the fight. I &#8220;never developed hatred towards him,&#8221; he stated, adding, &#8220;But I realized I was going to fight against an athlete, and it didn&#8217;t matter to me if he were Egyptian.&#8221;
Nonetheless, El Shehaby treated Sasson with disrespect from beginning of the match. &#8220;He never spoke to me. He always had a hostile expression. He would always look like he wanted to murder us,&#8221; Sasson stressed. 
Despite the consistent slights and indignities directed toward Sasson, the judoka and his coach felt it was important to honor El Shehaby with a handshake in a show of deference to the sport of judo. 
&#8220;After the fight, I sought out his hand (to shake). My coach Oren Smadja asked me to do so,&#8221; Sasson noted.
Although the incident was admittedly jarring, Sasson suggested he doesn&#8217;t hold any grudges. Upon returning to Israel with a medal in hand, the judoka was greeted by a myriad of fans eager to shake his hand. 
&#8220;After being <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4842218,00.html">welcomed by hundreds of people at Ben-Gurion Airport</a> upon his landing in Israel, the Olympic medalist had a long day, spending most of it talking to the media,&#8221; <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4842699,00.html">reports</a> Ynet News. &#8220;Despite that, he made time to come to the community center where his brother teaches judo to children.&#8221;
Many have suggested that El Shehaby&#8217;s foul behavior on the judo mat was the perfect metaphor for nearly seven decades of Israeli-Arab relations.
<div> </div>

Israeli Judo Bronze Medalist: Disgraced Egyptian Opponent Shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ Before Fight

Egypt

Palestinians

The national germ hype continues as the number of reported Zika infections in the United States increases among Americans babies, from 2,026 to 6,618, as reported by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP). The California Department of Public Health <a href="http://www.dailynews.com/health/20160813/zika-infections-spread-through-california">reported</a> seeing an increase in travel-related Zika infections, from 114 reported July 29 to 153 reported just Friday.
As tension surrounding the mosquito-borne virus grows, here are 7 things you need to know:
1. The virus is predominantly active in South America and parts of North America. 
The CDC <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/active-countries.html">lists</a> approximately 55 countries and territories with active Zika transmission, including South and Central America, Mexico, several Oceania Islands, and even the African Cape Verde.
Zika first <a href="http://apps.frontline.org/zika/">originated</a> in Uganda, Africa in 1947.
2. Most Zika transmission cases in the U.S. seem to be travel-related. 
As of August 10, 2016, the CDC <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/united-states.html">reported</a> 1,962 total Zika cases in the U.S., listing 6 locally transmitted mosquito-borne cases, 1 laboratory transmitted case, and 22 sexually transmitted cases.
1,955 cases reported were travel-related. 
3. The 2016 Summer Olympics might make things worse. 
Public health officials worry that Olympics athletes and fans traveling to Rio de Janeiro this summer will become vectors of the virus, flying back with it to their home countries and risking further spread of the disease. A CDC <a href="http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/2016-summer-olympics-rio">alert</a> warned pregnant women to refrain from traveling to see the Olympics in Brazil this year.
Over 3,000 microcephaly cases were reported in Brazilian infants whose mothers had contracted the Zika virus in 2014. Brazil is one of many countries in the America experiencing an ongoing Zika outbreak. 
4. U.S. cases with the highest virus transmission rates include likely Zika travel destinations such as New York, Florida, California, and Texas. 
As of August 10, 2016, the number of Zika cases reported by the CDC were 87 in California, 99 in Texas, 328 in Florida, and 530 in New York. By Friday, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported 106 cases in Texas, and the California Department of Public Health reported 153 cases in California. 
5. Texas reported its first Zika-related infant death Tuesday, August 9. 
A newborn in the Houston area died due to the Zika outbreak, Texas public health officials are <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/08/09/zika-linked-to-infants-death-in-texas/">saying</a>. The infant&#8217;s mother had traveled to Latin America during her pregnancy and was infected there. Her child had contracted microcephaly in the womb, and died shortly after birth.
Currently the CDC is monitoring an nearly 1,000 pregnant women in the U.S. for Zika contraction. 
6. The first two California babies born with microcephaly due to Zika were reported last week. 
The California Department of Public Health reported the first two babies born in the state with Zika-induced microcephaly on August 4. Babies born with microcephaly have abnormally small heads and other developmental and neurological conditions. The condition is incurable. 
Los Angeles has the highest Zika case number in the state (34), followed by Orange County (10) and San Bernardino County (7). All of California&#8217;s Zika cases are travel-related. 
7. South Florida remains the only place in the country where the virus was locally transmitted. 
The CDC reported 6 locally mosquito-borne Zika cases in Florida as of August 10, 2016. The Florida Department of Health has identified an area near downtown Miami called Wynwood, where the virus is active. At least 17 cases of locally acquired Zika infections have been <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/zika/intheus/florida-update.html">reported</a> in or around the Wynwood community.
Follow Pardes Seleh on <a href="https://twitter.com/PardesSeleh">Twitter</a>.

Zika Spreading – 7 Things You Need To Know

Zika Virus

Apparently the dorm rooms in Rio&#8217;s Olympic village were too small for one pair of synchronized divers, who have now ended their partnership over one teammate&#8217;s exclusive claim to the shared space for her &#8220;marathon sex session.&#8221;
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According to the Brazilian newsite, <a href="http://oglobo.globo.com/esportes/2016/08/10/2276-ingrid-giovanna-falam-em-separacao-apos-rio-2016" target="_blank">O Globo</a>, Giovanna Pedroso, the 17-year-old diver pictured above (right), told reporters she was kicked out of her Olympic Village room so that her partner, 20-year-old Ingrid Oliveira (left), could have an all night love-making romp with fellow canoeist and compatriot Pedro Goncalves (below). Pedroso was obviously livid about being banished from her own room.
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A major fight ensued between the divers, who finished last in the women&#8217;s 10-meter synchronized diving event the next day. The Sun <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/rio-olympics-2016/1612295/rio-olympics-2016-ingrid-oliveira-enjoys-late-night-romp-with-canoeist-after-kicking-brazilian-diving-partner-out-of-olympic-village-room/" target="_blank">notes</a>: 
<blockquote>
Pedroso was furious about being kicked out of her own dorm and blasted Oliveira for losing focus so close to competition time.
She ranted: &#8220;I have been waiting for four years to be present at the Olympics and for her it was better to have fun and therefore threw me out of the room.&#8221;
The duo finished last in the women&#8217;s 10m synchronised diving on Wednesday and have now announced their separation.
A number of niggling arguments had caused a rift between the pair and Oliveira&#8217;s late-night romp turned out to be the final straw.
</blockquote>
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Pedroso has decided to permanently end their partnership and compete on her own, telling O Globo, &#8220;After the Olympics, I will focus on my individual. It&#8217;s good because I will not need to depend on anyone. Then I will be able to improve and evolve more.&#8221;
When asked about the situation, Oliveira told reporters, &#8220;My personal life, I do not speak about.&#8221;
A few of Oliveira&#8217;s Instagram posts from her time at the games, below:
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIHnh73DNQf/" target="_blank">15 Dias para a Cerimônia de Abertura todos jogos </a>
A photo posted by &#407;&#327;&#484;&#344;&#407;&#272; Ø&#321;&#407;V&#8364;&#407;&#344;&#916; (@ingrid.oliveira96) on Jul 21, 2016 at 2:47am PDT
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIEB0AcjK20/" target="_blank">Gudi Naiti #GoodNight Ps: Para os moralistas de plantão só queria deixar bem claro que faço mortais todos os dias no treino (sei como cair para não me machucar) e a chance de me machucar ou dar errado é quase zero !</a>
A video posted by &#407;&#327;&#484;&#344;&#407;&#272; Ø&#321;&#407;V&#8364;&#407;&#344;&#916; (@ingrid.oliveira96) on Jul 19, 2016 at 5:20pm PDT
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BFHpWBUoZ_l/" target="_blank">20 anos #MyBirthday #Idosa</a>
A photo posted by &#407;&#327;&#484;&#344;&#407;&#272; Ø&#321;&#407;V&#8364;&#407;&#344;&#916; (@ingrid.oliveira96) on May 7, 2016 at 1:29pm PDT
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHQPtYoDeRO/" target="_blank">Agora é oficial&#8252;&#65039; Depois de longos dias esperando a confirmação da FINA finalmente se oficializou que a VAGA de 10 metros INDIVIDUAL RIO2016 É MINHA Só tenho a agradecer a todos os profissionais que me ajudaram a tornar isso possível @andreiaboehme @nellsalgadocoach @cacomonte @giocupolillo @timebrasil &#65039;</a>
A video posted by &#407;&#327;&#484;&#344;&#407;&#272; Ø&#321;&#407;V&#8364;&#407;&#344;&#916; (@ingrid.oliveira96) on Jun 29, 2016 at 2:41pm PDT
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIgarkLD_-d/" target="_blank">Pareço normal mas eu estava pensando no que eu ia comer quando chegasse na vila #VariasFomes #Hipopotiane #Obesiane</a>
A photo posted by &#407;&#327;&#484;&#344;&#407;&#272; Ø&#321;&#407;V&#8364;&#407;&#344;&#916; (@ingrid.oliveira96) on Jul 30, 2016 at 5:56pm PDT
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A photo posted by &#407;&#327;&#484;&#344;&#407;&#272; Ø&#321;&#407;V&#8364;&#407;&#344;&#916; (@ingrid.oliveira96) on Jul 3, 2016 at 6:05am PDT
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A video of the pair below in happier times:
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canoe

Brazilian Divers Won’t Compete Together After One Boots Other From Room For ‘Marathon Sex Session’

On Saturday, Michael Phelps swam his heart out in the last race of his career, winning gold in the <a href="http://cnn.com/2016/08/13/sport/michael-phelps-olympics-rio-2016-4x100m-freestyle-medley/index.html">4&#215;100-meter medley relay</a> with the help of his three other teammates. Gliding through the water with his signature stroke, Phelps waved goodbye to the thousands of American fans gathered in Rio to see the living legend compete for one last time.
Phelps has said that Rio 2016 would be his last Olympics. After nearly 16 years swimming professionally, Phelps is looking forward to spending more time with his wife and young baby at home. 
In total, Phelps has won 23 Olympic gold medals, surpassing generations of competitors to take the world&#8217;s top spot as the most decorated athlete of all-time. 
Phelps participated in his first Olympics as a 15-year-old in 2000, swimming alongside the legendary Australian superstar Ian Thorpe in the Sydney games. From there, Phelps went on to take home medals in Athens, Beijing, London, and Rio. 
Here&#8217;s Phelps&#8217; unprecedented Olympic medal history:
<ul>
<li>Athens 2004: 6 gold, 2 bronze</li>
<li>Beijing 2008: 8 gold</li>
<li>London 2012: 4 gold, 2 silver</li>
<li>Rio 2016: 5 gold, 1 silver </li>
</ul>
But the medals only tell half the story. Throughout his swimming career, Phelps has shattered numerous Olympic and world records in different stroke styles.
Some say there will never be a swimmer quite like Phelps in our lifetime. Perhaps that&#8217;s true. 
However, the next generation of Olympic athletes is already giving Phelps and his record a run for their money. Team USA&#8217;s new superstar, Katie Ledecky, is already making a name for herself as the fastest woman in the world. The 19-year-old swimming machine actually met Phelps when she was just nine years old. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
THROWBACK: 9-year-old Katie Ledecky was all smiles while getting Michael Phelps&#8217; autograph!
(NYT/Ledecky Family) <a href="https://t.co/AXQEQLg0p5">pic.twitter.com/AXQEQLg0p5</a>
&#8212; NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCOlympics/status/764642043100553217">August 14, 2016</a></blockquote>
Ten years later, it&#8217;s Ledecky that&#8217;s poised to carry the baton forward. 
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