Colombian superstar Shakira gave a free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night, an event that the city’s mayor said drew 2 million people to one of the world’s most iconic waterfronts.

The performance followed similar shows by Madonna in 2024 and Lady Gaga last year, which also were attended by huge crowds that danced on the sprawling sands. For Shakira, it was part of her “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” or “Women No Longer Cry,” world tour named after her 2024 album.

Shakira’s set kicked off around 11 p.m., more than an hour after the scheduled slot, to her fans screaming with excitement and frantic applause as skywriting drones flew overhead, spelling out in the sky, “I love you Brazil” in Portuguese.

The megastar spoke fondly about the first time she came to Brazil, some three decades ago.

“I arrived here when I was 18 years old, dreaming about singing for you,” Shakira told the crowd shortly after coming on stage. “And now look at this. Life is magical.”

The much-loved pop star sang fan favorites such as “Hips Don’t Lie,” “La Tortura” and “La Bicicleta.” She ended with “BZRP Music Sessions #53/66,” which followed her separation from Spanish soccer player Gerard Piqué.

She also took the time to celebrate women’s resilience during the show. “Us women, every time we fall we get up a little wiser,” she said.

One of the first places where Shakira became successful

Rio Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere said on social media that 2 million people attended the performance. “The She-Wolf made history in Rio,” he posted, referring to Shakira’s 2009 hit.

When Shakira first performed in Brazil in the 1990s, she established an amazing connection with the Brazilian public, according to Felipe Maia, an ethnomusicologist pursuing a doctoral degree in popular music and digital technologies at Paris Nanterre University.

That success in Brazil “has a lot to do with the fact that she comes from Colombia, a country whose culture has many similarities with Brazil,” Maia said, adding that Saturday’s performance “crowns the relationship she has had with Brazil for a very long time.”

Erica Monteiro, a 38-year-old accountant, said she has listened to Shakira since childhood.

“For me she represents the strength of our Latino community,” Monteiro said ahead of the concert. “We’re treated as if we were inferior but in fact we have much more strength.”

Heading home after Saturday’s show, Hellem Souza da Silva said Shakira’s performance, like Bad Bunny’s concerts in Sao Paulo in February, helped consolidate Brazil’s Latino identity.

These artists “are making it clear that Brazil, Puerto Rico, Colombia and other countries are part of Latin America. And that America is not the United States,” she said.

Crowds started piling onto the beach Saturday morning to nab a good spot for the show. Street vendors sold sweet corn and other Brazilian snacks, bottled water and caipirinhas, the popular Brazilian cocktail, but also toilet paper, deodorant and even bags of sand for concertgoers to stand on to get a better view of the stage set up opposite Copacabana Palace, a historic luxury hotel.

Street vendor Simone Paula da Cunha arrived on the beach on Friday evening, hoping to sell all the beer and water bottles she had bought ahead of the show and make about $100 in all.

Despite being tired, da Cunha was excited at the prospect of seeing Shakira live. “I remember her from when she still had black hair,” she said. “I’m a huge fan of hers.”

An effort to boost the city’s post-Carnival economy

The free concerts are part of City Hall’s attempt to boost economic activity after Carnival and New Year’s Eve festivities and before the monthlong Saint John’s Day celebrations in June.

“For us, parties are serious business. Because parties generate jobs, income, development, and identity for the city,” Cavaliere, the mayor, said on Wednesday as he presented the city’s operational plan for the event. “Our investment in this show will give us a financial return 40 times greater,” he said.

Shakira’s performance could generate around 777 million reais (around $155 million), according to a study by City Hall and Riotur, the municipality’s tourism company, thanks to the influx of tourists and cash spent in restaurants, hotels and shops.

More tourists headed to Rio in the month of May in the years with shows — 2024 and 2025 — compared to 2023, according to City Hall data. In 2024, the growth was 34.2% on May 1, just ahead of the concerts, compared to the previous year. In 2025, the increase was 90.5% compared to 2023.

Amid last year’s concert with Lady Gaga, Rio de Janeiro’s state police arrested two people for an alleged bomb plot. Police said the two arrested were allegedly part of a group that was spreading hate speech against the LGBTQ community, and they sought to radicalize and recruit teenagers to carry out attacks using Molotov cocktails and improvised explosives.

Ahead of Shakira’s performance, Airbnb said in an April 22 statement that it was seeing an increase in guests expected to travel from different parts of Brazil, Latin America and even European capitals such as Paris and London.

Wanderson Andrade, a 30-year-old architect, said he flew in especially for the show from the city of Goiana in central Brazil on Saturday and planned to fly back the following day.

“I tried to get tickets to see her in Brazil last year but I didn’t succeed,” said Andrade, whose first tattoo is a wolf in honor of Shakira. “Today is a dream come true.”

Princess Beatrice revealed that she has been ‘hit hard’ after back-to-back shocking revelations about the York family drama. 

The eldest daughter of Andrew and Sarah was spotted two times in a row amid talks surrounding her marriage to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

Beatrice was spotted carrying her own suitcases outside St James’s Palace. She called Uber and left.

Then, she was captured by the media during a lunch date with her youngest sister, Eugenie, in Mayfair.

According to an eyewitness, the sisters were “in great spirits as they made the most of the sunshine” during their lunch date. 

But, as per a body language expert, behind those smiles, there was a visible tension, especially on Beatrice’s face, which she failed to hide.

It appeared that the Princess confirmed her current struggling phase as her parents’ controversy and marital woes rumours have taken a toll on her health. 

Judi James shared with the Mirror, “While Eugenie appears comfortable putting on a display of resilience and bravado for the cameras, sporting a wide wall-to-wall smile to suggest life is nothing other than perfect, her older sister Beatrice looks less able to bluff it out here…”

“…Eugenie’s gestures and facial expression hint that she has been hit hard by the fallout of her parents’ dramas,” the expert claimed. 

Decoding one of the photos from the sisters’ latest appearance, Judi shared that “…she has her arms folded over her torso, which could also be a sign of vulnerability.”

“Her facial expression looks strained and unhappy here. Her eyes have a haunted expression, and her lips are clamped shut,” she further said. 

• Day being observed under “Shaping a Future at Peace” theme this year.
• President warns of AI misuse, fake news, global media manipulation risks.
• PM highlights journalism’s role in informed society and public awareness.
  

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting press freedom on World Press Freedom Day.

The day is being observed under the theme “Shaping a Future at Peace” this year.

The president and the prime minister emphasised the role of responsible journalism, truth, and credible information in strengthening democracy, national unity, and creating a conducive environment for media freedom.

In his message, President Zardari extended greetings to media workers globally and warned of increasing global threats to press freedom, including misinformation, disinformation, artificial intelligence misuse, algorithmic manipulation, and pressure from powerful tech platforms and social media companies.

He said such forces can distort public discourse and weaken democratic values. Reaffirming constitutional commitment under Articles 19 and 19-A, he said a free press is essential for accountability, transparency, and democracy.

The president said that this year’s theme highlights that peace depends on truth, and truth depends on courageous journalism.

“At the same time, freedom brings responsibility. Accuracy must not be sacrificed for speed and balance must not give way to partisanship. Public trust, the most valuable asset of free press, must be earned, protected and never taken for granted,”he added.

He also referred to Pakistan’s unified response during Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, praising the media for countering false narratives and maintaining national cohesion. The President also paid tribute to journalists who sacrificed their lives in pursuit of truth and called for stronger protections and safer working conditions for media professionals.

He also urged citizens to reject falsehood and support credible journalism, and called upon both federal and provincial governments to ensure enabling laws and safe working conditions for journalists across the country.

Separately, PM Shebhaz paid tribute to journalists and media professionals worldwide for their services, stating that journalism plays a vital role in building an informed society.

He stressed that authentic, unbiased, and verified reporting is the foundation of journalism, while urging media professionals to prevent the spread of propaganda, fake news, and unverified content.

He said responsible journalism contributes to peace by shaping informed public opinion and strengthening international understanding.

He also acknowledged the sacrifices of journalists who lost their lives in the line of duty and emphasised the importance of adapting to digital transformation while maintaining credibility.

Warning against the rise of fake news and disinformation campaigns, he called on journalists to uphold verification, integrity, and professional ethics, reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring a safe and enabling environment for press freedom.

He further said that the media can play a constructive role in strengthening international relations, economic cooperation, and societal harmony, and emphasised that while speed is important in the digital era, it must never come at the cost of accuracy and verification, as public trust remains the most valuable asset of journalism.