Lula cancels Russia trip after head injury

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has canceled his planned trip to Russia for the BRICS summit following a minor domestic accident. The President suffered a laceration to the back of his head, described as a "blunt injury in the occipital region," which prompted medical advice to avoid long-distance air travel temporarily.

Instead of attending in person, Lula will participate in the 16th BRICS Summit, scheduled for October 22-24 in Kazan, Russia, via videoconference. The Sirio Libanes Hospital in Brasilia issued a medical report stating that while Lula is advised against long-haul flights, he remains capable of carrying out his regular duties.

This year's BRICS summit is particularly significant as it marks the first meeting with newly joined members Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia. The summit's agenda includes discussions on strengthening multilateralism for fair and secure global development, as well as addressing the ongoing Middle East crisis.

A key topic of debate among the heads of state will be the creation of a new "partner" country category within BRICS. This follows the incorporation of new full members at the 2023 Johannesburg Summit, with expectations of announcing criteria for this new category and potentially inviting countries to join.

The Kremlin has dismissed speculation linking Lula's absence to Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision not to attend the G20 summit in Brazil in November. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that such a connection "could not even cross our minds."

The BRICS forum, originally founded 15 years ago by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and later including South Africa, has been expanding its influence in global affairs. The summit is expected to result in a joint declaration titled "Strengthening Multilateralism for Fair and Secure Global Development," reflecting the outcomes of sectoral negotiations among member states.