Rio de Janeiro has kicked off Carnival celebrations as the mayor hands the city key to King Momo for a playful five-day reign.

Brazilian authorities have raged against comments by Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz in which he appeared to look down on Belem, a city on the edge of the Amazon rainforest.

Videos featuring emotional moments with hyper-realistic baby dolls have sparked both online fascination and political debate in Brazil, with lawmakers even bringing the lifelike dolls into legislatures.

Rio de Janeiro’s mayor has loosened new restrictions on live music on the city’s beaches after many people warned of a threat to the dynamic cultural scene.

Rio de Janeiro’s City Hall is rolling out new rules to control beachside activities due to come into force on June 1.

When Spanish actress Penélope Cruz announced that “I’m Still Here” was the winner of best international film at the Academy Awards, Brazilians roared at home and on the streets, where Carnival festivities have been ongoing since Saturday.

Brazil’s Carnival revelry is ramping up, from the raucous street parties to the glitzy parades.

Rio de Janeiro’s mayor handed over the key to the city to its Carnival monarch.

Lady Gaga has confirmed that she will perform a free concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach on May 3.

Rio de Janeiro has recorded its hottest day in at least a decade when temperatures reached 44 degrees Celsius (111 F) as residents try to cool off in the ocean or under public showers.

A fire in a factory that produces costumes for the carnival in Rio de Janeiro has left 10 people hospitalized, health authorities said.

The mayor's race in Sao Paulo is heading to a runoff, while Rio de Janeiro incumbent mayor was reelected in the first round of Brazil's local elections.

To thunderous applause, Rio de Janeiro’s mayor coronated King Momo, marking the beginning of the symbolic Carnival monarch’s five-day reign over the revelry.

Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue was illuminated with a welcome to Brazil message for Taylor Swift.

Weeks ahead of Brazil’s presidential election, police have carried out search warrants targeting several business leaders who allegedly participated in a private chat group that included comments favoring a possible coup and military involvement in politics.

Starting Wednesday night, Rio de Janeiro samba schools’ elaborate floats and feather-festooned dancers will parade between packed bleachers.

Rio de Janeiro is relaxing the use of masks as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes in Brazil.

Brazilians are bidding farewell to their samba queen, the legendary singer and force of nature Elza Soares.

Brazil has topped 600,000 virus deaths as it bids to return to pre-pandemic normalcy.

A church stands in Serrana, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. The city is small, but the task is sizeable: administering shots over eight weeks to the entire population aged 18 and up — 30,000 people. “It’s a lot of joy, because it’s not just me, it’s for the whole city. Butantan contracted with Chinese firm Sinovac for 46 million doses of its CoronaVac vaccines in September, as well as a transfer of technology for future domestic production. Looming shortages have also been reported in at least four other capitals, according to Brazilian newspaper O Globo.

Rio de Janeiro Mayor Marcelo Crivella is escorted to a medical exam after his arrest, at the city police headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. Rio de Janeiro state police arrested the outgoing mayor on Tuesday in connection with an alleged kickbacks scheme. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)RIO DE JANEIRO – Rio de Janeiro state police arrested outgoing Mayor Marcelo Crivella on Tuesday in connection with an alleged kickbacks scheme, yet another show of political turmoil in Brazil’s postcard city. Crivella told reporters upon his arrival at the Rio police headquarters on Tuesday that his arrest is unfair. “I am the mayor who most fought corruption in Rio de Janeiro,” Crivella said as he walked into police headquarters.

People wait in line to vote in municipal elections at a polling station at the Rocinha slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Nov.15, 2020. Voters across Latin America's biggest country are electing mayors and municipal council members. In more than 5,500 cities, Brazilians voted for mayors and city councilors on Sunday. Of the nearly 60 candidates whom the leader backed, only nine advanced, according to a tally by newspaper Estado de S.Paulo. The incumbent Mayor Bruno Covas (PSDB party) didn’t garner enough votes to avoid a runoff against opponent Guilherme Boulos (PSOL party), a Bolsonaro critic.