Bono Rocks Brazil's Carnival (AP): "Thousands of Brazilians took a break from samba to rock with U2 frontman Bono during Carnival celebrations in the northeastern city of Salvador. While the highlight of Brazil's carnival celebrations is Rio's annual samba parade on Sunday and Monday nights, many people prefer Salvador's carnival, where giant sound trucks with bands on top jam the city's streets night and day."

"Carnival begins across Brazil, the largest Catholic country in the world, this weekend and crowds of people indulge in a frenzy of drinking, dancing and often licentious behavior:" "Brazil bishops say go easy on Carnival sex, booze (Reuters): Brazil's Roman Catholic Church urged revelers on Thursday to abstain from reckless sex, too much alcohol and violence during the country's Carnival celebrations. "

Rio Rumbling With Carnival Revelers (AP): "Samba drums rumbled and tourists packed the streets Friday as Rio began its yearly carnival — five days and nights of partying. Though Rio's carnival officially kicked Friday, informal groups have been crowding the city and tying up traffic for weeks."

"Nearly 700,000 tourists are expected to invade this seaside city for the world's biggest Carnival fiesta, but a similar number of locals will flee to somewhere cooler and quieter: Rio's residents flee Carnival as tourists take over(Reuters): "Carnival kicks off in Rio on Friday when fat King Momo, Lord of Misrule, receives the keys of city and presides over five days of music and mayhem, ending only on March 1, Ash Wednesday, the start of the Christian Lenten season of repentance that leads up to Easter."

But not all is festivities and celebrations as "Gunmen overpowered museum security guards and stole four paintings by European masters Friday, using the cover of Rio's Carnival to make their getaway, authorities said:" Major Paintings Stolen From Rio Museum (AP): "The thieves entered the Chacara do Ceu museum as a samba band performed on the street outside and stole works by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse and Claude Monet."

Carnaval in Salvador mixes Catholic and Candomble religious motifs with a blend of music and local traditions. Photo of women in traditional garb thanks to ArtToday.com.