A Rio Carnival Party That Goes On and On

The Boi Tolo, a famous street party in Rio de Janeiro, took place on Sunday during Carnival. This roving block party, which started spontaneously two decades ago, has no set time, route, or script. Revelers, some in elaborate costumes, gather before dawn in a square in the city's historic center, accompanied by musicians with drums and trumpets. The crowd then moves through the city at a frantic pace, paralyzing traffic and making it difficult for newcomers to catch up. The Boi Tolo embodies the gritty, grassroots celebrations of Rio's street carnival, in contrast to the official parades. The party's route is decided in the moment, with the main rule being to keep moving.

During Rio de Janeiro's Carnival, Brazilian police officers disguised themselves in costumes, including characters like Jason Voorhees and Batman, to combat phone theft. The undercover operation, part of the state's "Operation Tracking" initiative, led to the arrest of two suspects in the Santa Teresa neighborhood after a drone spotted them stealing a phone. Police recovered five stolen phones, which will be returned to their owners. The arrested individuals had a combined 30 criminal records, and the woman attempted to evade arrest by pretending to be pregnant. "Operation Tracking" aims to reduce mobile phone theft and resale, and has resulted in thousands of devices being located and returned.