Thousands of Brazilians have kicked off their celebrations in Rio de Janeiro for the annual carnival. This year, many are using the five-day festival to mix politics with celebrations.

Rio de Janeiro's carnival crowned a champion of its elite samba school parade on Wednesday, capping festivities marred by two accidents that injured more than 30 people.

Policeman dazzles crowds with dance moves at London's Notting Hill Carnival.

Hundreds gather across Egypt to mourn seven victims of a militant attack on security forces in the country's western desert that three security sources said killed at least 52.

In Germany, it's carnival season - and thousands of revellers have been dressing up in flashy costumes to celebrate. Many groups take part in the festivities by creating humorous floats for huge parades on Shrove Monday. This year, the Jewish community of Dusseldorf is joining the fun.

The traditional Cadiz Carnival in Spain kicks off with revellers and choirs groups dressing up and hitting the streets.

Nicki Minaj is urging bloggers to quit gossiping about her husband after he appeared to shove a singer away from her while attending the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival festivities.

Police officers in Frankfurt have been set upon by gangs while trying to get crowds gathering over the warm Easter weekend to disperse. Social distancing measures are in place to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Film critic Lisa Nesselson speaks to Eve Jackson about the week's film news, including "Jumbo", an objectophilia film written and directed by first-time Belgian filmmaker Zoé Wittock and based on a true story. They also review former The Daily Show host Jon Stewart's political satire "Irresistible", leading Romanian director Cristi Puiu's period drama talkfest "Malmkrog" and the restoration and re-release of David Cronenberg's 1996 adaptation of author J.G. Ballard's 1973 novel "CRASH".

The Nigerian Police Force has dispersed Abuja #EndSARS protesters with live bullets, water cannons, and tear gas. Ilemona Onoja narrates how the police onslaught on citizens happened on Sunday.

Demonstrations in the eastern German city took place just days after the government announced new shutdown measures to curb surging infections. Protest leaders have sought to distance themselves from the far-right.

The traditional 'Bate-Bola' (ball-beating) Carnival takes place in Madureira, a working-class neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro with revellers wearing large clown style costumes and beating the floor with plastic balls, which traditionally used to be ox bladders filled with air. Rio de Janeiro would normally be kicking off its famed carnival now, but instead of booming drumlines, glittering floats and barely clad dancers, the Brazilian city's "Sambadrome" is hosting a Covid-19 vaccination drive this year.