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- Kosovo players walk off in Romania game after 'Serbia' chants
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- Ronaldo at double as Portugal reach Nations League quarters, Spain win
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- Ronaldo shines as Portugal rout Poland to reach Nations League last-eight
- Spain beat Denmark to seal Nations League group win
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- Poland, Britain reach BJK Cup quarter-finals
- At summit under Trump shadow, Xi and Biden signal turbulence ahead
- Lebanon said studying US truce plan for Israel-Hezbollah war
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- India in record six-hitting spree to rout South Africa
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- India go on record six-hitting spree against South Africa
- France skipper Dupont says All Blacks 'back to their best'
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- Bagnaia strikes late in Barcelona practice to edge title rival Martin
- High-ball hero Steward ready to 'front up' against South Africa
- Leader of Spain flood region admits 'mistakes'
- Swiatek, Linette take Poland past Spain into BJK Cup quarter-finals
- Leftist voices seek to be heard at Rio's G20 summit
- Wales coach Jenkins urges players to 'get back on the horse'
- Zverev reaches ATP Finals last four, Alcaraz out
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- Springboks skipper Kolisi wary of England's 'gifted' Smith
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- Scholz urges Ukraine talks in first call with Putin since 2022
- Zverev reaches ATP Finals last four, Alcaraz on brink of exit
- Lebanon rescuer picks up 'pieces' of father after Israel strike
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- Zverev reaches ATP Finals last four with set win against Alcaraz
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- Gore says 'absurd' to hold UN climate talks in petrostates
Brazil storm death toll rises to 54
The death toll from floods and landslides in southeast Brazil has risen to 54 people, the authorities said Friday, as Pope Frances sent a message of condolences.
"So many of you are missing, so many have suffered... I send you my closeness, the assurance of my prayer. May God bless you," the Argentine pontiff said in a video broadcast by the official portal Vatican News.
According to the Sao Paulo state government, about 30 people are still missing after more than an entire February's worth of rain fell in 24 hours on the picturesque beach resort town of Sao Sebastiao and surrounding areas last weekend.
Authorities said the largest daily rainfall ever registered in Brazil triggered violent floods and landslides that tore through precariously built hillside communities.
"So far 54 deaths have been confirmed," said the Sao Paulo state government, including 15 children.
Search and rescue operations are continuing in areas where some 4,000 people were displaced from their homes.
An estimated 9.5 million of Brazil's 215 million people live in areas at high risk of flooding or landslides -- mainly poor favela neighborhoods.
The South American country has been hit by a series of deadly weather disasters in recent years, which experts say are likely being made worse by climate change.
M.Robinson--AT