Brazil tops worldwide H1N1 deaths, officials say

Brazil has confirmed 557 deaths caused by H1N1 flu, the highest total in the world, the nation’s Health Ministry says. The United States has counted 522 fatalities through Thursday, and nearly 1,800 people had died worldwide through August 13, U.S. and global health officials said

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Unraveling the mystery of Brazil’s ‘twin town’

For generations the residents of Sao Pedro, Brazil and neighboring Candido Godoi have known their isolated hamlet in southern Brazil was special. They say about a decade ago the rest of the world figured it out too. Since then, despite the remoteness, they’ve been visited by researchers, authors, journalist and even a few tourists.

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Typhoon death toll in Taiwan climbs higher

The number of people killed by a typhoon that slammed into Taiwan and China earlier this month continues to rise, Taiwan announced Thursday. At least 543 people are now known to have died when Typhoon Morakot hit Taiwan, the country’s Central Emergency Operation Center said Thursday. At least 117 people are still missing, and at least 46 people were injured.

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Tomato-armed revelers turn Spanish town red

Up to 50,000 revelers descended on the small Spanish town of Bunol near Valencia Wednesday, collectively throwing, squishing, and pummeling 100 metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes in what has grown to be the world’s biggest annual food fight. The Tomatina festival began in 1945, but there is no official explanation of how it started.

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