Reuters: Hurricane Irma lashes Caribbean, Florida braces for hit
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Reuters) - Potentially catastrophic Hurricane Irma clobbered Caribbean islands with pounding winds, rain and surging surf on Wednesday as officials in Florida called for evacuations ahead of the storm’s expected landfall there this weekend.
Irma could become the second powerful storm to thrash the U.S. mainland in as many weeks, but its precise trajectory remained uncertain. Hurricane Harvey killed about 60 people and caused as much as $180 billion in damage after hitting Texas late last month.
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MIDDLE EAST
Syrian opposition must accept it has not won the war: U.N..
Syrian army fights to secure corridor into Deir al-Zor.
Syria forces behind Khan Sheikhoun gas attack: UN probe.
'Manmade catastrophe': Yemen conflict has killed 1,100 children, says UN.
Iran says US threats against N.Korea are danger to world.
Haley: Trump 'has grounds' to say Iran violating nuclear deal.
Palestinian Authority extends detention of rights activist: NGO.
Hollywood producer questioned over claims he bribed Israeli PM.
Syria reach World Cup play-off with Australia after late equaliser in Iran.
ASIA
Trump says U.S. not 'putting up with' North Korea's actions.
South Korea: US missile defense system to be fully installed Thursday.
North Korea nuclear test was 10 times bigger than Hiroshima blast, U.S. says.
Taliban attacks US Afghan base in retaliation for US leaflets.
U.S. to send 3,500 additional troops to Afghanistan.
Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi denounces 'terrorists', silent on Rohingya exodus.
Myanmar laying landmines on Bangladesh border: reports.
N. Korea vows to respond with 'counteroffensive' to fresh sanctions.
South Korea, Russia to develop projects involving North Korea.
China was North Korea's last major trading partner.
UN Chief: N. Korea nuclear threat is world's most serious.
Afghan civilians count cost of renewed US air campaign.
Xi Jinping urges China and India to put ties on right track after border stand-off.
Philippine army in final push against ISIL-linked Maute in Marawi.
AFRICA
Rwanda arrests supporters of jailed opposition figure.
Angola's ruling MPLA wins election with 61 percent of vote: electoral commission.
Togo shuts down internet amid protests.
Violent unrest in northwest Cameroon as strike tensions simmer.
HRW: Torture is 'systematic practice' in Egypt.
Bodies of 16 migrants found in Libya's eastern desert: official.
Tunisia PM announces major cabinet reshuffle.
SADC condemns killing of Lesotho army chief Khoantle Motsomotso.
South Africa business confidence lowest in 32 years: survey.
EUROPE
EU to raise pressure on Poland over democracy concerns: sources.
Catalonia parliament votes for Oct. 1 referendum on split from Spain.
Putin urges North Korea talks, says sanctions not working.
Germany says Putin move on U.N. peacekeepers in Ukraine a "step".
Ex-Georgian leader risks extradition on return to Ukraine.
Poland demands TRILLION dollars in damages from Germany over 'terrible' WW2 crimes.
Refugee crisis: European Court of Justice rejects quota challenge.
UK shipyards: Five frigates at centre of new strategy.
Pope heads to Colombia seeking to heal conflict’s wounds.
AMERICAS
Trump sides with Democrats in debt limit, funding, Harvey deal. Trump backs Democrats on debt limit in rare bipartisan deal.
Hurricane Katia forms in southwestern Gulf of Mexico.
Hurricane Irma slams Caribbean islands as Category 5 storm.
Key West exodus underway as Irma nears, but sailors will remain at Guantanamo.
Trump ends DACA — and pressures Congress to pass immigration reform.
Colombian President: Venezuela is a 'dictatorship,' but US military action is a bad idea.
FARC deal leaves Colombians out to dry.
Two Brazilian presidents Dilma Rousseff, Lula da Silva accused of running criminal organization.
'Biggest cash haul' in Brazil ex-minister's apartment.
Bank of Canada raises rates, says future moves guided by data, markets.
Red Sox 'cheated using Apple Watch'.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Germany fights to stop ISIS schoolgirl, 16, being executed in Iraq after she was captured with jihadis in Mosul.
Two arrested after French counter-terrorism raid near Paris.
Many terrorist groups in South Asia responsible for extreme acts: FO on BRICS' security concern.
Mother of jihadist faces trial in Paris for 'financing terrorism'.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Energy shares lead broad rebound on Wall Street.
Facebook says it sold political ads to Russian company during 2016 election.
Oil job losses 'worse than expected'.
Caution rules in markets amid Korea, hurricane worries.
Christian Dior and Gucci owners drop super-skinny models.
