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MIAMI (AP) — The National Hurricane Center says Irma has strengthened back into a Category 5 storm. Forecasters also extended hurricane and storm surge warnings and watches farther north in Florida. The center says Irma made landfall on the Camaguey Archipelago of Cuba late Friday and has maximum sustained winds of 160 mph. The death toll from the storm is at least 22.
MIAMI (AP) — With a half-million people ordered to evacuate, Florida's northbound interstates are jam-packed as residents are fleeing Hurricane Irma. Many grocery and home improvement stores remained open across South Florida on Friday morning for anyone seeking last minute hurricane supplies, though items like bottled water and plywood were in short supply. Gas stations continue to bounce between having long lines or no gasoline.
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's state oil company is reassuring the country that fuel supplies will not be interrupted despite a magnitude-8.1 earthquake that killed at least 61 people and a hurricane slamming the oil-rich Gulf coast. Pemex says supply is "guaranteed." A refinery in the southern city of Salina Cruz shut down automatically for safety reasons after the quake off the Pacific coast. But an inspection turned up only minor damage to generators, and the facility should come back online once that's solved.
VILLAVICENCIO, Colombia (AP) — Pope Francis is urging victims and ex-fighters in Colombia's long-running conflict to reconcile so Colombia can move forward. Francis presided over a reconciliation event in Villavincencio, a city south of Bogota that is surrounded by lands formerly controlled by leftist rebels.
TECATE, Calif. (AP) — A French artist has erected a giant photo of a toddler who appears to peer over the border wall dividing the U.S. and Mexico near San Diego. He says the 65-foot tall cut-out is meant to prompt a discussion of immigration.
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