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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Hundreds of thousands are without power in Florida as Hurricane Matthew skims along the state's Atlantic coast. The storm's strongest winds of 120 miles an hour have stayed just offshore -- but a wind gust of 107 miles an hour was recorded in Cape Canaveral. Two million people had been told to move inland to escape the storm, which left more than 280 dead in the Caribbean. But many stayed where they were, and hoped for the best. Authorities say some of them are now stranded and have called for help -- but they've been told to stay put until conditions improve and emergency crews can reach them.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Rains from the outer bands of Hurricane Matthew are already spinning onto the South Carolina coast. And the National Weather Service says tropical storm force winds of more than 40 miles an hour will begin raking the state's coast this afternoon - extending farther into inland areas this evening. The forecast calls for between 8 and 14 inches of rain in places along the coast with as much as 4 inches in locations father inland. Forecasters are warning of a storm surge of four to eight feet.
MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian parliament is debating a treaty with Syria that allows Russian troops to stay indefinitely in the Mideast country. Lawmakers spoke in favor of the agreement, in a sign of support for embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad. He's had Moscow's support throughout the devastating civil war. The vote is to be held later today. The treaty allows Russia to keep its forces at an air base in a coastal Syrian province for as long as it wants. Russia launched an air campaign in Syria a year ago, reversing the tide of war and helping Assad's forces win some key ground.
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The top leader of Colombia's largest rebel group is congratulating President Juan Manuel Santos for winning the Nobel Peace Prize. He says on his Twitter account that "peace would be impossible" without the efforts of Santos and the guarantors from Cuba and Norway, as well as participants from Venezuela and Chile. The deal reached between Santos and rebels was rejected by voters in a referendum Sunday. But the Nobel committee says that doesn't mean the peace process is dead.
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are flat in early trading, after a solid but uninspiring September jobs report. The government reported today that employers added 156,000 jobs last month. Job growth has now averaged 178,000 a month this year, down from last year's pace of 229,000 -- but it's still a level that could lower the unemployment rate over time. For now, that rate stands at five percent -- up a notch after more people started looking for work last month.
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