Daily Mail: Florence begins dumping heavy rain on North Carolina as forecasters predict 10 TRILLION gallons will lash the state as the 'monster' Category 2 hurricane takes aim at the U.S. threatening 10 million people and sparking tornado fears
* Outer bands of wind and rain from Hurricane Florence started lashing North Carolina on Thursday morning
* The huge storm weakened to a Category 2 hurricane overnight with 110 mph winds
* The center of Florence is expected to hit North Carolina's southern coast Friday, then drift southwest before moving inland on Saturday
* It is forecast to dump up to 40 inches of rain in some areas after it makes landfall in North and South Carolina
* Life-threatening storm surges of up to 13 feet are also forecast along with tornadoes in North Carolina
* More than 1.7 million people were warned to evacuate and get out of the way of the 'life-threatening' storm
* An estimated 10 million people live in areas expected to be placed under a hurricane or storm advisory
* A FEMA official described the hurricane as 'a Mike Tyson punch to the Carolina coast'
* North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Georgia governors declared a state of emergency
* Florence is estimated to cause roughly $50 billion to $60 billion in economic damages
* About 1,200 flights scheduled for Thursday or Friday have been canceled and some airports shut down
Hurricane Florence's leading edge started lashing the Carolina coast on Thursday with huge waves crashing in and at least 12,000 people already without power.
The monster Category 2 storm closed in with 105mph winds as forecasters warned that the widening storm - and its likelihood of lingering around the coast for days - would bring life-threatening storm surge and torrential rains.
Forecasters said conditions will only get more lethal as the storm pushes ashore early Friday near the North Carolina-South Carolina line and makes its way slowly inland.
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ASIA
Afghanistan: Millions risk running out of water in severe drought.
Taliban overruns military base in Zabul.
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U.S. imposes North Korea-related sanctions on Russian, Chinese tech firms.
South Korean business leaders to attend inter-Korean summit.
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Cambodia's Hun Sen tells world: Leave Indochina alone.
AFRICA
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Juncker unveils EU's Africa plan to counter China.
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EUROPE
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Italy government passes motorway decree, delays appointing commissioner.
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AMERICAS
Wind, flooded roads herald approach of Hurricane Florence in North Carolina.
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Trump disputes Puerto Rico hurricane death toll.
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EL Salvador's ex-leader Antonio Saca gets 10 years in jail.
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Canada's Venezuelans battle a hunger crisis the Maduro regime claims doesn't exist.
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TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
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ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
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