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More Quakes Hit Chile As New President Takes Over
A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake capable of tremendous damage struck central Chile early Saturday, shaking the capital for a minute and a half and setting off a tsunami.
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Cities Look For New Ways To Pick Your Pockets
Across the country, cash-strapped cities are coming up with novel ideas for raising money — imposing new charges on everything from sodas and plastic bags to library late fees and emergency-response services. With at least two more years of bad budgets ahead, look for cities to turn to niche taxes.
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Dodd Says He'll Go It Alone On Financial Regulation
The Senate Banking Committee chairman plans to offer his own financial regulation bill without GOP support after a month of talks with Republican Sen. Bob Corker found some common ground but didn't yield agreement on consumer protections and other sticking points.
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Afghanistan Welcomes Pakistani Role In Peace Talks
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Thursday that Pakistan has a key role to play in peace talks with the Taliban, a possible attempt to quash speculation that his government was trying to sideline its neighbor.
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Huge Aftershock Hits Chile On Inauguration Day
There were no immediate reports of damages or injuries following the magnitude 7.2 temblor and at least three other aftershocks, which swayed buildings, shook windows and provoked nervous smiles among the dignitaries attending the presidential inauguration in Valparaiso.
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Greece Roiled By General Strike Over Austerity Plan
Greek police fired tear gas to disperse protesters throwing rocks and firebombs outside Parliament as tens of thousands of people marched through Athens to protest measures to cut the country's debt. The strike grounded all flights and brought public transport to a halt.
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Trade Deficit Shrinks As Auto And Oil Imports Drop
The U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly shrank in January, reflecting a big drop in imports of oil and foreign cars. American exports also fell, a potential blow to hopes that the economic recovery will be aided this year by U.S. sales abroad.
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Early Election Results: Iraqi PM Winning In 2 Provinces
Preliminary election results released by Iraq's electoral commission show Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is winning in two Shiite provinces in southern Iraq.
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First-Time Weekly Jobless Claims Decrease Slightly
The number of newly laid-off workers requesting unemployment benefits slipped by 6,000 last week. But the four-week average of claims climbed, reflecting a sharp increase in claims last month.
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Biden Tries To Wrangle Israel, Palestinans To Table
Wrapping up a three-day visit, the U.S. vice president urges both sides to get past the uproar sparked by an Israeli plan for new settlement construction in disputed east Jerusalem and focus on U.S.-mediated peace talks. "If each waits stubbornly ... this will go on for an eternity," Biden says.
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Foreclosures Slow Considerably In February
Fears remain about the hundreds of thousands of homeowners who are still being evaluated for help under loan modification programs. Many analysts say most of those borrowers will eventually lose their homes, sparking a new round of foreclosures later this year.
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Mass School Closures Approved In Kansas City, Mo.
Facing potential bankruptcy, the board that governs the once flush-with-cash Kansas City school district is taking the unusual and contentious step of shuttering almost half its schools.
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Electric Vehicles May Energize Elkhart's Future
Elkhart, Ind., is known as the RV-making capital of the world. The mayor wants to claim a new title: the electric vehicle capital of the world. Stimulus grants and other incentives are attracting companies planning to build electric vehicles to Elkhart. It's hoped the new business will fill the void created by a serious slump in recreational vehicle sales.
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Talks With Taliban To Decide Afghanistan's Future?
The emerging consensus in Afghanistan is that military action alone will not win the war against the Taliban and a political solution will be necessary. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has reached out to some Taliban leaders. But analysts say the Taliban and the U.S. are not ready for full-scale negotiations — yet.
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Terrorism Recruits No Longer All Fit The Mold
Colleen LaRose, a petite, 46-year-old blonde from the Philadelphia suburbs, is accused of trolling the Internet as "Jihad Jane" to recruit others who might take part in possible terrorist attacks. She allegedly looked for people like herself — people who don't fit a terrorist profile that now seems to be falling by the wayside.
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