WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Snowstorms have repeatedly battered parts of the United States this winter, making it more difficult to discern returning weakness in the economy from

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Blaming the weather for high unemployment

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Payrolls could give the U.S. stock market some direction this week as investors comb through the key report on one of the economy’s weakest areas.

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Payrolls, quake, ISM may steer stocks

(Updates with result of cross-country race in 10th paragraph. For Olympic medal standings, see {NI OLYMEDAL }. For daily medal winners, see {NI OLYWIN }. For Olympic news, see {OLY }.)

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Canada Ties Winter Games Record, Seeks Hockey Title (Update1)

Prudential Plc, the U.K.’s largest insurer, is in negotiations to buy American International Group Inc.’s Hong Kong-based life unit for more than $30 billion, according to a person familiar with the situation.

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Prudential Plc May Buy AIG Unit for Over $30 Billion (Update1)

Thai security forces were on alert following bomb attacks on Bangkok Bank Pcl that came after a court seized about $1.4 billion from fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

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Bombs Hit Bangkok Bank After Thai Court Seizes Thaksin Money

Chile stepped up efforts to find survivors of an earthquake registering 8.8 magnitude that struck before dawn yesterday, killing more than 700 people, severing the country’s main highway and damaging 1.5 million homes.

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Chile Steps Up Hunt for Survivors; Deaths Rise to More Than 700

“Shutter Island,” the Martin Scorsese thriller about an insane asylum, was the top-grossing movie at U.S. and Canadian theaters for the second consecutive weekend with ticket sales of $22.2 million.

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‘Shutter Island’ Tops Box Office for Second Weekend (Update1)

Lil Wayne may be a self-professed gangsta with the gunshot wound to prove it, but he’s made plenty clear how he feels about doing time behind bars. “I’d rather be pushin’ flowers,” he raps in 2008′s “A Milli,”"than to be in the pen sharin’ showers.” He might…

LilWayne – New York City – Prison – Grammy Award – Rapping

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Lil Wayne set to test how jails handle celebs

Kroger Co. is recalling two onion soup and dip mixes because of possible salmonella contamination. The grocer said an ingredient in its Kroger Onion Soup & Dip Mix and Kroger Beefy Onion Soup & Dip Mix may have been contaminated with the bacteria. The mixes…

Kroger – Home – Cooking – Soups and Stews – Fruit and Vegetable

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Kroger recalls 2 onion soup and dip mixes

The death toll from yesterday’s earthquake in Chile stands at 708 and probably will keep rising, President Michelle Bachelet said in a televised speech in Santiago.

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Chile Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 708, President Says

More than 200,000 homes and business were still without power Sunday as restoration efforts continued days after a slow-moving storm battered the Northeast with heavy snow, rain and high winds. Nearly 100,000 utility customers still lacked electricity Sunday…

Snow – Wind – Northeastern United States – Weather – Kids and Teens

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More than 200K still powerless after winter storm

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said “time is up” for Congress to pass health-care legislation and that lawmakers in her chamber need to figure out the right policy, see what the Senate does, then decide how to vote.

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‘Time Is Up’ to Pass Obama’s Health Plan, Pelosi Says (Update3)

Peerless Industries, a maker of audiovisual mounting services, plans to stay in Illinois and add at least 85 new jobs to its 405-person work force over the next three years. Peerless will move from two campuses in Melrose Park to a single larger facility in…

Illinois – Melrose Park – United States – Employment – Year

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Peerless Industries to add 85 Ill. jobs over 3 yrs

Delays are expected at John F. Kennedy International when the airport’s main runway is shutdown for four months of repairs starting March 1. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular destinations from JFK: Most traveled domestic destinations from JFK (by number…

John F. Kennedy International Airport – New York – United States – Runway – Aviation

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Popular destinations from NY’s JFK at a glance

RUNWAY BLUES: Starting Monday, the main runway at New York’s JFK is shutting down for repairs for four months. That means more air travel delays, which could spread throughout the U.S. FARE GAME: For passengers coming in and out of JFK, the shutdown also…

United States – John F. Kennedy International Airport – New York – Runway – New York City

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Summary Box: JFK’s main runway shutdown