The government is due to publish a rural White Paper in the spring, setting out ideas on rejuvenating the rural economy and country life.

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Also repeating a theme Romney touched on earlier, Obama made reference to the Tunisian street vendor credited for starting the Arab Spring by setting himself on fire.

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But after setting up shop in New York this spring, the Russians behind VTB are clearly looking to expand into the U.S. and into emerging Latin America.

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