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BP suspends talks with Gazprom on a pipeline to get Rusian gas to the UK under the Nord Stream project BP's partner AAR refused to grant a waiver from the TNK-BP shareholder agreement for BP to pursue discussions with Gazprom.

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Wal-Mart is trying to boost sagging sales by launching hundreds of Express stores in urban and rural locations. These Wal-Mart Express stores will have 15,000 square feet compared to the 185,000 square feet of a typical SuperCenter.

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Prime minister Renzi of Italy says he is determined to push through changes that will let entrpreneurs hire and let go employees as needed. He proposes an agency to handle retraining of employees no longer needed by firms. He points out that he respects the role of unions, but that the fate of the economy must come first before the fate of the unions.

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Faces of ordinary Greeks after years of austerity cuts and high unemployment, as new elections approach in Jan. 2015.

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The value of the gold holdings of the Swiss central bank, the Swiss National Bank, declined by 15 billion Swiss Francs ($16.6 billion) in 2013, as the price of gold declined by 28% in 2013. The loss was much more than gains of 3 billion francs in foreign currency positions and 3 billion francs in profit from sales from a fund holding troubled assets. As a result the bank will not pay dividends fro the first time since its founding in 1907. Prices declined as the Fed announced a policy of reversing its bond buying in 2013. In 2008-2012 the U.S. Fed's bond buying efforts pushed up prices of gold holdings as a hedge against inflationary risks. Signs of economic recovery in the U.S. are likely to lead to further price declines. Purchases of gold made after 2010 are now showing losses. The Russian central bank made 30% of all gold purchases since 2010 made by central banks and reported to the IMF.

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Ellen Jervell describes the open and inclusive culture that as helped Norway win more medals than any other country in Winter Olympics games. Before age 11 all children participating in sports get the same prize. A large annual budget for the main Olympic organization of $23 million helps, and so does the extra leisure from the high per capita GDP of $99,558 with many high paying jobs. Of the 303 medals won by Norway 125 were in cross country skiing. 60% of Norwegians enjoy watching cross country skiing, according to a 2011 survey by newspaper Aftenposten, and Norwegians take a less competitive view of the sport. Academic ability is given first importance even in sports schools.

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Lower corporate governance standards on the NYSE and the NASDAQ stock exchanges in New York are raising concern of large investors. London and Hong Kong exchanges do not allow corporate insiders who collectively own less than half of their companies stock to exercize control through dual share structures and other mechanisms.

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Chevrolet and GMC finish in the top 5 in the J.D. Powers Initial Quality Survey for 2013. Owners reported 97 problems per 100 vehicles in the first 90 days of ownership for Chevrolet, and GMC owners reported 90 problems. The survey incudes problems with new technology such as navigation systems. Ford had 131 problems per 100 vehicles largely because of problems owners have with the new touch screen multimedia systems called MyFord Touch. GMC and Chevrolet use butons and knobs for the MyLink entertainment and navigation systems. By not doing extensive redesign GM moved up in the rankings. Because mechanical quality is about even for Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Ford, GM and VW, the rankings now include new tech systems performance for automobile owners.