Political news

• The Latest: Trump meets with congressional leaders

  23-01-2017 23:54
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local):
  
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• U.S. judge approves VW dealers $1.2 billion settlement

  23-01-2017 23:22
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer on Monday granted final approval to Volkswagen AG's (VOWG_p.DE) settlement worth up to $1.21 billion (969.63 million pounds) with 652 U.S. dealers over its diesel emissions scandal. VW's dealers will receive an average of $1.85 million each over 18 months under the settlement. VW also agreed to keep making volume-based incentive payments to dealers, and will allow them to defer capital improvements for two years. ...
  
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• White House press secretary: 'Our intention is never to lie'

  23-01-2017 23:21
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — White House press secretary Sean Spicer told a roomful of reporters that "our intention is never to lie to you," although sometimes the Trump administration may "disagree with the facts."
  
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• 'SNL' writer suspended for tweet about Barron Trump

  23-01-2017 23:21
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — A "Saturday Night Live" writer has been suspended indefinitely after tweeting a poorly received joke about Donald Trump's 10-year-old youngest son, Barron.
  
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• Brexit: Supreme Court to rule on Article 50 case

  23-01-2017 23:15
  The Supreme Court is to deliver its long awaited judgment on whether ministers or Parliament have the power to start the Brexit process. In what is being seen as the most significant constitutional case in decades, the 11 justices will decide if the Prime Minister can use inherited prerogative powers to trigger Article 50 - the formal mechanism for leaving the EU - without consulting Parliament. The Government is believed to be anticipating losing its appeal against an earlier High Court ruling
  
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• Trump White House vows to stop China taking South China Sea islands

  23-01-2017 23:14
  By David Brunnstrom and Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The new U.S. administration of President Donald Trump vowed on Monday that the United States would prevent China from taking over territory in international waters in the South China Sea, something Chinese state media has warned would require Washington to "wage war." The comments at a briefing from White House spokesman Sean Spicer signalled a sharp departure from years of cautious U.S. handling of China's assertive pursuit of terri
  
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• Possible $400 million military sale to Britain approved - Pentagon

  23-01-2017 23:11
  The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $400 million (£319 million) military sale to Britain for C-17 aircraft logistics support services and equipment, the Pentagon said on Monday in a notification to Congress. The British government has requested continued logistics support and services for eight Boeing C-17 Globemaster military transport planes, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement. Britain's current support contract for the planes expires in
  
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• Merkel says populism won't solve world's problems

  23-01-2017 23:03
  German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday that openness, not populism, polarisation or isolation, was the answer to the world's challenges of globalisation and digitalisation. "I think that, a quarter of a century after German unification, after the end of the Cold War, a new historical era will perhaps be replaced by another one," Merkel said in a speech to church leaders in Wuerzburg.
  
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• Europe’s anchor for identity in rough seas

  23-01-2017 22:50
  In a summit this March in Rome, the European Union will mark its 60th anniversary. The event was meant to be a celebration of a grand project in continental unity, peace, and prosperity after World War II. Instead it may be more of a collective introspection. Polls within the EU still reveal an overall positive view of its role in binding together more than 300 million people across 28 countries (soon to be 27 without Britain).
  
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• White House opens door to cooperation with Russian in Syria

  23-01-2017 22:47
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Monday opened the door to cooperating with Russia "or anyone else" to combat the Islamic State group in Syria, suggesting it could reverse a previous refusal to coordinate military action with Moscow as long as it backs the Syrian government.
  
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• Trump's tweets are presidential records, but deletions?

  23-01-2017 22:47
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Archives and Records Administration considers President Donald Trump's tweets as presidential records that need to be preserved for historic purposes, but an archives official said Monday that the agency has yet to say whether his administration will be required to keep altered or deleted tweets.
  
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• May criticised for handling of Trident test malfunction report

  23-01-2017 22:47
  By Kylie MacLellan and William James LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday she was briefed about the successful certification of a nuclear submarine as she came under increasing pressure over her handling of reports its unarmed Trident missile misfired. The report triggered fierce criticism about a perceived lack of transparency from May and prompted members of Parliament to demand answers from her defence minister in parliament. CNN, citing a U.S. defence official
  
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• US sent $221 million to Palestinians in Obama's last hours

  23-01-2017 22:41
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Officials say the Obama administration in its waning hours defied Republican opposition and quietly released $221 million to the Palestinian Authority that GOP members of Congress had been blocking.
  
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• Trump pulls U.S. out of Pacific trade deal, loosening Asia ties

  23-01-2017 22:40
  By Steve Holland and Ayesha Rascoe WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump formally withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal on Monday, distancing America from its Asian allies, as China's influence in the region rises. Fulfilling a campaign pledge to end American involvement in the 2015 pact, Trump signed an executive order in the Oval Office pulling the United States out of the 12-nation TPP. Trump, who wants to boost U.S. manufacturing, said he would
  
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• Iraqi forces claim recapture of eastern Mosul after 100 days of fighting

  23-01-2017 22:38
  By Maher Chmaytelli and Saif Hameed BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi officials said on Monday government forces had taken complete control of eastern Mosul, 100 days after the start of their U.S.-backed campaign to dislodge Islamic State militants from the city. The deputy parliament speaker announced the capture of the east of the city, Islamic State's last major stronghold in Iraq, after a meeting with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. "We completed the total liberation of the left bank of Mosul and th
  
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• Oil slips as U.S. drilling recovery offsets OPEC-led cuts

  23-01-2017 22:36
  By Devika Krishna Kumar NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices fell 1 percent on Monday as signs of a strong recovery in U.S. drilling largely overshadowed news that OPEC and non-OPEC producers were on track to meet output reduction goals. Ministers representing members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and non-OPEC producers said at a meeting in Vienna on Sunday that of the almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) they had agreed to remove from the market starting on Jan. 1, 1.5
  
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• Dollar, stocks hit by Trump's protectionist stance

  23-01-2017 22:36
  By Saqib Iqbal Ahmed NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar fell to a seven-week low against a basket of other major currencies on Monday and global stock markets were shaky over investor concerns about protectionist rhetoric by U.S. President Donald Trump. U.S. Treasury yields slipped, with benchmark yields posting their biggest one-day drop in more than two weeks and gold rallied as demand for safe-haven assets was boosted by Trump's stance on trade. On Monday, Trump told U.S. manufacturing exec
  
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• Algeria are knocked out of Africa Nations Cup

  23-01-2017 22:34
  Algeria crashed out of the Africa Nations Cup without winning a game after drawing 2-2 with Senegal in Franceville on Monday. Algeria, for whom Islam Slimani scored twice, needed to win the Group B game and hope that Zimbabwe beat Tunisia. In the end neither result happened but Algeria only had themselves to blame for failing to get the better of a much-changed Senegal side.
  
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• U.S. says will prevent China taking over territory in international waters

  23-01-2017 22:32
  The new U.S. administration of President Donald Trump vowed on Monday that the United States would prevent China from taking over territory in international waters in the South China Sea, something Chinese state media has said would require Washington to "wage war." "I think the U.S. is going to make sure that we protect our interests there," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told a news briefing. "It’s a question of if those islands are in fact in international waters and not part of Chin
  
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• Trump, Sisi discuss fighting terrorism in phone call

  23-01-2017 22:29
  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed ways to boost the fight against terrorism and extremism on Monday and the new American leader underscored his commitment to bilateral ties, the two countries said. Trump told Sisi in a telephone call he appreciated the difficulties faced by Egypt in its "war on terror" and affirmed his administration's commitment to supporting the country, Sisi's spokesman Alaa Youssef said in a statement. White House spokesman Sea
  
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• U.N. expresses concern for 750,000 civilians remaining in western Mosul

  23-01-2017 22:24
  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The United Nations expressed "deep concern" on Tuesday about 750,000 civilians living in western Mosul, ahead of a U.S.-backed offensive to dislodge Islamic State from this area. "The reports from inside western Mosul are distressing," Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, Lise Grande, said in a statement. "The prices of basic food and supplies are soaring ... many families without income are eating only once a day. Others are being forced to burn furniture to stay warm. ...
  
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• Ecclestone replaced as Formula One boss

  23-01-2017 22:24
  Liberty said in a statement that Carey had been appointed Chief Executive in addition to his current role as Formula One chairman. Ecclestone was appointed 'Chairman Emeritus' with Liberty saying he would remain "available as a source of advice for the board of F1". "I’m proud of the business that I built over the last 40 years and all that I have achieved with Formula One," Ecclestone said in the statement.
  
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• Trump admin backs off pledge of immediate immigration change

  23-01-2017 22:20
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will focus immigration enforcement efforts first on criminal immigrants in the country illegally, his administration said on Monday, offering hope to more than three-quarters of a million young immigrants protected from deportation under the Obama administration.
  
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• Democrats will try to delay vote on attorney general

  23-01-2017 22:12
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee plans to request a delay in the confirmation vote on President Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, a move that will push the panel's vote back to Jan. 31.
  
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• Trump Press Secretary Sean Spicer Says White House Can 'Disagree With The Facts'

  23-01-2017 22:07
  
  Donald Trump’s under-fire Press Secretary has continued to argue the new President’s inauguration was the most-watched in history - arguing with a journalists that “sometimes we can disagree with the facts”.
  Sean Spicer doubled down on his extraordinary press conference on Saturday when he claimed Friday’s swearing in was “the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration - period - both in person and around the globe”. It was one of four claims
  
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• Sean Spicer, Trump Press Secretary, Maintains Inauguration Was Most Watched

  23-01-2017 22:07
  
  Donald Trump’s under-fire Press Secretary has continued to argue the new President’s inauguration was the most-watched in history - arguing with a journalists that “sometimes we can disagree with the facts”.
  Sean Spicer doubled down on his extraordinary press conference on Saturday when he claimed Friday’s swearing in was “the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration - period - both in person and around the globe”. It was one of four claims
  
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• Trump can do plenty on his own to unravel Obama health law

  23-01-2017 21:57
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump can do plenty on his own to unravel the Obama health care law, but some of those actions would create disruptions that undermine his administration's early promises. Other less sweeping steps could open the way for big changes, but might not get as much notice.
  
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• World must not miss early signals of any flu pandemic - WHO

  23-01-2017 21:54
  By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization called on all countries on Monday to monitor closely outbreaks of deadly avian influenza in birds and poultry and to report promptly any human cases that could signal the start of a flu pandemic. Different strains of bird flu have been spreading across Europe and Asia since late last year, leading to large-scale slaughtering of poultry in certain countries and some human deaths in China.
  
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• Saudi Arabia warns on cyber defense as Shamoon resurfaces

  23-01-2017 21:45
  Saudi Arabia on Monday warned organizations in the kingdom to be on the alert for the Shamoon virus, which cripples computers by wiping their disks, as the labor ministry said it had been attacked and a chemicals firm reported a network disruption. An alert from the telecoms authority seen by Reuters advised all parties to be vigilant for attacks from the Shamoon 2 variant of the virus that in 2012 crippled tens thousands of computers at oil giant Saudi Aramco. Shamoon disrupts computers by over
  
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• The Latest: Trump meets with labor leaders at White House

  23-01-2017 21:44
  
  The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local): 3:30 p.m. President Donald Trump is telling union leaders that he is redoing the nation's trade deals "to put a lot of people back to work." ...
  
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• Schools 'Will Lose Children's Mental Health Support', Say Headteachers

  23-01-2017 21:43
  
  Schools are cutting back on counsellors as a result of steep Government cuts, headteachers told MPs on Monday.
  Slashed budgets will hit the most emotionally vulnerable pupils and those with special needs, they warned the Public Accounts Committee.
  Unions revealed last week that schools in every constituency will lose money under Education Secretary Justine Greening’s new funding plans.
  “We’re meant to be looking after the mental health of young people, but we’ve got no m
  
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• 2 GOP senators would let states keep Obama health law

  23-01-2017 21:29
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Two Republican senators said Monday that they'll propose legislation that lets states keep former President Barack Obama's health care overhaul or opt for a new program providing trimmed-down coverage.
  
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• US health officials cancel climate conference; don't say why

  23-01-2017 21:25
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — The government's top public health agency has canceled a conference next month on climate change and health but isn't saying why publicly.
  
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• Marking Roe anniversary, abortion foes pin hopes on Trump

  23-01-2017 21:11
  
  Abortion opponents expressed optimism Monday that Donald Trump's early months in office would advance their cause as hundreds converged on the Kansas Statehouse to mark the 1973 Supreme Court decision ...
  
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• The Latest: Democrats seek delay on Sessions vote

  23-01-2017 20:58
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on activities in Congress (All times EST):
  
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• Shift signalled on a decade of industrial policy

  23-01-2017 20:51
  Analysis of state of modern Britain sometimes shocking but leaves questions unanswered
  
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• Labour NEC asked to inquire into Newham mayoral 'trigger ballot'

  23-01-2017 20:51
  
  Nearly 50 party members in the east London borough want their national governing body to inquire into their claims that the process for reselecting Sir Robin Wales was flawedLabour Party members in Newham have sent a 13-page letter to Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) asking it to establish a “full inquiry” into the “affirmative nomination” process that saw the borough’s directly-elected mayor Sir Robin Wales declared the narrow winner of a “tr
  
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• Venezuela's opposition revives push to end Maduro's rule

  23-01-2017 20:45
  By Diego Oré and Anggy Polanco CARACAS/SAN CRISTOBAL, Venezuela (Reuters) - Offering prized bags of flour to police and hurling empty medicine boxes on the floor, Venezuelan opposition protesters launched a new push on Monday to force President Nicolas Maduro from power and end 18 years of socialist rule. Maduro's six-year term is due to end in early 2019.
  
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• After women's marches, can numbers translate to real change?

  23-01-2017 20:42
  
  DENVER (AP) — Deb Szeman, a self-described "homebody," had never participated in a demonstration before hopping on an overnight bus from her home in Charlotte, North Carolina, to attend the women's march on Washington.
  
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• Theresa May’s industrial strategy meets with faint praise

  23-01-2017 20:33
  Pledge to tackle productivity and cultivate world-beaters dubbed ‘a first step’
  
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• Injured McIlroy pulls out of Dubai Desert classic

  23-01-2017 20:33
  LONDON (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy has pulled out of next week's Dubai Desert Classic with a rib injury, the event's promoter said on Monday. "Obviously, we are disappointed, but we fully understand the situation. Our greatest concern is Rory's health," said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of 'Golf in Dubai'. The twice event champion suffered the injury earlier this month during the first round of the South African Open. ...
  
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• Trump and May to discuss expanding U.S.-British trade - White House

  23-01-2017 20:31
  U.S. President Donald Trump will discuss ways to expand trade with Britain when British Prime Minister Theresa May meets with him at the White House on Friday, although trade may not be the central focus of their conversation, the White House said. "I'm sure that there will be a discussion of trade ... the degree to which I don't know yet," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters on Monday.
  
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• Russia and Turkey push Syria's warring sides to seal truce

  23-01-2017 20:30
  By Denis Dyomkin and John Irish ASTANA (Reuters) - Syria's warring sides met for their first talks in nine months on Monday, with their Russian and Turkish backers pushing to cement a ceasefire that could pave the way for political talks. The meeting in the Kazakh capital comes at a time when Turkey, which backs the rebels, and Russia, which supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, each want to disentangle themselves from the fighting. "We understand that militarily they have achieved what the
  
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• US Supreme Court won't hear 'Sister Wives' bigamy law appeal

  23-01-2017 20:12
  
  SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court said Monday it won't hear an appeal from the family on TV's "Sister Wives" challenging Utah's law banning polygamy.
  
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• 'Last Jedi' title reveal sends 'Star Wars' fans into tizzy

  23-01-2017 20:10
  Movie studio Disney on Monday revealed that the next "Star Wars" movie will be called "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," setting off rampant speculation from fans about what the title implied for the plot. The movie, the second of the sequels set 30 years after the original movie trilogy, will follow the adventures of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher). In appreciation of the fans, we wanted them to be the first to know the title of the next chapter in the Skywalker saga: 'S
  
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• Rapper Soulja Boy charged with possessing assault rifle, stolen property

  23-01-2017 20:05
  Rapper Soulja Boy was charged on Monday with possessing an assault weapon and receiving stolen property following a December raid at his Hollywood home by police, Los Angeles prosecutors said. The rapper, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, was also charged with being in possession of a firearm while on probation, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Prosecutors say Way was arrested at his home on Dec. 15 after police found him in possession of a Mini Draco AR-15 as
  
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• Commons Speaker Caught Calling Defence Secretary Michael Fallon 'Stupid' Amid Trident Row

  23-01-2017 20:01
  
  "Picking a fight with the chairman of the select committee is a rather stupid thing to do." Speaker's comment picked up by mic... pic.twitter.com/upG9PsJ5Il— BBC Parliament (@BBCParliament) January 23, 2017
  Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has been dubbed “stupid” by the House of Commons Speaker as the row raged over the Trident missile misfire and a possible Government cover-up.
  John Bercow was caught ‘on mic’ ridiculing Fallon’s apparent refusal to dis
  
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• U.S. blocks health insurer Aetna's $34 billion Humana acquisition

  23-01-2017 19:53
  A U.S. judge blocked on Monday health insurer Aetna Inc's proposed $34 billion (27.25 billion pounds) acquisition of smaller peer Humana Inc , raising the stakes for rival Anthem Inc as it battles to clear a $54 billion deal to buy Cigna Corp . The ruling is the latest sign of antitrust authorities having grown more assertive under U.S. President Barack Obama, whose term ended last week.
  
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• Trump's exit from Pacific trade deal opens door for Germany - Gabriel

  23-01-2017 19:51
  German industry would take advantage of any trade opportunities in Asia and South America left by a protectionist United States, Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said on Monday, after President Donald Trump withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). In an interview with the Handelsblatt newspaper to appear on Tuesday, he said, "If Trump starts a trade war with Asia and South America, it will open opportunities for us." "Trump must simply recognise that the U.S. economy often isn't competit
  
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• Balkan push for new coal-fired plants raises environmental concerns

  23-01-2017 19:43
  By Maja Zuvela SARAJEVO (Reuters) - A Chinese company began work on Monday on a $715 million (£573 million) expansion of a Serbian coal mine and a new power plant, part of a wave of investment in new coal-fired plants in the Balkans that is at odds with EU policy of reducing coal use. China Machinery and Engineering Corp's project to expand Kostolac, Serbia's second biggest coal mine, and build a new 350 megawatt (MW) unit at a nearby power plant is the first new electricity capacity built
  
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