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Greenland PM visits Denmark as Trump threats loom
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Philippines, US test air defences as China seizes reef
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25 killed, fires still burning in huge Iran port blast
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India and Pakistan troops exchange fire in Kashmir
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Eighteen killed, fires still burning in huge Iran port blast
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No handshake at muted India-Pakistan border ceremony
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Maligned by Trump, White House reporters hold subdued annual gala
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Austria trials DNA testing to uncover honey fraud
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Trump trade war pushes firms to consider stockpiling
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D'Backs' Suarez becomes 19th MLB player to hit four homers in one game
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Continuity or rupture: what direction for the next pope?
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Surridge scores four as Nashville smash seven past Chicago
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Chinese tea hub branches into coffee as tastes change
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Diplomacy likely to trump geography in choice of new pope
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All eyes turn to conclave after Pope Francis's funeral
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Doves, deaths and rations: Papal elections over time
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Progressive Canadians say social issues blown off election agenda
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Liverpool primed for Premier League title party
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Buenos Aires bids farewell to Francis with tears, calls to action
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Thunder sweep past Grizzlies in NBA playoffs, Cavs on brink
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Major blast at Iran port kills 14, injures 750
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'What we live for': Kounde after winning Barca Copa del Rey final
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More McIlroy magic at PGA pairs event but Novak and Griffin lead
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Fire rages after major blast at Iran port kills 14, injures 750
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Denkey wonder-strike keeps Cincinnati on track in MLS
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Barca edge Real Madrid in extra-time to win wild Copa del Rey final
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'Legendary' Eubank Jr beats Benn in grudge bout
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Thunder sweep past Grizzlies into NBA playoffs 2nd round, Cavs on brink
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South Korea's Ryu and Japan's Saigo share LPGA Chevron lead
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Canada leaders make closing pitches in campaign upended by Trump
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De Bruyne's Man City exit 'so difficult' for Guardiola
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'No regrets' for Amorim over Man Utd move
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Lyon and Strasbourg win to close in on Europe, Montpellier relegated from Ligue 1
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Toulouse thrash Castres as Top 14 pursuers stumble
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Djokovic crashes to nervous Arnaldi in Madrid opener, Swiatek advances
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Olympic champs Russell, Davis-Woodhall win at Drake Relays
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Browns end Sanders long draft slide
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Cavs crush Heat, on brink of NBA playoff sweep
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Fire rages after major blast at Iran port kills 8, injures hundreds
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Kiwi Beamish wins Penn Relays 1,500m crown with late kick
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Mbappe on Real Madrid bench for Clasico Copa del Rey final
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England survive France fightback to seal Women's 6 Nations slam
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Palace sweep past Villa to reach FA Cup final
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CAF appoint Moroccan Lekjaa first vice-president
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Major blast at Iran port kills 5, injures hundreds
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Rodgers vows to stay with Celtic after fourth successive Scottish title
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Ipswich relegated as Newcastle, Chelsea boost top five bids
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Canada leaders make final pitches in campaign upended by Trump
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Mullins -- Ireland's national training treasure
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US, Iran say progress in 'positive' nuclear talks

US announces sweeping cuts to power sector carbon emissions
President Joe Biden's government on Thursday finalized sweeping plans to curb planet-warming emissions from the nation's fossil fuel plants as part of the United States' efforts to confront the climate crisis.
Hailed as among the most significant tools ever developed for reducing greenhouse gases from the power sector, the rules will require existing coal-fired plants and new high capacity gas-fired plants to reduce their carbon dioxide output by 90 percent, once they take effect.
It comes as Democratic incumbent Biden faces a tough election rematch against Republican Donald Trump, with climate action seen as key to galvanizing youth and progressive voters.
US power plant emissions have been declining, thanks to a drop in the cost of renewables. But they are still responsible for a quarter of greenhouse gasses produced by the world's largest economy.
"We are committed to the integrated priorities of ensuring US energy security, protecting people from pollution and fighting the climate crisis," Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Michael Regan told reporters ahead of the announcement.
The agency's analysis estimates the rules will prevent 1.4 billion metric tons of carbon entering the atmosphere through the year 2047, equivalent to nearly one year of total greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector in 2022.
- 'It's historic' -
A draft proposal was first published last year, attracting criticism from the industry but also some environmental groups concerned the reductions needed to come sooner and go further.
There were also concerns it encouraged the use of carbon capture to achieve the reductions, a technology still in its infancy and which allow fossil fuel plants to continue to dump other pollutants on vulnerable communities, climate justice groups say.
The final rule is weaker in some ways and stronger in others, compared to the proposal.
Existing coal plants have until 2032 to implement their reductions, two years later than initially planned.
But the limits will apply to all coal plants that don't have firm commitments to retire by 2039, which is a year earlier than the draft envisaged.
The new version also lowers the threshold of which new gas plants are considered "high capacity" and are covered by the toughest measures, but rules regarding existing gas plants will only be announced later this year.
"It's historic, it's a relief and it is such a joy to know that this is coming," Margie Alt of Climate Action Campaign told AFP.
"This administration... will by every measure have done more to limit climate pollution than any other administration ever in the history of this country."
Alongside the carbon rules, the Biden administration also finalized three new regulations slashing mercury, water pollution and ash discharges from coal plants.
Former president Barack Obama first tried to regulate the power sector a decade ago, but the Supreme Court ruled his plans were too broad and exceeded executive branch authority.
The new rule limits itself to acting "within the fence line" of an individual power plant, which officials hope will improve its chances of surviving any legal challenges that may come.
L.Davis--AMWN