The new furnace was opened in January 2003 - a development which was seen as a sign of the firm's commitment to steel-making at the site.

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Sustainable transport pressure group Transport 2000 has called for a package of measures, including a significant rise in Air Passenger Duty, VAT on all aviation transactions, a firm commitment to an EU emissions charge and take-off and landing slot auctioning at the main airports.

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Oren has repeatedly praised Obama for his supposedly firm support for Israel and commitment to Israel's security - most recently in an appearance on Fox News on Wednesday.

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They added the firm's "no-expense-spared clean up" of the River Lark demonstrated its ongoing commitment to the local environment.

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Faced with persistent speculation about his future as boss of Siemens, Mr Kleinfeld told the 20-strong board before their gathering that he would leave the company if they did not make a firm commitment to renew his contract.

ECONOMIST: German business

The move provoked an angry reaction from the French government, which accused Arcelor Mittal of breaking a 2006 commitment to keep the blast furnaces running - a claim denied by the steel giant - and criticised the firm for refusing to sell off the site as a whole.

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