The commission threatened, for instance, to block the government's recent bail-out of Alstom, an engineering group, approving a rescue plan only after France agreed to last-minute changes.

ECONOMIST: France and Europe

Mr Fazio rang Mr Fiorani shortly after midnight, one night in July, to tell him he had just signed a document approving BPI's plan to take a majority stake in Antonveneta, thereby (it seemed at the time) scuppering the rival, foreign bid.

ECONOMIST: Exit Siniscalco, scandalised | The

President Obama announced Thursday that the federal government was approving a small part of a plan by state and local officials in Louisiana to spray sand on gulf barrier islands to build them up as a defense against incoming oil.

WSJ: Gauging Harm to Ecosystem Could Take Years

Y. (AP) New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo came as close as he ever has to approving fracking last month, laying out a limited drilling plan for as many as 40 gas wells before changing course to await the findings of a new study after discussions with environmentalist and former brother-in-law Robert F.

NPR: AP: NY Fracking Held As Cuomo, RFK Jr. Talk Health