The extraordinary scope and magnitude of the recent financial crisis of 2007-09 required an extraordinary response by the Fed in the fulfillment of its lender-of-last-resort function.

FORBES: Runaway Government Spending Keeps Gold Bull Breathing

Mr Hague believes a "global co-ordinated response" is required to forge policy on cyber development.

BBC: GCHQ chief reports 'disturbing' cyber-attacks on UK

The NTSB staff concluded that if the required oil spill-response plan had been thoroughly reviewed before the leak, it would not have been approved.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Earlier Sunday night, a jack-knifed semi and subsequent fuel leak required a hazardous materials response outside Indianapolis, officials said.

WSJ: Spring snowstorm hits central states, pushes east

Mr Lansley also announced a reduction in the number of signatures required on an e-petition to receive a government response.

BBC: Business statement

Foreign-flagged vessels are not required to carry plans for oil spill response or salvage, except for ports where they intend to dock.

ECONOMIST: Shipwrecks in the Aleutians

The long timelines for drug development stem from a large number of factors, but one of the key reasons is that the FDA, largely in response to major drug problems with drugs like Rezulin and the Cox-2 inhibitors, has required larger and longer trials.

FORBES: FDA Wants To Speed Drugs To Market: We've Heard That Before