Sarkozy reaches left and right in naming team to work out how to spend bond stimulus money

October 13th, 2009 Sarkozy says son has been thrown to the wolvesPARIS — President Nicolas Sarkozy suggested Tuesday that his 23-year-old son had been thrown to the wolves by critics since he launched a bid for a highly visible job overseeing France's biggest business district. Critics say Jean Sarkozy, who has no college degree and is still studying law at the Sorbonne, is too inexperienced for the job.

September 21st, 2009 Shares of URS fall on analyst downgradeHARTFORD, Conn. — Shares of URS Corp.

July 31st, 2009 GOP: Give 'kick in pants' to stimulus bridge workWASHINGTON — A top Republican congressman says the government needs a "kick in the pants" to get federal stimulus money focused on repairing dilapidated bridges. Rep. John Mica, the senior Republican on the transportation committee, said he's frustrated that states are spending so much on routine paving and not focusing on shoring up tens of thousands of bad bridges.

July 29th, 2009 PARIS - French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday that his recent collapse while jogging was just a matter of running out of gas. "I ran out of gas, the way everyone one does," Sarkozy told journalists at the Elysee Palace after a meeting of his cabinet.

July 26th, 2009 PARIS - French President Nicolas Sarkozy was taken to hospital Sunday after falling ill while exercising, French media reports said. France Info radio said the incident occurred before noon at his residence in Versailles.

July 18th, 2009 Govs: Federal stimulus helped states plug budgetsBILOXI, Miss. — A bipartisan group of governors said Saturday that the federal stimulus package helped states avoid deep budget cuts during the recession.

July 13th, 2009 PARIS - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Paris Monday night to attend the French National Day parade as chief guest, the first foreign leader to be accorded the honour. The honour reciprocates India's gesture of inviting French President Nicolas Sarkozy as chief guest for its Republic Day parade in January this year, said French envoy to India Jerome Bonnanfont.

July 9th, 2009 PARIS - French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said that it cannot allow nuclear power Pakistan to fall into the hands of the Taliban and other extremist organizations, which have been challenging the writ of the government. In an interview with France 5 television, Sarkozy warned that international community can not afford to let the Taliban and other extremist groups succeed in their nefarious aims of toppling the Pakistan government to lay their hands on the nuclear armaments.

June 22nd, 2009 Sarkozy warns crisis not over yetVERSAILLES, France — French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned Monday that the economic crisis "is not finished," but added that the profound changes it is causing mean France's views will carry more weight around the world. Sarkozy also pledged that he would not introduce austerity policies as a result of the downturn, and said "I will not raise taxes because ...

June 12th, 2009 $50M in stimulus will help fish farmers buy feedOSAGE BEACH, Mo. — The United States is about to spend $50 million in stimulus money on fish food to help fish farmers who have been struggling since feed prices jumped 50 percent last year.

June 7th, 2009 PARIS - US President Barack Obama has sought to clear the air about his wife Michelle and he declining a dinner invite from the French first couple, Nicholas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni. According to Fox News, the British press reported the supposed declined invite was payback to Sarkozy for failing to invite Queen Elizabeth to the D-Day ceremony and a sign of continuing tension between the United States and France.

June 2nd, 2009 Biden defends pace of stimulus spendingNEW YORK — Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday defended the pace of federal stimulus funding, warning that hasty spending on wasteful projects could jeopardize the entire program. "There's been some criticism that we've not gotten enough money out so far," Biden said.

May 13th, 2009 Feds to cover up-front costs of tracking stimulusWASHINGTON — Cash-strapped states are getting help from Washington to keep track of how they spend the $787 billion in federal stimulus money aimed at boosting jobs and the economy. States will now be able to get federal funds to hire auditors and accountants and pay other administrative costs associated with the stimulus money, said a memo released Wednesday by the White House.

April 26th, 2009 China set to spend $10B more of stimulus packageBEIJING — The Chinese government is preparing to spend 70 billion yuan ($10.3 billion) in the next portion of its previously announced stimulus plan, a state newspaper reported. The planned investment, which will be mainly used on infrastructure projects, will be announced within a week, the Economic Observer said Saturday, citing an unidentified official from the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planning body.

April 1st, 2009 LONDON - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said there is a need for an international 'umpire' to ensure that rich nations are fulfilling their pledges. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) needs a new monitoring body - an 'expert crew' - to ensure that any stimulus packages agreed by the Group of 20 (G20) leaders meeting in London are 'sustained and maintained' next year.