And many have a positive agenda for further liberalisation, in such areas as shipping, construction and the movement of people, in contrast to the blocking role they often played in the past.

ECONOMIST: Trade and development

Environmentalists are blocking everything from a new cement plant in North Carolina to the movement of mining equipment along rural roads in Montana, often with the most tenuous of rationales.

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Khan, who is commanding the army forces in this operation, said the operation began Friday in the area and is aimed at blocking the Taliban's movement toward Afghanistan's northern provinces.

CNN: Suicide bomber kills 4 civilians in Afghan market