“Who gave him the 'authority' to do this?” “He didn't do it 'on his own authority' [=he didn't do it on his own]; he was acting 'under the authority of' the company president.” [=the company president gave him the power to do it]
No one 'in authority' objected to the plan. = No one 'in a position of authority' objected to the plan. [=no one with official power to make important decisions objected to the plan]
This office has 'authority' over personnel matters. [=this office has the power to make decisions about personnel matters]
(..) The Defense Ministry... has released a new list of ltalian dead... until now considered missing. The names will be posted by local military authorities. Families concerned will be notified. However, we don't know where he's buried. Here's the pension form. (..)1988 Cinema Paradiso