BRUSSELS, Belgium – The European Union Saturday denounced a U.S. threat to revive a formal complaint at the World Trade Organization over EU government aid to aircraft-maker Airbus, saying the move was unnecessary. The decades-old dispute centers on government subsidies provided to aircraft giants Airbus and Boeing. The two sides had agreed in January to try to resolve the disagreement, but U.S. talks with European officials broke down Friday. “I fully understand the difficulties, but I think we could have overcome them with further effort,” EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said. A U.S. trade spokesman said the U.S. may reinstate a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization over government aid to France-based Airbus. “Despite our best efforts it’s clear that the (European Union) is unwilling to eliminate launch aid subsidies for Airbus,” he said.
Australia: Shark kills snorkeler
A charter boat deckhand was bitten in half by a 20-foot shark as he snorkeled with tourists off the coast of Australia, police said Sunday. The 26-year-old man was killed Saturday afternoon off the Abrolhos Islands, about 250 miles north of where the pleasure cruise began at Perth, police said. Police said the man’s body was not recovered, and the species of shark was not known. No one else was injured. Police said there would be a search for remains today.
Japan: Tsunami warning issued
A powerful earthquake rattled southern Japan today, swaying buildings and prompting warnings of tsunami. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The magnitude 7 earthquake, which hit west of Kyushu Island at 10:53 a.m., was centered at an “extremely shallow” depth below the ocean floor, the Meteorological Agency said. The agency warned of the possibility of 20-inch tsunami waves triggered by the seismic activity, and cautioned residents near the water to move to higher ground.
South Korea: Soldiers maneuver
Thousands of American and South Korean troops conducted joint maneuvers Saturday, rankling North Korea, which denounced the exercises as a rehearsal for war. U.S. officials said the weeklong exercise is one of several military drills the two allies conduct each year to boost their readiness against attack from North Korea. This one involved some 17,000 U.S.-based troops and 6,000 soldiers stationed in South Korea. An unspecified number of South Korean troops also participated.
Pakistan: Missile test a success
Pakistan successfully test-fired its longest-range missile Saturday, a military spokesman said. The test of the Shaheen II missile, capable of carrying nuclear warheads and hitting targets deep inside neighboring India, was not expected to hurt peace efforts between the nuclear rivals. Both countries routinely conduct missile tests and inform each other in advance. With a range of 1,250 miles, the missiles could also reach Iran, China and Saudi Arabia.
Qatar: Bomb targets Westerners
A car bomb tore through a theater popular with Westerners during a performance Saturday in Qatar, killing one person, officials said. Twelve other people were injured in the blast in the northern suburb, Qatar’s Interior Ministry said. The British Foreign Office confirmed the fatality was a British national. A witness said dozens of cars were smashed, and some were engulfed in flames. Firefighters and emergency vehicles converged on the area, which was sealed off by police.
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