Big Bang investigators want new atom smasher

PARIS (AP) - Scientists behind the European particle collider aimed at uncovering the secrets of the universe pushed Monday to build an even bigger machine - with money and partners from around the world.

Instead of whirling atoms in giant rings, as existing colliders in Switzerland and the United States do, scientists want a new-generation machine that will shoot them straight.

Particle physicists gathering in Paris on Monday for the most important conference in their field say a linear atom blaster is needed to complement what existing colliders are telling scientists about the universe, inching them closer to understanding why we are here.

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Farnborough Airshow orders top $25 billion

FARNBOROUGH, England — Plane makers notched up more orders on the third day of the Farnborough International Airshow on Wednesday - bringing the tally past $25 billion - as a resurgence in commercial aviation offset the gloom from governments' sharp cuts to defense programs.

EADS-owned Airbus took the limelight early Wednesday, booking orders from Germania, an airline based in Berlin, and Indonesian national carrier Garuda. Thai Airways also made a commitment to buy seven A330-300s worth $1.48 billion at catalog prices, which Airbus expects to be firmed up by the end of the summer.

Analysts don't expect anything close to the record-breaking $88.7 billion worth of deals announced at Farnborough in 2008, but the gathering has already exceeded the slow orders for commercial planes of around $7 billion at sister show Le Bourget near Paris last year.

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EADS chief 'enormously frustrated' over WTO delays

The head of Airbus parent EADS said he is "enormously frustrated" with the World Trade Organization, which he claims is being "unfair" by delaying its report on complaints against arch-rival Boeing.

Both companies have been reported to the WTO, which has struggled for years to rule over whether they benefited from unfair subsidies.

"We are in an abnormal and increasingly unfair situation," EADS chief Louis Gallois said at media day in London. His comments were held for release.

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EADS sees Airbus-Boeing duopoly ending

For years, the Farnborough airshow was a bitter dogfight between Boeing and Airbus.

That may soon be over.

The head of Airbus parent EADS said Saturday that the duopoly is being challenged by new entrants from Canada, China, Brazil and Russia who are eyeing the lucrative single-aisle market.

"We have new competitors now," said Louis Gallois at a media day in London before the airshow, which starts Monday.

Canadian and Chinese competitors are the closest _ although they are still years from making a dent in the markets for the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, he said.

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SUMMIT NOTEBOOK: Sarkozy left in the dark

TORONTO -- Was it a nefarious Canadian plot that left French President Nicolas Sarkozy standing silently at a microphone in the dark?

At the end of two back-to-back summits hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the French leader ignored protocol, which dictates that meeting hosts get to hold their press conference before other leaders.

But when he took to the stage in a small tented room at a summit site, Sarkozy's microphone didn't work and the lights were turned off.

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World leaders slam North Korea, Iran

The leaders of the world's eight top industrial democracies on Saturday condemned the alleged sinking by North Korea of a South Korean warship and called on Iran to halt its suspect nuclear program and do more to respect human rights.

The countries -- the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and Russia -- also called current restrictions on the flow of goods to Gaza "unsustainable." And they sketched out a five-year exit strategy on Afghanistan.

But the joint statement by the so-called Group of Eight powers did not go as far as some nations, including the United States and Japan, wanted.

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EADS vows to keep self financing drone project

VILLEPINTE, France – The CEO of EADS' defense and security division said Wednesday that the European company will keep financing its drone project until cash-strapped governments are able to commit.

EADS will keep ploughing its own funds into the project because to fall behind in this technology would mean being excluded from large parts of the defense industry, Stefan Zoller told The Associated Press.

The unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV business is currently dominated by the U.S. and Israel.

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