NATION

NATION
Weirton Steel lays off 85,expects more to come
WEIRTON, W.Va. -- Weirton Steel Corp. has laid off 85 workers to cut costs, and the company expects additional layoffs soon.
"This unfortunate action is necessary to help the company reduce costs consistent with our reorganization plan," said D. Leonard Wise, chief executive officer.
The layoffs were the first round of cuts to be made since a federal bankruptcy judge gave Weirton Steel permission to eliminate 950 jobs as part of its Chapter 11 reorganization plan.
WORLD
GE, Pratt & amp; Whitney signdeal with Emirates airlines
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Emirates airlines announced today a $1.5 billion deal with U.S. engine manufacturers General Electric and Pratt & amp; Whitney for more than 100 engines to power an order of Airbus A380 aircraft.
The airline's chairman, Sheik Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, announced the deal at a press conference at the Dubai Air Show, one of the world's largest aerospace exhibitions.
The contract will supply 23 A380s -- 21 bought by Emirates airlines and two leased from International Lease Finance Corporation -- with 92 installed GP7200 engines, plus nine spare engines. The engines are valued at between $10 million and $15 million each.
The two American companies, General Electric and Pratt & amp; Whitney, formed an alliance in 1996 to bid against other engine manufactures, including Rolls Royce, to deliver the engines for the airline's new jets.
Associated Press