41.   Aerospace giants announce merger.

42.   Boeing engineers and technical workers will cast secret ballots Sunday on the proposed settlement of their strike against the aerospace giant, which has lasted more than a month.

43.   But they concede they have little to offer the aerospace giant and state cornerstone of recognition.

44.   Economics Minister Guenter Rexrodt on Wednesday cautiously greeted the provisional agreement by the European Union to approve the fusion of U.S. aerospace giants Boeing and McDonnell Douglas.

45.   Reversing its earlier position, the government of Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin said it had requested the plan to help the aerospace giant create partnerships.

46.   Shares in the aerospace giant are due to start trading in Madrid, Paris and Frankfurt on Monday.

47.   She said the aerospace giant had turned over all test results and data in the case to the NTSB.

48.   Such a merger could create a European powerhouse under one roof to compete with the likes of U.S. aerospace giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

49.   The aerospace giant has delivered only four airplanes so far this month.

50.   Stonecipher said the blending of the two aerospace giants was on track, with no major hangups so far.