The World Trade Organization has made a ruling on a complaint about European government subsidies to the planemaker Airbus. Although the ruling has not been made public, reports say it does find that some aspects of the financial aid broke WTO rules. Andrew Walker reports.

This is not the end of this long running and acrimonious dispute, but it is an important stage. Several EU governments provided financing for Airbus in the form of grants and loans. The US complained that the arrangement broke the rules in some respects a WTO panel has upheld an allegation. Although according to Airbus, 70% of this specific complaints were rejected. Under the ruling, France, Germany, Britain and Spain should cease those subsidies found to be illegal although much of the money has already been paid.

President Obama has signed his groundbreaking health care bill at a ceremony in the White House. The new law will gradually extend health insurance cover to more than 30 million Americans who currently don't have any. Mr.Obama hailed the legislation as historic, saying it came after a century of struggle for reform.

World News from the BBC.

Officials in Pakistan say four militants have been killed by missiles fired by US drones or pilotless aircraft in a tribal region bordering Afghanistan,.The officials say the missiles hit an area near the main town in North Waziristan, Miramshah. The identities of those killed are not yet known.