NSW:Main stories in Sydney's Thursday paper =2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2011
NSW:Main stories in Sydney's Thursday paper =2

The Sydney Morning Herald:

Page 1: The federal government is facing increasing pressure as Labor MP Craig Thomson's
former union decides to hand over the matter of his credit card usage to NSW Police. Eleven
lives from the Islander community lost in house fire. BHP profits sparks calls to toughen
mining tax.

Page 2: Health Minister Jillian Skinner and Environment Minister Robyn Parker are being
accused of misleading NSW parliament in regards to the chemical leak at the Orica plant
in Newcastle. Spill from page 1: family mourn the loss of 11 loved ones in house fire.

Page 3: Child abuse, imprisonment and chronic diseases continue to plague Aboriginal
communities. Council staff call for complex coastal protection laws to be streamlined
across NSW.

World: NATO will take a back seat as rebels advance into Tripoli.

Finance: After months of protesting over tough trading conditions, Qantas proves it
is still profitable by doubling net earnings.

Sport: Socceroos star Brett Emerton will become Sydney FC's new marquee player.

MORE lcf/jfm

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTER NSW 2 SYDNEY

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW:Occult murder accomplice breaks down at demon tapes

AAP General News (Australia)
02-22-2008
NSW:Occult murder accomplice breaks down at demon tapes

A woman who's admitted helping her de facto husband after he murdered her best friend
has wept uncontrollably in a Sydney court today .. as she was played a recording of him
allegedly possessed by demons.

MALISSA MAYFIELD died in hospital four days after being throttled in her south-western
Sydney home in June 2006.

DAVID MAXWELL SHEPHERD has admitted killing the 29-year-old mother of two .. and is
serving a 19-year prison sentence.

His 20-year-old de facto wife .. ANGELA WELLS from Blacktown .. was a long-time friend
of Ms …

WA:Permanent residency comes as a blessing

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2011
WA:Permanent residency comes as a blessing

A Filipino doctor .. who faced having to divorce his terminally ill wife in order to
stay in Australia .. says the granting of permanent residency has come as a blessing.

CESAR SOFOCADO and his family applied for permanent residency in 2008 .. but the Department
of Immigration and Citizenship only began considering the application last year.

Dr SOFOCADO'S wife MARY had since been diagnosed with terminal breast cancer .. which
led to the family's applications being rejected.

A spokesman for Immigration Minister CHRIS BOWEN has today confirmed he'll use his
powers under the Migration Act to grant Dr SOFOCADO and his family visas .. which the
doctor says is a relief and a blessing.

AAP RTV jsj/psm/

KEYWORD: SOFOCADO (PERTH)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW:No checks on volunteers puts kids at risk

AAP General News (Australia)
02-14-2011
NSW:No checks on volunteers puts kids at risk

Hundreds of thousands of children are at risk of being targeted by sex offenders ..

whose positions as volunteer sports coaches and mangers are not undergoing background
checks.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports sports associations have called for a statewide database
to tighten controls on background checks of volunteers .. similar to a Queensland model.

The Herald reports clubs say they have neither time nor resources to investigate the
statutory declarations volunteers must fill out .. which state whether they've been investigated
for child abuse.

Netball NSW has told the paper it cannot background check its volunteers .. but NSW
Commissioner for Children and Young People MEGAN MITCHELL says auditing shows not one
false declaration has been discovered among several thousand forms.

Officials from several sports codes say they want to adopt Queensland's Blue Card model
.. in which volunteers' details are collected on a central database .. which can be accessed
by any organisation needing to perform background checks.

AAP RTV psm/

KEYWORD: CHECKS (SYDNEY)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

VIC:Driver incinerated in crash

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2010
VIC:Driver incinerated in crash

A driver has been incinerated in a road crash in Victoria's Latrobe Valley.

Shortly before 8.30pm (AEST) .. the car left Wirraway Road at Moe .. about 130 kilometres
south-east of Melbourne .. ploughed into trees and burst into flames.

Nearby residents heard the crash and alerted police.

The driver is yet to be identified.

The death takes Victoria's road toll to 206 .. 15 more than at the same time last year.

AAP RTV jrd/ajw/

KEYWORD: TOLL VIC (MELBOURNE)

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Second man charged after wedding assault with broken bottle

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2010
NSW: Second man charged after wedding assault with broken bottle

SYDNEY, April 22 AAP - A second man has been charged over violence at a Sydney wedding
reception during which a man was assaulted with a broken wine bottle and his wife and
young son suffered injuries.

About 11pm (AEST) on April 10 police were called to reports of a man having been seriously
assaulted at a restaurant on Cross Street at Bankstown.

They found a 47-year-old man suffering puncture and slash wounds to his neck, chest,
back and face, believed to have been caused by a broken wine bottle.

The man's wife was also assaulted during the incident, while the couple's two-year-old
son received a laceration to his nose and other abrasions.

The man and boy required hospital treatment.

A 54-year-old man was arrested late the next day and charged with intent to cause grievous
bodily harm.

On Thursday a second man, aged 40, was charged with wounding a person with intent to
cause grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray.

AAP ad/klm/ht

KEYWORD: RECEPTION

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Childcare union glad Archer Capital missed on ABC centres

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2009
Fed: Childcare union glad Archer Capital missed on ABC centres

SYDNEY, Dec 9 AAP - The union representing childcare workers says the sale of the remaining
ABC Learning centres to a syndicate comprising not-for-profit welfare groups is a victory
for its members.

The LHMU said it was pleased that private equity company Archer Capital had failed
to win the bidding process for the 705 centres.

"LHMU members have worked hard for this outcome lobbying anybody and everybody to ensure
these centres were sold to an operator with a long-term commitment to quality childcare
committed to providing quality early education and care for families," LHMU assistant
national secretary Sue Lines said on Wednesday in a statement.

ABC Learning's receiver Chris Honey earlier on Wednesday named the GoodStart syndicate
as the preferred purchaser for the centre assets.

The syndicate includes Mission Australia, the Benevolent Society, Social Ventures Australia
and the Brotherhood of St Laurence.

Ms Lines said the past 13 months have been a difficult time for ABC Learning staff.

"Their hard work in keeping the centres going and in providing stability for the children
they care for and educate has finally paid off," she added.

ABC Learning went into receivership in November last year with $1.6 billion of debt.

Some 705 viable childcare centres are involved in the expected sale due to be completed
in early in 2010, following the successful exchange of contracts before Christmas.

The receivers have already closed 81 centres and sold 216 others, deemed to be "unviable",
to 78 new owners.

AAP klm/maur

KEYWORD: ABC LEARNING UNION

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Clearwire Rolls Out Clear 4G Mobile Internet Service to Atlanta

Wireless News
06-19-2009
Clearwire Rolls Out Clear 4G Mobile Internet Service to Atlanta
Type: News

Clearwire Communications, an operating subsidiary of Clearwire, stated that Atlanta is now home to the largest 4G WiMAX wireless broadband network in the United States, with Clear service available to nearly three million people across approximately 1,200 square miles.

"By delivering broadband connectivity to people, and not just places, we now offer Atlantans the freedom to enjoy super-fast Internet access wherever they go in our coverage area," said Marc Brachman, General Manager of Atlanta market for Clearwire. "Whether it's a busy parent who wants full Internet connectivity in the back of the family minivan, a small business owner looking to conduct online video chats with customers from the field, a person looking to access entertainment sites like Hulu without being tied to a fixed-location, or a college student simply looking for one Internet service provider to meet their needs at home and on-the-go, Clear delivers. We're providing a valuable, new kind of Internet service designed to make our customers' lives more enjoyable and more productive, wherever they happen to be in our coverage area."
Clear said its customers can expect to see download speeds of 4 to 6 Mbps with bursts exceeding 15 Mbps, far surpassing even the peak theoretical speeds of 7.2 Mbps in upcoming 3G upgrades. In Atlanta, the Clear network utilizes an area-wide WiMAX radio system from Motorola.

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

Copyright 2009 Close-Up Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

NSW: Residents evacuated from unit block after car fires

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2008
NSW: Residents evacuated from unit block after car fires

Residents of a Sydney unit block have been evacuated after two cars in the parking
area below it erupted in flames and melted sewage pipes.

Firefighters were called to a unit block on Robert Street in Penrith just after 4.30
this morning (AEDT).

Around 40 residents of the eight-unit block were evacuated as smoke rose up the stairwells
.. but no one was injured.

There was no damage to the unit block but the car park underneath has suffered some damage.

The cause of the fire isn't known.

AAP RTV cjb/wjf/crh

KEYWORD: UNITS (SYDNEY)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

ATH: McLellan wins silver medal in Olympic 100m hurdles

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2008
ATH: McLellan wins silver medal in Olympic 100m hurdles

BEIJING, Aug 19 AAP - Australia's Sally McLellan has won the silver medal in the women's
100m hurdles at the Beijing Olympics.

AAP nh

KEYWORD: OLY08 ATH W100H MEDAL

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Unions says salaries need to rise to keep school principals

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2008
Qld: Unions says salaries need to rise to keep school principals

By Nikki Todd

BRISBANE, April 12 AAP - The salaries of principals and senior teachers will have to
dramatically rise if Queensland Education hopes to replace the exodus of experienced staff
from state schools, the teachers' union said today.

Figures provided by Education Queensland show nearly half, or 43 per cent, of the 4,200
principal and senior teacher positions in Queensland changed hands in the last three years.

Already in 2008, 54 principals, deputy principals and head teachers have retired from
the state school system since the start of the school year in January.

Queensland Teachers' Union (QTU) president Steve Ryan said higher wages were crucial
to attract younger people to the industry to replace those that are retiring.

"It is important that we try and get good people to replace them and once again, that
comes back to the salary issue," he said.

"When you consider some of our principals who are earning around $80,000 to $90,000
a year have workforces under their charge of 100 or 200 people, when you compare that
to what happens in the private sector, there is not a lot of incentive there for principals."

Mr Ryan said the problem went right across the school sector.

"We have a number of teachers in the age group who are retiring as well that will lead
to shortages," he said.

"The bottom line is: unless (Education Queensland) can actually pay them decent and
attractive wages, it is going to be a difficult task to attract people to the profession."

An Education Queensland spokesperson said the retirement figures were not out of the
ordinary given the size of the workforce.

"This is not unusual in an organisation employing approximately 4,200 classified teaching
positions across almost 1,300 sites (schools)," the spokesperson said in a statement.

"The number of vacancies due to age retirement accounts for only a relatively small
percentage of the total number of classified teaching positions advertised (15 per cent
in 2007).

"In recent years, the number of principals, deputy principals and other classified
teachers that have retired due to age has remained relatively static."

Meanwhile, teachers will vote on Monday whether to press ahead with industrial action
over accommodation problems experienced by staff in far north Queensland.

AAP nt/cdh

KEYWORD: PRINCIPALS

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Burmese refugees to be resettled in Australia

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2007
Fed: Burmese refugees to be resettled in Australia

MELBOURNE, Dec 10 AAP - A group of seven Burmese asylum-seekers held on the Pacific
island of Nauru for more than a year in immigration detention will be resettled in Australia
as refugees before Christmas.

An Immigration Department taskforce travelled to Nauru yesterday to finalise their
refugee applications and prepare for their resettlement, subject to health and character
checks, a department spokesman said in a statement.

"This group of people has been in Nauru for more than a year and has been assessed
as having a well-founded fear of persecution should they be returned home,"Department
of Immigration and Citizenship secretary Andrew Metcalfe said in a statement.

It is expected the seven will be settled in Brisbane before Christmas, he said.

An eighth Burmese asylum-seekers that landed with the other seven on Ashmore Reef in
August last year accepted voluntary admission to Malaysia and with his family was later
granted a humanitarian visa to enter Australia.

"Further decisions will be made soon about resettlement arrangements for the 74 Sri
Lankans in Nauru who also have been found to be refugees," Mr Metcalfe said.

"Decisions on a further eight Sri Lankans on Nauru are pending.

"One of these people is having a refugee refusal decision reviewed and seven are facing
criminal charges in Nauru."

All were sent to Nauru under the former Howard government's Pacific Solution policy.

AAP jrd/ao

KEYWORD: DETENTION BURMESE

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Fairfax broadsheets to be downsized as part of restructure

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2007
Fed: Fairfax broadsheets to be downsized as part of restructure

SYDNEY, April 26 AAP - Size does matter, according to Fairfax Media, which has decided
to reduce the width of its flagship newspapers The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

The size of the two broadsheet newspapers will be reduced next year as part of a significant
restructure by publisher Fairfax Media, the company said in a statement.

The company announced details of the changes to staff this morning.

Under the changes, the current A3 height of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald will
remain the same but the width of the pages will be cut.

"Broadsheets have been our currency for 175 years, and we are sticking with them,"

Fairfax chief executive David Kirk said in the statement.

"Readers turn to our broadsheets for quality, integrity, authority, incisiveness and
the very best journalism in Australia.

"But size does matter, and it is time to give our readers what they keep telling us
they want: a slightly narrower broadsheet so that they can spend more time with our newspapers."

Mr Kirk said the company would implement "a narrower broadsheet format for the SMH
and The Age in 2008" but did not specify a changeover date.

The company has not yet finalised what the new size will be.

"We will continue to consult with readers, editors, advertisers, agencies and other
parties before we announce more specifics towards the end of this year," Mr Kirk said.

Fairfax's move follows the Brisbane Courier-Mail's switch from broadsheet to tabloid
last year, and will leave The Australian and The Canberra Times as the only major metropolitan
newspapers with a traditional, full size broadsheet format.

AAP acb/sp/it/cdh

KEYWORD: FAIRFAX

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: People still think they are invincible on roads: police

AAP General News (Australia)
12-26-2006
Vic: People still think they are invincible on roads: police

Victoria police say the horror spate of road deaths over Christmas shows some people
still think they're invincible on the roads.

Six people have died on Victorian roads since Friday .. with the national Christmas
and New Year holiday road toll now standing at 24.

Victoria's Assistant Commissioner NOEL ASHBY says while the wet and slippery conditions
over Christmas have been exceptional .. drivers's attitudes on the road must change.

He's told the Nine Network .. probationary drivers are still the most over-represented
group relating to road deaths and injuries to themselves and others.

AAP RTV mi/els/cp

KEYWORD: TOLL VIC POLICE (MELBOURNE)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

SA: Main stories in today's Adelaide Advertiser

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2006
SA: Main stories in today's Adelaide Advertiser

ADELAIDE, Aug 18 AAP - The main stories in today's Adelaide Advertiser:

Page 1: SA to launch statewide strategy to end the skills shortage in defence, mining
and other growth industries.

Page 3: SA zinc mine wins state government approval.

World: North Korean floods kill 54,000 (Seoul). Son killed as British man attempts
suicide by jumping from a hotel clutching his two children (Crete). Intelligence says
London plane bombers lacked the experience to carry out a large-scale terrorist attack
(Islamabad).

Finance: Fuel costs cut Qantas profit. Australian share market hits a one-month high.

Sport: Gavin Wanganeen to be farewelled at Port Adelaide AFL match with Collingwood
tonight. Adelaide Thunderbirds to take on the Sydney Swifts tonight in netball's second
semi-final. Former SA player Tim Nielsen set to take over as Australian cricket coach.

AAP tjd/cjh

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS SA

) 2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Acrux to announce results of hormonal spray study soon

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2006
Fed: Acrux to announce results of hormonal spray study soon

By Janelle Miles, National Medical Correspondent

BRISBANE, April 11 AAP - Melbourne-based biomedical company Acrux expects to release
results from a US trial of its spray-on menopause product before the end of the financial
year.

Acrux chief executive Igor Gonda said that if the trial involving 500 women proved
successful, the company would apply for registration of the hormonal spray with the US
Food and Drug Administration.

"We expect the product to be available in the US by next year," Dr Gonda said from
Chicago, where he is attending BIO 2006, the world's largest biotechnology gathering.

But that will depend on the outcome of a large-scale trial of Evamist, which delivers
estradial, a component of oestrogen, to women via a spray to the skin.

Half the women in the study have been randomly assigned to use Evamist once a day,
while the rest are administering a placebo.

Dr Gonda said Acrux, which listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2004, also hoped
to market Evamist in Australia, but only after registration of the product in the US.

He said trials were also underway for two other women's hormone sprays being developed
by the company - a contraceptive, and a treatment for sexual dysfunction.

Acrux is one of more than 50 Australian companies represented at BIO 2006.

AAP jhm/rj/tnf

KEYWORD: ACRUX

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

tugrik

tugrik (Tug) The standard monetary unit of Mongolia, divided into 100 möngös.

Correction: Global Sources Conference Call to be Broadcast by Investor Broadcast Network Over the Internet.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 10, 2000

Global Sources, Ltd. (Nasdaq: GSOL) will broadcast its quarterly earnings conference call on Friday, August 11, 2000 at 9:00 AM EST, unlike previously stated at 11:00 AM EST, Investor Broadcast Network announced.

This call can be accessed at http://www.vcall.com/NASApp/VCall/EventPage?ID=28363.

This event is available through Investor Broadcast Network's Vcall website, located at http://www.vcall.com. Listeners should go to the website at least fifteen minutes before these events to download and install any necessary audio software. For those unable to attend the live broadcast, a replay will be available beginning approximately one hour after the event. There is no charge to access any event.

About Investor Broadcast Network

Investor Broadcast Network is the leading broadcaster of real-time investment information and analysis on the Internet. With a complete portfolio of web-based broadcast communication services, the company gives investors access to the inner circle of corporate executives and industry thought leaders, while providing public companies with an efficient online investor relations strategy that meets their financial needs and reduces the high-risk of selective disclosure. For more information on Investor Broadcast Network visit www.investorbroadcast.com

Profile: America at the Crossroads; controversy of H-1B visa.(Broadcast transcript)

BRIAN WILLIAMS, anchor:

All this week here, as you may know, we've been taking a close look at the challenges for the changing American economy in our series we're calling AMERICA AT THE CROSSROADS. One of the big questions for the US is how to take advantage of the large number of foreigners who come here, get educated in our great colleges and universities, and want to stay here but can't. It's causing an expensive brain drain. Tom Brokaw back tonight with more on this. Tom:

TOM BROKAW reporting:

Brian, we hear a lot about immigration issues that involve workers who come here from Mexico seeking low-paying jobs. But in the high-tech world, there's another kind of immigration controversy. It involves the H1B visa. That's a permit allowing a limited number of highly trained foreigners to stay here for just a few years, even if they're successful entrepreneurs creating jobs. Critics, and there are many, say that restriction penalizes America and helps our economic competitors.

Look around the offices of SnapDeal, an online coupon business, and it's not hard to see all the signs of a thriving venture: a young staff full of drive and ambition; a tote board on the wall attracting new customers, one about every second. But SnapDeal isn't in Silicon Valley, it's in New Delhi.

Mr. KUNAL BAHL: Maybe we link up with vendors in each one of the cities.

BROKAW: Twenty-seven-year-old Kunal Bahl and his partner, Rohit Bansal, launched SnapDeal in February 2010. They're already the number one e-commerce retailer in India.

Mr. BAHL: SnapDeal is a very simple concept. Every day there's one very attractive deal. People come to the Web site, buy the deal, and then go use it at the merchant.

BROKAW: Bahl's company has created 300 jobs and counting. But he sometimes wonders, `What if?' What if the country where he got his education, at the University of Pennsylvania, where he helped start a company while he was still in business school, had let him stay in the United States?

Mr. BAHL: I put my chips in the American basket and said that, you know, let me--let me try my hand here.

BROKAW: But Bahl's visa ran out, and so he took his skills back to India.

The United States issues only 85,000 of the so-called H1B visas for highly skilled workers every year. These visas expire after six years. The San Francisco Bay area, the home of the Silicon Valley, Stanford and Berkeley; this has always been a magnet for the best and brightest from foreign lands, but now many of them are wondering why do US immigration officials make it so hard for them to stay?

Professor VIVEK WADHWA: We're strengthening our competitors, we're weakening ourselves.

BROKAW: Professor Vivek Wadhwa has been warning of a reverse brain drain for years.

Prof. WADHWA: There are a lot of very good human beings who are unemployed, who've lost their jobs, and it's easy for them to blame foreigners. What they don't understand is that people like me, when I came to this country, I came here to study. My first company created a thousand jobs, my second company created 200 jobs.

BROKAW: Wadhwa's research found that between 1995 and 2005, 25 percent of the startups in Silicon valley had a least one immigrant founder. And those startups created almost a half million jobs.

TEXT:

1995-2005

25% of startups immigrant founder

More than 450,000 jobs

BROKAW: US immigration rules are big roadblocks for the enterprising foreigners.

Mr. MARTIN KLEPPMANN (Rapportive Co-Founder): Everybody has stories to share about just quite how painful the visa process has been, to try and to quickly engage with customers, make sure that everything's developing, and at the same time you've got this huge distraction on the side worrying whether you're going to get kicked out of the country.

BROKAW: A gathering of young Silicon Valley entrepreneurs centered on their frustration over visas.

How many of you think that you'll end up back in your home countries rather than staying here because of a visa issue? Just show me your hands. A number of you will go back and take the jobs with you, in effect.

And immigration officials often don't even understand the technology business.

Mr. KLEPPMANN: In our case, we got a beautiful letter from the immigration service asking to prove that we had enough warehouse space to store our software inventory. We don't even have boxes of software. It's all on the Internet.

Ms. SAKINA ARSIWALA (Campfire Labs Co-Founder): Why deal with all this old-school immigration system? Just go where we are wanted.

BROKAW: Kunal Bahl went where he felt welcome, close to family in a newly vibrant India.

Mr. BAHL: There is no either/or relationship between the American dream and the Indian dream. They can both exist. It's just that the guys who are building the Indian dream right now could have been part of the American dream, too.

BROKAW: Brian, almost everyone agrees that we do need immigration and visa reform, but that is a hot button issue in Congress because of the undocumented workers at the bottom of the pay scale. Meanwhile, the US State Department is encouraging foreign entrepreneurs at its outposts around the world. And Kunal Bahl, that young Indian who went back home, is now thinking of opening a branch of his company in this country. Brian:

WILLIAMS: Wow. Powerful story. Heartbreaking at times. Tom Brokaw, thanks. Our series here will continue tomorrow night.

And when we come back tonight, something else is disappearing, one of the last surviving perks on an airplane.

MPSC: CONNECT MICHIGAN RELEASES REPORT ON BROADBAND ACCESS AND CONSUMER TECHNOLOGY HABITS.

LANSING, MI -- The following information was released by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA):

MPSC: Connect Michigan Releases Report on Broadband Access and Consumer Technology Habits

Connect Michigan, in partnership with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), today released a new broadband planning report bringing the state one step closer to closing the digital divide. This report - an assessment of the state's broadband landscape - is designed to be a catalyst for discussions on key policy goals and strategies to expand and enhance broadband opportunities for all Michigan residents.

"Michigan is making steady progress in identifying ways to expand broadband availability and adoption," said Orjiakor Isiogu, chairman of the MPSC. "The report issued today pinpoints the areas where broadband does not yet exist, and it helps us better understand the barriers that have prevented people from adopting broadband where it is available."

"We are pleased to be partnering with the Michigan Public Service Commission and leaders of the healthcare, tourism, education, agriculture, and business sector to address the economic development opportunities that are realized through broadband," said Brian Mefford, CEO of Connect Michigan's nonprofit parent organization, Connected Nation. "This report presents Michigan policymakers with a statistical snapshot of broadband adoption at the county level - data critical for translating technology trends into actionable intelligence that will help us promote broadband adoption statewide."

Connect Michigan conducted surveys of residential technology use to understand broadband demand trends across the state. The residential findings are a resource for anyone interested in understanding the common uses of technology in the state. The purpose of this research is to better understand the drivers and barriers so that planning efforts can begin tackling the core issues that affect technology and broadband adoption. Importantly, it demonstrates how local officials can utilize Connect Michigan resources to increase broadband availability in the future.

Highlights from the report:

Statewide, 82 percent of all residents own a home computer. This translates into over 1.3 million adults in Michigan without a home computer, and close to three fourths of those without a computer say they do not believe they need one.

Ten percent of adults surveyed report that their only way of accessing the Internet is at a location outside their home.

Michigan's 67 percent broadband adoption rate indicates that approximately 30 percent of Michigan households have broadband available, but for various reasons, are choosing not to subscribe to the service in the home.

Broadband is local. Forty-three percent of Michigan residents who do not have home broadband service say it is because they do not need Internet service or don't understand the benefits it affords. For many, it is a matter of making the technology relevant for the user.

Sixteen percent of Michigan households who do not subscribe to home broadband service report a lack of available broadband service. In many cases, the consumer is simply not aware that a broadband service provider is in their area. Connect Michigan has published a real-time broadband availability map that allows consumers to search for area providers.

Eight percent of non-computer owners report they don't have one because computers are too complicated, a digital literacy barrier that can be addressed through training programs.

Connect Michigan is working to unite public and private partners to increase the access, adoption, and use of broadband throughout the state. Connect Michigan recently hosted the first Collaborative Broadband Committee meeting. The committee has representatives from the various sectors each bringing unique perspectives to address technology use in schools, hospitals, rural communities and businesses.

All Michigan residents are encouraged to visit the Connect Michigan website, connectmi.org , to join in this initiative and offer feedback. The website gives residents a one-stop portal where they can find broadband providers at their address, check their current Internet speeds, notify officials of unserved areas, and share stories of how high-speed Internet has affected their lives.

The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

# # #

Turkey Telecom Sector Forecast to 2012.

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/436b89/turkey_telecom_sec) has announced the addition of the "Turkey Telecom Sector Forecast to 2012" report to their offering.

The telecommunication sector in Turkey has grown at a rapid pace during the past few years, driven by government support and initiatives aimed at liberalization and privatization of the sector. Besides, other factors, such as favorable demographics coupled with rising disposable income and a desire to avail hi-tech telecom services have been fostering the growth of Turkish telecom market.

The authors have examined the Turkish mobile market and has found that it currently posses a lot of potential as the penetration rate was around 85% at the end of 2010. With the initiation of 3G services in Turkey, the telecom sector will witness significant changes in the coming years. With the rapidly improving mobile infrastructure and intense competition among the three mobile operators (Turkcell, Avea, and Vodafone), the mobile subscribers will grow at a CAGR of around 8% during 2011-2014 and the penetration rate will exceed 108% by 2014-end.

The research also acknowledged that competition among various telecom operators is increasing as they are looking for new business expansion and customer retention strategies to sustain and gain higher chunk of the market. Thus, operators are aggressively pushing the deployment of network infrastructure, which is driving investments in the country's telecom sector. The report also presents an overview of the competitive landscape, in which, leading industry players have been covered along with their marketing strategies.

This report provides extensive research and in-depth analysis of the Turkish telecom market. It provides an insight into the current market trends and substantiates the data with unbiased and rational analysis. The report provides industry forecast on various telecom segments based on feasible telecom industry environment in Turkey including fixed-line subscribers and penetration, mobile subscribers and penetration, Internet users and Internet penetration, and broadband subscribers. The report also provides thorough analysis on the current and future outlook of various emerging technologies, such as 3G, IPTV, and WiMAX. Besides, the report also discusses the regulatory framework governing the telecom industry which will help clients in planning their strategies accordingly. Key Topics Covered: 1. Analyst View

2. Research Methodology

3. Industry Overview

4. Industry Attractions 5. Industry Performance and Future Outlook 6. Potential Growth Areas 7. Regulatory Framework

Keywords: Advertising, Broadband, Electronics, Internet Penetration, Marketing, Research and Markets, Telecommunications, World Wide Web.

This article was prepared by Telecommunications Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Telecommunications Weekly via VerticalNews.com.

Goldline International's American Advisor to Interview Dr. Allan H. Meltzer.

Professor of Political Economy at Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business to Discuss U.S. Monetary Policy and Macroeconomic Trends

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Goldline International, Inc. announced today that Dr. Allan H. Meltzer, Professor of Political Economy at Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business, will appear on The American Advisor radio show today: Tuesday, May 24.

Scott Carter, host of The American Advisor, will discuss several topics with Dr. Meltzer, including U.S. monetary policy, macroeconomic trends, and the debate over the debt ceiling and government spending.

"It is a pleasure to welcome Dr. Meltzer as our guest on The American Advisor," said Carter. "Our listeners will benefit from his commentary on current monetary policy and the implications of the U.S. debt for the future of our economy."

The American Advisor interview with Allan H. Meltzer airs today, Tuesday, May 24, on radio stations throughout the U.S. during the show's regular broadcast time of 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Pacific Time. You can also listen to The American Advisor on the Internet at theamericanadvisor.com/category/interviews. Archived shows can be heard at goldline.com/goldnews-liveradioshows.

About Dr. Allan H. Meltzer

Dr. Allan H. Meltzer is Professor of Political Economy at Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business, focusing on the history of U.S. monetary policy, size of government, macroeconomics, and international financial reform. He is founder and chairman of the Shadow Open Market Committee and has served as a consultant on economic policy for the Congress, U.S. Treasury, Federal Reserve, the World Bank and the U.S. and foreign governments. He served as Chairman of Congress's International Financial Institution Advisory Commission from 1999-2000.

About Goldline International Inc.

Goldline International is one ofthe largest companies providingphysicalprecious metals to collectors and investors in the United States. Founded in 1960, Goldline is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA with over 300 employees and annual sales exceeding $500 million. In 2010, Inc. Magazine ranked Goldline as the 53rd largest private company by revenue. For more information about the company or how to buy gold, please call 1-877-641-2646, visit goldline.com and follow Goldline on facebook.com/goldline or twitter.com/goldline .

USPTO Examiner Finds Watermark Patent Claims Allowable.

Destiny Media Technologies, Inc. (DSY-TSX, DSNY-OTCBB) is pleased to announce that the US Patent and Trademark Office issued an office action on April 7th, 2011 which expressed the view that eleven of the twenty five currently pending claims in Destiny's pending watermark patent application recite allowable subject matter.

The company intends to file a response with minor changes and expects that a US patent would be granted in the next three to four months. The company also intends to file a continuation (child) patent application, which will pursue claims directed toward subject matter that may not yet have been allowed and directed toward other novel features of the invention.

This technology is valuable to the music industry as it allows them to identify the source of pirated music. For example, it could be used to allow consumers to purchase and make personal copies of digital music, while making illegal online sharing traceable. With patents in place, the company will be in a position to widely license the technology.

This watermarking solution has several significant advantages over competing alternatives. Destiny's inaudible mark is nearly impossible to remove and it survives compression, conversion to other formats and on air broadcast. It is much faster to embed and detect than other techniques and it is uniquely integrated into the music industry's web crawler which finds illegal content on torrent and web sites, then analyzes the content for Destiny's mark to identify the source.

Patent applications are pending in the US, Canada, Europe and Japan.

Keywords: Asia, Internet, Japan, Legal Issues, Multimedia, Online, Technology.

This article was prepared by China Weekly News editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, China Weekly News via VerticalNews.com.

LG ELECTRONICS TO UNVEIL SMARTPHONE-CONNECTED APPLIANCES.

SEOUL, April 19 Asia Pulse - South Korean consumer electronics giant LG Electronics Inc. (KSE:066570) said Tuesday that it will globally launch this year refrigerators and other home appliances with wireless-fidelity (WiFi) connectivity that can be controlled from smartphones.

LG plans to release Web-connected fridges and washers this month in the domestic market, which can send information to smartphones wirelessly, inform consumers how to repair a product and send alarms when food expiration dates near, it said in a statement.

The upcoming side-by-side fridge, which has a 10.1-inch liquid-crystal display (LCD) screen on the door, can be tapped by fingers to add a list of groceries and set their expiration dates or to download recipes, LG said. The product is priced at 4 million won (US$3,676).

Its washers can be set to select the hours when the energy rates are the cheapest as it receives energy-rate information from a wireless connection, it added.

LG plans to increase the portion of its WiFi-enabled washers to 20 to 30 per cent of its washing machine models this year, Lee Young-ha, the head of the company's home appliance division, told reporters.

Home appliances are the latest consumer electronics empowered by Wi-Fi connections amid growing needs among consumers to stay constantly connected on the Internet.

The consumer electronics industry's previous attempts to expand functions of home appliances through wireless connections met a tepid response from consumers in the past. LG rolled out an Internet-connected fridge 10 years ago, but its sales underperformed with a high price barrier and a low penetration rate of broadband in the country.

The WiFi-enabled consumer electronics are poised to become popular in coming years, however, LG said, as their prices became affordable and more households are equipped with WiFi connections.

According to Pike Research, the market for Web-connected home appliances is forecast to grow to 6 trillion won in 2015.

(Yonhap) cg 19-04 1819

International comparisons data.(Current Labor Statistics)(Statistical data)

 51. Unemployment rates adjusted to U.S. concepts, 10 countries, seasonally adjusted  [Percent]     Country       2007    2008                 2007                                    I      II      III     IV  United States     4.6     5.8     4.5     4.5     4.7     4.8 Canada            5.3     5.3     5.4     5.2     5.2     5.2 Australia         4.4     4.2     4.5     4.3     4.3     4.4 Japan             3.9     4.0     4.0     3.8     3.8     3.9 France            8.1     7.5     8.6     8.2     8.1     7.7 Germany           8.7     7.5     9.2     8.8     8.6     8.2 Italy             6.2     6.8     6.2     6.1     6.3     6.4 Netherlands       3.2     2.8     3.6     3.2     3.0     3.0 Sweden            6.2     6.2     6.3     6.1     5.8     5.8 United Kingdom    5.4     5.7     5.5     5.4     5.3     5.2     Country                    2008                   2009                    I      II      III     IV      I       II  United States     4.9     5.4     6.0     6.9     8.1     9.2 Canada            5.2     5.3     5.3     5.6     6.7     7.5 Australia         4.0     4.2     4.2     4.5     5.3     5.7 Japan             3.9     4.1     4.1     4.1     4.5     5.3 France            7.2     7.4     7.5     8.0     8.7     9.3 Germany           7.8     7.6     7.4     7.4     7.7     8.0 Italy             6.6     6.8     6.9     7.1     7.3     7.4 Netherlands       2.9     2.8     2.6     2.8     3.1     3.3 Sweden            5.7     5.8     5.9     6.5     7.4     8.2 United Kingdom    5.3     5.4     5.9     6.3     7.0     7.8  Quarterly figures for France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are calculated by applying annual adjustment factors to current published data and therefore should be viewed as less precise indicators of unemployment under U.S. concepts than the annual figures. For further qualifications and historical annual data, see the BLS report International Comparisons of Annual Labor Force Statistics, Adjusted to U.S. Concepts, 10 Countries (on the internet at http://www.bls.gov/ilc/flscomparelf.htm).  For monthly unemployment rates, as well as the quarterly and annual rates published in this table, see the BLS report International Unemployment Rates and Employment Indexes, Seasonally Adjusted (on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ilc/intl_unemployment_rates_ monthly.htm). Unemployment rates may differ between the two reports mentioned, because the former is updated annually, whereas the latter is updated monthly and reflects the most recent revisions in source data.  52. Annual data: employment status of the working-age population, adjusted to U.S. concepts, 10 countries  [Numbers in thousands]  Employment status and country            1998       1999       2000         Civilian labor force  United States                          137,673    139,368    142,583 Canada                                  15,135     15,403     15,637 Australia                                9,339      9,414      9,590 Japan                                   67,240     67,090     66,990 France                                  25,277     25,705     25,951 Germany                                 39,752     39,375     39,302 Italy                                   23,004     23,176     23,361 Netherlands                              7,744      7,881      8,052 Sweden                                   4,403      4,429      4,490 United Kingdom                          28,474     28,786     28,962        Participation rate (1)  United States                             67.1       67.1       67.1 Canada                                    65.4       65.9       66.0 Australia                                 64.3       64.0       64.4 Japan                                     62.8       62.4       62.0 France                                    55.6       56.2       56.3 Germany                                   57.7       56.9       56.7 Italy                                     47.7       47.9       48.1 Netherlands                               61.8       62.5       63.4 Sweden                                    62.8       62.7       63.7 United Kingdom                            62.4       62.8       62.8               Employed  United States                          131,463    133,488    136,891 Canada                                  13,973     14,331     14,681 Australia                                8,618      8,762      8,989 Japan                                   64,450     63,920     63,790 France                                  22,597     23,080     23,689 Germany                                 36,059     36,042     36,236 Italy                                   20,370     20,617     20,973 Netherlands                              7,408      7,605      7,813 Sweden                                   4,036      4,116      4,230 United Kingdom                          26,684     27,058     27,375    Employment-population ratio (2)  United States                             64.1       64.3       64.4 Canada                                    60.4       61.3       62.0 Australia                                 59.3       59.6       60.3 Japan                                     60.2       59.4       59.0 France                                    49.7       50.4       51.4 Germany                                   52.3       52.1       52.2 Italy                                     42.2       42.6       43.2 Netherlands                               59.1       60.3       61.5 Sweden                                    57.6       58.3       60.1 United Kingdom                            58.5       59.0       59.4              Unemployed  United States                            6,210      5,880      5,692 Canada                                   1,162      1,072        956 Australia                                  721        652        602 Japan                                    2,790      3,170      3,200 France                                   2,680      2,625      2,262 Germany                                  3,693      3,333      3,065 Italy                                    2,634      2,559      2,388 Netherlands                                337        277        239 Sweden                                     368        313        260 United Kingdom                           1,791      1,728      1,587         Unemployment rate (3)  United States                              4.5        4.2        4.0 Canada                                     7.7        7.0        6.1 Australia                                  7.7        6.9        6.3 Japan                                      4.1        4.7        4.8 France                                    10.6       10.2        8.7 Germany                                    9.3        8.5        7.8 Italy                                     11.5       11.0       10.2 Netherlands                                4.4        3.5        3.0 Sweden                                     8.4        7.1        5.8 United Kingdom                             6.3        6.0        5.5  Employment status and country            2001       2002       2003         Civilian labor force  United States                          143,734    144,863    146,510 Canada                                  15,891     16,366     16,733 Australia                                9,746      9,901     10,085 Japan                                   66,860     66,240     66,010 France                                  26,217     26,448     26,624 Germany                                 39,459     39,413     39,276 Italy                                   23,524     23,728     24,020 Netherlands                              8,199      8,345      8,379 Sweden                                   4,530      4,545      4,565 United Kingdom                          29,092     29,343     29,565        Participation rate (1)  United States                             66.8       66.6       66.2 Canada                                    66.1       67.1       67.7 Australia                                 64.4       64.3       64.6 Japan                                     61.6       60.8       60.3 France                                    56.4       56.4       56.3 Germany                                   56.7       56.4       56.0 Italy                                     48.3       48.5       49.1 Netherlands                               64.0       64.7       64.6 Sweden                                    63.7       63.9       63.9 United Kingdom                            62.7       62.9       62.9               Employed  United States                          136,933    136,485    137,736 Canada                                  14,866     15,223     15,586 Australia                                9,088      9,271      9,485 Japan                                   63,460     62,650     62,510 France                                  24,146     24,316     24,325 Germany                                 36,350     36,018     35,615 Italy                                   21,359     21,666     21,972 Netherlands                              8,014      8,114      8,069 Sweden                                   4,303      4,311      4,301 United Kingdom                          27,604     27,815     28,077    Employment-population ratio (2)  United States                             63.7       62.7       62.3 Canada                                    61.9       62.4       63.1 Australia                                 60.0       60.2       60.8 Japan                                     58.4       57.5       57.1 France                                    51.9       51.8       51.5 Germany                                   52.2       51.5       50.8 Italy                                     43.8       44.3       44.9 Netherlands                               62.6       62.9       62.2 Sweden                                    60.5       60.6       60.2 United Kingdom                            59.5       59.6       59.8              Unemployed  United States                            6,801      8,378      8,774 Canada                                   1,026      1,143      1,147 Australia                                  658        630        599 Japan                                    3,400      3,590      3,500 France                                   2,071      2,132      2,299 Germany                                  3,110      3,396      3,661 Italy                                    2,164      2,062      2,048 Netherlands                                186        231        310 Sweden                                     227        234        264 United Kingdom                           1,489      1,528      1,488         Unemployment rate (3)  United States                              4.7        5.8        6.0 Canada                                     6.5        7.0        6.9 Australia                                  6.8        6.4        5.9 Japan                                      5.1        5.4        5.3 France                                     7.9        8.1        8.6 Germany                                    7.9        8.6        9.3 Italy                                      9.2        8.7        8.5 Netherlands                                2.3        2.8        3.7 Sweden                                     5.0        5.1        5.8 United Kingdom                             5.1        5.2        5.0  Employment status and country            2004       2005       2006         Civilian labor force  United States                          147,401    149,320    151,428 Canada                                  16,955     17,108     17,351 Australia                               10,213     10,529     10,771 Japan                                   65,770     65,850     65,960 France                                  26,758     26,926     27,169 Germany                                 39,711     40,760     41,250 Italy                                   24,084     24,179     24,395 Netherlands                              8,439      8,459      8,541 Sweden                                   4,579      4,700      4,752 United Kingdom                          29,802     30,137     30,598        Participation rate (1)  United States                             66.0       66.0       66.2 Canada                                    67.7       67.4       67.4 Australia                                 64.6       65.4       65.8 Japan                                     60.0       60.0       60.0 France                                    56.2       56.1       56.3 Germany                                   56.4       57.6       58.2 Italy                                     49.1       48.7       48.9 Netherlands                               64.8       64.7       65.1 Sweden                                    63.6       64.9       65.0 United Kingdom                            63.0       63.1       63.5               Employed  United States                          139,252    141,730    144,427 Canada                                  15,861     16,080     16,393 Australia                                9,662      9,998     10,255 Japan                                   62,640     62,910     63,210 France                                  24,346     24,497     24,737 Germany                                 35,604     36,185     36,978 Italy                                   22,124     22,290     22,721 Netherlands                              8,052      8,056      8,205 Sweden                                   4,279      4,334      4,416 United Kingdom                          28,380     28,674     28,928    Employment-population ratio (2)  United States                             62.3       62.7       63.1 Canada                                    63.3       63.4       63.6 Australia                                 61.1       62.1       62.6 Japan                                     57.1       57.3       57.5 France                                    51.1       51.1       51.2 Germany                                   50.6       51.2       52.2 Italy                                     45.1       44.9       45.5 Netherlands                               61.8       61.6       62.5 Sweden                                    59.5       59.9       60.4 United Kingdom                            60.0       60.0       60.1              Unemployed  United States                            8,149      7,591      7,001 Canada                                   1,093      1,028        958 Australia                                  551        531        516 Japan                                    3,130      2,940      2,750 France                                   2,412      2,429      2,432 Germany                                  4,107      4,575      4,272 Italy                                    1,960      1,889      1,673 Netherlands                                387        402        336 Sweden                                     300        367        336 United Kingdom                           1,423      1,463      1,670         Unemployment rate (3)  United States                              5.5        5.1        4.6 Canada                                     6.4        6.0        5.5 Australia                                  5.4        5.0        4.8 Japan                                      4.8        4.5        4.2 France                                     9.0        9.0        9.0 Germany                                   10.3       11.2       10.4 Italy                                      8.1        7.8        6.9 Netherlands                                4.6        4.8        3.9 Sweden                                     6.6        7.8        7.1 United Kingdom                             4.8        4.9        5.5  Employment status and country            2007       2008         Civilian labor force  United States                          153,124    154,287 Canada                                  17,696     17,987 Australia                               11,021     11,254 Japan                                   66,080     65,900 France                                  27,305     27,541 Germany                                 41,416     41,623 Italy                                   24,459     24,829 Netherlands                              8,686      8,780 Sweden                                   4,827      4,887 United Kingdom                          30,778     31,125        Participation rate (1)  United States                             66.0       66.0 Canada                                    67.7       67.9 Australia                                 66.2       66.6 Japan                                     60.0       59.8 France                                    56.2       56.3 Germany                                   58.4       58.6 Italy                                     48.6       49.0 Netherlands                               65.9       66.3 Sweden                                    65.4       65.2 United Kingdom                            63.4       63.6               Employed  United States                          146,047    145,362 Canada                                  16,767     17,025 Australia                               10,539     10,777 Japan                                   63,510     63,250 France                                  25,088     25,474 Germany                                 37,815     38,480 Italy                                   22,953     23,137 Netherlands                              8,408      8,537 Sweden                                   4,530      4,582 United Kingdom                          29,127     29,343    Employment-population ratio (2)  United States                             63.0       62.2 Canada                                    64.2       64.2 Australia                                 63.3       63.8 Japan                                     57.6       57.4 France                                    51.6       52.1 Germany                                   53.3       54.2 Italy                                     45.6       45.6 Netherlands                               63.7       64.5 Sweden                                    61.3       61.1 United Kingdom                            60.0       59.9              Unemployed  United States                            7,078      8,924 Canada                                     929        962 Australia                                  482        477 Japan                                    2,570      2,650 France                                   2,217      2,067 Germany                                  3,601      3,140 Italy                                    1,506      1,692 Netherlands                                278        243 Sweden                                     298        305 United Kingdom                           1,652      1,783         Unemployment rate (3)  United States                              4.6        5.8 Canada                                     5.3        5.3 Australia                                  4.4        4.2 Japan                                      3.9        4.0 France                                     8.1        7.5 Germany                                    8.7        7.5 Italy                                      6.2        6.8 Netherlands                                3.2        2.8 Sweden                                     6.2        6.2 United Kingdom                             5.4        5.7  (1) Labor force as a percent of the working-age population.  (2) Employment as a percent of the working-age population.  (3) Unemployment as a percent of the labor force.  NOTE: There are breaks in series for the United States (1999, 2000, 2003, 2004), Australia (2001), France (2003), Germany (1999, 2005), the Netherlands (2000, 2003), and Sweden (2005). For further qualifications and historical annual data, see the BLS report International Comparisons of Annual Labor Force Statistics, Adjusted to U.S. Concepts, 10 Countries (on the internet at http://www.bls.gov/ilc/flscomparelf.htm). Unemployment rates may differ from those in the BLS report International Unemployment Rates and Employment Indexes, Seasonally Adjusted (on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ilc/intl_unemployment_rates_monthly.htm), because the former is updated annually, whereas the latter is updated monthly and reflects the most recent revisions in source data.  53. Annual indexes of manufacturing productivity and related measures, 17 economies  [2002 = 100]  Measure and economy              1980      1990      1994      1995        Output per hour  United States                    41.6      56.9      65.8      68.3 Canada                           55.2      70.7      82.4      83.3 Australia                        59.0      74.1      80.0      79.0 Japan                            47.9      70.9      78.2      83.4 Korea, Rep. of                     --      34.6      49.4      54.3 Singapore                          --      51.0      66.9      71.3 Taiwan                           29.3      53.6      62.8      67.4 Belgium                          49.9      73.9      82.3      86.0 Denmark                          66.1      79.3      90.8      90.8 France                           42.9      63.6      72.4      75.2 Germany                          54.5      69.8      79.3      80.6 Italy                            56.8      78.1      89.8      94.2 Netherlands                      48.0      68.3      79.0      82.1 Norway                           70.1      87.8      89.2      88.1 Spain                            57.9      80.0      90.2      93.3 Sweden                           41.3      50.9      62.7      66.6 United Kingdom                   46.3      72.8      83.5      82.1            Output  United States                    49.6      66.2      75.7      79.1 Canada                           55.2      68.7      73.1      76.5 Australia                        70.3      81.5      85.4      84.9 Japan                            61.9      98.9      97.5     101.7 Korea, Rep. of                   13.4      41.3      54.9      61.3 Singapore                          --      51.2      68.5      75.4 Taiwan                           30.2      60.5      71.1      75.0 Belgium                          67.5      87.2      87.5      89.9 Denmark                          77.3      85.5      90.3      94.7 France                           69.5      81.5      80.9      83.8 Germany                          81.3      94.5      90.9      90.1 Italy                            71.1      88.2      91.4      95.7 Netherlands                      59.3      77.0      82.0      85.1 Norway                           95.1      91.4      94.1      94.6 Spain                            58.8      73.7      73.2      76.0 Sweden                           46.8      56.1      59.7      67.5 United Kingdom                   78.5      94.9      95.6      97.1          Total hours  United States                   119.4     116.5     115.1     115.9 Canada                          100.0      97.2      88.8      91.8 Australia                       119.1     110.0     106.7     107.4 Japan                           129.3     139.6     124.7     122.0 Korea, Rep. of                     --     119.2     111.1     113.0 Singapore                          --     100.5     102.4     105.7 Taiwan                          102.9     113.0     113.3     111.2 Belgium                         135.3     117.9     106.3     104.5 Denmark                         117.0     107.8      99.5     104.3 France                          161.9     128.2     111.8     111.3 Germany                         149.3     135.3     114.5     111.7 Italy                           125.1     113.0     101.8     101.6 Netherlands                     123.6     112.7     103.9     103.7 Norway                          135.6     104.1     105.5     107.3 Spain                           101.6      92.1      81.1      81.4 Sweden                          113.2     110.2      95.1     101.3 United Kingdom                  169.8     130.4     114.5     118.2      Hourly compensation  (national currency basis)  United States                    38.2      62.1      72.2      73.4 Canada                           36.3      68.3      79.8      81.7 Australia                          --      61.7      69.8      74.1 Japan                            50.4      77.4      89.4      92.4 Korea, Rep. of                     --      23.7      46.5      56.4 Singapore                          --      56.2      77.5      81.0 Taiwan                           20.4      58.6      76.4      82.7 Belgium                          40.2      69.0      80.9      83.2 Denmark                          32.6      68.6      77.7      79.3 France                           28.2      64.2      77.6      79.9 Germany                          35.8      59.7      77.1      81.2 Italy                            19.6      61.3      78.0      82.5 Netherlands                      41.1      61.9      75.0      77.0 Norway                           24.7      58.5      66.2      69.2 Spain                            20.7      59.0      83.8      87.4       Unit labor costs  (national currency basis)  United States                    92.0     109.3     109.8     107.5 Canada                           65.8      96.7      96.8      98.0 Australia                          --      83.2      87.2      93.7 Japan                           105.4     109.2     114.3     110.8 Korea, Rep. of                   37.0      68.5      94.1     104.0 Singapore                          --     110.3     115.9     113.6 Taiwan                           69.5     109.3     121.6     122.7 Belgium                          80.6      93.3      98.2      96.7 Denmark                          49.4      86.4      85.6      87.3 France                           65.6     101.0     107.1     106.1 Germany                          65.7      85.5      97.2     100.8 Italy                            34.5      78.6      86.8      87.7 Netherlands                      85.6      90.5      95.0      93.8 Norway                           35.3      66.6      74.2      78.5 Spain                            35.7      73.7      92.8      93.6 Sweden                           61.6     117.7     108.4     107.6 United Kingdom                   52.9      83.3      84.9      87.9       Unit labor costs     (U.S. dollar basis)  United States                    92.0     109.3     109.8     107.5 Canada                           88.4     130.1     111.3     112.1 Australia                          --     119.5     117.3     127.7 Japan                            58.2      94.3     140.1     147.7 Korea, Rep. of                   76.2     120.5     145.7     168.2 Singapore                          --     109.0     135.9     143.5 Taiwan                           66.6     140.3     158.7     159.9 Belgium                         117.6     119.2     125.4     140.1 Denmark                          69.1     110.1     106.2     123.0 France                          107.8     128.7     134.1     147.7 Germany                          74.7     109.4     124.0     145.6 Italy                            82.6     134.3     110.4     110.2 Netherlands                     100.4     115.9     121.7     136.3 Norway                           57.0      85.0      83.9      98.9 Spain                            87.6     127.3     122.1     132.2 Sweden                          141.5     193.1     136.7     146.5 United Kingdom                   81.9      98.9      86.5      92.3  Measure and economy              1996      1997      1998      1999        Output per hour  United States                    71.0      74.0      79.1      83.1 Canada                           83.0      86.7      90.9      94.8 Australia                        81.3      83.0      87.0      88.3 Japan                            87.2      90.3      91.2      93.6 Korea, Rep. of                   59.7      67.3      75.0      83.5 Singapore                        74.7      77.1      83.1      91.5 Taiwan                           72.5      75.5      79.1      84.0 Belgium                          87.3      92.7      93.9      93.3 Denmark                          87.8      94.8      94.3      95.8 France                           75.5      79.9      84.1      87.8 Germany                          82.9      87.7      88.1      90.2 Italy                            94.6      96.5      95.2      95.9 Netherlands                      83.9      84.1      86.6      90.1 Norway                           90.8      91.0      88.7      91.7 Spain                            92.2      93.1      94.7      96.4 Sweden                           68.8      75.1      79.6      86.9 United Kingdom                   81.4      82.9      83.7      87.8            Output  United States                    82.1      87.1      92.9      96.9 Canada                           77.5      82.3      86.5      93.7 Australia                        87.6      89.6      92.1      91.9 Japan                           105.6     108.2     102.5     102.1 Korea, Rep. of                   65.3      68.4      63.0      76.8 Singapore                        77.4      80.8      80.2      90.6 Taiwan                           78.9      83.5      86.1      92.4 Belgium                          90.2      94.5      96.1      96.4 Denmark                          90.3      97.7      98.5      99.4 France                           83.6      87.5      91.7      94.8 Germany                          88.2      92.0      93.1      94.0 Italy                            95.2      96.6      97.5      97.3 Netherlands                      86.3      87.5      90.5      93.8 Norway                           98.4     102.7     101.9     101.8 Spain                            77.9      82.9      87.9      92.9 Sweden                           69.7      75.1      81.3      89.0 United Kingdom                   97.9      99.6     100.3     101.3          Total hours  United States                   115.7     117.7     117.4     116.6 Canada                           93.4      94.9      95.2      98.9 Australia                       107.7     108.0     105.9     104.1 Japan                           121.0     119.9     112.5     109.1 Korea, Rep. of                  109.3     101.7      84.0      92.0 Singapore                       103.7     104.8      96.5      99.0 Taiwan                          108.9     110.6     108.8     110.1 Belgium                         103.4     101.9     102.3     103.4 Denmark                         102.9     103.1     104.5     103.7 France                          110.7     109.4     109.0     108.0 Germany                         106.4     104.9     105.8     104.2 Italy                           100.7     100.1     102.5     101.5 Netherlands                     102.9     104.0     104.5     104.1 Norway                          108.4     112.8     115.0     111.0 Spain                            84.5      89.0      92.8      96.4 Sweden                          101.3     100.1     102.2     102.4 United Kingdom                  120.3     120.1     119.8     115.4      Hourly compensation  (national currency basis)  United States                    74.6      76.5      81.2      84.8 Canada                           82.9      84.9      89.3      91.2 Australia                        77.5      79.6      82.9      86.2 Japan                            93.2      96.4      98.8      98.6 Korea, Rep. of                   65.7      71.4      77.7      78.2 Singapore                        87.0      90.9      96.1      87.9 Taiwan                           88.2      90.8      94.2      95.9 Belgium                          84.7      87.9      89.2      90.4 Denmark                          82.5      85.4      87.6      89.8 France                           81.4      83.8      84.4      87.1 Germany                          85.1      86.7      88.0      90.0 Italy                            87.0      91.1      89.4      91.7 Netherlands                      78.4      80.5      83.9      86.7 Norway                           72.1      75.3      79.7      84.2 Spain                            89.5      91.6      92.3      92.1       Unit labor costs  (national currency basis)  United States                   105.2     103.4     102.6     102.0 Canada                          100.0      97.9      98.3      96.2 Australia                        95.3      96.0      95.3      97.6 Japan                           106.9     106.8     108.3     105.4 Korea, Rep. of                  110.0     106.1     103.6      93.7 Singapore                       116.5     117.9     115.7      96.0 Taiwan                          121.6     120.4     119.1     114.2 Belgium                          97.1      94.8      95.0      97.0 Denmark                          94.0      90.0      92.9      93.7 France                          107.8     104.8     100.4      99.3 Germany                         102.7      98.9      99.9      99.7 Italy                            92.0      94.4      94.0      95.6 Netherlands                      93.5      95.7      96.9      96.2 Norway                           79.4      82.7      89.9      91.8 Spain                            97.0      98.4      97.4      95.6 Sweden                          112.3     108.4     106.3     100.4 United Kingdom                   88.3      90.5      96.4      97.3       Unit labor costs     (U.S. dollar basis)  United States                   105.2     103.4     102.6     102.0 Canada                          115.1     111.1     104.0     101.7 Australia                       137.2     131.3     110.2     115.9 Japan                           123.0     110.4     103.6     116.1 Korea, Rep. of                  170.9     139.9      92.5      98.4 Singapore                       147.9     142.1     123.9     101.5 Taiwan                          152.9     144.5     122.6     122.1 Belgium                         133.8     112.9     111.6     109.3 Denmark                         127.8     107.4     109.3     105.8 France                          146.2     124.5     118.0     111.9 Germany                         141.2     117.9     117.4     112.4 Italy                           122.1     113.5     110.8     107.7 Netherlands                     129.3     114.2     113.8     108.4 Norway                           98.1      93.2      95.0      93.9 Spain                           134.8     118.1     114.8     107.7 Sweden                          162.8     137.9     130.0     117.9 United Kingdom                   91.8      98.6     106.4     104.7  Measure and economy              2000      2001      2003      2004        Output per hour  United States                    89.5      90.4     106.4     112.9 Canada                          100.5      98.4     100.4     101.6 Australia                        93.6      95.9     101.8     103.1 Japan                            98.5      96.5     106.8     114.3 Korea, Rep. of                   90.6      90.1     106.8     117.8 Singapore                        97.7      91.8     103.7     110.0 Taiwan                           88.3      92.2     102.6     107.1 Belgium                          96.8      97.0     102.9     108.1 Denmark                          99.2      99.4     104.2     110.2 France                           94.0      95.9     104.5     107.3 Germany                          96.5      99.0     103.6     107.5 Italy                           100.9     101.2      97.9      99.3 Netherlands                      96.6      97.1     102.1     109.0 Norway                           94.6      97.2     108.7     115.1 Spain                            97.4      99.6     102.5     104.4 Sweden                           92.8      90.1     108.1     119.7 United Kingdom                   93.7      97.0     104.2     110.8            Output  United States                   103.0      97.3     101.1     106.8 Canada                          103.2      99.2      99.4     101.4 Australia                        96.3      95.4     101.7     101.8 Japan                           107.4     101.6     105.3     111.4 Korea, Rep. of                   89.8      92.0     105.4     115.9 Singapore                       104.4      92.2     102.9     117.2 Taiwan                           99.2      91.8     105.3     115.6 Belgium                         100.7     100.8      98.6     102.2 Denmark                         102.9     103.0      97.2      98.8 France                           99.1     100.1     101.9     102.8 Germany                         100.4     102.1     100.7     104.3 Italy                           101.4     101.1      97.3      98.0 Netherlands                     100.1      99.9      98.9     102.3 Norway                          101.3     100.5     103.3     109.2 Spain                            97.0     100.1     101.2     101.9 Sweden                           96.3      94.1     104.9     114.5 United Kingdom                  103.6     102.2      99.7     101.9          Total hours  United States                   115.1     107.6      95.1      94.6 Canada                          102.7     100.8      99.0      99.8 Australia                       102.9      99.5      99.9      98.7 Japan                           109.0     105.3      98.6      97.5 Korea, Rep. of                   99.1     102.0      98.7      98.3 Singapore                       106.8     100.5      99.3     106.5 Taiwan                          112.4      99.6     102.7     107.9 Belgium                         104.0     104.0      95.8      94.5 Denmark                         103.7     103.7      93.3      89.6 France                          105.4     104.4      97.5      95.8 Germany                         104.0     103.1      97.3      97.1 Italy                           100.5      99.9      99.4      98.7 Netherlands                     103.6     103.0      96.8      93.9 Norway                          107.1     103.4      95.1      94.9 Spain                            99.7     100.5      98.8      97.6 Sweden                          103.8     104.3      97.0      95.7 United Kingdom                  110.6     105.4      95.7      92.0      Hourly compensation  (national currency basis)  United States                    91.3      94.8     108.0     108.9 Canada                           94.2      96.8     104.0     107.7 Australia                        90.0      95.7     103.9     109.4 Japan                            98.0      99.3      97.8      98.8 Korea, Rep. of                   85.2      89.0     105.5     120.6 Singapore                        90.2      97.3     100.6      97.9 Taiwan                           97.6     103.7     101.0     102.1 Belgium                          92.0      95.9     103.4     106.2 Denmark                          91.6      95.9     106.8     110.9 France                           91.8      94.2     102.3     105.5 Germany                          94.7      97.6     102.2     102.8 Italy                            94.1      97.2     103.8     107.4 Netherlands                      90.9      94.8     104.0     108.4 Norway                           89.0      94.4     104.1     107.5 Spain                            93.5      97.2     105.0     108.7       Unit labor costs  (national currency basis)  United States                   102.1     104.8     101.5      96.4 Canada                           93.7      98.4     103.6     106.1 Australia                        96.2      99.8     102.1     106.0 Japan                            99.5     102.9      91.6      86.4 Korea, Rep. of                   94.1      98.8      98.8     102.3 Singapore                        92.3     106.0      97.1      88.9 Taiwan                          110.5     112.4      98.5      95.3 Belgium                          95.1      98.9     100.5      98.2 Denmark                          92.3      96.5     102.5     100.6 France                           97.6      98.3      97.9      98.3 Germany                          98.1      98.6      98.7      95.7 Italy                            93.2      96.1     106.0     108.1 Netherlands                      94.1      97.7     101.8      99.5 Norway                           94.1      97.0      95.8      93.4 Spain                            96.0      97.6     102.5     104.1 Sweden                           97.6     105.3      96.7      89.7 United Kingdom                   96.7      97.6     100.7      98.9       Unit labor costs     (U.S. dollar basis)  United States                   102.1     104.8     101.5      96.4 Canada                           99.1      99.8     116.1     128.0 Australia                       102.9      94.9     122.5     143.6 Japan                           115.6     106.0      98.9     100.1 Korea, Rep. of                  104.0      95.6     103.6     111.7 Singapore                        95.9     105.9      99.7      94.2 Taiwan                          122.1     114.8      98.9      98.6 Belgium                          92.8      93.7     120.3     129.2 Denmark                          89.9      91.4     122.9     132.5 France                           95.3      93.1     117.2     129.4 Germany                          95.8      93.3     118.2     125.9 Italy                            91.0      91.0     126.9     142.2 Netherlands                      91.9      92.5     121.9     130.8 Norway                           85.2      86.1     108.0     110.6 Spain                            93.8      92.4     122.7     136.9 Sweden                          103.5      99.0     116.3     118.7 United Kingdom                   97.6      93.5     109.5     120.6  Measure and economy              2005      2006      2007       2008        Output per hour  United States                   115.1     120.5     126.2 Canada                          105.0     107.3     110.2 Australia                       103.8     104.8     106.8 Japan                           121.7     122.9     127.2 Korea, Rep. of                  130.8     146.8     157.9 Singapore                       112.0     114.7     110.3 Taiwan                          114.8     122.5     133.5 Belgium                         111.0     115.1     120.2 Denmark                         113.7     119.0     119.4 France                          112.3     114.9     116.3 Germany                         113.5     123.1     129.3 Italy                           100.8     102.6     103.1 Netherlands                     113.9     118.2     121.4 Norway                          119.1     116.7     116.4 Spain                           106.4     108.5     111.1 Sweden                          127.1     139.0     139.7 United Kingdom                  115.5     119.8     123.8            Output  United States                   107.7     113.6     116.9 Canada                          103.0     102.6     101.6 Australia                       101.4     100.5     103.7 Japan                           117.2     121.3     125.7 Korea, Rep. of                  123.1     133.0     142.5 Singapore                       128.3     143.6     152.2 Taiwan                          123.6     132.5     146.3 Belgium                         102.0     104.9     107.6 Denmark                          99.3     103.4     107.2 France                          105.2     104.9     105.7 Germany                         107.8     115.6     122.7 Italy                            97.8     101.1     103.1 Netherlands                     104.3     107.9     111.3 Norway                          114.1     117.5     123.6 Spain                           103.1     105.0     106.0 Sweden                          119.8     129.2     132.2 United Kingdom                  101.7     103.4     104.0          Total hours  United States                    93.6      94.3      92.6 Canada                           98.1      95.6      92.2 Australia                        97.7      95.9      97.1 Japan                            96.3      98.6      98.8 Korea, Rep. of                   94.1      90.6      90.2 Singapore                       114.6     125.2     137.9 Taiwan                          107.7     108.2     109.6 Belgium                          91.9      91.1      89.5 Denmark                          87.3      86.9      89.8 France                           93.7      91.3      90.8 Germany                          95.0      93.9      94.9 Italy                            97.0      98.6     100.0 Netherlands                      91.6      91.3      91.7 Norway                           95.8     100.7     106.2 Spain                            96.8      96.8      95.4 Sweden                           94.2      93.0      94.6 United Kingdom                   88.1      86.3      84.0      Hourly compensation  (national currency basis)  United States                   112.5     114.7     119.6 Canada                          112.4     115.8     119.9 Australia                       116.3     124.2     130.7 Japan                            99.6      98.5      98.3 Korea, Rep. of                  139.7     153.9     163.8 Singapore                        96.8      95.0      94.3 Taiwan                          105.7     108.9     112.4 Belgium                         109.4     113.3     119.3 Denmark                         117.2     122.9     126.1 France                          109.4     113.7     116.8 Germany                         104.1     108.4     110.3 Italy                           110.8     113.0     115.5 Netherlands                     110.0     113.1     116.7 Norway                          112.6     119.5     125.2 Spain                           113.9     118.9     124.8       Unit labor costs  (national currency basis)  United States                    97.7      95.1      94.8      96.4 Canada                          107.0     108.0     108.9     114.1 Australia                       112.1     118.5     122.3     126.7 Japan                            81.8      80.1      77.3      78.8 Korea, Rep. of                  106.8     104.8     103.7     104.5 Singapore                        86.5      82.8      85.5      91.9 Taiwan                           92.0      88.9      84.2      85.7 Belgium                          98.6      98.5      99.3     101.7 Denmark                         103.0     103.3     105.6     114.4 France                           97.4      98.9     100.4     104.3 Germany                          91.7      88.0      85.3      87.5 Italy                           110.0     110.2     112.1     119.0 Netherlands                      96.6      95.7      96.2     100.7 Norway                           94.5     102.4     107.5     112.8 Spain                           107.0     109.5     112.3     118.8 Sweden                           87.3      82.2      85.6      91.6 United Kingdom                  100.4     101.6     101.5     103.7       Unit labor costs     (U.S. dollar basis)  United States                    97.7      95.1      94.8      96.4 Canada                          138.7     149.5     159.3     168.1 Australia                       157.2     164.2     188.8     199.0 Japan                            93.0      86.3      82.2      95.5 Korea, Rep. of                  130.4     137.3     139.6     119.0 Singapore                        93.1      93.4     101.6     116.4 Taiwan                           98.9      94.4      88.5      93.9 Belgium                         129.8     130.8     144.0     158.4 Denmark                         135.5     137.1     153.1     177.3 France                          128.3     131.5     145.6     162.4 Germany                         120.8     117.0     123.7     136.3 Italy                           144.8     146.5     162.5     185.4 Netherlands                     127.2     127.2     139.5     156.8 Norway                          117.2     127.6     146.6     159.8 Spain                           140.9     145.6     162.9     185.1 Sweden                          113.7     108.4     123.3     135.2 United Kingdom                  121.6     124.6     135.2     128.0  NOTE: Data for Germany for years before 1993 are for the former West Germany. Data for 1993 onward are for unified Germany. Dash indicates data not available.