The latest financial data for 2006 confirms positive trend in the EU's budgetary development. More funding for competitiveness was ensured by further modernisation of expenditure; improvements in monitoring and planning kept the budget execution rate at a historically high level; and the substantial increase of the EU-10 countries' share of the budget secured their growing participation in EU policies. The "EU Budget 2006 Financial Report" proves the EU's continued devotion to the Growth and Jobs agenda.
The euro area (EA13) industrial new orders index fell by 4.0% in July 2007 compared with June 2007. The index rose by 4.5% in June. EU27 new orders decreased by 3.9% in July 2007, after an increase of 5.3% in June. Excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment industrial new orders fell by 0.1% in the euro area, but rose by 0.8% in the EU27 in July 2007.
Small and medium businesses (SMBs, or companies with up to 999 employees) across the Asia-Pacific region outside of Japan (APeJ) are on track to invest US$50 billion on telecommunications equipment and services this year. This is up some 5% over 2006, according to the latest study by New York-based Access Markets International (AMI) Partners, Inc.
Sixty-two percent of mainland China suppliers are increasing spending on quality control, according to a survey of more than 200 manufacturers conducted by Global Sources this month. Suppliers are responding to foreign buyers' increased concerns about quality, following recent news of China-made product recalls in the United States.
In August, employers took 1,189 mass layoff actions, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported.
37 environmental and human rights groups have called upon the Members of the European Parliament to drop support for a 10% mandatory biofuel target during next week's vote on the Thomsen report.
Recently, news that Google will develop its mobile phone and enter the wireless network market has caused much discussion, both at home and abroad. Just as when Apple introduced its iPhone, people inside and outside the industry from Wall Street to Zhongguancun were surprised to find out about Google's mobile phone.
In recent years, driven by various factors including technology development, market demand and industry regulatory policies, transformation has become the logical development trend for carriers. Under heavy pressure, all major carriers have started to implement transformation and actively explore new market fields.
