One of the main issues on the summit agenda is the Strategic Plan for Afghanistan. The transition process in Afghanistan is scheduled to come to an end in 2014, at which point the Afghan government will be fully responsible for the country’s security. This means a different role for NATO after 2014, with an emphasis on supporting and training Afghan security services.

In Chicago the allies will also discuss the role played by NATO in countering today’s threats, such as terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and cyber attacks. The process of adapting NATO to respond to new threats began in 2010.

The summit is also an opportunity to examine ways of deepening cooperation between NATO countries at a time when many of the allies are cutting their defence budgets. Joint procurement, on maintenance for example, can result in greater efficiency. The various options in this area are collectively termed ‘smart defence’.

Prior to the summit, the prime minister will address a meeting of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, a think tank on international relations, speaking on the importance of the transatlantic relationship, both now and in the future. On Sunday morning 20 May, Mr Rutte will visit the offices of Mikva Challenge. There he will talk with a group of students from Chicago who, thanks to this initiative, have become actively involved in politics and public affairs.

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This project will help make Canada’s abundant supplies of cleaner-burning natural gas available to global markets including Asia’s dynamic and fast-growing economies. It brings together partners with a unique combination of strengths: innovation, financial muscle, development expertise and access to important markets.

Shell holds a 40% interest in the LNG Canada project (www.LNGCanada.ca), with KOGAS, Mitsubishi and PetroChina each holding a 20% interest. The proposed project includes the design, construction and operation of a gas liquefaction plant and facilities for the storage and export of LNG, including marine off-loading facilities and shipping.

LNG Canada will initially have two LNG processing units, or “trains,” each with the capacity to produce six million tonnes of LNG annually, with an option to expand the project in the future.

The partners will decide whether to move ahead with the project’s development after conducting engineering work and environmental assessments, as well as consultations with local communities and other stakeholders. Start-up could come around the end of the decade, assuming all necessary regulatory approvals and investment decisions.

The project announcement comes in the context of growing demand for natural gas in Asia and elsewhere, as countries look to support economic development with cleaner forms of energy.

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Wage costs account for the by far most of the costs for most care providers. The increasing number of jobs and increasing wages pushed up the total wage sum by more than 3 percent in 2011.

Spending on hospital care and specialists’ practices rose by 3.8 percent in 2011. In 2010 this increase was 6 percent. The smaller increase was mainly accounted for by a one-off payment to many hospitals in 2010 to compensate for costs of new construction. In addition, earlier fee reductions of medical specialists continued to have an effect. Spending on hospitals and specialists’ practices account for more than one quarter of total care spending.

After three years of marginal increases, spending on general practitioners’ practices rose by more than 8 percent in 2011. This was mainly caused by fee increases. Spending on the ‘chain of care’ is not included in this.

Spending on dental practices rose by only 0.8 percent. This small increase was mainly caused by removal of dental care for 18-22 year-olds from basic medical insurance. Part of this care is now paid for by private households.

Nearly 2 percent more was spent on medicines supplied through regular chemists and pharmacies in 2011. The use of costly medication contributed particularly to this increase. On the other hand, there were price and fee reductions, and restrictions on claims under basic medical insurance (contraception for women over 21 and anti-depressants). Part of the consumption of these medicines is now paid for privately. This was the fourth year in succession that spending on medicines grew only slowly.

Spending on care for the elderly, care for the disabled and mental health care showed a moderate increase of between 2 to 3 percent in 2011. Care for the elderly fell as a result of municipalities receiving less funding from central government under the social support act (Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuning).

The share of spending on care in the Dutch gross domestic product (GDP) rose slightly in 2011, to 14.9 percent. Per capita spending was 5,392 euro; in 2010 it was 5,247 euro.

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Nearly half (49 percent) of first year university students in study year 2007/’08 had received their bachelor’s degree within 4 years. This is 9 percent points more than students staring university in 2004/’05. One possible explanation for this improvement is the introduction of the binding study advice at Dutch universities. In addition, the bachelor-before-master rule may also have an effect in this respect.

The share of women receiving a bachelor’s degree within 4 years of starting university in 2007/’08 rose to 58 percent. This is 20 percent points more than the percentage of men. Although the difference between men and women has existed for a long time, it was 3 percent points smaller for students starting in 2007/’08 than for those starting in 2006/’07.

In the engineering, technical, construction, natural and information sciences in particular the graduation rates of students starting in 2007/’08 were significantly higher than those starting in previous years.

The percentage of graduates rose by most in health care and welfare disciplines: from 36 percent of students starting in 2004/’05 to 54 percent of those starting in 2007/’08. This is the result of the late introduction of the bachelor-master system in university medicine faculties. While many medical students starting in 2004/’05 started the old 4-year ‘doctoral’ programme, more and more first year students started the new 3-year bachelor programme, which is easier to complete within 4 years.

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Because of among other things the uncertainties surrounding the debt crisis, consumer confidence dropped sharply in the last three quarters of 2011. Confidence fell from -5 in the first quarter to -38 in the fourth, the lowest quarterly value ever. This was the first time ever that such a sharp fall had been recorded in the space of three quarters. In the first quarter of 2012, confidence recovered a little, but at -36 it is still at a historically low level.

Consumer confidence is now substantially negative among all groups of consumers. At the beginning of 2011, the highest incomes , 18-45 year-olds, people with higher levels of education and men were still generally positive. The largest decrease in consumer confidence was in the highest income group: from 20 to -23. But among young people, the higher educated and men, too, consumer confidence fell considerably.

From a historical point of view, confidence among higher income groups is always higher than among people with lower incomes. Also, the higher the education level people have, the more positive they are in general. Age correlates negatively: the older consumers are, the lower their confidence usually is. In addition, men are always more positive than women. In the first quarter of 2012, too, these patterns are clearly visible. The differences have become smaller in the last year, however.

Over three-quarters of people with the highest incomes said they had money to spare in the first quarter of this year, compared with 14 percent of people with the lowest incomes. Consumers say they are saving the money they have left over, not spending it on expensive items such as furniture or washing machines. In the most prosperous group, 83 percent of consumers said they were saving their money, while only 10 percent intended to buy expensive goods. In the lowest income groups this was 31 and 4 percent respectively.

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Hand and wrist injuries account for a significant share of the total number of emergency department visits in the Netherlands as well as worldwide. Erasmus MC researchers from the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the Public Health departments reviewed the number of these injuries sustained annually in the Netherlands and calculated the total cost of treatment and the loss of labor productivity.

The annual cost of hand and wrist injuries in the Netherlands is approximately USD 540 million, making them the most expensive injury type followed by knee and lower limb injuries (USD410 million), hip injuries (USD 388 million), and skull-brain injuries (USD 259 million). Productivity loss contributed more (56%) to the total costs of hand and wrist injuries than did the treatment costs. Among all the subtypes of injuries, finger, hand and wrist fractures were the most expensive, largely due to the productivity loss among patients aged between 20 and 65.

The researchers urge for improved prevention of these injuries and the development of treatment methods shortening the recovery time.

The researchers made use of data from the Dutch Injury Surveillance System (LIS), the national hospital discharge registry and a patient follow-up survey. Injury incidence, medical costs and loss of productivity were calculated.

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The Ankara Shopping Fest is organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ankara Governor’s Office, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, the Ankara Chamber of Commerce, and the Union of Chamber and Commodity Exchanges.

Kroes will come to Ankara May 17 to attend a press conference and the event’s promotion gala, according to a statement made by the Ankara Chamber of Commerce. Retailers will hold special sales during the shopping festival, which will take place between June 8 and July 1.

Doutzen Kroes shows you what’s sexy for Summer in this latest online-exclusive video for Victoria’s Secret.

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John Tedstrom, CEO GBCHealth, stated: “Heineken is an unsung hero in Global Health. It is a corporate leader who has dedicated its energy, attention and resources over more than two decades to tackling some of the most challenging global health issues of our time. From the company’s first HIV awareness and prevention programs in 1989 to its decision in 2001 to offer HIV care services as part of its employee medical benefits package (a program many other companies have since replicated), to being an integral voice in shaping critical policy efforts, Heineken has been a trailblazer in the global health space going above and beyond its core business to address issues that other companies find difficult to address.”

Stefaan van der Borght, Global Director Health Affairs HEINEKEN, said: “We are extremely honoured with this award. At HEINEKEN people are our greatest assets. No other asset in the company is as important as the people that contribute with their work to our business results. Therefore, HEINEKEN commits itself to provide a healthy working environment for all employees, contractors working on its premises and for those hired by HEINEKEN further along the supply chain. We have been actively focusing on health care of our employees and communities for over twenty years now and will continue to do so going forward. At the same time we realise our health care work has only just begun.”

HEINEKEN operates in many different countries. Particularly in the area of healthcare, being a multinational company means taking on responsibilities and actively contributing to the development of societies. HEINEKEN is active in helping combat the world’s poverty diseases: malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Its HIV/AIDS programme is an important and integrated part of HEINEKEN’s healthcare initiatives, aimed at both prevention and access to anti-retroviral drugs.

At the end of 2007 HEINEKEN launched the Heineken Africa Foundation in order to support the improvement of health for communities in sub-Saharan Africa. HEINEKEN has endowed the Foundation with EUR 20 million, which allows up to EUR 1 million per year to be invested in relevant health projects and health-related education. To date, the Foundation has committed EUR 3 million which supports 33 projects.

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This applies not only to employees gross salary, but also for what remains after tax and net premiums, according to a study in 2011 in 23 countries by organization Loonwijzer and job and career website Monster.

The wages in Western Europe are relatively high compared to other continents, but the Netherlands still leads compared to countries like Germany and the United Kingdom.

Loonwijzer is doing research on wages and conditions in 65 countries. All calculations are in dollars for a proper international comparison.

According to the study a Dutch manager earns the most with average $ 26.10 gross per hour. His British colleague follows second with $ 24.50 (19.15 euros).

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“Understanding the mobile consumer is absolutely critical for marketers, and ‘Our Mobile Planet puts an invaluable resource in their hands,” said Greg Stuart, Global CEO of the MMA. “Users can create custom charts that will help them to analyze smartphone consumer behavior and support data-driven decision making. We’re proud to have played a role in collecting the initial data for the project, and to have taken part in today’s re-launch.”

Originally launched at the MMA Forum in London in October of 2011, “Our Mobile Planet” provides users with free access to the data from the unique smartphone research conducted across 40 markets worldwide by Google in collaboration with Ipsos MediaCT and the MMA.
 For today’s re-launch, conducted with Ipsos, the IAB and the MMA, Google commissioned Ipsos to conduct new research on smartphone Internet users across 26 countries in Q1 2012. The updated research is available on the new site, thinkwithgoogle.com/mobileplanet and also provides full data downloads and executive summary reports for each country in the 2012 research.

So which six countries have the highest smartphone adoption? “Our Mobile Planet” reports that Australia, the UK, Sweden, Norway, Saudi Arabia and the UAE all have more than 50% of their population on smartphones.  An additional seven countries – the US, New Zealand, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland – now have more than 40% smartphone penetration.

“That the majority of these countries are in the EMEA region is exciting and confirms that mobile is making immense gains in Europe and the Middle East,” says Paul Berney, MMA CMO and Managing Director for EMEA.  “These figures also point to a burgeoning global mobile movement as smartphone adoption grows exponentially worldwide, and send a strong message to marketers that they need to make mobile an indispensible part of their marketing mix.”

To find out more, visit thinkwithgoogle.com/mobileplane (US) or thinkwithgoogle.co.uk/mobileplanet(UK and Global) to learn more about mobile consumer behavior and access the latest “Our Mobile Planet” research.

SOURCE Mobile Marketing Association

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