(Continued from page 22)

tection, acknowledging that a significant amount of the virtual currency had gone missing.
• The exchange's CEO Mark Karpeles appeared before Japanese TV news cameras Friday, bowing deeply for several minutes.
• He said a weakness in the exchange's systems was behind the massive loss of the virtual currency.
• Speaking in Japanese at a Tokyo court, he apologized for the troubles he had caused so many people.
• Kyodo News said debts at Mt. Gox totaled more than 6.5 billion yen ($65 million), surpassing its assets.
• ___

• WASHINGTON (AP) -- It's not clear there is a shortage of airline pilots even though regional airlines report difficulty over the past year in finding enough pilots to hire, according to a draft report by a government watchdog obtained by The Associated Press.
• The U.S. airline industry will need to hire 1,900 to 4,500 new pilots annually over the next 10 years due to an expected surge in retirements of pilots reaching age 65 and increased demand for air travel, the Government Accountability Office said. The report, obtained late Thursday, was to be released Friday.
• Eleven out of 12 regional airlines failed to meet their hiring targets for entry-level pilots last year, the report said. However, no major airlines were experiencing problems finding pilots. Some airline officials did express concern that service to some cities might have to be cut back if their regional partners cannot hire enough pilots, the report said.
• Major airlines generally pay significantly higher salaries than regional carriers. The average starting salary for first officers at regional airlines is $22,400, according to the Air Line Pilots Association.
• "Data indicate that a large pool of qualified pilots exists relative to the projected demand, but whether such pilots are willing or available to work at wages being offered is unknown," the report said. And, the size of these pools of pilots has remained steady since 2000, the report said.
• ___