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The National Attorneys General Training & Research Institute
Center for Consumer Protection Monthly December 2018
Consumer Chief of the Month: Jane Azia, New York
I started in the New York Attorney General’s Office in 1982 under Attorney General Bob Abrams. Bob Abrams set a high bar for what attorneys general could do to protect the public. He truly cared about the people of the state and exemplified government at its best. I have served under six attorneys general since then, all of whom have brought their unique stamp to the office. Prior to coming to the attorney general’s office, I was a legal services attorney in Poughkeepsie, New York and then in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Having sued the government on behalf of my clients on a number of occasions, I was somewhat apprehensive about going to the “other” side. Any reservations I had quickly evaporated, and I soon discovered that I had found the perfect job and place to be a lawyer.
Article of the Month:
Never-Ending Game of Whack-A-Mole: Dissolving Sham Entities
Mark Boehmer, Assistant Attorney General
Office of the Colorado Attorney General
Colorado has faced a growing problem over the last few years of thousands of sham entities being created by fraudulent filings with the Colorado Secretary of State. This culminated in the Colorado Attorney General filing four cases in April 2018, successfully dissolving 217 such entities.
In these four cases, Chinese nationals filed fraudulent articles of organization or incorporation with the secretary of state using Colorado residents’ home addresses as the address for the bogus businesses.
Federal Consumer Protection News
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:
- The CFPB announced final policy guidance describing the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data the CFPB intends to make available to the public beginning in 2019, including modifications to protect consumers’ privacy.
- The CFPB issued its 2017 Fair Lending Report.
- The CFPB has filed a complaint in federal court in the District of Nevada alleging a claim of deception against Village Capital & Investment LLC, a non-bank mortgage company headquartered in Henderson, Nevada. The CFPB and Village Capital also filed a proposed stipulated final judgment and order to resolve the claim. As described in the complaint and proposed order, the CFPB alleges that Village Capital violated the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 by misleading veterans regarding its Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loans—loans that allow veterans to refinance their mortgages at lower interest rates with a loan guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Specifically, the CFPB alleges that Village Capital misled veterans by overstating the benefits of refinancing.
- The CFPB announced a settlement with State Farm Bank, FSB, a federal savings association headquartered in Bloomington, Ill. As described in the consent order, the CFPB found that State Farm Bank violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Regulation V, and the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 by obtaining consumer reports without a permissible purpose; furnishing to credit-reporting agencies (CRAs) information about consumers’ credit that the bank knew or had reasonable cause to believe was inaccurate; failing to promptly update or correct information furnished to CRAs; furnishing information to CRAs without providing notice that the information was disputed by the consumer; and failing to establish and implement reasonable written policies and procedures regarding the accuracy and integrity of information provided to CRAs.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission:
- The CFTC and the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Securities, through its Attorney General (State of Utah) filed an amended complaint alleging that Denise Gunderson Rust and Joshua Daniel Rust actively participated and aided and abetted, in a precious metals Ponzi scheme with defendants Gaylen Dean Rust (Gaylen Rust) and Rust Rare Coin, Inc. (RRC). Through this scheme, Gaylen Rust and RRC fraudulently solicited at least $200 million from investors since May 2013 for the purported purpose of pooling their money to purchase silver, a commodity in interstate commerce.
- The CFTC announced an Order of default judgment and permanent injunction has been issued against defendants Scott Allensworth (d/b/a Capital Growth Group Associates and Cobra Development Group LLP), of Newhall, California, and his California company E-Slate, Inc. (d/b/a Cobra Development Group LLP), Robert J. Fusco, of Henderson, Nevada, and David Weddle of Prospect, Kentucky, in connection with two separate fraudulent commodity pool trading schemes.
- The CFTC announced that Defendant Mark R. Slobodnik of Libertyville, Illinois, has been ordered to pay approximately $370,000 in fines in connection with a $1.76 million commodity pool fraud operated under the name Blue Guru, LLC.
Federal Trade Commission:
- At the FTC’s request, a U.S. district court in Illinois has issued a final judgment and order requiring nine related Canadian and U.S. defendants to pay more than $4.6 million for tricking small businesses into paying for Internet directory listings, search engine optimization services, or website design and hosting services they never ordered.
- A federal judge in Florida has permanently banned Kevin W. Guice from the telemarketing and debt-relief industries, agreeing with the FTC and the State of Florida that he founded and operated a massive debt-relief scam that took in over $23 million from more than 10,000 consumers, until halted by a June 2016 temporary restraining order.
- The FTC offered tips to consumers about buying internet connected toys.
- Two defendants charged with laundering millions of dollars in credit card charges through fraudulent merchant accounts have settled with the FTC.
- The operators of two Florida-based student loan debt relief schemes are banned from the debt relief business as part of agreements settling FTC allegations that they collected illegal upfront fees and falsely promised to help some consumers enroll in government programs that would reduce or forgive their student loan debt.
- One of the defendants involved in MOBE, a massive internet marketing and business coaching scheme alleged to have bilked hundreds of millions of dollars from consumers worldwide, has agreed to settle with the FTC. Under the settlement, she will turn over to the FTC control of funds held by MOBE corporate entities.
- The FTC issued the National Do Not Call Registry Data Book for Fiscal Year 2018. The FTC’s National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry lets consumers choose not to receive most legal telemarketing calls.
- The FTC is mailing 43,456 checks totaling more than $3.5 million to consumers subjected to deceptive and unfair sales and financing tactics by the Sage Auto Group and its owners between 2014 and 2016. Affected consumers will receive an average refund amount of $81.76.
- The officers of a company that marketed and sold Nobetes, a pill they claimed treats diabetes, have settled a FTC complaint alleging that the advertising claims for the product are false or unsubstantiated.
- The FTC is seeking comment on whether the agency should make changes to rules requiring that financial institutions and creditors take certain steps to detect signs of identity theft affecting their customers.
- The defendants in a Minnesota-based business opportunity scheme known as Sellers Playbook have settled with the FTC and the State of Minnesota. The FTC and the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office alleged that defendants lured consumers into believing that they would likely earn thousands of dollars a month selling products on Amazon.
- The FTC’s latest Consumer Protection Data Spotlight finds seniors sending thousands in cash to scammers claiming to be their grandchildren. Seniors lost far more money through these scams than other age groups.
Securities and Exchange Commission:
- The SEC instituted settlement proceedings against two robo-advisers for making false statements about investment products and publishing misleading advertising. The proceedings are the SEC’s first enforcement actions against robo-advisers, which provide automated, software-based portfolio management services.
- The SEC announced settled charges against a natural and organic food company stemming from weaknesses in the company's internal controls related to end-of-quarter sales practices that were designed to help the company meet its internal sales targets. Based upon its extensive cooperation with the SEC's investigation, which included self-reporting and remediation efforts, the SEC did not impose a monetary penalty on the company.
- The SEC announced that three broker-dealers have agreed to pay more than $6 million to settle charges that they provided the SEC with incomplete and inaccurate securities trading information in required SEC productions known as “blue sheet data.” The SEC uses this data to carry out its enforcement and regulatory obligations, including the investigation of insider trading and other fraudulent activity.
In other federal news:
- The United States Department of Justice announced the sentencing of a Chinese citizen for a scheme to sell mislabeled dietary supplements.
- The Federal Communications Commission issued a ruling rejecting requests to make it harder for text messaging providers to protect consumers from spam and scam robotexts.
- The United States Surgeon General released an advisory on “E-cigarette Use Among Youth.”
- The United States Department of Justice announced that a federal court permanently enjoined a Michigan company and its owners from preparing, processing, and distributing adulterated ready-to-eat food.
- The United States Department of Justice announced that a federal court in Florida sentenced Eugene Marotta to 46 months in prison for his role in a mail fraud scheme that deceived thousands of victims (many of whom are elderly) into sending money to claim a falsely promised $350,000 prize.
Attorney General Consumer Protection News and Other Items of Interest
Fifty states and the District of Columbia have reached a settlement with Wells Fargo that will resolve allegations that Wells Fargo opened millions of unauthorized accounts and enrolled customers into online banking services without their knowledge or consent, improperly referred customers for enrollment in third-party rental and life insurance policies, improperly charged auto loan customers for force-placed and unnecessary collateral protection insurance, failed to ensure that customers received refunds of unearned premiums on certain optional auto finance products, and incorrectly charged customers for mortgage rate lock extension fees.
Forty two states and the District of Columbia have settled with Encore Capital Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, Midland Credit Management, Inc. and Midland Funding, LLC (Midland) for using illegal tactics to collect unverified debts. The settlement resolves a multistate investigation into the debt-buying company’s collection and litigation practices, including claims that Midland “robo-signed” and filed affidavits containing unverified and potentially inaccurate information to support debt-collection lawsuits against consumers.
Forty three attorneys general wrote a letter to the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) urging the SSA to develop, pursuant to a newly passed federal law, a database to facilitate the verification of a consumer’s information when requested by a certified financial institution, with the consumer’s consent. The federal law is aimed at addressing “synthetic identity theft,” in which identity thieves use real Social Security numbers along with fictitious names and birthdates to manufacture new identities.
Forty state attorneys general reached a $68 million settlement with UBS to resolve allegations of fraudulent conduct involving the manipulation of LIBOR, a benchmark interest rate that affects financial instruments worth trillions of dollars and has a far-reaching impact on global markets and consumers.
A group of 40 state attorneys general are working to stop or reduce annoying and harmful robocalls. The coalition is reviewing the technology major telecom companies are pursuing to combat illegal robocalls.
Attorneys general from 12 states and commonwealths have filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana against Medical Informatics Engineering, Inc. and NoMoreClipboard, LLC, a web-based electronic health record company headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The complaint alleges the company violated provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act as well as state claims including Unfair and Deceptive Practice Law, Notice of Data Breach statutes, and Personal Information Protection Acts.
Best Buy, the AARP, and NAAG launched a campaigned aimed at raising awareness around gift card fraud.
The Alaska Department of Law’s Consumer Protection Unit is warning the public about marketing of a variety of industrial hemp-derived products that are currently not authorized for sale in Alaska.
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and NorthStar Alarm Services LLC have reached a settlement to resolve allegations that NorthStar violated the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Home Solicitation Sales Act. The company’s representatives engaged in unlawful and high pressure door-to-door sales tactics, which included misrepresenting its affiliation with other alarm companies and failing to disclose the length and cost of service contracts. In other Arkansas news, General Rutledge obtained a judgment against NuCold Refrigeration Inc. and the owner, Jerry Collins of Plumerville, based on allegations that NuCold failed to provide goods or services after consumers had already paid, provided defective goods, and failed to deliver goods or services by the promised date.
District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine sued Facebook, Inc. for allegedly failing to protect its users’ data, enabling abuses like one that exposed nearly half of all District residents’ data to manipulation for political purposes during the 2016 election. In its lawsuit, the Office of the Attorney General alleges Facebook’s lax oversight and misleading privacy settings allowed, among other things, a third-party application to use the platform to harvest the personal information of millions of users without their permission and then sell it to a political consulting firm.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office obtained a temporary injunction in connection with a complaint against Marlin Financial, Inc. to prohibit Marlin from offering alleged unlawful loans to Floridians.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr urged consumers to be on guard this holiday season and not to fall prey to telemarketing and imposter phone scams.
Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden is asking Idahoans to be aware of a new tax scam targeting state residents.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit against a California woman who has used dozens of aliases and assumed business names to create and sell tickets for fake events in Illinois and throughout the country that never occurred. In other Illinois news, General Madigan filed a lawsuit against a Chicago diabetic supplies reseller and its owner who advertised online that his company would purchase unused diabetic testing supplies from consumers in Illinois and throughout the country but failed to pay people for their supplies.
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill advised Hoosiers to beware of fraudulent emails that appear, at first glance, to come from Apple representatives.
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller’s Office has sued a Davenport resident, alleging that his businesses promised to create and distribute promotional items, including posters promoting high school sports teams, but instead defrauded small businesses across the country.
Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear issued a scam alert after his office and the Better Business Bureau said an online company claiming to be located in Lexington and selling bourbon barrels is scamming customers.
Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh announced that his Consumer Protection Division has settled charges against Maryland Speed LLC (Maryland Speed), an online retailer specializing in the sale of auto parts, and its owner, Branden Farthing. Charges against Maryland Speed and Farthing were initially brought in September 2018, and alleged that the retailer, based in Hollywood, Maryland, violated the Consumer Protection Act when it accepted payments for parts that it failed to provide to customers and refused to issue refunds.
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced that a Connecticut automobile lender will provide $733,925 in debt relief and refunds to resolve allegations that it facilitated the sale of defective vehicles by certain Massachusetts used car dealerships.
Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson filed a lawsuit against an unlicensed Virginia company that offers to help people settle their tax debt. The lawsuit alleges that the company, Wall and Associates, Inc., failed to register in Minnesota and collected large advance payments from customers of up to $15,000 prior to the full delivery of services, in violation of Minnesota law. In other Minnesota news, General Swanson filed a lawsuit against Comcast Corporation/Xfinity for charging customers more than it promised for cable television packages, charging for unordered equipment and services, and not delivering prepaid Visa cards promised in its promotions.
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood filed a lawsuit against opioid distributors Cardinal Health, Inc., McKesson Corporation, and AmerisourceBergen Corporation for failing to prevent the diversion of opioids in Mississippi. The lawsuit alleges that these three companies, who distribute the majority of opioids, have failed to prevent the diversion of those drugs by breaching their legal duties to monitor, detect, investigate, refuse, and report suspicious orders of opioids, which the Complaint states is a violation of the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act. In other Mississippi news, General Hood issued a warning to businesses across the state about an international email scam that threatens to bomb a business if money is not transferred to the sender.
Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson announced that his office has reached a settlement with Tickets in Time, LLC, Secure Ticket Purchase, LLC, and their owner, John Uhrich (collectively Box Office Ticket Sales), resolving a consumer protection case that was filed in the Lancaster County District Court in 2016. Box Office Ticket Sales is a secondary market ticket seller that resells tickets to sporting events, concerts, and other events. The state alleged that certain marketing and sales practices on Box Office Ticket Sales’ website and over the phone misled consumers into believing that they were buying tickets directly from the event venue rather than from a ticket reseller.
New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and the Division of Consumer Affairs announced that health insurance provider EmblemHealth, Inc. has agreed to pay the State a $100,000 civil penalty to resolve allegations it improperly disclosed the highly confidential personal information of more than 6,000 New Jersey customers.
New York Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood announced a record $174.2 million consumer fraud settlement with Charter Communications, Inc. and Spectrum Management Holding Company for defrauding internet subscribers.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced that the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection has filed a lawsuit against Element Kitchen & Bath Design, LLC and Michael J. Sheehan, for allegedly entering into contracts with consumers to perform home improvement services, including designing, installing, and supplying materials for renovations to consumers’ homes but failing to perform the work or performing the work in a substandard manner. In other Pennsylvania news, General Shapiro announced that the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection has filed a lawsuit and is seeking a preliminary injunction against Howard Stahl of Pearl Plumbing, Inc. f/d/b/a Roto-Rooter, and his son, Nolan Stahl, and his current business: Stahl Brothers Plumbing, Inc. d/b/a Rooter Man for allegedly defrauding Pennsylvania consumers in the course of recommending the unnecessary replacement of sewer pipes.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley’s Consumer Protection Division confirmed that the grandparents scam is targeting seniors this holiday season. In other South Dakota news, General Jackley warned consumers to be aware of a fictitious shipping company by the name Sioux Falls Vehicle Carriers that claims to be physically located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that his Consumer Protection Division finalized a settlement with the owner of several Dallas-Fort Worth area gas stations accused of price gouging last year during the state of disaster declared for Hurricane Harvey.
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey encouraged consumers to know a store’s return policy before buying gifts. In other West Virginia news, General Morrisey urged consumers to exercise caution when receiving unsolicited pay-for-prayer calls.
The Better Business Bureau released a report on subscription traps and deceptive free trial scams.
California imposed new regulations on internet of things devices.
H.R. 3359 was signed into law, which establishes the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency under DHS to develop cybersecurity and critical infrastructure security programs.
The 2018 majority staff of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations released a cybersecurity strategy report which suggests that companies need to revamp how they find and fix vulnerabilities in their Internet-connected devices. The report also highlights the priorities for the subcommittee in the upcoming year.
Veterans and Military News
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warned servicemembers of unnecessary add-on products when buying a car.
The FTC and the Department of Veterans Affairs signed an updated Memorandum of Agreement to continue ongoing efforts to stop fraudulent and deceptive practices targeted at U.S. servicemembers, veterans, and dependents who use military education benefits.
Consumer Protection Trivia
- In what year did congress give the FTC the authority to protect consumers from "unfair and deceptive trave practices?"
- Which president signed the Controlling the Assault on Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act otherwise known as "CAN-SPAM?"
A. George W. Bush
B. Bill Clinton
C. Barack Obama
D. Donald Trump
*Trivia answers can be found below.
- B. 1938
- A. George W. Bush
Blake Bee, Program Counsel for the Center for Consumer Protection, is the editor of Center for Consumer Protection Monthly, a compendium of information that may be of interest to the attorney general community and others interested in consumer protection. Neither the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) nor the National Attorneys General Training & Research Institute expresses a view as to the accuracy of the matters, nor as to the position expounded by the authors of the hyperlinked materials. Any use and/or copies of this newsletter in whole or part must include the customary bibliographic citation. NAAG retains copyright and all other intellectual property rights in the material presented in this publication. For content submissions or to contact the editor directly, please email email@example.com or call (202) 326-6263.


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NetEnt Live expands Malta studio and signs EveryMatrix reseller deal16th September 2020 7:51 am GMT
Stockholm-listed NetEnt has expanded its live casino offering with the addition of three new standard blackjack tables at its Qormi studio in Malta, alongside signing a deal to provide dedicated tables to EveryMatrix.
The increased studio capacity expands NetEnt Live’s operations and is in response to heightened demand for the supplier’s live products over the past year, while the integration with EveryMatrix’s CasinoEngine platform marks NetEnt’s first dedicated table deal this year.
“Given the recent achievements of NetEnt Live it made sense strategically to expand operations of our Malta studio, building capacity for the future projected growth,” said NetEnt Live director Andres Rengifo. “Meanwhile, by securing a key reseller partnership with EveryMatrix, we have strengthened our position within the live casino industry as a trusted supplier for dedicated business.”
CasinoEngine chief operating officer Amund Stensland commented: “NetEnt is a valuable partner to our business, and we are pleased to expand our existing partnership in live casino.
“The new blackjack tables are a valuable asset for our clients, and we are certain they will deliver amazing entertainment. EveryMatrix is a flexible provider, always looking to offer operators the entertainment options they need to grow.”
Shares in NetEnt AB (STO:NET-B) closed 2.04 per cent higher at SEK75.00 per share in Stockholm Tuesday.

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06 Apr Happy National Beer Day April 7th
But ask any craft brewery or beer enthusiast and they just might say…but “isn’t every day National Beer Day? And what beer lover could argue with that! In fact, beer is one of the world’s oldest prepared beverages dating back to 9500 BC and is probably the most widely consumed alcoholic beverage today. It is reported that following water and tea, beer is the third most popular drink overall!
The day is actually in celebration of the day the Cullen-Harrison Act was signed into law during the time of President Roosevelt. Americans could finally return to brewing and purchasing beer as long as it was no stronger than “4.05 percent alcohol by volume.”
The enforcement of this Act, as you might imagine, was a big deal for the country, and helped to nullify the attempt of the federal government to curb the so-called “decay of the American family and crimes” that had been blamed primarily on alcohol producers including wineries, breweries and distilleries. Prior to the 1873, the United States alone was home to over 4,100 breweries. Less than 50 years later, there were none. And it’s a little amazing, given the growth we have recently experienced on a national level that the recovery back has taken some time. We now have well over 7,000 breweries nationally – and while it seems like new ones are opening on a daily basis, others are being bought up by large corporate beverage companies.
Research suggests that “National Beer Day” was actually created by Virginia based Justin Smith and his friend Mike Connolly from England. They obviously chose the date of April 7th since that was the day the Cullen-Harrison Act was signed into law. The story goes that they first created it on Facebook and invited their friends to join in the celebration and initiative to make it a national holiday. This just validates once again the power of one of the social media giants – “Facebook”!
Many of TampaBay Food and Craft Beer Tours partners are planning on hosting and celebrating this day in style. In St. Petersburg alone, 3 Daughters will be putting on an extravaganza – releasing a “super special Barrel aged Saison which has been aging in Chardonnay barrels” in addition to live music and a diverse variety of food trucks to pair with their delicious brews and ciders. Green Bench will be offering $1.00 of all packaged beers.
Join in the fun and celebrate with one of the local craft breweries by lifting in “cheers” your favorite brew in recognition of National Beer Day! #NationalBeerDay


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- Electronic record management
- Automatic VAT refund
Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) has made a lot of inroads in the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to ease the collection of taxes and reduce the cost of doing business.
Today, there are a number of online and off-line softwares and technologies aimed at easing every tax payer’s life in and out of the country.
RRA introduced the use of Electronic Billing Machines (EBMs) to facilitate businesses pay for their Value Added Tax (VAT), increase taxpayers’ compliance while reducing the tax collection cost that has always been a factor in developing economies.
This was in line with the government’s need to improve the collection and compliance of Value Added Tax through the use of electronic billing machines that were introduced to all VAT registered taxpayers.
In addition, Electronic billing machines are also important electronic gadget s for taxpayers to manage their stock on a daily basis and keep track of all transactions across the entire business.
The machines are vital in producing electronic receipts quicker and transferring data into RRA servers that in turn help tax payers who claim and get their VAT refund as immediate as possible.
EBM provide a market balance and equal business opportunity to every business person and reduce stationery expenses. The technology enables appropriate tax rate assigned to products on the item as well as the name of the product.
As long as the machine prints a copy, it has the capacity to retrieve such a receipt whenever such need arises, meaning that both the taxpayer and RRA have evidence of transactions made.
Currently, RRA has so far distributed more than 16,000 EBMs and seen more than 2 million receipts printed.
Also, to boost awareness on the use of the machines, RRA started a promotion in September this year, where clients of VAT registered businesses that ask and submit their receipt numbers to RRA stand a chance to win cash prizes every month.
In September, the institution commenced with a new EBM compliance awards where a total of 50 lucky winners were rewarded with Rwf 2.5 million by Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) in total. This draw will be conducted on a monthly basis and winners will always be awarded with various prizes and announced in the key selected media channels.
Public views about EBM
“The use of EBMs is of great importance to me,” says Dusabumuremyi Innocent, a prominent business man and a taxpayer in Kabeza, Kigali. The system provides a tailor-made book keeping solution where once every sale detail is filed in the device, the data are recorded on the system and immediately communicated to the RRA system.
“The EBMs has helped me to be better in tax compliance and I am glad to be able to contribute in steering the growth of our country,” Innocent says. He adds that the EBMs will promote fair competition on the market. Where in the past some enterprises evaded taxes hence earning illegal profits, the system is ensuring every one earns his due and pays what belongs to the government hence promoting fairness. It is also reducing financial embezzlement in businesses, corruption and other malpractices.
“As a citizen and consumer, I believe that the system is a very effective means of increasing government revenue which helps the government to provide social needs to the community,” says Mukamutara Claudine, a resident of Remera, a suburb of Kigali city.
These secure devices are very important since consumers know exactly how much they paid for goods or service and tax burden which are clearly justified. “It’s therefore vital for consumers to insist on a receipt for whatever good or service,” Claudine says. She adds that receipts issued have a special electronic signature which can be verified by RRA or the consumer.
The tax body urges buyers to request for EBM invoices and participate fully in the ongoing EBM Lottery so that they can win the available prizes as well as contribute to national development since the VAT paid will be remitted to the national coffers through Rwanda Revenue Authority.
At the same time, traders are required to issue EBM receipts to clients regardless of the size and prices of goods and services sold in order to genuinely collect and remit VAT on behalf of the government because VAT is paid by the last consumer of a particular product or service.


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April 6, 2018
These new partners, in addition to the company’s internal North American team, will help Lima Sky meet global demand as a full Doodle Jump product line is released over the coming months.
previously reported, Beanstalk has been appointed to represent the brand in the U.K. Joining Beanstalk in the European region are Biplano for Spain, Portugal and France, and CPLG in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Lima Sky has also signed an agreement extending Doodle Jump’s network to Australia and New Zealand with Haven Licensing taking on the brand in both countries.
“Doodle Jump’s appeal extends far beyond one country or continent,” says Eric Karp, chief licensing officer, Lima Sky. “The addition of this matrix of best-in-class partnerships gives us unparalleled access to Doodle Jump fans around the
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Auto Expo 2014: TVS Scooty Zest unveiled in India
TVS has revived the Scooty brand with the unveil of an all-new Scooty Zest at the Auto Expo 2014. The Scooty Zest will be launched in India in the next few months. It however remains to be seen if Tata Motors, which recently unveiled its sub-4 metre sedan also named the Zest, will take exception to the name.
Powered by a larger 110cc engine from the Wego, the all-new Scooty claims better pickup and ride quality than its predecessor. Not to mention better fuel efficiency with CVTi technology being incorporated. It has also grown in terms of size with larger seats, under seat storage space and foot board area. The seat and exhaust unit are borrowed from the Wego and Jupiter scooters respectively. There are also other obvious parts sharing to sum up a very competitive pricing. The Scooty Zest will be positioned lower than the Wego and above the Scooty Pep+.
The LED tail lamp is a good-looking unit, while the overall frame is also better designed than the previous Scooty.
- 2021 Force Gurkha deliveries begin across India
- Comparison review: Jeep Compass vs Citroen C5 Aircross
- Near-production Skoda Slavia spied ahead of early 2022 launch
- 2021 Toyota Innova Crysta Limited Edition launched with added tech features, prices unchanged
- Top 10 best selling cars in India 2021 - Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai dominate


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Bitcoin trades above $40,000, snaps two-day slide
Crypto lender Nexo has teamed up with Mastercard to launch the first 'crypto-backed' payment card
Bitcoin traded above $40,000, following a day of gains after snapping a two-day losing streak and trading lower in eight of the last nine days.
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Bitcoin remains down more than 9% month-to-date and more than 10% year-to-date.
Most cryptocurrencies gained on Wednesday.
What is being called the world's first "crypto-backed" payment card has arrived.
Crypto lender Nexo has teamed up with global payments company Mastercard to launch the card on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
It represents the latest move by financial networks to bring crypto into the mainstream.
The card will first be available in selected European countries.
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The card gives a cardholder the ability to spend without selling their digital assets. Those assets, such as bitcoin, are held as collateral.
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The card, which is linked to a Nexo-provided, crypto-backed credit line, can be used at 92 million merchants worldwide where Mastercard is accepted.


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Google’s cellular fund’s platform will now allow you to get money from the ATM with out ever touching your pockets.
Android Pay now helps card-free ATM transactions at Financial institution of America; Google introduced Wednesday at its I/O builders convention. The function is on the market now at places all through San Francisco and the Bay Space.
The return places Google forward of its US competitors — neither Apple Pay or Samsung Pay assist ATM transactions but, although each firm have introduced plans to assist the function.
Money withdrawals on the ATMs work very equally to typical operations, besides you start by tapping your telephone on the ATM, fairly than inserting a card.
Android Pay can be making its first huge worldwide push, with the funds platform launching within the UK Wednesday and coming to Singapore and Australia “quickly.”
The cellular cost system, which Google first unveiled 12 months in the past, can be getting assist for contactless funds on public transit, with help for Transport London, which incorporates busses and trains.
Android Pay’s largest competitor, Apple Pay, has been quickly increasing throughout banks and the globe, coming to Singapore, Australia, and China because the starting of the yr. However with Google’s newest announcement, it appears to be like like Android Pay is not far behind.
At launch, Android Pay was supported by greater than 700,000 shops within the U.S. Now; it would even be suitable for all digital, contactless cost methods within the UK together within Starbucks, Waitrose, and public transportation stations, supplied you have got a card from one of many supported banks. Android Pay within the UK is now backed by Financial Institution of Scotland, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Financial institution, M&S Financial institution, MBNA and Nationwide Constructing Society and Google says new banks will add help quickly
The facility allows any device running Android 4.4 or higher and fitted with an NFC (near field communication) chip to act as a tap-and-pay substitute for credit and debit cards.
Several lenders, including Lloyds Bank, HSBC and Nationwide have said they will support the scheme.
Samsung earlier said its rival service would also come to the UK this year.
The South Korean handset maker has yet to be more specific about its British launch plans for Samsung Pay, which is restricted to its own Android smartphones.


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Those of us who like to enjoy a drink while staying responsibly under coronavirus lockdown are in luck.
Red wine, white wine, beer – whatever you'd normally grab from the shelf at your local supermarket is now available with a swipe of your finger.
130 Morrisons branches are involved in the collaboration which began two weeks ago but has now been expanded to include 110 different items.
This doesn't just include alcohol but also ranges from seasonal foods, treats, drinks and other household essentials.
Once you place your order, a Deliveroo driver will bring it to your door within 30 minutes.
Ordering hours have also been extended until 9:30pm.
There are some restrictions on the number of items one customer can purchase to ensure there's enough for everyone to go around.
Delivery is £4.99 except for customers with the Deliveroo Plus service.
Joseph Sutton from Morrisons said: "When we listen to customers during the lockdown they would like us to supply more treats for the emerging summer and the longer days.
"We are continuing to play our full part in feeding the nation and our partnership with Deliveroo is proving a popular way for customers to receive their food and drink."
Stores across the country are included, from Glasgow to Plymouth.
Ajay Lakhwani from Deliveroo said: "We are pleased to play our role in making sure households have access to everything they need and want as they keep safe at home.
"The expansion of the Morrisons range on Deliveroo is great news for our customers across the country, who can now enjoy an even wider selection of delicious food and drink, straight to their doorstep in under 30 minutes."


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Netflix to add age certificates to content
Content will be classified using age ratings such as U, PG and 18.
Streaming service Netflix is to work with British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) to provide age ratings to content.
All content is to be classified on the platform’s services using BBFC age ratings such as U, PG and 18.
Netflix will work together with the BBFC for a pilot programme to ensure the streaming service’s classification process produces ratings which are consistent with the BBFC’s guidelines for the UK.
The move follows BBFC and the Video Standards Council Rating Board’s (VSC) research which discovered that almost 80% of parents are concerned about their children seeing inappropriate content online.
A joint set of best practice guidelines will be published by the two organisations, which offers more consistent use of trusted age ratings online.
Recommendations also include more comprehensive use of BBFC age labelling symbols across all Video On Demand (VOD) services, and Pan European Game Information (PEGI) across online game services.
The voluntary guidelines are aimed at VOD services which offer video content to UK consumers via subscription, purchase and rental. Such platforms and services include: Netflix, Amazon Prime and iTunes.
Catch-up TV services like BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, My5 and UIKTV Play are excluded.
David Austin, chief executive of the BBFC, said: “Our research clearly shows a desire from the public to see the same trusted ratings they expect at the cinema, on DVD and on Blu-ray when they choose to watch material online.
“We know that it’s not just parents who want age ratings, teenagers want them too. We want to work with the industry to ensure that families are able to make the right decisions for them when watching content online.”
Digital minister Margot James added: “Our ambition is for the UK to be the safest place to be online, which means having age ratings parents know and trust applied to all online films and video games.
“I welcome the innovative collaboration announced today by Netflix and the BBFC, but more needs to be done.
“It is important that more of the industry takes this opportunity for voluntary action, and I encourage all video on demand and games platforms to adopt the new best practice standards set out by the BBFC and Video Standards Council."
READ MORE NEWS LIKE THIS


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Sixt Australia tempts drivers with BMW’s electric iX3
The all-electric SUVs spearhead a fleet boost of 500 new Beemers by the NRMA-backed car rental challenger.
Avis Prestige supercar rental makes Australian debut
Local drivers can now get behind the wheel of an Audi R8 V10, Maserati GranTurismo and more.
Porsche trials Australian rentals of 911, Boxster, Taycan EV
It just got easier to jump behind the wheel of the latest Porsche 911 or the exhilarating Taycan EV.
Formula 1 returns to Singapore in sign of pandemic recovery
After two years in the pits, the Red Dot gets the green light to host the F1 Grand Prix.
10 great tips for hiring a car in Australia
Whether it's actually finding a car or avoiding snags like hidden toll fees or insurance excesses, get ahead on your next rental.
Mercedes readies launch of EQS flagship electric sedan
The all-electric EQS is said to deliver more than 700km on a single charge.
Volvo's electric Polestar: Australian debut by end of 2021
The all-electric Polestar will roll into Australian showrooms before the end of 2021.
How the Porsche 911 became a design icon
Its iconic silhouette helped make the 911 is the definitive Porsche and the seminal German sports car.
Hiring a car? Your AMEX Platinum card may not cover you
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Behind the design of the Porsche Carrera GT
Porsche’s flagship supercar from the 2000s has plenty of design merits and an interesting story behind its development.
The newest Jaguar is actually 70 years old
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Review: 2021 Porsche 718 Spyder
The new 718 Spyder is a brilliant car that delivers more fun than a 911 for less money.
Ex-Aston Martin execs resurrect "the thinking man's Ferrari"
Italian exotic supercar brand Bizzarrini is under new management (again).
Step aside, Uber: here is Amazon's Zoox robo-taxi
The compact electric runabout seats four people and can run for 16 hours before recharging.
Review: 2021 BMW 4 Series
Polarising looks aside, the all-new 4 Series is a fantastic luxury sports coupe with sharp dynamics and capable touring abilities.
Review: 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS
With a V8 back under the bonnet, the Cayenne GTS is once again the sweet spot in Porsche's large SUV family.
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MG's 2021 ZS compact eSUV hits the sweet spot
The MG ZS EV is a milestone in affordable electric vehicle ownership.


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Texas-based wholesale coffee and distribution company Farmer Brothers has officially named John Moore president and CEO following an evaluation from the company’s board and advisors.
Moore, a longtime coffee professional with CEO experience, was originally hired by Farmer Brothers to lead its coffee operations last June and soon after assumed the role of interim CEO. As permanent CEO, Moore is receiving a $50,000 bump in salary plus hundreds of thousands of dollars in stock units, including some performance-based stock, according to an SEC filing yesterday.
Moore succeeds Deverl Maserang as president and CEO. Maserang last year led the company through the sale of its non-direct-store business — including a north Texas production and distribution facility — to private-label food company TreeHouse for $100 million.
In an announcement of a CEO “transition plan” last year, Farmer Brothers said the conclusion of Maserang’s employment and board position was “not connected to any disagreements or concerns with the company’s operations, policies or practices.”
According to a public statement from Farmer Brothers Board Chair Dave Pace yesterday, Moore will be tasked with leading the company’s repositioning to focus on its nationwide direct-store-delivery (DSD) model for coffee, tea and related products.
Prior to joining Farmer Brothers, Moore served as CEO of New York-based Vassilaros & Sons Coffee for approximately five years. Moore’s previous positions include senior trader and general manager at Volcafe Specialty Coffee, CEO and managing partner at FAL Coffee Inc., and vice president of sales and marketing at Dallis Bros. Coffee.
“This is an exciting time at Farmer Brothers and I am honored to be able to lead our talented team as we adapt to the ever-changing consumer landscape and continue to provide the high-quality coffee, tea and culinary products our customers have relied on for more than a century,” said Moore said in an announcement from Farmer Brothers yesterday. “I’m excited about our ability to capture the future potential of the company as we streamline our processes, improve our focus on service and increase our product offerings.”
Comments? Questions? News to share? Contact DCN’s editors here.


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A comprehensive vehicle history is the number one factor for trade buyers when acquiring used cars and vans online, new research from Epyx shows.
It was named by 88% of those surveyed, followed by the ability to choose from a wide range of vehicles on 80%, minimizing auction fees on 68%, access to a large number of car brands in on 63% and access to expert account management on 47%.
Vicky Gardner, remarketing commercial manager at Epyx, said: “These results give what we believe is a really accurate snapshot of how trade buyers view online buying at the moment.
“What they want is an excellent choice of stock, backed with strong provenance and low fees. It is all about getting high quality cars onto their web site and forecourt at minimum cost.”
The majority of the 157 people surveyed - 52% - tend to use both online and physical auctions although a substantial number – 43% - use online only.
Gardner continued: “We have been seeing an ongoing shift towards online buying. The advantages are just too strong for most trade buyers to ignore although most also continue to like to visit physical auctions on a regular basis because of the ‘feel’ that it gives them for the current state of the market.”
The research was carried out by Epyx in support of its 1link Disposal Network platform, where almost 2,000 trade buyers gain exclusive access to an extensive range of quality ex-fleet, leasing and manufacturer vehicles from major fleets and manufacturers.
Gardner said: “We are seeing use of 1link Disposal Network increase massively on a month-by-month basis and this is happening because the platform ticks all of these boxes.
“It is not only one of the longest-established and best-known trade sites but it has been continually developed to meet the needs of dealers today.”


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4Kids Entertainment CEO Al Kahn called the past year “the most challenging period of my life” in the conference call following the company’s announcement of another quarterly loss. He was referring not only to the difficult conditions at retail, which have made it difficult to get traction for the company’s Chaotic TCG, but also the fact that the company's balance sheet was hammered by the global financial crisis last year (it had over $50 million in illiquid auction rate securities at now-bankrupt Lehman).
Sales for the quarter were $7.3 million, down from $17.8 million in the year ago quarter. The loss was $5 million, about the same as last year’s $5.3 million in the same period. 4Kids has lost almost $21 million in the first nine months of the year.
Almost all types of licensing revenue were down, with the exception of Yu-Gi-Oh!, which posted a small increase vs. the year ago period.
4Kids booked $1.5 million in Chaotic TCG sales in the quarter, which is net of promotional allowances given to retailers and distributors to encourage sales of the game, and of roughly a 40% reserve for returns (i.e., $2.5 million shipped in, $1 million return reserve booked). It is shipping only 80% of orders to keep returns lower than they have been, which basically netted out to zero TCG sales in Q2 (see “4Kids Reports Loss”) after nominal sales in Q1 and in Q4 2008. Sales of the game in Europe have been below plan, due to the inability to get the show on TV in the
The over-all future of the Chaotic TCG will be re-evaluated after the end of the year, according to Kahn in the conference call. TV exposure for the property is great, and the videogame and licensed goods are hitting the market (see “Chaotic Push this Fall”), so if sales don’t begin to better reflect the increased exposure, Kahn indicated that cutbacks in investment spending will follow.
“The ability for us to cut expenses, which we have been undertaking, is now going to be accelerated, as I mentioned to make sure that the minimal revenues that we project will be more than the cost that we will assume that includes Chaotic or any other areas of our company,” he said.
The company is also eying a sale or other strategic transaction (see “4Kids Looks at a Sale”).
The company did note that its ratings for its programming block were up vs. a year ago, a very rare situation for broadcasters this year, and that it had successfully begun re-running earlier Yu-Gi-Oh! episodes on CW (5Ds is running on Cartoon Network) as a way to introduce new viewers to the property and licensed goods.


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Total existing-home sales—completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops—rose 3.1% from December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.00 million in January.
Jennifer DiCostanzo Earns Green Team New York Realty’s 2021 Yearly Sales Leader Designation
Jennifer DiCostanzo has earned Green Team New York Realty’s 2021 Yearly Sales Leader designation and also was the firm’s top sales leader in the first quarter of 2022.
DiCostanzo has been the yearly sales leader every year since joining Green Team New York Realty in 2016. In addition, she became the first Green Team Sales Associate to receive the MVP award for over $10 million in sales. In fact, she has achieved MVP status three times to date. However, she surpassed even these achievements, with a sales volume for the third quarter of 2021 of more than $10 million. She is now the first to achieve the Diamond level, for a sales volume of $15 million to $20 million.


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Nuvoton Technology Corp’s (新唐科技) announcement yesterday that it is buying Panasonic Semiconductor Solutions Co Ltd (PSCS) marks the end of Japanese electronics giant Panasonic Corp’s involvement in the semiconductor business.
The Hsinchu-based microcontrollers maker said it would pay US$250 million in an all-cash deal for Kyoto, Japan-based PSCS, which supplies semiconductor devices and solutions with products that focus on sensing, microcontroller and component technologies.
The deal is expected to close by June next year and obtain approvals from both national and regional regulators, it said.
Nuvoton, which is a subsidiary of memorychip maker Winbond Electronics Corp (華邦電子), said the acquisition of PSCS would generate greater value for the customers and shareholders of both companies, while increasing its presence in the global semiconductor industry through greater scale and volume of semiconductor solutions.
“We believe it would broaden the company’s distribution channels and customer base by exploiting PSCS’ abundant resources in research and development, as well as its large pool of talent,” Nuvoton spokeswoman Jessica Huang (黃求己) told a news conference in Taipei.
There are no plans to cut jobs and Nuvoton would integrate PSCS’ more than 2,000 employees, she said.
Nuvoton would also obtain the operating assets of Panasonic Semiconductor Solutions (Suzhou) Co Ltd, such as semiconductor equipment and warehouses; Panasonic Industrial Devices Semiconductor Asia’s assets, liabilities, contracts and other operating assets; and a 49 percent stake in TowerJazz Panasonic Semiconductor Co Ltd, a joint venture between Panasonic and Israel’s Tower Semiconductor Ltd.
PSCS booked an operating loss of ￥23.5 billion (US$214.5 million) for the fiscal year that ended in March, the Nikkei reported.
Nuvoton, with a paid-in capital of NT$2.88 billion (US$94.41million), reported net profit of NT$390.14 million in the first three quarters of this year on revenue of NT$7.58 billion.
Kadoma City, Japan-based Panasonic’s move to sell its semiconductor unit to Nuvoton came after it revealed a three-year-plan to exit the semiconductor business earlier this year.
It has faced rising competition in the semiconductor business from Taiwanese and South Korean rivals, which has been aggravated by a US-China trade spat.
Panasonic sold part of PSCS’ diode and transistor business to Kyoto, Japan-based Rohm Semiconductor Co Ltd in April.
Panasonic president Kazuhiro Tsuga earlier this month said the company would “eradicate” all continuously loss-making businesses by the fiscal year that ends in March 2022, including the production of LCD panels by 2021, while focusing on sectors such as batteries and other auto equipment, the Japan Times reported.
Additional reporting by AFP
UNCONVINCING: The US Congress questioned whether the company’s Chinese owners pose a national security risk and how the app might influence young users TikTok chief executive officer Shou Chew (周受資), confronted with an unforgiving, distrustful US Congress, tried to give answers in his testimony on Thursday that avoided offending either the US government or China. However, his evasiveness left Congress unsatisfied, with representatives hungrier than ever to punish TikTok for ties to its parent company ByteDance Ltd (字節跳動), based in Beijing. He did not bring his company any closer to a resolution. Politically, TikTok is in a tougher spot. Its executives had been discussing divesting from ByteDance to resolve US national security concerns, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. However, China this week said
The Investment Commission yesterday approved a Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) application to invest an additional US$3.5 billion in its Arizona subsidiary to manufactured advanced chips. The world’s largest contract chipmaker’s board of directors last month approved the funding project after TSMC started moving manufacturing equipment into the fab in December last year in preparation for the production of 4-nanometer chips next year. TSMC said it has also commenced the second phase of facility construction in Arizona. The second fab is to produce semiconductors using 3-nanometer technology in 2026. Altogether, TSMC plans to spend US$40 billion on the Arizona fabs, doubling its
KEY SECTOR: Taiwan’s new chip legislation is insufficient, and a more strategic ‘chip act’ that covers the whole semiconductor ecosystem is needed, MediaTek’s chairman said MediaTek Inc (聯發科) chairman Rick Tsai (蔡明介) yesterday urged the government to formulate a state semiconductor strategy and comprehensive “chip act” that includes local chip designers and smaller-scale semiconductor companies, as they are facing intensifying competition from China. The government is playing an increasingly important role in safeguarding the local semiconductor industry’s competitiveness, given that the US, the EU and Japan are offering hefty subsidies and significant tax incentives to build semiconductor capacity domestically, as they have realized the strategic importance of semiconductors, Tsai said. To implement such a program, the government should take steps to finance a “chip act,” Tsai said
Microsoft Corp has threatened to cut off access to its Internet search data, which it licenses to rival search engines, if they do not stop using it as the basis for their own artificial intelligence (AI) chat products, people familiar with the dispute have said. The software maker licenses the data in its Bing search index — a map of the Internet that can be quickly scanned in real time — to other companies that offer Web search, such as Apollo Global Management Inc’s Yahoo and DuckDuckGo. Last month, Microsoft integrated a cousin of ChatGPT, OpenAI’s AI-powered chat technology, into Bing. Rivals


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There is a good chance for Taiwanese LCD panel makers to return to the black next quarter, because recovering demand for TV panels will help end prolonged oversupply and trigger a round of price rebounds, market researcher NPD DisplaySearch forecast yesterday.
Supply has also decreased as LCD panel makers shift production to high-resolution OLED screens for smartphones and TVs, which has limited output of TV panels because of a relatively lower yield rate, NPD DisplaySearch vice president David Hsieh (謝勤益) told reporters.
“We are optimistic about the second and the third quarters ... We are seeing supply of TV panels becoming tight recently,” Hsieh said. “A lot of TV brands started placing orders to build inventory for the second half [shopping season] ahead of schedule, before panel prices go even higher.”
Some companies have already started negotiating with panel -suppliers for a deal in preparation for “Black Friday” sales, rather than booking in June or July, he said.
Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving in the US, traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.
On top of that, TV sales in China during the Labor Day holidays beginning on May 1 are expected to grow at a resilient 10 percent annual rate this year, Hsieh forecast.
Because the oversupply problem is improving, panel prices are expected to rise at a 2 percent or 3 percent monthly pace from this month through the third quarter, during which demand is expected to exceed supply more severely than this current quarter, he said.
The price increase would bring local panel companies’ net profit margin back into positive territory, or less than 5 percent, for the first time in eight quarters, he added.
DisplaySearch said supply of certain screens, including mainstream 32-inch panels, 40-inch, 42-inch and 46-inch panels, had become tight. Supply constraint was even marked for newly developed 39-inch TV screens, because many TV brands are following Haier Group (海爾) in launching 39-inch TV sets after Haier’s TV sets eroded sales of 37-inch TVs in North America, the researcher added.
Separately, Hsieh said Apple Inc would likely use new touch panels for its new iPhone, which could be unveiled in the fall, to reduce the thickness and weight of the new smartphone.
The adoption of in-cell touch panels could, to some extent, erode the businesses of Apple’s local touch-panel suppliers, including TPK Holding Co Ltd (宸鴻) and Wintek Corp (勝華), while boosting Japanese panel suppliers, such as Sony Corp, Sharp Corp and Toshiba Corp, Hsieh said.
Japanese companies led -rivals in Taiwan and South Korea in developing new touch panels by fabricating touch sensors with thin-film-transistor arrays, rather than adding sensors to the top of an LCD glass substrate, he said.
TPK and Wintek currently supply Apple with thicker touch panels made with the conventional on-cell technology for iPhones and iPads.
Meanwhile, Chinese LCD panel makers are expected to seize a 20 percent share of the global LCD panel market in 2014, up from this year’s 10 percent, while Taiwanese companies would see their share fall to 28 percent from 32 percent this year, the researcher’s tallies showed.


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By Shannon Dininny|2017-02-24T10:20:13+00:00February 23rd, 2017|
Study shows areas with floor, wall damage are key harborage sites for Listeria.
By Shannon Dininny|2017-02-23T11:29:00+00:00February 22nd, 2017|
The second day of the International Fruit Tree Association’s 60 annual conference featured a slew of speakers on topics including
By Shannon Dininny|2017-02-22T05:47:28+00:00February 21st, 2017|
The first day of orchard tours at the International Fruit Tree Association’s 60th annual conference in Washington featured a central
By Shannon Dininny|2017-02-15T14:20:23+00:00February 15th, 2017|
International Fruit Tree Association launches women’s group to provide education, mentorship.
By Shannon Dininny|2017-02-10T08:57:40+00:00February 10th, 2017|
It’s taken for granted that everyone attending the Washington Winegrowers meeting in Kennewick, Washington believes in the state’s wine industry.
By Shannon Dininny|2017-02-09T11:05:23+00:00February 9th, 2017|
Next to towering basalt cliffs, Washington winemaker finds great climate for growing grapes.
By Kate Prengaman|2017-02-10T08:57:44+00:00February 8th, 2017|
As a snowstorm raged outside, attendees at the Washington Winegrowers conference in Kennewick, Washington were eager to talk about spring
By Shannon Dininny|2017-02-20T16:01:04+00:00February 7th, 2017|
The Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers kicked off its annual meeting with a big announcement: a name change.
By Shannon Dininny|2017-02-06T09:35:31+00:00February 6th, 2017|
The largest player in Washington’s wine industry, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, estimates it will need to replace 5 percent of
By Shannon Dininny|2017-01-25T20:25:45+00:00January 26th, 2017|
Much is still unknown about contamination risks from pathogens in fruit packing warehouses. Researchers across the country are working to


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Huawei might be launching the world's fastest wireless charger alongside the Mate 30 phones
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Win prizes up to RM1,000,000 at the HUAWEI Carnival happening today. Here's how you can take part.
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Huawei is now saying its HongMeng OS is not an Android alternative. What's going on?
We take a look at HUAWEI's groundbreaking achievements over the years and why now's the best time to get a HUAWEI device
Now you'll get a two-year warranty if you buy selected HUAWEI devices. Here's why that matters
Trump changes his mind, says Huawei can buy some U.S. tech after all


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Changes to 'zero rating' is the first of many policy changes we can expect to see.
The Federal Communications Commission often took stances that angered the phone and cable industries under the Obama administration. It's already starting to lean the other way.
The regulator of broadcast TV and internet services says cellphone companies that exempt some services from data caps are good for consumers after all.
That effectively cuts prices for these services, usually ones owned by the phone company. But many consumer advocates say that ultimately hurts consumers by undermining other, independent services.


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15 March 2022 • When it comes to launching a new PR campaign it’s important to know whether it is gaining and sustaining momentum. Simon Woolley looks at the importance of signal theory to get your next campaign quickly rolling, along with some pointers to help guide you to success.
11 February 2021 • B2B organisations are proactively plotting brand stretch and moves into new geographies and industries in 2021, but their PR and Marketing agencies aren’t on the same page, says Simon Woolley.
About Simon Woolley
Simon Woolley is Senior Market Analyst at IBA International.


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Bumble Bee Foods has recalled 31,579 cases of its canned tuna due to what the company referred to as "process deviations" this week. The recall is voluntary, and was set in motion after concerns of possible health risks arose. So can you still buy Bumble Bee tuna now that much of it has been recalled?
Well, it turns out these "process deviations" took place in the packing facility where the canned tuna is produced. The San Diego-based company has assured the public through a press release that no illnesses have been reported, and that they are essentially employing a preemptive strike to avoid spoilage concerns. "These deviations were part of the commercial sterilization process and could result in contamination by spoilage organisms or pathogens, which could lead to life-threatening illness if consumed," representatives of the company said in a statement, according to Time.
The press release also included UPC numbers for three of different types of canned chunk light tuna that could potentially be affected by the process deviations. They have advised customers to get rid of these products. A list of the UPC codes for products which could have possibly been affected can be found below:
5 oz. Bumble Bee Chunk Light Tuna In Water
5 oz. Bumble Bee Chunk Light Tuna In Oil
4-pack of 5 oz Bumble Bee Chunk Light Tuna In Water
The good news seems to be that, while there was legitimate cause for concern initially, the problem appears to have been fixed. The facility where the tuna was being packaged, which is not owned by Bumble Bee Foods LLC, had a piece of machinery malfunction. The machinery has since been fixed. According to news affiliate FOX6Now, Bumble Bee senior vice president Steve Mavity maintains that the recalls are related to technical services and corporate quality. “Bumble Bee recalled specific codes of canned Chunk Light Tuna produced in Chicken of the Sea’s Georgia production facility, a third-party supplier for Bumble Bee,” Mavity said in a statement.
Bumble Bee Foods is working with the USFDA to remove possibly affected products as quickly as possible. Just remember that the affected tuna are marked with can codes that start with a "T" and pay close attention to "best before" dates, if you're still worried. As long as you're careful, any cans of tuna you might be buying for yourself from this point on should be safe to consume.


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The 2017 US Families’ Organic Attitudes and Behaviors Study released Sept. 14 by OTA “clearly shows the positive relationship between organic and parenting,” signaling “exciting times lie ahead for the organic sector,” said Laura Batcha, the CEO and executive director of the trade association.
According to the trade association, millennial parents are the biggest group of organic buyers in America, and as the percentage of this generation that has children increases from the current 25% to roughly 80% in the next 10 to 15 years, there will be “a surge of new organic eaters and consumers.”
“The survey shows that the heavy buyer of organic – the consumer who always or most of the time chooses organic – is driven by a strong belief that selecting organic for the family makes them a better parent. That buyer is actively seeking out health, nutritious choices for themselves and their children,” which is “the number one motivator for this group when choosing food, followed by the product begin organic,” according to a press release from OTA.
The survey revealed other reasons that consumers choose organic for themselves and their children are concern about the health impact of pesticides, hormones and antibiotics, “along with the desire to avoid highly processed foods and artificial ingredients for the family,” according to OTA.
These findings build on revelations from last year's survey that about half of all US parents who buy organic are millennials.
Shifting shopping habits
These priorities already are influencing shopping habits as illustrated by baby food for the first time surpassing fruits and vegetables as the top category in which consumers say buying organic is extremely important.
“Food targeted to kids was also among the categories most important for buying organic” in the survey, according to OTA.
This shift signals a more significant change long-term given “heavy buyers of organic – whether millennials with or without children – are much more likely to have been raised eating organic foods and being taught to make organic choices,” according to OTA. As such, it adds, “today’s organic buyers with children are already passing their organic habits on to the next generation, and so will the millennial parents-to-be.”
Digital sales pave the way
Organic product manufacturers and suppliers hoping to benefit from this trend would be well served to invest in online grocery distribution and digital advertising, as technology is an integral part in the daily lives of younger consumers -- including millennial parents, OTA suggests.
This advice is based on the survey’s finding that 40% of millennials shop for groceries online compared to only 30% of older parents, and that 20% of those surveyed said they liked the quality of organic produce purchased online and 17% found it to be a convenient and easy way to shop organic.
In addition, 10% reported an increase in organic purchases because of online shopping, according to OTA.
“This all suggests that online shopping has strong potential for increasing organic consumption among US families,” OTA notes in a release.
One way to tap into this is to promote organic products through online reviews, blog posts and mobile apps, through which millennial parents are much more likely to access the information compared to more traditional methods such as coupons, commercials and recommendations from friends.
Finally, OTA suggests organic producers and manufacturers can reach millennials parents through meal kits, which 37% of 18- to 35-year-old parents currently use.


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Intel, Google cooperate on Android
Intel Corporation will take advantage of the open-source accessibility of the Android platform to provide its customers with technology products that inspire continued innovation and also help enable powerful personal computing experiences that fully leverage its technology across a range of devices. This follows an announcement by Intel and Google on Tuesday, 13 September 2011, that they will work to enable and optimise future versions of Android for Intel's family of low power Atom processors. This means that future versions of the Android platform will support Intel technology in addition to other architectures.
Posted on 15 Sep 2011 13:52


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List of Contents
Synopsis- Key recommendations made during 43rd GST Council meeting and why it is a missed opportunity.
43rd GST Council Meeting took place recently. There were announcements of several measures. However, they failed to inspire any hope of recovery from the disastrous impacts of 2nd wave of the pandemic.
Key recommendations during 43rd GST council meeting
- GST Amnesty Scheme for small firms pending GST returns–
- The scheme has been recommended for reducing late fees. Now Taxpayers can file pending returns, avail benefits of the scheme, with reduced late fees.
- Annual Return Filing – The Council has recommended amending the CGST Act 2017. It allows for self-certification of reconciliation statements, instead of getting them certified by Chartered Accountants.
- The Council exempts import duty on Covid-19 relief materials- The GST Council extends the GST exemption granted on relief material received for free from abroad for donations to State-approved entities.
- The period for availing of this exemption has also been extended to August 31.
- The medicine for Black Fungus [Amphotericin-B] has also been included in the exemption list for tax-free imports.
- GST Compensation Cess to remain the same – Same formula as last year will be adopted in 2021 too. A rough estimate is that the Central Government will have to borrow Rs. 1.58 lakh crores and pass it on to the states.
Key points missed in 43rd GST council meeting
- There were no discussions on putting fuel- petrol, diesel under GST, despite high petrol prices.
- The Council failed to provide an immediate tax break for critical pandemic relief supplies despite States and industry pressing for waivers.
- Inadequate relaxation in GST amnesty scheme – There is no waiver from interest payment available to businesses with a turnover of over ₹5 crores.
- It would be beneficial to give all businesses a complete waiver of late fees for months hit by the pandemic.
- Waiting until June 8 for a final decision on extra GST exemptions for COVID relief operations are waste of time. It is especially when each day’s delay in providing relief hurts thousands.
Source- The Hindu


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March 17, 2020—
Dear USA Swimming member, Since first communicating with our members about the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we have received ample feedback, much of it focused on the safety measures being recommended. We sincerely appreciate the comments and responses you are sharing. As of today, the CDC and White House are urging a nationwide halt to gatherings of more than 10 people for the next eight weeks, citing the risk of the coronavirus. This includes avoiding eating or drinking in bars, restaurants, and food courts, and discretionary travel, shopping trips and social visits. This should also in ...
USA #Swimming canceled all sanctioned events through April 30, 2020


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Alexa Chung waited until she was ''properly back'' in the UK to launch her own fashion range, althoguh she has known for almost 20 years she wanted to be a designer.
Alexa Chung waited until she was ''properly back'' in the UK to launch her own fashion range.
The 33-year-old model and entrepreneur unveiled her eponymous label titled Alexa Chung by Alexa Chung on Tuesday (30.05.17), and although the style icon has launched clothing lines with other brands, including Marks and Spencer, this is the first time she has decided to go solo.
And the fashion muse has revealed the reason she waited so long to embark on a project of her own was because she wanted to be located in one place when she created the line.
The brunette beauty - who has also resided in New York on and off for the past six years - told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: ''I wanted to wait until I was properly back in the UK.''
And Alexa has revealed she is ''100 per cent involved'' in the entire creative process of her latest collection, although she never studied fashion design.
She explained: ''If you're asking whether I'm really involved ... yes, I am 100 per cent involved. I mean, I didn't study fashion, but I am quite good at looking at something and knowing how to make it better.''
Alexa has revealed the hardest part of her project was to find the ''right quality'' of material to use in her creations.
She said: ''It's really hard to get the right quality if you're cheap and small scale.''
And the businesswoman is modest about her new capsule as she doesn't believe her designs are the ''future of fashion'', but she does think her clothing range includes ''nice clothes''.
She explained: ''I don't think you'd turn to me for the future of fashion or a new shape, but if you want nice clothes, I think I've got them.''
Although it has taken many years for Alexa to release her own namesake label, the mogul has claimed she knew she has wanted to be a designer when she was a teenager.
Speaking about her career aspirations, she said: ''Funnily enough at 16 I wanted to be a designer.''
With the 61st Grammy Awards fast approaching, we have revised the long list of nominees once again and think we've made up our mind about who will be...
After a 21-year gap between albums and a full 19-year break as a band, Sleeper seem at last to be back in earnest.
Having announced her debut album 'When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?', Billie Eilish unveils a sinister video for her new single 'Bury a...
Imagine Dragons have now unveiled the official video for their single 'Bad Liar', following their recent animated lyric video.
Brit Award-nominated Tom Walker unveils the video for his newest single 'Just You and I' taken from his debut studio album 'What a Time To Be Alive'.
Stalker Miller have seen a will and determination come to fruition with the release of their debut album 'Homegrown By Joan'.


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Toncoin led gainers in the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, rising over 13% after the project announced its partnership with Telegram. Bitcoin and Ether were little changed during afternoon trading in Asia, but market analysts are looking at September as a period for strategic Bitcoin accumulation.
See related article: Weekly Market Wrap: ETF developments bolsters Bitcoin above US$26,000
Toncoin leads winners; Bitcoin, Ether, little changed
Toncoin was the day’s biggest gainer in the top 10 cryptocurrencies, rising 13.55% in the 24 hours leading up to 4:00 p.m. in Hong Kong, to US$1.92. This brings the coin’s weekly gains to 9.99%.
Toncoin started gaining after the protocol announced its partnership with Telegram messaging app, making the token available to the over 800 million Telegram Wallet users.
Bitcoin was little changed during afternoon trading in Asia, changing hands at US$25,885. Bitcoin’s widening daily range could be an indication of increased volatility, wrote Vetle Lunde, a senior analyst at K33 Research.
“The market dramatically underestimates the impact of U.S. BTC ETFs and, in extension, futures-based ETH ETFs,” wrote Lunde in a K33 research report shared with Forkast.
“In September, few catalysts await, offering a solid opportunity for strategic positioning ahead of an October packed with market-moving events.”
Ether, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, rose 0.36% in the past 24 hours to US$1,585, after falling below the US$1,600 psychological mark yesterday.
The total crypto market capitalization over the past 24 hours rose 0.43% to US$1.03 trillion while market volume decreased 15.13% to US$32.09 billion, according to CoinMarketCap data.
Polygon is second-largest network by 24-hour NFT sales volume
The Forkast 500 NFT index fell 0.62% to 2,077.26 points in the 24 hours to 4:30 p.m. in Hong Kong and fell 4.05% during the week.
Polygon became the second-largest blockchain network by 24-hour NFT sales volume, rising 40.22% to US$1.22 million, boosted by a 124% surge in the DraftKings collection that generated US$943,123 in sales for the network, becoming the largest collection by daily sales across all chains.
Despite the sales surge, The Forkast POL NFT Composite fell 0.39% during the day.
Ethereum’s 24-hour NFT sales rose 7.75% to US$5.7 million, as sales for the Milady Maker increased 192% to US$724,055, making it the third-largest NFT collection across all blockchains by 24-hour sales volume.
In the wider NFT space, CryptoPunk #3983, the CryptoPunk stolen from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, was sold for US$252,805 worth of Eth on Sunday.
“CryptoPunk 3983 was the first publicly claimed CryptoPunk, making him the start of a cultural movement. He was sold for US$252,000, and some are hoping he’ll find his way back to the original holder,” said Yehudah Petscher, NFT Strategist at Forkast Labs.
Asian, U.S. equities fall ahead of US CPI; European stocks slip ahead of ECB interest rate decision
The Hang Seng declined for a fifth consecutive session, despite data showing that manufacturing production in Hong Kong increased 2.6% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2023.
Major U.S. stock futures also fell, including the S&P 500 futures index, the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 futures and the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures.
Investors remained cautious ahead of the U.S. inflation reading scheduled for today that could influence the interest rate trajectory of the Federal Reserve. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is forecast to rise 3.6% year-on-year in August, up from the 3.2% increase in July, but core CPI is expected to fall to 4.3% year-on-year in August.
Over in Europe, both the STOXX 600 and Frankfurt’s DAX 40 fell over 0.5% after July industrial production in the Euro area declined 1.1% on the month, ending three months of growth.
Investors also remained cautious ahead of the European Central Bank’s next interest rate decision scheduled for Thursday.
See related article: Grayscale wins against SEC as India moves on blockchain; Friend.tech loses friends
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RESIN2Detail is to release a wing root correction set for the Hobby Boss 1:32 scale Douglas A-26 Invader
Buchon Scale Models has released a resin based cockpit interior for the Airfix 1:32 scale Spitfire Mk.I and Mk.V
DN Models have released a Ukrainian Su-27 Digital Flanker Paint mask in 1/32nd scale.
Dan Air’s Avro York has been released by popular demand, the resin based kit is in 1:144 scale
IBG Models continue their series of excellent 1:72 scale Fw 190D with the release in June of the Platzschutzstaffel [Airfield Defence Squadron] of JV44
As reported a few weeks ago, Ray Horwell at Fantasy Printshop has been quietly working on an exciting development in decals that eliminates any chance of silvering because it doesn't have a carrier film.
Adie Roberts continues his inspirations to help inspire modellers of all abilities to work out of their comfort zone building dioramas or just trying new builds.
IBG Models is to release in June a 1:72 scale Limited edition MiG-29 the proceeds of the sales going to help Ukrainian cause
Fly Models has released in 1:48 scale the Macchi M.5 with four new marking options
Double Excellent Models [DXM] is releasing in June a new 1:48 scale decal set for the F-4E’s of the IAF and ROKAF
The team at Ukrainian based Modelsvit are continuing to work on the renders of the 1:72 scale Mirage 2000B/D/N despite the appalling conditions brought on by the Russian invasion of their country
Fly Models has released in 1:48 scale the Jet Provost T.51/52
Italeri has re-released the 1:48 scale Spitfire Mk.IX with four marking options
Fly Models has released its third Edition of 1:72 scale Bristol 170 Freighter and now includes marking for the passenger carrying Wayfarer
Fine Molds has carried out a test build of their impressive looking new tool 1:72 scale Mitsubishi F-2A of the Japanese Air Self-Defence Force


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Story by Tich Kurewa
The local tourism industry is expected to ride on the surge in global travel as projected by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNTWO).
The UNWTO) says global international tourist arrivals could reach 95 percent of pre-COVID-19 levels this year, depending on the extent of some global shocks including the evolution of the Russian-Ukraine conflict.
As such, local tourism players are confident that Zimbabwe has what it takes to claim its share.
Love for Africa managing director, Mr. Blessing Munyenyiwa said, “We should continue to engage with our government and tourism ministry in trying to see how we could attract more visitors, like our fellow brothers and sisters across the river are doing. Currently most countries into South Africa and Botswana do not pay for visas; Zambia has just now also adopted that where many nationalities are no longer paying visa into that country. This makes these countries attractive for tourists to come.
“In actual fact, if you look at visa cost for an American or any other national, it’s a small number which is insignificant in the big picture. The impact of not having event that small amount, it a big marketing tool in its self in that those countries are welcome, the doors are open and that’s what Zambia has done. We need to continue encouraging our government to do the same, it’s not because we are following behind or copying anything; it’s just that it will enable us to grow.”
Shearwater marketing manager Mr. John Laing also noted, “There is need for Africa to sell its brand as a block and Southern Africa should engage IATA in order to increase flight routes into the region. This will ensure connectivity and convenience for those who will visit the region.”
According the UNWTO, more than 900 million tourists travelled internationally in 2022, double the number recorded in 2021 though still 63 percent of pre-pandemic levels.


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Brookings Institute worries Austin is too reliant on tech
Brookings Institute lumps us in with New Orleans, in terms of international diversification; ‘What if Dell moved?’
Good news for Austin: The city’s economy has one of the highest percentages of international trade in the nation.
Now the kicker: It’s largely that way because of the big electronics companies that have made Austin their home. That oversized impact does come with some drawbacks.
According to the Brookings Institute, which compiled the information, 22 percent of the trade involving the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos area is international. That’s the ninth-highest percentage for a metro area in the country; the San Jose, Calif., area is the highest at 36 percent and the Houston area clocks in at 24 percent, ranking at No. 5.
The stout international presence is good for Austin. Metropolitan areas that specialize in goods such as electronics tend to have higher trade volumes than other cities and are more global as well.
In 2010, the Austin area did $70.9 billion in advanced industrial products trade, according to the report. Of that trade, $46.3 billion was electronics. That left the city with a $19.6 billion trade surplus in electronics and a deficit in nearly every other trade category. The figures mean that Austin has the eighth-largest surplus for a section of trade across the nation and a specialization that ranks among the highest as well, according to the Brookings study.
But there are some hints that a focus on electronics and international trade might not be the healthiest way to do business.
“Metropolitan Austin is a prime example with [a much stronger than the national average electronics industry] but below-average shares in other high-value commodities such as textiles, transportation equipment and machinery/tools,” the report states.
Robert Grattan covers government, courts and economic development for the Austin Business Journal.
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