網頁

星期一, 10月 31, 2016

HYUNDAI, KIA TO PAY MASSACHUSETTS MORE THAN $1 MILLION TO RESOLVE FALSE FUEL EFFICIENCY CLAIMS

HYUNDAI, KIA TO PAY MASSACHUSETTS MORE THAN $1 MILLION TO RESOLVE FALSE FUEL EFFICIENCY CLAIMS
Part of a $41.2 Million Multistate Settlement that Applies to the Sale of More Than 18,000 Massachusetts Vehicles

BOSTON – Automakers Hyundai and Kia have agreed to pay more than $1 million to Massachusetts to resolve claims that the companies misrepresented the mileage and fuel economy ratings of more than 18,000 vehicles in the state, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today. The payment is part of a $41.2 million multistate settlement that resolves allegations that the companies violated state consumer protection laws. 

“We allege that these major automakers falsely advertised that their vehicles were more fuel efficient than they actually were at a time when gas prices were particularly high in Massachusetts and across the nation,” AG Healey said. “Companies cannot use false claims and deceptive practices to persuade consumers to purchase their products or to gain an unfair advantage over competitors.”

The AG’s Office filed a consent judgment in Suffolk Superior Court that is part of a resolution between 33 states and the District of Columbia and the Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor America, Kia Motors Corporation, Inc., and Kia Motors America, Inc. The consent judgment, which is subject to approval and entry by the court, concludes a multistate investigation into the companies’ representations concerning the estimated fuel economy of certain model years.

State and federal law set limits on emissions from vehicles sold in the United States. Before vehicles may be offered for sale, auto manufacturers must conduct testing under protocols mandated by government regulators and use the resulting data from that testing to support applications demonstrating their vehicles’ conformity to those standards.

In November 2012, Hyundai and Kia announced they were restating the fuel economy ratings for certain model year 2011, 2012 and 2013 vehicles after it was revealed that the companies had overstated the fuel efficiency of those vehicles. 

The states allege that Hyundai and Kia incorporated the inflated and inaccurate data into the estimated mileage ratings displayed on the window stickers of hundreds of thousands of cars in Massachusetts and across the country. The companies also allegedly capitalized on the erroneous mileage estimates by touting them in a variety of advertisements and other promotional campaigns. Attorney General Healey alleges that these actions constituted violations of the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act.

Separate settlements will provide compensation to the affected car-buyers. Consumers with questions about today’s announced settlement should call the Attorney General’s Consumer Advocacy and Response Division at (617) 727-8400.

In addition to Massachusetts, the multistate group – led by the states of Connecticut, Iowa and Illinois – includes Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

Deputy Division Chief Shennan Kavanagh and Assistant Attorneys General Lisa Dyen and Samantha Shusterman of Attorney General Healey’s Consumer Protection Division handled this matter for Massachusetts.

慈濟人文學校加入承辦新英格蘭華語文能力測驗行列

駐波士頓教育組組長黃薳玉(右一)與慈濟人文學校教務主任
鄧淑芳(左二)及監考老師。
        (Boston Orange)美國華語文能力測驗在新英格蘭地區再添一所合作學校,刻正於1029日至112日間,陸續在4考區辦理本年度測試,共約150人報名參加。
駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處教育組表示,美國華語文能力測驗在新英格蘭地區越來越受肯定,合作承辦測驗學校包括大學、主流高中及中文學校,十分多元。
慈濟人文學校是最新加入合作行列的學校,承辦華語文能測驗及兒童華語文能力測驗
駐波士頓教育組組長黃薳玉(右三)與勒星頓中文學校監考老師,
前左依許淑芬,前左三王月娥等人試前合影
今年的華語文能力測驗,從1029日起,分3日在4個考場舉行,依序為1029日在麻州西部的威廉斯學院(Williams College)1030日在慈濟人文學校及勒星頓中文學校,112新罕布夏州的倍得福高中(Bedford High School, NH)
教育組指出,今年的華語文能力測驗新增「準備級」(Novice),在閱讀測驗提供注音符號或拼音標記,初學者更容易掌握題目內容,也是初學者檢測自己學習成果的最佳選擇。
威廉斯學院監考老師。
其他的正式華語文能力測驗與往年相同,包括「入門基礎級」(Band A)、「進階高階級」(Band B)、「流利精通級」(Band C)和以兒童為對象的華語文能力測驗「萌芽級」(Sprouting)、「成長級」(Seedling)及茁壯級(Blossoming)等,共6等級。
在威廉斯學院參加本年度首場華語文能力測試的學生,大都挑戰屬高階類別的「進階高階級」(Band B)及「流利精通級」(Band C),希望將來到台灣進修華語文課程。該校學生預定明年(2017)年初到臺灣參加為期23週的海外華語文學習課程
首次參加承辦華語能力測驗的慈濟人文學校1030日上午舉行了兒童華語文能力測驗及華準備級語文能力測驗部分學生在考完後表示,題目很容易,明年一定要挑戰更高等級。
新英格蘭地區最大的華語文測驗考區勒星頓中文學校,1030日下午有近百名參加考,其中一名挑戰進階高階級(Band B)的考生,還是來自校外的美國政府公職人員。由勒星頓中文學校有經驗,志工老師多,考場秩序良好,測驗順利。
威廉斯學院監考老師。
教育組指出,華語文能力測驗試題研發嚴謹,不僅參照歐洲通用語文參考架構(Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, CEFR),也與美國外語教學協會指標(ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines)對應,是華語文學習者瞭解自學習成效的最佳工具也是中華民國(臺灣)教育部「臺灣獎學金」申請資格條件之一到臺灣留學的美國學生與計劃回臺灣升學的華僑子弟都應把握機會參加。(文稿內容及圖片均由教育組提供)

謝開明專頁: 紐英崙中華專業人員協會帝39屆年會圖片

劍橋合唱團在會議中場獻唱。


王申培(右)教授介紹孔祥重教授。

紐英崙中華專業人員協會會長蔡明機(左)和王申培教授(右)歡迎駐波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪(左二),哈佛大學電腦科學系教授孔祥重。

波士頓華僑文教中心主任歐宏偉(右二)與僑胞,左起,牙醫師李台,建築師王本仁等歡聚。

蔣繼美(左起),柯乃南,許炳煌彼此認識多年。

夏祖焯(左起),鄭洪,李小玉是大會的講者,介紹人。

孔祥重(右起),周健男,王本仁,張重華。

史美芳(右)和張松梅(左)。

到中華專協會場來募款。

Add caption


史美芳,蔣宗壬,曾宇文等人到會聽講。

鄭洪。

史美芳發言,期望中國人更強。

石家孝在金門環節中提問。

鄭洪教授保有的舊帳片,蔣介石和陳納德。


鄭洪,崔潔之夫婦和李小玉夫婦是多年好友。

中華表演藝術基金會會長譚嘉陵和鄭洪教授。

鄭洪教授簽書。

康雅雰這天負責管登記桌,為"52HZ, I love you"催票。

左起,康雅雰,康麗雪,鄭淑敏。

夏祖焯出版了"建中生這樣想"等好多本書。

哈佛大學費正清中心主任宋怡明談金門



在金門當過兵的,都來和宋怡明教授合影。右起蔡明機,程中林。

李小玲(左二)等人和宋怡明教授合影。

田文浩(左二)等仁和宋怡明合影。

紐英崙中華專業人員協會董事長王世輝(左)和李台醫師(右)等人合影。

右起,周萬欽,李小玉,蔡明機,夏祖焯,趙鍾英。 


陳秀玲

左起,李務熙,宋怡明和魏禹嫻(右)等人。

右起,許炳煌,程中林,王子仁,



中華專協會長蔡明機夫婦。





蘇信豪(左)和王世輝


中華專協將請鄭守夏教授做專題演講。

王世輝。

李小玉