ZURICH, SWITZERLAND -- Rising tensions on the Korean peninsula has prompted EMS companies to begin plans for possible supply chain disruptions.

LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES -- Top 30 EMS provider Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc. will focus on opportunities in global growth markets, its chairman told investors at its annual meeting today.

TUALATIN, OR – LPKF will host a webinar Apr. 18 on creating molded interconnect devices (MIDs) with laser direct structuring.

EINDHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS -- The parent company of Philips Electronics will pay $4.5 million in fines to settle US Securities and Exchange Commission charges that it violated the books and records and internal control provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – Worldwide PC shipments turned in an all-time worst showing in the first quarter, falling 13.9% from the same quarter in 2012.

TAIPEI -- Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn) reported first-quarter sales fell 19% year-over-year on slower demand for Apple's iPhones.

HONG KONG -- Wong's International Holdings reported 2012 EMS revenues fell 15.3% year-over-year to HK$3.3 billion ($425 million).

WASHINGTON, PA – SMG Circuits and Global Circuits merged operations to become SMG-Global Circuits.

SANTA CLARA, CA — Demand for larger screens, higher resolution, and advanced touch functionality on smartphones and mobile PCs, in particular tablet PCs, will boost small/medium flat panel display market revenue to $71.5 billion by 2016, up 100% from a year ago.

ATLANTA — UP Media Group (UPMG) announced today that Mike Buetow, UPMG Editorial Director and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY/PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB Editor in Chief, will present the keynote “The Changing Electronics Market – and Customer” at the 17th annual Atlanta Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA) Expo.

NAPLES, FL – ERAI and the UKEA have reached an agreement to share information on counterfeit and high risk parts.

TIJUANA, MEXICO -- OnCore Manufacturing Services celebrated the ribbon-cutting on its 88,000 sq. ft. electronics assembly facility here, which will be ready for volume production later this month.