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Fowl play: 13 chicken suppliers fined record S$26.9m for price-fixing, non-compete pacts THIRTEEN distributors of fresh chicken have been fined S$26.9 million for price-fixing and agreeing not to compete for customers, the largest total financial penalty in a single case to date, the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) said in a media statement on Wednesday. Fresh chicken distributors import live chickens from farms in Malaysia and slaughter them in Singapore, selling the fresh chicken products to customers such as supermarkets and restaurants. The 13 distributors collectively supply more than 90 per cent of fresh chicken products in Singapore, with an annual combined turnover amounting to about half a billion dollars. The 13 suppliers were fined between S$705,939 to S$11.4 million, taking into account relevant turnovers; the nature, duration and seriousness of the infringement; aggravating and mitigating factors, such as cooperation with the CCCS; and representations made. "Particularly for this case, the large size of the industry, the high market shares of the parties, the seriousness and the long duration (of about seven years) of the cartel conduct contributed to CCCS imposing the highest total financial penalty in a single case to date," said the CCCS.

What is the best way to hammer the little nails from the trunking to the wall? I have difficulties holding the tiny nails while hammering it into the wall. and most of the time, the nail will bend or only can go half way. :(

Guy, for those people who uses the TPE to changi in the morning, I am sure you know about the upper changi road exit which always jammed. I think LTA has opened a new exit further down in PIE to enter changi north cresent in OCt 2012. This has not really solved the problem. Can we brainstorm what can be done to fix this and then feedback to LTA?? My suggestion 1) change the lane markings. Currently there is two lanes that can enter this exit from TPE and 4 lanes at the first traffic light junction at the upper Changi road. The current lane markings is the inner most lane will split into THREE lanes while the outer lane will conitnue as one lane. LTA should change the lanes such that both exit lanes will split into two lanes each. This will reduce the number of filtering required and helps to populate all four lanes more efficiently 2) change the traffic light timing. The timing should not be lengthened excessively but the frequency should be increased. It is because the four lanes at the junction cannot be fully utilized at the later part of the traffic light timing as there is only 2 lanes from TPE exiting. 3) Close off the left turn into Upper Changi Road north. All cars entering upper Changi Road north should use the new exit at PIE into Changi north cresent. no reason for them to squeeze with the rest of the cars going to upper changi road east. Any other suggestions? LTA feedback number: 18002255582

BRUSSELS: The European Commission has carried out surprise inspections at several major oil companies over possible price fixing in breach of EU anti-trust rules. The Commission did not name any of the companies involved in Tuesday's raids but British energy giant BP, Shell and Norway's Statoil said that their offices had been visited. The Commission statement explained that even small distortions of the market could have a "huge impact on the prices of crude oil, refined oil products and biofuels purchases and sales, potentially harming final consumers". In a statement, BP confirmed it "is one of the companies that is subject to an investigation ... We are cooperating fully with the investigation and unable to comment further at this time." A Shell spokesman said: "We can confirm that Shell companies are currently assisting the European Commission in an inquiry into trading activities. Norwegian firm Statoil and Platts, the world's leading oil price reporting agency, also both confirmed they were being investigated. "The suspected violations are related to the Platts' Market-On-Close (MOC) price assessment process, used to report prices in particular for crude oil, refined oil products and biofuels, and may have been ongoing since 2002," said Statoil, which is 67 per cent owned by the Norwegian government. The European Commission said officials "carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of several companies active in and providing services to the crude oil, refined oil products and biofuels sectors. "These inspections took place in two EU member states," a statement said, adding that one country in the European Economic Area (EEA) -- of which Norway is a member -- was also involved. "The Commission has concerns that the companies may have colluded ... to manipulate the published prices for a number of oil and biofuel products," it said. Additionally, the firms "may have prevented others from participating in the price assessment process, with a view to distorting published prices." British motoring groups and politicians lined up to voice their anger at the allegations. David Bizley, technical director of car services company RAC, said the claims were "worrying news for motorists" and vowed his company would campaign for greater transparency in the UK fuel market. Shadow energy and climate change secretary Caroline Flint called the reports "very concerning", which if true, suggested "shocking behaviour" in the oil market. "When the allegations of price fixing in the gas market were made, Labour warned that opaque deals and relying on price reporting agencies left the market vulnerable to abuse. "These latest allegations of price fixing in the oil market raise very similar questions," added the Labour MP. "Consumers need to know that the prices they pay for their energy or petrol are fair, transparent and not being manipulated by traders." Colleague Chris Leslie said any evidence of price fixing would be "a shocking scandal for our financial markets" while Conservative MP Robert Halfon repeated his calls for a full investigation into alleged cartels and market manipulation. "Last year, in a debate that I pressed for, parliament voted unanimously for an investigation into the oil market," he explained. "These latest allegations underline why that must happen urgently. "High oil prices are crushing families across Britain. Motorists are being taken for a very expensive ride." Britain's Office of Fair Trading (OFT) ruled out a probe four months ago, concluding there was "very limited evidence" that pump prices were being manipulated. Former Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman Matthew Oakeshott compared the allegations to the Libor scandal, which resulted in several banks paying out huge settlements over claims they manipulated the key interest rate. Larry Neal, the president of Platts, rejected similar accusations in a letter to the Financial Times earlier this week. "Your comparison of PRA (price reporting agency) activity to Libor is a false one," he said. "While PRAs do obtain information from 'traders who may have a vested interest in moving the markets,' the agencies do not have any such vested interest," he added. "In contrast, our role is providing market transparency." Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/busine...sib/675314.html

Global news Investigation unveils scale of match-fixing February 4, 2013 By ESPN staff An investigation has uncovered allegations of match-fixing in around 380 games across Europe. AP Europol said the joint investigation had also identified about 425 corrupt officials, players and serious criminals in 15 countries. The 380 matches included fixtures from World Cup and European Championship qualifying games, Champions League ties and top-flight league matches in several European countries. Speaking in The Hague on Monday, Europol director Rob Wainwright said the investigation uncovered "match-fixing activity on a scale we have not seen before". "This is the work of a suspected organised crime syndicate based in Asia and operated with criminal networks around Europe," he said. "It is clear to us this is the biggest-ever investigation into suspected match-fixing in Europe. "It has yielded major results which we think have uncovered a big problem for the integrity of football in Europe. We have uncovered an extensive criminal network." Wainwright said the investigation had uncovered

Read today papers and it left a bitter after taste in my mouth (not from my Kopi O Kosong). Its so easy to catch 16 agencies but the pump prices (now with masking of discounts, tie up with Credit cards, reward point perks) - with a simple Math calculation, are all the same. Sorry for the Saturday <RANTING>

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp...1040937/1/.html TOKYO: Embattled Toyota said Tuesday it is voluntarily fixing 1.3 million vehicles in North America for engine oil leaks but denied the campaign is a recall because it did not affect safety. "It is what we call a service campaign," said Toyota spokeswoman Mieko Iwasaki in Tokyo. For the past five months, she said, "we have been carrying out repairs step by step, sending letters to owners and dealers." The company had first informed North American dealers and car owners of the campaign in October and launched its third phase last week to voluntarily repair the defect, a crack in an engine hose. In an email statement received early Tuesday in Tokyo, the company said the problem "may cause oil to leak from the VVT-i oil hose producing abnormal engine noise and the oil pressure light to illuminate." "This is not a safety recall, and submitting a Defect Information Report to the (US) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is not required." Japan's biggest car maker has come under fire for its global recalls of more than eight million vehicles for accelerator and brake system defects, and has been accused of dragging its feet on making the safety flaws public. Toyota executives were due to face a US Senate panel grilling later on Tuesday after company president Akio Toyoda last week apologised in a US House hearing and did the same in Beijing on Monday. The Toyota spokeswoman in Japan said the company had already repaired free-of-charge 342,200 Avalon, Camry and RAV4 models and 374,000 Lexus ES 350 and RX 350 vehicles in the United States. In the latest phase of the US campaign started on February 22, she said, Toyota wrote to owners and dealers of 128,800 Avalon and 89,000 RAV4 vehicles, asking them to bring their cars in for the one-hour repair job. "Separately in Japan we announced in October the repair of 45,000 vehicles for the same cause. The models include the Harrier and Estima," she said.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin.../445779/1/.html like that kenna fined, what about the petrol cartel? they dont price fixing? or the anti competition pple dun dare to take the cartel on? what A BIG JOKE!!!!!

FYI, new IU might be compulsory for all new cars in 2010. -------- New ERP readers for cars By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent June 29, 2009 NEW cars will be fitted with second-generation electronic road-pricing readers from Tuesday - nine months after they were first available for motorcycles. The new readers allow motorists the option of using cards which comply with Singapore's contactless e-purse application (Cepas) - such as the new ez-link transit card. But motorists are likely to stick with the current Nets CashCard for their cars. This is because most carparks with electronic payment systems have not been converted to read Cepas-compliant cards. The Land Transport Authority on Monday said such carparks will be converted 'progressively' to read Cepas cards from October. Existing car owners do not have to change the new generation ERP readers. But if they wish to, they can do so - at $150 each. They can do so at LTA authorised vehicle inspection centres. Since the introduction of the new ERP readers last September, more than 17,300 vehicles have been fitted with it. They comprise mostly of motorcycles. For enquiries on the new ERP readers, motorists may call LTA on 1800-225-5582.

Hi Guys (n Gals) , i got my car rear-ended by a hit n run couple days back.. yeah.. lousy CNY.. as i'm doing my own payments, which is much preferred? claim through own insurance or just bite the bullet n pay cash? Btw, my car is a F07 Latio Sedan. Does anyone here has a good workshop to recommend? I need to replace whole raer bumper n taillights.. Many Tks!

Could any bros here give recommendations as per my topic subject? Thanks.

crooked a$$holes in mediacorpse ================= AN EXECUTIVE at MediaCorp Enterprises was fined $8,000 yesterday for helping to rig a lucky draw the company had been hired to organise. David Quek Siak Yeong, 43, an assistant vice-president, admitted that he agreed to accept a $2,500 bribe from a contestant in a daily draw giving out $5,000 in Shell petrol vouchers. In return, he asked a subordinate to 'pick' the man as a winner on Oct 17 last year. Quek is the most senior MediaCorp official to be implicated in the rigging of the 'free fuel for a year' promotion. Teh Gim Leng, 29, who was in charge of the daily draws, was convicted in July. He was sentenced to three months' jail and ordered to pay a penalty of nearly $6,000. Quek yesterday pleaded guilty to asking for $2,500 in fuel vouchers from 'winner' Chan Chor Meng. A second charge of asking another contestant for the same sum was taken into consideration. His lawyer, Mr Adrian Wee , said Quek had suggested 'in jest' to Teh to let some of his friends win the contest. Teh agreed as he had been doing precisely that, Mr Wee added. Asking the court not to impose a jail term, Mr Wee said MediaCorp was standing by Quek. Later, in the same district court, Long Say Chong, 34, an engineer with Rami Technology, was fined $5,000 for agreeing to accept $300 in Shell vouchers from another 'winner'. Quek and Long were among the five people charged yesterday for their role in fixing the lucky draw, but they were the only ones to plead guilty. The cases against the other three will be heard later this month - bringing the total brought to court to 18. Of the 12 'winners' charged on Nov 12, 10 admitted to the offences and were fined $5,000 or $6,000. The other two will be attending court on Dec 15 to discuss arrangements for their trials. The maximum penalty for corruption is a $100,000 fine and five years' jail

ATHENS: Greece's state competition watchdog has fined British energy giant BP and Anglo-Dutch counterpart Royal Dutch Shell nearly 50 million euros (US$63 million) for price-fixing, the body said on Tuesday. The two companies had a "concerted practice" of setting discount policy in gas stations around the country, which amounted to price-fixing, the competition commission ruled. At a November 20 meeting, the commission voted by majority to slap a 30-million fine on BP Hellas and a 19.7-million fine on Shell Hellas. "The commission found that (the two companies) had no intention of competing against each other and converged their net wholesale prices through proportionally adjusted discounts," the watchdog said. Failure to comply with the ruling within 90 days will incur an additional penalty of 10,000 euros per day, the commission added. The ruling is open to appeal at Greece's administrative courts. - AFP/de Any chance it happening here??? Price Fixing high chance will happen. Fine? No Way...

Anyone knows a good place to help fix back the tab of the headlight used to bolt the headlight in place? It seems to be plastic so cannot be soldered back, epoxy/glue scared cannot hold strongly enough. Any help appreciated!!

Below are 2 articles from today straits times forum section. Looks like nobody can do anything to these petrol companies. We are still going to be under their mercy to boost their incredible profits. Price matching OK if there's no collusion I REFER to last Friday's letter by Mr Tan Yu Wei, 'Why oil companies are seen as an oligopoly'. The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) will not hesitate to investigate if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that market players are colluding to fix prices. Action will be taken against parties found to have infringed the Competition Act. Regardless of whether the petrol companies have the same cost structure, it is not an infringement of the Competition Act for companies to match their competitors' prices, as long as these pricing decisions are made independently and not mutually agreed upon. Anyone with information on collusive activities is encouraged to contact CCS at our hotline: 1800-325-8282 or e-mail us at [email protected] . Chin Yen Yen (Ms) Deputy Director, Corporate Communications Competition Commission of Singapore ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ 'While consumers are struggling, oil companies are accumulating profits.' MS JEANNIE FOO: 'I read with alarm and amazement on Friday ('Shell profits surge 33% on record oil prices) at the news on Shell's profits, while ExxonMobil has broken its own quarterly profit record. Since January, and except in the past few weeks, petrol pump prices have gone up and up. So while consumers struggle to bear high petrol prices and high inflation, oil companies are accumulating profits. Consumers were made to believe the petrol price increase was necessary to cover overhead costs and expenses caused by the increase in crude oil prices. But now I can only conclude the crude oil price increase was just an excuse for oil companies to push up prices further to increase their own profits. Is there no law to regulate whether it is justifiable for oil companies to increase their prices? If not, we are pretty much left at their mercy.'

Further to this thread: http://www.mycarforum.com/forum/Others_C20...rices_P2317480/ Collusion of 4 vendors on Fa Gao... price fixing Wat is your thoughts about same price strategy by Petrol firms.. Or do you believe that there is very strong competition despite all matching each other's cutthroat price Even though all of them r reporting obscene profits ----- Pls do not post reply abt yadda yadda letter they hoot lowyar letter hor. Just say IMO lah... I find it strange lah, It is too incredible, etc if you wanna say something bot not say anything...

Hi guys, currently driving a mazda3, n i wanna fix up the sebring or remus exhaust for my ride. However, the placement of my exhaust opening on the rear bumper is slightly more towards the centre of the bumper instead of the usual left side s the design of the rear bumper bodykit is like dat.. Also the rear bumper protrudes out more s compared to the stock bumper.. so will it affect me fixing up the exhaust system that is meant for the mazda3? Thanks guys

Dear Airwavers, I am thinking of fixing a bike rack on the tail gate of my Airwave. I hope to carry 2 adult bicycles but could not fit them into the boot (i have 2 child seats at the back). Need some advice from those who have experience: a. Is the bike rack safe? Will it be road hazard? b. Will the bike rack or bikes damage the back of my Airwave? i.e. will it dent the bumper or tailgate or create scratches? c. The rack I intend to buy costs $45/- and is commonly used. Any specific brand that i should or should not buy? d. Any experience to share will benefit me & family cheers

Yo dudes, My ride just got another ding...this time on the driver side of the car (attention to potential suaners like Gad and PhD - this time it's really a visible ding ok?!!?). With two dings, I'm seriously considering going to have them fixed. Previously, a lot of dudes here recommended Ah Lye (AMK autopoint) to fix the ding. I have a question before going there. There's this PDR thingy by this company situated at Capitol building. Are the methods used by Ah Lye and the Capitol PDR the same? If not, anyone in the know, can share what are the different methods used by the two folks please? Thanks!

Hi guys! I've heard about the bassiness of the cl62... Would it be good if i fit 2 sets of them on my front and rear? Very newbie here, so not understanding why people don't install front and rear speakers of the same type I'm not intending to install woofers cuz my boot already very small, and then under car seats woofer, I've got feedback from my friend its not tight enough and makes the passenger uncomfortable Was thinking of getting the cl62 as a mini stand in for the missing woofer.. Heard the clarity of the 62 is not so good too... can any users feedback please? Also, I'm worried about the cone of the cl62 being too deep to be installed in my front doors... I'm also open to other combinations of speakers... just that i don't have a sub, so the speakers must at least have decent bass My budget is around 600 bucks for both front and rear Driving a lancer btw.. Pls advise... Thanks guys!