Sunday, September 15, 2013

RECENT FLOODING IN EASTERN RUSSIA

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=82020&src=eoa-iotd

EXECUTIVE INDICTED IN AUTO PARTS PRICE FIXING AND BID RIGGING CASE

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 
Wednesday, September 11, 2013

G.S. Electech Inc. Executive Indicted for Role in Bid Rigging and Price Fixing on Automobile Parts Installed in U.S. Cars

A federal grand jury in Covington, Ky., has returned an indictment against G.S. Electech Inc. executive, Shingo Okuda for his role in an international conspiracy to fix prices and rig bids of auto parts used on antilock brake systems installed in U.S. cars, the Department of Justice announced today. Today’s charge is the first to be filed in Kentucky in the department’s ongoing investigation into anticompetitive conduct in the automotive parts industry.

The indictment, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, charges Okuda, a Japanese national, with engaging in a conspiracy to rig bids for, and to fix, stabilize, and maintain the prices of speed sensor wire assemblies, which are installed in automobiles with an antilock brake system (ABS), sold to Toyota Motor Corp. and Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America Inc. (collectively Toyota) in the United States and elsewhere.

G.S. Electech Inc. manufactures, assembles and sells a variety of automotive electrical parts, including speed sensor wire assemblies. The speed sensor wire assemblies connect a sensor on each wheel to the ABS to instruct it when to engage.

According to the charge, Okuda and his co-conspirators carried out the conspiracy by, among other things, agreeing during meetings and discussions to coordinate bids and fix prices of automotive parts submitted to Toyota. According to the charge, Okuda’s involvement in the conspiracy lasted from at least as early as January 2003 until at least February 2010.

“ Today’s indictment marks the 16th executive to be charged in the Antitrust Division’s continuing investigation of price fixing in the auto parts industry,” said Scott D. Hammond, Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division’s criminal enforcement program. “Holding individuals accountable for their actions is the surest way to deter executives from choosing to collude rather than to compete for business.”
         
“Those who engage in price fixing, bid rigging and other fraudulent schemes harm the automotive industry by driving up costs for vehicle makers and buyers,” said John Robert Shoup, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI Detroit Division.  “The FBI is committed to pursuing and prosecuting these individuals for their crimes.”
                     
Okuda is charged with price fixing in violation of the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum sentence for individuals of 10 years in prison and a criminal fine of $1 million. The maximum fine for an individual may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.

Including Okuda, 11 companies and 16 executives have been charged in the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation into the automotive parts industry. To date, more than $874 million in criminal fines have been imposed and 14 individuals have been sentenced to pay criminal fines and to serve jail sentences ranging from a year and a day to two years each. One other executive has agreed to serve time in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 25, 2013.

In May 2012, G.S. Electech Inc. pleaded guilty and was sentenced to pay a $2.75 million criminal fine for its role in the conspiracy related to speed sensor wire assemblies.

Today’s charge is the result of an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct in the automotive parts industry, which is being conducted by each of the Antitrust Division’s criminal enforcement sections and the FBI. Today’s charges were brought by the Antitrust Division’s National Criminal Enforcement Section and the FBI’s Detroit Field Office, with the assistance of the FBI headquarters’ International Corruption Unit.

HHS CLAIMS AFFORDABLE CARE ACT SAVES CONSUMERS $1.2 BILLION

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 
Health care law saves consumers $1.2 billion nationwide

A new report released today by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shows that 6.8 million consumers saved an estimated $1.2 billion on health insurance premiums in 2012, due to the “rate review” provision of the Affordable Care Act, which brought unprecedented accountability to slow the growth of health insurance premiums.  The Affordable Care Act, along with state efforts, continues to bring scrutiny to proposed health insurance rate increases and is saving consumers real money as a result.

“Thanks to the health care law, we are seeing that holding insurance companies accountable is leading to increased competition and saving billions of dollars for consumers across the country,” said Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of HHS. “This type of competition and transparency will continue in the Health Insurance Marketplace, or Exchanges, where Americans will be able to shop for and compare plans side-by-side to find the one that fits their needs and budget.”

Beginning on Sept. 1, 2011, the federal rate review rules under the health care law were implemented. These rules ensure that, in every state, insurance companies are required to submit for review and justify any proposed health insurance premium increase of 10 percent or more.

To assist states in this effort, the Affordable Care Act provides states with Health Insurance Rate Review Grants to enhance their rate review programs and bring greater transparency to the process.  Forty-six states, the District of Columbia, and five territories have been awarded rate review grant funds to make the rate review process stronger and more transparent.

These provisions have put an end to the days when insurance companies could raise health insurance premiums by double digit percentages with little oversight.  Because of rate review, the report released today shows that consumers have saved approximately $1.2 billion over the past year in the individual and small group markets.

This initiative is one of many in the health care law aimed at saving money for consumers and specifically works in conjunction with the 80/20 rule, which requires insurance companies to spend at least 80 percent of premiums on health care or provide rebates to their customers, instead of overhead, administrative expenses. Thanks to the 80/20 rule, last year 77.8 million consumers saved an estimated $3.4 billion up front on their premiums as insurance companies operated more efficiently.  Insurance companies that did not meet the 80/20 rule provided nearly 8.5 million Americans with $500 million in rebates.

FIRST INTREPID SPIRIT CENTER OPENS FOR TREATMENT OF TBI AND PTS

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
First of 9 'Intrepid Spirit' Centers Opens at Fort Belvoir
By J.D. Leipold
Army News Service

FORT BELVOIR, Va., Sept. 12, 2013 - Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks 12 years ago, more than 2.5 million U.S. troops have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and over that same period, more than 260,000 service members have been diagnosed with the invisible wounds of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress as a result of combat-related injuries and accidents
To treat and care for those service members suffering from the most severe forms of traumatic brain injury, known as TBI, and post-traumatic stress, or PTS, the first of nine Intrepid Spirit Centers planned nationwide officially opened its doors here yesterday in a dedication ceremony sponsored by the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a $100-million campaign funded entirely with donations from public and private sources.
The center has actually been operating for two months and has treated some 80 patients thus far, said Martin Edelman, a trustee with the fund, who acted as master of ceremonies.

Edelman added that the ribbon-cutting ceremony also signified the transfer of the $11 million, 25,000-square-foot center to the Defense Department. A second satellite center will open at Camp Lejeune, N.C., in October, and a third at Fort Campbell, Ky., in mid-2014, he said.

David Winters, president of the nonprofit fund, said there are plans to build and equip satellite centers at Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Carson, Colo.; and Fort Bliss, Texas; as well as at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. All will be built and equipped from donations, Winters said.

All Intrepid Spirit centers will be located at military bases and medical centers around the country to provide medical care for service members meaning they will not have to leave their units and families for extended treatment. The centers are designed to enhance rehabilitation, officials said.

The design and mission of the satellite centers was based on the original National Intrepid Center of Excellence, or NICoE, which opened at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., in 2010. It's the most advanced facility of its kind in the country and serves as the center of the military's efforts in researching, diagnosing and treating TBI, PTS and related injuries.

Speakers at yesterday's ceremony included Arnold Fisher, honorary chairman of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund; Army Col. Charles Callahan, commander of Fort Belvoir Community Hospital; Dr. Heechin Chae, director of the Fort Belvoir Intrepid Spirit Center, and Intrepid Spirit patient Army Sgt. Maj. Robert Haemmerle, who told the story of his recovery from the extreme, invisible signature wounds he received in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Capping the event and speaking on behalf of senior leadership across all the services, Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John F. Campbell reminded the audience that there are still 50,000-plus soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and civilians who continue to be in harm's way in Afghanistan, and many will need the type of help the Intrepid Spirit Centers offer.

"In this short month of September, the Army has already faced close to 50 wounded and in the months of June and July, it was in the hundreds for wounded and that will continue and we seem to forget that," he said. "What makes this event here extra special is to have the opportunity to honor our warriors who have sacrificed so much on Patriot Day, a day of service and a day of remembrance 12 years [after the 9/11 attacks].

"We are succeeding in recruiting America's finest to serve in all of our military, and that is a direct result of our commitment to programs like this that care for injured soldiers and their families. If we lose that commitment, if we waiver in that commitment, we lose," Campbell said. "We thank all of you for enabling the loyal and experienced warriors and their families who want to continue to serve."

First Lady Michelle Obama later toured the Intrepid Spirit Center and nearby USO and visited with wounded warriors and their families.

NASA: WATER WORLD: THE LOST CITY

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=81976&src=eoa-iotd

FTC FORWARDS REFUNDS TO DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS CUSTOMERS

FROM:  FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 
FTC Sends Refund Checks to Consumers Who Bought Dietary Supplements

Agency Challenged Marketers’ Claims that Products could Cause Weight Loss; Treat and Prevent Colds, Flu, and Allergies

An administrator working for the Federal Trade Commission is mailing 2,546 checks averaging $71.71 each to consumers who bought Accelis, nanoSLIM, and any Cold MD, Germ MD, or Allergy MD dietary supplements between January 2006 and July 2010.
The FTC charged Iovate Health Sciences U.S.A. and two affiliated Canadian
companies with deceptively advertising that their supplements could help consumers lose weight and treat or prevent colds, flu, and allergies.

The checks, which total $182,573.43, must be cashed within 60 days after they are issued. The amount consumers receive depends upon the amount of claims they submitted that were approved. Consumers were eligible to claim up to five of a single product and up to 10 purchases total.

The deadline for filing a refund request has expired. Consumers who have questions should call 1-877-576-9978 or visit the Iovate Refunds page. For more general information, see www.FTC.gov/refunds. The FTC never requires consumers to pay money or provide information before redress checks can be cashed.

Consumers should carefully evaluate advertising claims for dietary supplements. For more information see: Dietary Supplements.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

REMARKS AS PREPARED BY DEPUTY SECRETARY ASHTON B. CARTER AT THE UNITED STATES CONSULATE IN HERAT, AFGHANISTAN

REMARKS AS PREPARED BY DEPUTY SECRETARY ASHTON B. CARTER AT THE UNITED STATES CONSULATE IN HERAT, AFGHANISTAN

U.S. RUSSIAN SECRETARIES STATEMENT ON SYRIAN CHEMICAL WEAPONS

http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/09/214250.htm

READOUT SECRETARY HAGEL'S CALL TI U.K. SECRETARY HAMMOND REGARDING SYRIAN CHEMICAL WEAPONS

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
Readout of Secretary Hagel's Call to U.K. Secretary of State for Defense Philip Hammond

Pentagon Press Secretary George Little provided the following readout:



"This morning Secretary Hagel spoke by phone with the United Kingdom's Defense Secretary Philip Hammond to discuss the ongoing crisis in Syria.  Secretary Hagel provided an update on U.S. activities in the eastern Mediterranean in response to the Syrian chemical weapons attack on Aug. 21.



"Secretary Hagel thanked Secretary Hammond for the ongoing close coordination in diplomatic channels to address the Syrian civil war and the regime's use of chemical weapons.  They exchanged perspectives on Russia's offer on securing these weapons.



"Secretary Hagel reiterated the United States' appreciation for its strong and unshakeable alliance with Great Britain and committed to remaining in close consultation with Secretary Hammond."

GUARDSMEN MOBILIZED TO ASSIST SEARCH-AND-RESCUE EFFORTS FOLLOWING COLORADO FLOODING

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
Guardsmen Mobilize to Assist With Colorado Flooding
From a Colorado National Guard News Release

CENTENNIAL, Colo., Sept. 13, 2013 - Nearly 100 Colorado National Guard soldiers and airmen, along with high-mobility vehicles and helicopters, have been mobilized to assist local authorities in search-and-rescue operations in the midst of historic flooding in the state.
At least three people have lost their lives in the flooding, according to news reports.

Guard members and equipment were assigned to assist in search-and-rescue missions and to deliver supplies, among other missions, officials said. Additionally, the Colorado National Guard has been requested to start provide traffic control points in and around the affected area today.

The soldiers and airmen are assigned to the Windsor Readiness Center; the Boulder, Fort Collins, and Denver armories; and Buckley Air Force Base.

"Supporting our neighbors in their time of need is one of the most rewarding missions the military has to offer," said Air Force Maj. Gen. H. Michael Edwards, Colorado's adjutant general. "Having readiness centers in communities such as these ensures we provide rapid for our communities."

Search This Blog

Translate

White House.gov Press Office Feed