Current Events in January 2017

Korean electronics giant Samsung says it has completed an investigation of the fires that forced it to withdraw its flagship Note 7 smartphone from the market, and it has pinned the blame on defective batteries.

At a news conference in Seoul, DJ Koh, head of Samsung's mobile communications business, said the company's investigation, backed up by various independent probes, found a short circuit within the battery may occur when there is damage to the separator "that allows the positive and negative electrodes to meet within the jellyroll."

The company was forced to recall the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 just weeks after its release when there were dozens of reports of the phones exploding or catching fire. In a couple of cases, the incidents occurred aboard commercial aircraft shortly before takeoff.

The company re-released the phones weeks later with a different battery configuration. But it wasn't long before there were reports of similar incidents, some of them dramatically captured on video and posted on YouTube. Samsung was then compelled to withdraw the newer Note 7's from the market.

Separate factors

In its report, Samsung said the investigation identified separate factors in both batteries that led to the defect -- factors that were unique to each battery.

Based on what it learned from the investigation, Samsung said it has implemented new internal quality and safety processes to ensure safety, including an "8-Point Battery Safety Check." It also announced formation of a Battery Advisory Group of external advisers to maintain "a clear and objective perspective on battery safety and innovation."

“For the last several months, together with independent industry expert organizations, we conducted thorough investigation to find cause to the Galaxy Note7 incidents.” Koh said, “Today, more than ever, we are committed to earning the trust of our customers through innovation that redefines what is possible in safety, and as a gateway to unlimited possibilities and incredible new experiences.”

Meanwhile, Samsung is said to be moving ahead with its plans for the Galaxy Note 8, the successor to the ill-fated Note 7. However, a release date for the next phone is far from certain.

Kids with autism are more than 3.5 times more likely to suffer from gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation or chronic diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Children with autism might limit their diets to just a few foods, which can often lead to constipation and belly pain. Now, new research suggests that these gastrointestinal issues may occur in response to elevated stress hormone levels.

After administering a short stress test, researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine found that the bodies of children with autism tend to release higher than average levels of cortisol in response to stress.

Heightened response

"Our findings suggest there may be a subset of patients for which there may be other contributing factors. More research is needed, but anxiety and stress reactivity may be an important factor when treating these patients," said lead author Dr. David Beversdorf.

Beversdorf, an associate professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia’s Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, says laxatives are often used to treat constipation and other lower gastrointestinal issues in patients with autism.

But knowing more about the relationship between cortisol levels and gastrointestinal symptoms could help physicians determine a better course of action.

Higher cortisol levels

In the new study, the parents of 120 young people with autism provided information about their children’s gastrointestinal symptoms. Overall, 51 children had these issues and 69 did not.

A 30-second stress test was used to evaluate the children’s stress response. Researchers looked at saliva samples collected before and after the test to measure the children’s cortisol response.

Findings revealed that children with gastrointestinal problems had higher cortisol levels in response to the stress test than those who didn’t have these symptoms.

"We know that it is common for individuals with autism to have a more intense reaction to stress, and some of these patients seem to experience frequent constipation, abdominal pain or other gastrointestinal issues," Beversdorf said in a statement.

"To better understand why, we looked for a relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms and the immune markers responsible for stress response," he explained. "We found a relationship between increased cortisol response to stress and these symptoms."

The study was published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.

Western Union has agreed to forfeit $586 million and has admitted to criminal violations, including willfully failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and aiding and abetting wire fraud.

“Western Union owes a responsibility to American consumers to guard against fraud, but instead the company looked the other way, and its system facilitated scammers and rip-offs,” said FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez. “The agreements we are announcing ... will ensure Western Union changes the way it conducts its business and provides more than a half billion dollars for refunds to consumers who were harmed by the company’s unlawful behavior.”

Reports filed by the Federal Trade Commission and other agencies charge that for many years, fraudsters around the world have used Western Union’s money transfer system even though the company has long been aware of the problem, and that some Western Union agents have been complicit in fraud.

The FTC’s report alleges that Western Union declined to put in place effective anti-fraud policies and procedures and failed to act promptly against problem agents. Western Union has identified many of the problem agents but has profited from their actions by not promptly suspending and terminating them, the FTC said.

Criminals and scam artists

“As this case shows, wiring money can be the fastest way to send it – directly into the pockets of criminals and scam artists,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General David Bitkower. “Western Union is now paying the price for placing profits ahead of its own customers. Together with our colleagues, the Criminal Division will both hold to account those who facilitate fraud and abuse of vulnerable populations, and also work to recoup losses and compensate victims.”

In resolving the FTC charges, Western Union has agreed to set up and maintain a comprehensive anti-fraud program with training for its agents and their front-line associates, monitoring to detect and prevent fraud-induced money transfers, due diligence on all new and renewing company agents, and suspension or termination of noncompliant agents.

The FTC order prohibits Western Union from transmitting a money transfer that it knows or reasonably should know is fraud-induced.

Airline companies have come to rely on computer systems in order to keep things running smoothly, but a lot can go wrong when those systems break down. Consumers may remember the technical glitches that affected Southwest Airlines and Delta Airlines last year, which led to thousands of canceled flights and millions in lost revenue.

Now, another airline company has been plagued by its own technical problem. According to a Reuters report, United Airlines was forced to ground all of its domestic flights for around an hour last night due to an “IT issue.” The company announced the ground halt in a tweet at 9:06 EST and apologized for the inconvenience.

However, stranded fliers lashed out at the company both online and in person. “This has been the worst customer service experience and worst flying service ever experienced in 30+ years,” one traveler said. The airliner offered to waive change fees and provide travel waivers to affected passengers, but the damage had been done. After about an hour, the company announced that it had lifted the ground stop and resumed flights.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that no international flights were stopped by the computer glitch but was unsure of how many domestic flights had been affected.

What’s also uncertain is how much the ground halt will end up costing United. The reparations paid to travelers, the loss of business, and the potential drop in unit prices could certainly add up. Experts estimated that Southwest lost between $54 million and $82 million as a result of its computer glitch in July, so the losses might not necessarily be chump change.

A jury in Greenboro, N.C., has awarded plaintiffs with a $20.5 million verdict against DISH Network. The class action case stems from alleged violations of the Do Not Call law.

The jury found that DISH was liable for more than 51,000 telemarketer calls placed by a DISH dealer to consumers who had placed their numbers on the national Do Not Call list. In the end, the jury said DISH was responsible for the violations and awarded the plaintiffs $400 per violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

"This case has always been about enforcing the Do Not Call law and protecting people from nuisance telemarketing calls," said Dr. Thomas Krakauer, the class representative. "I am thrilled with the jury's verdict, and thrilled we were able to win this enforcement action."

'Corporate shell game'

Attorney Brian Glasser, part of the team representing the plaintiffs, said the case was won on the strength of the DISH witnesses. He argued in court that the satellite TV provider's order entry retailer program amounted to a "corporate shell game," allowing the company to sign up new customers through illegal telemarketing practices but avoid legal responsibility.

"We believe this is the first and only jury trial for a certified class of consumers alleging Do Not Call violations," said attorney John Barrett, another of the plaintiffs' lawyers. "This was a strength-in-numbers case, one we could only bring as a class action, where we tried 51,000 claims in a single, five-day trial. We're particularly pleased with the message this verdict sends about the importance of the Do Not Call laws, the most popular consumer protection law in U.S. history."

Telephone Consumer Protection Act

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act was passed by Congress in 1991. It primarily restricts telemarketing and the use of robocallers. In 2003, it was updated to include a Do Not Call registry where consumers may register phone numbers that telemarketers may not legally call.

There are exceptions, however. In the case of a business, if you have had contact with the company as a recent customer, or requested information, the company is allowed to call you for a limited time afterward.

Charities, pollsters, and political organizations are also exempt. That's why consumers need to be on guard against a telemarketer who begins by conducting a survey but evolves into a sales pitch.

If you are on the Do Not Call list and receive a pitch for a some kind of product or service, most likely it is a scam, operating from outside the U.S. and beyond the reach of the law.

Ford Motor Company is recalling a total of 654,695 vehicles with an airbag inflator issue.

Included are model year 2012 Ford Fusions and Mustangs and Lincoln Zephyrs and MKZs originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A."

Additionally, unless included in "Zone A,” Ford is recalling certain 2009 Ford Rangers, Edges, Fusions and Mustangs, Lincoln MKXs, MKZs and Zephyrs and Mercury Milans originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, or "Zone B."

Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B," Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Rangers, Edges and Lincoln MKXs, 2006-2008 Ford Fusions, Mercury Milans, Lincoln Zephyrs and MKZs, 2005-2008 Ford Mustangs and 2005-2006 Ford GTs originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

These vehicles are equipped with airbag inflators assembled as part of the passenger front airbag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger front airbag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

What to do

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front airbag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available are expected to begin February 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S01.

Daimler Vans USA (DVUSA) is recalling a total of 11,279 vehicles with an airbag inflator issue.

Included are model year 2012 Freightliner 2500 and 3500 Sprinter and Mercedes-Benz 2500 and 3500 Sprinter vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A."

Additionally, DVUSA is recalling certain 2009 Dodge 2500 and 3500 Sprinter and Freightliner 2500 and 3500 Sprinter vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B."

These vehicles are equipped with airbag inflators assembled as part of the passenger front airbag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front airbags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

What to do

DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger airbag module, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners about the recall and telling them that parts are not yet available are expected to be mailed in February 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available.

Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.

Nissan North America is recalling a total of 152,554 vehicles with airbag inflator issues.

Included are model year 2012 Nissan Versa hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A".

Additionally, if not included in "Zone A," Nissan is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45 and 2009 Nissan Versa sedans and hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B".

Further, if not included in "Zone A" or "Zone B," Nissan is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2008 Nissan Versa vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The vehicles are equipped with airbag inflators assembled as part of the passenger front airbag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

What to do

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger airbag inflators, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.

Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Mazda North America Operations is recalling a total of 8,018 vehicles with airbag inflator issues.

Included are model year 2009 RX-8 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B."

Additionally, unless included in "Zone B,” Mazda is recalling model year 2005-2006 MPV and 2005-2008 RX-8 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger front airbag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal airbag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

What to do

Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 7, 2017.

Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0617A.

American Honda Motor Co. is recalling 977,708 vehicles with airbag inflator issues.

Included are model year 2009-2012 Acura TSX; 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon; 2010-2012 Acura ZDX; 2008-2012 Honda Accord; 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight; 2009-2012 Honda Fit; 2009-2012 Pilot; 2007-2011 Honda CR-V; 2012 Honda FCX Clarity; and 2006-2011 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid, Civic NGV vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A."

Additionally, if not included in "Zone A,” Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Fit and Pilot; 2008-2009 Honda Accord; 2006-2009 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV; and 2007-2009 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B."

Further, if not included in "Zone B," Honda is recalling certain 2008 Honda Accord; 2006-2008 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV; and 2007-2008 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

These vehicles are equipped with airbag inflators assembled as part of the passenger front airbag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front airbags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

What to do

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side airbag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.

Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KE1 and KE2.

The airport security lines are long with no end in sight. Is there a way to cut your wait time? If you are traveling outside the United States, Global Entry, a pre-approved U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program for low-risk travelers, will help you move swiftly through the lines upon re-entering the United States.

Here's what you need to know:

You apply online and pay a $100 non-refundable fee, undergo a background check, and participate in an in-person interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center.

While it is intended to expedite your re-entry into the United States, it is no guarantee that you won’t be selected for further scrutiny upon your return.

The program is available at major United States airports, but not all airports. Check here for select airports.

Global entry members are pre-approved for TSA Precheck; the membership fee for this program is $85, so for the additional $15, you get Global Entry too.

Use the TSA Precheck for domestic travel and when you depart from a U.S. airport to a foreign country.

To expedite your return from a foreign country you’ll need to use Global Entry.  

Global Entry provides access to expedited entry benefits in other countries if they are available. According to the Department of Homeland Security, they envision the further development of reciprocal Global Entry programs with additional countries, and their conversations with foreign partners are ongoing.

How it works

Avoid the long lines for passport control and make your way to the Global Entry kiosks. Scan your passport or U.S. permanent resident card, position your fingerprints on the scanner for fingerprint verification, and complete a U.S. customs declaration. Take the machine-generated transaction receipt and proceed to baggage claim and the exit.

If your receipt has an “X,” you must report to a CBP officer in the passport control booth. They’ll review your documents to determine the reason for the "X" and either release you or refer you to "secondary" for additional processing.

If your receipt has an "O," it indicates you’ve declared something. Collect your luggage and continue to the exit where you’ll meet with an officer to discuss your declaration.

Global Entry membership is valid for five years. You’ll find your program membership expiration date on your Global Online Enrollment System (GOES) home page.

You are eligible to renew your Global Entry membership six months prior to its expiration.

If you do not renew your membership and it expires, you will need to reapply.

Your membership can be revoked if you are proven guilty of a criminal offense, charged with a customs or immigration offense, or declared inadmissible to the U.S. under immigration law.

If you take just one trip outside the United States annually, the convenience of Global Entry is worthwhile.

Start the clock. It's Day One of the Donald J. Trump Administration. As the oath of office was recited on a typically dreary Washington morning -- rain, clouds, fog -- Republicans for the first time in years had control of the White House and both houses of Congress.

Eight years ago, Barack Obama was inaugurated on a promise of hope. Today, Trump has promised change -- more jobs, less regulation, a more assertive foreign policy.

It's the "less regulation" part that may get tricky for consumers. In campaign remarks and tweets, Trump and his allies have taken aim at a number of regulations that are supposed to be consumer protection measures but that are fervently disliked by the corporations whose activities they sometimes inhibit. 

A few prime examples include:

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Trump himself has not said much about this, but lobbyists for car dealers, payday lenders, and other financial service providers have vowed to gut the agency.

Created early in the Obama Administration, the CFPB has sued a long list of companies that it says gouged and mistreated consumers, including Wells Fargo, major student loan companies, and car dealers.

The CFPB is unique among agencies in that it has a single director who cannot be removed except under extreme circumstances. More common are commissions like the Federal Trade and Federal Communications Commissions, which have several commissioners who are appointed by the president and serve more or less at his pleasure. If they can't eliminate the entire agency, critics would like to decapitate it and remove its hard-charging director, Richard Cordray.

• Effect on consumers: Higher interest rates and fees, fewer protections regarding disclosures, a return to the free-wheeling days that preceded the Financial Crisis.

Among Trump's likely early financial  targets are new rules affecting the multitrillion-dollar retirement-savings industry. The new "fiduciary" rules require financial advisors to act with their client's best interests in mind, rather than putting their own sales goals first. The rules are set to take effect in about six months unless Trump can short-circuit them.

• Effect on consumers: Fewer protections against overly enthusiastic sales of annuities, mutual funds, and other financial products, possibly leading to higher fees and lower returns.

The Federal Communications Commission. Trump has expressed disdain for the "net neutrality" rules championed by outgoing FCC Chairman Charles Wheeler and adopted last year at the urging of the Obama White House. Trump's appointee to chair the FCC is likely to repeal them.

• Effect on consumers: Repealing the rules could allow broadband carriers to favor their programs and services over those of their internet competitors. 

The FCC, along with other federal agencies, is also weighing the proposed $85 billion merger of AT&T; and Time Warner, a deal Trump has promised to block.

• Effect on consumers: Hard to say. Most may not notice.

The Environmental Protection Agency. For a guy from Queens, Trump sure does like coal. He has pledged to roll back restrictions on mining and burning coal to generate electricity. He has also pledged to trash most other climate-change provisions enacted during the second half of the Obama Administration.

• Effect on consumers: A reversal in the trend towards clean energy, which itself produces many high-paying jobs. More pollution, adverse health effects. 

Automakers are hoping Trump will ease up on mileage standards, although last-minute moves by the Obamaites have locked in tough goals that won't be easy to undo.

• Effect on consumers: Allowing less efficient cars and trucks would cost consumers at the pump and might not save them much when buying or leasing a car. 

Automobile Safety. Trump hasn't said much about this, but the federal government has played an increasingly active role in policing the safety of cars and other vehicles. Most recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stepped up safety recalls and imposed heavy fines on manufacturers while also developing new rules for self-driving cars.

Trump's Transportation Secretary-designate Elaine Chao hasn't said much about this either, preferring to talk about "infrastructure," which in Washington terms means the concrete and asphalt lobby.

• Effect on consumers: Better bridges and highways would be nice but smart self-driving cars could get more miles out of existing infrastructure, many experts think.

Healthcare.  Perhaps Trump's signature pledge is the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. This is already underway but isn't likely to happen as fast as some might hope, mostly because no one quite knows what to do with the millions of people who rely on it for their health insurance.

• Effect on consumers: Uncertainty bordering on financial ruin for those unlucky enough to contract a serious illness or disability. Lack of health insurance also inhibits entrepreneurs, who are reluctant to quit their day job to start a new business and leave their families unprotected.

On the other hand, Trump may actually come up with something better. He recently proclaimed that "everyone" should be covered. If he finds a way to do that, even Obama has said he would support it.

Trump has also said drug prices are too high and has vowed to do something about it. He hasn't said just what it will be.

• Effect on consumers: Lower drug prices are an urgent necessity, especially for seniors and those with chronic conditions and orphan diseases. Anything Trump can do in this department will be a plus. 

Day Two

To be quite honest, this story is just your typical Washington thumb-sucker, something that fills up space on a day when nothing much is really happening beyond ceremonies, speechifying, and arm-waving.

Donald Trump's election, we're told, was partly a reaction against just such drivel so in the interests of public service and self-preservation we'll stop here and wait for Day Two to dawn. 

That's when things should really start to happen. Maybe. 

Tesla's Autopilot system has been found not guilty in a Florida crash that killed the car's driver when it slammed into a semi-trailer truck on May 7, 2016.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued its findings on the accident Thursday and said the driver was at fault in the accident because he had ignored Tesla's warnings that the driver must pay attention at all times that the car is in the Autopilot mode.

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) noted that Tesla has since upgraded the Autopilot system with a "strike-out" feature that disables Autopilot if the driver does not respond to visual instrument panel cues.

Auto industry executives who have been working to speed adoption of self-driving systems were relieved by the finding.

"Sigh of relief"

It was the first investigation into a fatal accident involving a self-driving system and a finding that Autopilot was at fault could have been a huge setback to the fast-developing autonomous vehicle movement. 

"The auto industry just let out a giant sigh of relief,” said Dave Sullivan, an analyst at consultancy AutoPacific Inc., in a Bloomberg story cited by Automotive News. “This could have started a snowball effect of letting automakers and suppliers become liable for human error.”

Tesla CEO Elon Musk called the finding "very positive" and noted that the company's vehicle crash rate dropped by 38 percent after it installed its auto-steer system

Others weren't so positive. Joan Claybrook, auto safety advocate and former NHTSA administrator, said the fact that Autopilot couldn't distinguish between a white truck and the sky "would seem to be a defect."

But the NHTSA finding said, in effect, that it was the driver's responsibility to see the truck.

"The Autopilot system is an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) that requires the continual and full attention of the driver to monitor the traffic environment and be prepared to take action to avoid crashes," the NHTSA report said.

In a recent report, researchers found that depression can be just as bad for your heart health as obesity or smoking. They stated that their findings would hopefully help guide the medical community towards providing more support for the condition.

Unfortunately, providing the right kind of support is a difficult problem to tackle. Depression is a complex condition that can affect anyone – and its effects can often be debilitating. Many consumers have come to rely on antidepressants to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life, but a new study shows that this could have harmful side effects.

Researchers from the Université de Montréal (UdeM) have found that pregnant women who take antidepressant drugs during the first12 weeks of their pregnancy are more likely to bear children with birth defects. The first 12 weeks were focused on, they say, because this is the time when the baby’s organ systems are developing.

"In pregnancy, you're treating the mother but you're worried about the unborn child, and the benefit needs to outweigh the risk," said senior author Anick Bérard, a professor at UdeM's Faculty of Pharmacy and researcher at its affiliated children's hospital, CHU Sainte-Justine.

Higher risk of birth defects

Bérard and her colleagues came to their conclusions after analyzing over 18,000 depressed women from the Quebec Pregnancy Cohort, which recorded 289,688 pregnancies between 1998 and 2009. They found that 3,640 of the women – or around 20% -- took antidepressants during the first three months of their pregnancy.

The findings showed that between 6% and 10% of women who took antidepressants during this period had complications with birth defects, around double the rate when compared to women who didn’t take the drugs. The researchers believe the drugs interfere with a fetus' serotonin intake, which can cause problems in development.

"Serotonin during early pregnancy is essential for the development of all embryonic cells, and thus any insult that disturbs the serotonin signaling process has the potential to result in a wide variety of malformations," they said.

Need for alternatives

The researchers urge caution for pregnant women who use antidepressants, pointing out that the drugs are sometimes only marginally effective. Bérard points out that there are other ways to treat mild to moderate depression, though having the time, money, and encouragement to take advantage of them may be difficult.

"Given that an increasing number of women are diagnosed with depression during pregnancy, (the new) results have direct implications on their clinical management. This is even more important given that the effectiveness of antidepressants during pregnancy for the treatment of the majority of cases of depression (mild to moderate depression) have been shown to be marginal,” she said.

"Hence, the need for caution with antidepressant use during pregnancy is warranted and alternative non-drug options should be considered."

The full study has been published in BMJ Open.

Previous studies have shown that obese children are more likely to develop asthma. Now, a new study suggests that kids with asthma are at a greater risk of obesity. The association was revealed following an analysis of the health records of nearly 2,200 elementary school students in California.

Investigators found that childhood asthma was linked to a 51% increased risk of obesity over the next decade. The researchers also found that the use of “rescue” inhalers reduced the risk of becoming obese by 43%.

“Asthma and obesity often occur together in children, but it is unclear whether children with asthma are at higher risk for onset of obesity or whether obese children develop asthma, or both,” said lead author Zhanghua Chen, a postdoctoral research associate of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.

“Our findings add to the literature that early-life asthma history may lead to increased risk of childhood obesity,” Chen said in a statement.

‘Vicious cycle’

While the new study did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between asthma and obesity, the authors say it did suggest a connection worthy of further investigation.

The fact that rescue, but not controller, asthma medication appeared to reduce the risk of obesity was surprising, said senior author Dr. Frank Gilliland, a professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles.

Overall, the findings highlighted the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of asthma, said Gilliland, who describes the relationship between asthma symptoms and obesity as a “vicious cycle.”

Reducing obesity risk

The link might exist, Gilliland suggested, because kids with asthma play outside less often when their symptoms flare up. Additionally, “sleep disturbances are common in asthma, and a large risk factor for obesity," he said.

To reduce the risk of obesity, the authors say children with asthma can use simple but effective strategies for improving their overall health. Strategies include eating a healthy diet and increasing physical activity, as well as knowing triggers and maintaining control of the chronic respiratory condition through medication.

The full study has been published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Despite its growing popularity among consumers, Uber has seen its share of legal confrontations over the past couple of years. In the last month alone, the company was ordered to take its self-driving cars off the road in California and incurred the ire of Senator Al Franken over its privacy policy.

Now, the company will pay $20 million to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over charges of misleading drivers. The agency says Uber exaggerated about the amount of money drivers could earn while operating in certain cities and how much financing was available under its Vehicle Solutions Program. The $20 million will go towards refunding affected drivers across the U.S.

“Many consumers sign up to drive for Uber, but they shouldn’t be taken for a ride about their earnings potential or the cost of financing a car through Uber. This settlement will put millions of dollars back in Uber drivers’ pockets,” said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

False claims and promises

The FTC points to claims made by Uber on its website about the amount of money UberX drivers could make in certain U.S. cities. The company had proclaimed that drivers’ annual median income was over $90,000 in New York City and more than $74,000 in San Francisco, but the real numbers were actually much lower.

The agency says that the actual annual median income was $61,000 in New York City and $53,000 in San Francisco. Less than 10% of drivers in either city actually earned the inflated numbers that Uber posted on its website, the agency said. Further, the FTC charges that Uber made inflated hourly earnings claims in job listings on sites like Craiglist, but the average driver in cities across the country weren’t able to earn those amounts.

Additionally, the agency takes umbrage with claims Uber made about its Vehicle Solutions Program, which is meant to provide drivers with the “best financing options available,” regardless of credit history. Uber proclaimed that drivers could “own a car for as little as $20/day” or could lease a car for “payments as low as $17 per day.” However, the FTC says that from late 2013 to April of 2015, drivers paid median weekly purchase and lease payments of $160 and $200, respectively.

Uber also allegedly failed to follow through on its promises in auto financing agreements, and drivers were left with worse rates than other drivers with similar credit histories. The company claimed that drivers could lease cars with unlimited mileage through the program as well, when, in fact, the agreements came with mileage restrictions.

What to do

In addition to paying $20 million, the settlement forbids Uber from misrepresenting drivers’ earnings or details about its Vehicles Solution Program.

The FTC will be depositing the $20 mllion into an equitable relief fund that will be used to compensate affected consumers. You can learn more about how the FTC will be distributing the refund by visiting its site here.

A skin cream used to treat cancer in people has been linked to five dog deaths, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency is warning pet owners who have this drug -- known as 5% Fluorouracil cream USP (or 5-FU) -- to use care while storing and using the topical medication.

The skin cancer cream is dangerous to pets in even the smallest amounts, the FDA warns. In one recent case, two dogs died after having simply punctured a tube of fluorouracil. Shortly thereafter, they began vomiting and having seizures. Twelve hours later, the pets died, reports NBC News.

Cats also at risk

Fluorouracil is a topical chemotherapy drug used to treat precancerous sun-damaged skin as well as some basal cell skin cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. It is also sold under the names Carac, Effudex, and Fluoroplex.

Although no reports of cats suffering adverse events after being exposed to the medication have surfaced, the FDA says felines are also likely to be extremely sensitive to the drug. While cats may be unlikely to sink their teeth into a tube of the medication, they can be poisoned in other ways.

For instance, if you apply the cream and then touch your cat, the cat may ingest the medication when grooming itself.

What to do

Pet owners who use Fluorouracil cream should take the following measures to keep pets safe:

• Store fluorouracil and all other medications where pets can't get to them.

• Safely discard or clean any cloth or applicator that may contain medication. Don't leave any residue of medication on hands, clothing, carpeting or furniture.

• If your pet is exposed to fluorouracil, contact a veterinarian immediately. If a pet shows signs of medication exposure such as vomiting, seizing, or other illness, seek immediate veterinary care and be sure to provide the details of the exposure.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling a total of 543,326 vehicles with airbag inflator issues.

The recall includes model year 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A."

Additionally, unless included in "Zone A," Toyota is recalling model year 2009 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Yaris HB, Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe, Lexus, ES350, IS250, IS350, and IS-F vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B."

Further, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B," Toyota is recalling model year 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and IS350, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350, Toyota Yaris, Yaris HB, and 2008 Lexus IS-F and Scion xB vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger front airbag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger front airbag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

What to do

Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger front airbag inflator or the airbag assembly, free of charge.

Interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available are expected to begin January 30, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for interim notification for this campaign are G1P (Toyota Zone A), G1R (Toyota Zone B), H1A (Toyota Zone C), G2G (Lexus Zone A), G2H (Lexus Zone B) and H2A (Lexus Zone C). Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), H0A (Toyota Zone C), GLG (Lexus Zone A), GLH (Lexus Zone B) and HLA (Lexus Zone C).