Current Events in May 2018

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    Honda recalls vehicles with front passenger airbag issue

    The airbag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement

    American Honda Motor Company is recalling 492 model year 2003-2012 Honda Accords and Pilots, model year 2010 Accord Crosstours, model year 2001-2011 Civics, model year 2002-2011 CR-Vs, model year 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Elements, model year 2007 and 2009-2013 Fits, model year 2010-2012 Insights, model year 2002-2004 Odysseys, and model year 2012 Ridgelines.

    The front passenger airbag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.

    An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    What to do

    Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge.

    The recall is expected to begin June 1, 2018.

    Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.

    American Honda Motor Company is recalling 492 model year 2003-2012 Honda Accords and Pilots, model year 2010 Accord Crosstours, model year 2001-2011 Civics...

    Volkswagen recalls Tiguan long wheelbase vehicles

    The rear shocks may have poor welds

    Volkswagen Group of America is recalling more than 7,000 model year 2018 Tiguan long wheelbase (LWB) vehicles.

    A lower loop of a rear shock absorber may separate from its base due to an incorrect welding process, causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.

    What to do

    Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear shock absorbers, replacing them as necessary, free of charge.

    The recall is expected to begin June 25, 2018.

    Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42i7.

    Volkswagen Group of America is recalling more than 7,000 model year 2018 Tiguan long wheelbase (LWB) vehicles.A lower loop of a rear shock absorber may...

    Tesla vehicle in Autopilot mode crashes into fire truck in Utah

    The accident may raise further concerns about self-driving car technology

    Tesla has been dominating the news cycle as of late -- and for all the wrong reasons.

    In the most recent incident over the weekend, a Utah woman slammed into the back of a local fire department vehicle while her Tesla Model S’ semi-autonomous Autopilot feature was engaged. The 28 year-old driver admitted to looking at her phone before the crash, despite the company’s mandate that customers remain alert while using Autopilot, and not rely on the system entirely.

    While a Tesla spokesperson failed to comment following the accident, the company’s co-founder Elon Musk took to Twitter to note that it was “super messed up” that the latest accident had garnered so much public attention, while accidents involving traditional cars “get almost no coverage.”

    South Jordan police reported the vehicle was going 60 mph when it slammed into the back of a fire truck at a red light. The driver of the Tesla, who was taken to the hospital with a broken foot, has yet to be named, and police reported she did not brake before impact of the crash. The driver of the fire truck was evaluated for whiplash but was not checked into the hospital.

    “What’s actually amazing about this accident is that a Model S hit a fire truck at 60 mph and the driver only broke an ankle,” Musk tweeted. “An impact that speed usually results in severe injury or death.”

    Concern builds over self-driving cars

    As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace and the thought of self-driving cars slowly starts to become a reality, consumers are leery of giving up total control of the wheel.

    A survey done as recently as February found that nearly 60 percent of drivers who currently own a connected car said they wouldn’t buy a self-driving car, even if money wasn’t a factor. (A connected car is one that has safety features such as: Bluetooth connectivity, safety sensors, GPS navigation, remote door locks, WiFi, or voice assistance.)

    Back in March, an Uber in self-driving mode hit and killed a woman in Tempe, Arizona. The car had a human safety driver but was in autonomous mode when the accident occurred, and Uber failed to reveal additional details. Following the accident, and much consumer outcry over the safety of autonomous vehicles, Uber and Waymo advocated to have legislation passed that would quickly expand self-driving vehicle testing.

    Another blemish for Tesla

    While consumers nationwide have reason to be on edge when it comes to the fast-growing self-driving car industry, Tesla’s Autopilot feature has been a hot button issue for some time now, despite the company touting it as “the future of driving.”

    Just last week, the NTSB opened an investigation into a case where a fatal Fort Lauderdale crash raised eyebrows, as it was the agency’s fourth active probe into the automaker’s electric vehicles. The 18 year-old driver slammed into a concrete wall, and the vehicle burst into flames, trapping the occupants inside. It was unknown at the time of the accident whether the driver was operating on the Autopilot feature.

    Additionally, the NTSB is also looking into a 2016 accident in which the driver of a Tesla slammed into a tractor trailer and died. This past March, the agency opened an investigation after a Mountain View, California man crashed into a highway barrier and the car burst into flames.

    The NTSB and Tesla have also been at odds as of late after the agency accused the automaker of releasing classified information regarding one of its investigations while it was still going on.

    Looking ahead

    Despite the rocky relationship between Tesla and the NTSB, agency spokesperson Keith Holloway said he’s still uncertain as to whether the agency will open an investigation into the accident.

    Though Tesla -- and the self-driving car industry -- certainly has a red target on its back as of late, Musk is confident that advanced technology and more diligent work will improve his company’s system.

    “It certainly needs to be better and we work to improve it every day, but perfect is the enemy of good,” Musk tweeted. “A system that, on balance, saves lives and reduces injuries should be released.”

    Tesla has been dominating the news cycle as of late -- and for all the wrong reasons.In the most recent incident over the weekend, a Utah woman slammed...

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      Uber ending forced arbitration policy for sexual assault claims

      The company is giving survivors control of how they pursue their claims

      Uber has announced that it will end its use of forced arbitration agreements for claims of sexual misconduct involving employees, riders, and drivers.

      The ride-hailing company is also rolling back the requirement that victims must sign a confidentiality provision preventing them from speaking about the sexual assault or sexual harassment they suffered on the platform.

      In taking these steps, the company says it hopes to bring "transparency, integrity, and accountability" to its process of handling sexual harassment and assault in the workplace and involving riders.

      Uber says it has learned that it’s important to give sexual assault and harassment survivors control of how they pursue their claims.

      “So moving forward, survivors will be free to choose to resolve their individual claims in the venue they prefer: in a mediation where they can choose confidentiality; in arbitration, where they can choose to maintain their privacy while pursuing their case; or in open court,” said Tony West, the company’s chief legal officer.

      “Whatever they decide, they will be free to tell their story wherever and however they see fit,” West wrote in a blog post.

      Righting the ship

      The policy change comes a year after former Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick was ousted as CEO, a move that happened as the company faced accusations of having a workplace culture of sexism and sexual harassment. Uber was also accused of stealing trade secrets and covering up a massive data breach.

      Last August, Dara Khosrowshahi took over for Kalanick and immediately began taking steps to point the company’s “moral compass” in the right direction. Under the new CEO, one of the company’s main goals became doing “the right thing.”

      Uber said it is working toward "maintaining the public's trust, and earning back the respect of customers we've lost through our past actions and behavior,” adding that changing the company “is about more than new products and policies. It requires self-reflection and a willingness to challenge orthodoxies of the past."

      Safety transparency report

      In addition to ending mandatory arbitration for individual claims of sexual assault and harassment and rescinding the requirement that survivors sign a confidentiality provision, Uber said it plans to publish a "safety transparency report." The report will include data on sexual assaults and “other incidents” that occur on the platform.

      "We’re working with experts in the field to develop a taxonomy to categorize the incidents that are reported to us," West concluded. "We hope to open-source this methodology so we can encourage others in the ridesharing, transportation and travel industries, both private and public, to join us in taking this step. We know that a project of this magnitude will take some time, but we pledge to keep you updated along the way."

      Last month, Uber took another step to earn back customers’ trust by announcing that it will start performing criminal background checks on its U.S. drivers each year. The company is also adding a 911 button so riders can call for help in emergencies.

      Uber has announced that it will end its use of forced arbitration agreements for claims of sexual misconduct involving employees, riders, and drivers....

      Senate likely to vote Wednesday to restore net neutrality

      But the measure faces bleak prospects in the House

      Democrats say they have the votes to force a vote in the Senate on Wednesday for a measure to restore net neutrality, which is being eliminated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

      Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says all 49 Democratic caucus members will vote for the measure, along with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Me.). Because Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is ill and will not be present to vote, Schumer believes the measure will pass 50-49.

      “The repeal of net neutrality is not only a blow to the average consumer, but it is a blow to public schools, rural Americans, communities of color and small businesses,” Schumer said.

      Vote mostly symbolic

      Though the Senate is likely to vote to restore net neutrality, that may be as far as it goes. The House, with a large GOP majority, is unlikely to bring the measure up for a vote. Should the measure somehow make it to President Trump's desk, he's unlikely to sign it since he is on the record as agreeing with the FCC's action.

      But Schumer says the Senate vote will not be a wasted effort. He believes the issue will energize Democratic voters in the midterm elections and help the party capture seats currently held by Republicans.

      “A vote against this resolution will be a vote to protect large corporations and special interests, leaving the American public to pay the price,” Schumer said.

      “There is nowhere to hide, and there are no excuses. You are either for a free and open internet or you are not,” said Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Ranking Democrat on the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet. “This bill will get every member of the Senate on the record as either supporting or opposing net neutrality.”

      Repeal is a long process

      In December, the FCC voted to overturn a regulation put in place in 2015, codifying net neutrality as official policy. The policy said internet service providers (ISP) had to treat all content the same. It couldn't favor one type over another or charge some content providers more than others.

      The FCC's new regulation, effectively eliminating net neutrality as the internet's governing policy, has still not taken effect, providing Democrats this narrow opening. The FCC cannot finalize its new rule until it submits it to the Office of Management and Budget for formal approval.

      Next, the FCC is also required to provide a timeline for the new policy to go into effect. That process may be complicated by Washington and several other states, which have drawn up their own net neutrality laws.

      Democrats say they have the votes to force a vote in the Senate on Wednesday for a measure to restore net neutrality, which is being eliminated by the Fede...

      Twitter to start burying tweets from internet trolls

      The company is striving to create healthier conversations on its platform

      Twitter has announced that it will automatically demote reply posts that are likely to distort users’ conversations. The company says it will do so by organizing conversations based on thousands of “behavioral signals.”

      Troll-like replies in “communal areas” of the platform will be pushed to the bottom, as will posts from users repeatedly tweeting at accounts that do not follow them. Users will have to click the "show more Tweets" button to see tweets that were made less visible.

      “The result is that people contributing to the healthy conversation will be more visible in conversations and search,” the company said in a blog post.

      To weed out unhealthy contributions to Twitter conversations, the platform’s algorithm and human reviewers will look for certain signals, including how often a user is blocked by people they interact with, whether they have created multiple accounts from a single IP address, and whether the account is closely related to others that have violated the company’s terms of service.

      “We’re also looking at how accounts are connected to those that violate our rules and how they interact with each other,” the company added.

      Improving the Twitter experience

      The move is part of the company’s push to create healthier conversations on Twitter -- a goal first announced by CEO Jack Dorsey in March. At the time, Dorsey admitted that the company hadn’t done enough to address hate speech and abuse on the platform.

      “We didn’t fully predict or understand the real-world negative consequences,” he said.

      Now the company is taking steps to mute posts that don’t facilitate healthy conversation. Although some of the tweets that Twitter plans to demote don’t outright violate the site’s policies, many of them have a negative impact on other users’ experience.

      “What we’re talking about today are troll-like behaviors that distort and detract from the public conversation on Twitter, particularly in communal areas like conversations and search,” the company explained.

      “Less than 1% of accounts make up the majority of accounts reported for abuse, but a lot of what’s reported does not violate our rules. While still a small overall number, these accounts have a disproportionately large – and negative – impact on people’s experience on Twitter,” the company continued.

      Twitter said it tested the changes in select markets and saw a noticeable drop in abuse problems. Abuse reports on conversations dropped by 8 percent, while abuse reports in search dropped by 4 percent.

      Twitter has announced that it will automatically demote reply posts that are likely to distort users’ conversations. The company says it will do so by orga...

      Signing children up for too many extracurricular activities could be harmful, study finds

      Researchers say that overscheduling children can put a strain on the whole family

      Many parents encourage their children to get involved in extracurricular activities as a way to help them develop vital life skills. But a recent study suggests that devoting too much time and energy to these groups can harm the entire family.

      Researchers from Edge Hill University and the University of Chester in the United Kingdom say that families with children who participate too much in extracurricular activities tend to spend less quality time together. Parents in these families were also found to spend more money and have less energy as a result of trying to keep up with their children’s busy schedules.

      Study co-author Dr. Sharon Wheeler explains that many parents feel pressured to provide outlets for their children – but this can often come at a cost.

      “We know that parents are particularly keen to ensure their children get on in life. Parents initiate and facilitate their children’s participation in organized activities as it shows that they are ‘good’ parents. They hope that such activities will benefit their children in both the short-term (by keeping them fit and healthy, and helping them to develop friendship groups) and longer-term (by improving their job prospects),” she said.

      "However, our research highlights that the reality can be somewhat different. While children might experience some of these benefits, a busy organized activity schedule can put considerable strain on parents' resources and families' relationships, as well as potentially harm children's development and wellbeing."

      More harm than good in some cases

      The study found that the vast majority of interviewed families had children who were involved in some sort of extracurricular activity -- such as music lessons or team sports – four out of five days during the week (88 percent). An additional 57 percent of those children even had more than one activity occurring on the same evening.

      The researchers say extracurricular activities can easily dominate family life in cases like these, especially if families have more than one child. Wheeler suggests that families take a careful look at how extracurricular activities are affecting home life to see if children should scale back.

      "Raising awareness of this issue can help those parents who feel under pressure to invest in their children's organized activities, and are concerned with the impact of such activities on their family, to have the confidence to plan a less hectic schedule for their children,” she said.

      "Until a healthy balance is struck, extracurricular activities will continue to take precedence over family time, potentially doing more harm than good."

      The full study has been published in the journal Sport, Education and Society.

      Many parents encourage their children to get involved in extracurricular activities as a way to help them develop vital life skills. But a recent study sug...

      Salmonella outbreak tied to eggs has worsened, CDC says

      Millions of eggs have been recalled, with 35 people falling ill

      A salmonella outbreak that prompted the recall of 207 million eggs has worsened, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced. A dozen more people have reported illness in several states since last month, bringing the total number of reported cases to 35.

      At least 11 people have been hospitalized due to complications from the illness, which can cause "serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems," according to the FDA. No deaths have been reported.

      The outbreak is linked to Rose Acre Farms and the company's facility in North Carolina. Affected eggs were distributed to restaurants and grocery stores in Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

      Impacted brands

      The eggs were sold under the brand names Country Daybreak, Coburn Farms, Crystal Farms, Sunshine Farms, and Glenview. Some of the eggs were sold at Food Lion and Walmart under a store brand name, and others were sent to Waffle House restaurants.

      The recalled eggs were distributed between January 11 and April 12. The cartons were stamped with plant number P-1065 and a Julian date range of 011 through 102.

      “Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, serve, or sell recalled eggs produced by Rose Acre Farms’ Hyde County farm. Throw them away or return them to the place of purchase for a refund,” health officials said.

      A full list of recalled brands can be viewed on the Food and Drug Administration’s website.

      How salmonella spreads

      Salmonella affects the intestinal tract and is usually contracted from contaminated poultry, meat, eggs, and water. Effects of the illness include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

      Chickens can pass the bacteria through the egg laying process because eggs leave infected hens through the same passageway as feces. The illness can also silently spread to eggs if the bacteria in an otherwise healthy-looking hen’s ovary or oviduct gets to the egg before the shell forms around it.  

      FDA inspectors said they found “unacceptable rodent activity” at Rose Acre Farms during an inspection in March. The agency also said employees touched dirty equipment and their bodies without washing their hands.

      The conditions allowed "for the harborage, proliferation and spread of filth and pathogens," the FDA said.

      In a statement, Rose Acre Farms said it has "not only corrected deficiencies at the farm" but "also taken steps to ensure the farm meets or exceeds the standards of the FDA and USDA."

      A salmonella outbreak that prompted the recall of 207 million eggs has worsened, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced. A doze...

      Gas prices continue to rise after U.S. pulls out of Iran deal

      Prices at the pump have risen seven cents in seven days

      That jump in gasoline prices you've noticed in the last week may have more than a little to do with geopolitics.

      AAA reports the national average price of regular gasoline is around $2.88 a gallon, up seven cents in the last seven days and 17 cents higher than a month ago.

      Gasoline is following crude oil sharply higher, and AAA says part of the reason is the White House decision to withdraw from the Iran deal. That means it is renewing sanctions, which include not buying Iranian oil.

      Combination of factors

      Oil prices have risen over the late spring as supplies have gotten tighter and demand has increased. With the possibility of Iranian oil being removed from the world's supply, the price of oil shot up last week, and gasoline prices rose along with it.

      As a result, AAA says 36 states have seen at least a five cents per gallon rise in the price of fuel.

      “The administration’s move, combined with the switchover to summer blend, growing global demand, and shrinking supply, continues to fuel pump prices as we approach the summer driving season,” said Jeanette Casselano, a AAA spokesperson. “AAA predicts that the national average may reach $3 a gallon this summer, especially if crude oil prices continue to increase.”

      The price of premium gas, required for most high-performance cars, is already well past $3 a gallon – which is significantly more expensive than diesel fuel.

      Sticker shock at the gas pump has been most severe for motorists in Ohio, where the average price shot up by 15 cents a gallon. Drivers in Missouri are paying 12 cents a gallon more, and the average gallon of gas rose by 11 cents a gallon in the last week in Kentucky and Minnesota.

      Above $3 in nine states

      The AAA analysis shows motorists in 19 states are now paying above the national average for fuel, with nine states seeing average gas prices above the $3 a gallon mark. According to GasBuddy, gas stations in 25 cities are selling gas for 70 cents a gallon more than at this time last year.

      Consumers with long memories may not think gasoline is that expensive. In the summer of 2014, the average price rose above $3 a gallon, just before OPEC increased production in an unsuccessful effort to drive U.S. shale producers out of business.

      The highest average price for regular gas was $4.11, recorded in July 2008. Analysts think chances of that record being broken anytime soon are slim.

      They point out that U.S. oil production capacity is much larger now than a decade ago. Should oil prices start to rise too quickly, U.S. producers will pump more oil.

      That jump in gasoline prices you've noticed in the last week may have more than a little to do with geopolitics.AAA reports the national average price...

      Honda recalls Civic Hatchback and Type R vehicles

      Certain airbags may not perform properly

      American Honda Motor Company is recalling 69 model year 2017 Civic Hatchback and Type R vehicles.

      Driver and front passenger seatback pads sold as replacement service parts were made without slit openings for the seat-mounted side airbags.

      In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, the seatback pad would interfere and adversely affect airbag performance.

      Seat-mounted airbags that do not deploy correctly in the event of a crash, increase the risk of injury.

      What to do

      Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seatback pads, free of charge.

      The recall is expected to begin June 1, 2018.

      Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is E1D, U1B, and X1C.

      American Honda Motor Company is recalling 69 model year 2017 Civic Hatchback and Type R vehicles.Driver and front passenger seatback pads sold as repla...

      Chrysler recalls model year 2004-2007 Jeep Libertys

      The rear suspension lower control arms can fracture

      Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling 239,904 model year 2004-2007 Jeep Libertys.

      The rear suspension lower control arms can fracture due to excessive corrosion, causing a loss of vehicle control.

      What to do

      Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lower control arms, free of charge.

      The recall is expected to begin June 20, 2018.

      Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U38.

      Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling 239,904 model year 2004-2007 Jeep Libertys.The rear suspension lower control arms can fracture due to excessive corr...

      The Department of Agriculture is planning to label foods that contain genetically engineered ingredients

      Advocates worry that major food corporations will benefit from rules meant to protect consumers

      Less than three months before a federal law requiring labels on all genetically modified foods is scheduled to go into effect, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is finally revealing details of how the labels could look and opening them up for public comment.

      The USDA is inviting consumers, scientists, and the food industry to debate a number of specifics left unanswered by the final text of a labeling law that was passed in 2016. Among the many details up in the air are whether sugars and cooking oils derived from genetic engineering will be included in the labeling program and whether the information will be accessible by smartphone only.

      “This rulemaking presents several possible ways to determine what foods will be covered by the final rule and what the disclosure will include and look like,” Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a statement. “We are looking for public input on a number of these key decisions before a final rule is issued later this year.”

      Federal and state clashes over labeling

      Under the Obama administration, Congress passed the first federal law in the country’s history to require labels on all foods containing genetically engineered ingredients.

      But the federal labeling legislation was seen by many food safety advocates as an attempt to squash their own, stricter efforts to require labeling locally.  The state of Vermont in 2014 had passed a stringent law requiring labels on all foods with GE ingredients, sparking an immediate backlash from major food corporations. Monsanto and others had aggressively fought the legislation and sued the state of Vermont when it passed.

      Just as Vermont’s law was scheduled to go in effect in 2016, a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Sen. Mitch McConnell passed a vaguely written federal labeling law that preempts state laws, or prevents states like Vermont from enforcing their own labeling laws. The federal legislation promised a standardized, national program for labeling bioengineered food.

      Keeping consumers in the dark

      While food safety advocates, environmentalists, and the organic food industry have long called for labeling on genetically engineered foods, the groups now say that the labeling laws set to go in effect at the end of July may benefit the industry at the expense of consumers.

      Among the proposals under the 2016 federal law that the USDA is considering, which food safety groups are lobbying against, is one in which GE labels will simply be scannable codes that can be accessed via smartphone.

      Reading such labels in the store would require a reliable phone and broadband connection, “technologies often lacking in rural areas,” writes the Center for Food Safety.

      The group says it is also concerned about proposals to leave the terms  “Genetically Engineered,” “GE” “Genetically Modified organisms” and “GMOs” off of the federal labels. Instead, the USDA is proposing identifying such foods as being “bioengineered,” which isn’t inaccurate but may be confusing to consumers who are more familiar with the “GE” and “GMO” terms, according to advocates.

      "USDA's exclusion of the well-established terms, GE and GMO, as options will confuse and mislead consumers, and the agency must instead allow the use of those terms," Center for Food Safety’s executive director Andrew Kimbrell said in a statement.

      The food and pesticide industries say that they support the federal legislation. Monsanto counts itself as just one of 1,100 organizations that advocates for the federal labeling law.

      “We understand that consumers want to know more about their food and believe this framework will provide consistency in access to information about the use of GMOs in the food system across the country,” the company wrote on its website.

      The USDA is giving the public until July 3 to leave their comments.

      Less than three months before a federal law requiring labels on all genetically modified foods is scheduled to go into effect, the United States Department...

      President Trump rolls out policy to reduce drug prices

      Critics say the plan will do little to change the status quo

      President Trump has introduced a policy that he says will bring down prescription drug prices, but a lot of people aren't convinced it will make a difference for consumers.

      Some of those people work on Wall Street.

      Before the president's Friday afternoon speech, in which he introduced a “blueprint” for lowering the prices consumers pay for medicine, drug stocks were mostly lower out of fear that the proposal would severely cut into drug company profit margins.

      'Few immediate actions'

      Once the speech concluded, stocks rallied. Here's how CNBC assessed the new drug price policy:

      “The proposal included few immediate actions the administration would take but none that would bring any massive reforms. Wall Street welcomed the letdown, relieving health-care stocks of the pressure they had been feeling.”

      In the much-anticipated speech, Trump targeted pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which he called “middlemen who have been getting rich.” In particular, Trump suggested PBMs have used their rebates as a way to negotiate discounts that are not always to the benefit of consumers.

      But the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA), a trade group representing PBMs, pushed back, saying that getting rid of rebates and other price concessions would leave patients and payers at the mercy of drug manufacturer pricing strategies.

      “PBMs have long encouraged manufacturers to offer payers alternative ways to reduce net costs,” the group said in a statement. “Simply put, the easiest way to lower costs would be for drug companies to lower their prices.”

      Consumer groups predict little change

      But consumer groups generally found little in the president's blueprint that would lead to price rollbacks. Peter Maybarduk, director of Public Citizen’s Access to Medicines program, said the president's plan does little to make medicine more affordable.

      “Instead, the swamp of former lobbyists and executives that make up much of the Trump pricing team have designed a plan that pays lip service to reform, but in fact will protect corporations from public anger at unaffordable medicines,” Maybarduk said.

      Maybarduk said the proposal lacks three critical elements that would lead to lower drug prices. He said it should challenge the pharmaceutical industry with full negotiation powers for Medicare, block price spikes, and curb “monopoly abuse.”

      President Trump has introduced a policy that he says will bring down prescription drug prices, but a lot of people aren't convinced it will make a differen...

      British doctors are calling for the decriminalization of all drugs, including marijuana

      A leading medical journal says that prosecuting drug users has become a public health issue

      While the research community continues to debate the medical benefits of illegal drugs like marijuana, doctors and researchers in the United Kingdom say that decriminalizing drugs is necessary to protect the public’s health, no matter how healthy or harmful such substances might prove to be.

      Most recently, The British Medical Journal, one of the oldest and most-cited peer-reviewed research publications in the United States and England, has formally called for ending criminal charges on non-violent drug users and legalizing and regulating drugs for recreational or medical use.

      “The BMJ is firmly behind efforts to legalize, regulate, and tax the sale of drugs for recreational and medicinal use,” says a piece signed by the journal’s editor-in-chief Dr. Fiona Godlee. “This is an issue on which doctors can and should make their voices heard.”

      Increased revenue and better treatment

      Godlee’s piece was focused on the United Kingdom, where the failure of authorities to end drug abuse despite millions spent on the prosecution of drug users has mirrored the failing war on drugs here in the United States.

      “This is not about whether you think drugs are good or bad,” Godlee writes.  “It is an evidence based position entirely in line with the public health approach to violent crime.”

      Godlee points to the tax revenue generated in states in the U.S. where marijuana was legalized as a potential benefit, but her proposal would go much further than any laws have here in calling for the decriminalization of all drug possession.

      Decriminalizing non-violent drug possession would give communities more resources to provide public health treatment for addicts and reduce violent crime, she argues.

      The journal’s formal call for the decriminalization of drugs follows a similar policy position recently released by the Royal College of Physicians of London, a medical association representing 34,000 doctors internationally. The doctors’ group last month said that the war on drugs has deterred people who need medical help for their addictions from seeking it.

      Medical groups changing tune

      Despite promising research in the United States about the medical benefits of some illegal drugs such as cannabis, the medical community as a whole has been hesitant to call for any drug reforms here. Calls to end the “war on drugs” have typically come from criminal justice advocates or marijuana enthusiasts, not doctors’ groups.  

      The American Medical Association (AMA), the largest association representing medical professionals in the United States, remained opposed to the legalization of cannabis until 2016, when it updated its policy position on the substance to argue only that the issue should be studied further.

      While the AMA argues that “public health strategies” are better than incarceration for marijuana users, the association maintains that “cannabis is a dangerous drug and as such is a public health concern.”

      Last year, a Department of Justice intern asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions why he was tougher on marijuana possession than on gun regulations. Sessions responded by pointing to the AMA’s position on marijuana.

      “Marijuana is not a healthy substance in my opinion. The American Medical Association is crystal clear on that. Do you believe that?” he said. “Well, you can write the AMA and see why.”

      While the research community continues to debate the medical benefits of illegal drugs like marijuana, doctors and researchers in the United Kingdom say th...

      Facebook suspends 200 apps from its platform

      The company says its privacy investigation of thousands of apps is ongoing

      Facebook has suspended 200 apps from its platform amid an investigation into companies that had access to large amounts of data on Facebook users.

      Company CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in late March that Facebook would restrict the amount of data apps have access to while investigating how these apps used the data before the restrictions were enacted.

      Zuckerberg acted in response to the revelation that an app had sold vast amounts of user data to Cambridge Analytica, a political marketing firm. The data was used to target ads in support of Donald Trump's presidential campaign and the campaign in support of Britain leaving the European Union.

      Ime Archibong, vice president of Product Partnerships at Facebook, says “thousands” of apps have been investigated so far, with 200 suspended from the Facebook platform. In a blog posting, Archibong says the suspensions do not mean the apps misused data, only that there are grounds for a further audit.

      “Where we find evidence that these or other apps did misuse data, we will ban them and notify people via this website,” Archibong writes. “It will show people if they or their friends installed an app that misused data before 2015 — just as we did for Cambridge Analytica.”

      Rocked to its core

      The Cambridge Analytica scandal rocked Facebook to its core, resulting in Zuckerberg making numerous apologies and testifying before House and Senate committees. It also focused attention on major technology companies and what they do with users' data.

      Facebook stressed that the app developer who sold data to Cambridge Analytica did not have the right to do so, adding that the move was in violation of Facebook's terms of service agreement. But the social network giant came under criticism for a nearly two-year delay in disclosing to users what had happened.

      Facebook users who took part in the app developer's quiz, entitled “This is Your Digital Life,” gave the app developer access to their Facebook data, and the data belonging to their Facebook friends, most of whom were unaware of that fact.

      Earlier this month Zuckerberg appeared at a developers conference and reaffirmed his company's commitment to privacy. Among the changes Zuckerberg announced was a new tool that allows users to delete any personal information about them that Facebook has collected.

      Facebook has suspended 200 apps from its platform amid an investigation into companies that had access to large amounts of data on Facebook users.Compa...

      Wireless charging pad for BMW electric vehicles coming soon

      The product will be available to 530e drivers in California as part of a pilot program

      BMW’s wireless inductive charging pad will go into production in July and be available to U.S. consumers -- in addition to being released in Europe -- by the end of the summer, Autoblog has confirmed.

      The wireless charging system will work with many of BMW’s plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, starting with the 5-series 530e iPerformance. Drivers in California will be able to use the system via a pilot program by the end of the summer.

      “It will be a pilot program limited to the 530e in California only,” BMW said. It’s unclear when or if the company plans to make the technology more widely available, which cars will get it, and how much it will cost.

      However, the deployment of the technology represents a significant step. BMW has been working on wireless car charging for several years. The German automaker first unveiled its plans for the system in 2014 as part of a joint effort with Daimler. A version of the technology for the Mercedes S560e sedan is expected to be revealed later this year.

      How it works

      BMW’s floor mat measures about 35 inches long and 31.5 inches wide and 0.8 inches thick. The mat sits on the floor and must be plugged into a 220-volt outlet. Inside the mat is a primary coil that transmits power to a secondary coil located in the underside of the vehicle.

      “An alternating magnetic field is generated between the two coils, through which electricity is transmitted without cables or contacts at a charge rate of up to 3.2kW,” BMW explains. “This form of power supply to the high-voltage battery is extremely convenient for customers and involves a charging time of around 3.5 hours.”

      The 3.5 hours it takes to fully charge the 530e's 9.2kW battery is about 30 minutes longer than using a charging cable.

      To use the charging system, the driver uses the infotainment screen to position the vehicle over the charging pad. Once the vehicle is properly aligned, charging starts automatically as soon as the driver turns off the ignition.

      The mat can work inside or outside and has the ability to automatically turn off if it detects another object is in the way, such as cat or other animal sitting on the pad.

      Right now, at least eight other automakers are working on similar wireless charging systems. A 2014 survey found that the market is expected to buy more than 350,000 inductive units by 2020.

      BMW’s wireless inductive charging pad will go into production in July and be available to U.S. consumers -- in addition to being released in Europe -- by t...