Current Events in March 2019

Icelandic airline Wow Air, formerly known for its cheap trans-Atlantic fares, has suddenly shut down. Passengers have been advised to book new flights on other airlines.

“Wow Air has ceased operation. All Wow Air flights have been canceled,” the airline said in a statement posted to its website on Thursday. Wow Air said affected travelers may be able to get reduced fares from other airlines.

“Some airlines may offer flights at a reduced rate, so-called rescue fares, in light of the circumstances. Information on those airlines will be published, when it becomes available,” the carrier said.

The airline said some passengers may be eligible for compensation.

“Passengers who may have bought travel protection, or those passengers whose credit card terms may include such protection, may be entitled to claim compensation and assistance due to delays or travel disruption,” the statement continued. The airline added that “such compensation is often limited.”

Financial struggles

Wow Air, which began operations in 2012, had for the past six months been in negotiations to be bought by rival Icelandair and later by Indigo Partners. However, both deals fell through.

Prior to kicking off its effort to find a buyer, the budget airline was struggling financially. In January, the airline announced plans to pare down its number of U.S. destinations to just four in an effort to get “back to the basics” and “grow again as a purebred low-cost airline.”

The airline’s sudden collapse on Thursday has left thousands of passengers stranded.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has shut down four groups responsible for placing billions of illegal robocalls.

The companies have agreed to settlements with the agency, under which they are barred from making robocalls or using automatic dialers to place calls. Additionally, each defendant faces a steep fine ranging between $500,000 to $3.64 million.

“The settlements are part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to combat the scourge of illegal robocalls,” the FTC said in a statement. “Under the court orders announced today, the defendants are banned from robocalling and most telemarketing activities, including those using an automatic dialer, and will pay significant financial judgments.”

The following four robocall operations were suspended:

• NetDotSolutions

• Higher Goals Marketing

• Veterans of America

• Pointbreak Media

The groups pitched services including auto warranties, debt-relief services, home security systems, fake charities, and services to help improve Google search results.

Cracking down on robocalls

Reducing the number of robocalls consumers receive has become a priority among Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike. In February, a bipartisan group of lawmakers worked together to craft legislation that would make it more difficult for robocallers to operate.

"Night and day, Americans are being inundated by spam calls,” said Rep. Charlie Crist (R-Fla.). “It's more than an annoyance – it's an invasion of privacy being used to deceive and take advantage of unsuspecting victims."

Last week, AT&T and Comcast announced that they will begin offering customers a feature which can help verify that an incoming call isn’t from a spoofed number. This week, Verizon also said that it will adopt anti-spoofing technology to help consumers protect themselves from unwanted calls.

The FTC said it’s brought dozens of cases targeting illegal robocalls.

“Fighting unwanted calls remains one of our highest priorities,” said Andrew Smith, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

The agency offers advice for consumers seeking to limit unwanted robocalls on its website.

With many consumers looking to maintain healthy lifestyles, countless experts have explored the pros and cons of adding and eliminating certain foods from diets.

Now, a group of researchers say that consuming red or processed meats -- even in small increments -- can lead to an early death.

“A question about the effect of lower levels of intakes compared to no-meat eating remained unanswered,” said lead author Saeed Mastour Alshahrani. “We wanted to take a closer look at the association of low intakes of red and processed meat with all-cause, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer mortality compared to those who don’t eat meat at all.”

Avoiding even in moderation

To see how red meat in moderation affects the risk of death, the researchers evaluated nearly 96,000 Seventh Day Adventists -- a group that primarily doesn’t eat meat, or does so in limited quantities.

The participants were monitored over the course of an 11-year period, during which they completed questionnaires about their diets.

By the end of the study, nearly 8,000 participants had died. Because of the unique relationship the participants had with meat, many didn’t consume meat at all, but of those who did, 90 percent ate two ounces or less of red or processed meat per day.

Of the participants who died in this study, over 1,800 were cancer-related deaths, and over 2,500 were linked to cardiovascular disease.

The researchers can’t point their fingers solely at red or processed meats, though eating these foods in high quantities has been linked to an increased risk of several diseases. Moving forward, the group hopes that consumers heed these warnings and understand the risks involved.

“Our findings give additional weight to the evidence already suggesting that eating red and processed meat may negatively impact health and lifespan,” said researcher Dr. Michael Orlich.

Becoming healthier

Several recent studies have found how limiting the intake of foods like red and processed meats can be the key to living a healthier life.

One study found that eating an anti-inflammatory diet could be the key to long life. Eating fruits and veggies, low-fat cheese, nuts, and whole grains, while avoiding chips, soft drinks, and red meat was linked to better overall health.

Similarly, following an eco-friendly diet -- which involves avoiding dairy, solid fats, and meat -- is beneficial to both the environment and physical health.

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 22 model year Audi 2019 Q7s and Q8s.

The front shock absorber forks may develop cracks allowing the shock absorbers to loosen which may impair vehicle steering and increase the risk of crash.

What to do

Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the shock absorber forks free of charge.

The recall began March 18, 2019.

Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 40O4.

Mercedes-Benz USA is recalling 22,637 of the following vehicles:

• model year 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz C300 Cabriolets, C300 Coupes, AMG C43 Coupes, C300 4MATIC Cabriolets, C300 4MATIC Coupes, AMG C43 Cabriolets, AMG C63 Cabriolets, AMG C63 Coupes, AMG C63 S Cabriolets & AMG C63 S Coupes and
• model year 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 Coupes, E400 Cabriolets, E400 4MATIC Cabriolets and E400 4MATIC Coupes.

The seatbacks of the front seats may not lock properly on the right side of the seat.

If the seatback does not lock properly, the seatbacks may fold forward in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

What to do

Mercedes will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the locking of the seatback and replace the seatback lock as necessary free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin April 26, 2019.

Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Following the recent crash of another aircraft of the same model, a Southwest Boeing 737 Max 8 was forced to make an emergency landing in Orlando on Tuesday after reporting an in-air problem.

Southwest said that the flight was forced to return to Orlando International Airport on Tuesday afternoon due to a “performance issue with one of the engines shortly after takeoff.” This differed from the previous in-flight incidents, which were linked to an automated system which caused the planes to nosedive.

The airline carrier says that the plane was not carrying any passengers, as all flights involving the Boeing 737 Max 8 have been grounded due to an emergency order issued earlier this month by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

More trouble for Boeing

The in-flight issue is likely to create another headache for Boeing. Earlier this month, one of its 737 Max 8 aircraft flying for Ethiopian Airlines experienced a tragic crash in which 157 people on board were killed. The accident happened only five months after another aircraft of the same model crashed into the Java Sea.

Regulators speculate that the crashes can be attributed to one of the monitors on the outside of the planes that monitors the angle of ascent. If the monitor determines that the plane is climbing too steeply, it triggers a correction that brings the nose of the plane back down.

Several federal agencies, including the FBI, are now investigating the certification process for the planes and whether or not proper protocols were followed. Reports indicate that regulators are also looking into how Boeing marketed the aircraft and what kind of training and information it gave to pilots.

On Wednesday, Apple issued its first apology to users who are still experiencing problems with the “butterfly” keyboard on their MacBook.

“We are aware that a small number of users are having issues with their third generation butterfly keyboard and for that we are sorry,” an Apple spokesperson said in a statement.

Apple added that the “vast majority of Mac notebook customers are having a positive experience with the new keyboard” before stating that consumers who are still experiencing keyboard issues should contact Apple Support.

Apple’s apology was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, which published a story on Wednesday that let readers choose whether to view the story with or without e’s and/or r’s in order to see the impact of a keyboard that isn’t working properly.

Criticism over keyboards

Apple unveiled its “butterfly” keyboard in 2015, advertising it as being “refined for greater comfort and responsiveness” compared to its standard “scissor” design. However, users began noticing that the keyboards tended to start malfunctioning after being exposed to dirt or dust.

A lawsuit filed last May alleged that the company’s “butterfly” keyboards are “prone to fail.”

“As a result of the defect, consumers who purchased a MacBook face a constant threat of non-responsive keys and accompanying keyboard failure. When one or more of the keys on the keyboard fail, the MacBook can no longer serve its core function: typing,” the suit said.

Over 35,000 people have also signed a Change.org petition asking for Apple to recall the flawed keyboards.

In 2018, Apple updated its keyboards to include a new part inside each key designed to keep dust and other particles out. However, the company never confirmed that the improvement was related to keyboard issues.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sent letters to seven major internet service providers demanding information regarding their privacy practices. The following broadband providers received letters:

• AT&T Inc.

• AT&T Mobility LLC

• Comcast Cable Communications (Xfinity)

• Google Fiber Inc.

• T-Mobile US Inc.

• Verizon Communications Inc.

• Cellco Partnership (Verizon Wireless)

In a statement on Tuesday, the FTC said that it’s seeking to “better understand Internet service providers’ privacy practices in light of the evolution of telecommunications companies into vertically integrated platforms that also provide advertising-supported content.”

Additionally, the agency is asking for more information about how consumers are informed about the use of their data, as well as whether they are given the option to opt out of having their information collected.

The Commission noted that it’s legally authorized to “enforce against unfair and deceptive practices involving Internet service providers.” The broadband providers have 45 days to submit the information requested.

Data privacy practices under scrutiny

The inquiry comes during a time of increased scrutiny for the privacy policies of big internet and technology companies in the U.S. Last month, the agency announced that it will be launching a special task force dedicated to monitoring competition in tech markets.

The FTC has also been holding hearings related to the issues of competition and consumer privacy. Additional hearings on how the agency should handle consumer privacy matters are set to take place on April 9 and 10.

With researchers constantly finding new ways for pregnant women to have safe, healthy pregnancies, a new study revealed a key lifestyle element that could affect the likelihood of miscarriage.

According to the study, pregnant women who work at night two or more times in a week can increase their likelihood of miscarriage the following week.

“The study corroborates earlier findings that night work during pregnancy may confer an increased risk of miscarriage and it indicates a lowest observed threshold level of two night shifts per week,” the authors wrote. “The new knowledge has relevance for working pregnant women as well as their employers, physicians, and midwives. Moreover, the results could have implications for national occupational health regulations.”

Risks of the night shift

To see how working the night shift affected pregnant women’s likelihood of miscarrying, the researchers analyzed payroll data from over 22,000 pregnant women, the majority of whom worked in hospitals. The researchers also evaluated hospital records for women admitted because of miscarriage and birth records.

The study revealed that pregnant women who worked two or more night shifts in the same week were over 30 percent more likely to have a miscarriage by the following week.

The researchers found that women were most vulnerable to miscarriage due to night work during weeks four through 22 of pregnancy, though after week eight, the risk was the highest. Moreover, more consecutive night shifts -- and the greater number of night shifts worked in the same week -- increased the chances of miscarriage.

One such reason for the association between working nights and miscarriage is the lack of melatonin being produced because of the reversed schedule. The researchers suggest that working at night disrupts the body’s natural circadian rhythm, making the body produce less melatonin, which has been found to be necessary for a healthy pregnancy.

With roughly one in nine women across the country experiencing postpartum depression, it’s important for both consumers and physicians to take a deeper look at the condition.

Now, researchers from Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan found that when babies are fussier, mothers are more likely to experience depressive symptoms.

“Mothers of fussy infants born late preterm and full term are more likely to experience more severe levels of maternal depression, than mothers of fussy infants who were born more preterm,” said Dr. Prachi Shah. “These findings reinforce that all mothers caring for babies with more difficult temperaments may need extra help managing the emotional toll.

“Early screening for infant fussiness may help identify mothers with depressive symptoms in need of support, but may be especially important for mothers of infants born mildly preterm, in which the symptoms of depression are more severe,” she adds.

How babies affect mothers

To see how fussy infants affect mothers’ likelihood of developing symptoms of depression, the researchers evaluated over 8,200 newborns and their parents.

The parents in the study completed questionnaires when their babies hit nine months old to report on their fussiness, while mothers’ depression was also checked at the nine month mark using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Questionnaire.

The researchers also took into account how long the mothers carried their babies, categorizing the babies into three categories: very preterm (24-31 weeks), moderate/late term (32-36 weeks), and full term (37-41 weeks).

The study revealed that mothers who gave birth to fussier babies in all three categories were two times as likely to experience moderate to severe depressive symptoms when compared with women who gave birth at the same time and had less fussy babies.

The researchers suggest that healthcare providers should keep these findings in mind when they encounter new moms struggling with their newborns, as they may be able to intervene before things escalate too far.

“Pediatricians and providers should pay close attention to mothers who describe difficulty soothing their babies,” Dr. Shah said. “Early interventions may reduce the risk of maternal depression that negatively impacts a child-parent relationship and that may be harmful to both the health of a mother and child.”

Preventing postpartum depression

Countless studies have explored triggers of postpartum depression, and recently, researchers have discovered several things for new mothers to consider to hopefully help prevent depression symptoms.

Studies have found several triggers of postpartum depression, including fewer hours of daylight, consistent pain during and after childbirth, and having a boy. However, on a positive note, researchers have found that following a fruit-based supplement regimen that’s high in antioxidants can work to ward off postpartum depression.

Lyft has announced that it’s in the process of building repair garages where drivers can get their car serviced at a discounted rate.

At Lyft Driver Centers, drivers will “be able to find affordable auto maintenance, putting more money in your pocket,” the ride-hailing giant said in a blog post. Lyft said its service centers would offer “up to 50% [off] on common repairs [...] with a goal of 50% faster service.”

The first repair center opened in San Francisco earlier this week, and the company plans to open 34 more by the end of the year. Lyft didn’t say where the additional locations would be built.

At the initial location in San Francisco, drivers can get a car wash, oil change, and tire rotation for $70; hourly labor charges are capped at $95. Lyft also plans to open a mobile service van program starting in the Bay Area next month because, as it says, “convenience is king, especially when it comes to car repairs.”

As part of its effort to improve the experience of driving for Lyft, the company also announced that it’s now offering an online banking and debit card for drivers.

“Never wait to get paid again with Lyft Direct, a new, secure, online bank account and debit card,” the company said. “Whether you’re looking for no account fees or cash back on everyday purchases like gas, starting early this summer, you’ll get instant access to financial benefits designed with drivers in mind.”

Gig workers protest pay cuts

Lyft’s lineup of new perks for drivers comes at a time of discontent among gig workers, mainly in regards to falling wages and the financial strain of paying for gas and maintenance.

On Monday, drivers for both Uber and Lyft gathered to march in front of the Omni Hotel in downtown San Francisco, where company executives were holding financial meetings.

The rally took place after Uber drivers in the Los Angeles area had their pay cut from 80 to 60 cents a mile. While only Uber drivers took the pay cut, it “pushed drivers, who were already struggling to make ends meet, over the edge,” according to Vox.

Lyft has said that the “vast majority of its drivers use Lyft as a temporary source of extra money,” but Lyft’s independent contractors say the company underestimates the number of drivers for whom their gig as a driver is their main source of income.

Lyft said it’s “always open to conversations around how we can make Lyft better for drivers, but what we hear from the majority is that this is a flexible option that works for them.”

Consumer confidence dipped once again in March after bouncing back slightly in February. The Consumer Confidence Index fell by 7.3 points, coming in at 124.1. Experts say that consumer confidence has been turbulent to begin 2019 due to a variety of factors.

“Confidence has been somewhat volatile over the past few months, as consumers have had to weather volatility in the financial markets, a partial government shutdown, and a weak February jobs report,” said Lynn Franco, senior director of economic indicators at the Conference Board, in the report.

“Despite these dynamics, consumers remain confident that the economy will continue expanding in the near term. However, the overall trend in confidence has been softening since last summer, pointing to a moderation in economic growth.”

Expectations for business and economy are down

The Conference Board’s report shows that consumers are somewhat less enthusiastic about business and labor market conditions in March than they were in February.

When it came to business, the number of consumers who said business conditions were “good” decreased from 40.6 percent to 33.4 percent. Those who said conditions were “bad” increased from 11.1 percent to 13.6 percent. That negativity spread to consumers’ future outlook; those who said they think business conditions will improve went down from 19.6 percent to 17.7 percent, while those who think conditions will worsen remained steady (9.3 percent vs. 9.2 percent).

These negative trends were consistent when it came to the labor market. Consumers who said jobs are currently “plentiful” decreased from 45.7 percent to 42.0 percent, and those who said jobs were “hard to get” increased from 11.7 percent to 13.7 percent. Those who said jobs would become more numerous in the months ahead also decreased, from 19.0 percent to 16.4 percent, while those who think jobs will become more scarce increased from 12.3 percent to 13.4 percent.

Perhaps the only bright spot in the report concerned incomes. Consumers who said they are expecting a bump to their income in the short-term increased from 20.6 percent last month to 21.0 percent in March, while those who expected a decline in income decreased from 8.3 percent to 7.6 percent.

American Honda Motor Company of Torrance, Calif., is recalling about 200,000 Honda EU2200i, EU2200i Companion and EB2200i portable generators.

The generator can leak gasoline from the fuel valve, posing fire and burn hazards.

The firm has received 19 reports of fuel leaking from the fuel valve. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Honda EU2200i, EU2200i Companion and EB2200i portable generators. The recalled portable generators were sold with a red or camo cover.

The names “HONDA” and the generator model name are printed on the control panel. The serial number is located on a lower corner of one of the side panels of the generator.

The following model numbers and serial number ranges are being recalled:

The generators, manufactured in Thailand, were sold at authorized Honda Power Equipment Dealers and The Home Depot and other home improvement stores nationwide and online from February 2018, through February 2019, for about $1,100 to $1,300.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled generators and contact a local authorized Honda Power Equipment service dealer to schedule a free repair. Honda is contacting all known purchasers directly.

Consumers may contact American Honda toll-free at (888) 888-3139 from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday, or online at https://powerequipment.honda.com/ and click on “Recalls and Updates” at the bottom of the page for more information.

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 4,064 model year 2019 Beetles and Beetle Convertibles. The instrument cluster may not provide a visual warning when a brake system failure is detected.

If the driver is not alerted when there is a problem with brakes, he may lose control of the vehicle while attempting to brake, increasing the risk of crash.

What to do

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software free of charge.

The recall began March 7, 2019.

Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90L8.

Not one to be left out of the all-things-for-all-people game, Apple threw a giant welcoming party on Monday for its new video streaming service -- “TV+” -- and its new credit card, “Apple Card.”

Apple’s foray into fintech is a giant step for the company, but not a new one. Its “Apple Pay” is in its fourth year as a mobile payment and digital wallet service, and according to Apple CEO Tim Cook, Apple Pay transactions soared to more than 1 billion in 2018. If you’re doing the math, that’s about 11 million per day -- thought to be more than both Square and PayPal’s mobile transactions.

The big questions

Just looking at its history, let alone the numbers, it’s tough to call Apple’s move into the credit card world a bad one. However, within hours after the company’s announcement, tech and financial sages came out of the woodwork to weigh in with their own take.

Here’s what ConsumerAffairs found:

Apple’s pitch

As far as the upsides to Apple Card, the company has three points it wants the consumer to take away:

1. “The card lives on your iPhone, in the Wallet app. And that makes all kinds of new things possible.

2. When you buy something using Apple Card, you get a percentage of your purchase back in Daily Cash. Not a month from now, but every day. There’s no limit to how much you can get. And it goes right onto your Apple Cash card, so you can use it just like cash.

3. Apple Card doesn’t have any fees. No annual, cash‑advance, over-the-limit, or late fees.”

Security

For one, TechCrunch’s security editor, Zach Whittaker, gave the card a nice fistbump.

“Chief among the benefits is a range of security and privacy features, which Apple says — unlike traditional credit card providers — the company doesn’t know where a customer shopped, what they bought or how much they paid. But its one feature — a one-time unique dynamic security code — will make it nearly impossible for anyone to use the credit card to make fraudulent purchases,” Whittaker said.

Charting new waters

Apple isn’t alone in this venture; it has Mastercard on its side to help guide it through processes that it may be new to.

In an interview with Mastercard’s Jorn Lambert, EVP of digital solutions, PYMTS learned that “the embrace of the Apple Card may span both the virtual and physical offerings, and...will likely prove useful in restaurants or bars where Apple Pay is not currently a payment option. The move from plastic to ‘digital first’ to ‘digital only’ may take several years.”

But Apple Card’s joint physical and digital card offerings may be what marks a “turning point.”

Need or want?

Credit card companies -- short of MasterCard, which is Apple’s partner in this deal -- won’t be taking this move lying down. It’s a safe bet that credit card companies around the world are getting geared up with similar products that will offer consumers more choices.

“They [Apple] are really lengthening this gap that other competitors can come into,” said credit card vlogger Brian Jung. “I believe from a business standpoint, credit cards are an excellent move, but as a credit card channel, I can't recommend this credit card to a lot of my people unless you guys are in it for the flex value. The only reason I would say to get this card now, in my opinion, it really is kind of a gimmick card because it is just for the name brand.”

It’s still a credit card

Dovetailing Jung’s point-of-view, iMore’s Rene Ritchie weighed in with this slant:

“It’s still a credit card, and that means the interest is still real, and the business model is still awful. The entire credit card industry is still absolutely and unabashedly evil. Apple's doing some good stuff to mitigate it. They're keeping [interest rates] low. They're suggesting ways to pay debt off faster, including bi-weekly and weekly payments. They're showing you how much interest you'll be paying if you choose different payment options. They're offering payment plan options to help you get debt free.”

“But the entire credit card system is still absolutely and unabashedly evil. If Apple has to get into bed with it, I'd much rather see something like American Express, the classic version, where you can't carry a balance and so there's no usurious interest rates and no debt-built business. Which, frankly, should be absolutely illegal anyway.”

The verdict?

It’s really too early to tell. The features are inviting, but like we said -- other credit card companies are likely to follow suit.

On the fintech end, it’ll be no stroll in the park for Apple, either. It has Google’s Google Pay service to contend with. Facebook’s WhatsApp is said to be rolling out a payment feature, too. And while Apple has its iPhone to carry some of Apple Card’s load via Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay have a larger footprint around the world.

Researchers from threat intelligence firm Kaspersky Lab said in a report on Monday that hackers compromised Asus’ Live Update tool to distribute malware to over 1 million Asus device users.

Motherboard reported that “Operation ShadowHammer,” as the researchers dubbed the attack, allowed Asus machines to accept infected software because the hackers were able to sign it with a legitimate Asus certificate that they had stolen.

Kaspersky Lab said 57,000 Asus device users were attacked, but the firm estimated the malware was distributed to “about 1 million people total.” The attack took place between June and November 2018.

Targeting a select few

Though the hackers cast a wide net, the researchers said the attack’s primarily purpose was to target only around 600 “surgically selected” Asus systems. In systems not specifically targeted by the hackers, the rogue software remained dormant.

It’s not yet known what type of information the hackers were after.

“The selected vendors are extremely attractive targets for APT groups that might want to take advantage of their vast customer base. It is not yet very clear what the ultimate goal of the attackers was and we are still researching who was behind the attack," said Vitaly Kamluk, Director of Global Research and Analysis Team, APAC, at Kaspersky Lab.

The firm said it will “continue to investigate this attack.” In the meantime, Kaspersky Lab has created an online tool that consumers can use to see if their device’s MAC addresses match the ones on the target list.

Asus responds

In a statement, Asus said its customer service team has been "reaching out to affected users and providing assistance to ensure that the security risks are removed.”

The company also said that it has "implemented a fix in the latest version (ver. 3.6.8) of the Live Update software, introduced multiple security verification mechanisms to prevent any malicious manipulation in the form of software updates or other means, and implemented an enhanced end-to-end encryption mechanism."

"At the same time, we have also updated and strengthened our server-to-end-user software architecture to prevent similar attacks from happening in the future," Asus said.