Current Events in June 2019

If you travel out of Los Angeles, it looks like you’ve got a great airport to call your own. On the flip side, you’ve also got the worst of the bunch.

In Fodor’s new travel ranking of the best airports, Hollywood Burbank (BUR) was rated tops and Los Angeles International (LAX) was named the worst for airports on this side of the pond. For international travelers, Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) took first- and second-place, respectively.

Versus other travel surveys, the single most relevant element for the consumer is that Fodor’s team focused solely on categories that matter to today’s traveler -- hassle-free, affordable parking, food options, and interesting things the entire family can take in pre-flight.

"Most travel awards programs take themselves very seriously. But there are so many fun quirks and nuances to travel, as well as needs and goals that vary from person to person," said Jeremy Tarr, editorial director of Fodor's Travel. "We designed the Fodor's Travel Awards to be more inclusive, more honest, and way more fun and relevant to everyday travelers and tourists."

Who won, who lost, and why

Best U.S. Airport: Hollywood Burbank (BUR). Fodor’s reasons: an agreeable airport in a perfect location; straightforward, shenanigan-free experience; plenty of affordable parking (as low as $10 per day!) with easy, quick shuttle access to the airport; Downtown L.A., Hollywood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Universal Studios, and other local attractions within easier reach than LAX; a short trip from security to the gate thanks to having only two terminals; and a Metrolink Station within walking distance of the terminals; great food options.

Next-Best U.S. Airport: Austin TX’s Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). Fodor’s reasons: the inherent eclectic nature of Austin bleeds over to the airport (“Keep Austin Weird”); foodie heaven with local faves serving up pie, barbecue, and tacos; live music (in the afternoon); the airport's Changing Exhibits program which features a rotating schedule of art, history, and culture displays; and shops that a traveler hasn’t seen at every other airport.

Worst U.S. Airport: Los Angeles International (LAX). Fodor’s reasons: Old and rundown; nightmare traffic in, around, and out; never-ending construction which poses a particularly nasty problems for Delta fliers. “Because of the construction separating the two terminals, Delta passengers show up at terminal 3, Delta’s original terminal, only to be told to head to terminal 2 to check their bags, then rush back to terminal 3 to go through security. Confused? Join the club,” wrote Fodor.

Best International Airport: Singapore Changi Airport (SIN). Fodor’s reasons: an incredible array of amenities; a world-class shopping experience; a delectable selection of international cuisine (including an array of “lite” food options); walk-through gardens, interactive exhibits, sky nets, and cool mazes for the kiddos.

Next-Best International Airport: Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN). Fodor’s reasons: “If Changi didn’t exist, Incheon would probably be the most mind-blowing airport in the industry,” was the survey team’s consensus; great relaxation and time-killing options -- shops, cafes, seven relaxing indoor gardens, and a landslide ice-skating rink.

In all fairness…

Just like everything else in infrastructure land, airports are trying to stay on top of the customer-pleasing curve. For example, Fodor’s notes that while there may be traffic hassles at LAX for the time being, the city is trying to flip that narrative by putting in a new connector for the Crenshaw/LAX and Green Lines due in 2023.

"Airports are like living creatures – sprawling, complicated, chameleon-like things that are constantly expanding and renewing themselves," Tarr said. "What is today's best airport can quickly become next year's worst."

A California jury has awarded a plaintiff nearly $10 million dollars after she sued Johnson & Johnson and Colgate-Palmolive, claiming their talc products caused her cancer.

Patricia Schmitz, who is suffering from mesothelioma, was awarded $4.8 million in damages from each company.

Schmitz testified that she developed mesothelioma after using both Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder and Colgate’s Cashmere Bouquet. Both companies argued that their products were not the cause of her illness.

“We will pursue an appeal because Johnson’s Baby Powder does not contain asbestos or cause cancer, as supported by decades of independent clinical evidence,” Johnson & Johnson said in a statement.

The company also said there were numerous procedural errors that should have ended in a mistrial, a charged echoed by Colgate.

Johnson & Johnson faces an estimated 13,000 lawsuits related to its powder products. In March another California jury ordered the company to pay a woman $29 million after she claimed Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower gel were linked to her cancer.

In April 2018, a New Jersey man was awarded $37 million in damages after suing Johnson & Johnson, claiming its talc products caused his mesothelioma.

Reuters article

The lawsuits increased a year ago after Reuters published an article claiming the company’s talc and baby powder products contain asbestos and that it knew about it for decades. Johnson & Johnson pushed back vigorously, with CEO Alex Gorsky insisting his company’s products do not contain the known carcinogen.

"And that's demonstrated in thousands of studies, studies not only conducted by J&J, but studies conducted by independent authorities, well-respected authorities, where we work closely with regulators who are overlooking the methodology," Gorsky said in an interview last summer with CNBC.

Earlier this year, Johnson & Johnson disclosed that two federal agencies had subpoenaed records related to the lawsuits. In its annual report, the company said the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) had requested that the pharmaceutical giant produce documents that shed light on the safety of its baby powder products.

Tests recently conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) have found that 21 popular oat-based cereals contain traces of glyphosate, the controversial active ingredient in the weed killer Roundup.

In October, the EWG found traces of the herbicide in dozens of Cheerios and Quaker brand products. In the latest study, all but four of the 21 cereals were found to contain glyphosate at levels above what the group considers safe for children.

“As these latest tests show, a box of Cheerios or other oat-based foods on store shelves today almost certainly comes with a dose of a cancer-causing weedkiller,” said Olga Naidenko, vice president for science investigations at EWG.

The highest levels of glyphosate were detected in General Mills’ Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch (833 parts per billion, or ppb) and Cheerios (729 ppb). The following four products contained glyphosate at levels below the EWG's “health benchmark for children” of 160 ppb:

• Honey Nut Cheerios

• Nature Valley Fruit & Nut Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars, Dark Chocolate & Nut

• Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Nut granola bars, Cashew

• Nature Valley Soft-Baked Oatmeal Squares, Cinnamon Brown Sugar

‘Probable carcinogenic’

In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a branch of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as a “probable” carcinogen. The herbicide has been detected in beers and wines, pet food, oat food products and even linked to shorter pregnancies.

Just a few months ago, a study found a “compelling link” between glyphosate and cancer risk, and a number of lawsuits have claimed that long-term exposure to Roundup led to cancer diagnoses. Last August, a San Francisco jury awarded a former school groundskeeper $289 million after finding that his cancer was the result of years of using Roundup.

Monsanto, which is now owned by Bayer, has maintained that its product is safe.

Removing glyphosate

In response to the latest round of tests, General Mills said it's working to minimize the use of pesticides on the ingredients it uses.

"Most crops grown in fields use some form of pesticides and trace amounts are found in the majority of food we all eat," the company told CBS News, adding that it adheres to thresholds for pesticides in food products established by experts at the FDA and EPA.

The Environmental Working Group believes companies like General Mills and Quaker should simply switch to using oats from farmers who don’t use glyphosate as a drying agent.

“Does General Mills really want to keep using a chemical that independent scientists say causes cancer, made by a company that three juries have found guilty of covering up its health hazards,” Naidenko said. “Or will they listen to the growing chorus of concerned consumers calling on General Mills and other companies to remove glyphosate from the cereals kids love to eat?”  

A published report says internal company emails appear to show that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was involved in discussions about privacy practices before privacy issues engulfed the company.

The report in The Wall Street Journal notes that its reporters did not see the emails but were told about them by anonymous sources, “people familiar with the matter.” In a statement, Facebook said company executives, including Zuckerberg, always tried to abide by “applicable law.”

The headlines come at a bad time for Facebook and Big Tech in general, which finds itself under growing scrutiny by state and federal investigators. There is growing concern among policymakers that Facebook and other large tech firms have become too large and powerful. The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have reportedly divided responsibility for investigating these firms for potential antitrust violations.

Facebook is in the midst of settling charges related to the 2018 revelation that Cambridge Analytica had gained unauthorized access to user data in order to target political ads.

Political targeting

Cambridge Analytica, now in bankruptcy, was a political marketing firm whose clients included the Trump Campaign and British backers of Brexit. The company reportedly purchased access to data on millions of Facebook users, making the deal with an app developer who got the data during a promotion with Facebook. Facebook said the developer violated the terms of service when it sold the data.

The Cambridge Analytica revelation was followed by a report that Facebook had given a number of large tech companies access to user information. Facebook responded that it never did so without users’ consent.

Seven years ago, the company settled a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaint alleging it had misused users’ data. In its statement, Facebook appeared to address any suggestions that its most recent actions were outside the limits of its previous agreement.

‘FTC consent order not violated’

“At no point did Mark or any other Facebook employee knowingly violate the company’s obligations under the FTC consent order,” the company said.

That could be an important point, as we reported in May that the proposed settlement with the FTC would make Zuckerberg personally accountable for future privacy issues. However, even The Journal concedes that the people who had seen the emails couldn’t say whether they reveal anyone at Facebook violated the 2012 settlement.

In late April, Facebook disclosed that it has set aside between $3 billion and $5 billion to pay a potential FTC fine.

Airbnb announced Thursday that it’s teaming up with local experts and tour companies to launch “Airbnb Adventures,” a new collection of several hundred "bucket list worthy multi-day experiences" in locations around the world.

Travelers can enjoy experiences "that are not typically found on any other major booking platform,” the company said in a release.

"With more travelers seeking adventure than ever before, Airbnb is looking to democratize the industry, offering more attainable experiences that are designed to unlock the power of nature, are led by locals and cater to a breadth of interests and abilities," Airbnb said.

Airbnb, which focuses primarily on short-term vacation housing rentals, is expected to go public later this year. The debut of “Adventures” comes almost three years after the company launched Experiences, which offers cheaper, single-day guided tours and activities for travelers.

Prices vary

Airbnb’s Adventure packages vary in price, with an overnight adventure starting at $79 and a 10-night stay totaling $5,000. Airfare isn’t factored into the price, but lodging, meals, and activities are included with each experience.

Examples of Airbnb “Adventures” include a three-day trip tracking lions with Samburu warriors in Kenya ($515 per person); a six-day Slow Food Safari in the Galapagos ($3,500); a five-day Mystical Oman Trek ($1,000), and camping on a cliff overnight in Colorado ($1,000).

“Expert local hosts handle the details, so all you have to do is show up,” Airbnb said on its website. The company notes that a maximum of 12 guests can take part in each experience.

At launch, 200 excursions are available, but Airbnb says it plans to add “many more” before the end of the year

Target announced on Thursday that consumers in 47 states can now get items delivered in as little as one hour for a flat fee of $9.99 per order. The retailer says 65,000 items on Target.com are available to be delivered the same day through its partnership with Shipt, which the company acquired in 2017.

“With same-day delivery now available directly within the Target.com experience, we’ve made it even easier for our guests to shop at Target,” Dawn Block, senior vice president of Target’s digital operations, said in a blog post.

The option to become a Shipt member for $99 per year is still available, Target said. Signing up for an annual membership gives customers free delivery on purchases of over $35.

Competing with rivals

Target’s launch of same-day delivery on an order-by-order basis comes just a few weeks after Amazon announced that Prime members can get free one-day shipping on millions of items. The launch of the faster delivery plan came just a few months after a study found that most Prime customers cited Amazon’s free, fast shipping as the main drawing point of the service.

Meanwhile, Walmart has been moving toward same-day delivery service for groceries and already offers next-day delivery in select markets. Walmart also announced this month that it plans to begin delivering groceries inside consumers’ homes later this year.

For Target’s newly expanded same-day delivery option, the company has created a dedicated shopping section on its website.

“All in one spot on Target.com, guests can shop same-day eligible items (like Grocery, Household Essentials, Pets, Baby), easily order items they’ve bought before or search specific categories. It makes shopping and delivery easy and fast,” Target said.

Introducing drugs as a treatment option for patients experiencing serious depression can come with mixed feelings, and now researchers are exploring the risks and benefits that could arise when older patients are prescribed the drugs.

While antidepressants are certainly a viable and life-changing option for many patients, that’s not the case with all patients, and researchers from the American Geriatrics Society looked into how mental health professionals can best help their older patients.

What are the risks?

To see how medication affected older patients who were struggling with depression, the researchers conducted a study in which participants aged 65 and older took either an antidepressant or a placebo sugar pill for 24 weeks.

Those who were given the medication were prescribed either a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) or a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), both of which are typically prescribed in the early stages of depression.

However, the researchers noted that over the course of the study, those who were given the sugar pills were doing better overall than those who had taken either SNRIs or SSRIs.

The participants who took the prescribed drugs were more likely to experience harmful incidents as a result of the medication, and many had to remove themselves from the study.

Though just one aspect of the researchers’ study, it’s important for both healthcare professionals and consumers to be aware of the potential risks associated with antidepressants.

Moreover, the researchers explained that certain depression medications can be harmful to the older demographic, as they can increase the likelihood of falls and subsequent injuries, particularly if patients have experienced dangerous falls in the past.

“Some of the antidepressants have not been studied in older patients with major depression, and studies don’t often describe specific side effects,” said researcher Diana M. Sobieraj. “Future research in this field is critical to better inform how the safety profiles of different antidepressants compare in older adults.”

Finding the best treatment option for depression can be difficult, and the researchers encourage patients and healthcare professionals to review the American Geriatric Society’s Beers Criteria, a comprehensive list of medications that may be harmful for older adults, before starting an antidepressant.

Staying informed

With over two million adults over the age of 65 suffering with depression, it’s important for consumers to know the warning signs, as well as what they can do to better their mental health.

Older adults who are in poor physical health, poor mental health, or experience other health complications are at an increased risk of depressive symptoms.

Adopting healthy habits such as exercising, sleeping well, eating healthy, and avoiding tobacco were found to leave lasting mental health benefits, while researchers also recently found that a change in scenery can be effective as well.

Choosing the right hospital can be difficult for many consumers as the options can seem endless. However, looking at ratings may not give consumers the most accurate depiction of the service they’ll receive, according to a new study conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine.

The researchers found that hospitals that are rated higher don’t always offer as many comprehensive services as hospitals with lower ratings, making the selection process that much more difficult.

“If you stay in a hotel with a five-star rating, you generally accept not only better service than in other hotels, but more services, from valet parking and room service to a spa and pool,” said researcher Dr. Zishan Siddiqui. “But when it comes to hospitals, the five-star category is much less helpful at capturing the services offered.”

Looking deeper

To see how patient experience ratings translated to hospital services, the researchers cross-referenced data from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the American Hospital Association.

The former recently started allowing patients to rate their experiences with the service’s nearly 4,000 participating hospitals and making the ratings public online, whereas the latter compiles information on what medical services hospitals offer.

Nearly 2,800 hospitals received online ratings, with just over five percent receiving the coveted five-star rating, and the researchers wanted to compare how the five-star hospitals stacked up against those that received lower ratings.

Overall, the five-star hospitals were not offering as many medical services to patients as the hospitals that received lower ratings.

For example, less than two percent of five-star hospitals offered neonatal intensive care units, while just 42 percent had intensive care units at all. By comparison, over 31 percent of lower-rated hospitals had neonatal intensive care units, whereas over 90 percent had intensive care units.

The highest-rated hospitals were also frequently lacking in units like oncology, neurology, obstetrics, and cardiology, as well as emergency departments.

“These patient experience scores are based on the communication and responsiveness of health care workers,” said Dr. Siddiqui. “When a hospital has generally healthy patients who all have a similar set of problems, it’s much easier for physicians and nurses to communicate with them and respond to their needs.”

According to Dr. Siddiqui, consumers should use their judgement when selecting a hospital, and know that patient experience ratings are only a small part of the overall picture of what a hospital can offer.  

“If you’re looking for a hospital, I’d recommend using more than one evaluation method after narrowing hospitals based on your clinical needs, experience of family and friends with similar needs, word of mouth, and your doctor’s recommendations,” said Dr. Siddiqui.

Read the ratings

Hospital ratings have garnered a great deal of attention recently, as both patient safety and patient mortality have been called into question.

A recent report found that hospitals that receive the lowest grades were also found to have the highest mortality rates, while just one-third of hospitals received an A rating when it comes to patient safety, emphasizing the prevalence with which medical errors continue to occur.

Choosing a hospital is no easy task, and these reports have made it clear that the decision requires a great deal of research.

Much is made of income inequality in America, but wealth-building often begins with a good credit score. A high score provides access to credit and helps people save money by getting lower insurance rates and paying less in interest.

Lots of things go into a good credit score, including low credit card debt and timely bill-paying. But researchers at FitSmallBusiness.com say where you live could also make a difference.

When they measured credit scores across the U.S., the researchers found a distinct pattern: people with the highest credit scores tended to live in northern states while those with lower scores called southern states home.

While it may be risky to generalize, the editors at FitSmallBusiness say the numbers don’t lie. The 12 states with the highest average credit score among consumers are all located north of the Mason-Dixon line, with the exception of Hawaii, which lies in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

The 12 states with the worst average credit scores are all in the South or Southwest, with the exception of Nevada.

Education could be a factor

The report pulls no punches. It attributes the disparity due to “poorly ranked educational systems and a heavy dependence on government aid.” The researchers say they also found southerners are more likely to have filed for bankruptcy than northerners, a lead weight on a credit score.

"None of this means that any individual northerner is more credit-worthy than any individual southerner," said Sarah Wright-Killinger, the managing editor at FitSmallBusiness. "But, it is interesting to see how credit scores and location correlate."

The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) says education about the importance of credit scores also makes it more likely a consumer will have a higher credit score, and the agency says that knowledge has been moving backward in recent years.

Credit knowledge is slipping

In its ninth annual credit score survey, CFA and VantageScore Solutions, LLC, reveal that consumer knowledge about credit scores and how they work is at the lowest level in the last eight years.

When quizzed on basic aspects of credit scores and how they are compiled and used, correct scores fell by as much as 20 percent. For example, only 66 percent of respondents knew that maintaining a low credit card balance was a contributing factor to a good credit score, down from 85 percent in 2012.

Ironically, the percentage of respondents who said they considered their knowledge of credit scores excellent or good rose from 54 percent to 60 percent.

“Consumers know less about credit scores but think they know more,” said Stephen Brobeck, CFA senior fellow.  “Taking our online credit score quiz provides an easy way for consumers to update their credit score knowledge.”

How much do you know about credit scores? You can find out by taking CFA’s Credit Score Quiz.

Ford Motor Company is recalling 1,194,173 model year 2011-2017 Explorers.

The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.

A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

What to do

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin June 24, 2019.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S17.

Amazon of Seattle, Wash., is recalling about 399,000 AmazonBasics 1500 watt ceramic space heaters sold in the U.S, Canada and Mexico.

The heater can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards.

The company has received 25 reports in the U.S. and five in Canada of the ceramic heater overheating, burning, or sparking. Two of those reports included minor damage to power outlets. There were no injuries associated with the incidents.

No incidents were reported in Mexico.

This recall involves AmazonBasics 1500 watt ceramic space heaters.

Two models (ASIN B074MR2HGM and ASIN B074MWRLZM) have oscillating fans and the others (ASIN B074MX8VNR and ASIN B074MWKSLX) do not.

The heaters were sold in black and silver with the AmazonBasics logo printed on the front of the units.

The following ID numbers are printed on the label on the back of the units: B074MWKSLX, B074MX8VNR, B074MR2HGM, B074MWRLZM.

The heaters, manufactured in China, were sold online at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com.mx from October 2017, through March 2019 for between $25 and $35.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled heaters. All known purchasers are being contacted directly by Amazon at the email address associated with the Amazon account that purchased the product with full instructions on how to receive a full refund.

Consumers may contact Amazon at amazonspaceheaterrecall@amazon.com or toll-free at (888) 280-4331.

With dust-ups like Carnival Cruise Lines being threatened with a ban from U.S. ports and the Boeing 737 MAX grounding, consumers are starting to take a look at credit cards that come with built-in travel insurance benefits.

That sounds like a good idea in theory, “but depending on each traveler and their trip specifics, this limited coverage may be exactly what they need, or it may not provide the right benefits or coverage amounts,” Jenna Hummer, a spokesperson for Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison site, told ConsumerAffairs.

Hummer recommends that the consumer do a little more investigating before they sign up for a new credit card for the sole purpose of a travel insurance perk. “One big concern is when travelers assume their credit card offers the trip protection they need but they do not check the coverage details in advance of their trip.”

A broken foot diving in Aruba?

Squaremouth found three situations where third-party travel insurance policies can cover costs that credit cards won’t necessarily guarantee.

At the top of Squaremouth’s warning list is the fact that most credit cards don't include medical coverage if a traveler has a medical emergency while traveling. Keyword there being “most.” If the credit card you sign up for promises that it does indeed cover travel medical benefits, check the amount. Often, the amount is limited, ranging from $2,500 to $5,000.

If medical coverage is something you want to have just in case, it might be smarter to take a look at third-party medical insurance. Those policies usually offer more comprehensive medical coverage, with benefits starting around $10,000 for Emergency Medical and $100,000 for Medical Evacuation. Third-party policies can also offer some added pluses like coverage for pre-existing conditions, dental, including chronic conditions and recent diagnoses, illnesses, or injuries.

Squaremouth’s guidance? At least $50,000 in Emergency Medical coverage and $100,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage for international travel, plus higher amounts for cruises or remote travel.

When ConsumerAffairs tested Squaremouth’s $50,000 medical coverage suggestion at travel insurer Allianz, the rate we received was $152 (for a 50-year old Alabama resident visiting Aruba over the Fourth of July) which also included trip interruption, trip cancellation, baggage loss/delay, etc.

When travel plans get off the tracks

“Many credit cards offer Trip Cancellation coverage to customers who pay for trips through their card, reimbursing travelers who are unable to take their trip as planned,” Hummer said, but with a slight “but” -- those cards usually cap coverage at a certain amount.

And, just like emergency medical, travelers who want to make sure their plane or boat gets them where they’re going, checking out third-party insurers would be smart. Typically, they cover much higher trip costs and offer reimbursements up to 100% of prepaid and non-refundable travel expenses, like airfare, hotels, and tours.

Squaremouth raises one important point about Trip Cancellation coverage: While you’d rather not have to ask the credit card company or travel insurance company for approval, unfortunately, the standard Trip Cancellation benefit typically only reimburses travelers who cancel for specific reasons, such as illness, death, severe weather, or terrorism.

The all-in-one option

Want a catch-all? While Cancel for Any Reason policies can run as much as 40 percent more, the coverage is broad and will -- at least partially -- reimburse the consumer to cancel for reasons that are not covered by the standard Trip Cancellation benefit.

Several years ago, CNBC analyst and show host Jim Cramer coined an acronym for a handful of technology stocks that were igniting the stock market.

He called them the “FANG stocks.” FANG, later expanded to FAANG, stands for Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google, whose parent company is Alphabet.

At the time -- February 2013 -- Cramer directed investors toward these companies because he said they represented the future and -- this is key -- they are “companies that are totally dominant in their markets.”

Now, more than six years later, that dominance may be working against them. Over the last 12 months, both Republicans and Democrats have been reaching a shaky consensus that Big Tech may have gotten too big.

DOJ may be looking at Google

Just last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Justice Department’s Antitrust Division is looking into whether Google has violated antitrust laws. If true, the inquiry would follow months of vocal concern by policymakers and consumer groups about the growing power and reach of technology companies, most of which are based in California’s Silicon Valley.

A year ago, the European Union accused Google of unfairly using its dominant position in search to suppress some websites while favoring those with which it had a financial relationship. Google denied the charges.

Just how the U.S. government might approach applying antitrust restraints to the FAANG companies was revealed in a speech in Israel this week. Assistant U.S. Attorney General Makan Delrahim addressed an antitrust conference in Tel Aviv, saying current U.S. antitrust laws give his office the necessary tools to police Big Tech.

No new laws needed

“U.S. antitrust law is flexible enough to be applied to markets old and new,” Delrahim said.

He said one way investigators could determine whether a tech company is violating antitrust laws is if some of its business decisions made “no economic sense” for the company except that it might drive a competitor out of business.

In the past, antitrust matters have hinged on whether consumers were harmed by high prices imposed by a monopoly. Tech companies usually offer consumers things at lower costs, or even for free. Doesn’t that make the “consumer harm” argument fall apart?

Not necessarily, says Delrahim, who notes that the law has been expanded to also protect competing businesses from monopolistic behavior. In the long run, he says, preserving and enhancing competition will serve consumers’ interests.

Apple’s iOS 13 update, set to launch for iPhones this fall, includes a feature that will extend battery life by preventing the device from overcharging.

On its website, Apple explains that the new feature -- dubbed “optimized battery charging” -- works by getting to know a user’s daily charging habits.

“iPhone uses on-device machine learning to understand your daily charging routine so it can wait to finish charging past 80% until you need to use it,” the company said. For the remaining 20 percent, the phone switches to a slower “trickle charge” which “eases the electrical current to extend battery lifespan.”

Consumers will have the option of enabling or disabling Apple’s upcoming battery-extending feature.

Improving battery performance

Throughout 2018, Apple faced criticism over the way it handled the update that slowed down older iPhones to preserve battery life. Lawsuits filed by iPhone customers claimed Apple deliberately slowed down aging phones in order to drive sales of new iPhones.

Apple has maintained that the performance management feature introduced with iOS updates 10.2.1 and 11.2 was meant to “improve customers’ user experience” by extending the life of their phone battery.

In the wake of the battery throttling debacle, the company added an option that lets users check on the health of their phone’s lithium-ion battery. Apple also dropped the price of out-of-warranty battery replacements and vowed to be “clearer and more upfront” with users about whether a software update could affect the performance of their iPhone.

Uber has announced that it’s preparing to start testing drone delivery for Uber Eats in high-density urban areas. The company anticipates beginning trials in San Diego this summer, pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

News of the planned test comes just a few weeks after Amazon unveiled a drone that it hopes to use for deliveries of household items “within months.”

For the initial phase of Uber’s food-delivery-by-drone test, Uber has been working with McDonald’s. The company plans to work with other partners later this year.

“We’ve been working closely with the FAA to ensure that we’re meeting requirements and prioritizing safety,” Luke Fischer, head of flight operations at Uber Elevate, said in a statement. “From there, our goal is to expand Uber Eats drone delivery so we can provide more options to more people at the tap of a button. We believe that Uber is uniquely positioned to take on this challenge as we’re able to leverage the Uber Eats network of restaurant partners and delivery partners as well as the aviation experience and technology of Uber Elevate.”

Predetermined landing zones

Food ordered via Uber Eats’ drone delivery service will be sent to “designated safe landing zones” where Uber employees will unload the package and take it to the customer’s doorstep, according to Bloomberg. Uber says its future plans include having the drones land on top of parked Uber vehicles located near the delivery locations.

“We don’t need to get the drone direct to our customers or consumers. We just have to get it close enough,” Fischer said at the Uber Elevate summit this week.

Uber believes that in 10 years’ time, drone deliveries will be have become prevalent enough to warrant a restructuring of restaurant kitchens.

There are a lot of things that are stressful about work, but a new study could have employees reconsidering if speaking up in front of their boss is one of them.

According to researcher Danielle King, workers are more comfortable sharing their new ideas with their bosses when they receive positive, encouraging comments.

“Given that many employee ideas for change cannot be endorsed, our results highlight the practical importance of providing sensitive explanations for why employee suggestions cannot be embraced,” King said. “Specifically, it is critically important for leaders to exhibit sensitivity in their communication with employees.”

Cultivating a positive work environment

King conducted two studies to gauge how supervisors’ responses affected their employees’ likelihood of speaking up in future situations, both of which proved that sensitivity is key for good morale.

In the first study, nearly 200 participants completed a survey that assessed their experience being rejected in the workplace.

Participants not only described a moment when one of their ideas had been shot down by their boss, but also reflected on how the experience affected their self-esteem and likelihood of speaking up again, and how their bosses had handled the rejection.

The second study had student workers at a marketing agency have their ideas rejected by their bosses. They received one of four different responses, all varying in sensitivity. Following the automated response, the students were then able to revise their pitches and resubmit their ideas.

In both scenarios, the employees were more receptive to bosses who offered clear explanations of why their ideas couldn’t work, while also encouraging them to continue sharing their ideas in the future.

When the reason for rejection was poorly explained or insensitive to the employers’ feelings, workers were less likely to express ideas in future situations.

King hopes that employers are inspired by these findings, and they implement some of these sensitivity tools in their own workplaces.

“As demonstrated in our study, explanation sensitivity led employees to opening up again,” King said. “In addition, it may be valuable to help employees understand that extenuating circumstances sometimes prevent implementation of potentially good ideas. It would also be useful to provide justification for why complete explanations cannot be revealed for strategic or confidentiality reasons. If such explanations are delivered in a sensitive manner, this should maintain the type of leader-employer relationship that encourages employees to speak up in the future.”

Staying open-minded at work

While criticism can be hard to swallow, especially in the workplace, a recent study found that being open to criticism can actually help consumers’ creativity when at work. Researchers found that when criticism comes from a boss can create some roadblocks, while receiving criticism from those of a lower rank can benefit workers’ productivity.

“It makes sense that employees might feel threatened by criticism from their managers,” said researcher Yeun Joon Kim. “Supervisors have a lot of influence in deciding promotions or pay raises. So negative feedback from a boss might trigger career anxieties.”

Consumers owe more than $1 trillion in credit card debt, but how that debt is managed can make the difference between getting ahead or living paycheck-to-paycheck.

Carrying a balance of $1,000 or less? Those payments can be manageable even with a modest income and the balance can be paid off with some sustained effort. What about $5,000? That gets a little harder.

When a credit card balance goes over $10,000, that’s when you can find yourself behind the 8 ball, depending on your income and other expenses. Assuming a 17 percent interest rate -- and the rate on many cards is higher -- the interest payments alone would be $141.66 a month, assuming you never paid anything on the principle.

Unfortunately, a growing number of consumers find themselves trying to juggle payments around a five-figure credit card balance. About one in six consumers with credit cards in the nation’s largest metro areas carry a balance of $10,000 or more, according to a new report from CompareCards.

Big spenders in Bridgeport, Conn.

According to the study Bridgeport, Conn., has the highest percentage of consumers with a $10,000 credit card balance. Researchers say most of the cities with the highest percentages of people with five-figure credit card debt are along the East Coast and West Coast. And it’s not low income households that have gotten in over their heads in plastic debt -- it's often the wealthiest cities that carry the biggest card balances.

About 23 percent of credit card holders in the Bridgeport metro area carry balances in excess of  $10,000. Nearly 2 percent of Bridgeport consumers owe more than $50,000 on their cards.

Virginia Beach is second on the list, with 20 percent of cardholders owing at least $10,000 on their cards. Washington, D.C. is third with just under 20 percent in the five-figure club. New York is fourth and Los Angeles rounds out the top five.

Less debt in the South

While the biggest borrowers tend to be on the coasts, the South has fewer credit card customers who owe $10,000 or more. In fact, five of the seven cities with the lowest percentage of cardholders with five-figure card debt were in the South.

Winston-Salem, N.C.; Greensboro, N.C.; Chattanooga; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Jackson, Miss., have high percentages of five-figure credit card debt, but none higher than 12.4 percent.

"When your credit card debt hits five figures, it's crushing, and it can consume your life. I know. I've been there," said Matt Schulz, chief industry analyst at CompareCards. "But if you're struggling with credit card debt, the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

Sometimes seeking advice from a non-profit credit counselor can be the first step toward getting out of debt. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) can put you in touch with a non-profit counselor in your area.

With more consumers finding themselves utilizing electric scooters, experts are noting a strong increase in head injuries.

According to a recent study conducted by researchers from Rutgers University, lax regulations regarding adults wearing helmets while on board an electric scooter have led to a dramatic increase in head and face injuries over the last 10 years.

“Children use motorized scooters marketed as toys, but in reality, certain models can reach speeds of almost 30 miles per hour,” said researcher Amishav Bresler.

Staying safe on the roads

To track the safety of motorized scooters, the researchers examined data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance system between 2008 and 2017.

Based on 100 hospitals across the country that contribute to the dataset, experts are able to create national estimates based on their findings.

In this study, nearly 1,000 people were treated for a head or face injury sustained while on a motorized scooter, which experts approximated to about 32,000 people who were similarly injured on a national scale.

Helmet use was rare among those who were injured, though older scooter riders were more likely to don the safety gear. While the youngest demographic was less than 20 percent likely to wear a helmet, nearly 70 percent of those in the oldest age group practiced safety measures by wearing a helmet.

Of those most likely to experience a head injury while riding a motorized scooter, the researchers noted that men out-injured women and adults out-injured children.

While just 33 percent of all head injuries were incurred by children aged six through 12, men between the ages of 19 and 65 were most likely to land in the emergency room after an electric scooter accident.

The researchers explained that lenient helmet-wearing regulations are most likely to blame for the recent increase in these kinds of injuries, and lawmakers should get stricter when it comes to consumers’ safety.

“The United States should standardize electric scooter laws and license requirements should be considered to decrease the risky behaviors associated with motorized scooter use,” said Bresler. “In 2000, Italy implemented a law mandating helmet use for all types of recreational scooter drivers -- legislation that reduced head trauma in scooter riders from about 27 out of 10,000 people before the law passed to about 9 out of 10,000 people afterward.”

Dangers on the road

With companies like Uber and Lyft now offering customers easy access to electric scooters, it should come as no surprise that accidents are increasing.

Experts have noticed more and more consumers landing in the hospital with injuries ranging from concussions, broken bones, and internal bleeding.

“What I think bothers a lot of us as trauma surgeons is that we’re seeing injuries that are completely against decades of injury prevention -- alcohol intoxication, no helmets, people that don’t know how to ride these vehicles in the first place," Dr. Vishal Bansal, Chief of Trauma Surgery at San Diego’s Scripps Mercy Hospital, told 10News, an ABC affiliate in San Diego.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) says license plate images and photos of travelers headed into and out of the country were stolen in a "malicious cyberattack" of an unnamed subcontractor at the end of May, the Washington Post reported.

In a statement, the agency said a subcontractor "had transferred copies of license plate images and traveler images collected by CBP to the subcontractor's company network. The subcontractor's network was subsequently compromised by a malicious cyber-attack."

CPB added that it has notified Congress and is working with other law enforcement and cybersecurity entities to investigate the incident and determine its scope.

Fewer than 100,000 people are thought to be affected by the hack, a CPB spokesperson told CNN. The images stolen were of travelers passing through a “few specific lanes at a single land border” over the course of a month and a half. As of Monday, none of the images had been found on the internet or on the dark web.

Collecting sensitive biometric information

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Senior Legislative Counsel Neema Singh Guliani pointed out that the CPB breach has come to light at a time when the agency is expanding its use of face recognition technology called Biometric Exit at departure gates in several U.S. airports.

"This breach comes just as CBP seeks to expand its massive face recognition apparatus and collection of sensitive information from travelers, including license plate information and social media identifiers,” said in a statement. “This incident further underscores the need to put the brakes on these efforts and for Congress to investigate the agency's data practices.”