Current Events in February 2020

There are many factors that contribute to consumers’ food waste, but findings from a recent study suggest that how much money you earn and spend could play more of a key role than previously thought.

Researchers from Wageningen University in the Netherlands conducted an analysis that sought to link spending with food waste. They found that relatively low levels of spending were linked with higher levels of waste.

“According to our estimates, annual per capita consumer expenditure of about 2450 (International 2005 USD) or about $6.70/day/capita, is the level at which policy-makers should start paying particular attention to consumer [food waste] in a country and implement consumer awareness and education programs to counter it before it explodes,” the researchers said.

Focus on high-income and developing nations

The team came to their conclusions after analyzing data collected by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). While creating their model, the team found that current FAO estimates focused on food waste were drastically underestimated. 

"Novel research using energy requirement and consumer affluence data shows that consumers waste more than twice as much food as is commonly believed,” the study authors stated. 

To solve this problem, the team suggests that policymakers specifically focus on reducing food waste in high-income countries. Following that, they recommend focusing on countries where affluence is growing so that emerging economies and nations do not follow a similar path.

“If these growing economies follow the same growth paths as the developed regions, we will soon see similar [food waste] patterns evolving,” the researchers warn.

The full study has been published in the journal PLOS ONE.

While recent studies have found how things like diet and exercise can help consumers’ keep their memory sharp, a new study conducted by researchers from the German Center for Neurodegenerative Disease found yet another factor that can affect consumers’ memory function: their blood. 

According to the researchers, having a stronger blood supply in the brain was an indicator that consumers had better memory skills, particularly for those who were aging. 

“Our study shows a clear link between blood supply to the hippocampus and cognitive performance,” said researcher Stefanie Schreiber. “This suggests that brain blood flow might play a key role in the declining of memory performance, whether caused by age or disease.” 

Understanding the brain

To see how the blood supply in the brain affects consumers’ memory, the researchers had nearly 50 participants involved in the study, all of whom were between the ages of 45 and 89. 

The study had two primary components. The participants’ went through a number of tests to assess their overall cognitive functioning; the researchers also administered MRI scans of their brains to understand what role their biology played in their memory performance. 

The researchers’ focused their MRIs on the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for memories. Schreiber explained that the blood supply through the hippocampus can vary from person to person. 

“It has been known for some time that the hippocampus is supplied by either one or two arteries,” she said. “It also happens that only one of the two hippocampi, which occur in every brain, is supplied by two vessels. This varies between individuals. The reasons are unknown.” 

The study revealed that this difference in blood flow greatly affected how the participants fared on the cognitive portion of the study, as those who had a greater blood supply going to the hippocampus had better memory function than those who had just the one supply source going to the memory center of their brains. 

Blood supply tied to lifestyle

As it stands now, the researchers are unsure why this difference in arteries exists in consumers, though they explain that there could be genetic or lifestyle factors that come into play. 

Moving forward, they plan to dig even deeper into this area to better understand how these findings can eventually lead to a prevention plan or treatment method for those struggling with memory function. 

“At present we can only speculate, because we don’t know, but it is possible that lifestyle has an influence on the formation of blood vessels that supply the hippocampus,” Schreiber said. “This would then be a factor that can be influenced and thus a potential approach for therapies and also for prevention.” 

American Honda Motor Co. is recalling 241,339 model year 2018-2020 Odysseys.

The wire harness for the third row seat accessory power outlet may get pinched between the unibody and rear trim panel, possibly damaging the wires and causing an electrical short.

An intermittent electrical short could overheat the wire harness, increasing the risk of a fire.

What to do

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third row seat accessory power outlet wire harness for damage, replacing it as necessary.

If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and re-route the harness. All repairs will be performed free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin March 16, 2020.

Owners may contact Honda customer service at (888) 234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is T6U.

BMW of North America is recalling 683 model year 2020 X7 xDrive40i and X7 xDrive50i vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect an adequate amount of light.

An inadequate amount of reflected light will decrease the vehicle's visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace both rear reflex reflectors free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin March 23, 2020.

Owners may contact BMW customer service at (800) 525-7417.

A federal court in New York has returned a superseding indictment charging Chinese telecom giant Huawei with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations  (RICO) Act.

Even though the U.S. and China signed a Phase One trade agreement last month, signaling a truce in their trade war, the U.S. has continued to keep legal pressure on Chinese interests and government institutions.

Earlier this week, a federal grand jury in Atlanta indicted four members of the Chinese military on charges of carrying out the 2017 Equifax data breach. The hack exposed sensitive information on some 150 million people.

The indictment also follows charges by government officials this week that Huawei has backdoor access to numerous mobile networks in the U.S. FierceWireless’s latest report counted as many as 200,000 consumers across the U.S. who are getting their service from small and regional telcos that use Huawei equipment. 

Those telcos serve customers in Western Kentucky, Western Tennessee, Western Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraska, Western Kansas, Northeast Colorado, Montana, Utah, Idaho, and Northwest Dakota

Conspiracy to steal trade secrets

The 16-count superseding indictment -- one that takes the place of charges in which the statute of limitations have expired -- adds a charge of conspiracy to steal trade secrets. The U.S. government has repeatedly accused Huawei of engaging in fraud and deception to misappropriate sophisticated technology from U.S. technology companies.

The Trump administration has made efforts to persuade other western nations not to use  Huawei products and services in building their 5G wireless networks, accusing the Chinese company of using its equipment to spy on communications networks. Huawei has consistently denied those charges.

The defendants named in the indictment include Huawei and four official and unofficial subsidiaries -- Huawei Device Co. Ltd. (Huawei Device), Huawei Device USA Inc. (Huawei USA), Futurewei Technologies Inc. (Futurewei), and Skycom Tech Co. Ltd. Huawei’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Wanzhou Meng was also named in the indictment. 

New charges and Huawei’s denial

The government’s new charges against the company claim Huawei and other defendants have spent decades stealing intellectual property, including from six U.S. technology companies. That intellectual property is said to include trade secret information and copyrighted works, such as source code and user manuals for internet routers, antenna technology, and robot testing technology. 

This latest indictment claims Huawei has successfully obtained unauthorized access to U.S. trade secrets and intellectual property that has given it an unfair advantage. A spokesman for Huawei denies all allegations contained in the indictment.

“This new indictment is part of the Justice Department’s attempt to irrevocably damage Huawei’s reputation and its business for reasons related to competition rather than law enforcement,” the company said in a statement. “The ‘racketeering enterprise’ that the government charged today is nothing more than a contrived repackaging of a handful of civil allegations that are almost 20 years old.”

Following a legal challenge by Amazon back in January, a federal judge has placed an injunction on a cloud computing contract between the federal government and Microsoft.

CNBC reports that a federal judge placed a temporary block on the deal on Thursday, though further details were not released. Amazon’s suit claimed that the Pentagon’s decision to choose Microsoft was made based on political considerations. Earlier this month, the company said it wished to depose President Trump and other officials over their role in the selection process.

The JEDI Project -- which is designed to provide the military with better access to technology when working in remote locations -- is said to be worth $10 billion.

“It is common practice to stay contract performance while a protest is pending, and it’s important that the numerous evaluation errors and blatant political interference that impacted the JEDI award decision be reviewed,” Amazon Web Services stated back in January.

Microsoft and Feds respond

Following the injunction order, Microsoft and federal officials released statements relating their disappointment in the decision.

“While we are disappointed with the additional delay we believe that we will ultimately be able to move forward with the work to make sure those who serve our country can access the new technology they urgently require. We have confidence in the Department of Defense, and we believe the facts will show they ran a detailed, thorough and fair process in determining the needs of the warfighter were best met by Microsoft,” a Microsoft official told CNBC.

“We are disappointed in today’s ruling and believe the actions taken in this litigation have unnecessarily delayed implementing DoD’s modernization strategy and deprived our warfighters of a set of capabilities they urgently need. However, we are confident in our award of the JEDI cloud contract to Microsoft and remain focused on getting this critical capability into the hands of our warfighters as quickly and efficiently as possible,” added Lt. Col. Robert Carver, a spokesperson for the Department of Defense.

When March 2020 rolls around, Delta Air Lines will be depositing a big, fat $1 billion towards doing what it can to clean up the environment. 

In a 10-year commitment heralded by Delta CEO Ed Bastian, the airline will put an all-in effort towards mitigating emissions -- both in the air and on the ground -- anywhere it has a presence. As part of that 10-year investment, Bastian is pinning his hopes on innovation, clean air tech, and waste reduction to honor that commitment.

“There is no substitute for the power that travel has to connect people, which our world needs today more than ever before. As we connect customers around the globe, it is our responsibility to deliver on our promise to bring people together and ensure the utmost care for our environment,” said Bastian. “The time is now to accelerate our investments and establish an ambitious commitment that the entire Delta team will deliver.”

With Delta becoming the first airline to go carbon neutral, it may force U.S. airports to follow Europe’s lead and also take the carbon neutral route. The number of Europe’s carbon neutral airports are growing expeditiously. Currently, Europe has 41 carbon neutral airports and is on track to hit 100 by 2030. 

Prepare for take-off

Bastian is a busy boy. When you take into account his earlier promise to build a technological conduit between Delta and its passengers, this latest initiative will put a lot on his plate.

With as much as 98 percent of all the company’s emissions coming from its aircraft, Bastian’s carbon neutral wish is an especially tall order, but he appears determined that Delta can -- and will -- make this move happen. To get there, however, it’s not only going to take everyone from the ground crew up. The airliner will need to build coalitions with outside brains and resources, as well. 

“There’s no challenge we face that is in greater need of innovation than environmental sustainability, and we know there is no single solution. We are digging deep into the issues, examining every corner of our business, engaging experts, building coalitions, fostering partnerships and driving innovation,” Bastian said. 

“We are on a journey, and though we don’t have all the answers today, we know that our scale, along with investments of time, talent and resources will bring meaningful impact to the planet and ensure the sustainability of our business for decades to come.”

How do travelers benefit?

A cleaner environment is one thing, but you may be asking yourself what’s in it for you the next time you climb aboard a Delta flight?

“When customers choose to fly Delta, they should feel they’re making a statement about taking care of our planet,” Bastian said. “Our commitment to carbon neutrality means flying with Delta represents far more than a great travel experience – it’s about joining arms to create a better world.

As more and more studies focus on veterans’ health post-service, and veterans worry about their health upon returning home, a new study conducted by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital discovered a new health woe common among those who fought in the Gulf War. 

According to the researchers, veterans struggling with Gulf War Illness (GWI), a chronic disorder that affects Gulf War veterans, were also more likely to experience brain inflammation. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs notes that other common symptoms associated with the condition include fatigue, headaches, joint pain, indigestion, insomnia, dizziness, respiratory disorders, and memory problems.

Researcher Zeynab Alshelh, PhD, explained that the inflammation was most common “in the cortical regions, which are involved in ‘higher-order’ functions, such as memory, concentration, and reasoning. The neuroinflammation looked very similar to the widespread cortical inflammation we detected in fibromyalgia patients,” he said. 

Understanding the symptoms

To better understand this neuroinflammation, the researchers compared 15 veterans with GWI to eight veterans without the condition and 25 participants who had no experience in the military. 

All of the participants received PET scans of their brains, which the researchers then evaluated for a molecule known as the translocator protein. When brain inflammation is particularly high, the levels of the translocator protein are also elevated. 

For the participants with no military background and those with no history of GWI, the researchers detected normal brain scans. However, for those with GWI, brain inflammation was particularly high. 

The researchers began looking at other GWI symptoms to better understand why this could be the case and found that many of the symptoms associated with the disorder are similar to fibromyalgia. GWI sufferers can experience chronic pain, memory loss, extreme fatigue, and neuroinflammation. 

The researchers are primarily concerned about this brain inflammation becoming a chronic issue. They hope their findings “help motivate a more aggressive evaluation of neuroinflammation as a potential therapeutic target.” 

As experts continue to explore the ways air pollution can increase the risk of death for consumers, a new study conducted by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology revealed that pollutants can affect consumers’ health regardless of where they live. 

According to the researchers, half of all deaths related to pollution can be linked to out-of-state emissions. They explain that winds often carry pollution across state lines, increasing the scope of those affected by the fumes. 

“It’s not necessarily just the adjacent state, but states over 1,000 miles away that can be affected,” said researcher Steven Barrett. “Different kinds of emissions have a different kind of range. The story is different for each pollutant.” 

Tracking emission patterns

The researchers focused their study on the 48 contiguous states across the country between 2005 and 2018. 

Barrett explained that he and his team used “computational tools” that were able to track the spread of fine particulates, sulfur dioxide, and ozone as they traveled across state lines. Their process was also able to track where the pollutants came from to determine what was generating the highest levels of air pollution. 

The study revealed that pollutants can reach consumers far away from where they originate, contributing to air pollution-related deaths entire states away. According to the researchers, roughly half of all emissions cross state borders to pollute the air in other places, and these traveling pollutants are what contribute to air pollution-related deaths nationwide. 

While pollutants coming from homes and businesses aren’t likely to travel very far, the researchers found that emissions coming from electrical power generators can affect consumers far beyond the state limits. 

When it comes to specifics, the researchers cite New York as a state that experiences the brunt of out-of-state emissions that can complicate residents’ health. In contrast, states in the Midwest often have higher emissions levels, but because of smaller populations and stronger wind patterns, the pollutants ultimately affect those in other places. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope that these findings can inspire legislators to tighten regulations when it comes to air pollution and ultimately protect consumers across the country. 

“There’s a big archive of data we’ve created from this project,” Barrett said. “We think there are a lot of things that policymakers can dig into, to chart a path to saving the most lives.”  

Rutter's, a chain of convenience stores and gas stations with 72 locations in central Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland, has reported details of a data breach that exposed customers’ payment card information.

The breach is disturbingly similar to one that victimized Wawa, another convenience store chain. That breach was announced in December and affected nearly 30 million consumers.

“On January 14, 2020, the investigation identified evidence indicating that an unauthorized actor may have accessed payment card data from cards used on point-of-sale (POS) devices at some fuel pumps and inside some of our convenience stores through malware installed on the payment processing systems,” Rutter’s said in a statement. 

Similar methods

In the Wawa incident, a team of security investigators found malware on the company’s payment processing servers on December 10 and contained it two days later. The malware was able to capture payment card data from cards used in gas pump card readers as well as in point of sale terminals inside the stores.

The Rutter’s announcement suggests that the hackers were using the same or very similar method. Investigators say the malware found on Rutter’s servers searched for tracking data and read from a payment card as it was being routed through the payment processing systems. But not all cards used at the stores may have been compromised.

“Chip-enabled (EMV) POS terminals are used inside our convenience stores.  EMV cards generate a unique code that is validated for each transaction, and the code cannot be reused,” the company said. “As a result, for EMV cards inserted into the chip-reader on the EMV POS devices in our convenience stores, only card number and expiration date were involved.”

It also appears that the malware did not copy data from all of the payment cards used during the time it was on the company’s network. What’s clear, the company said, is that this hack was a sophisticated operation and not the result of a handheld "skimmer" being placed on a Rutter's fuel pump. 

New way to steal data

Visa warned in December that this type of hack was becoming more common. Over the summer, Visa said it found that “threat actors” had stepped up their game when it comes to stealing consumers’ payment card information. 

The scammers target merchant employees through the use of phishing emails. If someone clicks on an email link, they download malware that infects the entire network. Once inside the company’s system, it has no need to use risky and “low-tech” gas pump skimmers to steal payment card information.

As for the Rutter’s hack, the company says the specific timeframes when data from cards used at the locations involved may have been accessed vary by location. But the malware could have been capturing data at some locations from October 1, 2018 through May 29, 2019.

Consumers who used a payment card to make purchases at Rutter’s between those dates should carefully monitor statements and inform their bank or credit card issuer. Those companies may or may not choose to issue new cards.

Uncertainty over the coronavirus is keeping world oil prices low, and that, in turn, continues to push down gasoline prices.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gas is $2.43 a gallon, down a penny in the last week. It’s 16 cents cheaper than a month ago. The average price of premium is $3.04 a gallon, also one cent lower than last Friday. The average price of diesel fuel is $2.89, down from $2.91 last week.

In a few weeks, fuel prices will likely start to rise as refineries curtail operations for winter maintenance and begin the switchover to more expensive summer-blend gasoline. But until then, oil prices should continue to give motorists a break at the gas pump.

“At $50 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices are at their cheapest point in a year,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA’s spokesperson. “That, plus steady gasoline stock levels and low demand have helped to push the national average lower – a dime cheaper than three weeks ago.”

Supply and demand remain the biggest factor in falling fuel prices. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported Thursday that gas supplies are still 2.7 million barrels higher than 2019’s level at this time. Meanwhile, EIA estimates demand fell from 8.93 million barrels a day to 8.72 million barrels last week.

Florida led the nation with an eight cents a gallon drop in its average gas price. The average price in North Dakota is down six cents a gallon in the last week.

The states with the most expensive regular gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• Hawaii ($3.60)

• California ($3.49)

• Washington ($3.09)

• Nevada ($2.93)

• Oregon ($2.97) 

• Alaska ($2.94)

• Arizona ($2.78)

• Pennsylvania ($2.62)

• New York ($2.61)

• Vermont ($2.59) 

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Missouri ($2.07)

• Texas ($2.07)

• Mississippi ($2.09)

• Louisiana ($2.10)

• South Carolina ($2.12)

• Oklahoma ($2.12)

• Arkansas ($2.15)

• Kansas ($2.17)

• Alabama ($2.14)

• Kentucky ($2.18)

Rooms To Go of Seffner, Fla., is recalling about 385 Patmos Chaise Lounge Chairs.

The paint used on the chair’s metal frame contains levels of lead that exceed the federal lead paint standard. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children.

This recall involves the Patmos Chaise Lounge Chair, which is sold in brown and gray, and covered with a tightly woven, synthetic, resin/all-weather wicker.

The chair also has an adjustable backrest and measures 34 inches wide, 83 inches deep, and 11 inches high.

The chairs, manufactured in Indonesia, were sold at Rooms To Go and Carl’s Patio stores in Florida and online at www.roomstogo.com from March 2017, through April 2019, for between $500 and $700.

What to do

Consumers should stop using the recalled chairs immediately and contact Rooms To Go for a replacement. Rooms To Go is contacting all known purchasers directly.

Consumers may contact Rooms To Go toll-free at (855) 688-0919, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (ET), or online at www.roomstogo.com and click on “Customer Service” at the bottom of the page for more information.

Family Traditions Meat Company of Ackley, Iowa, is recalling approximately 270 pounds of ready-to-eat beef sticks.

The product contains milk, an allergen not declared on the label.

There are no confirmed reports of adverse reactions.

The following fully cooked, ready-to-eat item, produced on November 14, 2019, December 3, 2019, and January 6, 2020 with a shelf life of six months, is being recalled:

• 3-oz. and 6-oz. vacuum-packed packages containing “Arcadia MEATS SMOKED BEEF STICKS ORIGINAL” with lot numbers 31819, 33719 and 00620.

The recalled product, bearing establishment number “EST. 46538” inside the USDA mark of inspection, was shipped to retail locations in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should not consume it, but discard or return it to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions about the recall may contact Jolene Heikens or Ashley Morton at (641) 847-8116.

General Motors is recalling 148,055 model year 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500s and GMC Sierra 1500s.

The vehicles received updated software for the Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM). However, the software has an error, and as a result, the electronic brake assist may be disabled.

A loss of electronic brake assist can increase the risk of a crash.

What to do

GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM free of charge.

The recall was expected to begin February 10, 2020.

Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at (800) 222-1020 or GMC customer service at (888) 988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192268091.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released details of the 14th and 15th U.S. cases of coronavirus infection. 

Details of the 14th case, which were released on Wednesday, show that another consumer in California contracted the virus while traveling abroad. The patient had been under federal quarantine after returning on a State Department-chartered flight that arrived back in the U.S. on February 7. 

The 15th case, shared on Thursday, shares many similar details. The patient in question lives in Texas and was also under quarantine after arriving back in the U.S. on February 7. They had visited the Hubei Province of China and showed symptoms while under observation. Tests confirmed that they had contracted COVID-19 (the name officials recently gave to the infection), and they are currently receiving isolated treatment at a nearby hospital.

Consumers brace for more infections

CDC officials say that U.S. consumers should prepare themselves for more cases of COVID-19 in the coming weeks.

“There will likely be additional cases in the coming days and weeks, including among other people recently returned from Wuhan. While 195 people were discharged from quarantine on Tuesday, more than 600 people who returned on chartered flights from Wuhan remain under federal quarantine and are being closely monitored to contain the spread of the virus,” the CDC stated. 

Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the CDC’s director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, added that future person-to-person spread in the U.S. is a distinct possibility.

“At some point, we are likely to see community spread in the U.S. or in other countries. This will trigger a change in our response strategy,” she said in a statement.

For more information about the virus outbreak and current efforts to contain it, visit the CDC’s website here.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways I can scam you.

With Valentine's Day on the horizon, consumers are predicted to spend record amounts on the occasion, and scammers are predicted to spend a lot of effort trying to spoil the moment.

The scammer’s bait of choice on Valentine’s is anything phony they can dream up related to the holiday -- phony florists, phony online dating, phony electronic greeting cards, phony delivery scams.

Florists? Yep. “Scammers set up phony florist websites or send you an email purporting to be from a local florist with a great deal you merely have to click on in order to save a great deal of money on flowers,” warnsSteven Weisman, Esq. at Scamicide.

And those other tricks? 

Online dating: Weisman says online dating scams are abundant. Most of them revolve around a scammer professing true love for you, and then -- you guessed it -- asking for money. “Some other telltale signs of an online romance scam include wanting to communicate with you right away on an email account outside of the dating site, claiming to be working abroad, asking for your address and poor grammar which is often a sign of a foreign romance scammer,” Weisman said, pointing out that many romance scams originate in Eastern Europe.

e-Cards: The wrinkle used in electronic greeting cards is that they can be loaded with malware. If someone clicks on the link to open the card, their computer or phone will be shot with a love arrow of malware that can steal personal information and use it to turn the email recipient into a victim of identity theft.

Delivery scams: “A common delivery scam operating on Valentine’s day involves a delivery of a gift basket of wine and flowers to you, however the person delivering the gift basket requests a small payment, generally five dollars or less, as a delivery fee because alcohol is being delivered,” Weisman said. He warns that if the person delivering the basket will only accept a credit card as payment, that could also be a red flag. While credit cards seem like a fairly typical way of doing business, what often happens in this scheme is that when a customer turns over their credit card, the scammer then takes down the information and, then, goes on a shopping spree, running up charges to their heart’s content.

Don’t be a stupid cupid

“Never trust an online florist or other retailer until you have checked them out to make sure that they are legitimate,” Weisman advises. “Otherwise, you might be turning over your credit card information to a scammer.” 

And when it comes to anything sent through email, he says to always confirm the legitimacy of an email or text message before clicking on links contained in the message.