Current Events in July 2021

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2021

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    Biden to sign executive order imposing consumer-friendly rules on Big Tech and ISPs

    The order aims to increase competition and lower prices for consumers

    President Biden is set to sign an executive order on Friday that will impose new rules on big tech companies and internet service providers. The changes outlined in the order should ultimately help to promote competition and lower prices for consumers. 

    Under the order, Biden will encourage the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reintroduce a “broadband nutrition label” to provide consumers with greater price transparency. 

    The label will provide “basic information about the internet service offered so people can compare options,” the White House said in a fact sheet. “The Trump Administration FCC abandoned those plans.” 

    The FCC will be urged to restrict early termination fees and to prohibit exclusivity arrangements, which force apartment buildings and rental units to use only one ISP. Additionally, the order will direct the FCC to restore the net neutrality rules that were undone in 2017, requiring broadband companies to treat all internet services equally. 

    Targeting Big Tech 

    The mergers of major internet platforms like Amazon and Facebook will also be scrutinized more carefully. 

    The Biden administration said it will be paying “particular attention to the acquisition of nascent competitors, serial mergers, the accumulation of data, competition by ‘free’ products, and the effect on user privacy.” This is the type of deal that many believe Facebook exemplified when it bought Instagram and WhatsApp. 

    The order also zeroes in on companies’ collection and use of consumer data and how it affects competition. 

    "For decades, corporate consolidation has been accelerating. In over 75% of US industries, a smaller number of large companies now control more of the business than they did 20 years ago. This is true across health care, financial services, agriculture and more," the White House said in a statement.

    "That lack of competition drives up prices for consumers. As fewer large players have controlled more of the market, mark-ups (charges over cost) have tripled. Families are paying higher prices for necessities -- things like prescription drugs, hearing aids, and internet service."

    The White House said higher prices and lower wages caused by lack of competition are now estimated to cost the median American household $5,000 per year.

    Other elements of the order

    Under the order, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will be tasked with creating new rules on data collection. The agency will also be asked to clamp down on unfair competition in online marketplaces. 

    The Biden administration also wants consumers to have the right to repair their own devices. The order encourages the agency to “limit powerful equipment manufacturers from restricting people’s ability to use independent repair shops or do DIY repairs, such as when tractor companies block farmers from repairing their own tractors.” 

    Biden’s order also asks the Department of Health and Human Services to work up a plan to lower the cost of prescription drugs and prevent price gouging. It also pushes for states to be allowed to safely import prescription drugs from Canada, where medication costs are lower, and to allow for hearing aids to be sold over the counter. 

    President Biden is set to sign an executive order on Friday that will impose new rules on big tech companies and internet service providers. The changes ou...

    Amazon rolls out home COVID-19 test kits

    The company is assuring buyers that the product is simple and safe

    Amazon has found one more way to connect with consumer’s lives -- a home test kit for COVID-19.

    In making the announcement, the company basically said “why not?” It feels that the billions it invested to ensure that its own front-line employees had access to free, regular testing is perfect for everyone.

    “Even as COVID-19 vaccinations continue, widespread access to reliable and affordable COVID-19 testing remains a critical tool in the fight against the spread of the virus,” said Cem Sibay, the Amazon vice president at the helm of the company’s COVID-19 testing work. 

    “The Amazon collection kit offers customers the convenience they’ve come to expect from Amazon.com by providing access to COVID-19 testing whenever and wherever they need it. The test collection kit provides highly accurate and timely results, helping customers feel more confident as they safely return to travel, work, college, and daily life.”

    What assurances will consumers get?

    Amazon says the labs that were used to process over 750,000 of its front-line employees are the same ones it will use for the home versions. If there were mistakes made in the process, the company says it learned from them and that consumers can feel comfortable that the kits are reliable.

    The company said it went even further to guarantee the reliability of the kit by getting Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, it noted that the test kit has not been cleared or approved by the agency.

    How it works

    Amazon says getting a test kit and using it is a fairly simple process. Here’s how it works: 

    1. Buy a collection kit from Amazon ($29.95).

    2. Register the kit and take the test. Amazon says it takes less than 20 minutes to complete that part of the process, and the sample collection is simple and gentle. 

    3. Return the kit to Amazon. 

    The purchase price includes Amazon Prime delivery at no additional cost. The kits are processed by Amazon’s in-house laboratory using a sensitive method known as RT-PCR, a procedure approved by the FDA and touted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the “gold standard” diagnostic approach.

    After Amazon receives the returned kit, it says users will have their results within 24 hours through Amazon's secure website AmazonDx.com.

    Amazon has found one more way to connect with consumer’s lives -- a home test kit for COVID-19.In making the announcement, the company basically said “...

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      Pfizer to seek FDA emergency authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine booster

      Top health agencies don’t believe booster shots are necessary at this time

      With the Delta variant spreading, Pfizer says it’s speeding up efforts to develop a booster dose for its coronavirus vaccine. However, some health officials are unsure if this summer is the right time to ask those who were vaccinated early on to get a booster shot. 

      Pfizer said Thursday that a decline in the vaccine’s effectiveness was recently reported in Israel, primarily among people who had been vaccinated in January or February. The drugmaker has yet to release the Israeli data but promised that it would be published soon. 

      "It's a small data set, but I think the trend is accurate: Six months out, given that Delta is the most contagious variant we have seen, it can cause infections and mild disease," said Pfizer's chief scientific officer, Mikael Dolsten. 

      "The Pfizer vaccine is highly active against the Delta variant," Dolsten told Reuters. However, after six months, he said that there was a higher chance of reinfection as antibodies became less effective. 

      Pfizer said it intends to publish data about a third dose of its vaccine and submit it to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, European Medicines Agency, and other regulators. The company said it would seek emergency use authorization from the FDA to make booster doses available to the public in August. 

      Health officials don’t agree

      Just a few hours after Pfizer published its statement, the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a joint statement saying that booster shots aren’t necessary for Americans yet. The agencies added that companies don’t have the authority to decide when booster shots are needed. 

      "Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this time," the FDA and CDC said. "We continue to review any new data as it becomes available and will keep the public informed. We are prepared for booster doses if and when the science demonstrates that they are needed.” 

      Americans who are fully vaccinated are “protected from severe disease and death, including from the variants currently circulating in the country such as Delta," the statement continued.

      "FDA, CDC, and NIH (the National Institutes of Health) are engaged in a science-based, rigorous process to consider whether or when a booster might be necessary. This process takes into account laboratory data, clinical trial data, and cohort data -- which can include data from specific pharmaceutical companies, but does not rely on those data exclusively," the agencies added.

      With the Delta variant spreading, Pfizer says it’s speeding up efforts to develop a booster dose for its coronavirus vaccine. However, some health official...

      Kids' immune systems aren't affected by being too hygienic, study finds

      Being too clean isn’t likely to have a poor impact on kids’ health

      A new study conducted by researchers from University College London explored how consumers’ hygiene habits impact kids’ immune systems

      Though many people believe that being too clean can do a disservice to kids’ immune systems because it doesn’t expose them to enough bacteria, the researchers explained that this isn’t the case. They say it’s important for consumers to maintain good hygiene in their homes, and it doesn’t come at the expense of children’s health

      “Exposure to microorganisms in early life is essential for the ‘education’ of the immune and metabolic systems,” said researcher Graham Rook. “In this paper, we set out to reconcile the apparent need for cleaning and hygiene to keep us free of pathogens, and the need for microbial inputs to populate our guts and set up our immune and metabolic systems.” 

      Maintaining good hygiene

      The researchers evaluated several recent papers that explored how cleaning and hygiene affected kids’ immune systems. They ultimately determined that cleaning products and maintaining hygiene weren’t a detriment to kids’ health, and they identified a few reasons why. 

      They explained that the widespread distribution of vaccines helps to boost the immune system regardless of what microorganisms consumers are exposed to. They also noted that cleaning products may impact consumers’ health, but it isn’t necessarily because bacteria are removed from the home. Instead, the chemicals in the cleaning products themselves can be detrimental to allergies and respiratory health. 

      Ultimately, the researchers say maintaining proper hygiene around the home is important for immune system function, and consumers shouldn’t change up their cleaning routines due to worry or fear. 

      “Exposure to our mothers, family members, the natural environment, and vaccines can provide all the microbial inputs that we need,” said Rook. “These exposures are not in conflict with intelligently targeted hygiene or cleaning.” 

      A new study conducted by researchers from University College London explored how consumers’ hygiene habits impact kids’ immune systems. Though many peo...

      Kids' personalities may affect their eating speeds, study finds

      Experts worry that these eating habits will impact kids’ health

      A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Buffalo explored how kids’ personalities can affect their eating habits. 

      The researchers learned that children who are more impulsive and extroverted are also more likely to be faster eaters. These findings are important because eating faster may increase the likelihood of obesity and other health concerns. 

      “Temperament is linked to many child developmental and behavioral outcomes, yet despite emerging evidence, few studies have examined its relationship with pediatric obesity,” said researcher Robert Berkowitz. 

      Monitoring children’s eating speed

      For the study, the researchers surveyed nearly 30 families involved in a program geared toward helping kids maintain healthy eating habits. All of the children were between the ages of four and eight, and their parents answered questions about their eating habits and their personalities. 

      The team learned that introverted and cautious children were more likely to eat slower, while the opposite was also true -- extroverted and impulsive children were more likely to eat faster. Because the children involved in the study were already at an increased risk of obesity, these findings are important when thinking about how eating speed can further increase the risk of childhood obesity and other health concerns. 

      The researchers also found that being able to tell when you’re full can impact eating speed. Kids are more likely to have self-control and stop eating when they have a better sense of knowing when they’re full. This is also important because it can help enforce healthy eating habits and promote better overall health outcomes. 

      “Parents may use food to soothe temperamental children and ease negative emotions,” said researcher Alyssa Button. “Future research should examine the different ways parents feed their children in response to their temperament, as well as explore whether the relationship between temperament and eating behaviors is a two-way street. Could the habit of eating slower, over time, lead to lower impulsiveness?” 

      Moving forward, the researchers hope to do more work in this area, as knowing more about how personalities can impact kids’ relationships with food can help promote better health outcomes. 

      “This study established relationships between temperament and eating patterns in children; however, there is still the question of chicken-and-egg and which comes first?” said researcher Myles Faith, Ph.D. “Research that follows families over time is needed to untangle these developmental pathways.”

      A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Buffalo explored how kids’ personalities can affect their eating habits. The researchers le...

      Wells Fargo tells customers it’s closing their personal lines of credit

      The bank acknowledges that the action may affect credit scores

      Wells Fargo has told its customers who have opened one of the bank’s personal lines of credit that those accounts will be closed in the weeks ahead.

      In a six-page letter to customers who have one of the accounts, Wells Fargo said it is eliminating that loan product so it can focus on the growing demand for its credit cards and personal loans.

      The letter, a copy of which was reviewed by CNBC, acknowledged that consumers’ credit scores could dip once the account is closed. That drew a sharp response from a frequent Wells Fargo critic, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

      “Not a single @WellsFargo customer should see their credit score suffer just because their bank is restructuring after years of scams and incompetence,” Warren posted on Twitter. “Sending out a warning notice simply isn’t good enough – Wells Fargo needs to make this right.”

      Regulatory limits

      But in the letter to customers, the bank explained that it is facing regulatory requirements that require it to take this action. In 2018, the Federal Reserve placed limits on the amount of money Wells Fargo could lend until it rectified certain compliance issues.

      In 2016, Wells Fargo became caught up in a fake accounts scandal. Employees were found to be creating credit card and checking accounts in customers’ names without their knowledge in order to meet lofty sales goals.

      Wells Fargo ultimately agreed to pay $3 billion to resolve civil and criminal charges stemming from that scandal. In agreeing to settle charges with U.S. attorneys, Wells Fargo admitted that it collected millions of dollars in fees and interest generated by the unauthorized accounts. It further said that it harmed the credit ratings of many customers and unlawfully misused customers’ sensitive personal information, including customers’ means of identification.

      Echos continue

      The scandal was a public relations nightmare that apparently continues to influence some customers’ views. Cesar, of Friendswood, Tex., recently told ConsumerAffairs that the bank had abused his trust.

      “Last month I applied for my second personal loan with them, with a promise of no penalties for prompt payment,” Cesar wrote in a post last week. “Big surprise when making an extra payment to the principal, the bank decided to take part of this payment as an advance interest payment when I specifically requested the cashier that the payment went to the principal.”

      The bank issued a statement to CNBC confirming the contents of the letter, saying it needed to simplify its product offerings. “We feel we can better meet the borrowing needs of our customers through credit card and personal loan products,” the statement said.

      According to CNBC, the Fed’s limit on Wells Fargo’s balance sheet has cost the bank billions of dollars in profits. It has also resulted in the bank’s phase-out of other popular loan products.

      Wells Fargo has told its customers who have opened one of the bank’s personal lines of credit that those accounts will be closed in the weeks ahead.In...

      Rising oil prices push gas prices even higher

      The national average price at the pump rose two cents a gallon this week

      Motorists enjoying their new freedom from the coronavirus (COVID-19) are hitting the road in record numbers, increasing fuel demand and pushing up prices.

      The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gas is $3.14 a gallon, the highest since 2018. It’s two cents higher than last Friday. The average price of premium gas is $3.76 a gallon, also two cents higher than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.25 a gallon, a penny higher than last week.

      The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports a big increase in gasoline demand in the last week, so it may be surprising that prices haven’t risen faster than they have. But while the national average is rising slowly, it’s surging higher in many Western states.

      In the last week, the statewide average gained 11 cents a gallon in Utah. It rose 10 cents in Alaska and Idaho, six cents in Washington, five cents in Oregon, and four cents in Oklahoma.

      “Robust gasoline demand and more expensive crude oil prices are pushing gas prices higher,” said Jeanette McGee, AAA’s spokesperson. “We had hoped that global crude production increases would bring some relief at the pump this month, but weekend OPEC negotiations fell through with no agreement reached. As a result, crude prices are set to surge to a seven-year-high.”

      The national average price of gasoline has risen by about 40% since the start of the year. On January 1, the average price of regular gas was $2.25 a gallon.

      The states with the most expensive gas

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

      • California ($4.31)

      • Hawaii ($4.03)

      • Washington ($3.82) 

      • Nevada ($3.78)

      • Oregon ($3.67) 

      • Utah ($3.67) 

      • Alaska ($3.61) 

      • Idaho ($3.54) 

      • Colorado ($3.47)

      • Illinois ($3.35)

      The states with the cheapest regular gas

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

      • Mississippi ($2.76)

      • Louisiana ($2.78)

      • Texas ($2.81) 

      • Missouri ($2.82)

      • Alabama ($2.82)

      • Arkansas ($2.84)

      • South Carolina ($2.85)

      • Oklahoma ($2.87) 

      • Kansas ($2.87)

      • Tennessee ($2.89)

      Motorists enjoying their new freedom from the coronavirus (COVID-19) are hitting the road in record numbers, increasing fuel demand and pushing up prices....

      Nissan recalls model year 2020-2021 Sentras

      The tie rods may be bent, causing a loss of steering control

      Nissan North America is recalling 138,736 model year 2020-2021 Sentras.

      The left and/or right tie rod may be bent.

      A bent tie rod can break, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.

      What to do

      Dealers will inspect and replace the left and/or right tie rods -- as necessary -- free of charge.

      Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 5, 2021.

      Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PM985.

      Nissan North America is recalling 138,736 model year 2020-2021 Sentras.The left and/or right tie rod may be bent.A bent tie rod can break, causing...

      Designed By Nature recalls various milk powder products

      The products are not intended to be used as infant formula

      Designed By Nature of California is recalling its Goat’s Milk Powder, Cow’s Milk Powder and Base Milk Powder formulas.

      The firm intends to change the labeling to make it clear that these products are not intended to be used as infant formula.

      There are no reports of injury or illness to date.

      The recalled products, with an expiration date between May 1, 2021, thru June 11, 2022, with a label on the bottom of the pouch with a lot number and expiration date, were sold only online and shipped directly to consumers

      What to do

      Parents and caregivers of infants 12 months and younger should not use the recalled products as they are deficient in multiple nutrients required for infant formula, and have not been tested for the presence of Cronobacter, a pathogen that can be particularly dangerous to infants, and is required testing for powdered infant formula.

      Consumers with question may contact the firm at https://designed-by-nature.com/pages/contact-us.

      Designed By Nature of California is recalling its Goat’s Milk Powder, Cow’s Milk Powder and Base Milk Powder formulas. The firm intends to change the la...

      Tyson Foods expands recall of ready-to-eat chicken

      The products may be contaminated with Listeria

      Tyson Foods of Dexter, Mo., is expanding its earlier recall of approximately 8,492,832 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products to 8,955,296 pounds.

      The products may be contaminated with Listeria.

      A complete list of the frozen, fully cooked chicken items, produced between December 26, 2020, and April 13, 2021, may be found here.

      The recalled product names and product codes remain the same.

      The recalled products, bearing establishment number “EST. P-7089” on the product bag or inside the USDA mark of inspection, were shipped nationwide to retailers and institutions, including hospitals, nursing facilities, restaurants, schools and Department of Defense locations.

      What to do

      Customers who purchased the recalled products should not eat them, and institutions should not serve them. The products should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase.

      Consumers with questions may contact Tyson Foods customer at (855) 382-3101.

      Tyson Foods of Dexter, Mo., is expanding its earlier recall of approximately 8,492,832 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products to 8,955,296 pounds.The...

      Identity theft is on its way to a record year

      People are safer than businesses, but they’re still vulnerable to trickle-down issues

      There seems to be no end in sight when it comes to identity theft. The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), a nonprofit organization established to support victims of identity crime, has just released its U.S. data breach findings for the first half of 2021. If what the organization found is true, it’s troubling to say the least -- particularly for businesses.

      According to the data breach analysis, publicly reported data breaches shot up by 38% in the second quarter of 2021 alone. Fortunately, the number of individuals impacted -- 52.8 million -- dropped by 20% from the first quarter to the second quarter. 

      “The lesson here for businesses is that no organization is too small to be attacked – directly or indirectly in a supply chain attack – and cybercriminals are increasingly organized and strategic in who they attack and what information they want to steal,” James E. Lee, COO of the ITRC, told ConsumerAffairs.

      If things continue at the same rate for the rest of the year, the increase in data breaches in 2021 will end with a record-setting number of compromises, exceeding the current all-time record of 1,632 set in 2017. However, the silver lining to that cloud is that the number of people impacted by data compromises would be the lowest since 2014.

      Businesses need to do more to protect their customers’ data

      Most identity theft cases can be chalked up to phishing attacks, ransomware attacks, and supply chain attacks. While those attacks have created problems for businesses and continue to increase, consumers still need to be concerned even if they’re not being directly targeted. 

      “The effects of these hacks will trickle down and have far-reaching consequences for individuals; disruption when it comes to accessing services, a potential increase in the cost of goods as companies increase prices to foot ransom bills, and the likelihood that customer data will be exploited,” Madeleine Hodson, Chief Editor of PrivacySharks, told ConsumerAffairs.

      James E. Lee, Chief Operating Officer of the ITRC, agreed with Hodson, saying that businesses need to step up for the sake of their customers’ security. 

      “While we are happy that the number of individuals impacted is down, the risk of an identity crime still exists and has real consequences. Businesses need to take actions to make sure they are not collecting too much information since cybercriminals cannot take what organizations do not have,” he told ConsumerAffairs. 

      “There is nothing a consumer can do to prevent a data breach, that’s why good cyber-hygiene practices like multifactor authentication and strong, unique passphrases are essential.” 

      There seems to be no end in sight when it comes to identity theft. The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), a nonprofit organization established to suppo...

      Fifteen states sign Purdue Pharma’s $4.5 billion opioid bankruptcy deal

      The states agreed to drop their opposition in exchange for additional concessions

      Fifteen states have dropped their opposition to Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy reorganization plan. 

      In court documents filed Wednesday in White Plains, New York, the states said they would agree to Purdue’s bankruptcy plan in exchange for a release of millions of documents detailing the OxyContin maker’s role in the opioid epidemic. It also calls for an increased settlement amount (an additional $50 million) to be paid over the next nine years by members of the Sackler family. The payments will amount to almost $4.5 billion.

      "The negotiations were difficult and hard-fought, with the outcome uncertain," said federal bankruptcy Judge Shelley C. Chapman in the legal filing.

      The states that have abandoned their opposition to the deal are Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

      Spokespeople for two sides of the Sackler family, who own Purdue Pharma, noted that the agreement did not include a concession of liability or wrongdoing. Under the deal, the family would be shielded from future opioid lawsuits. 

      “This resolution to the mediation is an important step toward providing substantial resources for people and communities in need,” members of the Mortimer and Raymond Sackler branches of the family said. “The Sackler family hopes these funds will help achieve that goal.”

      Reaching a resolution

      In a statement, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, who was the first attorney general to sue Sackler family members, said the deal won’t reverse the damage already done. However, it will get the Sackler family out of the pharmaceutical business for good.

      "While I know this resolution does not bring back loved ones or undo the evil of what the Sacklers did, forcing them to turn over their secrets by providing all the documents, forcing them to repay billions, forcing the Sacklers out of the opioid business, and shutting down Purdue will help stop anything like this from ever happening again," Healey said. 

      New York Attorney General Letitia James said the funds will be delivered “into communities ravaged by opioids on an accelerated timetable and it gets one of the nation’s most harmful drug dealers out of the opioid business once and for all.”

      “We’ll be able to more quickly invest these funds in prevention, education, and treatment programs, and put an end to the delays and legal maneuvering that could possibly continue for years and across multiple continents,” James said. 

      Some states still oppose the plan

      The plan is likely to be certified next month by Judge Robert Drain. Nine states and the District of Columbia have yet to sign off on the agreement. 

      “While some progress has been made — especially around the public document depository — this plan is far from justice,” said Connecticut Attorney General William Tong. “Purdue and the Sacklers have misused this bankruptcy to protect their vast wealth and evade consequences for their callous misconduct.

      “This deal alarmingly allows the Sacklers to still walk away with their personal wealth intact, and now allows funds already intended for charity to be included in this deal. We are evaluating all options to continue to fight this bankruptcy plan until all viable options are exhausted.”

      Fifteen states have dropped their opposition to Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy reorganization plan. In court documents filed Wednesday in White Plains, New...

      Coronavirus update: 4 million dead worldwide, jobless claims rose last week

      Germany will donate unused vaccine doses to other nations

      Coronavirus‌ ‌(COVID-19)‌ ‌tally‌ ‌as‌ ‌‌compiled‌‌ ‌by‌ ‌Johns‌ ‌Hopkins‌ ‌University.‌ ‌(Previous‌ ‌numbers‌ ‌in‌ ‌parentheses.)‌ 

      Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 33,773,737 (33,752,627)‌

      Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 606,249 (606,015)

      Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 185,239,541 (184,803,266)

      Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 4,004,646 (3,996,325)‌

      Worldwide death toll passes 4 million mark

      The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may be on the decline in the U.S., but it continues to rage around the world. In the last few hours, the worldwide death toll from the virus passed the 4 million mark.

      The COVID-19 Tracking Project at Johns Hopkins University showed that the death toll Thursday morning was 4,004,305. That’s out of more than 185,000,000 cases of the virus across the globe.

      The U.S. continues to lead the world in total deaths from COVID-19, even though deaths have dropped sharply this year as millions of Americans got vaccinated. Other nations are beginning to catch up with the U.S. Brazil has reported 528,000 deaths and India has recorded 405,000 deaths.

      Jobless benefits claims move higher again

      The trend of lower unemployment claims came to an abrupt end last week. The Labor Department reports that initial claims for unemployment benefits rose to 373,000. 

      Muddying the waters even more, the previous week’s benefits claims number was revised up by 7,000 from 364,000 to 371,000. The numbers are fairly surprising since many businesses report that they are having trouble finding new employees.

      The report did show that the long-term trend is moving in the right direction. The number of people who continue to draw unemployment benefits is still going down, falling last week to its lowest level since the start of the pandemic.

      Germany to donate the rest of its vaccine doses to other countries

      With the virus raging in many parts of the world where COVID-19 vaccines are in short supply, the German government has announced that it plans to donate its remaining supplies of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The shipments will begin next month.

      The government said that at least 500,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine would be given to the COVAX consortium, a group helping poor countries obtain enough vaccine doses to innoculate their populations. Many undeveloped nations have very low vaccination rates and are vulnerable to the highly contagious Delta variant.

      According to Reuters, Germany has a surplus of the AstraZeneca vaccine because Germans have favored the vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech.

      Around the nation

      • Vermont: State officials were quick to impose tough restrictions and were relentless during the vaccine rollout. As a result, the state is on the brink of becoming the first to achieve “herd immunity,” with a vaccination rate of 75%.

      • Missouri: While most states are seeing cases of the virus decline, they’re surging in Missouri. State health officials have reported more than 1,000 new cases in a single day for the first time in nearly five months.

      • New York: With COVID-19 restrictions now a thing of the past, New York City honored essential, frontline health workers with a traditional ticker-tape parade. The city’s doctors and nurses bore the brunt of the pandemic in the early days last year when cases threatened to overwhelm hospitals.

      • Kentucky: Although the state has reopened, the spike in Delta variant cases has health officials concerned and even talking about bringing back a mask mandate. “I should say that just in the last 24 hours we’ve had, it looks like we’ve seen, a few sicker unvaccinated patients come in. At some point we know we’re going to have an increase in numbers. Whether that’s in the next two weeks, or whether that’s in September I’m not really sure,” Dr. Mark Dougherty with Baptist Health Lexington told WDKY-TV.

      • Texas: Galveston County health officials say a COVID-19 outbreak stemming from a church summer camp has grown to about 160 cases. Authorities also say the infections include the highly contagious Delta variant. More than 450 people attended the camp in late June.

      Coronavirus‌ ‌(COVID-19)‌ ‌tally‌ ‌as‌ ‌‌compiled‌‌ ‌by‌ ‌Johns‌ ‌Hopkins‌ ‌University.‌ ‌(Previous‌ ‌numbers‌ ‌in‌ ‌parentheses.)‌ Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌conf...

      German automakers fined $1 billion for colluding to curb emissions technology

      Skirting the requirements had an impact on both people and the environment

      Five German automakers -- Daimler (Mercedes-Benz), BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche -- have been fined $1 billion (875 million euros) for colluding to restrict competition in emission cleaning for new diesel passenger cars. In handing down the fine, the European Union (EU) said what the car manufacturers did “amounts to cartel behaviour.”

      The technology ploy the companies took is new territory for the Commission. In the past, the fines it has handed down to automakers have dealt with price-fixing or market sharing.

      All the companies acknowledged their role in the alliance and agreed to settle the case. Interestingly, Daimler -- a key figure in the “Dieselgate” scandal -- is getting off scot-free because it blew the whistle on the others.

      The effect on both people and the environment

      At the center of the issue are “selective catalytic reduction systems” (SCR) in diesel cars. Those systems are designed to clean up the emissions and make them less polluting. But in skirting that requirement, the EU found that what the automakers did was concerning for both people and the environment.

      The Commission said all seemed well after it introduced minimum standards for nitrogen oxide emissions in 2007. Daimler, BMW, Volkswagen, Porsche, and Audi held regular technical meetings to cooperatively develop SCR systems to meet the requirements and quickly bring that technology to the market.

      However, it was at that juncture things went wrong. While the automakers worked together to develop the technology, they also decided not to compete with each other so that the systems could be brought to their full potential. Officials said deciding to avoid competition breached the EU’s competition rules.

      “They knew that they had the technical possibility to clean better than required by law and compete on this important parameter relevant for consumers,” said Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s Executive Vice President. “Instead, they decided to collude by indicating to each other that none of them would aim at cleaning above the minimum standard required by law.”

      Creating a lack of trust with consumers 

      Unwinding the consumer impact of this could take some time. The EU said the gambit lasted more than five years, leaving people who purchased a vehicle from one of the accused automakers with unfulfilled expectations.

      “Every year millions of new diesel cars worth billions of Euros are sold in Europe. And many more are already in use. Not only users of these cars, but all citizens must be able to trust that car manufacturers compete with one another to reduce harmful emissions from their vehicles,” Vestager said.

      While the EU found the ruse disconcerting, officials said the ruling makes it clear that manufacturers have “ample room” to cooperate and compete for the common good on things like research and development.

      “Companies must not coordinate their behaviour to limit the full potential of any type of technology,” Vestager concluded. “Companies must not restrict their competition on performing better than what is required by law and they should continue to compete to the benefit of the consumers. Agreeing not to do so is simply illegal. As we have done today, also in the future, if we find that companies have restricted competition in such a way, we will not hesitate to take firm action.”

      Five German automakers -- Daimler (Mercedes-Benz), BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche -- have been fined $1 billion (875 million euros) for colluding to re...

      Google faces new antitrust lawsuit filed by 37 states

      Officials claim that the Google Play Store is an illegal monopoly

      Just a week after a federal judge dismissed an antitrust suit against Facebook, 37 state attorneys general are suing Google on similar grounds as part of a campaign by state and federal officials to break up “Big Tech.”

      The states, led by both Republicans and Democrats, have filed an action against Google parent company Alphabet, claiming its Google Play Store constitutes “illegal and anticompetitive conduct” that gives it monopoly power in mobile app distribution.

      The suit charges Google of depriving Android device users of the kind of competition that could lead to greater choice and innovation, as well as significantly lower prices for mobile apps. New York Attorney General Letitia James also accuses Google of requiring app developers to sell in-app digital content through apps purchased via Google’s Play Store.

      “Google has served as the gatekeeper of the internet for many years, but, more recently, it has also become the gatekeeper of our digital devices, resulting in all of us paying more for the software we use every day,” James said. “Once again, we are seeing Google use its dominance to illegally quash competition and profit to the tune of billions.”

      The complaint charges Google of forcing millions of Android users to turn to it as the only source for mobile apps. At the same time, the suit claims Google is using its dominance to keep smaller firms from competing.

      “Google’s monopoly is a menace to the marketplace,” said Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, another of the coalition’s leaders. “Google Play is not fair play. Google must be held accountable for harming small businesses and consumers.”

      Google’s response

      In response to the complaint, Google officials said the suit made little sense.

      “It’s strange that a group of state attorneys general chose to file a lawsuit attacking a system that provides more openness and choice than others,” said Wilson White, Google’s senior director of public policy.

      Last fall 38 attorneys general sued Google on antitrust grounds, claiming that it holds monopolistic power in search results. While officials want to reduce the size and power of large technology companies, they must make the case that their size and power have harmed consumers.

      In dismissing the two antitrust suits against Facebook last week, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said the states and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) failed to make their case that the social media giant is a monopoly.

      Reyes claimed that Google has harmed consumers by imposing “unnecessary fees” beyond the market rates for in-app transactions, thus raising prices for many services.

      “As a result, a typical American consumer may have paid hundreds if not thousands of dollars more than needed over many years,” he said. “Utah and the other states in our coalition are fighting back to protect our citizens and innovative app developers—including many small businesses across America—from Google’s unlawful practices.”

      Just a week after a federal judge dismissed an antitrust suit against Facebook, 37 state attorneys general are suing Google on similar grounds as part of a...

      Lawmaker asks for investigation into FDA approval of controversial Alzheimer’s drug

      House Representative Katie Porter says it’s ‘very clear’ that the drugmaker had ‘an inside route to FDA officials’

      House Representative Katie Porter (D-Calif.) released an open letter on Tuesday calling for the inspector general of Health and Human Services to take a deeper dive into the relationship between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Biogen, the makers of a new drug for Alzheimer’s. 

      In June, the FDA approved Biogen’s drug (now marketed as Aduhelm) by using an “accelerated” approval process similar to the consideration it gave COVID-19 vaccines that received emergency use authorization last year. 

      The FDA said it uses the expedited approval process for treatments of a serious or life-threatening illness if the treatment in question is expected to be better than the options currently available to patients. 

      The agency cited trials showing that the drug reduced amyloid plaque, which builds up in the brain and is believed to play a key role in causing Alzheimer’s disease. However, trials of the drug were paused in 2019 because they failed to show promising results. The following year, the FDA called together an expert panel to review the trial evidence of Adhulem. None of the experts involved recommended approving the drug, although one expert voted uncertain. 

      Approval sparks debate

      The agency's speedy approval of the antibody-based drug gave way to controversy. Three members of the FDA’s advisory panel resigned in protest, and at least one member questioned whether there is enough evidence to show that the drug is effective at treating Alzheimer’s disease.

      Now, Porter wants officials to investigate the relationship between Biogen and the FDA. In the letter, Porter said it appears “very clear” that the drug maker “had an inside route to FDA officials and had undue influence over their decision making and the evidence presented in various settings.” 

      “Patients should have confidence that their treatment plans are based on science, not cozy relationships between Big Pharma and FDA officials,” Porter said in a tweet. 

      Porter is calling for “a full review” of the FDA’s communications with pharma executives, lobbyists, and other stakeholders. She is also calling on the agency to establish new policies that prevent “fraud, waste, and abuse.”  

      Backlash regarding approval and pricing

      Other lawmakers have also challenged the approval of the Alzheimer’s drug. In a letter to the Senate Finance Committee late last month, Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) called for a hearing to “examine the vexing new questions and challenges” that Aduhelm presents to the Medicare program.

      Separately, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) urged President Biden in a letter last month to remove interim commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock. He cited the FDA’s Aduhelm approval as his reasoning. 

      Biogen’s decision to set the drug’s list price at $56,000 per year has also been controversial, but the drugmaker said recently that the estimated price is subject to change. The company said it won’t have to charge as much for the drug if demand turns out to be high. 

      House Representative Katie Porter (D-Calif.) released an open letter on Tuesday calling for the inspector general of Health and Human Services to take a de...

      McDonald’s to give away free fries on July 13

      The company is also giving one lucky customer free fries for life

      McDonald’s has announced that members of its new MyMcDonald’s Rewards program will get free fries on Tuesday July 13. One member will also win free fries for life (a prize valued at $19,685), and another 66 customers will be rewarded with 1 million McDonald’s rewards points. 

      “After 66 years of unrivaled fandom, you could say our customers’ loyalty has become just as famous as our World Famous Fries, and they deserve to be rewarded,” McDonald’s said in a press release. “So, we’re going to do just that by serving up rewards big and small.”

      The fast food chain has dubbed July 13 “World Famous Fan Day'' and is giving customers across the U.S. a free medium order of fries. Customers will need to download the McDonald’s app and sign up for the MyMcDonald’s Rewards loyalty program. 

      After that, members can add the deal to their cart, place their mobile order, and redeem their fries at a participating McDonald’s. 

      Entering to win top prizes

      Customers who want a shot at winning free fries for life or 1 million MyMcDonald’s Rewards points can head to Twitter and tweet at McDonald’s (@McDonalds) between July 13 and July 20. The company said it will judge entries based on the following criteria

      • Expressed love and affinity for McDonald's. The post should have a description of the customer’s “on-going, unwavering love and support of the McDonald's brand”

      • Creativity and originality. Judges will look at how well the contestant expresses/articulates their fandom in a unique and creative way that is different from standard/expected responses and/or other contestants' responses;

      • Artistic expression. Posts will also be evaluated on the technical/artistic/writerly skill demonstrated in how the contestant executed their creative vision.

      Posts should also include hashtags reading #MyMcDonaldsFanContest and include the home state of the contestant (like #CA or #TX). 

      "We’re eager to repay years of fandom by giving them what they love most about McDonald’s — our delicious food — for years to come,” said Alycia Mason, McDonald's USA vice president of digital customer experience.

      McDonald’s has announced that members of its new MyMcDonald’s Rewards program will get free fries on Tuesday July 13. One member will also win free fries f...

      Greenery on buildings may help protect against stress, study finds

      There are also environmental benefits to planting vertical greenery on the outside of buildings

      A new study conducted by researchers from Nanyang Technological University explored the positive aspects associated with planting greenery on the outside of buildings. According to their findings, vertical greenery may be an effective way to protect against stress

      “With urbanisation, more people are expected to be living in urban areas globally in future,” said researcher Lin Qiu. “It is thus more important for urban city planners and architects to understand factors that can contribute to healthy living, as urban planning can have a direct impact on quality of life for the population.”

      Maintaining healthy stress levels

      For the study, the researchers had over 100 participants involved in a virtual reality-based experiment. Both groups used virtual technology to walk down a simulated street for five minutes; one group saw a street with paintings of greenery, while the other group saw a street with planted greenery on buildings, balconies, and storefronts. The team monitored the participants’ heart rates during the experiment and had them complete questionnaires about their moods to determine how the experience impacted their stress levels. 

      The participants that walked down the painted streets had higher heart rate variability, which is an indicator of stress. They also reported fewer positive emotions. Conversely, seeing real planted greenery had the opposite effect; participants in this group had more stable heart rates and also reported more positive emotions overall. 

      The researchers explained that these findings are important for all consumers, but particularly those who live in urban areas and aren’t exposed to a lot of greenspaces. Having vertical greenery, when possible, can help keep consumers’ stress levels at bay and increase overall well-being.

      “Our findings have important practical implications for city planning and design, especially for high density urban areas that face land constraints,” said researcher Sarah Chan.”It provides evidence that vertical greenery systems, which make use of vertical structures above ground, may help moderate the detrimental consequences of stress.” 

      A new study conducted by researchers from Nanyang Technological University explored the positive aspects associated with planting greenery on the outside o...

      Sleeping fewer than six hours per night can impact consumers' well-being

      Experts say even one night of poor sleep can have an effect the next day

      A new study conducted by researchers from the University of South Florida explored the risks of not getting enough sleep. Their findings suggest that getting fewer than six hours of sleep can have a significant impact on consumers’ overall well-being -- even if it’s just one night. 

      “Many of us think we can pay our sleep debt on weekends and be more productive on weekdays,” said researcher Soomi Lee. “However, results from our study show that having just one night of sleep loss can significantly impair your daily functioning.” 

      The importance of quality sleep

      For the study, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 2,000 middle-aged adults that were part of the Midlife in the United States study. Over the course of eight days, the participants tracked their sleeping patterns and physical and mental health. 

      The study showed that a lack of sleep can impact consumers both mentally and physically, and going without enough sleep for longer periods of time led to more severe negative symptoms. From a physical standpoint, the most commonly reported ailments were gastrointestinal issues, upper respiratory issues, and body aches. From a mental health standpoint, getting fewer than six hours of sleep resulted in greater frustration, irritability, and nervousness. 

      Moving forward, the researchers recommend that consumers do their best to get at least six hours of sleep each night. Not getting enough sleep can have a significant impact on our general health and wellness, and even one night of shortened sleep can be detrimental. 

      A new study conducted by researchers from the University of South Florida explored the risks of not getting enough sleep. Their findings suggest that getti...