Current Events

Influential U.S. magazine Consumer Reports urged the Justice Department to hike compensation to 475,000 owners of polluting Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) diesel vehicles and allow owners who opt for a fix to reconsider.

In comments filed on Friday on the proposed agreement, the magazine said the buyback offer undervalues retail prices and urged the use of values that "would lead to buyback offers for consumers that would be at least several hundred dollars higher.

Boston Scientific Corp. has issued a worldwide voluntary recall for an older version of one of its most commercially promising devices, the Lotus transcatheter aortic heart valve replacement system, following the deaths of three patients.

For college students and late night workers, consuming caffeine and energy drinks is often the only way to concentrate when exhausted. But drinking too many energy drinks — like Red Bull, Monster, Amp, or Burn — can be dangerous to your health, especially for your heart. A new case study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine is yet another piece of evidence that proves energy drinks can be harmful to your cardiovascular health.

Before a drug can be marketed, it has to go through rigorous testing to show it is safe and effective. Surgery, though, is different. The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate surgical procedures. So what happens when an operation is subjected to and fails the ultimate test — a clinical trial in which patients are randomly assigned to have it or not?

The expectation is that medical practice will change if an operation turns out not to help.

If only.

Viagra (sildenafil) is liberating for men who struggle with getting an erection and keeping it up in the bedroom. The diamond-cut blue pills help treat erectile dysfunction (ED) by increasing blood flow to the penis, but taking more pills than directed could lead to a permanent painful erection, and other potential health risks that could damage the penis.

The oral medication is popularly known for treating impotence in older men, but most Viagra users today are in their early to mid 50s, according to Pfizer. Men are likely to use the blue pills because sexual performance is a high priority for them, which can consequently lead them to abuse and overdoses. Less (blue pills) is more when it comes to healthy sexual function.

New York’s hospitals collectively rank dead last among the 50 states in a new report card from the federal government, an Empire Center analysis shows.

On Wednesday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its first-ever star ratings for hospitals across the country, based on 64 measures of quality.

Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) on Tuesday said it has reached a $486 million settlement of litigation accusing it of causing big losses for shareholders by concealing safety risks associated with its Celebrex and Bextra pain-relieving drugs.

The accord is subject to negotiation of a final settlement agreement with the plaintiff shareholders, and would end more than 11 years of litigation against the drugmaker and several officials, including former Chief Executive Henry McKinnell.

It was reached nearly seven years after Pfizer agreed in September 2009 to pay $2.3 billion to settle a U.

Anton Yelchin’s parents are suing Fiat Chrysler for the “wrongful death” of their 27-year-old son. The late “Star Trek” actor was killed this past June after his Jeep rolled backward in his Los Angeles driveway and pinned him against his security gate.

Yelchin’s parents plan on filing a wrongful death suit against Fiat Chrysler as well as AutoNation, the car’s retailer chain. The Russian actor was widely known for his films, "Charlie Bartlett," "Alpha Dog" and for his role as Pavel Chekov in the “Star Trek” film installment.

On June 19, Yelchin was leaving his Studio City home to meet with friends when his 2015 Grand Cherokee Jeep rolled down his driveway, fatally pinning him against a brick pillar and his security fence.

The May death of a driver in a Tesla Model S with the  Autopilot function engaged is still rippling through the automotive industry as it raises concerns about how fast the industry should adopt self-driving technology and how it should be designed.

A federal judge gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a sweeping settlement between Volkswagen, U.S. regulators and owners of VW diesels who will receive thousands of dollars in compensation.

U.S.
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Fiat Chrysler said Friday that it is recalling 323,361 recent-model vehicles in the U.S. to check wiring out of fear out that a defect could cause the engine to shut off while it is being driven.

The recall involves 2015 Chrysler 200 midsize sedans, Ram ProMaster City small vans, Jeep Renegade and 2014 and 2015 Jeep Cherokees.

The issue is due to a necessary crimp in a wiring harness that may be insufficient.
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