US COVID hospitalizations jump 17%: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-12-08/u-s-covid-19-hospitalizations-rise-as-new-variant-spreads . This likely comes from Thanksgiving travel. JN.1, a subvariant of BA.2.26, was responsible for over 21% of the new cases. December holiday parties and travel may further boost this wave.
Breast cancer vaccine: https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/an-end-to-breast-cancer-norcal-company-develops-groundbreaking-vaccine-with-promising-future/ .
WSJ: FDA approves sickle-cell anemia treatment: https://www.wsj.com/tech/biotech/fda-approves-worlds-first-crispr-gene-editing-drug-for-sickle-cell-disease-8c65fbb3 .
Texas Supreme Court temporarily blocks emergency abortion order: https://abcnews.go.com/US/hearing-underway-texas-woman-court-emergency-abortion/story?id=105455849 . According to plaintiff’s doctor, the fetus has no chance of survival. Also, the mother’s ability to have children is at risk by continuing to carry the fetus. So, if these facts are correct, the court should not have intervened. Indeed, the court should do everything possible to resolve this case immediately.
WSJ: FTX customers to get cash, not crypto, from bankruptcy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ftx-customers-fight-for-whats-left-of-their-crypto-cd62616b .
US jobs increase 199,000 in November as unemployment rate falls: https://finance.yahoo.com/video/us-added-199-000-jobs-134344966.html . These numbers justify keeping the Fed funds rate unchanged at the next Fed meeting. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/jobs-report-november-2023-us-economy-59125cde .
WSJ: US consumer confidence increases: https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/u-s-consumer-confidence-jumps-in-december-as-inflation-pressure-eases-a763e14f . Just in time to pile on that Christmas credit card debt …
EU advances regulatory framework for AI: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/regulation-of-ai-advances-in-european-union-deal-09d18355 . It is embarrassing that the US has found itself unable to regulate this industry. There are considerable dangers in the promulgation of false information generated by this technology. The US should at least generate parallel legislation for application here.
WSJ: Ukraine war settles in for a long, cold winter: https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/troubled-by-a-resurgent-russia-and-bickering-allies-ukraine-hunkers-down-fd8240f1 .
WSJ: Orange Julius special prosecutor wants to show historical misconduct: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/jack-smith-seeks-focus-on-before-and-after-in-trumps-election-interference-trial-3afbfc0c . I do not see a problem at all here. Prior claims of fraud for elections OJ thought he might lose demonstrate a pattern of conduct repeated in 2020. So that’s absolutely admissible to show intent. Meanwhile, the appeals court has upheld but slightly narrowed the gag order on OJ in this case: https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/appeals-court-upholds-trumps-gag-order-in-election-interference-case-cfd606a0 .
WSJ: Freud’s diagnosis of Woodrow Wilson: https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/the-madman-in-the-white-house-review-freud-diagnoses-a-president-fe590d48 . This is certainly new information to me.
Ryan O’Neal passes at 82: https://people.com/ryan-o-neal-academy-award-nominated-love-story-star-dead-at-82-8413764 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/film/ryan-oneal-love-story-actor-dies-at-82-67236b5b .