Subvariant XBB.1.16 spreads in India; ACA preventative services

Subvariant XBB.1.16 spreads in India: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-04-20/explainer-what-to-know-about-xbb-1-16-the-new-covid-19-strain-called-arcturus . The new strain is dubbed “Arcturus” and is closely related to XBB.1.5, which remains the dominant US strain.

WSJ: US home prices post largest decline in 11 years: https://www.wsj.com/articles/home-sales-fell-in-march-as-mortgage-rates-weighed-on-market-db88aac7 . So the dramatic increase in interest rates over the past year is now having the widely expected effect.

E&Y weakened after failed corporate split: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ey-confronts-slowing-growth-after-breakup-deal-fails-9442c85d . To put this simply but brutally, this 390,000 employee firm needs to reduce headcount quickly to have a future. The failed split contains reputational risk which is now eating away at their business.

WSJ: Credit Suisse bondholders sue over bond write-down: https://www.wsj.com/articles/credit-suisse-investors-challenge-switzerlands-17-billion-bond-write-down-7ceb27ea . These AT1 bonds had higher rates of return than other bonds because they expressly named the possibility of write-down. Unless the Swiss government expressly violated the write-down terms, there would seem to be little hope for this suit.

Fox pulls the plug on Orange Julius defender’s show: https://thehill.com/homenews/media/3960830-dan-bongino-out-at-fox-news/ . May the door smack you in the ass on the way out …

WSJ: We spout our owner’s idiotic take on the Dominion lawsuit: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-dominions-owner-turned-a-38-million-investment-into-a-windfall-settlement-with-fox-news-62cec703 . So the Journal now chalks up the Dominion win to an aggressive investment strategy to fleece Fox. But this is disturbingly ill misrepresentation by a brand trying to defend its dishonest business. My disgust with Fox and the Journal is growing exponentially.

WSJ: Senate Judiciary chairman asks Chief Justice to address ethical standards: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chief-justice-john-roberts-asked-to-address-ethical-standards-at-supreme-court-4f274fc9 . However, whether or not Roberts accepts the invitation to testify, he must act.

Charges dropped against Alec Baldwin in “Rust” shooting: https://deadline.com/2023/04/alec-baldwin-charges-dropped-rust-shooting-halyna-hutchins-1235329568/ . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/charge-against-alec-baldwin-dropped-in-rust-shooting-95f2bedf . The prosecutors later stated that they may file charges again after completing additional investigation. But since Baldwin reasonably claims he had no idea the gun contained live ammunition and new evidence indicates the gun may have fired without the trigger being pulled (as Baldwin has claimed from the start), refiling seems unlikely.

News for April 20 — Subvariant XBB.1.16 Spreads in India