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27 Nov 2024 — 4 min read

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Yesterday, November 26, 2024, the Biden administration proposed reclassifying obesity as a disease to expand access to weight-loss medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy. Under current rules, Medicare and Medicaid cover these drugs only for individuals with diabetes or heart disease, as federal law prohibits Medicare from covering weight-loss treatments.
The reclassification aims to allow broader access by addressing obesity as a medical condition covered under federal healthcare programs. The implementation of this proposal is uncertain, as the incoming Trump administration will determine whether to proceed with the changes. This decision will influence the availability of weight-loss treatments through federal programs in the future.

Economics & Markets:

As of November 2024, the U.S. national debt has grown to over $36 trillion, rising quickly from $35 trillion earlier this year. This increase is driven by large budget deficits, high interest rates, and heavy government spending.
Experts from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) have warned that if current policies don’t change, the debt could grow to 140% of the country’s total economy by 2032. This has raised concerns about how the U.S. will manage its finances in the future, with discussions focusing on possible solutions like cutting spending, reforming taxes, or finding ways to grow the economy.
Yesterdays U.S. stock market:

Geopolitics & Conflicts:

Yesterday, a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect, seeking to end the deadly conflict that has caused widespread casualties and displacement. Mediated by the United States and France, the agreement was approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his security cabinet.
It requires Israeli troops to withdraw from southern Lebanon, while Lebanese forces are responsible for disarming Hezbollah in the area. Netanyahu warned that any violations by Hezbollah would result in immediate Israeli retaliation. The conflict has taken a devastating toll, with nearly 4,000 Lebanese and 44,000 Palestinians reported dead, along with extensive displacement and destruction in Lebanon. The ceasefire is seen as a step toward reducing tensions in the region.
Yesterday, November 26, 2024, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted an airstrike on a weapons storage facility belonging to an Iranian-aligned militia in Syria. The strike was carried out in response to an attack by the militia on U.S. forces in the region the previous day. According to CENTCOM, the operation aimed to degrade the militia’s ability to plan and launch further attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces, who are stationed in the area to carry out operations against ISIS.

Environment & Weather:

Over the last few days, Hegang in Heilongjiang Province, China, experienced its most intense snowstorm of the year. The city recorded 53 mm (2.1 inches) of snowfall within 24 hours, with ground accumulations reaching up to 37 cm (14.6 inches). This heavy snow disrupted transportation, caused power outages, and led local authorities to issue weather warnings and deploy emergency teams to address the impact and ensure public safety.

Space:

Yesterday, November 26, 2024, SpaceX launched its Starlink Group 6-76 mission from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 11:41 PM EST. The Falcon 9 rocket carried another group of Starlink satellites into orbit, adding to SpaceX’s network that provides global satellite internet. This was the company’s 119th launch of the year, showing how quickly and often SpaceX is sending rockets into space.
Earlier in the day, at 9:00 PM CST, the Chinese private company Landspace launched two satellites, Guangchuan-01 and Guangchuan-02, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. These satellites are part of a program to gather high-quality images of Earth for things like tracking environmental changes and city planning. This launch highlights China’s efforts to involve private companies in its space program and expand its technology for Earth observation.

Science & Technology:

Anthropic has introduced the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard designed to simplify how AI systems connect to data sources like business tools and data repositories. As an open-source protocol, MCP is available for anyone to use, modify, and implement, encouraging widespread adoption and collaboration across industries. Its open nature allows developers to integrate diverse data systems with AI models more easily, creating a shared framework that eliminates the need for custom-built connections for every data source.
The potential of MCP lies in its ability to standardize how AI systems access data, fostering innovation and reducing barriers for developers and businesses. By enabling seamless integration across multiple platforms and tools, MCP could become a foundational component in the AI ecosystem. Its open-source approach ensures that the protocol evolves with input from the broader developer community, maximizing its adaptability and relevance for future AI applications.

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