Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday

Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday

Feb 9, 2017

Highlights from briefing on Abe's U.S. visit

Alayna Treene, author of Sneak Peek

Hitoshi Takano / Kyodo News via AP

Key details from the White House background briefing ahead of this weekend's visit by Japanese PM Shinzo Abe:

Schedule highlights: Trump and Abe will meet in the Oval Office tomorrow, then they will hold a press conference before jetting off to Mar-a-Lago for the weekend.
Trump is paying: For both Abe and his wife to visit his Palm Beach resort. They'll also have time to talk on a more personal level
Abe "is well-acquainted" with Trump's priorities: Jobs, jobs, jobs. They will largely discuss their economic relationship, as well as reaffirm the interest in seeing a "free and rules-based trading order" in the region.
Trump understands that bilateral agreements enable him to negotiate terms more favorable for U.S., whereas in a multilateral agreement a member may be held to the standard of the "weakest link" in the pact
Japan-Russia bilateral relations: Trump understands Japan is a neighbor of Russia and respects Abe's dealings with Putin

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Ina Fried, author of Login

1 hour ago - Technology

Scoop: Google is investigating the actions of another top AI ethicist

Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Photo by Mateusz Wlodarczyk/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Google is investigating recent actions by Margaret Mitchell, who helps lead the company's ethical AI team, Axios has confirmed.

Why it matters: The probe follows the forced exit of Timnit Gebru, a prominent researcher also on the AI ethics team at Google whose ouster ignited a firestorm among Google employees.

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Hans Nichols, author of Sneak Peek

2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Scoop: Joe Biden's COVID-19 bubble

Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The incoming administration is planning extraordinary steps to protect its most prized commodity, Joe Biden, including requiring daily employee COVID tests and N95 masks at all times, according to new guidance sent to some incoming employees Tuesday.

Why it matters: The president-elect is 78 years old and therefore a high risk for the virus and its worst effects, despite having received the vaccine. While President Trump's team was nonchalant about COVID protocols — leading to several super-spreader episodes — the new rules will apply to all White House aides in "high proximity to principals."

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4 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Justice Department drops insider trading inquiry against Sen. Richard Burr

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) walking through the Senate Subway in the U.S. Capitol in December 2020. Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images

The Department of Justice told Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) on Tuesday that it will not move forward with insider trading charges against him.

Why it matters: The decision, first reported by the New York Times, effectively ends the DOJ's investigation into the senator's stock sell-off that occurred after multiple lawmakers were briefed about the coronavirus' potential economic toll. Burr subsequently stepped down as chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

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