Below is a selection of articles the Federal Relations team has read this week.
ISIS Leader Killed: President Trump announced that ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi was killed in a raid at the beginning of the week, and that his “likely replacement” was also killed, greatly weakening the terrorist organization. More at CBS.
American Colleges Top List of World’s Most Innovative: Reuters published their list of the world’s most innovative universities. American universities heavily dominated the list. The top five universities were all American, and included University of Washington. This represents the value of American education, and serves as a reminder of why investment in education is so important for our economy. Read more at Forbes.
House Votes on Impeachment Inquiry: The House has voted by a majority of 232-196 to formalize the rules governing an impeachment inquiry into President Trump. The inquiry is related to a whistleblower complaint and foreign policy towards Ukraine. The House has not voted to impeach President Trump. Although the new rules will allow for televised hearings and the release of witness testimony, Republicans still argue the process is unfair. More at Washington Post.
DoE Pushing AI: The Department of Energy has announced a major refocus on Artificial Intelligence, and that they will push for $3 billion-$4 billion in funding over the next decade. The goal is to keep US research as competitive as possible, and expedite further scientific discoveries. The full story is at Science Magazine.
China Convenes Gathering of Nobel Laureates: China has convened a four day gathering of Nobel Prize Laureates in Shanghai. The convention is supposedly meant to promote Chinese scientific ventures. More at The Economist.
Boeing CEO Testifies on 737 MAX: Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg testified before the House Transportation Committee on Wednesday. The testimony comes in the midst of accusations of mismanagement on the 737 MAX project. Leaked internal emails reveal that key personnel were aware of technical issues on the aircraft prior to fatal crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia. Also this week, the union representing American Airlines flight attendants, the largest operator of the 737 MAX, published a letter demanding greater involvement before the aircraft is brought back online. More at The Hill.