what is joint trip

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• Per Diem Lookup

Frequently asked questions, per diem

What is per diem?

How do I find the per diem rate for (city/county, state)?

What is the difference between non-standard areas (NSA) and standard CONUS locations?

How are the CONUS per diem rates set for NSAs?

How does GSA set boundary lines for where per diem rates apply?

How can a CONUS non-standard area (NSA) receive a special review?

How can I request the establishment of a new NSA?

What if a city is not listed on the CONUS Per Diem website?

Can hotels refuse to honor the per diem rate to federal government employees and federal government contractors?

Is the hotel’s GOV rate the same as the federal per diem rate?

Are lodging taxes included in the CONUS per diem rate?

Are taxes and gratuity (tips) included in the Meals and Incidental (M&IE) expense rate?

What is considered an incidental expense?

How often is a study conducted on the M&IE expense rates?

What is the M&IE reimbursement rate during the first and last travel day?

Can I combine the lodging and M&IE per diem rates ("mix and match") in order to get a nicer hotel room or spend more on meals?

Do I need to provide receipts?

What do I do if there are no hotels available at per diem?

Do I receive a meal reimbursement for day travel away from my regular duty station?

How much per diem can I pay a contractor?

How much can a trucker deduct for meals per day?

Per diem is an allowance for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) establishes the per diem reimbursement rates that federal agencies use to reimburse their employees for subsistence expenses incurred while on official travel within the continental U.S. (CONUS), which includes the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) establishes rates for travel in non-foreign areas outside of CONUS, which includes Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories and possessions. The U.S. Department of State establishes rates for travel in foreign areas. For more information on rates established by DOD and the State Department visit travel.dod.mil and aoprals.state.gov .

Please visit www.gsa.gov/perdiem  to find the rates. Click on a state on the map to view that state's rates or enter the location in the search box. Even though some cities are listed for your lookup convenience, not all cities can or will be listed. To look up the county a destination is located in, visit the Census Geocoder . If neither the city nor county you are looking for is listed on the GSA per diem rate page, then the standard CONUS rate applies.

Non-standard areas (NSAs) are frequently traveled by the federal community and are reviewed on an annual basis. Standard CONUS locations are less frequently traveled by the federal community and are not specifically listed on our website.

Per diem rates are set based upon contractor-provided average daily rate (ADR) data of local lodging properties. The properties must be fire-safe and have a FEMA ID number. The ADR is a travel industry metric that divides room sales rental revenue by the number of rooms sold. All rates are evaluated to ensure that they are fair and equitable in the GSA and Office of Management and Budget approval process. For more detailed information, visit the Factors Influencing Lodging Rates page.

5 U.S.C § 5702 gives the Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) the authority to establish the system of reimbursing Federal employees for the subsistence expenses (lodging, meals, and incidentals) of official travel. The law governs how GSA sets rates today, and allows the GSA Administrator to establish locality-based allowances for these expenses with a reporting requirement back to Congress. The law was established to protect Federal employees by fairly reimbursing them for travel expenses. In addition, if a Federal employee cannot find a room within the established per diem rates, the travel policy allows the agency to reimburse the actual hotel charges up to 300 percent of the established per diem rates.

The per diem program has several standards that it follows in its systematic structured per diem methodology. The first level is having a "standard rate" that applies to approximately 85 percent of counties in the continental United States.

It is GSA's policy that, if and when a Federal agency, on behalf of its employees, requests that the standard rate is not adequate in a specific area to cover costs of travel as intended by the law, GSA will study the locality to determine whether the locality under study should become a "non-standard area." If the study recommends a change, a change will be implemented as deemed appropriate. GSA has implemented a process to review and update both the standard and non-standard areas annually.

The standard "boundary line" for where non-standard areas apply is generally one county. This is the case for approximately 85 percent of the non-standard rates that GSA sets. However, in some cases, agencies have requested that the rate apply to an area larger than one county, such as a metropolitan area. In a very small number of cases, an agency can and has requested that a rate apply to just a city and not the entire county. In some rural areas, a rate sometimes applies to more than one county due to lack of an adequate data sample to set a rate otherwise.

GSA uses the Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) code standard for its apply areas. While GSA often uses ZIP codes to select hotel data samples, the apply area is coded by a FIPS code, unless a Federal agency only wants the rate to apply to certain ZIP codes. These codes are managed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to ensure uniform identification of geographic entities through all federal government agencies.

In order for GSA to conduct a "special" review of a non-standard area (NSA) during the current fiscal year, a Federal Agency Travel Manager or an equivalent individual in grade or title must submit a signed letter on agency letterhead or stationery stating that the present per diem rate is inadequate. The request should contain the following information:

• The geographical areas you want us to study, especially ZIP codes.
• The property names (including addresses, ZIP codes, and rates) where your federal travelers stay while on temporary duty travel and those properties (including addresses, ZIP codes, and rates) that will not honor the federal lodging per diem rate.
• The number of times actual expenses were used and/or federal travelers had to use another lodging facility to stay within the maximum allowable lodging per diem rate, which resulted in additional transportation expenses (rental car, taxi) being incurred.

All valid requests postmarked no later than 12/31 will be eligible for this review. All valid requests received after 12/31, but before 4/1 will be evaluated during the following fiscal year's annual review cycle. After all the requirements are submitted, GSA will obtain updated data from our contractor to determine whether a per diem rate should be increased, decreased or remain unchanged. We will conduct no more than one "special" review for a particular NSA annually.

Letters should be sent to: General Services Administration, Office of Government-wide Policy, 1800 F St. NW., Washington, DC 20405. For more direct service, please also scan and email your request (a signed letter on agency letterhead must be attached) to [email protected] .

The procedure and the request deadline are the same as FAQ #6. However, requests received after 3/31 will not be included in the following fiscal year's annual review cycle because the annual review will have already begun.

If a city is not listed, check to ensure that the county within which it is located is also not listed. Visit the Census Geocoder to determine the county a destination is located in. If the city is not listed, but the county is, then the per diem rate is the rate for that entire county. If the city and the county are not listed, then that area receives the standard CONUS location rate.

Hotels are not required to honor the federal per diem rates. It is each property’s business decision whether or not to offer the rate. Hotels also may or may not choose to extend the rate to other individuals, such as government contractors.

Hotels sometimes offer a "GOV" rate, which might be different than the federal per diem rate. If it is higher, you need to receive approval for actual expense prior to travel in order to receive full reimbursement. It is the traveler’s responsibility to know the federal per diem reimbursement rates, and should not assume a GOV rate is the same as the federal per diem rate. See the FTR Chapter 301, Subpart D-Actual Expense and follow your agency's guidelines.

Lodging taxes are not included in the CONUS per diem rate. The Federal Travel Regulation 301-11.27 states that in CONUS, lodging taxes paid by the federal traveler are reimbursable as a miscellaneous travel expense limited to the taxes on reimbursable lodging costs. For foreign areas, lodging taxes have not been removed from the foreign per diem rates established by the Department of State. Separate claims for lodging taxes incurred in foreign areas not allowed. Some states and local governments may exempt federal travelers from the payment of taxes. For more information regarding tax exempt status, travelers should visit the State Tax Forms page.

Yes, the meals and incidental expense (M&IE) rate does include taxes and tips in the rate, so travelers will not be reimbursed separately for those items.

The Federal Travel Regulation Chapter 300, Part 300-3 , under Per Diem Allowance, describes incidental expenses as: Fees and tips given to porters, baggage carriers, hotel staff, and staff on ships.

An M&IE study has traditionally been conducted every three to five years. Based upon the recommendations of the Governmentwide Travel Advisory Committee, GSA began reviewing rates every three years starting with rates for FY 2016.

On the first and last travel day, Federal employees are only eligible for 75 percent of the total M&IE rate for their temporary duty travel location (not the official duty station location). For your convenience, the M&IE breakdown page has a table showing the calculated amount for the "First and Last Day of Travel."

For federal employees, the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) does not make a provision for "mixing and matching" reimbursement rates. The lodging per diem rates are a maximum amount; the traveler only receives actual lodging costs up to that maximum rate. Therefore, there is no "extra" lodging per diem to add to the M&IE rate. Likewise, the M&IE per diem cannot be given up or transferred to lodging costs. See FTR 301-11.100 and 301-11.101 for more information.

For any official temporary travel destination, you must provide a receipt to substantiate your claimed travel expenses for lodging and receipts for any authorized expenses incurred costing over $75, or a reason acceptable to your agency explaining why you are unable to provide the necessary receipt (see Federal Travel Regulation 301-11.25 ).

You may ask your agency to authorize the actual expense allowance provision. The Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) 301-11.300 through 306 notes that if lodging is not available at your temporary duty location, your agency may authorize or approve the maximum per diem rate of up to 300% of per diem for the location where lodging is obtained. You should also ensure you have checked www.fedrooms.com to confirm there are no rooms available at per diem in the area where you need to travel.

According to the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), travelers are entitled to 75% of the prescribed meals and incidental expenses for one day travel away from your official station if it is longer than 12 hours. Please see FTR 301-11.101 .

GSA establishes per diem rates and related policies for federal travelers on official travel only, and cannot address specific inquiries concerning the payment of contractors. If the contractor is on a federal contract, check with the contracting officer to see what is stated in their contract. Contractors should also check the travel regulations of their company.

GSA establishes per diem rates, along with its policies for federal employees on official travel only. Truck-related questions should be addressed either to the Department of Transportation ( www.dot.gov ) or the Internal Revenue Service ( www.irs.gov ).

PER DIEM LOOK-UP

1 choose a location.

Error, The Per Diem API is not responding. Please try again later.

No results could be found for the location you've entered.

Rates for Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. Territories and Possessions are set by the Department of Defense .

Rates for foreign countries are set by the State Department .

2 Choose a date

Rates are available between 10/1/2021 and 09/30/2024.

The End Date of your trip can not occur before the Start Date.

Traveler reimbursement is based on the location of the work activities and not the accommodations, unless lodging is not available at the work activity, then the agency may authorize the rate where lodging is obtained.

Unless otherwise specified, the per diem locality is defined as "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city, including independent entities located within those boundaries."

Per diem localities with county definitions shall include "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city as well as the boundaries of the listed counties, including independent entities located within the boundaries of the key city and the listed counties (unless otherwise listed separately)."

When a military installation or Government - related facility(whether or not specifically named) is located partially within more than one city or county boundary, the applicable per diem rate for the entire installation or facility is the higher of the rates which apply to the cities and / or counties, even though part(s) of such activities may be located outside the defined per diem locality.

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Your guide to joint tenancy.

If you're exploring co-buying or co-owning a home, you may have stumbled across the term "joint tenancy." Joint tenancy is when two or more people enter a legal arrangement to buy a home or other type of property together. Like many real estate purchases, joint tenancy comes with its own set of considerations. Let's examine how joint tenancy works, how it differs from other co-ownership situations and some potential pros and cons buyers may want to be aware of.

What is joint tenancy?

Joint tenancy is one of a few types of real estate co-ownership. In this specific scenario, each owner has equal rights to the property, which also means they share both the benefits and the financial responsibility of ownership equally. Joint ownership of property could be shared by married or unmarried couples, friends, business associates or family members.

When two or more parties decide to enter a joint tenancy agreement, the deed will list the parties as joint tenants. In the event of a sale, each owner will be entitled to the same share of the profit. They'll also receive equal profits if the property is rented out. Along with splitting profits, joint tenants will be responsible for equal shares of the less glamorous aspects of ownership, including tax payments, maintenance and repair fees, insurance costs, property management fees and joint mortgage payments. Be aware that if any owners default on the above payments, the others are responsible for making the payments by their due date.

Creating joint tenancy usually creates another type of agreement: Right of survivorship. This means that if a co-owner dies, their shares of the property will be distributed evenly among the remaining owners. For example, if the owners in question are a married couple, the surviving spouse would own 100% of the property upon their partner's passing. Right of survivorship essentially simplifies the transfer process, which may save time and spare grieving parties the effort of navigating a lengthy legal process. This simplification is one reason you may want to enter into a joint tenancy agreement.

How to create a joint tenancy agreement

Creating joint tenancy involves several steps, including doing one's due diligence and ensuring a knowledge of local laws and regulations. However, in a joint tenancy situation there are four specific requirements, known as the "four unities," that must be present:

In the case of joint tenancy, the requirement of "time" refers to when the owners acquire ownership rights. To create joint tenancy, all parties must acquire these rights simultaneously or on the same date. Let's say you're entering a joint tenancy agreement on a vacation home with friends. If all your names are on a deed with the same date, you'll have passed this requirement.

The title requirement has to do with the documents that prove ownership. When two or more people are buying a property together, they must be listed as co-owners on all relevant ownership documents, such as a deed or an occupancy certificate. If there are discrepancies — say one owner isn't listed on an occupancy certificate but is listed on the deed — it may be difficult to pinpoint which one is valid.

3. Interest

This requirement refers to each party's share of the property. In the case of joint ownership of a property, each owner is required to have an equal share of the property in question. If we're talking about a married couple, the share would be 50% to each spouse. In a joint tenancy agreement between four siblings, on the other hand, each party would own 25% of the property.

4. Possession

In a joint tenancy agreement, all owners must have an equal right to possess and use the whole property. This requirement is what "possession" refers to. For example, if a brother and sister are in a joint tenancy agreement as owners of a beach house, little bro can't claim the top floor of the house for himself. His sister is entitled to enjoy the space, top to bottom, as she pleases.

Severing joint tenancy

If one or more owners would like to sever joint tenancy, dissolution of the agreement may occur in several ways.

• Sale: If an owner decides to sell or transfer ownership to a third party, joint tenancy will be severed for that share, and the new buyer will enter "tenancy in common" with the remaining owners (more on that below).
• Partition: Should the owners at any point disagree regarding use or disposition of the property, the co-owners are entitled to file for a partition action in court. This may lead to the sale of the property, which would result in each owner receiving their share of the proceeds. As is the case with many legal proceedings, partition may potentially require significant investments of both time and money.
• Mutual agreement: Perhaps the friendliest way to sever joint tenancy, mutual agreement refers to any situation in which all owners unanimously agree to severance.
• Divorce: If a married couple decides to get a divorce, joint tenancy is typically severed. What happens to the property depends on the proceedings. The ex-spouses may enter a spousal agreement, convert their ownership to tenancy in common or file for a partition action.

Joint tenancy vs. tenancy in common

Joint tenancy and tenancy in common are the most well-known types of co-ownership. While they do have similarities, joint tenancy generally comes with more considerations than tenancy in common. There are several key differences between the two agreements, spanning many aspects of ownership. Let's break these differences down, one by one.

• Ownership: As mentioned earlier, each owner has equal rights in a joint tenancy agreement, and if one of the owners passes away, their share goes to the remaining owners by rights of survivorship. With tenancy in common, each owner is permitted to own a different percentage of the property. If one of the owners passes away, their share will generally be inherited by their designated heirs or beneficiaries as dictated in their will.
• Creation: To create joint tenancy, owners are usually required to meet the criteria of the "four unities" of time, title, interest and possession. In contrast, tenancy in common is more flexible in that co-owners are permitted to acquire ownership at different times, have different titles and ownership interests and occupy different areas or own different shares of the property.
• Transferability: While rights of survivorship allow for easy transfer of ownership, joint tenancy generally requires the consent of all owners to transfer ownership in any other type of situation. This may get complicated, especially if there are many co-owners involved. A tenancy in common agreement, however, doesn't require the consent of the co-owners if one owner decides to transfer, sell or will their share of the property.
• Decision making: In a joint tenancy, if an owner wants to make a decision regarding the property — whether it's painting a room chartreuse or selling the home altogether, the decision needs to be unanimously approved by every owner before it takes place. Tenancy in common allows owners more independence, as individual owners can sell, mortgage or (if they have the rights to a specific area) make changes to their share of the property.

Pros and cons of joint tenancy

As is the case with most legal agreements, joint tenancy comes with its share of potential pros and cons which may make more sense for certain parties than others.

Pros of joint tenancy

• Ease: Thanks to right of survivorship, owners have a clear path should one of the owners pass away. Joint tenancy allows owners to avoid probate, which is a potentially lengthy legal proceeding regarding the transfer of an estate through the examination of a will. Similarly, transferring ownership is easy compared to other co-ownership situations such as tenancy in common.
• Equality: Joint tenancy may be appealing to those with an egalitarian mindset, as it could promote a sense of shared responsibility and careful decision making. Maybe teamwork really does make the dream work, after all.

Cons of joint tenancy

• Disputes: As much as owners may want to have a similar approach to important decisions, there are scenarios in which co-owners may disagree. Since joint tenancy requires unanimous consent among owners, these potential disagreements could lead to issues with the management and maintenance of the property.
• Creditor's claims: If an owner finds themselves in debt, creditors may decide to place a lien on the property or even initiate a forced sale to satisfy the debt. This could negatively affect the remaining joint tenants.
• Inheritance complications: While avoiding the complications of probate court is helpful in certain scenarios, the owner's family or heirs may be left without any right to the property.

As every situation is different, it's good to weigh these pros and cons against your specific set of circumstances. If you're still unsure if joint tenancy is for you, consider reaching out to a real estate professional. They may be able to steer you in the right direction.

If you're exploring co-buying, joint tenancy is a solid option for anyone looking to share equal ownership of a property. While joint tenancy may generally help owners avoid some potentially lengthy legal proceedings, such as probate court, some familial issues such as divorce or death have the potential to get complicated. Understanding the nuances of joint tenancy may help buyers make a more informed real estate decision.

Joint tenancy FAQs

1. when might you need a joint tenancy.

Because joint tenancy allows for easy transfer of ownership if a spouse dies, it may be especially beneficial for married couples seeking to spare their loved one the complications of probate. Similarly, close family members might use joint tenancy to seamlessly pass the property and ownership to survivors. In business scenarios, joint tenancy is a way to make sure that if one partner dies, their ownership and property can be seamlessly taken over by the remaining partners.

2. Can one person leave a joint tenancy?

Yes, one person can leave a joint tenancy. You may sever joint tenancy through sale, partition, mutual agreement or divorce.

3. Is joint tenancy the same as tenancy in common?

Joint tenancy and tenancy in common are two separate types of co-ownership agreements. While joint tenancy may be legally smoother in some scenarios, tenancy in common may offer more flexibility.

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Biden praises Prime Minister Kishida’s leadership and Japan’s growing international clout

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has begun his much-anticipated visit to Washington. The visit includes a glamorous state dinner to celebrate a nation that President Joe Biden sees as the cornerstone of his Indo-Pacific policy.

President Joe Biden said Wednesday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not doing enough to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza. He made the comments during a joint news conference with Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. (April 10)

President Joe Biden welcomes Japanese PM Fumio Kishida to the White House for talks on the delicate security situation in the Pacific and for a glitzy state dinner. Biden is honoring a leader who’s been one of his strongest international allies.

President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida participate in a news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Joe Biden, right, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stand as the U.S. national anthem plays during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Joe Biden, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shake hands after a news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Joe Biden, center right, and first lady Jill Biden, right, wave with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, center left, and his wife Yuko Kishida, left, during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida, wave from the Blue Room Balcony during a State Arrival Ceremony at the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida review the troops with Col. David Rowland, commander of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard, during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stand for the national anthems during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida walk to review the troops during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stand for the National Anthem during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcome Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shake hands during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida walk from the Oval Office to a news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden speaks during a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a news conference with President Joe Biden in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden praised Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s “bold” leadership on a series of global crises as he welcomed the Japanese leader to the White House on Wednesday for wide-ranging talks that touched on the delicate security situation in the Pacific, the war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict and more.

Kishida’s official visit , which included a glitzy state dinner at the White House on Wednesday evening, completes the Democratic administration’s feting of the leaders of the Quad , the informal partnership among the U.S., Japan, Australia and India that the White House has focused on elevating since Biden took office. As administration officials put it, they saved the most pivotal relationship for last.

“The unbreakable alliance between Japan and the United States is the cornerstone of peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and around the world,” Biden said as he welcomed Kishida to a pomp-filled arrival ceremony on the White House South Lawn.

The visit also marks the realization of Japan’s transformation from a regional player to a global influencer — with senior Biden administration officials noting appreciatively there is little the U.S. does across the globe that Tokyo doesn’t support. They pointed to Japan’s eagerness to take a leading role in trying to bolster Ukraine against Russia’s invasion and with the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

“The cooperation between our countries bound together by common values and commitment has become a global one with the scope and depth covering outer space and the deep sea,” Kishida said. “Today the world faces more challenges and difficulties than ever before. Japan will join hands with our American friends and together we will lead the way in tackling the challenges of the Indo-Pacific region and the world, while tirelessly developing the relationship.”

Kishida also announced that Japan is giving 250 cherry trees to the U.S. to mark America’s coming 250th birthday in 2026.

Biden and Kishida are both confronting difficult political headwinds on the home front while trying to navigate increasingly complicated problems on the global stage. Like Biden, Kishida has been dogged by low approval ratings for much of his tenure.

Biden’s reelection effort has been shadowed by an American electorate anxious about inflation, unease among some Democrats over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war, and concerns about whether at 81 he’s too old to serve another four years. The U.S. economy got another blip of dour data on Wednesday with the government reporting that consumer inflation ticked up last month .

Kishida, meanwhile, is dealing with a Japanese economy that slipped to the world’s fourth-largest after it contracted in the last quarter of 2023 and fell behind Germany. Polls in Japan show that support for Kishida, who was elected in 2021, has plunged as he deals with a political funds corruption scandal within his ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

To be certain, there are differences in the U.S.-Japan relationship. The visit comes after Biden announced last month that he opposes the planned sale of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel of Japan. Biden argued in announcing his opposition that the U.S. needs to “maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steelworkers.”

At their Rose Garden press conference following their private Oval Office talks, Biden and Kishida sidestepped addressing in detail their discussion about the prospective U.S. Steel acquisition. Biden said he stood by his commitment to American workers and fostering the Japanese alliance. Kishida noted the extensive investment both nations have made into each other’s economy and his hope for creating more “win-win” situations.

The leaders announced plans to upgrade U.S.-Japan military relations, with both sides looking to tighten cooperation amid concerns about North Korea’s nuclear program and China’s increasing military assertiveness in the Pacific. The structural updates will focus on improving interoperability and planning between U.S. and Japanese forces as well as exploring bolstering air defense capabilities, including with Australia. The U.S., United Kingdom. and Australia are also considering including Japan in the AUKUS defense partnership, a grouping launched in 2021 that aims to equip Australia with nuclear-powered and conventionally armed submarines.

Kishida and Biden also confirmed Japan’s participation in NASA’s Artemis moon program as well as its contribution of a moon rover developed by Toyota Motor Corp. and the inclusion of two Japanese astronauts on future moon-landing missions. One of them would become the first non-American astronaut to set foot on the moon.

Biden heaped praise on Japan for its significant increase in defense spending and has tightened cooperation on economic and security matters throughout Kishida’s tenure.

Japan was quick to step up in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine , join the U.S. and other Western allies in mounting aggressive sanctions on Moscow, and Japanese automakers Mazda, Toyota and Nissan announced their withdrawal from Russia.

Tokyo has been one of the largest donors to Kyiv since Russia’s invasion, and Japan has surged its defense spending amid concern about China’s military assertiveness.

As part of its increased defense, Japan agreed to acquire U.S.-made Tomahawks and other long-range cruise missiles that can hit targets in China or North Korea under a more offensive security strategy. Japan, Britain and Italy also began a collaboration on a next-generation jet fighter project.

“The prime minister is a visionary and courageous leader,” Biden said. “When Russia began its brutal invasion of Ukraine two years ago, he did not hesitate to condemn sanctions and isolate Russia and provide billions assistance to Ukraine.”

Biden also credited Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for working to repair frosty relations between Tokyo and Seoul. Relations have rapidly thawed over the last two years amid shared concerns about China’s assertiveness in the Pacific and North Korea’s persistent nuclear threats. Biden last year hosted the two leaders at the presidential retreat at Camp David in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains.

The Japan-South Korea relationship is a delicate one because of differing views of World War II history and Japan’s colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula.

Biden and Kishida also told reporters they were open to direct talks between Japan and North Korea over the abduction of Japanese citizens during the 1970s and 1980s and other issues. Kishida’s previous calls for talks have been rejected by Pyongyang.

In 2002, Kim Jong Il, the father of Kim Jong Un, told then-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi that its agents had kidnapped 13 Japanese citizens and allowed five of them to return to Japan. But Japan believes hundreds may have been taken and some remain alive. Biden called Japan’s attempts to set up a leader-to-leader summit with North Korea a “good thing,” and he reiterated his administration’s willingness for its own talks without preconditions.

Kishida will remain in Washington on Thursday to take part in a U.S.-Japan-Philippines summit , at which China’s increasing aggressive action in the region will loom large over the talks.

Relations between China and the Philippines have been repeatedly tested by skirmishes involving the two nations’ coast guard vessels in the disputed South China Sea. Chinese coast guard ships also regularly approach disputed Japanese-controlled East China Sea islands near Taiwan .

“The main intent of this trilateral agreement is for us to be able to continue to flourish, to be able to help one another, and ... to keep the peace in the South China Sea and the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea,” Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told reporters before departing for Washington on Wednesday.

AP writer Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, and Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this story.

House Speaker Mike Johnson to deliver remarks with Trump on 'election integrity'

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson will travel to former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Friday for remarks about “election integrity” with Trump, two sources directly familiar with the plans confirmed.

Asked by NBC News what his news conference with Trump will focus on, Johnson, R-Fla., said: “You’ll have to see. ... I look forward to going down there."

Asked to elaborate on “election integrity," Johnson said: “free and fair elections."

CNN first reported plans for the remarks. The House is set to be in session Friday, but votes are expected to be held in the morning.

Johnson faces threats to his job from his right flank and scrutiny over his handling of thorny issues in a narrow Republican majority, including a military aid package for Ukraine and other U.S. allies that has been held up for months, despite his vows to pass new Ukraine aid.

Johnson is under tremendous pressure from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., another Trump ally, who has threatened to force a vote on a motion to oust him over funding for Ukraine. Greene, who argues that congressional attention and funding should be turned to the southern border rather than Ukraine, last month filed a "motion to vacate" to depose Johnson but stopped short of forcing a vote to remove him.

A Republican former senior congressional aide said that the meeting at Mar-a-Lago may send a message to Greene that Johnson is close to Trump and that Trump supports his continued leadership of the House GOP. “This seems to be more about motion-to-vacate mitigation than anything else,” the former aide said.

Before he was elected speaker, Johnson had boosted Trump's false claims of widespread election fraud in the 2020 presidential election and pursued legal efforts to invalidate President Joe Biden's electoral victory. In December 2020, Johnson led an amicus brief signed by more than 100 House Republicans in support of a Texas lawsuit seeking to overturn Biden's wins in four battleground states.

Johnson endorsed Trump in November, not long after he took the speaker’s gavel.

Although Trump did not announce an outright endorsement in the speaker's race last year, he seemed to boost Johnson's bid, writing on his Truth Social platform , “My strong SUGGESTION is to go with the leading candidate, Mike Johnson, & GET IT DONE, FAST!”

Days after he announced his endorsement of Trump, Johnson met with him at a fundraiser for Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., at Mar-a-Lago in November.

Ali Vitali is a Capitol Hill correspondent for NBC News, based in Washington.

Jonathan Allen is a senior national politics reporter for NBC News, based in Washington.

Summer Concepcion is a politics reporter for NBC News.

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Alamo's 4/20 Joint | Southeast

Join the celebration at Alamo's 4/20 Joint & 50th Celebration in Washington on April 20, 2024. The event will be hosted by Ghee Jones, Marley G, Boo Boo & Ria, Betty Mae, & The Big O Hamilton. The attire for the evening is 4/20 themed but not mandatory. The party will take place at Da Building in Southeast, Washington, DC 20003. The event will feature DJ Blinks as the Vibe Curator, with a special guest DJ. This 4/20 friendly outdoor event promises good music, good people, and good vibes. Come and celebrate Alamo's 50th Trip Around the Sun in style. Although Alamo's birthday is in January, this event will make up for the missed celebration. Food will be available, and the exact address will be released the week of the event. Stay tuned for more details. Don't miss out on this free event and mark your calendars for a memorable evening. Alamo Out!

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EU proposing post-Brexit joint youth work and study scheme with UK

According to the Commission, they do not foresee the scheme allowing UK citizens to travel around the Schengen area unimpeded, but rather the visa would only be valid for a single state.

By Adam Parsons, Europe correspondent, and Tim Baker, political reporter

Friday 19 April 2024 00:21, UK

Young people could be able to move more easily between the UK and Europe and stay longer to work, study and train under proposed plans by the European Union

Under the proposal, which has been put forward by the European Commission, new rules would be drawn up to allow for greater movement between the UK and EU countries for people aged between 18 and 30.

Formal negotiations have not yet begun, and a UK source told Sky News no formal proposal had been put forward by Brussels to begin negotiating on.

The proposal will be further discussed by the European Council, which represents all the nations, before negotiations start in earnest.

Politics latest: Police issues Mark Menzies update

The plans proposed by the EU would allow young people to stay in Europe for periods of four years, with the same rules extended to EU citizens coming to Britain.

It would also mean EU students paying the same fees as British ones. Since Brexit , UK universities have charged much higher fees to European students.

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Announcing the move, the European Commission said it wanted to take an "innovative" approach to tackling the barriers experienced by young people looking to travel from the EU to the UK and vice versa for longer periods.

"The objective would be to facilitate youth exchanges, making it easier for young citizens to travel, work and live in the UK, with reciprocity for young UK nationals in a member state," said the Commission, in a statement.

"The United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union has hit young people in the EU and UK who would like to study, work and live abroad particularly hard," claimed Maros Sefcovic, the Commission's vice-president who oversees relations with the UK.

"Our aim is to rebuild human bridges between young Europeans on both sides of the Channel."

This scheme is separate to the 90-day visa-less travel that UK citizens can take advantage of on the continent.

It added: "It is not about conferring to young UK nationals the benefits of the fundamental freedom of movement enjoyed by EU citizens."

However, visas would not be "purpose-bound" and would allow people to work, travel or study.

Read more: UK to rejoin EU Horizon programme through new agreement New Brexit border post could be demolished

Rather than just being a free exchange, the EU also says it wants people taking part in the scheme to be subject to checks with the bloc or the UK able to reject applications - for example if someone was thought to be a threat to public policy, security or health.

The UK government currently has a series of agreements with 13 individual countries - including New Zealand, South Korea, Andorra, Iceland and India, which provide a similar pathway to what the EU is proposing.

The government has said it is open to the idea of extending those agreements with European countries, but has shied away from doing a pan-EU deal and there will be those who fear that an agreement such as this would be the first step towards the UK being drawn into a "freedom of movement" deal.

The EU said it wants a group deal to "ensure that all member states are treated equally in respect of mobility of young people to the UK" - but the current government seems to prefer its current set of agreements.

The Commission has rejected these fears, with sources insisting there is no intention of either pulling the UK into such a deal, or even offering it.

A Number 10 spokesperson said: "We have spoken about wanting to reduce legal migration and also about wanting to support UK talent and skills and that's why we have a system in place whereby we have a number of agreements with individual EU member states where that works in our interests and we have that rather than a Commission-wide agreement."

Labour denied it had plans for a youth mobility scheme.

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Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, a trade body representing the hospitality sector in the UK, welcomed the move.

She said: "Such an agreement would be a huge success for hospitality and tourism and, practically, it would solve challenges for the live music and events sectors."

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Video-assisted hand therapy is effective after thumb arthritis surgery

by Wolters Kluwer Health

For patients undergoing carpometacarpal (CMC) joint surgery for treatment of thumb osteoarthritis, the use of online video instruction for postoperative hand therapy is associated with outcomes similar to in-person therapy visits—while substantially reducing travel time and distance, reports a clinical trial in in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery .

Video-administered hand therapy provides an "efficient and effective" alternative to in-person therapy after CMC arthroplasty, according to the new research by Peter J. Apel, MD, Ph.D., and colleagues of Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Carilion Clinic, Roanoke.

Potential benefits of 'video-only' hand therapy after CMC surgery

Thumb CMC arthroplasty is a common surgical procedure for patients with painful osteoarthritis of the thumb. Although the benefits of hand therapy remain open to debate, most hand surgeons prescribe in-person therapy visits for patients undergoing CMC arthroplasty.

"While supervised in-person therapy may help to enhance postoperative hand function for daily activities , it can be burdensome to complete, especially for patients in rural or remote areas ," the researchers write. Asynchronous or "video-only" physical therapy is being explored as an alternative to in-person visits in a wide range of medical settings, including other orthopaedic surgery procedures.

Dr. Apel and colleagues designed a randomized trial evaluating hand therapy visits in 58 patients undergoing CMC arthroplasty. One group was assigned to video-only therapy, consisting of online videos demonstrating hand therapy exercises to be performed at home. Patients in the comparison group received an average of five in-person visits with a hand therapist.

The two approaches yielded similar significant improvement, as measured with use of patient-reported ratings of hand function after 12 weeks. Objective measures of pinch strength and grip strength were also comparable between groups. All outcomes remained similar at one-year postoperatively.

Video-only may offer a 'more patient-driven approach' to hand rehabilitation

A geospatial analysis suggested that video-only therapy reduced travel distance by an average of 278 miles and travel time by five hours—even more for patients living in sparsely populated areas. On a nationwide basis, switching from in-person visits to video-only hand therapy could save over 7 million miles of patient travel per year, the researchers estimated.

Patients were enthusiastic about video-only hand therapy, with six potential participants dropping out of the study on learning that they had been assigned to the in-person control group. Two patients initially assigned to the video intervention were switched to in-person visits.

The authors acknowledge some study limitations, including a lack of data on whether or how patients used the videos. The researchers also note the potential for selection bias, as the study excluded patients who lacked home internet access or were not comfortable using the video technology.

"This trial yields evidence that a more patient-driven approach with provision of videos is an acceptable alternative to traditional in-person therapy after thumb CMC arthroplasty and has the added benefit of reducing the potential travel burden for patients," Dr. Apel and co-authors conclude. They add that video-only therapy may offer "an efficient and effective method of delivering education and care with flexible scheduling and self-pacing."

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