Wednesday Briefing: Biden to push trillions in investment in Congress speech

The Reuters Daily Briefing Wednesday, April 28, 2021 by Linda Noakes Hello Here's what you need to know. India's COVID-19 death toll tops 200,000, Biden makes his first speech to Congress, and troubles mount for Britain's prime minister Today's biggest stories President Joe Biden removes his face mask as he delivers remarks on the administration's coronavirus response outside the White House, April 27, 2021. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to unveil a sweeping $1.8 trillion package for families and education in his first joint speech to Congress, as he stresses the need to invest to compete with China. Biden’s families plan includes free meals for millions of low-income children. The president will also plead directly with lawmakers to pass legislation to curb police violence. After Biden lays out his ambitions, Republican Senator Tim Scott will make his party's argument that the Democratic agenda is a path to misery for working Americans. A rising star in his party and the sole Black Republican in the Senate, Scott has promised to deliver an "honest conversation" and an "optimistic and hopeful message". The Justice Department has quietly repealed a controversial Trump-era policy targeting "sanctuary cities" which called for withholding millions in grant money from cities, counties and states if they refused to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. A man adjusts his wife's oxygen mask as they wait in a car to enter a COVID-19 hospital for treatment in Ahmedabad, India, April 28, 2021. REUTERS/Amit Dave WORLD India’s toll from the coronavirus surged past 200,000, the country’s deadliest day, as shortages of oxygen, medical supplies and hospital staff compounded a record number of new infections. IT firms in Bengaluru have set up 'war-rooms' as they scramble to source supplies for infected workers and maintain backroom operations for the world's biggest financial firms. Hong Kong's legislature passed a controversial immigration bill, which lawyers, diplomats and right groups fear will give authorities unlimited powers to prevent residents and others from entering or leaving the Chinese-ruled city. Britain's electoral commission has opened a formal investigation into the financing of the refurbishment of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Downing Street apartment, saying there are grounds to suspect an offence may have been committed. Somalia's President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed said he would drop an attempt to extend his term by two years, bowing to domestic and international pressure after clashes in the capital Mogadishu split security forces along clan lines. BUSINESS KFC and Pizza Hut owner Yum Brands reported a stronger-than-expected 18% jump in revenue, as the reopening of the U.S. economy boosted demand in restaurants and online. Singapore's Grab more than doubled its valuation to $40 billion in about a year as part of the world's largest SPAC deal, but maintaining that level after its U.S. debut will be a test not only for investors but also for firms eyeing similar listings. The family of late Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee said they will pay over $10.8 billion in inheritance tax for his estate and donate his vast private art collection to state curators. With an eye on rapidly rising demand from Germany's electric vehicle industry, power and mining companies alike are striving to bring to the surface lithium trapped in underground springs of boiling hot water thousands of metres below the Rhine river. Quote of the day "Ratification of the agreement is not a vote of blind confidence in the UK government's intention to implement our agreements in good faith" Christophe Hansen Member of the European Parliament Distrustful EU lawmakers back trade deal with Britain Video of the day The unlikely COVID heroes of India's Twitterverse With hospitals turning away patients and supplies running low, young tech-savvy volunteers are providing salvation for some. And finally… Musk trolls Bezos as space race heats up Elon Musk took a swipe at Jeff Bezos’ attempt to challenge a major NASA contract. More from Reuters COVID-19 Investigations Breakingviews Legal News Thanks for spending part of your day with us. Share your thoughts You are receiving this email because you signed up for newsletters from Reuters. No longer want to hear from us? Unsubscribe from The Reuters Daily Briefing. Terms, conditions, and privacy statement © 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. 3 Times Square, New York, NY 10036