FT News Briefing Democrats support US stimulus plan, China invests in US tech, reaction to UK vaccine approval
Dec 3, 2020
Top Democrats are showing flexibility in their support for a substantial $908 billion stimulus plan. The UK has made headlines by becoming the first country to approve a Covid-19 vaccine, sparking discussions on regulatory decisions. Meanwhile, Chinese investments in U.S. technology continue amidst tightening trade restrictions. Additionally, Nigeria's wealthiest individuals are reportedly increasing their stakes in the country's economy, reflecting a shift towards local investments despite significant economic challenges.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Stimulus Support
- Top Democrats support a bipartisan $908 billion stimulus plan, significantly less than their previous proposals.
- President-elect Biden called any deal during Trump's term a "down payment" on further stimulus.
UK Vaccine Approval
- The UK is the first country to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
- The vaccine will be rolled out as early as next week after demonstrating 95% efficacy in trials.
International Reactions to UK Approval
- US officials view the UK approval as reassurance, highlighting the regulator's high standards and lack of politicization.
- EU officials, while not opposing, criticized the UK for not acknowledging the international effort in vaccine development.