US politicians reached a deal for a nearly $900bn (€788bn) Covid-19 relief package for millions of Americans as the nation struggles against the world's largest outbreak of the virus.
The package includes aid for vaccine distribution and logistics, extra jobless benefits of $300 (€246) per week, and a new round of $600 (€492) stimulus checks - half the amount provided in checks distributed last March under the CARES Act.
It comes after months of partisan wrangling and finger-pointing as well as last-minute negotiations that culminated in a deal politicians said they hoped to approve today. "We've agreed to a package of nearly $900 billion.