Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, speaks during a news conference with other Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, December 15, 2020. Congressional negotiators closed in Wednesday on a US$900 billion coronavirus economic relief package that would deliver additional help to businesses, US$300 per week jobless checks, and US$600 stimulus payments to most Americans. But lawmakers briefed on the outlines of the aid bill freely shared them. President-elect Joe Biden is eager for an aid package to prop up the economy and deliver direct aid to the jobless and hungry, even though the package falls short of what Democrats want. Republicans, too, are anxious to approve some aid before going home for the year.-AP

Source: The Standard December 17, 2020 05:55 UTC