The US Senate has passed a $2 trillion (£1.7tn) coronavirus disaster aid bill that is the largest economic stimulus in US history.

The vote was delayed by a last-minute row between Republican and Democratic senators over unemployment benefits.

The plan includes direct payments of $1,200 to most American adults and aid to help small businesses pay workers.

US coronavirus deaths are around the 1,000 mark and there have been nearly 70,000 confirmed infections.

More than 21,000 people with coronavirus have died across the world since it emerged in China's Hubei province in December, while the number of infections is racing towards half a million.

www-bbc-com.0.freebasics.com/news/world-us-canada-52033863?iorg_service_id_internal=624173547714020">https://https-www-bbc-com.0.freebasics.com/news/world-us-canada-52033863?iorg_service_id_internal=624173547714020%3BAfqS5KXYBKFy-AiF

Southern Europe is now the centre of the pandemic, with Italy and Spain recording hundreds of new deaths every day.


What do we know about the deal?

The agreement reached by Republican and Democratic leaders in the Senate includes tax rebates, loans, money for hospitals and rescue packages.

Though the nearly 900-page bill's price tag amounts to roughly half the size of the US government's annual budget, little has emerged of its finer details.

Individuals who earn $75,000 or less would get direct payments of $1,200 each. Married couples with household income of up to $150,000 would receive $2,400 and an additional $500 per each child.

Mr McConnell described the package as a "wartime level of investment" in the US nation.

The Democratic speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, said she hoped the bill could be passed by voice vote.

That would allow members of Congress - several of whom have coronavirus or are self-isolating - to stay away from the chamber in order to cast their votes.

But if any member objected, lawmakers would be asked to return to Washington and vote over the course of an entire day, in order to limit how many people are present on the House floor at one time.
www-bbc-com.0.freebasics.com/news/world-us-canada-52033863?iorg_service_id_internal=624173547714020">https://https-www-bbc-com.0.freebasics.com/news/world-us-canada-52033863?iorg_service_id_internal=624173547714020%3BAfqS5KXYBKFy-AiF

When would Nigeria follow suit, instead they are looking for how to take money from the pension fund...bunch of.....

It's not a free money! They will definitely pay back.

Tekzyflex:
It's not a free money! They will definitely pay back.

it’s still a good gesture . Buhari should do the same. How can people stay at home with hunger?

Good time to be a medical doctor and health minister

After washing your hands with soap, remember to hold them together in prayer.��
While stocking your stores with enough food, remember to stock your heart with the Holy Spirit.�
And as you isolate yourself from the Corona Virus, isolate your soul from sin. ��‍♀
And instead of being held in fear, hold onto Jesus. ��
Humble yourself and admit your weaknesses,
God will heal our world!��‍♀

They will pay back to which account?

Tekzyflex:
It's not a free money! They will definitely pay back.

Tekzyflex:
It's not a free money! They will definitely pay back.

Where did you read this from?

I don't think the whole Sub Saharan Africa countries is up to $2tri

When people fight, die, protest, unite, divide and unite again to make the place they call country a better place, this is WHY!!!

It is sad because our own government are not capable of making Nigerians safe at this critical time.

Every man for himself at this juncture

Lord save your children

what the us needs is 150000 units of ventilators and respirators and isolating rooms

Buhari too has passed 20 naira petrol price reduction order