Coronavirus relief bill hits snag in US Senate, talks continue

WASHINGTON: Partisan battles in the U.S. Senate stopped a US$1 trillion-plus coronavirus response bill from advancing on Sunday, but talks continued over Democrats' demands for more funding for medical care and state and local efforts to combat the pandemic.

The measure failed to get the necessary 60 votes in the 100-member chamber to clear a procedural hurdle after days of negotiations, with 47 senators voting in favor and 47 opposed.