Congress on brink of $2 trillion rescue for virus-hit US economy

US lawmakers worked deep into Tuesday night trying to seal a deal that buttresses the teetering economy by giving roughly $2 trillion to hospitals, businesses and ordinary Americans buckling under the strain of the coronavirus pandemic.

But a full day of intense, protracted negotiating was unable to produce a viable outcome, even as the two sides -- plus the White House -- kept haggling and the US Senate remained in session through midnight.