Congress funds government until Sunday as Covid relief talks drag

Trump signs measure into law hours before shutdown was due to take effect, allowing coronavirus aid package negotiations to continue

The US Congress approved a stopgap measure to fund the government just hours before a shutdown was due to take effect on Friday night, buying time for frustratingly slow endgame negotiations on an almost $1tn coronavirus relief package.

The House passed the temporary funding bill, followed almost immediately by an approval in the Senate. Afterwards, Donald Trump signed the measure into law-.