Covid relief package talks to continue amid stalemate | First Thing

Republicans will continue talks with White House over coronavirus aid package after two-hour meeting fails to resolve issue. Plus, police officers suspended after 9-year-old is pepper-sprayed

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Good morning.

Ten Republican senators have agreed to continue talks with the White House over a coronavirus relief package, after a two-hour meeting yesterday failed to end in a solution. Both the president and vice-president were present in the meeting, which lasted far longer than expected, and the leading Republican in the talk said it was excellent" and very useful". But there is still a gulf between the $1.9tn package proposed by Biden, and the alternative proposal from the senators - which is less than a third of the size.