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US House approves $1.9tn stimulus package

US House of Representatives approve President Biden's Covid-19 stimulus package aimed at kick-starting the economy scarred by the pandemic.

The US House of Representatives has approved President Biden's huge $1.9 trillion Covid-19 stimulus package aimed at kick-starting the economy scarred by the pandemic. Among the measures in the package is a one-off payment of $1400 for most Americans. Economist Rubeela Farooqi tells us what to expect.

Also, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission is meeting this week to try and protect the fish species. European vessels take home the biggest proportion of the stock, meaning local fishing communities often miss out, and tuna levels are depleting. Adam Ziyad is director general of the Maldives fisheries ministry, and vice-chair of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, and discusses the potential impact of over-fishing. And we get wider context from John Burton, from conservation organisation the International Pole and Line Foundation.

Plus, as the full force of coronavirus lockdowns hit last year, we spoke to three professional musicians from different continents, to hear how they have been impacted. We get an update from New York-based violinist Jennifer Koh, Guillem Bolto of Barcelona-based lockdown band Stay Homas, and singer Berita Khumalo, who was born and raised in Zimbabwe, but is now based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(Photo: US House of Representatives. Credit: Getty Images)

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27 minutes

Last on

Wed 10 Mar 2021 22:32GMT

Broadcast

  • Wed 10 Mar 2021 22:32GMT