this is bbc news. our top stories: the yeas mark 50, the knees mac are a9, the vote is passed. the us senate passes joe biden�*s $1.9 trillion covid relief plan by a single vote. pope francis holds an unprecedented meeting with iraq's top shia religious leader — before going onto celebrate mass. allegations of police brutality — as security forces in myanmar use stun grenades and tear gas against anti— coup protesters. dozens are reported dead in yemen as fighting takes place for control of the oil—rich city of marib.

and parts of iceland are shaken by a series of mini earthquakes, causing fears a dormant volcano may be about to erupt. hello and welcome. president biden has described the senate's approval of his coronavirus relief bill as "one more giant step forward" towards helping americans deal with the impact of the pandemic. the package, which is worth nearly $2 trillion, will provide one—off payments to millions of americans. republican senators were united in opposing the draft legislation. our washington correspondent lebo diseko reports. the yeas are 50. the nays are a9. the bill as amended is passed. a vote on party lines gavejoe biden the victory he needed in the senate, after a marathon session lasting more than 2a hours.

this is his first major piece of legislation as president — a package, he says, is necessary to turn the toll of the pandemic around. this plan puts us on a path to beating the virus. this plan gives those families who are struggling the most the help and the breathing room they need to get through this moment. this plan gives small businesses in this country a fighting chance to survive. and one more thing — this plan is historic. the bill will help fund payments for the unemployed. last month's job gains are still too slow, says the president, with the country still down 9.5 million since this time last year. money, too, to speed up production and distribution of vaccines — the hope being that that will help significantly increase the 10% of americans who've been fully immunised. but republicans say the cost is too high, and they were united in their opposition with not one voting in favour of the bill.

voters picked a president who promised unity and bipartisanship. democrats�* response is to ram through what they call "the most progressive domestic legislation in a generation" on a razor—thin majority in both houses. there was criticism, too, from within the democrats�* own ranks which almost derailed the bill — all of this an indication of how difficult it will be for president biden to fulfil his agenda. the bill has been substantially changed since it passed in the house of representatives, so it will go back there for a vote on tuesday. democrats are racing to get it signed by the president by 1a march, when key unemployment benefits expire. lebo diseko, bbc news, washington. i'm nowjoined by claudia sahm,

who is us economist, who worked with federal reserve chair janet yellen, who is now the new treasury secretary under biden administration. doctor sahm, thank you for joining be putting this into historical context, we had the no two new deal in the 1930s, the measures against the recession than. —— the new deal. where does this measure is to mark —— where does this measure? we are trying to lip read, doctor sahm, what you said, but unfortunately we did not quite get the line. i’m said, but unfortunately we did not quite get the line.- not quite get the line. i'm so sor ! not quite get the line. i'm so sorry! could _ not quite get the line. i'm so sorry! could you _ not quite get the line. i'm so sorry! could you take - not quite get the line. i'm so sorry! could you take that i not quite get the line. i'm so i sorry! could you take that from the to - , sorry! could you take that from the top, please? _ sorry! could you take that from the top, please? this - sorry! could you take that from the top, please? this is - sorry! could you take that from the top, please? this is a - the top, please? this is a historic _ the top, please? this is a historic. you _ the top, please? this is a historic. you would - the top, please? this is a historic. you would have l the top, please? this is a i historic. you would have to the top, please? this is a - historic. you would have to go back to the new deal to find a comparison. i think what is important to know with this package is it is about fighting for the recovery to make sure it is equitable, it reaches everyone, so that is what is

really important at this point, and that's why democrats win big. iii and that's why democrats win bi. , and that's why democrats win bi ., , , ., and that's why democrats win bi. ., , big. if it is so important, why did it not _ big. if it is so important, why did it not get _ big. if it is so important, why did it not get a _ big. if it is so important, why did it not get a single - big. if it is so important, why did it not get a single vote i did it not get a single vote from republicans?- did it not get a single vote from republicans? well, the - rice from republicans? well, the rice tau from republicans? well, the price tag on _ from republicans? well, the price tag on this _ from republicans? well, the price tag on this legislation | price tag on this legislation is big. it almost $2 trillion. last year, congress and the administration put out almost $4 administration put out almost $a trillion in spending. this is a lot of money. we absolutely should have a robust base. the elected members of congress — this is theirjob, how to decide to use taxpayers' money. there are risks. actually believe looking at the data, the evidence, what we saw after the great recession, the risk of doing too little right now was enormous. it could be very destructive. that is where the democrats came down and. what immediate difference with these payments are $1a00 make too many families? these payments are $1400 make too many families?— too many families? right. well, many families _ too many families? right. well, many families need _ too many families? right. well, many families need this - too many families? right. well, many families need this money. j many families need this money. this crisis has been of a depth

and a breath we have not seen since the great depression. out of us families lost employment income last year. it is impossible for us to know in washington, dc exactly who those families are that need the money most. this will go to 80% of us households, hundreds of millions of people will be getting money next week, in the next few weeks. this is really important and it is a lifeline, and it will help us really getting started again once it is safe to be back. imilli getting started again once it is safe to be back. will these measures — is safe to be back. will these measures fundamentally - is safe to be back. will these . measures fundamentally change the way the us economy works? they give us an opportunity to get back on track quickly. and that's important, because we know the longer it takes to get people back to work, to get families made whole, the more destructive it is four years and years to come. and in particular we have seen some big investments here in children, both in terms of getting a lot of money to them

and the checks and travel benefits, that is our future, right? we do not want to shortchange those individuals in those families. —— cheques. is i think there is a we will see benefit for years to come. doctor claudia sahm. thank you very much. doctor claudia sahm. thank you very much-— pope francis has met the influential shia muslim cleric grand ayatollah ali al—sistani during the first—ever papal visit to iraq. later, francis celebrated a public mass at stjoseph�*s cathedral in baghdad. our rome correspondent mark lowen is travelling with the pope. peace in iraq will take time to flourish, but this visitor is determined to see it. along the narrow alleyways of najaf, and into a historic meeting of two faiths, catholic and shia islam. grand ayatollah ali al—sistani face—to—face with pope francis. at 90 and 8a, it's taken long lives

and generations to get here. the two religious leaders spoke of friendship to overcome oppression, rare unity after iraq's sectarian conflict. that theme of dialogue then spread further to the remains of ur, biblical birthplace of abraham. and in the shadow of its ancient citadel, pope francis met followers of other faiths. gestures of respect to those often sidelined, and victims of iraq's wars now brought together in a plea for peace. translation: hostility, - extremism and violence are not born of a religious heart. they are betrayals of religion. we believers cannot be silent when terrorism abuses religion. from these windswept plains, the pope is using the symbolism of the ancient prophet, evoking the figure of abraham, revered by christians, muslims and jews, to try to spur

reconciliation between religions today. and then it was on to mass, pope francis hoping to persuade a dwindling christian community to remain. iraq's patchwork of people came together today. but as this country knows too well, the spirit of coexistence can quickly fade. mark lowen, bbc news, in ur, iraq. to myanmar now, where an increasingly brutal crackdown by police and the military has not stopped protests against the recent military coup. security forces have continued firing tear gas on protesters gathered in the main city, yangon. the un's special envoy on myanmar has told the security council that there is "urgency for collective action". danil howard has this report. this is a scene that has become all too familiar in cities right across myanmar, from the northern mountain region to the major cities of yangon

and naypyidaw in the south. young protesters have been standing up to police, banging on home—made shields, and marching for democracy. on saturday, security forces used tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades against activists in yangon to clear the streets. and there have been further allegations of police brutality. it's been over a month now since the protests erupted against the military coup on february 1st that overthrew aung san suu kyi's elected government. in that time, the people of myanmar have faced internet blackouts, night—time raids, unlawful arrests and death. 38 people were killed on wednesday alone, the deadliest day since the start of the coup. hundreds gathered in mandalay on thursday for the funeral of one of the victims. angel wasjust 19 when she was shot in the head during anti—coup protests a day earlier. she was wearing a t—shirt with the phrase "everything will be ok" when she died. the pressure is being felt globally. on friday, the un special envoy to myanmar urged the security council to hear myanmar�*s desperate pleas,

and called for swift international action to end the violence. there are no bystanders, whether it is the secretary general, oranyone whether it is the secretary general, or anyone who has influence on the situation in myanmar, whether it is the regional powers, the asean countries, everyone has a role to play. countries, everyone has a role to -la . �* ., ., countries, everyone has a role tola. to play. but china and russia and unlikely _ to play. but china and russia and unlikely to _ to play. but china and russia and unlikely to impose - and unlikely to impose sanctions, and so far, the biggest international reaction has come from corporations, not governments. facebook, instagram and now you do have banned accounts belonging to militaryjointer —— youtube. military jointer —— youtube. the militaryjointer —— youtube. the protests show little sign of waning. every day, people continue to raise three fingers in protest in what has become a

symbol of resistance and solidarity for democracy movements across south—east asia. joining me now from virginia is tom andrews, who's the un's special rapporteur on human rights in myanmar. welcome to our programme against the militaryjunta tell the un they are willing to get by with new friends. you will remember years ago that military rulers move the capital to an inland, remote area. what leveraged as the un have over a junta that openly embraces being isolated? {iii embraces being isolated? of course you are exactly right to say that. they have said forever they can go on their own, they are impervious to international pressure. but what we have found from history is that is not true. that in fact, the reforms, the democratic reforms that we have seen overturned by this junta ljy seen overturned by this junta by february one were reforms that were created precisely because tough economic sanctions were applied on the

junta. and the generations following, the older generations of generals, they want to make money, they want to be part of the international economy. there was pressure building from within the military to engage with the world so that they could be able to prosper. so they conceded they had some reforms, modest reforms, but they were reforms stopping the point is, they reacted, they responded to economic pressure, i believe that they can and will again now. �* , ., ., “ that they can and will again now. �*, . now. let's look at international - now. let's look at i international action. now. let's look at - international action. if now. let's look at _ international action. if china blots or slows down action inside the un, would you suggest individual states to carry out their own measures? no question, no questions to be there are ai countries, for example, that have some form of arms embargo, and we have to increase that number. and also, sanctions, tough, clear economic sanctions to be there with 35 countries with some form of economic sanctions already in place. but they are already in place. but they are a hodgepodge, they are a wide variety, we need to focus those sanctions. we need to make sure they are clear, tough and

co—ordinated and they work together so that the collective weight of these countries that are imposing the sanctions would have the strongest possible punch. ideally, it's the security council that will be doing this and they could also make reference to the international criminal court, that could investigate, prosecute, that could put those who are responsible for these atrocities behind bars. but in so we can get a unified response by the security council, there are a number of things individual countries can do, and the best thing they can do, and the best thing they can do is work together.— do is work together. 30-40 countries — do is work together. 30-40 countries out _ do is work together. 30-40 countries out of, _ do is work together. 30-40 countries out of, white, - do is work together. 30-40 i countries out of, white, 200? taking steps, is nowhere close to a global arms embargo? that's exactly right. and we have a lot of work to do, but if you look at what is going on in the streets of myanmar and easy way to so compelling for countries to take that action. the aggressiveness and the brutality of these trips continues to escalate. there is video right now we have been getting from different parts of the country, in which soldiers

were marauding around neighbourhoods and literally firing into homes. you can see them walking down the street in yangon firing up through the windows as people looking horror down in the streets of. these are gangs at. this is criminal activity. they are terrorising these neighbourhoods. so, there is a compelling reason to make reason for the watts act and to act now, and you are right, we have a long way to go but it is worth at. —— there is a compelling reason for the world to act and act now. but there is no way we can sit back and turn our backs on the people of myanmar stability the biden administration in the us and their approach stopping the first few weeks, the foreign policy of the biden administration stresses realism and caution. administration stresses realism and caution-— and caution. there is a promise not to over _ and caution. there is a promise not to over engage _ and caution. there is a promise not to over engage in _ and caution. there is a promise| not to over engage in ambitious foreign interventions be aware likely to see the us taken his sort of extranet steps with myanmar?— sort of extranet steps with myanmar? sort of extranet steps with m anmar? , . ., ,, myanmar? they have taken some very important — myanmar? they have taken some very important steps _ myanmar? they have taken some very important steps to _ myanmar? they have taken some very important steps to be - myanmar? they have taken some very important steps to be the . very important steps to be the biden administration right out of the gate applied some sanctions, the president was

very clear that this was his first of many steps he was prepared to take to build pressure on their regime. they had an asset freeze, money that is in us financial institutions and throws them, over $1 billion worth, that takes an immediate bite. so the fact the biden administration has acted quickly, they stepped quickly out of the gate, i think is a very positive step. now we need to see other nations follow. on that, thank you so much stopping my pleasure. == that, thank you so much stopping my pleasure. -- tom andrews. _ stopping my pleasure. -- tom andrews, thank _ stopping my pleasure. -- tom andrews, thank you _ stopping my pleasure. -- tom andrews, thank you so - stopping my pleasure. -- tom andrews, thank you so much. | stopping my pleasure. -- tom i andrews, thank you so much. my pleasure. let's get some of the day's other news. protesters have rallied in tokyo to express their opposition to japan's hosting of the olympic games which are due to begin injuly. they think it's irresponsible to hold the event before the coronavirus pandemic is brought under control. japanese olympic organisers have insisted the games will go ahead, but they've hinted that overseas fans might not be allowed into the country to watch. lebanon's caretaker prime minister has warned that the country is on "the brink of an explosion" as its dire economic plight worsens. in a television address,

he referred to an incident in which supermarket shoppers in beirut fought over powdered milk supplies. lebanon has been hit by a severe financial crisis and political deadlock, following the beirut port explosion last year which devastated much of the capital. polls are due to have closed in ivory coast where people have been voting in a parliamentary election. unlike last october's presidential poll the atmosphere has been calm in what is seen as the most open contest in recent years. the opposition is taking part, after boycotting the presidential election which gave alassane ouattara a controversial third term in office. you are watching bbc news. the headlines: the us senate passes joe biden's $1.9 trillion covid relief plan, by a single vote. the president says the package will beat the virus, and cut poverty. pope francis holds an unprecedented meeting with iraqi's top hsia religious leader, before going on to

celebrate mass. —— shia. reports from yemen say dozens of people have died in 2a hours of fighting between government forces and houthi rebels, who are battling for control of the northern city of marib. the rebels, who are supported by iran, want to drive out the saudi—backed government in marib. mark lobel reports. these scenes shot last month show pro—government forces have been defending the area around marib from hootie rebels for some time. —— houthi. now it appears to be under heavy attack again. military sources report a frenetic 2a hours, with around 30 deaths on the government side, and nearly 60 rebels killed in air strikes. marib is strategically important, after heavy investment from the yemeni government. it is also a rich gateway to oil and gas

production.— production. they lost control ofthe production. they lost control of the city. _ production. they lost control of the city, they _ production. they lost control of the city, they had - production. they lost control of the city, they had already| of the city, they had already effectively had to cede control of yemen's second city, in aden, to the southern separatists. this really means marib is the last major city in yemen that they really control. the timing of this latest onslaught may be highly political. since taking office, but biden administration has called for an end to the war in yemen with an immediate ceasefire to restore peace talks between the saudi backed government and the hootie rebels —— houthi rebels supported by iran. rebels -- houthi rebels supported by iran.- supported by iran. the commanders - supported by iran. the commanders in - supported by iran. thej commanders in public, supported by iran. tie: commanders in public, they plentifully push on the city, that they are not going to hold back, that they are going to push to marib and beyond, but it remains to be seen if they will do that or if it will be pushed right to the outskirts of the city before then realising this is the best position for them, because they can go into peace talks or

political talks of the saudi—led coalition and the yemeni government. the saudi-led coalition and the yemeni government. the fighting also threatens _ yemeni government. the fighting also threatens hundreds - also threatens hundreds of thousands of displaced yemenis, living on precarious floodplains and with limited access to fresh water. now in danger of displacement. all potentially worsening the world's worst humanitarian disaster, now into its seventh year of devastating conflict. lawyers of the family of a black american man who died while in police custody have been speaking about a major police reform package that bans choke holds and combats racial profiling. the george floyd justice in policing act cleared the us house of representatives on wednesday, and will now head to the senate.

the trial of derek chauvin, a white officer charged with murdering george floyd, is due to begin in minnesota on monday. i think when you look at my uncle's murder, a police officer kneeling on his neck for eight minutes and a6 seconds, we have to hold them accountable. either he is a murderer, or he is not qualified to do hisjob correctly. eitherway, qualified to do hisjob correctly. either way, somebody needs to be held accountable. there is no way that a police officer getting a call of an alleged count of a $20 bill, and the man i loved, or one of ours, is murdered, the 20 us dollars? someone needs to be held accountable. part of iceland is being shaken by an intense series of earthquakes. there is growing concern that a volcano which has lent dormant for 80 years could be said to erupt.

more than 20,000 quakes have been recorded in the past 10 days. the seismic activity in the south west of the country is thought to be caused by movements of molten rock underground. isabella allen reports 32 kilometres south of the icelandic capital lies this mountain. the last major eruption happened here eight centuries ago but that period of rest may be coming to an end after days of intense seismic activity. normally there are around 1000 small earthquakes a year. but there have been more than 20,000 in the past ten days, including 3000 on friday alone, leading scientists to believe that interruption is imminent. it is fracturing. it is so close to the surface, we have to take it seriously and the possibility that a new eruption can occur. the close vicinity is uninhabited and there is no immediate danger to the public.

but roads have been closed and people are being told not to travel to the area. the small fishing port is only a few miles away. the feeling is never enjoyable, i can say that for sure. of course when mother nature is like shaking underneath your feet, you feel powerless. but i have been living here since i was born. this has been happening time to time. but this is the first time we are having such a powerful earthquakes so frequently. earthquakes are common in iceland because it straddles two of the earth's tectonic plates. in 2010, the explosive eruption of a more southerly volcano caused huge disruption in international air travel and affecting as many as 10 million travellers. but if any eruption occurs this time, it will emerge more slowly from a crack in the surface

so it is unlikely to cause the same chaos. we are expecting a small one. but lava is flowing, we are not expecting large explosive eruptions, the minimal impact on flights and living conditions will be minimal. as the ground awakens after 800 years, people await the outcome of this seismic storm. isabella allen, bbc news. bidding in an online auction for the first—ever tweet has climbed to $2.5 million. it was written by the platform's founder, jack dorsey, 15 years ago. mr dorsey simply wrote: "just setting up my twitter" in the post. it's being sold as a unique digital certificate. but the post will remain publicly available on social media platform even after it has been sold. i still don't understand that. movie theatres in new york city have reopened after being closed for the better part of the past year due to the coronavirus pandemic. cinemas will be allowed to operate at 25% capacity. customers must wear masks

and obey social distancing rules, and are encouraged to use disinfectant wipes and sanitisers. here's the reaction from some of the moviegoers. it feels amazing, it feels really good. i'm excited. i decided to not work today and i just came to a theatre, as soon as i read that movie theatres were opened i got a ticket literally ten minutes later. well, it feels great, especially after so much time. you know. _ especially after so much time. you know, i don't subscribe to any streaming services, so, and i any streaming services, so, and ialways— any streaming services, so, and i always love to see movies on a big _ i always love to see movies on a big screen with great sound, so it— a big screen with great sound, so it feels— a big screen with great sound, so it feels so good to be back. well, — so it feels so good to be back. well, i— so it feels so good to be back. well, i was walking by and saw the lights — well, i was walking by and saw the lights on _ well, i was walking by and saw the lights on. i— well, i was walking by and saw the lights on. i had _ well, i was walking by and saw the lights on. i had to - well, i was walking by and saw the lights on. i had to come i well, i was walking by and saw the lights on. i had to come in| the lights on. i had to come in and _ the lights on. i had to come in and see — the lights on. i had to come in and see the _ the lights on. i had to come in and see. the beginning - the lights on. i had to come in and see. the beginning and i the lights on. i had to come inl and see. the beginning and the end, _ and see. the beginning and the end. we— and see. the beginning and the end. we are— and see. the beginning and the end, we are really— and see. the beginning and the end, we are really excited - end, we are really excited about _ end, we are really excited about this _ end, we are really excited about this. let's - end, we are really excited about this. let's hope - end, we are really excited about this. let's hope it i end, we are really excited j about this. let's hope it is over. _ about this. let's hope it is over. 0k? _ at least there is some good news. you can reach me on twitter. i'm @jamesbbcnews.

my my tweets are not being auctioned, they are still free. hello there. saturday was a disappointingly cold and cloudy day for many of us, and disappointing temperatures for early march. a bit of sunshine across western areas but it is looking like sunday is going to be a bit of a repeat performance, it is going to stay chilli with limited sunny breaks in quite a bit of cloud around. the settled conditions are because of this area of high pressure which will continue to bring settled weather through sunday but it is slowly going to lose its grip on our weather as we head onto the start of next week. so, early to sunday, it is going to be cold and under clear skies we will see some frost and mist and fog about and they will be patchy rain to northern and western scotland, a bit of snow over the high ground, but where we have the cloud, a06 degrees here versus

sub zero further south. so a cold start to sunday. some early sunshine around, with some frost and a bit of mist and fog, but it looks like the clouds will tend to build again into the afternoon, so turning grey and cold for many. further rain for the north and west of scotland, temperatures year one degree or so up, nine or 10 degrees, but also seven or eight. and then on sunday night it will turn cold again on central and southern areas under clear skies, some further frost here but less cold further north, because we will have more cloud, showery bursts of rain also affecting up to the north into monday. the northern ireland, scotland and parts of northern england, they will be a bit of sunshine around as well. after a cold start further south, some brightness around but also cloud here and there. temperatures one degree or so “p temperatures one degree or so up across the board, nine or ten will be be high. into tuesday, the first of the what if i'm starting to move in. this one is a weak feature bringing no more than a band of cloud, with a bit of light rain on it. cloudy skies to northern

and western areas initially, sunny skies and sensual, western and eastern areas after a cooler start, and the wind picking up from the south—west. temperatures again nine, ten, maybe 11. cast your eyes out west, this massive rate is tied in with a deep area of low pressure, something we haven't seen in a while. that will sweep through tuesday night into wednesday and we could see another deep area of low pressure potentially moving on wednesday into thursday. these areas of low pressure will also bring up some mild airfrom the south—west. certainly for england and wales. it is certainly looking very stormy from mid week onwards, with some heavy rain and the potential of severe gales and slightly less cold out to some of us.

this is bbc news. the headlines: president biden has welcomed a senate vote to approve his covid recovery plan. the bill worth nearly $2 trillion will return to the house of representatives for approval within days. republican senators were united in opposing the draft legislation, dismissing the bill as an unaffordable wish list.

the visit of pope francis to iraq has continued with a public mass at a cathedral in baghdad. he praised the resilience of iraq's remaining christians, whose numbers have plummeted in the past two decades. earlier, the pontiff held an unprecedented meeting with iraq's senior shia religious leader. in myanmar, there have been further allegations of police brutality after security forces used stun grenades and tear gas against anti—coup protesters, who have again taken to the streets. the un's special envoy on myanmar has told the security council that there is "urgency for collective action." concerns are being raised that thousands of pupils and their households may wrongly be told to isolate because of inaccurate rapid covid test results. secondary school pupils in england are being offered lateral flow tests as schools return next week. these tests are less accurate than the ones carried out at official testing centres which are analysed in labs.