After intense negotiations over the last week, ministers clapped via video link on Thursday night as they greenlighted three new programs, which when combined are worth 540 billion euros ($590 billion). Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and French President Emmanuel Macron were critical in convincing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to ease some of his opposition. Euro zone finance ministers sealed a new coronavirus stimulus package on Thursday worth around half a trillion euros, but officials delayed a crucial decision on whether to issue joint debt instruments. After intense negotiations over the last week, ... (full story)