US House passes Biden’s historic social spending bill

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The US House of Representatives has passed US President Joe Biden's $1.9tn (£1.4tn) Build Back Better Act after facing fierce opposition from Republicans. The sweeping social spending and climate package is considered a key pillar of Mr Biden's agenda. The vote came after a record-breaking speech from House minority leader Kevin McCarthy to delay the vote. The legislation now faces significant hurdles as it heads to the US Senate. Also in the programme, the government of Mali is embarking on a drive to persuade illegal or freelance gold miners to register with the authorities. Through what's called artisanal mining, huge amounts of the precious metal are smuggled out of the country. The BBC's Fergus Nicoll reports on the government's desire to boost national revenues by reining in the informal sector. Plus, we hear from the BBC's Mark Cieslak about new artificial intelligence technology being used to help tackle the illegal wildlife trade. PHOTO Getty Images