Senate passes $739bn healthcare and climate bill | First Thing

Inflation Reduction Act will reduce planet-heating emissions and lower prescription drug costs - and give Biden a crucial victory. Plus, meet Casper the ghostly octopus

Good morning.

Senate Democrats passed their climate and healthcare spending package on Sunday, sending the legislation to the house and bringing Joe Biden one step closer to a significant legislative victory ahead of crucial midterm elections in November.

Will Biden be able to meet his goal of halving emissions by 2030? Slashing America's planet-heating emissions by about 40% by the end of the decade, compared with 2005 levels, would bring the US within striking distance of the goal.

Why is China so angry? Pelosi's visit last week infuriated China, which regards Taiwan as its own and responded with test launches of ballistic missiles over Taipei for the first time, as well as ditching some lines of dialogue with Washington.

What has the US said about China's actions? Pentagon, state department and White House officials condemned the move, describing it as an irresponsible overreaction.