American senator Joe Manchin who has proved a political thorn in the White House's side has stunned Washington by announcing sudden support for President Joe Biden's agenda to raise corporate taxes, fight climate change and lower medicine costs.

We look at the Chinese government's intervention in the country's floundering property sector, as it promises to support near-bankrupt developers so they can finish building homes they've already sold.

And as over 6,000 athletes from 72 nations converge in Birmingham for the Commonwealth games, we ask if the almost one billion dollar cost price is worth it.

(Passage of the bill would be a major victory for President Biden. Image Credit: Getty)