Ctl news today

Here are the top news stories from around the world, categorized by topic:

Politics

• The US Senate has passed a bill to increase funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $2 billion, in an effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. (Source: CNN)
• The UK government has announced plans to introduce a new points-based immigration system, which will prioritize skilled workers and reduce the number of low-skilled migrants. (Source: BBC)
• The European Union has launched an investigation into Google's dominance in the digital advertising market, amid concerns that the company is using its market power to stifle competition. (Source: The Verge)

Business

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average has closed above 30,000 for the first time, driven by optimism over the economic recovery and the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. (Source: CNBC)
• Tesla has announced plans to expand its electric vehicle production capacity, with the goal of producing 1 million vehicles per year by 2025. (Source: Reuters)
• The US Federal Reserve has kept interest rates unchanged, citing the ongoing economic recovery and concerns over inflation. (Source: Bloomberg)

Technology

• Apple has announced a new iPhone 13 series, featuring improved cameras, faster processors, and longer battery life. (Source: CNET)
• Google has launched a new smart speaker, the Nest Audio, which features improved sound quality and a more affordable price point. (Source: The Verge)
• The US Department of Justice has launched an antitrust investigation into Google's dominance in the search engine market. (Source: CNN)

Health

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused over 5 million deaths worldwide. (Source: WHO)
• The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a surge in cases of the delta variant of COVID-19, particularly among unvaccinated individuals. (Source: CDC)
• Researchers have made a breakthrough in the development of a new COVID-19 vaccine, which has shown promising results in early clinical trials. (Source: Science Magazine)

Sports

• The NFL has announced that it will play its 2021 season without fans in attendance, due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. (Source: ESPN)
• The NBA has announced that it will resume its 2020-21 season on January 26, after a brief hiatus due to COVID-19 concerns. (Source: NBA)
• The Australian Open has been postponed until February 2022, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (Source: BBC)

Entertainment

• The Academy Awards have announced a new category for outstanding achievement in popular film, in an effort to increase diversity and representation. (Source: Variety)
• The Grammy Awards have announced a new category for best music video, in an effort to recognize the growing importance of visual storytelling in music. (Source: Billboard)
• The Sundance Film Festival has announced its lineup for 2022, featuring a range of films and documentaries from around the world. (Source: The Hollywood Reporter)