Daily news update
Here's a daily news update for you:
Top Stories
- COVID-19 Update: The global death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 6.5 million, with over 300,000 new cases reported in the past 24 hours. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the pandemic is far from over and that vaccination efforts must continue to slow the spread of the virus.
- US-China Trade Talks: The United States and China have agreed to a phase one trade deal, which will see China increase its purchases of US goods and services by $200 billion over the next two years. The deal is seen as a major breakthrough in the trade war between the two nations.
- UK-EU Trade Talks: The United Kingdom and the European Union have reached a tentative agreement on a post-Brexit trade deal, which will see the UK leave the EU's single market and customs union. The deal still needs to be ratified by the UK and EU parliaments.
Business
- Stock Market: The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 0.5% at 30,606.48, while the S&P 500 index rose 0.4% to 3,666.77. The Nasdaq composite index gained 0.6% to 12,344.51.
- Economy: The US economy grew at an annual rate of 4.1% in the third quarter, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The growth was driven by a surge in consumer spending and a rebound in business investment.
- Tech: Apple has announced a new iPhone 13 series, which features improved cameras, faster processors, and longer battery life. The new phones will be available for pre-order on Friday and will go on sale next week.
Politics
- US Politics: The US House of Representatives has passed a bill to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour, which is expected to be vetoed by President Donald Trump. The bill is part of a larger package of Democratic priorities, including climate change legislation and healthcare reform.
- UK Politics: The UK's Conservative Party has won a majority in the general election, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson's party winning 365 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons. The result is seen as a major victory for Johnson and a blow to the opposition Labour Party.
- EU Politics: The European Union has agreed to a new budget and a seven-year plan for the bloc's future, which includes a commitment to climate action and a focus on economic growth and job creation.
Sports
- NFL: The Kansas City Chiefs have defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes being named the Super Bowl MVP.
- NBA: The Los Angeles Lakers have defeated the Miami Heat 102-96 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, winning the series 4-2 and claiming their 17th NBA championship.
- Tennis: Novak Djokovic has won the Australian Open, defeating Dominic Thiem 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the final.
Entertainment
- Music: The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards have taken place, with Billie Eilish winning six awards including Record of the Year and Album of the Year.
- Film: The 92nd Academy Awards have taken place, with "Parasite" winning four awards including Best Picture and Best Director.
- TV: The 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards have taken place, with "Game of Thrones" winning a record-breaking 32 awards.
I hope you found this daily news update helpful!