General news today

Here are some of the top general news stories from around the world today:

Politics

• The US Senate has voted to acquit former President Donald Trump on charges of inciting the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol. (Source: CNN)
• The UK has announced plans to introduce a new points-based immigration system, which will prioritize skilled workers and end free movement from the EU. (Source: BBC)
• The European Union has agreed to extend its economic sanctions against Russia over its annexation of Crimea by another six months. (Source: Reuters)

Business

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average has closed above 30,000 for the first time, driven by optimism over the US economic recovery. (Source: CNBC)
• Tesla has announced plans to build a new electric vehicle factory in Berlin, Germany, which will be its first production facility in Europe. (Source: Bloomberg)
• The US Federal Reserve has kept interest rates unchanged, citing the ongoing economic recovery and low inflation. (Source: AP)

Health

• The World Health Organization has reported a record high number of new COVID-19 cases worldwide, with over 1.3 million new cases reported in the past week. (Source: WHO)
• The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that it will begin distributing COVID-19 vaccines to pharmacies and community health centers. (Source: CDC)
• Researchers have announced a breakthrough in the development of a new COVID-19 vaccine that uses a novel approach to stimulate the immune system. (Source: Science Magazine)

World News

• The Israeli military has launched airstrikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, in response to rocket attacks from the territory. (Source: Al Jazeera)
• The Chinese government has announced plans to impose new national security laws on Hong Kong, which critics say will erode the territory's autonomy. (Source: South China Morning Post)
• The United Nations has warned of a growing humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where millions of people are at risk of famine and disease. (Source: UN News)

Sports

• The NFL has announced that it will play its 2021 season with a reduced schedule and no fans in attendance, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (Source: ESPN)
• The NBA has announced that it will resume its 2020-21 season on January 26th, with a 72-game schedule. (Source: NBA)
• The Australian Open has been postponed until February 8th, due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in Melbourne. (Source: ABC News)

These are just a few of the top news stories from around the world today.