Global news now
Here are some of the latest global news stories:
Politics
- The United States and China have reached a trade deal, with the US agreeing to reduce tariffs on Chinese goods and China agreeing to increase its purchases of US agricultural products. (BBC News)
- The UK and EU have agreed on a revised Brexit deal, with the UK set to leave the EU on January 31. (The Guardian)
- The Democratic Party in the US has launched an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, following allegations that he pressured Ukraine to investigate his political rival. (The New York Times)
Business
- The global economy is expected to slow down in 2020, with the International Monetary Fund predicting a 3.3% growth rate, down from 3.6% in 2019. (The Financial Times)
- The US Federal Reserve has cut interest rates for the third time this year, in an effort to boost the economy. (The Wall Street Journal)
- The world's largest tech companies, including Apple and Amazon, have seen their stock prices fall sharply in recent days, amid concerns about the impact of the US-China trade war. (CNBC)
Health
- The World Health Organization has declared a global health emergency over the outbreak of a new coronavirus in China, which has killed over 1,000 people and infected thousands more. (The Washington Post)
- The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed a case of the new coronavirus in the US, in a person who had recently traveled to China. (CNN)
- Researchers have made a breakthrough in the development of a vaccine against the Ebola virus, which has killed thousands of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (The Lancet)
Environment
- The Australian bushfires have burned over 10 million hectares of land, with the country experiencing its worst fire season on record. (The Sydney Morning Herald)
- The European Union has agreed on a new climate law, which sets a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. (The Guardian)
- The world's oceans are warming at a rate of 0.7 degrees Celsius per decade, with the consequences for marine life and the global climate. (The Guardian)
Sports
- The US Women's National Soccer Team has won the FIFA Women's World Cup for the fourth time, defeating the Netherlands 2-0 in the final. (The New York Times)
- The Australian Open has been won by Novak Djokovic, who defeated Dominic Thiem in the men's singles final. (The Guardian)
- The NFL has announced that it will play its 2020 season without a salary cap, due to the ongoing dispute between the league and the players' union. (ESPN)
These are just a few of the latest global news stories.