News briefing today

Here's a summary of the top news stories from around the world:

Politics

• The US Senate has passed a bill to increase funding for the government, averting a shutdown and providing relief to millions of Americans affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The UK has announced plans to introduce a new points-based immigration system, aiming to attract high-skilled workers and reduce the number of low-skilled migrants.
• In Japan, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has announced his resignation, citing his inability to overcome the country's COVID-19 crisis.

Business

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average has hit a record high, driven by strong earnings reports from major companies such as Apple and Microsoft.
• The European Union has approved a new set of rules aimed at regulating the use of artificial intelligence, including restrictions on facial recognition technology.
• Tesla has announced plans to expand its electric vehicle production capacity, with a new factory in Germany and increased production at its existing facilities.

Health

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a surge in COVID-19 cases globally, with over 10 million new cases reported in the past week.
• The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that it will begin distributing COVID-19 vaccines to pharmacies and community health centers.
• Researchers have made a breakthrough in the development of a new COVID-19 vaccine, which has shown promising results in early clinical trials.

World News

• The Taliban has announced a ceasefire in Afghanistan, following talks with the US and other international powers.
• The United Nations has condemned the recent violence in the Middle East, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the situation in Yemen.
• A powerful earthquake has struck Indonesia, killing at least 10 people and injuring hundreds more.

Sports

• The NFL has announced that it will play its entire 2021 season without fans in attendance, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
• The NBA has suspended its season indefinitely, following the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash.
• The Australian Open has been postponed until 2022, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

These are just a few of the top news stories from around the world. I hope this helps you stay up-to-date on the latest news!