World news and events
Here are some of the latest world news and events:
Politics
- The United States and China have reached a trade deal, with China agreeing to increase its purchases of US goods and services by $200 billion over the next two years. (Source: BBC)
- The UK has announced plans to hold a general election on December 12, in a bid to break the Brexit deadlock. (Source: The Guardian)
- The European Union has launched a new strategy to combat climate change, which includes a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. (Source: The New York Times)
Conflict and Security
- The conflict in Syria has escalated, with reports of renewed fighting between government forces and rebel groups. (Source: Al Jazeera)
- The United States has launched airstrikes against Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria, in response to rocket attacks on US military bases. (Source: CNN)
- The Taliban has announced a three-day ceasefire in Afghanistan, in a bid to reduce violence ahead of peace talks with the US. (Source: The Washington Post)
Economy
- The global economy has slowed down, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicting a 3.3% growth rate for 2020, down from 3.6% in 2019. (Source: The Financial Times)
- The US Federal Reserve has cut interest rates for the third time this year, in a bid to boost the economy. (Source: The Wall Street Journal)
- The European Central Bank has announced a new stimulus package, including a cut in interest rates and a boost to quantitative easing. (Source: The Financial Times)
Health
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo a global health emergency. (Source: The New York Times)
- The number of cases of COVID-19 has surpassed 100,000 worldwide, with the virus spreading to over 100 countries. (Source: The Guardian)
- The US has reported its first case of a new strain of swine flu, which has been detected in a traveler who recently returned from China. (Source: CNN)
Environment
- The United Nations has warned that the world is running out of time to address the climate crisis, with just 11 years left to take action to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. (Source: The Guardian)
- The Amazon rainforest has experienced its worst year on record, with over 9,000 square kilometers of forest lost in 2019. (Source: The BBC)
- The European Union has announced plans to ban single-use plastics, including straws, cutlery, and cotton buds, by 2021. (Source: The Financial Times)
Sports
- The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo have been postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Source: The New York Times)
- The US Women's National Soccer Team has won its fourth World Cup title, defeating the Netherlands 2-0 in the final. (Source: The Guardian)
- The NBA has suspended its season indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Source: ESPN)
Entertainment
- The 92nd Academy Awards have taken place, with "Parasite" winning four awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. (Source: The New York Times)
- The 2020 Grammy Awards have taken place, with Billie Eilish winning six awards, including Record of the Year and Album of the Year. (Source: The Guardian)
- The new James Bond film, "No Time to Die", has been delayed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Source: The BBC)
These are just a few of the latest world news and events. Stay informed and up-to-date with the latest news from around the world!