World news update

Here's a summary of some of the latest world news updates:

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. (Source: BBC)
• The UK and EU have agreed on a revised Brexit deal, which will allow for a transition period to avoid a no-deal Brexit. (Source: 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. (Source: CNN)

Conflict and Security

• The conflict in Syria has escalated, with reports of airstrikes and shelling in the northwestern region of Idlib. (Source: Al Jazeera)
• The Taliban has announced a three-day ceasefire in Afghanistan, following talks with the US and other international stakeholders. (Source: The New York Times)
• The Israeli military has launched airstrikes in Gaza, in response to rocket attacks from the territory. (Source: Haaretz)

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: IMF)
• The US Federal Reserve has cut interest rates for the third time this year, in an effort to boost the economy. (Source: The Wall Street Journal)
• The European Central Bank has also cut interest rates, in an effort to stimulate economic growth. (Source: Reuters)

Health

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health emergency over the outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (Source: WHO)
• The number of cases of COVID-19, the coronavirus, has surpassed 80,000 globally, with the majority of cases reported in China. (Source: WHO)
• The US has reported its first case of COVID-19, in a patient who had recently traveled to China. (Source: CNN)

Environment

• The Australian bushfires have continued to spread, with thousands of firefighters battling the blazes. (Source: ABC News)
• The UK has announced plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, in an effort to reduce carbon emissions. (Source: The Guardian)
• The European Union has agreed on a new climate law, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. (Source: Euractiv)

These are just a few of the latest world news updates. If you'd like more information on a specific topic, feel free to ask!