RUSSIA: RECORD GROWTH IN CASES AND DEATHS PER DAY

Russia's recording nearly 30,000 new cases of Covid-19 per day — a record for the pandemic so far.

It's also reporting record numbers of daily deaths, with 635 people dying from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours — nearly a hundred more than the day before.

The biggest growth in infection is centred on Russia's two biggest cities, Moscow and St Petersburg.

Stuart Smith has more from Moscow.

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UK AND EU CLOSE IN ON BREXIT DEAL

The UK and EU are close to announcing they've reached a Brexit trade deal.

Talks continued overnight in Brussels but both sides expect an agreement can be sealed on Thursday.

The trade deal would come into force after the Brexit transition period ends on December 31st.

Final conclusion has been held up by discussions over fishing rights.

Former civil servant in the UK's Brexit department Philip Rycroft says it hasn't been easy.

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Farmers protest in Delhi to intensify as 20,000 more farmers set to join in

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More than 22,000 thousand more farmers are marching towards New Delhi to protest against the new farm laws.

Tens of thousands are already camped outside New Delhi for three weeks…

Protesting against agricultural reforms that they call pro-big-business.

Ishan Garg has the latest from New Delhi.

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Australia – Vaccine rollout on schedule

The Australian government says it is a step closer to vaccinating people for the coronavirus, after signing a number of deals to facilitate the national vaccine network.

Shaun Bindley reports.

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Hong Kong democracy campaigners celebrate bail release of Jimmy Lai

Democracy campaigners in Hong Kong are celebrating the granting of bail for high profile activist and media tycoon Jimmy Lai. The decision from the High Court overrules attempts from the Department of Justice to keep Mr Lai in detention, and makes him the only person charged under the city's national security law to have been released on bail. 

Richard Kimber reports from Hong Kong. 

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Trump pardons more allies

US president Donald Trump has given pardons to 26 people, the second day in a row that he has used the tool to protect personal allies before leaving office.

The latest crop of pardons includes his son-in-law's father as well as his former campaign manager.

Ira Spitzer has more from San Francisco.

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President Trump Vetoes Defense Spending Bill

US President Trump has vetoed a 741 billion dollar defense spending bill.  

That sets up what could be the first veto override of his presidency. 

US Correspondent Rachel Silverman has more. 

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Democrats Smiling After Trump Threat to Reject Relief Package

President Trump's unexpected threat to reject a 2.3 trillion dollar spending and coronavirus relief package has Democrats smiling. 

And it's put Republicans in the position of standing with their party….or standing with their President. 

US Correspondent Rachel Silverman has details. 

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55 Ethiopian nationals held in Tanzania

At least 55 Ethiopian nationals are being held in Tanzania's Eastern region of Morogoro after they were abandoned by an unidentified driver of a truck they were using while heading to South Africa.

Isaac Lukando reports.

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Millions more in the UK to face tier 4 restrictions

Millions more people in the UK will face tier 4 restrictions after a rise in the number of positive Covid-19 cases.

A new variant of the virus from South Africa has also been discovered.

From London Chris Jones reports.

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California nears 2 million coronavirus cases

California is approaching 2 million confirmed coronavirus infections, as the state has become the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States.

State officials are urging residents to limit Christmas gatherings to try and slow the spread.

Ira Spitzer has more from San Francisco

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Jobless claims remain above 800,000 as Covid-19 hammers labour market

More than 800,000 Americans filed for first time unemployment benefits
last week as Covid-19 continues to batter the U.S. labor market.

But this latest data released by the Labor Department is better than
many economists had expected.

William Denselow reports from New York.

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US buys 100 million more doses of Pfizer vaccine

The United States has reached a deal to acquire 100 million additional doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine by the end of July.

This increases the US's total purchase to 200 million doses, enough to vaccinate 100 million Americans.

Rebecca Foster reports from Washington.

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STURGEON APOLOGISES OVER LACK OF MASK

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has apologised for removing her face mask at a funeral wake last Friday, in breach of her own coronavirus rules.  

A photograph showing Ms Sturgeon indoors without a mask was published by the Scottish Sun newspaper.

Francesca Halliwell reports from London. 

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Brexit talks enter eleventh hour in Brussels

European Commission President Ursula Von de Leyen and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson remain in "close contact" as the EU and Britain try to secure a trade deal before talks end for Christmas.

But, access to fishing waters competition rules are still sticking points, as Benji Hyer reports from Brussels. 

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Lorry drivers and police scuffle in Dover

Lorry drivers stuck in Dover in southern England have clashed with police, as they wait to travel to France.

 

The French border is reopening after being closed in a bid to prevent the spread of the new covid-19 variant which has been discovered in the UK.

 

From London Chris jones reports.

 

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RUSSIA NOT EXPECTING “ANYTHING GOOD” FROM NEW US ADMINISTRATION

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov [Ree-yab-kohv], says he's not expecting "anything good" from the incoming US President, Joe Biden

— noting it would be "strange to expect good things from people" who he thinks have "made their careers on Russophobia."

Stuart Smith has more from Moscow.

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BREXIT TALKS DOWN TO THE CHRISTMAS WIRE

UK and EU negotiating teams are attempting to hammer out a Brexit deal before a Christmas break in talks.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are now in regular contact to try and get a deal over the line.

One of the final areas to resolve remains fishing quotas.

A post-Brexit transition period ends on December 31st, after which the UK would move onto World Trade Organisation terms with the EU if no trade deal has been reached.

UK cabinet minister Robert Jenrick says fishing is important to get right.

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India could approve Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine by next week

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Indian authorities could authorise the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine next week.

Its manufacturers in India have submitted additional data to the government as per reports…

Raising hopes for a rollout early next year, as Ishan Garg reports from New Delhi.

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President Trump threatens to block coronavirus stimulus bill

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to block a $900 billion
coronavirus relief package unless major changes are made.

After months of negotiations Congress passed the bill on Monday
evening but in a video posted to Twitter the President called the
proposal a disgrace.

U.S. correspondent William Denselow reports

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