Negotiators will continue discussions after the latest call between the PM and the EU Commission head.
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![Michel Barnier](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218100327im_/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/490/cpsprodpb/9A5B/production/_116151593_064858441-2.jpg)
'Just a few hours' left to agree Brexit trade deal
Negotiators will continue talks after the latest call between the UK PM and the EU Commission head.
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![Michel Barnier](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218100327im_/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/490/cpsprodpb/9A5B/production/_116151593_064858441-2.jpg)
'Just a few hours' left to agree Brexit trade deal
Negotiators will continue talks after the latest call between the UK PM and the EU Commission head.
![Emmanuel Macron](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218100327im_/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/%7Bwidth%7D/cpsprodpb/0A8F/production/_116130720_mediaitem116130719.jpg)
EU leaders isolate after Macron tests positive
French President Emmanuel Macron tests positive for Covid-19 after meeting other leaders recently.
![File pic of halal slaughter of sheep in Belgium](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218100327im_/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/%7Bwidth%7D/cpsprodpb/674B/production/_116134462_057ee19c-9b60-47cc-91fa-30a3910f2e39.jpg)
EU backs ban on animal slaughter without stunning
The decision approves a Belgian law banning kosher and halal slaughter without animals being stunned.
![President Putin annual press conference, 17 Dec 20](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218100327im_/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/%7Bwidth%7D/cpsprodpb/212C/production/_116129480_mediaitem116129479.jpg)
Putin calls Navalny poisoning inquiry 'a trick'
Russia's president scorns a report alleging that agents poisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
![Putin](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218100327im_/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/%7Bwidth%7D/cpsprodpb/3E8D/production/_116131061_p091rm3v.jpg)
Video 2 minutes 32 seconds
Does Putin admit any responsibility for 'new Cold War'?
Russian President Vladimir Putin was taking questions at his annual end-of year news conference.
![Heads of a Royal ancestor, arts of the Kingdom of Benin of the end of the 18th century are on display on May 18, 2018 at the Quai Branly Museum-Jacques Chirac in Paris](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218100327im_/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/%7Bwidth%7D/cpsprodpb/A400/production/_116148914_mediaitem116148910.jpg)
French MPs back return of looted African artefacts
MPs voted to return to Senegal and Benin prized artefacts that were looted during colonial times.
![King Carl Gustaf of Sweden attend the funeral of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg on May 4, 2019 in Luxembourg,](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218100327im_/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/%7Bwidth%7D/cpsprodpb/12948/production/_116140167_gettyimages-1141107150-1.jpg)
Sweden's king says coronavirus policy 'failed'
Sweden has been criticised for its more relaxed approach to handling the pandemic.
Featured Contents
![Michel Barnier](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218100327im_/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/490/cpsprodpb/9A5B/production/_116151593_064858441-2.jpg)
'Just a few hours' left to agree Brexit trade deal
Negotiators will continue talks after the latest call between the UK PM and the EU Commission head.
![Emmanuel Macron](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218100327im_/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/%7Bwidth%7D/cpsprodpb/0A8F/production/_116130720_mediaitem116130719.jpg)
EU leaders isolate after Macron tests positive
French President Emmanuel Macron tests positive for Covid-19 after meeting other leaders recently.
![File pic of halal slaughter of sheep in Belgium](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218100327im_/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/%7Bwidth%7D/cpsprodpb/674B/production/_116134462_057ee19c-9b60-47cc-91fa-30a3910f2e39.jpg)
EU backs ban on animal slaughter without stunning
The decision approves a Belgian law banning kosher and halal slaughter without animals being stunned.
![President Putin annual press conference, 17 Dec 20](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218100327im_/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/%7Bwidth%7D/cpsprodpb/212C/production/_116129480_mediaitem116129479.jpg)
Putin calls Navalny poisoning inquiry 'a trick'
Russia's president scorns a report alleging that agents poisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
![Putin](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218100327im_/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/%7Bwidth%7D/cpsprodpb/3E8D/production/_116131061_p091rm3v.jpg)
Video 2 minutes 32 seconds
Does Putin admit any responsibility for 'new Cold War'?
Russian President Vladimir Putin was taking questions at his annual end-of year news conference.
![Heads of a Royal ancestor, arts of the Kingdom of Benin of the end of the 18th century are on display on May 18, 2018 at the Quai Branly Museum-Jacques Chirac in Paris](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218100327im_/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/%7Bwidth%7D/cpsprodpb/A400/production/_116148914_mediaitem116148910.jpg)
French MPs back return of looted African artefacts
MPs voted to return to Senegal and Benin prized artefacts that were looted during colonial times.
![King Carl Gustaf of Sweden attend the funeral of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg on May 4, 2019 in Luxembourg,](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218100327im_/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/%7Bwidth%7D/cpsprodpb/12948/production/_116140167_gettyimages-1141107150-1.jpg)
Sweden's king says coronavirus policy 'failed'
Sweden has been criticised for its more relaxed approach to handling the pandemic.
![Emmanuel Macron](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218100327im_/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/%7Bwidth%7D/cpsprodpb/0A8F/production/_116130720_mediaitem116130719.jpg)
EU leaders isolate after Macron tests positive
French President Emmanuel Macron tests positive for Covid-19 after meeting other leaders recently.
![File pic of halal slaughter of sheep in Belgium](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218100327im_/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/%7Bwidth%7D/cpsprodpb/674B/production/_116134462_057ee19c-9b60-47cc-91fa-30a3910f2e39.jpg)
EU backs ban on animal slaughter without stunning
The decision approves a Belgian law banning kosher and halal slaughter without animals being stunned.
![President Putin annual press conference, 17 Dec 20](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218100327im_/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/%7Bwidth%7D/cpsprodpb/212C/production/_116129480_mediaitem116129479.jpg)
Putin calls Navalny poisoning inquiry 'a trick'
Russia's president scorns a report alleging that agents poisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
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