he's now this is bbc news the headlines at 7:00pm... brexit talks between the uk and the eu will resume on sunday after a phone call between boris johnson and the president of the european commission — but both sides say significant differences still remain. whilst recognising the seriousness of these differences, we agree a further effort should be undertaken by our negotiating teams to assess whether they can be resolved. more rapid testing is introduced in areas in the highest tiers of restrictions in england — but there are concerns about their accuracy. a large—scale coronavirus vaccine roll—out begins in russia — but the sputnikjab is still undergoing mass testing. three people have been taken to hospital after an explosion at a house in west yorkshire.

and coming up after 7.30 — click explores the latest developments around accessibility and inclusion in tech for international day of persons with disabilities. good evening and welcome to bbc news. the uk and eu have agreed to return to the negotiating table to try to agree a post—brexit trade deal with negotiating teams reconvening in brussels tomorrow. prime minister boris johnson and european commission president ursula von der leyen made the decision during a phone call on saturday and will speak again on monday evening to discuss the progress. a joint statement released by mrjohnson and ms von der leyen in the past hour said that

"significa nt differences" remained between them on three critical issues. the level playing field, governance and fisheries. both sides underlined that no agreement is feasible if these issues are not resolved. the statement said... "whilst recognising the seriousness of these differences, we agreed that a further effort should be undertaken by our negotiating teams to assess whether they can be resolved. "we are therefore instructing our chief negotiators to reconvene tomorrow in brussels". with the latest on the stalled brexit trade talks — here's our political correspondent, chris mason. checking out for now. any hope of a deal? good morning. we will keep

calm as always and if there is no way, still away. he did not give much away as he headed for his train to brussels but a statement from both sides already made clear there are big differences to overcome, or significant divergences as they were described. so in the last few hours the president spoke by phone by the president spoke by phone by the president of the european commission. afterward she said... this evening i had a phone conversation with prime minister borisjohnson. we welcome the fact progress has been achieved in many areas but significant differences remain on three critical issues. level playing field, governance and fisheries. both sides underlined that no agreement is feasible if theseissues that no agreement is feasible if these issues are not resolved. whilst recognising the seriousness

of these differences, we agree a further effort should be undertaken by our negotiating teams to assess whether they can be resolved. we are therefore instructing our chief negotiators to reconvene tomorrow in brussels. in the four and a half yea rs brussels. in the four and a half years since the eu referendum, we have become familiar with loose talk of deadlines. but, this time it really is it. the uk left the eu at the end of january and really is it. the uk left the eu at the end ofjanuary and since then has been in a transition period where very little has changed. but that runs out at the end of this month, so if there is going to be a trade deal, it has to be sorted in the coming days. it will be decided politically, not in the negotiated chambers. there will be compromises, i suspect on both sides. what the prime minister will have to protect, the key issues of control, not giving control away to the european union in pursuit of economic

outcomes. but there will be, in my view, it is an everyone's interest to come to a deal. fish, how many if any are allowed to be caught by eu country's boat in uk waters is one of the big remaining disagreements. along with competition rules and how any deal is enforced. if we have a deal, at least there is some certainty. even if we have a deal we have to adjust to it. the government has sent out a letter to every business in the country saying check, change, go. check what? change what? go where? big changes are coming to the uk's relationship with the eu whether there is a deal oi’ with the eu whether there is a deal or not. this is now the endgame. chris mason, bbc news at westminster. and chris mason is here in the studio. your words, the endgame, is it really the endgame? we have said

sentence like that once or twice before in the last few years, but yes, it is. the transition period i’u ns yes, it is. the transition period runs out in a couple of weeks, is there going to be a trade deal? we will find out pretty soon. because a trade deal has to be ratified, signed off so it becomes law on both sides of the channel, yes it may be only the 5th of december, but this deal needs arriving at, if there is going to be won, in the next few days to give time for the ratification process. what have we learnt is with regards to that telephone call this afternoon. there are long—standing gaps regarding fishing, competition rules and how it is governed. the uk filled the gap between the two sides have grown in the last few days, they felt a few days ago they were getting close to securing a deal. now it doesn't seem that there is that likelihood, oi’ seem that there is that likelihood, or it isa seem that there is that likelihood, or it is a stronger likelihood as it

was. they haven't downed tools, pulled stumps, whatever analogy you want, yet. negotiations are starting again tomorrow in brussels with lord frost for the uk and michel barnier for the eu. what is striking as far as the timeline is concerned, we already have a scheduled and publicly announced catch up chat, not quite the language of diplomacy, between ursula von der leyen and the prime minister on monday evening, so in 408i prime minister on monday evening, so in 408i was. they are setting another deadline. they will reconvene in two days' time with hope, i suppose because they want a deal if they can get one, that there has been progress made between now and then. as things stand, there is and then. as things stand, there is a big gap. so they will have to be compromised if we are going to get to the point by the end of monday where a deal looks possible. i guess there is the potential be on monday that you could delay perhaps a little bit more, but not by much. so

what are the sticking point that are holding things back? let's look at fishing first. as a contribution to the uk economy, it is tiny, but symbolically it is huge and geographically it is concentrated. plenty of fishing communities feel the existing arrangements under the common fisheries policy lead the uk ina very common fisheries policy lead the uk in a very poor circumstance. they wa nt in a very poor circumstance. they want a better deal as a result. it isa want a better deal as a result. it is a strong hand for the uk, fishing. lots of european boats come into british waters, fish in our seas and plenty of british fishermen think that is unfair. but on the eu side, they don't want to lose everything they have had for the last generation. the uk side won something to show for brexit as far as fishing is concerned. can an arrangement be arrived at or a compromise be arrived at without both sides say it has been a sell out? it is a sticking point.

governance, if any deal is done, how it is managed to make sure both sides stick to it. on this business ofa sides stick to it. on this business of a level playing field, one of these glorious bits of brexit gibberish, really. sufficient gibberish, really. sufficient gibberish that michel barnier on a previous trip went to a playing field in london to stand between the goalposts to talk about level playing field. this is about competition and it really matters. the uk leaving the european union is about being governed by its own laws rather than eu laws. the eu is keen to keep a very big economic player on the geographically margins of europe, very close to union relatively close to the eu set of rules. the uk does not want to be bound by that because the whole point of brexit is not to be bound by that. this whole business of a level playing field, as both sides wa nt to level playing field, as both sides want to see it, is still a sticking point. if there is no deal, what happens? then there is significant

change with how the uk changes with its nearest neighbours in three and a half weeks. the deal will feel very different to the existing arrangement, whether the uk is in the two big economic projects of the european union and the single market of the customs union. big changes coming regardless. if there is an ideal scenario where the uk trading under world trade organization rules, it will change things profoundly. not least the existence of tariffs, import taxes on lots of goods that go back and forth between the uk and europe. it would, without doubt, be a big bump and it would also be a politicalfailure on both sides. so even though there are big gaps still between the uk and the eu, the fact that both sides want a deal and certainly in the short term, the deal would be economically in both sides' interests and both sides think there is a prospect of

finding a way to a deal. if they didn't think that, they would stop talking. chris mason, thank you very much indeed. our europe correspondent nick beake is in brussels. we heard that the point of view, if you like, from cave at the european union is made up of so many countries, all of whom have to agree on this deal. that makes things that little bit more tricky? absolutely. the eu have done a good job over the past few years of presenting a united front. you could argue it has been easy bearing in mind the disarray in british politics, the trials and tribulations of theresa may, the conservative party and all the rest of it. over the past 48 hours, we have seen a reflection of the fact this is a club of 27 different members and sometimes there is an uneasy relationship between those members with different priorities. notably france, a minister yesterday, said if a trade deal is agreed and they managed to

bridge the gaps that chris was talking about there, then if the french don't like it, they will veto it, they won't have any qualms about that. that is an indication of the difficulties involved in this. it is not just a difficulties involved in this. it is notjust a case of difficulties involved in this. it is not just a case of the difficulties involved in this. it is notjust a case of the negotiators being able to do what the british are doing, just make an agreement on behalf of one set of voters, it is much more difficult than that. that is why we have got a sense during the week that some countries though that may be michel barnier, the eu's chief negotiator, was prepared to give a bit too much away to the british and they got a bit nervous. given what we know and what we have seen over given what we know and what we have seen over the past few days and today, what sense do you get in brussels a deal is possible?” today, what sense do you get in brussels a deal is possible? i think it is worth saying, a lot of people who would be giving a running commentary, not necessarily publicly but behind the scenes, helping the likes of me, they are not saying a huge amount. it is a reflection of the eu wanting to hold the line, as

it were. one eu source has said they believe this is all part of the choreography and they remain quite optimistic a deal could be done. maybe in the next 48—hour is, saying a bit more drama, a bit more time is needed before a deal is reached but ultimately it boils down to the british. the eu would say that, wouldn't they? but they believe the decision is in borisjohnson's court now, the ball is in his court. he likes playing tennis, borisjohnson, he needs to decide if he is prepared to sign up to some of the rules that he was offering in order to get access to the single market without those taxes and tariffs, quotas and limits on all the gods. i think at the same time the eu has to compromise on fish. the two negotiators meet again tomorrow and as we have been hearing, boris johnson and the commission president, ursula von der leyen, they will be talking again on monday. this is intense stuff for the next 48 hours. it is indeed,

thank you very much indeed. and we'll find out how this story — and many others — are covered in tomorrow's front pages at 10:30 and 11:30 this evening in the papers — our guests joining me tonight are the broadcaster lucy beresford and co—founder and director deltapolljoe twyman. the latest government figures show new infections continuing to fall. there were 15,539 new coronavirus infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. the average number of new cases reported per day in the last week, is now 14,400. 1,365 people had been admitted to hospital on average each day over the week to last tuesday.

397 deaths were reported , that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. that means on average in the past week 427 deaths were announced every day. it takes the total number of deaths so far across the uk to 61,014. more rapid mass testing is being introduced in areas in the highest tier of restrictions in england, including in wolverhampton. but there are concerns about their accuracy, after figures based on a pilot in liverpool, showed lateral flow tests missed half of all cases. our health correspondent katherine da costa reports. council staff here in wolverhampton are preparing to roll out mass testing from monday. nose and throat swabs are taken but instead of being sent to a lab, lateral flow tests provide results within half an hour. but there is concern they are not as accurate as standard pcr tests so more people could be told they are negative when they are not. if those people then go out and they visit their grandparents, they stop socially distancing

and so on because they believe they haven't got covid, that's not going to help. it could actually make it worse. last month the government hailed a trial of rapid tests in liverpool a success having helped to reduce the rate of infection. but figures from the pilot show tests missed half of all cases. government advisers say they still have a value. we have been very clear that this test finds people that we couldn't otherwise. what we are doing here is we are doing case detection, we are not trying to say to people they don't have the disease if the test is negative, we are trying to say you do have the disease and now we want you to isolate for ten days. trials of mass testing are being explored across the uk. in england that tests are also being used in schools, care homes and by students before they head home for christmas. behavioural experts say that could send mixed messages. the problem is that this is being used, for example, with university students to say if you get a negative result on two occasions you are all right to travel home.

because this is being done in this way it is communicating that somehow those people are not infectious. they may still be infectious after two such a negative test results so the government urgently needs to explain this test is for identifying those who are infectious so they can isolate. it is not the reassurance for those who test negative. coronavirus is highly contagious... this new public health video has just been released as a reminder that even with a mass testing and vaccines on the way we will still need to be vigilant to stop the spread of the virus this winter. katharine da costa, bbc news. a 28—year—old man has been charged with attempted murder after baby girl was found seriously injured inside a property in blackpool. the baby is in a critical condition in hospital. the man had initially been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. our reporter steve saul has more on the story. lancashire police were called to a

house on onslow road at about six o'clock on thursday. they found a four—month—old baby who had been seriously injured. she was taken to blackpool victoria hospital and then transferred to alder hey hospital. i am told she remains in a critical condition. at 28—year—old man from blackpool was initially arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, but lancashire police say after consultations and talks with the cps, a man, 28—year—old jordan lay from the same property was charged with attempted murder. —— jordan lay. he appeared at blackpool magistrates' court this morning and has been remanded into custody. blackpool police have said the thoughts of the force remained with the family at this difficult time and of those of the little girl. she remains in critical condition. they say while a man has been charged, their investigation is very much

ongoing and they are asking anyone with information or anyone who saw 01’ with information or anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area the time, to contact the police. steve, thank you very much indeed. hens, turkeys and other captive birds in britain will have to be kept indoors from december 14th to prevent the spread of bird flu. the chief vets for england, scotland and wales made the decision after a number of cases were detected among both captive and wild birds. our correspondentjon donnison gave me this update it says the risk to people is very low and that people should not be affected in terms of their consumption of poultry products and that includes eggs. bird flu, like human flu is a seasonal thing. there are numerous strains of bird flu and most do not affect people. this particular strain,

the nhs is saying is h5n8. that makes up most cases of bird flu. there are no cases of that affecting humans in the world. it is of most concern to farmers. it is a busy time for farmers and it could cost them tens of millions of pounds. we have heard one farm in north yorkshire this week you had to order 10,000 turkeys because it had to cul. more now on efforts secure a post—brexit trade deal and trade and transport organisations in northern ireland have expressed their concern about the stalemate in the post—brexit trade negotiations. they have urged borisjohnson and ursula von der leyen, to reach an agreement quickly. from belfast, mark simpson reports. whichever way the brexit negotiations go, there is huge interest in northern ireland. but they are tired of waiting for a nswe i’s. they are tired of waiting for answers. we would hope the eu and

the uk would wise up, get the deal done. this is too important for the games. we need to make sure people understand what the rules are going to be from the 1st of january and relationships are improved. first of all we need a deal, that would be vital to bring down any barriers between the gp the last —— gb and northern ireland. we need special derogations on retail food movements coming into northern ireland and post on parcels. politicians here have their differences are brexit, but they all agree and one thing that what happens next could have major implications. obviously we have been very heavily focused on covid over the past 12 months and this has slipped down the agenda. this will have huge implications for both businesses and households alike, in terms of the choices available of goods and also their prices. stormont politicians know

all about difficult negotiations and the thin line between a breakthrough and a breakdown. the focus is on political leaders in brussels and london. they have been through the issues many times before. now it is crunch time, once again. all people in belfast, dublin and across europe can do is wait. to see whether a last—minute deal can be done. mark simpson, bbc news, belfast. more now on coronavirus and efforts to combat it around the uk through testing. mass coronavirus testing has started in one of the areas hardest—hit by covid—19 in wales. people living or working in the lower cynon valley are being offered tests — as morgan hammond reports. this is one of the main testing

sites in lower cynon. from today, up until the 20th of december, people living and working in this area will be eligible for tests. extending the test pilot from merthyr to lower cynon it is important. this area has seen some cynon it is important. this area has seen some of the highest cases per 100,000 in wales and some of the highest in the uk over the last three to four weeks. this is an opportunity to get the asymptomatic cases, which we know is part of community transmission. this uses lateral flow devices. if somebody tests positive they will be asked on site to take part in the contact tracing and then they will go home and self—isolate. if someone tests negative, health official site they shouldn't have a misplaced sense of reassurance. shouldn't have a misplaced sense of reassurance . when shouldn't have a misplaced sense of reassurance. when people test negative, they are only negative in the now. there's nothing to say they

will be negative tomorrow. it is important people still maintain social distancing, use a facemask, universal precautions. it is extremely important people still do those things. what do locals here think about what is going on?” think about what is going on?” think it is a very good idea. the amount of cases that have been in the valley, it is a good idea and they can become hotspots that they can do something about.|j they can become hotspots that they can do something about. ijust want to be sure my family and relatives are going to be safe over christmas. there is a lot of asymptomatic people, don't know they have got it and spreading it everywhere. with the rate of infection still running high in this community, going forward it is hoped that by engaging with the testing programme, it is so people in the lower cynon can play a major role in stopping the spread of the virus. the labour party has revealed that sir keir starmer is self—isolating. a member of his private office staff tested positive, but the labour leader says he's not showing symptoms.

in line with government advice, he will work from home until wednesday 16th of december. thousands of people have joined more protests in paris to call for a new security law to be dropped. the government has already backtracked on the law's most controversial provision, which would have effectively banned the filming of police officers. the march began peacefully but this afternoon police have fired tear gas and protesters have burned cars and barricades. three people have been taken to hospital following an explosion at a house in west yorkshire. the extent of their injuries isn't known. the blast happened at a property in illingworth, near halifax, at around 7.30 this morning. an investigation is under way. russia's coronavirus vaccination programme is under way — despite the sputnik vaccine still going through safety and efficacy trials. the firstjabs have been administered in clinics in moscow. it comes as russia is reporting record high numbers of confirmed covid—19 cases.

our moscow correspondent, sarah rainsford reports. this is one of the moscow clinics that is now rolling out russia's sputnik vaccine to the population. first of all, doctors, medics generally, health workers, teachers and social workers have been invited to receive the vaccine. now, sputnik v is still in an experimental form, more trials for its safety and its efficacy are still under way. but the chief doctor at this clinic has said she is confident it is fine to roll it out now. translation: this vaccine has been officially registered. we have enough research to know that it is 92% effective. and if there is a choice to get sick or have the vaccine, then this is a dangerous disease, the answer is obvious. this is a leaflet that patients are given before they get the jab and it talks about some of the possible side effects, although it sets out that they should be pretty minimal and last maybe one to three days, perhaps some weakness,

perhaps some sickness or a fever. and it suggestsjust taking paracetamol. now, some 5000 people have supposedly signed up already to get this vaccination in the mass roll—out, although we have only seen a handful or so he actually getting the jab. translation: we see how sick people get, so we have no doubts at all about getting vaccinated. we use protective clothing, of course, and now we are getting the vaccine as early as possible. from the very start, russia's treated this quest for a covid vaccine as something of a race. certainly it declared itself the first country to register a vaccine, sputnik v, back in august, even before the mass trials had begun. now it is moving very quickly to roll the vaccine out for use by the population at large. there are still questions about how much it can actually produce of sputnik v, though. manufacturers unable to quickly

scale up their production. president putin has said 2 million doses should be available for people this year. and then next year, russia plans to roll this out much faster, much wider as the number of covid cases in the country continues to grow. now it's time for a look at the weather with tomasz. good evening. it was a chilly day today and more of the same tomorrow and, in fact, the week ahead doesn't look particularly warm either. a few showers in the forecast, but also some sunny spells. now, this is the weather map. it looks pretty complicated. low pressure close by, weather fronts flirting with the uk, some showers there across scotland and northern england overnight, for example in newcastle, durham, maybe in leeds, a few spots of rain, and the south—east too, but clear spells as well, and the temperatures will be between —2 and +2 celsius, so a chilly night with a bit of frost, maybe some icy patches first thing, and then tomorrow a good deal of bright weather around, i think, for places like belfast and glasgow,

but i think the central swathe of the uk often cloudy — say, from hull to the midlands towards southern parts of wales. the forecast for the week ahead shows single figure temperatures and variable weather with just a bit of sunshine now and then.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... brexit talks between the uk and the eu will resume on sunday after a phone call between boris johnson and the president of the european commission — but both sides say significant differences still remain. whilst recognising the seriousness of these differences, we agree that a further effort should be undertaken by our negotiating teams to assess whether they can be resolved. more rapid testing is introduced in areas in the highest tiers of restrictions in england — but there are concerns