this is bbc news. the headlines... another deadline extended — brexit talks will now continue as both sides agree to carry on after being unable to come to an agreement. i'm afraid we're still very far apart on some key things but where there's life, there is hope. we're going to keep talking to see what we can do. the uk certainly won't be walking away from the talks. i think people will expect us to go the extra mile. we have accordingly mandated our negotiators to continue the talks and to see whether an agreement can be reached even at this late stage. following the decision, the prime minister held a conference call to brief the cabinet on their options in the event of a no—deal outcome. a warning to borisjohnson —

relaxing coronavirus restrictions this christmas will lead to a third wave of infections. angela merkel announces tighter coronavirus restrictions in germany — to run through christmas until january the 10th. and in formula one, and max verstappen wins the abu dhabi grand prix for red bull in the final race of the season. welcome to bbc news. borisjohnson and the european commission president, ursula von der leyen have agreed to continue talks to try to break the deadlock over a post—brexit trade deal. after speaking on the phone this morning, they issued a joint statement saying they had agreed to go the extra mile to try to find a solution.

the prime minister said the two sides remained far apart on key areas but they wouldn't be walking away while there was still hope of a deal. today had been given as a deadline to decide whether negotiations should continue. our political correspondent, helen catt, reports. it was supposed to be the call that would make the call. was that enough chance of a deal to keep talking? the answer? despite the exhaustion after almost one year of negotiations, and despite the fact that deadlines have been missed over and over, we both think that it is responsible at this point in time to go the extra mile. we have accordingly mandated our negotiators to continue the talks, and to see whether an agreement can be reached, even at this late stage. the prime minister has

downplayed expectations. as things stand — and this is basically what ursula and i agreed — i'm afraid we're still very apart on some key things, but where there's life, there's hope. we're going to keep talking to see what we can do. the uk certainly won't be walking away from the talks. i think people would expect us to go the extra mile. but i've got to repeat — the most likely thing now is, of course, that we have to get ready for wto terms. the two leaders met face—to—face earlier this week. a political breakthrough then was not found. as late as last night, the uk government was calling the eu's offer "unacceptable". both sides had upped expectations that no—deal was looking probable. ireland's prime minister had said that would be an "appalling failure of statecraft". that is why i say, any bit of energy we have left, we must continue to focus on negotiating our way to a deal. the two sides continue to clash overfishing but, also, those shared competition rules.

the government believes the way the eu wants to guarantee standards doesn't fit with the uk's new place as a nonmember, free to make its own rules. the eu disagrees, and so does labour. what the government seems to be saying is, we are willing to accept no—deal — which would mean tariffs across the board — because of some future theoretical threat, maybe some time in the future, to have tariffs in relation to some products. now, that makes no sense. that's like saying, i'm worried my roof is going to leak in five years' time, so let's bulldoze the house now. talks are expected to start in brussels this afternoon again. the question is if the outlook is any brighter. helen catt, bbc news. you saw some of what the prime minister had to say in that report. let's let some more of his reaction to the outcome of his phone call with ursula von de leyen: the idea was that when we went out on wednesday, the hope

was that we were going to be able to finish these off today, if there was a deal to be done. as things stand, and this was basically what ursula and i agreed, i'm afraid we are still very far apart on some key things but where there is life, there is hope. we are going to keep talking to see what we can do. the uk certainly won't be walking away from the talks. i think people would expect us to go the extra mile. i repeated my offer which is, you know, if it's necessary to talk to other capitals, i am very happy to do that. i'm very determined to keep the thing, to keep the negotiations on the way that they have been done between us and the commission. that is fine. i will repeat that the most likely thing now is, of course, that we have to get ready for the wto terms, australia terms. and don't forget, everybody, we made huge preparations for this we have now been at this for four

and a half years, sam, you know. that is a long time. perhaps, more intensively in the last couple of years than previously. anyway, we got ready and anybody who needs to know what to do, get on to gov.uk/transition to see what needs to be done. our political correspondent nick eardley sent us this update from downing street. i spoke to him a little earlier and it seems clear that neither side wa nted it seems clear that neither side wanted to be given the blame for walking away from these talks. we got a real sense from both sides, notjust from ursula von der leyen orfrom borisjohnson, but from various eu leaders this morning as well that they don't want to be the ones to walk away from these negotiations and basically put an end to any talks of the trade deal coming into place on the 1st of january. that said, the fact that this conversation has happened this afternoon, both sides have agreed that they should get back around the negotiation table, isn't insignificant because if there

really was no way forward, they wouldn't be doing that. borisjohnson has made clear that if he thinks that this has reached the end of the road, he would be prepared to step back from the process and many thought that potentially, today could be the day that he decided to do so. not so. what we don't know at the moment, is because the inner circle of the people in that room negotiating is so tight, we don't know exactly where the one side is giving a nod and a wink to the other, that is perhaps ready to move an inch if they move an inch to inch towards some sort of a compromise to get this deal over the line. but it does seem to me now that we have potentially got quite a few days more of negotiating left. there is no deadline put today on when these talks will go on to. yes, borisjohnson is warning the wto terms which is basically a no trade deal, is the most likely outcome still. but i think some of the rhetoric that we saw in the last few days, where both sides were making it pretty clear that they thought that no deal was now going to happen, or very likely.

that rhetoric is being dialled down a bit. the hope is that that gives a bit of space for both sides to try and iron out those remaining issues. but of course, i mean, for europe, a no deal on the symbolic matter of fishing would mean no access, presumably, to uk waters, if there was no deal? well, this is the big question on both sides. yes, you're absolutely right, french fishermen, emmanuel macron has told them that he is not going to let them down by setting up to a bad deal but if there were a no deal, we heard the uk's foreign secretary this morning saying that that would mean no automatic access for french fishermen, so, that's something for the eu side to weigh up. at the same time, the uk knows that if they don't agree to a trade deal, there will be huge tariffs on some things that some businesses really rely on to trade. i think the reason that both sides are prepared to dig in at this stage is actually,

with no disrespect at all to the fishing industry, is bigger than that. you have two, ideological, loggerhead issues that they can't quite figure out a middle way on. one, is sovereignty. borisjohnson thinks the reason for people in the uk voted to leave the european union is because they wanted to make their own decisions. so, he is not prepared to sign up to something that allows the eu to have significant influence over the uk's rules moving forward. at the same time, the european union's ultimate loyalty is to the single market and it saying, we don't want to give the uk preferential access to that single market if, potentially, that sovereignty that it once, allows it to undercut eu businesses and potentially put them at risk. you can see exactly why that is the big issue and the thing that hasn't been solved. it's hard to solve, that's why still on the table at the moment. potentially now, there are a few

days to try and figure out some way of inching closer towards each other but absolutely no guarantee that it will happen because it's tough. what more did the european commission president ursula von der leyen have to say after that phone call with borisjohnson. good afternoon. i had a constructive and useful phone call with the prime minister borisjohnson and we discussed the major unsolved topics. our negotiation teams have been working day and night over the recent days and despite the exhaustion after almost one year of negotiations, despite the fact that deadlines have been missed over and over, we both think that it is responsible at this point in time to go the extra mile. we have accordingly mandated our negotiators to continue the tasks

and to see whether an agreement can be reached, even at this late stage. the negotiations continue here in brussels. thank you so much. labour's rachel reeves welcomed the news that talks were carrying on, but said businesses need to know what is was happening. well, i think everybody would have liked to have seen a deal by now but the very worst outcome would be to crash out with no deal whatsoever on the 1st of january after all these months and months of negotiations. so, it is welcome that the talks continue. i hope that they will swiftly conclude but i also hope very much, on behalf of all british businesses and work, and our security as well, that the government deliver their promise that they gave to the public and come back with a deal. we can speak to alastair campbell, former labour director of communications for numberio. welcome to bbc news. let's put to

one side what your feelings are about brexit because i think most people know where you stand on that. both sides spinning furiously here about what they are going to protect. how far are we away, do you think, from a deal or how close? it's very very hard to tell. your correspondent was saying, unless you're actually in those negotiations inside the room, seeing what the give—and—ta ke negotiations inside the room, seeing what the give—and—take is, it is very ha rd to what the give—and—take is, it is very hard tojudge. i do think that we are probably further away then that statement would suggest. i don't think there is going to be that much budging. particularly on the european union's side. ultimately, their bottom line is that the uk has decided to leave and that the uk has decided to leave and that we are leaving the customs union and they are determined that nothing will undermine what they see as their crowning, political, economic triumph which is the single

market. yes, you're right, i am very opposed to brexit and i don't particularly like or trust or respect boris johnson particularly like or trust or respect borisjohnson but i do think that the position that he is potentially throwing away is so much better than the consequence of what he seems to be considering which is to come out without a deal. as rachel reeves was just saying there, it is all very well for boris johnson to tell people to go to the website and i do that quite a lot and there are so many unanswered questions for businesses, individuals who want to travel or for people who have family and collea g u es for people who have family and colleagues in different parts of the european union. i think that we are this far. it is good that they are still talking but i'm not persuaded that this is going to end, unless that this is going to end, unless that boris johnson that this is going to end, unless that borisjohnson does as he did the last time withdrawal agreement and backs down and tries to get the press to present it as a triumph.

and backs down and tries to get the press to present it as a triumphm was very difficult when you were working for tony blair —— different when you are working for tony blair but when it comes to the actual negotiating now, is the problem here for the prime minister borisjohnson that he can't go to european capitals as he was saying in his statement today because the eu is united behind michel barnier or at least, they say they are because the eu may have put... on this as well. borisjohnson deludes eu may have put... on this as well. boris johnson deludes himself that he has this mystical charm that he can work upon these people. but every single account you hear... the dinner with ursula von delay and was a car crash. —— ursula von der

leyen. that is what they have said the whole way through this process. johnson it has always thought that he could kind of, wriggle his way out of it towards the end and that is why i say to you earlier, i think they are holding very firm. they don't want to deal. they recognise that they no deal would be a disaster for them but even worse for the uk. they don't want a no deal. but they believe thatjohnson is incompetent and out of his depth and some of them think that he has wa nted some of them think that he has wanted the possibility of all along because that is the only thing the people who have put it him in power want. even though members of his cabinet didn't necessarily vote brexit, he seems to have the support of that. and in terms of his positioning and the statements, the

messaging that has been coming out of number ten since he has been made pm, do you support the consistency of that? there is no oven ready deal of that? there is no oven ready deal of course but his slogan when he came to power was to get brexit done. you can hardly say do i support the consistency and say that there was no oven ready deal. that was the basis on which...” there was no oven ready deal. that was the basis on which... i ask you in terms of the messaging and communications. i don't. in terms of the messaging and communications. idon't. i in terms of the messaging and communications. i don't. i don't think the communications have been clear and because of the way that he has conducted these negotiations, there is a profound lack of trust. that is fuelled of course by what they did in relation to the northern ireland protocol and the internal market bill which had been removed and that they should never have been there in the first place. added huge damage to the relationship of trust. you should not have been surprised at all that merkel and macron would not negotiate with him one—on—one on

this because they are united and have been throughout. i'm afraid i can't say anything positive about the way they have communicated this because they have changed their story so many times. thank you very much indeed. our europe correspondent gavin lee is in from brussels. we have had the statement from ursula von der leyen and we have had boris johnson's statement as well. what are your thoughts on this? is their movement? there are some reports that the ratchet clause has been withdrawn from the eu side? the conversation that we have had today in brussels suggest the mood is less bleak than it was yesterday. basically, one senior adviser at the eu council texted me to say that yesterday was no deal eve, that have

certainly felt at one point that this was not going to happen. but progress has been made it seems during those talks late last night. i think from ursula von der leyen‘s message, she seems more pragmatic. borisjohnson talking more about having to be ready for no deal. vonda lion is saying that she will go the extra mile. —— ursula von der leyen. what was the progress last night? bearing in mind that there arejust a few night? bearing in mind that there are just a few people in that negotiating room. there are very few lea ks. we negotiating room. there are very few leaks. we are looking at what measures they are in place to stop britain, from a eu perspective, going off it's very way as they see an unfair advantage and competition. but it's all about what can we do to basically make sure that the uk can be punished quickly and what sort of

clauses can be in place. what seems to have happened is lots of detail about whether the eu can automatically put punishments in place and the uk are saying no. both sides need a paddle of arbitration to trigger this later and there has to trigger this later and there has to be serious breaches. suddenly, maybe increase tariffs or bring ta riffs maybe increase tariffs or bring tariffs back. that seems to be the run that were in, tim. in terms of the dates, we hope that this will not roll onto christmas. boris johnson as saying by the end of the week. 0k, gavin, thank you very much indeed. latest government figures for coronavirus here in the uk show there were a18,1i47 new infections recorded in the past 24—hour period.

a further 144 deaths have also been reported — that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid test. that takes the total number of covid deaths in the uk to 64,170. the headlines on bbc news... another deadline extended — brexit talks will now continue as both sides agree to carry on after being unable to come to an agreement. a warning to the prime minister — relaxing coronavirus restrictions this christmas will lead to a third wave of infections. germany's angela merkel announces tighter coronavirus restrictions — to run through christmas until january the 10th. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre... good afternoon. we'll start with the premier league

where it has just ended 1—1 in tottenham's game at crystal palace. a long range effort from harry kane put the premier league leaders ahead midway through the first half. not the finest moment for palace goalkeeper vincent guaita they were hanging on for the win — butjeffrey schlupp levelled things up nine minutes from time. and then after his earlier mess up — guiata pulled off some great saves late on — to make sure his side ended with a point. but liverpool can go top if they beat fulham — kick off there at 11.30. earlier, sheffield united's dismal start to the season continued as they lost 3—0 at southampton. nathan redmond with their third goal, wrapping up the victory for southampton, who are up to third in the table as things stand. rangers have moved 15 points clear at the top of the scottish premiership after beating dundee united 2—1. captain james tavernier was once again the key man, scoring with this superb free kick, and setting up connor goldson‘s second.

champions celtic are currently taking on kilmarnock. 1—0 to celtic in that one. it's a busy afternoon in the womens super league with four matches currently under way including manchester city against second placed arsenal. ican i can tell you that manchester city have just scored so they lead to— one there. earlier, leaders manchester united scored a late winner at reading to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. haylay ladd got the decisive goal at the madejski stadium. chelsea, west ham and tottenham have also won today. max verstappen has won the final formula one race of the season in abu dhabi. the dutchman started from pole and his red bull lead every lap of the race to win for only the second time this season. mercedes valtteri bottas and lewis hamilton didn't seem to mind too much about finishing second and third. and mclaren claimed third in the constructors' championship on the day they sold off a third of their team.

there was a thrilling finish to golf‘s european tour season. all weekend it looked like patrick reed would become the first american to win the race to dubai title, but he was overhauled in the final round by lee westwood. his second place finish, behind the winner matthew fitzpatrick, at the season ending tour championship was enough to secure westwodd the overall title. austin halewood reports. in the shadows of the dubai skyline the stage was set for the final day of the european tour, patrick reed, matthew fitzpatrick and lee westwood, all in the hunt to finish the season as european number one. overnight patrick reed was the man to catch but his round did not start well, instead it was fitzpatrick who raced out of the blocks, he birdied each of the first four holes, patrick reed was not done, chipping his way back into contention, but as patrick reed and fitzpatrick traded blows in the dubai desert, lee westwood quietly went about his business, the englishman

with five birdies in a closing round of 68 and all he had to do now was wait and with patrick reed's chances going away with this putt on the seventh, it was between fitzpatrick and westwood, but with a better ranking coming into the tournament, second was enough for westwood to clinch the overall title and this double bogey from lori kantor on the penultimate hole meant he was there. fitzpatrick, the tournament winner but lee westwood, 20 years after the first time he did it, the european tour champion. austin halewood, bbc news. there are four games in the european champions cup today. in the early game, gloucester were thrashed by lyon by 55 points to 10. eight of gloucester‘s starting 15 were making their tournament debut and it showed as the french side scored eight tries — xavier mignot scoring a hat—trick. exeter chiefs title defence starts against glasgow warriors — they lead 14—0 at half—time. —— they lead to 21—0 in the second

half. promoter eddie hearn says the first of two huge heavyweight unification fights between anthony joshua and tyson fury could be as early as next may. joshua set up that potential blockbuster bout by knocking out kubrat pulev last night to retain his three heavyweight world titles. fury holds the other title, the wbc belt. so we await those discussions. that's all the sport for now. i'll have more for you in the next hour. let's return to brexit and get some reaction now from business. hannah essex is co—executive director of the british chambers of commerce. so, we don't know quite until when this is extended, what is your reaction? businesses are incredibly frustrated that it is taking so much time to reach an agreement between the uk and the eu. but it would have been worse if they had come out

today saying that we were heading for a no deal on the 1st ofjanuary. our clear for a no deal on the 1st ofjanuary. 0ur clear message for a no deal on the 1st ofjanuary. our clear message today to both sides is keep going and find a agreement and get the deal done. the uk government needs to provide clarity and information and guidance and support to the businesses so that they can adapt quickly to whatever changes are coming in a few weeks' time. what are you already prepared for? what don't you think you're prepared for and how are you going to meet that in just three weeks? the chamber network has set out a series of critical questions that businesses need answers to and there are still many areas where we haven't got the answers. so, where businesses can prepare, they have been doing but where they can't, they need the government on both sides to answer those questions. things like tariffs being in place in case of a no deal. we need

knowledge of labelling necessary on products. we haven't had the guidance northern ireland. there are a number of areas such as breezes, you? about a number of areas such as breezes, you ? about moving a number of areas such as breezes, you? about moving people around for projects around europe. forgive me, but that seems a mountain of questions which haven't been a nswered questions which haven't been answered stop yes, there is a lot. we have been working closely with the government and have seen some progress. the answers is a bear but it is not something that the businesses can put into action. it is legal speak and it is not something that the businesses can ta ke something that the businesses can take and apply to their circumstances. what we will need to see is some understanding on both sides of the channel as to the fact that businesses are having to adapt. and sometime for them getting used to the new way of doing things. you have to remember that businesses who have to remember that businesses who have only been trading within the european union have not had to worry

about documentation and order processes and rules of origin in the same way as they do if they are trading outside of europe. it is a big change coming. if there were a deal of some sorts, it sounds as if a lot of the questions even about that haven't been answered because we don't know what the detail is. so, looking ahead to january, february, march or whatever, are you anticipating severe disruption and the bureaucracy clogging up what we have been used to so many years now? we hope that if the eu and the uk reach a deal, there will be this understanding on both sides. the uk government has orally said that they won't need to comply to all of the border processes in the first six months. businesses have six months to get rees used to some of these new processes. they will have to be

agreements on keeping lorries across the channel and planes flying and people moving. in a way that businesses can easily comply with. thank you forjoining us. it is just worth pointing out that michel barnier has said that he will be briefing eu ambassadors at 8:30am tomorrow on the state of play regarding those talks. that is from his officials. that is 7:30am uk time. one of the scientists who led the development of the oxford university vaccine has warned there could be a sharp rise in infections in january because of people meeting over christmas. it comes as one hospital in south—east wales said it was experiencing significant pressures from covid—19. here's our science correspondent, pallab ghosh. although some are being vaccinated now, the majority of high—risk people will get theirjabs next year.

the aim is to immunise those most at risk by easter. this would allow a gradual easing of restrictions across the country. professor sarah gilbert led efforts to develop the oxford university vaccine currently being assessed for approval by the uk regulator. she warned people's behaviour in the coming weeks could delay progress in tackling the virus. what we've seen in the us is that after thanksgiving, when people were travelling and mixing, there has been a big surge in infections, and they are seeing 3,000 deaths a day now. the highest rate there's ever been in any country. if we have that kind of thing happening over the christmas holidays in this country, with very high transmission rates then possible injanuary, it'll take so much longer to get things back to normal because, partly, all the vaccination clinics will be disrupted. a 73—year—old man had to wait more than 19 hours in an ambulance outside grange university hospital in monmouthshire because of pressure on its services because of covid.