Briefly

EUROPE

Brexit negotiators push on for trade deal

The top trade negotiators from the European Union and Britain were expected to make a last-ditch bid on Sunday to break months of deadlock. Michel Barnier and his UK counterpart David Frost were expected to once again try to find common ground on the critical issues that have split the sides since talks for a trade agreement began in March. The extra time came after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen held an emergency phone call on Saturday. Both sides agreed that "significant differences" remained, but that talks should continue, at least until their next scheduled call on Monday.

UNITED STATES

Trump defiant in first rally since election

US President Donald Trump made clear on Saturday he had no intention of relinquishing his claims that last month's election was stolen from him, telling a raucous crowd in Valdosta, Georgia, at his first post-poll rally he would somehow still win. In a nearly two-hour speech, Trump, 74, declared he would not concede, at times sticking to his script but regularly going off the cuff for his more incendiary claims. "We're winning this election," Trump told the rally, which was similar to his many gatherings prior to the election, down to the soaring country song "God Bless the USA" played as he took the stage with First Lady Melania Trump. "It's rigged. It's a fixed deal," he said.

SOUTH KOREA

Curbs tightened in bid to halt virus surge

South Korea on Sunday decided to raise social distancing regulations for the greater Seoul area to the second-highest level in a bid to stem the largest wave of coronavirus infections in nine months. Gatherings of 50 or more people will be prohibited and tighter attendance limits will be placed on religious gatherings and school classes, the Yonhap news agency said. The decision comes after the government on Saturday implemented its strictest curfew in a country that had seen initial success through aggressive contact tracing. It reported 631 new cases as of midnight on Saturday.

Agencies via Xinhua