大象传媒

European Union and United Kingdom negotiators are reported to be closing in on a trade deal, raising hopes that a chaotic economic break between the two on New Year鈥檚 Day could be averted. Britain withdrew from the EU at the end of January this year. An economic transition period which largely maintained the status quo expires on December 31st.

The Central African Republic is set to vote in national elections on Sunday. However, the security situation has led to some opposition politicians to call for the election to be postponed. Hundreds of Rwandan troops and Russian mercenaries operating in the country separate to the UN forces there in defending government positions have complicated the picture further. So is there any prospect of a meaningful election happening?

Gunmen in Afghanistan killed the head of the country's biggest independent election monitoring group on Wednesday. Yousuf Rasheed had spoken out about voter intimidation and fraud. His killing is the latest in a series of assassinations, that have surged in recent weeks.