Duty Editor: Frankie Taggart Email: frankie.taggart@afp.com -- TOP STORIES -- + Vaccines hit snags as Pfizer nears US approval + Hong Kong media mogul charged under security law + Argentine lower house votes to legalize abortion + Brexit hopes dim as UK says no deal 'very likely' + Shark kills woman swimming in Caribbean Health-virus,WRAP PARIS Two vaccine candidates stumble in the race among researchers to combat Covid-19, a setback for the global immunisation effort even as the Pfizer-BioNTech jab nears approval in the US. 750 words 2100 GMT by AFP Bureaus. Picture. Video. Graphic. Videographic HongKong-China-politics-media-law-Lai,WRAP HONG KONG Hong Kong media tycoon and Beijing critic Jimmy Lai is charged under a new national security law, accused of colluding with foreign forces -- the latest pro-democracy figure targeted under the legislation. 750 words moved. File picture. File video Argentina-politics-abortion,WRAP BUENOS AIRES The lower house of Argentina's congress votes to legalize abortion, sending the bill to the Senate where it faces tough odds as the issue continues to bitterly divide the traditionally Catholic nation. 600 words moved by Nina Negron. Picture. Video. Britain-EU-Brexit-politics,WRAP LONDON A Brexit trade deal between Britain and the European Union looks to be hanging in the balance after leaders on both sides of the Channel give a gloomy assessment of progress in last-gasp talks. 700 words moved by Phil Hazlewood with Max Delany in Brussels. Picture. Video We have also moved: Britain-EU-Brexit-politics-trade-transport,FOCUS France-Caribbean-shark-Netherlands MARIGOT, Saint Martin A woman aged 39 has died of her injuries after she was attacked by a shark while bathing off the French portion of the Caribbean island of Saint-Martin, local officials say. 230 words moved -- AMERICAS -- Canada-US-pornography-assault,FOCUS MONTREAL Adult content giant Pornhub is in turmoil over claims it let videos of child abuse, rape and revenge porn run rampant, promoting Mastercard and Visa to cut payments to the site as lawmakers in Canada, where it is based, seek to hold it accountable. 600 words 1930 GMT by Anne-Sophie Thill. File picture Health-virus-Brazil-music,FOCUS RIO DE JANEIRO The year was 1956, and two of the founding fathers of bossa nova, Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, had just met at a Rio de Janeiro bar called the Casa Villarino. But 64 years on, the iconic bar has closed, the latest victim of the coronavirus pandemic. 700 words moved by Eugenia Logiuratto. Picture. File picture. Video -- EUROPE -- Germany-EU-US-Russia-energy-gas,lead BERLIN Construction work resumes on the disputed Nord Stream 2 pipeline which is to bring Russian gas to Germany, the project's managers said, despite protests from the United States. 400 words moved. File picture. File video France-attacks-trial,lead PARIS The trial of 20 people charged over the November 13, 2015 jihadist attacks in Paris that were France's deadliest peacetime atrocity will get underway in late 2021, sources close to the case and prosecutors say. 400 words moved Turkey-diplomacy-EU-sanctions-politics-US,WRAP ISTANBUL Turkey dismisses as "unlawful" a European Union plan for sanctions over its maritime disputes with Greece and Cyprus, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urges calm. 700 words moved by Fulya Ozerkan with Raziye Akkoc in Ankara. Picture. Video Germany-Syria-conflict-EU-migrants-politics,WRAP BERLIN Germany says it will allow deportation of Syrians to their war-ravaged homeland from 2021 if they are deemed a security risk, five years after a massive refugee influx. 700 words moved by Deborah Cole. Video, File Picture Health-virus-WHO-Christmas GENEVA The World Health Organization warns that Christmas celebrations could turn to tears if people fail to keep up their guard against Covid-19 during the festive season. 450 words 1930 GMT by Robin Millard. Video. Also moved: Health-virus-Britain-France-Italy-Spain-restaurants-gastronomy,FOCUS -- MIDEAST & NORTH AFRICA -- Lebanon-UN-tribunal-Hariri-politics,WRAP LEIDSCHENDAM, Netherlands An international court sentences a fugitive Hezbollah member to five life jail terms for the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri and 21 other people. 700 words moved by Danny Kemp. Picture. Video US-Israel-Morocco-diplomacy,WRAP RABAT Morocco basks in US recognition of its sovereignty over the Western Sahara after outgoing President Donald Trump changed policy on the decades-old dispute in return for Rabat agreeing to normalise relations with Israel. 750 words moved by Sophie Pons. Picture. Video ALso moved: US-Israel-Morocco-diplomacy,INTERVIEW US-Israel-Morocco-diplomacy,REAX -- AFRICA -- Ethiopia-conflict-Tigray-aid-refugee, WRAP ADDIS ABABA The US says it believes Eritrean forces have entered Ethiopia's Tigray after a military offensive by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed against the region's ruling party. 800 words moved. Video. Picture. Graphic -- BUSINESS -- US-trade-politics-economy-Tai,PROFILE WASHINGTON President-elect Joe Biden's pick to lead US trade policy brings long experience in dealing with the key point of friction -- China -- but Katerine Tai also enjoys full-throated supoprts from mulitple factions. 500 words 1600 GMT by Heather Scott. Picture -- ENVIRONMENT -- EU-politics-diplomacy-budgets-Brexit-climate,WRAP BRUSSELS EU leaders agree an ambitious target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions after unlocking the bloc's landmark budget and coronavirus recovery fund at a marathon summit. 750 words moved by Max Delany. Picture. Video Also moved: EU-diplomacy-Turkey-Greece-sanction,3rdlead Russia-environment-animal-seals MOSCOW Russian authorities say they are investigating the mysterious death of nearly 300 endangered seals that have been discovered washed up on the shores of the Caspian Sea. 250 words moved -- ENTERTAINMENT -- Entertainment-SKorea-film-director-Kim,OBIT SEOUL Prize-winning South Korean film director Kim Ki-duk -- who has died of Covid-19 at the age of 59 -- won global fame with his bold portrayal of extreme violence and human brutality in allegory-rich movies, but was also accused of abusing his actresses. 700 words moved by Jung Hawon. File picture Entertainment-US-film-Gunda,FOCUS LOS ANGELES Joaquin Phoenix's latest film "Gunda" isn't an easy watch -- and given its stark anti-meat agenda, it isn't meant to be. 650 words moved by Andrew Marszal -- SPORTS -- Fbl-ENG-Pr,PREVIEW LONDON Manchester United's early Champions League exit means Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's position is back under scrutiny ahead of Manchester City's visit to Old Trafford for a game neither side can afford to lose. 700 words moved by Kieran Canning. Picture Also moved: Fbl-Eur,PREVIEW afp