NEW YORK: Tesla is set to join an elite group of companies in a key Wall Street index, a move which gives greater prominence to the high-flying electric carmaker and forces money managers to reshuffle their portfolios. The company founded by Elon Musk becomes part of the Standard & Poor’s 500 index on Monday, which means that investment funds based on that index will be holders of the stock.

IJMUIDEN, Netherlands: Fishermen in the Dutch port of IJmuiden are bringing home the last catch of the year, but if Brexit talks fail it could be their last from British waters for years to come. 

BRUSSELS: EU and UK negotiators held “technical talks” in Brussels yesterday with no sign of them breaking an impasse over post-Brexit fishing rights in time to save a trade deal. 

KUWAIT: Kuwait confirmed 244 new coronavirus infections yesterday to raise the total to 147,775, while two new deaths were recorded, which increased the death toll to 918, the health ministry said. 

CHOBHAM, United Kingdom: “It’s an absolute mess,” said Terry Goodwin, whose haulage company is one of many British businesses racing against time to prepare for Brexit. Goodwin feels bitter about all the work needed to prepare for the “D-day” when Britain leaves the EU single market, as his company, Conference Haul International, is only just beginning to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. 

CARACAS: Alfredo Araya used to dig wells on farms or out in the countryside, but due to a failing water supply he says demand for his services has recently exploded in Venezuela’s capital Caracas. 

BRUSSELS: EU negotiator Michel Barnier told MEPs that it was “difficult but possible” to strike a post-Brexit trade deal with Britain by today, sources in the European Parliament said. Separately, political groups in the European Parliament warned that if they do not receive the text of a deal by Sunday they will not be able to ratify it before Britain leaves the single market on December 31. 

KUWAIT: Kuwait listed 221 new coronavirus infections yesterday to raise the total 147,192, but no victims were registered over the past 24 hours as the death toll remained unchanged at 913, the health ministry said. 

BRUSSELS: British and EU negotiators were closing in yesterday on a deal to oversee fair competition in a post-Brexit trade deal, but remained deeply divided over fishing.