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Business Matters: Brexit deal edges closer

Brexit deal edges closer

24/12/2020 GMT

BBC World Service - Business Matters, Brexit deal edges closer

A deal could be announced on Thursday morning.

As Brexit trade deal appears to be closer than ever we get the latest on the negotiations. The UK Kingdom has ordered anyone who's travelled to South Africa - or had close contact with anyone who has been in South Africa - to quarantine immediately as scientists have detected cases in the UK of a new strain of Covid-19 that originated from that country. UK online retailer Boohoo  was this week accused of selling clothes made by workers in Pakistan who earn just 39 cents an hour. It highlighted a problem  that is facing the industry as the global demand for cheap clothes continues to grow, as we hear from Noelle Hatley, Senior Lecturer in Fashion Business at the Manchester Fashion Institute.  Plus, the BBC's Elizabeth Hotson investigates how someone's accent can impact their job prospects. And Pilita Clark discovers the unexpected benefit of office Christmas parties going online. 

All this and more discussed with our two guests throughout the show. Mehmal Safraz, co-founder of The Current PK, in Lahore and Alexander Kauffman, environment reporter for the Huffington Post, in New York.

(Picture: The European Union Flag and the Union Jack are seen in front of the Berlaymont, the EU Commission headquarters. Credit: Getty Images.)

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