Of catalonia condemns violent protests by fellow separatists. In business, the not so special relationship. Uk firms face a nasty hangover as the us hits europe with billions of dollars of import taxes. A warm welcome to the programme, briefing you on all you need to know in global news, business and sport. Also in the programme celebrity backers of Extinction Rebellion admit hypocrisy, but say we are stuck in a fossil fuel economy and call on the media to focus on the more urgent story. Get in touch. Can you back a cause but not adhere to every detail . Tell us what you think, hashtag bbcthebriefing. We begin in brussels. That is where british and eu negotiators are still trying to hammer out a brexit deal. A crucial summit of european leaders is due to get under way there in a few hours. High level sources on both sides are telling the bbc that most issues between the uk, the European Union and ireland have been settled, in principle, but that nothing is finalised until everything is