European stock markets dropped slightly at the open Tuesday as traders continued to track Covid and Brexit developments.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will meet in Brussels to try to break the deadlock in Brexit trade talks, London said on Monday.

Hopes dimmed Monday for an imminent breakthrough in post-Brexit trade talks between the EU and UK, with diplomats warning that any deal must be found before this week's European summit.

The pound tumbled more than one percent against the dollar Monday, as Britain's Sun newspaper said Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to abandon post-Brexit trade talks with the European Union.

French bank Societe Generale said Monday it planned to close 600 branches in France in the next five years as it consolidates its network around the country.

Asian markets mostly fell Monday following last week's rally as investors prepare for a big week that could see the vaccine rollout begin in earnest and US lawmakers agree a new stimulus, while post-Brexit trade talks remain on a knife-edge.

But while the general consensus is for a strong recovery in 2021 as billions are inoculated, the surge in virus cases around the world and ongoing China-US tensions continue to keep a lid on sentiment.

After separating from her husband in 2007, Katie Marcoux and her two young daughters moved in with her parents for financial reasons. She expected to stay a year at most.

Thirteen years later, Marcoux -- now remarried -- still lives in the house, along with her parents and one of her daughters. 

The end of the Brexit transition period on December 31 will introduce new rules for European Union students who want to study in Britain during the 2020-21 academic year.

When ninth-generation Dutch farmer Jaap Korteweg turned vegetarian and set up a shop selling meat-free products over a decade ago, his friends thought he was joking.

British and EU negotiators embarked on probably their final two-day scramble to secure a post-Brexit trade deal Sunday, after failing for eight months to reach agreement.