this is bbc news, the headlines: the eu vice—president has set out plans — to deal with the row over northern ireland's border post brexit. the measures include reducing checks on goods between the british mainland and northern ireland. president biden has announced longer hours at america's largest port — los angeles — as part of an effort to ease supply chain blockages in the run up to the busy christmas shopping season. president putin says european countries should not blame russia for high gas prices, saying they failed to replenish their stocks during the summer when costs were lower. he denied russia was using energy as a weapon. the star trek actor william shatner has blasted off into space — along with three other crew members — on board the blue origin spacecraft. at the age of 90, he's become the oldest person to fly to the edge of space.