Finding new treatments for covid 19 . And squaring up before tomorrows big fight between anthonyjoshua and the bulgarian boxer kubrat pulev. And coming up in sport on bbc news, can west ham bounce back from defeat to Manchester United as they take on leeds in Tonights Premier League match. Good evening. The likelihood of a post brexit trade deal is deeply uncertain tonight, with both borisjohnson and the president of the European Commission speaking in gloomy terms about the chances of success. But ministers in ireland and germany struck a more optimistic note, saying that a deal was still feasible. The uk and the eu have agreed that a decision on the future of the negotiations will be made by the end of the weekend. Deadlines in this process have come and gone without a firm outcome but with less than three weeks to go before the new arrangements start, time is fast running out. So, ahead of a crucial 48 hours, well bring you the latest from brussels, and well compare the economic con
British supermarkets say they do have enough stocks for now, despite the chaos, but they are worried about the longer term effects on some supplies. So what is this new variant of the virus, and is it more dangerous, orjust more easily transmitted . Well have the latest medical analysis. Two men have been found guilty of manslaughter after 39 migrants died in the back of a lorry in essex last year. The Prime Minister is chairing a meeting now of the governments Cobra Emergency Committee, as more countries suspend travel links with the uk to stop the spread of the new variant of coronavirus. Borisjohnson will lead a televised briefing from downing street well have that live here on bbc news. India, canada and germany are the latest of about countries are the latest of about a0 countries to stop flights from britain. France has closed its border with the uk for 48 hours with no lorries or ferry passengers allowed in from dover though there are hopes that ban may be reversed soon. Superma
Some rain, but very mild, whereas in the north, drier, clearer, some sunshine, but also some showers in the north west. All the details in ten minutes. Its monday, 21st december. Our top story a growing number of countries have shut their borders to britons in response to the spread of the new variant of coronavirus. France said it would not accept any passengers from the uk for 48 hours. The government said it expects severe disruption at ports in kent. The Prime Minister will discuss the growing crisis at an emergency cobra meeting later today. Jon donnison has this report. After queues of up to 20 miles into dover last week amid brexit uncertainty, things could be about to get worse. The port is now shut to all outbound freight and passengers after France Closed its border with the uk for 48 hours, amid fears about the spread of the new strain of coronavirus. This is an absolute hammer blow after all the queues we have had at ports in the last week caused by brexit stockpiling, and
By the court of arbitration for sport, but russian teams will still be banned from the Tokyo Olympics and dozens of other global competitions. More former Rugby Union Players havejoined legal action against the games authorities, accusing them of negligence over head injuries. And coming up the west end performers staging virtual Christmas Concerts in care homes. Hello to you, welcome to bbc news. Two thirds of the population of england or 38 Million People will be living under the tighest coronavirus restrictions by this weekend. The Health Secretary, matt hancock, told mps that following a review, most of the areas already in the toughest tier 3 level will remain there. He said a 46 increase in covid i9 cases in the past week in south east england and cases up by two thirds in the east of england meant it was necessary to apply tier 3 measures across a much wider area. Bedfordshire, buckinghamshire, berkshire and hertfordshire will be subject to tier 3 rules, as will parts of surrey,
There are concerns about the longer term effects on some supplies. 0ur Political Correspondent ian watson has more on the problem that are now piling up for the Prime Minister. The unfolding covert drama now feels a lot like a crisis. The escape routes from the virus will be blocked. The vaccine wasnt coming into the roll on, role life. It comes via containers and container traffic isnt affected at all, so this isnt an issue with the vaccine at all, and it will never be fat an issue for medicines regardless, because we have contingencies in place. Labour accused the government of overpromising and under delivering to work with ministers to get the virus under control. Make no mistake. This is now a real emergency. I want to work in the National Interest to help bus this dark and difficult days. We will work with the government to help businesses get through the winter months, and we will offer Constructive Solutions to keep the nhs open in the vaccine distributed. There are growing cal