The UK and France have been working on a plan to restart the flow of freight between the two countries. France shut the border on Sunday night due to fears about the spread of a new coronavirus variant, halting the movement of goods along a vital trade artery. French Europe Minister Clément Beaune said measures agreed between Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron to end the ban would be announced later and come into effect from Wednesday. Meanwhile, hundreds of lorry drivers have spent a second night sleeping in their vehicles waiting to depart. They're being redirected to Manston Airfield in Kent to take them off the choked-up M20. 

More than 40 countries have now banned UK arrivals due to concerns about the rapid spread of the new variant. European countries are continuing their discussions on how to co-ordinate a response to it. It's likely to involve efforts to pool scientific expertise and unify travel procedures. We understand one option under discussion would see all UK travellers required to test negative for Covid-19 before departure.

Supermarkets, meanwhile, have been trying to reassure shoppers that Christmas supplies are plentiful amid reports of bare shelves and long queues. They are warning, however, that without a speedy end to the current crisis, supplies of some fresh produce could run short. 

The World Health Organization says there's no evidence the new variant of coronavirus that's taken hold in Britain increases the severity of disease. Scientists, though, are urgently investigating whether it may spread more easily in children. Earlier variants found it harder to infect children than adults and any evidence this new one is different could alter the role they, and crucially schools, play in the pandemic. On Monday, the prime minister said he wanted to open schools in January "if we possibly can".

The new variant has, of course, plunged much of southern England into a tier four lockdown, and prompted Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to introduce their own tougher measures. The UK's top scientist has warned it is now "everywhere" and more areas may need to enter the highest level of restrictions. On Monday night, the Stormont Executive voted against imposing a travel ban from Great Britain into Northern Ireland. But it backed plans to issue new guidance against all but essential travel between NI, GB and the Irish Republic.

The variant isn't restricted to the UK by the way - cases have been detected in Denmark, Australia, Italy and the Netherlands. Here's everything we know about it at this point.

MPs have warned the government risks missing even a reduced target for the roll-out of ultra-fast broadband connections to homes. The aim now is to reach 85% of the population by 2025, but the Commons digital committee said budget cuts, paired with a lack of effective planning, was putting that in jeopardy. It also fears that remote areas - known as "not-spots" - will continue to lose out. Ministers say they expect broadband suppliers to give priority to communities with slower speeds.

Another obstacle to the roll-out is local resistance. Our technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones has more on the battle in one city. 

The crisis prompted by the new coronavirus variant dominates headlines again this morning. In the words of the Times, optimism prompted by the arrival of Covid vaccines a few weeks ago has given way to a realisation that the country is "in the grip of a national emergency". The Daily Mirror feels the new variant is "undoubtedly frightening", and the situation is made worse by having a leader who's "not up to the job". The Daily Mail, though, accuses Health Secretary Matt Hancock of spreading unnecessary alarm, likening him to "the over-excitable Corporal Jones from Dad's Army". The Daily Express predicts further virus restrictions could come into force "within days", while Prof Andrew Hayward, an infectious diseases expert, tells the Guardian the pandemic has entered a "really critical phase" and decisive action is needed. Elsewhere, the Financial Times reports that Britain and the EU are edging towards a compromise on fisheries which could facilitate a post-Brexit trade deal. According to the Daily Telegraph, the government has tabled a proposal which would see the value of the EU's fishing catch in UK waters being cut by around a third - far closer to the 25% reduction Brussels had been pushing for. 

LadBaby is aiming for his third Christmas number one with a take on Journey's Don't Stop Believin'. As usual, there are some sausage roll references and proceeds will go to food bank charity The Trussell Trust. The single might not make the list of the best albums and songs of 2020, but what did? A BBC "poll of polls" comes up with some answers. And finally, looking forward to 2021, we tell you what to watch out for when it comes to new technology.

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