this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. france opens up its uk boarders again but only to those with a negative covid test, and the lorries continues to pile up. welcome to bbc news. one industry that's our top stories: been booming throughout the pandemic — animation. we find out why. effo rts efforts to clear a backlog of thousands of truck from the and the future of dining — south—east of england after how the pandemic is changing france left a ban on entry from the restaurant and bar industry in singapore. britain. president trump threatens not to sign a $900 billion coronavirus relief package agreed to by congress after months of wrangling. israel heads for its fourth election in two years. parliament failed to meet a deadline to pass a budget. hello there. coronavirus reaches all seven continents. dozens of cases are recorded at an antarctic research station.

hello and a very warm welcome to the program. there are effo rts to the program. there are efforts to clear a backlog of thousands of trucks in and around the english port of dover, this after france lifted a 48—hour ban on entry from britain. but conditions apply. only european union citizens or residents, freighter drivers, and fishing crews will be allowed in. they been stranded since sunday after the british government wa nted after the british government wanted a fast moving new strain of the virus. benevolence has also lifted a ban. after days of gridlock, finally some movement. france reopened its border overnight and the port of dover says services are resuming today but anyone travelling to france from the uk will have to show proof of a

negative coronavirus test in the previous 72 hours and shifting thousands of lorries won't happen quickly. obviously there is the physical issue of providing the tests, getting the results, negative tests allow you to leave but all of that requires operationalising. that can't happen in an insta nt. that can't happen in an instant. this will take two or three days for things to be cleared. at manston airport where hundreds of lorries are parked up, the military will be brought into assist mobile nhs test and trace services. drivers should be able to get test results within half—an—hour. but the food and drink federation, worried about supply chains, says it would ta ke supply chains, says it would take more than a week to shift the backlog. in many european drivers, getting home for christmas still seems unlikely. we are tired, we are disappointed, we are afraid we will miss our christmas with families and we don't know what to do. i have called everywhere

to do. i have called everywhere to ask if they can help us and no answer, nobody knows. we have to wait. last night in dover, frustrations boiled over with some drivers locking the roads. no food, nothing. i know what happens? deliver for tomorrow, then after tomorrow, a week more? we are here nearly 48 hours nearly. it is not normal, we want to go home. and some are warning it won't end here. this is of a different order of magnitude and in the context of brexit, what is coming from the first of january, this is the start of a very, very serious supply chain disruption. of the likes of which we have probably never experienced. and while eurostar and eurotunnel train services as well as flights to france should also resume today, travel bans imposed on the uk by as many as 50 other

countries in response to the surging coronavirus cases here have not yet been lifted. let's talk to mark lobel about this in more detail. the eu has been trying to a agree to a common approach to the situation and slowly easily travel bans. warily after that? is been trying to find a common approach for everywhere other than cyprus and greece, everywhere where else there was a travel ban in place, they wa nted a travel ban in place, they wanted to bring an essential trouble with people testing within three days of travelling and getting a negative covid test. they wanted transport workers to be exempt from the ban and in the case of the disruption between dover and calais, doesn't lead to transport disruption. they wa nted transport disruption. they wanted as residents to be able to return home and either isolate or test before flying. that hasn't quite worked. ambassadors have ta ken that hasn't quite worked. ambassadors have taken note of it and the reality is, germany has extended its ban into january in line with italy and hungary. france however, along

with spain and belgium, have said that their citizens can return home, all foreign residents cannot return home if they have a test. on the other spectrum, the dutch government have said that all travellers from the uk can now travel as long as they have a test within a few days of their departure, and they are recommending strongly that they quarantine when they get there. even if the eu were to agree to ease these travel bans, there are still many in place against arrivals from the uk and the rest of the world. last time i checked, there were over 50 and you can add south korea to that list now. they have just announced a ban until the end of the year from all flights from the uk. they have just also suffered their second worst daily case loads of cases enclosed ski resort in winter parks. you can see that in conjunction with other things going on in the country. the single exception is america. it's worth noting, the infectious disease expert doctor val she said it would be an overreaction to bring in a ban. other there are strong

recommendations that people should test before travelling there. in fact, to make our lives are currently testing all passengers before taking them tojfk passengers before taking them to jfk airport in passengers before taking them tojfk airport in new york and only allowing them to get on if they test negative. as you say, there are many more countries around the world currently that have travel bans in place. ok, mark for the moment. it very much. we will have a lot more on that in our business program about 20 minutes. bejoined by organisation involved in the european supply of fresh food, the food chain behind it and the food chain behind it and the european road hauliers association. in the meantime, president donald trump has locked a $900 billion coronavirus relief package that was agreed to by us congress this week after months of wrangling. ina this week after months of wrangling. in a video release on twitter, mr trump denounced the bill is a disgrace and demanded changes to the payments americans are due to receive to help them through the pandemic. peter bowes reports. without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. they thought it was a

done deal. after months of wrangling, democrats and republicans in congress finally agreed to a $900 billion package of measures to help americans through the pandemic. all it needed was the signature of donald trump, but not so fast. the president doesn't like the bill, he says a lump sum payments that most americans would receive isn't enough. i'm asking congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2000, or $4000 for a couple. i'm also asking congress to immediately get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation, and to send me a suitable bill or else the next administration will have to deliver a covid relief package, and maybe that administration will be me, and we will get it done. if he refuses to sign the bill, the us government will shut down next week and the emergency

economic aid will be put on hold. even the president's most loyal supporters say it is a bad move. senator lindsey graham tweeted. . . democrats say they wanted americans to receive bigger lump sum payments all along. democrats it is farfrom it is far from clear whether a christmas eve session in the house of representatives will resolve the matter. president trump, who has less than a month remaining in office, wasn't involved in negotiations over the bill. his last—minute objections have stunned washington and leave the country in limbo. with many

americans preparing for a bleak holiday period, broke and unable to see their families because of the coronavirus, it simply means more uncertainty. peter bowes, bbc news los angeles. president trump has pardons to make men convicted of lying into the mueller enquiry into russian meddling in the 2016 election. george papadopoulos, a former aide, and a lawyer to both served brief jail a former aide, and a lawyer to both served briefjail terms are among a group of 15 people who have been granted clemency. israel is heading for its fourth election in two years. the governing coalition failed to pass the budget by the midnight deadline. angry exchanges in israel can assert as the speaker dissolves parliament. this was required by law after the deadline to pass the 2020 state budget expired. a bill to allow more time was voted down against

expectations. it means israel is returned to the polls in march just a year after the last election. this was the lineup last time, a coalition between prime minister benjamin netanyahu, leader of the right wing likud and his political rival, benny gantz of the centrist blue—and—white party. under the deal, mr gantz assumed the new role of alternative primary stuff. he was supposed to trade places with mr neta nyahu was supposed to trade places with mr netanyahu next november but now that won't happen. translation: we don't want elections and are therefore willing to vote in the can asset for elections but if they are forced upon us, we shall win. it'll be a tricky campaign for mr netanyahu. a commando turned prime minister, seen here receiving a coronavirus vaccine on live tv. he is israel's longest standing prime minister, but he will first have to have to clear his name

in a corruption trial. mr gantz has even accused mr netanyahu of taking israel to elections to avoid going to court. israelis aren't impressed. there is anger over government handling of the pandemic, with weekly anti—government protests. backing for likud has dipped in recent polls, but so has support for centre—left blue and white. however, there is a new challenge from the right. former likud mp, gideon sa'ar, has formed his own right—wing party. and it stands to peel away votes from mr netanyahu's political base. aruna iyengar, bbc news. israeli envoys have arrived in morocco to meet the king and have signed agreements marking the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. the warming ties between the arab countries and israel is seen as a parting foreign policy pushed by trump. the president's son—in—law jarrod kushner accompanied the

israeli delegation. they took the first commercial flight from tel aviv to rabat. stay with us here on bbc news, still to come. taking in isolation to the next level, sailing alone through the stormy southern ocean. music and chanting saddam hussein is finished because he killed our people, our women, our children. the signatures took only a few minutes but they brought a formal end to 3.5 years of conflict — conflict that has claimed more than 200,000 lives. before an audience of world leaders, the presidents of bosnia, serbia and croatia put their names to the peace agreement. the romanian border was sealed and silent today. romania has cut itself off from the outside world in order to prevent the details of the presumed massacre

in timisoara from leaking out. from sex at the white house to a trial for his political life, the lewinsky affair tonight guaranteed bill clinton his place in history as only the second president ever to be impeached. hello, iam ben hello, i am ben and mrs bbc news. the latest headlines. there are efforts to clear thousands of trucks from around the english port of dover after france lifted a 48—hour ban on from britain. president trump describes a $900 billion coronavirus relief package agreed by us congress as a disgrace and demands changes. italy is ending 2020 as the country with the highest covid death toll in europe and the

government has tightened measures over christmas, including closing ski resorts. italy was the first country in the west to be hard—hit by the virus with the city of big armour in the north particularly devastated. our correspondence has been back there to reflect on this tragedy. clearing the pixel nobody to use. high in the italian alps, this resort should be preparing for a bumper christmas season but it and all italian ski resorts have been shot by the government to slow coronavirus. it is in the province of bergamo, worst hit in italy by the pandemic. another is the financial shock. translation: at christmas, we make up half of our season, losing it causes irreparable damage that we will never make up and i imagine some businesses here won't survive. what we from bergamo lived through in march was very frightening. hearing the sound of ambulances. we must take ca re of ambulances. we must take care not to relive it but the

mountains can be enjoyed safely and this is not a fair decision. the first wave of the virus closed these lifts on the eighth of march, having to shut down again is a devastating blow for resorts that make up 11 billion euros of the atone economy. but there is or is a trade—off between economic damage and halting the virus and losing this christmas on the slopes is a sacrifice the government feels it has to make. desperate measures to stop a repeat of march when f's in bergamo were more than five times previous years. christmas won't ease the pain of a city whose despair became a symbol of italy's agony. this woman's father was one of the first to die at home will stop face of the local centre. he is body stayed in their living room for 2.5 days before the overwhelmed authorities could retrieve it.

translation: someone make him deserved a funeral, something dignified, instead of being thrown into a coffin in our house like a carcass stop there will be an empty place at the table this christmas. he was the life and soul of the party. i'm angry, too, with the authorities who didn't close down bergamo fast enough stop they put the economy ahead of human lives. the scenes in march of bergamo's me in hospital short of beds and oxygen hospital short of beds and oxyg e n wo ke hospital short of beds and oxygen woke the west up to what it would face. today, it's quieter, numbers are lower, so many cases he has created some herd immunity, but psychologists say the mental scars run deep. translation: patients told me of their dreams of being in a room on fire, needing someone to save them. bergamo has only been a very lively city, full of people and light. it became

a wounded city. i do needed psychological help, and i think we will see more patients for yea rs we will see more patients for years to come. —— i also need psychological help. in a year of hospital heroes, a christmas nativity scene has been set up. the horrors of 2020 and dreams ofa the horrors of 2020 and dreams of a medical miracle to come. mark lowen, bbc news, bergamo. let's ta ke let's take a look at some of the day's other big stories was that mexico says it will start vaccinations against covid—19 on thursday. health authorities approved the biontech vaccine last week. mexico has been among the hardest hit countries in the world. the organisers of the tokyo 2020 and a big said they would spend $900 million on measures to stop the spread of the covid—19 virus at the games. unveiling the latest budget for the games, they

revealed the total cost of postponing it will be just shy of $3 billion. it's time now for the sport. hello, this is your wednesday sport briefing with me, ben croucher. we'll start with a player many believe is the greatest of all time, lionel messi, has claimed a record many thought would never be broken. he scored his 644th goalfor broken. he scored his 644th goal for barcelona broken. he scored his 644th goalfor barcelona in broken. he scored his 644th goal for barcelona in their 3—0 win on tuesday night. that is more than any player has managed for a single club, taking him clear of pla's record for santos 50 years ago. messi's scored 451 in la liga alone. no records broken at the emirates stadium but maybe a few hearts as arsenal's challenge in the league cup was ended by manchester city — with life getting no easier to manager mikel arteta.

his side lost 4—1 in the quarter finals with city boss pep guardiola saying it would be a big mistake if arteta was sacked. city meanwhile remain on course for a fourth straight win in the competition. brentford knocked out newcastle in the night's other game. whilst messi was claiming the accolades in spain, cristiano ronaldo and juventus suffered a chastening evening in turin, beaten 3—0 by fiorentina in serie a. after going behind, juve's night took a worse turn less than 20 minutes in whenjuan cuadrado was sent off for this tackle. despite initially being shown a yellow card for the challenge on gaetano castrovilli, it was sent off after a var review and the referee upgraded it to a red. after the break, things got worse for the hosts when alex sandro could only turn this cross into his own net. martin caceres put the result beyond doubt five minutes later for the third. juventus are fourth in the table, with napoli, inter and ac milan

all in action on wednesday. after the opening two games of the season on tuesday, wednesday sees the new nba season really kick into life with 13 games. 2020 runners up miami heat will keep it in florida for their starter against orlando magic. jimmy butler and his side only played two pre—season games — but found form in beating toronto on saturday. unlike many games, there should be fans for this one too with up to 4,000 permitted in the amway centre. the efl cup quarterfinals conclude with everton hosting manchester united in a meeting of two of the premier league's top three. expect plenty of changes later on to the teams you saw at the weekend, but everton will be keen to keep hopes alive of a first major trophy in 26 years. they'll be without playmaker james rodriguez, who hasn't recovered from a calf problem. united boss ole gunnar solskjaer, meanwhile, says they're desperate to get their hands on a trophy after being knocked out in the semis last season.

ben croucher with of the sport. —— ben croucher with of the sport. the pandemic stopped one of the most popular around the world sailing races. this video diary was sent to the bbc. week seven in the vonda globe, and prepare power, something to celebrate. she is now the leading british sailor and climbed to 70 in place. —— 17th place. i've got a lot of good energy, the boat is in a good state. i thought i would celebrate this small victory with just celebrate this small victory withjust doing celebrate this small victory with just doing something for me. so, i am with just doing something for me. so, iam going with just doing something for me. so, i am going to wash my hair, because i think, i think it's been nearly three weeks since the last time i was may have. i part —— because it's

been nearly three weeks since the last time i was may have. i normally plait it, but this has turned into a dreadlock stop when the tank is full, i will reward myself with clean hair. the vendee globe float has been sailing south of australia and mother nature has been unrelenting. we have seen some bad weather, and it's fighting, it's formidable. the waves here are huge, there is such a lot of force. going into it, it makes me nervous, you know, my stomach is doing cartwheels most of the time. but i'm really aware that i have a strong boat that was built to deal with these conditions. strong boat that was built to deal with these conditionsm may be isolated, but she's not alone. she is in regular contact friends and family, and her incredible journey has inspired many with messages pouring in from around the world. she has even started opening a few christmas presents early. small gifts on

the journey that keeps on giving. i am screaming through the southern ocean towards australia at 23 knots on my own. it's amazing. when you look out of the window at the ocean, and i'm really aware of, you know, i'm one of the few people in the world that will ever get to see the southern ocean like this, you know, all of that wildlife, the albatross following the bow, the hourglass dolphins i saw yesterday, so much of this is incredible. i'm just trying to write it all into my memory. all my family and friends at homejust, happy all my family and friends at home just, happy christmas, all my family and friends at homejust, happy christmas, you are all with me, and thank you for all your love and support because it makes this really easy to do. pip hehir‘s video diary. coronavirus has reached the antarctic continent, free of covid—19 until now. the gla and

army is reporting dozens of cases at its research station on the peninsula. tanya dendrinos reports. it's one of the most remote places on earth, but antarctica, the covid—19 free consonant, is no longer. translation: the pcr test showed 36 men tested positive for covid—19. 26 army personnel and ten were civilians from a contractor company during scheduled maintenance work at the antarctica base. the cases we re the antarctica base. the cases were recorded at the bernardo o higgins research station, one of chill a's higgins research station, one of chill as or premier bases in the antarctic, and it comes just days after the country because mcneely confirmed three cases on a ship which had taken supplies and personnel to the base. the navy says the entire crew had been tested prior to embarking but the results were negative. the antarctic scenery

is spectacular, that the harsh conditions have their own impact on immunity. translation: we know exposure to extreme weather affects a person's physiology. the condition of isolation, the changes in seasonal light with seasonal certificate and also be an immunosuppressant. so we know there are several components that may further affect the person to lower their immune system in extreme conditions, and especially with the work they do there. on top of this, there simply aren't the medical facilities to treat anyone who is seriously ill, while airlifting them out brings its own risks and challenges. it is for this reason scientists around the world have gone to great lengths to keep antarctica covid free, announcing research activities would be scaled back months ago. but as with elsewhere in the world, the virus has proved unstoppable here, too. tanya dendrinos, bbc news. right. i'll be back with

business news for you in a few minutes. in the meantime, you can reach me on social media. i am ben bland. see you soon. hello there. it's going to settle down as we move into the christmas period with high pressure dominating. we should see quite a bit of sunshine but also some frost. but before we reach that point, we've got quite a bit of rain in the forecast for wednesday, particularly across the southern half of the country, all tied in with this area of low pressure. this is the high pressure that's going to win out for the christmas period, but we have to contend with this first. it's going to bring a lot of cloud across much of england and wales through the day, today. some of it will be heavy in its own, particularly from wales through the midlands across into east anglia, there's a chance of flooding in places as the ground is saturated from all the recent rain here. probably raining everywhere, there will be some drier, brighter spells around, very mild in the south, but it's scotland and northern ireland that will see the best and the brightest, but it will be cold with some wintry showers over the north.

now, as that area of low pressure pulls away, we'll start to see, er, northerly gales develop across parts of wales, western england, around the channel for a time, and then we'll see further showers across the northern half of the country. these will be wintry over the high ground. but much colder air starting to sink southwards as we move through wednesday night. you can see a widespread frost across central and northern areas. so, this area of high pressure eventually topples in from the west for christmas eve. quite a few isobars, though, on the chart across the eastern half of the country. so it will be windy here, and that's going to drag in a few showers for christmas eve here. it may leave rain here to lower levels, we could see some wintriness over the higher ground. there'll be one or two dotted around western coasts, but for most it's a cold start but a brighter day — plenty of sunshine across england and wales. a bit of cloud across the far north of scotland. and those temperatures 4—7 degrees, out on the wind across the east it's going to feel pretty raw. and then for christmas day itself, we continue with our area of high pressure. we start to see this weather front, though, arriving later on in the day. but we start christmas morning off on a cold note, under clear skies, we ll see a widespread frost to greet us

for christmas morning. and there will be plenty of sparkling sunshine as well, especially for england and wales as we start to see more cloud across the north and west as that weather front i showed you begins to bring some wetter and windier weather, certainly to western scotland. another cold day for christmas day, 4—7 degrees. as we head on into boxing day, it turns much more unsettled, very windy, widespread gales, outbreaks of rain, that also lasting into sunday, with sunshine and showers. 00:29:08,030 --> 2147483051:51:18,730 2.5 days before the overwhelmed 2147483051:51:18,730 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 authorities could retrieve it.