They have called for calm, but are planning for ways to tackle Britain's mounting fuel crisis. Ministers have discussed proposals to trigger Operation Escalin - under which "several hundred" soldiers would be brought in to drive petrol tankers - and are due to formally present the plans to Boris Johnson today.
The Prime Minister will decide whether to sign off on the idea to draft in the Army, as government figures suggest that petrol stations across most of England have average stock levels below 20pc - enough for just one to two days.
While there is no shortage of fuel in the country, there have been problems getting it to filling stations because of a lack of HGV drivers.
Whitehall Editor Harry Yorke explains how fewer deliveries and panic buying have led to pumps running dry. Companies are under pressure to allow staff to work from home instead of driving into the office.
And an anti-Brexit haulage body is accused of being behind the leak that prompted the crisis.
Empty shelves, a petrol crisis and energy bills set to rise... it feels like we have gone back to the Seventies.
It is just as well, then, that Jan Etherington remembers what to do. Read her Boomer's guide to surviving a winter of discontent.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's pipeline chief has issued a stark winter warning for Britain amid the energy supply crunch.
Social Democrats win majority in German election
Germany's centre-left Social Democrats won the biggest share of the vote in a national election early today, narrowly beating outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats in a closely fought race that will determine who succeeds the long-time leader. The SPD won 25.9pc of the vote, ahead of 24.1pc for the CDU. No winning party in a German national election had previously taken less than 31pc of the vote. Justin Huggler says the results plunged Germany into political uncertainty.
Three easy ways to change your diet for better sleep
Did you wake up feeling tired? We are a sleep-deprived nation - 44pc of us are getting six hours, or less, sleep a night. It is no wonder that doctors now have a name for it: TATT, or Tired All the Time syndrome. According to the National Sleep Foundation, the difference between a restless and a restful night has a lot to do with our diet. So, before reaching for medication, consider three simple dietary adjustments.
Also in the news: Today's other headlines
Labour | Angela Rayner, Labour's deputy leader, was rebuked by Sir Keir Starmer after describing senior Tories as "scum". Read her controversial remarks during a fringe event on the opening day of the party's five-day conference. It came as Sir Keir declined to rule out proposing income tax rises as Labour announced it would review a thousand tax reliefs.
Sabina Nessa | Murder inquiry police in 'significant development' Sophie Ellis-Bextor | 'I was raped at 17... I felt so ashamed' Pledge | New Education Secretary vows to keep schools open 'Inclusion week' | Prison gives gender pronoun badges to inmates Strictly Come Dancing | Pair test positive for Covid and isolate Around the world: Holiday cold snap
Russian president Vladimir Putin spends a short holiday at an unknown location in Siberia. The Kremlin has released a series of photographs showing the country's leader enjoying his time fishing and hiking. View a gallery of more striking world pictures of the weekend.
Comment and analysis Nick Timothy | Virtue-signalling is a clue that an institution is failing Iain Duncan Smith | Don't blame Brexit for driver shortages Tim Stanley | Vote Tory and you get Miliband's policies, plus chaos Zoe Strimpel | Climate hypocrites should look to own lives first Reader letters | Why should a foreign driver want a six-month visa? Editor's choice The 'Brexit diet' | How I lost two stone in three months and took control Vigil, finale review | A TV drama so bad it could be Russian propaganda The menopause | What every man needs to know (including about sex) Sport briefing: Ryder Cup ends in tears for Europe
It was dubbed the "slaughter by the water". Europe suffered a crushing defeat in defence of the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, losing by a record margin to a dominant US side. Golf Correspondent James Corrigan has our report from Wisconsin. See the moment that signalled the end of the most toxic feud in golf, between Koepka and DeChambeau.
Business briefing: Energy crisis winners and losers
Octopus Energy is taking on the 580,000 customers of collapsed supplier Avro, as a wave of failures in the sector boosts stronger businesses. Ofgem chose the new supplier after running a competition. Meanwhile, the Government is considering ploughing more cash into mini nuclear reactors in an attempt to prevent further energy crises.
Tonight's dinner
One-pot lamb orzo with spinach, black olives and feta | This one-pot treat by Ainsley Harriott is full of flavour. View the recipe. For more, try our Cookbook newsletter.
Your daily travel inspiration
The world is open | British stand-ins have had their uses, but it is time to swap the likes of Suffolk for Bavaria and Lake Windermere for Lake Garda back again. James Stewart suggests which lookalike staycation locations should be ditched for the original.
And finally... for this morning's downtime
Mary Churchill's War, review | It was not easy being a Churchill child - and only Mary managed it with serenity and aplomb, as her diary of wartime ATS service shows. In this five-star review, Anne de Courcy says it is wonderfully modest and self-critical.
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