live from london. this is bbc news. —— baltimore. i'm sumi somaskanda. six people are still missing after a cargo ship ploughs into a critical bridge, causing it to collapse. two people have been rescued, one is still in hospital, as the authorities continue to search the water. and i'm ben brown in london with the rest of the day's news, including... ..shares in the company behind donald trump's truth social soar as it debuts on the stock market. the head of the bbc�*s as the licence fee needs to be reformed to be more affordable for people on lower incomes. and brazilian winger viniciusjunior says viniciusjunior says he feels "less and less" like playing football because of the racist abuse he has suffered in spain. the head of the bbc�*s as the licence fee needs to be reformed to be more

welcome to our programme live here from baltimore. you can just see you canjust see behind my right shoulder, those images on the bridge that were impacted by the massive cargo ship, causing it to collapse into the water. the people who were on the bridge to plunge into the water, it is cold at the hour. presidentjoe biden speaking in the last 20 minutes or so saying the following, that he will help rebuild the port together with local officials. all federal help will be made available and he said the people of baltimore can count on us to stick with them. this francis scott key bridge is critical to the

city, to the port infrastructure and the people here. ask people who are believed to be construction workers who were fixing potholes on the bridge at the time are still missing. the two people who have been rescued, one was taken to hospital in critical condition. the mayor of baltimore calling it an unthinkable tragedy. all living at this hour has been shipping until further notice. you can see the cargo ship hitting a column of the bridge on the left of the screen. a report says the ship lost propulsion and the crew did notify the authorities that they lost control. they made a call was put in. there appear to be of no structural problems. we're showing the planned route of the ship. the direction it took as it drifted into the bridge. more details in a moment. first this

report from graham satchell. just before 1.30 in the morning in baltimore and everything looks calm. then, this. look closely and you can see a large container vessel — it hits the key bridge and, like a pack of cards, the whole structure collapses. ship hit the key bridge, sinking. the bridge is gone. within minutes, people were posting videos on social media. holy hell. as emergency services arrived, initial reports suggested there were vehicles on the bridge and as many as 20 people may have ended up in the water. we are still very much in an active search and rescue posture

at this point and we will continue to be for some time. we have a large area that we have to search. this includes on the surface of the water, subsurface, as well as on the deck of the ship itself. at first light, the full scale of this tragedy became clear. the bridge completely destroyed, leaving tangled metal shards poking from the river. two people have now been rescued, one is in hospital with serious injuries. the mayor of baltimore has declared this a mass casualty event. this is an unthinkable tragedy. we have to, first and foremost, pray for all of those are impacted, those families, pray for our first responders and thank them, all of them working together — city, state, local — to make sure that we are working through this tragedy. it shook the entire house. it was catastrophic. it's such a shame, it's so sad and ijust pray to god that nobody's dead.

data from bbc verify shows the route of the vessel dali before the collisions. so there are questions — how could a container ship with two pilots and a full crew on board hit this bridge? it's now emerged the same vessel hit apia in antwerp in 2016. the weather at the time is calm. the weather at the time was calm. there was significant damage to the ship and the harbour. the francis scott key bridge is more than a mile long, the central section is 350 metres wide and has a height clearance of more than 50 metres — more than enough space for the largest container vessels to get through. it was built in the 1970s. engineers say building regulations have subsequently changed and more modern structures may have withstood the impact. i don't know whether the bridge, this particular bridge, _ has any kind of retrofitting or increased resistance - to shipping impacts since i the 1970s when it was built. but it is possible that it hasn't. baltimore is a city in shock today.

the white house has called this an horrific incident. the focus in the coming hours remains rescuing people from the icy waters of the patapsco river. graham satchell, bbc news. as we heard, the waters are about eight celsius, as operations continue. something you can't see is the waters are actually quite choppy. all of this complicates those search and rescue operations. we have the white house there commenting in that report. president biden spoke a short while ago. let's listen to what he had to say. very nearby, thank god. we

immediately deployed emergency personnel. representatives from the federal_ personnel. representatives from the federal highway, the fbi, department of transportation. they're all working _ of transportation. they're all working together to co—ordinate emergency response. officials at the scene _ emergency response. officials at the scene estimate three people are on count_ scene estimate three people are on count of— scene estimate three people are on count of four. that number might change _ count of four. that number might change. two have been rescued. the search— change. two have been rescued. the search and _ change. two have been rescued. the search and rescue operation continue for all— search and rescue operation continue for all those — search and rescue operation continue for all those remaining. search and rescue operation continue forallthose remaining. i spoke search and rescue operation continue for all those remaining. i spoke to governor— for all those remaining. i spoke to governor moore and two united state senators _ governor moore and two united state senators i _ governor moore and two united state senators. i told governor moore and two united state senators. itold him governor moore and two united state senators. i told him we were going to send _ senators. i told him we were going to send all— senators. i told him we were going to send all the federal resources they need. we're going to rebuild they need. we're going to rebuild the port _ they need. we're going to rebuild the port together. everything so far

indicates _ the port together. everything so far indicates that this was a terrible accident — indicates that this was a terrible accident. at this time, we have no other— accident. at this time, we have no other reason — accident. at this time, we have no other reason to believe there was any intentional act here. personnel on board _ any intentional act here. personnel on board were able to alert the department of transportation that they lost _ department of transportation that they lost control of their vessel. locai _ they lost control of their vessel. local authorities were able to close the bridge — local authorities were able to close the bridge before the bridge was struck, _ the bridge before the bridge was struck, which undoubtedly saved lives _ struck, which undoubtedly saved iives~ our— struck, which undoubtedly saved lives. our prayers are with everyone involved _ lives. our prayers are with everyone involved and — lives. our prayers are with everyone involved and all the families, especially those waiting for news of their loved ones right now. i know every— their loved ones right now. i know every minute feels like a lifetime. it's every minute feels like a lifetime. it'sjust_ every minute feels like a lifetime. it'sjust terrible. every minute feels like a lifetime. it's just terrible. we're every minute feels like a lifetime. it'sjust terrible. we're incredibly grateful— it'sjust terrible. we're incredibly grateful for the brave rescuers who immediately rushed to the scene and to the _ immediately rushed to the scene and to the people in baltimore. we want to the people in baltimore. we want to say— to the people in baltimore. we want to say we're — to the people in baltimore. we want to say we're with you. we will stay with you _ to say we're with you. we will stay with you as — to say we're with you. we will stay with you as long as it takes. we heard the _ with you as long as it takes. - heard the president they're talking about federal resources being added to this operation. it is a massive

operation already. state and local officials that president biden mentioned, they were the first on scene who actually took some of those calls from people who have fallen into the water. also, the people here on scene are coastguard officials. we see a couple helicopters circling behind me as they are eating there. the governor westmore was on hand. —— circling their —— wes moore. this morning, our state is in shock and i want to take this moment to speak directly to the people of our state. to ourfirst responders, i'm in awe of you, i'm in awe of your courage, i'm in awe of your strength,

i'm in awe of everything that you do for each and every one of us. you saw a crisis and said, "what can i do to help?" 0ur response teams are doing everything in our power to the rescue and recover the victims of this collapse literally as we speak. people who as we speak out there, our divers, ourairassets, people right now working to save lives and are doing it because the state asks. we will update the public as the work continues. i know this has been a long night. also another piece of information is that a made a call with into the ship, and that allowed some officials— we're not exactly sure who — to stop some cars from going on the bridge. the governor said that was a heroic act that saved lives. this was a time of day that it occurred. it was 1:30 a:m., and there isjust a construction it occurred. it was 1:30 a:m., and there is just a construction crew.

it appears for the cars were stopped from driving onto the bridge. they were spared from being there. this was all unfolding early morning, and we were able to speak to the president of the baltimore city council about his experience. i received a call around three o'clock— i received a call around three o'clock the morning, and he called and said _ o'clock the morning, and he called and said the key bridge, which is a huge _ and said the key bridge, which is a huge part— and said the key bridge, which is a huge part of regional traffic in and around _ huge part of regional traffic in and around the — huge part of regional traffic in and around the city, it had collapse. i initially— around the city, it had collapse. i initially thought it was a slab of concrete. — initially thought it was a slab of concrete, but when i actually saw the video. — concrete, but when i actually saw the video. i— concrete, but when i actually saw the video, i wasjust in complete

awe~ _ the video, i wasjust in complete awe~ |_ the video, i was 'ust in complete awe. .., the video, i was 'ust in complete awe. . ., ., ., the video, i was 'ust in complete awe. ., ., ., , awe. i can imagine. you have been at the scene pretty _ awe. i can imagine. you have been at the scene pretty much _ awe. i can imagine. you have been at the scene pretty much all— awe. i can imagine. you have been at the scene pretty much all morning. . the scene pretty much all morning. can you tell us what the sense is that you're getting from on the ground and from residence? i that you're getting from on the ground and from residence? i mean, a real sombre — ground and from residence? i mean, a real sombre moment. _ ground and from residence? i mean, a real sombre moment. my— ground and from residence? i mean, a real sombre moment. my hat - ground and from residence? i mean, a real sombre moment. my hat goes - ground and from residence? i mean, a real sombre moment. my hat goes off| real sombre moment. my hat goes off to the _ real sombre moment. my hat goes off to the hard—working men and women, the first— to the hard—working men and women, the first responders, notjust from baltimore — the first responders, notjust from baltimore city, but from all throughout this entire region. bringing — throughout this entire region. bringing their different speciality units and apparatuses to ensure that the sanctity of life is preserved, but if _ the sanctity of life is preserved, but if we — the sanctity of life is preserved, but if we can save, we can search, we've treen— but if we can save, we can search, we've been working around the clock — we've been working around the clock... last night was a very cold night _ clock... last night was a very cold night in _ clock... last night was a very cold night in baltimore. the current started — night in baltimore. the current started to _ night in baltimore. the current started to pick up. conditions are not ideal— started to pick up. conditions are not ideal at— started to pick up. conditions are not ideal at all, but they did not stoo _ not ideal at all, but they did not stop. they— not ideal at all, but they did not stop. they did not waver. they constantly— stop. they did not waver. they constantly try to find the six

remaining folks on the bridge. we could remaining folks on the bridge. could say remaining folks on the bridge. - could say we're just on the south side. can you give us any updates? you mentioned the temperatures in the depth of the water. that you mentioned the temperatures in the depth of the water.— the depth of the water. that is the main challenge. _ the depth of the water. that is the main challenge. the _ the depth of the water. that is the main challenge. the depth - the depth of the water. that is the main challenge. the depth of - the depth of the water. that is the main challenge. the depth of the l main challenge. the depth of the water— main challenge. the depth of the water feels pretty deep. the temperature this morning when i thought— temperature this morning when i thought to check, it was about 34 degrees — thought to check, it was about 34 degrees. when you put in the wind-chiti— degrees. when you put in the wind—chill factors, it's pretty frigid — wind—chill factors, it's pretty frigid out— wind—chill factors, it's pretty frigid out there. the men and women - not— frigid out there. the men and women - notjust— frigid out there. the men and women - notjust our— frigid out there. the men and women — notjust our baltimore fire department, but all throughout the region— department, but all throughout the region - _ department, but all throughout the region — have been working around the clock— region — have been working around the clock to — region — have been working around the clock to ensure that we rescue and find _ the clock to ensure that we rescue and find the victims of this horrific— and find the victims of this horrific event.—

and find the victims of this horrific event. . , , ., ., horrific event. that is the state of the investigation _ horrific event. that is the state of the investigation at _ horrific event. that is the state of the investigation at this _ horrific event. that is the state of the investigation at this hour. - horrific event. that is the state of the investigation at this hour. wej the investigation at this hour. we are expecting a press conference in the coming few hours. we will keep across all of the latest and keep you updated from here on the ground in baltimore. also had to our website for the latest updates on our life page. for now, back to you, been. shares in donald trump's social media company have soared as the firm makes its formal debut on the stock market. shares passed $70 each at the open, giving the firm a market value of more than $9 billion. let's cross to new york and get more on this from our north america business correspondent michelle fleury. excuse michelle fleury. me! michelle, he's got a lot of excuse me! michelle, he's got a lot of bills, i guess you could say, because the various cases that he's racked up.

this will be quite a welcome windfall. . , , ., windfall. yeah, this is donald trum - 's windfall. yeah, this is donald trump's social _ windfall. yeah, this is donald trump's social media - windfall. yeah, this is donald l trump's social media platform, windfall. yeah, this is donald - trump's social media platform, which through a merger that was approved, essentially pave the way for it to become a publicly traded company. here we are the first day of trading, and certainly, if you look at it, former president donald trump just became a lot wealthier on paper. theyjumped by as much as 55%. it's up about 46%. what this shows is the popularity of this listing, despite the fact that in the first nine months of last year, the first nine months of last year, the company lost $49 billion. this listing has essentially captured the public�*s attention. many people buying up chairs in the company to express their support for the former president, who is campaigning to return to the white house. trump,

was a majority stake in this, now is work perhaps more than $5 billion just from the values of these chairs. he could sell some of the stock to help pay for his mounting legal bills, although he will have to wait, because unless he gets waver from the board, to wait, because unless he gets waverfrom the board, he is barred from selling for six months. the stock is trading under the symbol dj t, that's his initials, and so once again is overseeing a publicly traded company.— again is overseeing a publicly traded company. again is overseeing a publicly traded coman . ~ . ., ,, traded company. michelle, thank you ve much traded company. michelle, thank you very much indeed. _ around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

how should the bbc be funded in the future? the director general of the corporation, tim davie, has said the licence fee a charge levied on anyone who owns a television in the uk needs to be reformed, so it's more affordable

to those on lower incomes. he also urged the government to take responsibility for funding the world service. katie razzall started by asking him "if the bbc as we know ido i do think we absolutely need to be universal, independent, and i believe in a noncommercial offer in the uk is precious. to say, we have reformed the licence fee over time, we have made changes and developed it and gone through radio and television, all the areas of the bbc, it is right to ask questions as we go forward. 0ur media correspondent david sillitojoined me in the studio to give some clarity on this. the issue behind all of this is how bil the issue behind all of this is how trig shoutd — the issue behind all of this is how big should the bbc be and how will you pay— big should the bbc be and how will you pay for it? for most households

in britain, _ you pay for it? for most households in britain, paying the licence fee is part— in britain, paying the licence fee is part of— in britain, paying the licence fee is part of life. it's about £14 a month — is part of life. it's about £14 a month. £169.50 from april. if you .ot month. £169.50 from april. if you got half— month. £169.50 from april. if you got half £1— month. £169.50 from april. if you got half £1 million or if you're on universai— got half £1 million or if you're on universal credit on £368 a month, you pay— universal credit on £368 a month, you pay exactly the same amount. the question— you pay exactly the same amount. the question is— you pay exactly the same amount. the question is how fair is that. the question— question is how fair is that. the question is— question is how fair is that. the question is can they make it what they say— question is can they make it what they say progressive. he will learn more _ they say progressive. he will learn more can— they say progressive. he will learn more can pay more. they will look at that as _ more can pay more. they will look at that as the _ more can pay more. they will look at that as the fairness issue. all this is an— that as the fairness issue. all this is an argument is that they want the licence _ is an argument is that they want the licence fee _ is an argument is that they want the licence fee to continue. it doesn't make _ licence fee to continue. it doesn't make sense in the era of youtube, we have little _ make sense in the era of youtube, we have little choice about paying the fee.

have little choice about paying the fee there — have little choice about paying the fee. there are well— known sceptics about _ fee. there are well— known sceptics about licence fee on the vertical panet _ about licence fee on the vertical panel. this is before the bbc has succumbed to a end with its charter. the bbc is essentially universal broadcaster that is news, sport, drama. — broadcaster that is news, sport, drama, comedy — the whole works. david _ drama, comedy — the whole works. david sitia — drama, comedy — the whole works. david silla football brazilface spain in an internationalfriendly at the santiago bernabeu in madrid later as part of an anti racism later as part of an anti—racism campaign under the slogan 0ne skin. the game comes as brazilian winger viniciusjunior one of the world's best players says he feels "less and less" like playing football because of the repeated racist abuse he has suffered in spain, while playing for real madrid. last season, there were ten such incidents against the 23—year—old, reported to prosecutors by the spanish league. during an emotional news

conference on monday, vinicius said he would not leave spain, because then the racists would have won. translation: applause very emotional press conference. let's speak to samra hunter, broadcastjournalist at la liga tv. very sad to see him in tears because of all that racist abuse. can the authorities not do anything to stop it? it authorities not do anything to stop it? , , ., . ., ., , it? it depends on which authorities we are talking _ it? it depends on which authorities we are talking about. _ it? it depends on which authorities we are talking about. la _ we are talking about. la liga unfortunately, as it stands by law, can't actually take any action. they are not allowed to dole out any punishments or put out any consequences for those who are behaving in such a manner. all they can do is file reports to either the spanish football federation or to the prosecutors' office. the spanish

government looks at cases like this. what they asked for in the summer was that this will be changed. it was that this will be changed. it was so they could actually enforce their own rules, so they could actually get out punishment and they could be swift in taking action, because unfortunately, there's nothing they can do at the moment. whenever it comes to the federation or to the authorities, unfortunately, nothing has actually ever happened. there is no trial that has ever come about as it relates to racist abuse in spanish football. even though there have been hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of cases that have been reported throughout the years. how bad is racist — reported throughout the years. how bad is racist abuse in spanish football compared to in other countries around europe? i football compared to in other countries around europe? i would say robabl it countries around europe? i would say probably it exists _ countries around europe? i would say probably it exists everywhere. - countries around europe? i would say probably it exists everywhere. i - probably it exists everywhere. i think it's a universal problem. as to whether it's better or worse, i don't really know how it is. i can say it is getting worse. it is

significantly getting worse, at least when it comes to vinicius junior. they really have a target on his back, almost weekend, a week out. every time he goes to an away game, he is always attacked. now he's even getting treated this way at matches he's not even involved in. it really is unfortunate as to why this is happening on such a regular basis and why it is him, but there really is mixed feelings as to there really is mixed feelings as to the whole situation here in spain. i think there is a section of people within the fan base who don't want to recognise this as an issue, they don't want to recognise this as racial abuse, theyjust don't want to recognise this as racial abuse, they just want to say that he's a per provocateur. they feel as if they have the right to treat him this way, but let's be clear, they actually do not. it is very unfortunate that is happening. i think the fact there is no

consequences empowers people to think they can continue to behave in such a manner. until that changes, sadly, i'm not sure that things are going to slow down anytime soon. just from a personal point of view for him, he's one of the best players in the world. you can go players in the world. you can go play any league anywhere in the world, couldn't he? but he's chosen to stick it out, which is a pretty brave decision. it to stick it out, which is a pretty brave decision.— brave decision. it is, and one reasons why _ brave decision. it is, and one reasons why he _ brave decision. it is, and one reasons why he cited - brave decision. it is, and one reasons why he cited it - brave decision. it is, and one reasons why he cited it is - brave decision. it is, and one reasons why he cited it is he | brave decision. it is, and one - reasons why he cited it is he didn't want the races to win. he didn't want the races to win. he didn't want the races to win. he didn't want the people to win because by leaving spain or la liga, that is innocence giving them the victory —— thatis innocence giving them the victory —— that is in a sense. i think it was very difficult in the past, because previously, you mentioned those ten reports that were filed last season because there's been more this season. he didn't really have a lot of support at the time because now there's really been an international scene getting involved in there's been global outcry around this. it

certainly has a lot more support around him now than before. i think that does give him a law of strengths to fight this fight. he has become an unintentional poster boy for antiracism here in spain, which is not what he wanted to do, he just wants to play football. but i think he understands his responsibility is such a public figure and knows that he can use his platform and his position as a tool for change, and hopefully it will bring about the much—needed change here in spain going forward. samra hunter, here in spain going forward. samra hunter. thank— here in spain going forward. samra hunter, thank you _ here in spain going forward. samra hunter, thank you very _ here in spain going forward. samra hunter, thank you very much. - buckingham palace say the king and queen willjoin other members of the royalfamily at the queen willjoin other members of the royal family at the easterday service. charles has made a few public appearances since his cancer diagnosis. the prince and princess of wales and their children will not be present. the family is spending the holidays together as they adjust to princess katherine's owned treatment for cancer.

you are watching bbc news. hello. the barometer�*s falling, with heavy weather expected over the next few days. strong winds around some coastal areas, but inland, too. and on top of that, big shower clouds with downpours, hail and thunder. now, the satellite picture looks quite turbulent already, all these cloud patterns swirling around notjust the uk, but much of western and central europe. a big dip in thejet stream as well has allowed that colder air to filter in from the north as well. and the colder air will be responsible for generating some of these big shower cloud given the strength of that sunshine. it's that temperature contrast that creates all this turbulent weather. now, through the early hours, we'll see a weather front moving northwards across the uk. it has been quite wet already in some areas. notice that by the end of the night, it even turns quite wintry there across the scottish hills. and temporarily, some dry weather there across central parts of the uk. weather there across very quickly, we'll see strengthening south—westerlies

and the heavy showers will be sweeping into south—western england, into wales, particularly wet in northern ireland. we could see up to 30, 40 millimetres of rain, perhaps even more than that in some areas. but those winds really will be very noticeable, pushing in those big shower clouds, cumulonimbus clouds, bringing the downpours, with the hail and at times thunder. and a chilly day, temperatures in some areas not making double figures. then into thursday, if anything, the winds will strengthen further, in fact. so, this area of low pressure has been named by the spanish met service storm nelson. severe gales for a time possible on the coasts, very windy inland, too, frequent showers across the country. a really turbulent day with those dramatic cloud scapes, and, again, on the chilly side, with those strong winds and particularly in those showers. look at good friday — i think the winds will a little lighter, but still quite breezy on this day. breezy on this day,

and also showers expected, particularly across some western areas. and then, as we head into the easter weekend, we start to see some changes. the air actually starts to come in from the south, and that means that the atmosphere will warm up at least somewhat, so the temperatures will rise. we're possibly talking about the mid—teens across southern parts of the uk, about 12 degrees expected in belfast. but, really, it is looking like a mixed bag until then. bye— bye.

this is bbc news. our latest headlines: six people are still missing after a cargo ship ploughs into a bridge in baltimore in the united states, causing it to collapse. two people have been rescued — one's in a critical condition in hospital — as the authorities continue to search the water. and in the last hour, presidentjoe biden says he expects the federal government to cover the full cost of rebuilding the bridge. let's get a full sports round for you, and at the bbc sport centre, it's gavin. hi, gavin. hi there, ben. in just a couple of hours' time, a huge match for wales, who take on poland, the winners going to this summer's european championship.

both had difficult regular qualifying campaigns up