this is bbc news. i'm lukwesa burak. these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. all eyes are on whether england will beat france in their quarter—final match later today. it's the first time the two sides have played at a world cup in a0 years. supporters of the main opposition party in bangladesh are massing for a rally to demand the resignation of the prime minister. the boss of the biggest rail workers�* union has called on the prime minister to meet him, in an attempt to resolve planned strike action. and after billions were lost after one of the world's largest crypto currency exchanges collapsed, we track down the boss of the venture to ask what happened.

were you incompetent or fraudulent? hello, and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the excitement is building in the world cup as the first two teams progress to next week's semi—finals after two dramatic matches in qatar. later, england's footballers will face their toughest test of the tournament so far , taking on the defending champions, france, while morocco face portugal. our correspondentjohn watson has the latest from doha. hello from a souk in doha where as you can hear, lots of, it is coming

home. lots of fans are gathering before the semifinals. we've got some moroccan fans over here before their match against portugal. it will be a huge study if they reach the semifinals, the first african nations to book their place in a semifinal. we've got some england fans here as well. hello. feeling confident? of course, if you can be against holders, front. it would be against holders, front. it would be a huge moment if england could reach another semifinal just as they managed to do four years ago. front will not be underestimated with mbappe, one of the star players at this world cup in their ranks. as gareth southgate and his captain harry kane using some of those big moments already in their england careers, thinking about the semifinal defeat to croatia last time out, they lost on penalties to italy in the last european championship. using those steps along the way to bigger and better things. they will need to be at their very best if they are to can

pass the holders front in their quarterfinal later. the england manager, gareth southgate, has said his players are ready to "fight" to make it to the last four of the tournament, so let's get some early pre—match thoughts from an england fan and podcaster billy grant, he's been doing his daily podcast besotted brentford daily from doha since the start of this world cup. lovely to see you. you've got a guest behind you, unfortunately but we are going to crack on. they started, just how are you with the england team so far? i started, just how are you with the england team so far?— england team so far? i tell you something. — england team so far? i tell you something. it _ england team so far? i tell you something, it is _ england team so far? i tell you something, it is looking - england team so far? i tell you something, it is looking good. | england team so far? i tell you. something, it is looking good. it has been a really good world cup, i really enjoyed it. i've come back because i was here for the first three matches, i went home after the wales game and then after the wales game i went home, watch the game

with my daughter. and then i flu back a couple of days ago. it has been a bit of a mad one. england so far, everyone was a little worried because they were a couple of games where they went playing very well but it is all about getting out of the groups. germany didn't get out of the groups, belgium didn't get out of the grooves. you've got a turnit out of the grooves. you've got a turn it on at the right time when i was confident england would get out of the group. it is about doing the right thing. this france game is probably the biggest england game since, i don't know, italia 90 or something like that. it is a big england game. if we get over this hurdle, touch wood, i think that is going to show the world we can compete with the best. what going to show the world we can compete with the best. what do we need to do to _ compete with the best. what do we need to do to get _ compete with the best. what do we need to do to get over— compete with the best. what do we need to do to get over that - compete with the best. what do we need to do to get over that hurdle? everybody is saying, it is an

unfortunate match to be playing, to be facing the defending champions. what do they need to do? how will they need to play? what kind of structure where they tonight? the first thin structure where they tonight? tue: first thing there structure where they tonight? tte: first thing there is structure where they tonight? tt2 first thing there is no complacency. with england, we haven't been complacent. there is no complacency. everyone is talking about mbappe, he is a great player but he was given the run of the field when he played poland. for us, we need to be, we're not going to necessarily give them the space in the freedom of the pitch as other teams have done. as we saw with france, i was here a few weeks ago and there was up in the arabian nights, an area where a lot of the locals go to to watch the match. great vibe, no alcohol served but you don't need alcohol to watch football. i think they played

tunisia and they were beaten. they got a few injuries but they were robbed. we have to take the game to them. with england, it is interesting out here talking to lots of other fans, a interesting out here talking to lots of otherfans, a lot interesting out here talking to lots of other fans, a lot of the fans tell you about how scared they are of england. they are going, you are looking really good, you need to make sure you are on the front foot. honestly, you are going to cause lots of problems. we need to play them on the front foot, we don't need to go safe and set back. i really do believe we will get a result. ~ �* ., ., , really do believe we will get a result. �* ., ., , , result. we've got many people talkin: result. we've got many people talking about _ result. we've got many people talking about mbappe, - result. we've got many people talking about mbappe, even i result. we've got many people - talking about mbappe, even school kids are aware of the threat of him. many people are talking about gareth southgate. in terms of the team, either they mature enough to hold their nerve? t

either they mature enough to hold their nerve?— their nerve? i would say, yes. the exoerience — their nerve? i would say, yes. the experience they _ their nerve? i would say, yes. the experience they have _ their nerve? i would say, yes. the experience they have had - their nerve? i would say, yes. the experience they have had of- their nerve? i would say, yes. the| experience they have had of losing in croatia in the last world cup will do then the world of good. it is that you are for the next one. and also losing to italy in the final as well, you can't buy that type of experience. we've experienced a lot of downs and that has made the plays are stronger. these young players are quite experienced. you've got all the players like jordan experienced. you've got all the players likejordan henderson, he is the middleman, he is brilliant because he like the clue. you can imagine he is there with the other players but he is making sure they are making and doing the right thing. we get the mix between the players. every other team is going to be scared of deud bellingham. fik.

to be scared of deud bellingham. 0k. bill i to be scared of deud bellingham. 0k. billy--- i want — to be scared of deud bellingham. 0k. billy... i want to _ to be scared of deud bellingham. 0k. billy... i want to give _ to be scared of deud bellingham. 0k. billy... i want to give a _ to be scared of deud bellingham. 0k. billy... i want to give a shout - to be scared of deud bellingham. 0k. billy... i want to give a shout out - billy... i want to give a shout out to... billy... i want to give a shout out to--- billy. _ billy... i want to give a shout out to--- billy. i— billy. .. i want to give a shout out to... billy, i am— billy... i want to give a shout out to... billy, i am so _ billy... i want to give a shout out to... billy, i am so sorry - billy... i want to give a shout out to... billy, i am so sorry i - billy... i want to give a shout out to... billy, i am so sorry i need l billy... i want to give a shout out| to... billy, i am so sorry i need to “um to... billy, i am so sorry i need to jump in- — to... billy, i am so sorry i need to jump in- thank — to... billy, i am so sorry i need to jump in. thank you _ to... billy, i am so sorry i need to jump in. thank you very _ to... billy, i am so sorry i need to jump in. thank you very much - to... billy, i am so sorry i need to jump in. thank you very much for| jump in. thank you very much for your time. for more on the atmosphere in france as the anticipation grows ahead of the defending champion's match against england, we can cross to paris and speak to our correspondent hugh schofield. how is the build—up to this match? as in the uk, as in england, everyone is transfixed, everyone is preparing their evening, everyone is on tenterhooks, everyone is nervous. the confidence that has been boiling in the country over the last few weeks as they have gone for the finals is definitely mixed with an

awareness that this coming match is going to be the biggest challenge yet. a great deal of excitement, always with the added source of spice that every match against england here in france is viewed as an historic challenge, just like every match against france is seen on the other side of the channel. england or england fans, broadcasters in the uk are talking about the threat that mbappe brings to the england team has a what is the reverse? how are france viewing the reverse? how are france viewing the threat within england? they watching. t the threat within england? they watchinu. , ., watching. i said this from the start, i watching. i said this from the start. i am — watching. i said this from the start, i am not— watching. i said this from the start, i am not a _ watching. i said this from the start, i am not a football- watching. i said this from the i start, i am not a football pundit. what i will say is what i picked up from the newspapers and talk to friends and my own children who are following this religiously, is there is no sense of overconfidence here in france at all. especially for the

last 20 years, an english team has built up an image here in france of being underachievers who play basic football, who don't have the technical ability that the french do. but that period is over. that is universal recognition that under gareth southgate things have changed, that is a real threat coming up. there is confidence in france because, as you say, mbappe has been turned into this golden figure who can transform a game. but the worry with that is, too much is made of that and the fact that the team is built around mbappe becomes a weakness as well. if he has an off day, what happens then? yes, he has carry the team all through these victories and the successes over the last few weeks but he is not without its own weaknesses and a bad day, if

everything depends on him, means doom for france. i have absolutely not is the messaging the french camp. not is the messaging the french cam -. ., ~' , not is the messaging the french cam . . ., ~' , . a little bit of world cup history will be made a few hours from now — when morocco become the first arab nation to play in a quarter final. the king of morocco says his country's players represent the "hopes and dreams of moroccans all over the world." but they have also become a focus for the arab world too, as shaimaa khalil reports from doha. morocco's victory happened here in doha and it echoed across the world. millions of fans held their breath during the penalty shootout with spain. ashraf hakimi, the moroccan star born in madrid, sealed his country's place in world cup history.

then came euphoria. morocco has become the first arab nation to reach the quarterfinals. the atlas lions celebrated on the pitch, carrying the palestinian flag, which has been visible throughout the tournament. eyes are now on the man behind the team. walid regragui has said his side were well aware of the impact of their success. you have not only now one country behind you, you have one continent, you have arabic people also is with you. and i think the fans has come to support you for we make history together and that is very important for us. during training the mood seemed light and cheerful, but the coach and players know the pressure is on. morocco could be the first arab and african nation to reach the semifinals, but they'll need

to beat world cup favourites portugal first. a short drive away from the training ground, morocco's fans are nervous, but still beaming. and i came here just to watch at least one game. right now, i'm going to be so proud to tell my kid that i was there when my team marked history, i was there. |we have all the arab supporters| behind the moroccan supporters. so you feel that it's - a moroccan arab win as well. and when we were in the stadium, like, i saw people from saudi - arabia, from emirates, from qatar supporting morocco, taking - the moroccan flag. so it was a bit heartwarming. it's definitely a moment of consolidation, of the competence of moroccans in particular and arabs in general. you can imagine when an event happening in an arab world, it's the party for everyone. we stand with each other. it's the first opportunity that we have to celebrate all together. morocco's team now carries the hopes

of fans across africa and the arab world. its victory making it to the quarterfinals has been the cause of a collective sense of pride here in the region. 0ne moroccan fan told me, look, we may not be united in politics, but we are united in sports. and that is what football is all about. whatever the outcome, morocco's squad has already made history. they've become a formidable force on one of the world's biggest stages. shaimaa khalil, bbc news, doha. to a developing story injersey — police say one person has died and "around a dozen" are missing following an explosion at a block of flats in st helier. a large area in st helier has been cordoned off after reports of an explosion in the early hours. people across the island have

reported hearing a loud bang and a large plume of smoke could be seen. the government ofjersey has asked islanders not to go to the emergency department "unless absolutely necessary". it said this was due to the ongoing response following the incident at pier road. a queue of ambulances are lined up outside pier road car park. we'll bring you more details as we get them. the chief minister ofjersey — kristina moore spoke at a press conference a short time ago. 0ur condolences go to the families affected and we are thinking and praying for those who are worried about their loved ones this morning. we all share in their concern really. we, of course, want to make sure everyone reacts quickly and i'm really proud of our emergency

services and a huge ability to step up services and a huge ability to step up to the challenges that present themselves. as the chief said, they are ready and this is what they prepare for. tens of thousands of opposition supporters in bangladesh have gathered in the capital dhaka for a rally demanding the government step down. security in the city is tight, and many people are staying off the streets, fearing violence. the bangladesh nationalist party, or bnp, accuses the government of prime minister sheikh hasina of ruining the economy and stifling democracy. bnp chief khalida zia and other leaders were arrested ahead of the rally. let's speak to our south asia correspondent rajini vaidyanathan. hello. i wonder if you can just bring us up to date first on how the government there has reacted to protesters gathering?

what we are hearing from back at the moment is it is hundreds of thousands who have gathered at a site in bangladesh because my capitalfor this mass anti—government capital for this mass anti—government protests. capitalfor this mass anti—government protests. in capital for this mass anti—government protests. in the days running up to this process, there have been violent clashes between government security forces and supporters of the opposition, bnp. there have been hundreds of arrests, the offices of the bangladesh national party, the party says, has been barricaded and they says, has been barricaded and they say they were raided. the two senior figures in the party were arrested and detained yesterday including the official who is responsible for organising today's the rally. supporters of the opposition accuse the government of stifling free speech, they say what has been happening this week is just the latest example of what they say has been happening for years and that the prime ministership of sheikh hasina and her party. the government

on the other hand denies those accusations, i spoke to the foreign minister this week and said bangladesh was a beacon of democracy. he said the reason some of those protesters were rounded up because they weren't gathering in the correct place is that there is a place of people to protest peacefully but not if they are protesting unlawfully. the tensions could ratchet up later in the day, we are hearing mobile phone signals have been suspended in the areas where protests are and there is an increased beefed up security presence. increased beefed up security presence-— increased beefed up security resence. ., ~ y . increased beefed up security resence. ., ~' y . ., presence. thank you very much for that undate- _ a sixteenth child has died with a suspected infection of the invasive strain of strep a. the child was a secondary school pupil in east sussex. public health officials in brighton and hove says they're working with the school to inform parents and explain what to do if a child develops symptoms.

here in the uk — rail strikes are due to be held over much of next week. the leader of the rmt union, mick lynch, has written to rishi sunak, saying a meeting between them represents the best prospect of any progress in the dispute. let's speak to our political correspondent helen catt. just give us an update please on how long these strikes have been going on for. there has been so much regarding strike action, it is the headline, this winter of discontent. put it into context for us. we are seeing strikes across more and more sectors with a rail strikes have been the longest running. they have been the longest running. they have been running since back in the summer, there had been periodic strikes. they are complicated in a way because while the dispute is between the unions and network rail which is a public body and the train companies which are private

companies, the government does have a really close involvement in the running of the railways, setting things like fairs, timetables. the transport secretary has been clear that any pay improved pay offer has to go hand—in—hand with the unions agreeing to change working practices. it has been complicated, the rmt union has long maintained the rmt union has long maintained the block on this is the government. they talk about having a... in the last week they've made specific claims by the government is putting last—minute requirements in like drivers operating doors mod of the time, that is more controversial. they also say that the investors were behind blocking of a 10% off at over five years. that is put to jeremy hunt the chancellor who didn't deny that. you've got mick lynch saying to rishi sunak, the best chance of progress is for them to meet. i think that is very

unlikely to happen, a government spokesperson said the government had played its part by facilitating a fair and decent offer and the rmt and members should vote this deal through. and members should vote this deal throu~h. ~ ., , and members should vote this deal throu~h. ~ . , ., and members should vote this deal throu~h. . ., , ., ., and members should vote this deal throu~h. ~ . , ., ., ., ,, through. what is going to happen next? what _ through. what is going to happen next? what are _ through. what is going to happen next? what are we _ through. what is going to happen next? what are we expecting? i through. what is going to happen i next? what are we expecting? there is more action _ next? what are we expecting? there is more action planned _ next? what are we expecting? there is more action planned next - next? what are we expecting? there is more action planned next week, i is more action planned next week, there are 248i will walk out and we are expecting those to go ahead. there are further walk—outs planned over christmas. the government has hardened its stance towards strikes, certainly they are talking about toughening up the laws around strike action, minimum service levels on the railways, they have also been given, talking about contingency action for the moment, we add in this position where both sides are playing a bit of brinksmanship here. in terms of who will be travelling public ultimately blame for this disruption. the given strategy seems to be to wait it out and hope the public opinion turns against the

unions. we will have to wait to see what will happen.— what will happen. thank you very much indeed. _ when the leading crypto—currency exchange ftx collapsed — the role of its boss, sam bankman—fried, came under close scrutiny. he's now facing multiple federal investigations — and says that now, far from being a billionaire, he's close to being broke. he's currently in the bahamas — and our cyber reporterjoe tidy has been to meet him. for weeks, this island paradise has been at the centre of one of the biggest financial scandals in history. at the centre of the centre, sam bankman—fried. but instead of hiding in his luxury apartment, he is on a mission to say sorry. look, ishould have been on top of this. it was a huge oversight. i made a lot of mistakes that are things i would give anything to be able to do over again. regardless of any apparent remorse, there is only really one question victims, investigators and reporters

want an answer to. were you incompetent or were you fraudulent? i didn't knowingly commit fraud, i don't think i committed fraud. i didn't want any of this to happen. i was certainly not nearly as competent as i thought i was. that is why we started ftx, to harness the possibility of this digital asset world. bankman—fried's ftx was a giant of the cryptocurrency industry. the exchange allowed people to trade their normal money for digital tokens like bitcoin. but last month, it was revealed ftx and bankman—fried's separate company, alameda research, were financially unstable. everything came crashing down, billions of dollars are now missing, more than a million people out of pocket. it's alleged that the alameda hedge fund was using ftx customer money that should have been secured. until very recently, this was the headquarters of the $32 billion ftx empire. we have spoken to a former senior

employee of the company who worked here with sam bankman—fried. he is furious at how the ceo has handled the collapse, but also about what he is saying right now. he says you are lying, he says that you knew about it, and that it is impossible, he says, for you not to know that ftx's customer funds were being used on these big, risky bets for alameda research, and this is all, in his words, "a bold—faced lie and a cover—up. is that true? no. no, it is not. that doesn't change the fact, though, that it was a really bad mistake and that it hurt a lot of people. and, like, that is on me, one way or another. the former billionaire claims he is now close to being broke, but the 30—year—old's dream, if he can get through multiple federal investigations, is to start a new business. i think at the very least i have a duty to ftx's users to do right by them as best as i can. you mean somehow make

money and pay them back? i would give anything to be able to do that. even though jail time is possible, he says he tries not to think about it. joe tidy, bbc news, in the bahamas. since joe filed that report, we've learned that sam bankman—fried will be asked to give testimony at the us house committee on financial services, into the collapse of his ftx crypto exchange. that will happen on tuesday the 13th of december — although he may be allowed to participate remotely, via videolink. we'll bring you coverage of what comes out of that hearing, here on bbc news. sir eltonjohn's become the latest celebrity to leave twitter since its acquisition by tesla boss elon musk. in what could be his last ever tweet, the rocket man singer wrote —

in response to the announcement, mr musk said he hoped the star would return. your're watching bbc news. panto season is well and truly upon us — and demand for the perfect outfit for a "delightful dame" or the "perfect prince charming" is high. 0ne company in sheffield is being kept busy — it has more than 40,000 costumes, as well as props and scenery, which it rents to productions up and down the country. tom ingall has been looking around. # there's no business like show business — # like no business i know.# looking for the perfect prince charming or maybe a dashing dandini? well, do i have an aladdin's cave for you. molly limpets in sheffield. and then these are just things that we've acquired or we've made

over the years. a tin of sardines? a tin of sardines, slot machine. if you can think it, we can build it, hopefully. this is our 22nd year of trading. the business has got really, really busy over the past few years. pantomimes, musical theatres all over the country, uk and ireland. pantomime is a passion of mine, always has been, and i would say it's a massive part of our business every year. the team here think they've got upwards of 40,000 costumes and this is the row they call pantomime avenue. whatever show you're in, whether you're riding a magic carpet or climbing a beanstalk, whatever size you are and however many sequins you like, they think they can sort you out. you and the rest of the country. oh, yes, they can! we have got costumes that were made for danny la rue, a lot of famous people, paul 0'grady, a lot of panto costumes that have been made for quite well known celebrities. we have a little hangar downstairs where we have a set of lulu's pants from when she was in

a production of peter pan. and they're just little suede hot pants and they've got lulu's name in them. and that's quite funny to have. # the costumes, the scenery, the makeup, the props # the audience. .. a gorilla? where? behind me? # there's no business like show business.# i have a team next door of four manufacturers that are producing new costumes every single day, plus outworkers that work all over the country. this year we are just doing massive amounts of cinderellas. there's more ugly sisters flying around than anyone can shake a stick at at the moment, they're just all over the place. from vast venues to village halls, december brings such a rush, molly limpet�*s can make even santa look like a slouch. still, what's one more outfit to sort out? you can get hooked on dressing up, you know. argh! i mean, ah, iappear to embarrass myself.

again. now it's time for a look at the weather with helen. if you think it has been cold so far this week it'll be cold are still through this weekend as the freezing fog lingers and the grey cloud. further snow showers and ice around a cell. there's no showers have been quite abundant across scotland, even into the central belt this morning across parts of the north west midlands and across wales, south was included. several centimetres over the moors. temperatures in eastern areas particularly where that fog lingers, just one or two celsius and dropping like a stone tonight. further wintry weather, ice, sharp frost as well. temperatures will be lower still during the day tomorrow

because the fog will be more widespread. if it lists, it'll be lifting into low cloud has a icy with a freezing fog. temperatures for manyjust one or at best.