this is bbc news. these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. all eyes are on whether england will beat france in their quarterfinal 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. one person has died and a dozen still missing after a massive explosion in a block of flats in st helier injersey. i want is to be hopeful in the first instance when we start that search. but there has to be a recognition that we could have more fatalities, of course.

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 today, england's footballers will face their toughest test of the tournament so far, taking on the defending champions, france, while morocco face portugal. our correspondent, john watson, has the latest from doha. hello from the souq waqif here in doha, where, as you can probably hear... it's coming home? it's coming home. lots of fans are gathering ahead of the quarterfinals here, today. we've got some moroccan fans over here ahead of their match against portugal.

it would be a huge story if they reach the semifinals, the first african nation to book their place in a semifinal of a world cup. we've got some england fans, here, as well. hello to you guys. feeling confident? yeah, very confident. of course. well, if you can be, against france who are the holders, of course. but it would be a huge moment if england could go on and reach another semifinal at a world cup just as they managed to do four years ago. of course, france will not be underestimated, will they? with kylian mbappe, one of the star players at this world cup in their ranks. but gareth southgate and his captain, harry kane, using some of those big moments already in the england careers. you think about the semifinal defeat to croatia last time, they lost on penalties to italy at the last european championship, using those steps along the way to potentially bigger and better things. they will need to be at their very best, though, if they are to come past the holders, france, in their quarterfinal later. joining me now are two french fans

who'll be watching the game with 700 other fellow france fans here in london later today. cecile guillou and tim helmsetter are the co—founders of the french expat group frogs in london. hello. hello. hello. tim, i'm going to start with _ hello. hello. hello. tim, i'm going to start with you. _ hello. hello. hello. tim, i'm going to start with you. you _ hello. hello. hello. tim, i'm going to start with you. you both - hello. hello. hello. tim, i'm going to start with you. you both run - hello. hello. hello. tim, i'm going to start with you. you both run this facebook group called frogs in london, what sort of excitement is building up? is london, what sort of excitement is building up?— london, what sort of excitement is building up?— building up? is getting very crazy, eve bod building up? is getting very crazy, everybody is _ building up? is getting very crazy, everybody is very _ building up? is getting very crazy, everybody is very excited, - building up? is getting very crazy, everybody is very excited, we - building up? is getting very crazy, everybody is very excited, we are | everybody is very excited, we are expecting 700 people at our event in central london but we could have had a lot more people, wejust couldn't get the bars because they are all full of english fans. everybody is really excited and it's going to be

a huge game. really excited and it's going to be a huge game-— really excited and it's going to be ahu~~eame. , ., _ ., . a huge game. obviously, for french --eole a huge game. obviously, for french peeple here — a huge game. obviously, for french peeple here in _ a huge game. obviously, for french people here in london _ a huge game. obviously, for french people here in london and - a huge game. obviously, for french people here in london and the - a huge game. obviously, for french people here in london and the uk, | people here in london and the uk, the excitement must really be building. what sort of evening can people look forward to? what are you putting in place? because i understand you host a lot of fans. yeah, we're hosting a big event in central_ yeah, we're hosting a big event in central two — yeah, we're hosting a big event in central two bars. we expect a lot of screaming. — central two bars. we expect a lot of screaming, shouting, a great game. it's screaming, shouting, a great game. it's going _ screaming, shouting, a great game. it's going to — screaming, shouting, a great game. it's going to be great. what screaming, shouting, a great game. it's going to be great.— it's going to be great. what are our it's going to be great. what are your thoughts _ it's going to be great. what are your thoughts for _ it's going to be great. what are your thoughts for the _ it's going to be great. what are your thoughts for the game - it's going to be great. what are | your thoughts for the game this evening? your thoughts for the game this evenin: ? . v . your thoughts for the game this eveninl? ., �*, ., . your thoughts for the game this evenin? ., �*, ., . ., your thoughts for the game this eveninu? ., �*, ., ., �*, evening? that's a tricky one. it's auoin to evening? that's a tricky one. it's going to be _ evening? that's a tricky one. it's going to be a _ evening? that's a tricky one. it's going to be a great _ evening? that's a tricky one. it's going to be a great one, - evening? that's a tricky one. it's going to be a great one, it's - evening? that's a tricky one. it's. going to be a great one, it's going to be _ going to be a great one, it's going to be tough, i think. two great teams — to be tough, i think. two great teams so — to be tough, i think. two great teams so we will see what is going to happen — it's going to be a tough one, i

think. — it's going to be a tough one, i think. two— it's going to be a tough one, i think, two great teams so we will see _ think, two great teams so we will see. ., ., , ., think, two great teams so we will see. ., ., y ., ~ think, two great teams so we will see. ., ., ~ ., see. tim, what do you think about the fact that _ see. tim, what do you think about the fact that france _ see. tim, what do you think about the fact that france are _ see. tim, what do you think about the fact that france are facing - the fact that france are facing england? because many people are saying on england's part because it's a shame that they are facing france because they are the champions but also there is talk that this is england's time. what do you make of that?— that this is england's time. what do you make of that? england have been -la in: ve you make of that? england have been playing very well _ you make of that? england have been playing very well so — you make of that? england have been playing very well so far, _ you make of that? england have been playing very well so far, same - you make of that? england have been playing very well so far, same as - playing very well so far, same as france, so it is a very difficult game for us and for england. i think both teams deserve to be in the final so it is a bit sad we are playing in the quarterfinal but hopefully france will come out with confidence, sorry, but if england wins we will still be very happy because we live in london and all the french people will still be excited for england.— the french people will still be excited for england. really small one, will england _ excited for england. really small one, will england fans _ excited for england. really small one, will england fans be - excited for england. really small i one, will england fans be welcome excited for england. really small - one, will england fans be welcome to your events, as well? is there going to be mixing allowed? brute your events, as well? is there going to be mixing allowed?— your events, as well? is there going to be mixing allowed? we cannot, we sold all the tickets _

to be mixing allowed? we cannot, we sold all the tickets a _ to be mixing allowed? we cannot, we sold all the tickets a week— to be mixing allowed? we cannot, we sold all the tickets a week ago - sold all the tickets a week ago already. so nobody extra will be able to get in, we sold all the tickets on an app so, on our app, so it's going to be all french people. thank you very much indeed. good luck for this evening. the other big game taking place today will see portugal take on morocco. let's cross to lisbon and get some thoughts from the portugeuse football journalist, luis pedro ferreira, i hope i've pronounced that correctly. the excitement building up correctly. the excitement building up this evening, what are your thoughts on the game? i up this evening, what are your thoughts on the game?- up this evening, what are your thoughts on the game? i think it's auoin to thoughts on the game? i think it's going to be _ thoughts on the game? i think it's going to be a _ thoughts on the game? i think it's going to be a very _ thoughts on the game? i think it's going to be a very different - thoughts on the game? i think it's going to be a very different game | going to be a very different game from the last one, from switzerland game, because morocco is a different team. i think we will not have the same room to make the runs that we

did against switzerland, i think it is going to be a very tough game. we have seen how morocco played against spain, so we are expecting the same difficulties. yes, ithink spain, so we are expecting the same difficulties. yes, i think everybody is optimistic about the game and hoping to get to the semifinals. you say morocco — hoping to get to the semifinals. you say morocco are a very different team, in what way?— say morocco are a very different team, in what way? well, we had a lot of space — team, in what way? well, we had a lot of space with _ team, in what way? well, we had a lot of space with switzerland - team, in what way? well, we had a lot of space with switzerland to - lot of space with switzerland to play and to show the talent of the portuguese players. i think morocco will be a much more tight team, we will be a much more tight team, we will need to be intelligent to break their defensive lines, and so i think it is going to be tougher because it plays a higher intensity and at a higher pace than switzerland. i think that portugal will have much more things to

address in this game than they had with switzerland. aha, address in this game than they had with switzerland.— with switzerland. a lot of people are talking _ with switzerland. a lot of people are talking about _ with switzerland. a lot of people are talking about cristiano - with switzerland. a lot of people i are talking about cristiano ronaldo, at what point should he be involved in the game? the at what point should he be involved in the game?— in the game? the million-dollar cuestion. in the game? the million-dollar question. the _ in the game? the million-dollar question. the big _ in the game? the million-dollar question. the big issue - in the game? the million-dollar question. the big issue here, i in the game? the million-dollar| question. the big issue here, we have two approaches in portugal, if you think regarding the 90 minutes, if you think about his career and who he is and what he represents, people talk about gratitude. i think that we should address the rinaldo issue in the mid of this, i think you can still be useful to the national team, you can still be useful to the nationalteam, it you can still be useful to the national team, it was not long ago that he saved us from a certain defeat against ireland in the qualifying, but he is past his prime and i think that is obvious to everyone. he is not performing as he was when he was at real madrid. i

think he is still useful to the team. should he start or not? i think that depends on the strategy, depends on the opponent. and that depends on the opponent. and that depends on the opponent. and that depends on what the national manager wants to do and how he wants to play. 0bviously, against switzerland, he was not used. that was spot on. i'm not sure what is going to happen to dave against morocco because of what i said. thank you very much indeed. did i pronounce that correctly? yes. pronounce that correctly? yes, indeed. 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 reent 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 shoot—out with spain. achraf 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, i from qatar supporting morocco, taking the moroccan flag.

so it was a bit heart—warming. 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. an american football journalist

has died while covering the world cup in qatar. grant wahl collapsed suddenly while reporting on the argentina—netherlands game. last month, the 48—year—old was briefly detained in qatar when he tried to enter a stadium while wearing a rainbow shirt in support of lgbtq+ rights. fifa and the qatari body responsible for planning the world cup have offered "deepest condolences to grant's family." one person has died and several are missing following an explosion and fire at a block of flats in jersey. a large area of the capital st helier has been cordoned off, after reports of the explosion in the early hours. the states ofjersey police said that emergency services are working at the scene and have commenced a surface search of the site. relatives are being contacted by family liaison officers. the fire has been extinguished, but emergency services

are still "carrying out significant work" at the scene, which is cordoned off, and people have been asked to avoid the area. let's get more on this from our reporter in jersey, ammar ebrahim. thank you forjoining us. what is the latest? it’s thank you for “oining us. what is the latest?— the latest? it's been a really distressing _ the latest? it's been a really distressing morning - the latest? it's been a really distressing morning here - the latest? it's been a really distressing morning here inl the latest? it's been a really - distressing morning here in jersey, distressing morning here injersey, this explosion has sent shock waves through the community. islanders were woken up at 4am by that loud bang and you can see just behind were woken up at 4am by that loud bang and you can seejust behind me that smoke is still emerging. we know there's been at least one fatality and the police said today that the search and rescue operation would go on for days. they are going to need assistance and expertise from the uk because the site is still quite dangerous. we know that

dozens are still missing and in a small community like this, that really hits everyone. it causes a lot of distress and a lot of sadness. lot of distress and a lot of sadness-— lot of distress and a lot of sadness. , ., , ., sadness. tell us a little bit more about the site _ sadness. tell us a little bit more about the site if _ sadness. tell us a little bit more about the site if you _ sadness. tell us a little bit more about the site if you could. - sadness. tell us a little bit more about the site if you could. we l sadness. tell us a little bit more l about the site if you could. we are 'ust on about the site if you could. we are just on the — about the site if you could. we are just on the southern _ about the site if you could. we are just on the southern edge - about the site if you could. we are just on the southern edge of- about the site if you could. we are just on the southern edge of the l just on the southern edge of the capital, st helier, this happened at a place called pier road. we know that one block of flats has been destroyed. we know that yesterday, residents called the fire service because they were concerned about the smell of gas. we know that not a huge amount of action was taken and thatis huge amount of action was taken and that is one of the big questions that is one of the big questions thatis that is one of the big questions that is emerging from what has happened today. we that is emerging from what has happened today. that is emerging from what has ha- tened toda . . , ., ., happened today. we understand that one terson happened today. we understand that one person has _ happened today. we understand that one person has died, _ happened today. we understand that one person has died, what _ happened today. we understand that one person has died, what can - happened today. we understand that one person has died, what can you . one person has died, what can you tell us about those that are injured, how have emergency services, the hospitals responded?

the health department today said that unless you really have to do, do not go to a&e because they are quite overwhelmed by the number of injuries that we have had. so it is quite a desperate situation in that sense. we know that some in the hospital are walking wounded, so there is some positives with those injuries. i spoke to one man this morning who was dragged from his flat by the fire service, but his injuries weren't too significant, a lot of people were treated at the town hall. we do know that the accident and emergency is quite overwhelmed at the moment which is why they have told people, do not come unless you really have to. i understand that the police have said they are not going to rule out further casualties, any idea in terms of how many people would have beenin terms of how many people would have been in the block of flats at the time of the explosion? what would have been going on? this happened

around 4am — have been going on? this happened around 4am so _ have been going on? this happened around 4am so a _ have been going on? this happened around 4am so a lot _ have been going on? this happened around 4am so a lot of— have been going on? this happened around 4am so a lot of people - have been going on? this happened | around 4am so a lot of people would have been in bed. with dozens missing, that is a concerning number. we don't know exactly how many were in the flats at the time, this affected a few blocks but one has been most significantly damaged. we are an clear on the numbers at the moment but what is clear that dozens are missing and this would have been a time that people were in the flats, sleeping, they wouldn't have been out and about. so that is concerning. brute have been out and about. so that is concerning-— concerning. we will leave it there for now. thank _ concerning. we will leave it there for now. thank you _ concerning. we will leave it there for now. thank you so _ concerning. we will leave it there for now. thank you so much - concerning. we will leave it there for now. thank you so much for. concerning. we will leave it there i for now. thank you so much for that update. 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. the bbc�*s akbar hossain is in dhaka. the main opposition, bnp, is demanding a new trial nonparty caretaker government to oversee the next general elections, which is said to be held byjanuary 202a. bnp says there is credible evidence of vote rigging in the last general elections which took place in 2018. ballot boxes were stuffed on the night before the election took place. political protest backed at a time in the country is facing unprecedented inflation. the government is struggling to pay import bills due to the dollar crisis. it is widely believed that some people associated with the ruling party siphoned off millions of dollars from bangladesh and invested in some western countries. the present government, led by is widely accused of human rights violations,

corruption and curdling freedom of exsion. last year, the united states imposed targeted sanctions on bangladesh's rapid action battalion which is an elite force for their gross human rights violation. but the government says they have achieved sustained economic growth in the last ia years and the opposition is trying to create instability in the country in the name of political rallying. but western countries are closely observing bangladesh's situation. recently the united states and the un office raised concerns about bangladesh's political situation. they urged bangladesh government to respect rule of law, and ensure freedom of exsion and peaceful gathering. 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.

most strep a infections are mild, and severe or complicated cases remain rare. to hong kong — where one of the leading critics of the chinese government has been jailed — after being found guilty of fraud. jimmy lai — known for his pro—democracy media organisation apple daily, which was shut down by the authorities last year, was sentenced to five years and nine months forfraud. mr lai was already behind bars, for attending a vigil marking the massacre in tiananmen square, and is facing further charges under the national security laws which the government in beijing has imposed on hong kong. here's our hong kong correspondent, danny vincent. when the national security law was first introduced here in beijing, many supporters and activists, they sanimmy lai as a potential target of this law.

he has indeed been arrested under that law, the trial is yet to begin, but in the time in between, he has already been in custody for two years. and today, we have seen that he has been sentenced for another trial. another charge. now, the judge said that this case is not political, it's not related to media freedom, of course, the hong kong authorities would say that hong kong remains a city which is ruled by law, but many critics would argue now that the introduction of the national security law has changed the landscape here. the united states and the uk have warned that russia and iran are devloping a fully—fledged defence partnership, with serious consequences for ukraine and iran's neighbours. the pentagon says iran is now russia's top military backer, supplying hundreds of drones that have been used to attack ukrainian infrastructure. speaking in new york,

britain's ambassador to the un, barbara woodward, outlined the uk's concerns about the unofficial agreement. russia is now attempting to attain more weapons including hundreds of ballistic missiles. in return, russia is offering iran an unprecedented level of military and technical support. we are concerned that russia intends to provide iran with more advanced military components. which will allow iran to strengthen their weapons capability. conservation experts say the "sea cow" is being driven to the edge of extinction. according to an update of the international union for the conservation of nature's red list, the dugong is almost wiped out in some parts of the world. 0ur science correspondent victoria gill sent this report

from the un biodiversity conference in montreal. the red list is something no creature wants to be on. it's a list of more than 40,000 species now threatened with extinction. and the international union for the conservation of nature revealed the latest update to this list here at the biodiversity talks in montreal. it laid out what conservationists have called a barrage of threats to the marine world. marine species are facing unsustainable fishing and by—catch, poaching, criminal networks, pollution, climate change, disease. the pillar coral that's found throughout the caribbean is now deemed critically endangered, threatened by pollution and warming seas. many other species feed and live on these corals. the dugong, a large grazing marine mammal is now on the brink of extinction, with trawling and pollution

wrecking its habitat. what is happening here in montreal aims to turn this around by agreeing a global deal to protect nature. indigenous people, many of whom live in some of the most biodiverse places on earth, are here to remind all of those countries that their rights are a fundamental part of that. where we are able to protect our territories and practice our traditional livelihoods, that is where nature remains and biodiversity remains. so these are hot spots that are left. the most biodiverse areas are indigenous people i and local communities' areas. places where they live. not places where guards - are wearing uniforms and guns to guard, no. it's where people live, i because then they know the value of this biodiversity, and that is why they live i in harmony with it. there are almost two weeks left of these negotiations, but there are already some concerns that there is a lot

of division remaining between all the countries, particularly on how to pay for the protection of biodiversity. with a million species now facing extinction according to the un, this is being called a last chance for the natural world. a government adviser on curbing violence against women has said she won't continue in the role because she doesn't want to serve under the home secretary, suella braverman. nimco ali criticised ms braverman's approach to women's rights saying she was �*on another planet�* on the issue. allies of the home secrertary insisted she takes the issue incredibly seriously. sir eltonjohn has become the latest celebrity to leave twitter since its acquisition by tesla boss elon musk. the singer blamed the platform's "change in policy" around misinformation without elaborating. in what could be his last ever tweet, the rocket man singer wrote:

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 limpet�*s 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, iappearto have

embarrassed myself. again. many of us will be spending time with family and friends this christmas, but despite the festivities, there are people for whom this time of year is one of the loneliest. two californian film—makers have made a movie, focusing on what they see as the growing pandemic of loneliness. it features people from across the world, including the united states, canada and here in the uk, asjoanne writtle reports. and i have been lonely. ijust managed to pull myself up and start again. but, oh, yes, i know what it's like to be lonely. 11 years ago, lynn west's husband, john, died suddenly of a heart attack aged 74. neighbours in the shropshire village of marton rallied round, but four years later she moved to shrewsbury for a fresh start, joining an exercise class.

i think when you went out somewhere and you were with lots of people, and you can be with lots of people, but you can still be lonely, it was when i went home. i went into an empty house. the isolated and lonely are the invisible in this world. a film about loneliness featuring people from america and shropshire, features a usually outgoing lynn volunteering as a telephone buddy for age uk, calling lonely people for a chat. it was good because it brought to light the problems of being lonely, and that's why i'd like to encourage other people that i've been like that. i have come on. and i've tried very hard. and loneliness isn'tjust some mildly unpleasant... the film premiered at the old market hall in shrewsbury. it was masterminded by film—makers stu maddux and joe appelbaum from san francisco. as we were looking at different stories, we found some - in very remote areas.

we found some in very urban areas like new york or london. _ and then we found stories happening i here in shropshire that really kind i