this is bbc news. these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. one person has died and a dozen still missing after a massive explosion in a block of flats in st helier injersey. i want us 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. 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.

hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. 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.

the chief officer of the states ofjersey police, robin smith, gave details of the incident at a press conference. so around about, just before 4am this morning, we received a number of calls into our combined control room at the police station informing us of what was described as a large explosion. the explosion had occurred at an apartment building on pier road. a large amount of emergency services then responded to the scene, where there was a fire, which has since been extinguished byjersey fire and rescue service. a number of flats have been evacuated. casualties, of which we have currently two walking wounded, who are currently at the hospital.

but i regret to say that, tragically, we have one confirmed fatality. there are, of course, a number of other people that are unaccounted for. and therefore, a search and rescue operation has commenced. but as i'm sure you will understand, the scene is a very dangerous one for all of our staff as well. so, thejersey fire and rescue service are also speaking to colleagues in the uk, most notably, hampshire fire and rescue. we are using specialist resources to start to see if we can find anybody trapped in the rubble. importantly, those evacuated have gone to st helier town hall, and we have between 20 and 30 people there right now. states ofjersey police have put in some family liaison officers so we can provide the appropriate

support to all of those people. our reporter injersey, ammar ebrahim, has been updating us on what happened in the early hours. it's been a really 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 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.

we are 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 that is one of the big questions that is emerging from what has happened today. 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 is clive watson, the chairman of the city pub group made up of 50 pubs most of which will be showing the big game later today. lovely to have you with us on bbc news. you are already for those fans to come through the doors? definitely. we can't wait. we are not really doing bookings, people just coming in, first come first served, it's going to be a tremendous evening. served, it's going to be a tremendous evenina. ~ ., , tremendous evening. when does the tension start — tremendous evening. when does the tension start for _ tremendous evening. when does the tension start for yourselves - tremendous evening. when does the tension start for yourselves and - tremendous evening. when does the tension start for yourselves and for. tension start for yourselves and for your clientele? to tension start for yourselves and for your clientele?— your clientele? to be honest, alread . your clientele? to be honest, already- i _ your clientele? to be honest, already. i reckon _ your clientele? to be honest, already. i reckon about - your clientele? to be honest, already. i reckon about five . your clientele? to be honest, - already. i reckon about five o'clock it's going to really start revving

up it's going to really start revving up and reach a crescendo before kick—off. hopefully the boys can beat france, go through to the semifinals, but i'm sure whatever happens it will be a fantastic game. when was the last time that we've had this much excitement? do you think it was the euro is, i'm just thinking, world cup fever? i think it was the euro is, i'm 'ust thinking, world cup fever? i think the euros were _ thinking, world cup fever? i think the euros were good. _ thinking, world cup fever? i think the euros were good. in _ thinking, world cup fever? i think the euros were good. in well, - thinking, world cup fever? i thinkj the euros were good. in well, last year. croatia, as well. england have been doing well in recent tournaments and i think we are really getting behind the team, we've got a great young team, especially up front. so it's really exciting. especially up front. so it's really excitina. ., ., ., , exciting. how important our events like this for — exciting. how important our events like this for the _ exciting. how important our events like this for the industry, _ exciting. how important our events like this for the industry, for - exciting. how important our events like this for the industry, for pubs i like this for the industry, for pubs and what have you?— and what have you? massive. it's been a really _ and what have you? massive. it's been a really tough _ and what have you? massive. it's been a really tough year, - and what have you? massive. it's been a really tough year, today's| been a really tough year, today's not the time to talk about that, this is a huge boost to the whole idea of going back to the pub, having a great time, hopefully when

england score, it's notjust hugging your mates but it's hugging everyone else in the pub. it's a magical moment, we need this. the pub sector needs this, i think the country needs this, i think the country needs it. it's such a great time. i understand that you're going to be dialling into all of your pubs to find out how it is going? lilo. dialling into all of your pubs to find out how it is going?- find out how it is going? no, i didn't say _ find out how it is going? no, i didn't say that. _ find out how it is going? no, i didn't say that. i've _ find out how it is going? no, i didn't say that. i've asked - find out how it is going? no, i didn't say that. i've asked the| didn't say that. i've asked the general managers to facetime me before, during, and hopefully after. sojust before, during, and hopefully after. so just so i before, during, and hopefully after. sojust so i can before, during, and hopefully after. so just so i can savour the atmosphere as well, which is the best part of it. the atmosphere, the anticipation, the fun. hopefully, the end of the match celebrations, too. to the end of the match celebrations, too. ., , , ., , the end of the match celebrations, too. ., , , too. to see people en'oying themselves * too. to see people en'oying themselves is i too. to see people en'oying themselves is just _ too. to see people enjoying i themselves isjust contagious. too. to see people enjoying - themselves isjust contagious. thank you so much. enjoy the viewing.

thank you 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. our south asia correspondent, rajini vaidyanathan, told us how the government is responding to the protests. well, what we're hearing from dhaka at the moment is that it is hundreds of thousands who have gathered at a site in bangladesh's capital for this mass anti—government protests. in the days running up to this protest, there have been violent clashes between government security forces and supporters of the opposition, the bangladesh national party. there have been hundreds of arrests, the offices of the bangladesh national party, the party says, have been barricaded

and they say they were raided. we know that two senior figures in the party were arrested and detained yesterday, including the official who is responsible for organising today's 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. under the prime ministership of sheikh hasina and her awami league party. the government, on the other hand, denies the accusations. i spoke to the foreign minister this week, he said that bangladesh was a beacon of democracy. he said, the reason that some of those protesters were rounded up earlier this week was because they weren't gathering in the correct place. he said there is a place for people to protest peacefully but not if they are protesting unlawfully. i think the tensions could rocket up later in the day, we are hearing that mobile phone signals have been suspended in the areas where the protest sites are and that there is an increased, beefed—up security presence.

tens of thousands of airline passengers have had their travel plans disrupted by the closure of manchester airport this morning due to a heavy snowfall. both runways at the airport — which is the third busiest in the uk — were closed for several hours, and dozens of flights have been diverted or cancelled. the runways have now reopened but disruption is expected simon calder, travel correspondent of the independent, has been following events. hello, simon. what has the airport said about all of this? inert; hello, simon. what has the airport said about all of this? very simply, the airort said about all of this? very simply, the airport closed _ said about all of this? very simply, the airport closed both _ said about all of this? very simply, the airport closed both its - said about all of this? very simply, the airport closed both its runways| the airport closed both its runways shortly before 9am and this was due to heavy snowfall, of course. the airport stresses that safety is

absolutely paramount, they will not operate while there is any risk to people, and therefore, all landings and take—offs ceased. the very first landing i see came in at 11:45am, that was the delayed easyjet flight from belfast, but the passengers from belfast, but the passengers from that flight are actually doing pretty well because thousands of others are currently a long way from where they intended to be. we saw diversions as far away as paris, that was singapore airlines coming in from houston to manchester. that's going to be a challenge getting back from there. the singapore airlines flight from singapore airlines flight from singapore itself landed at heathrow where it was alongside the virgin atlantic flight from orlando to manchester which went to heathrow, as did ethiopian airlines from geneva. quite a lot of congestion there, as well as at birmingham, which is where ryanair has been

diverting some flights. some have also gone into east midlands and leeds bradford. stansted as well. basically, just scattered right across the uk. now, some of those planes, on those planes, the captain will have decided i'm going to wait and see when it reopens and will fly onwards, otherwise, i'm afraid it's just a matter of waiting for those buses to turn up. guess what? on a saturday in midwinter, a couple of weeks before christmas, it's not very easy, i'm afraid, to magic up buses. meanwhile, at manchester airport, departures arejust buses. meanwhile, at manchester airport, departures are just getting under way but there are thousands and thousands of people who have either seen their flights cancelled or are going to be waiting many hours. jet to tip tenerife, the good news is you're going, the bad news is you're going to be 12 hours late. any compensation for passengers? you won't aet any compensation for passengers? 7m. won't get cash compensation, this

counts as an extraordinary circumstance under european air passenger rights laws, however, the airlines are absolutely obliged to get every passenger to their destination as soon as possible. evenif destination as soon as possible. even if that means buying a ticking on another airline. and, while those passengers can't get to their destinations, and frankly, the flights at this time of year are flying very full, they have to be put up in hotels and given meals. so it's going to collectively cost the airline is some millions of pounds, it's going to cheese off a lot of passengers, and of course, it's the last thing that we needed. with more wintry weather predicted, we've already seen a lot of problems over in dublin airport both yesterday and this morning, and the fear is that we are going to see this happening again. of course, some people are going to say, well we should invest more in equipment and be better at coping with snowfalls, well we generally have a much more benign climate than places like canada and

scandinavia and switzerland so justifying that investment isn't as easy as it might be. secondly, even in places, i've been are stuck in chicago,, philadelphia, when the snow was coming down, there's nothing you can do, you have to do close the airport. a prominent footballjournalist from the united states has died while covering the world cup in qatar. grant wahl, a8, collapsed as extra time began in the argentina—netherlands game on friday night. last month, mr wahl was briefly detained by qatari authorities for trying to enter a stadium wearing a rainbow shirt, in support of lgbt rights.

were going to speak to henry winter. tell us a little bit about grant wahl. it tell us a little bit about grant wahl. . , . tell us a little bit about grant wahl. ., , ., , , ., ., tell us a little bit about grant wahl. ., ,, ., ., ., wahl. it was a desperate moment for our industry — wahl. it was a desperate moment for our industry and _ wahl. it was a desperate moment for our industry and for _ wahl. it was a desperate moment for our industry and for football - our industry and for football throughout the world because anyone who met grant wahl was immediately infused by him. this is, i hate to speak about him in the past tense, but this was his eighth world cup. i've known him since france in 1998. he was so passionate about the game, our industry, he had a fantastic career at sports illustrated, had since been doing amazing work with sub stack and also with american television. he had his own podcast as well. he embraced all the new industries, he had this huge passion for football, industries, he had this huge passion forfootball, soccer as industries, he had this huge passion for football, soccer as he industries, he had this huge passion forfootball, soccer as he used industries, he had this huge passion for football, soccer as he used to call it. i saw him about three or four times out here, we had long chats and i would always pull him up on the word soccer. he promoted soccer, football, in the united states. probably one of the reasons

why they are going to be such good hosts in four years' time because of his passion, his writing, his almost evangelical zeal to promote the sport in his homeland and also to get behind the men's national team and the women's national team. he's done so much for women's football around the world, i think a lot of the tributes have been page that talked about his values, his conscience. he wrote, looking at his outpourings, his output, it's been about migrant workers, homophobia, and he's going to leave a huge hole in the press box.— in the press box. clearly, not afraid. in the press box. clearly, not afraid- we — in the press box. clearly, not afraid. we just _ in the press box. clearly, not afraid. we just been - in the press box. clearly, not| afraid. we just been reporting in the press box. clearly, not - afraid. we just been reporting that he was detained for some time by qatari authorities for wearing that rainbow t—shirt. how did he reflect on that? he rainbow t-shirt. how did he reflect on that? . , rainbow t-shirt. how did he reflect on that? ., , ., , on that? he was quite sanguine, as grant always _ on that? he was quite sanguine, as grant always was. _ on that? he was quite sanguine, as grant always was. he's _ on that? he was quite sanguine, as grant always was. he's got - on that? he was quite sanguine, as grant always was. he's got his - grant always was. he's got his values, he doesn'tjust talk, he doesn'tjust right, he puts it out there. he wore that rainbow t—shirt.

that is the way that grant lived his life. he was so passionate about football, so passionate about values, in 201“ got a call from him saying i'm standing for fifa president. i said you're far too honourable and principled to do that but it was because he was so determined to make a difference and make a change, he felt that football's leadership globally needed to have more ethics. unfortunately it didn't work because he didn't get the support of a national association, and sepp blatter sadly continued, and ijust think that the world of football would have been a better place if grant had actually been able to run, been able to bring his influence and his passion for football and been able to bring his influence and his passion forfootball and his lack of ego to actually help the world of football.— lack of ego to actually help the world of football. thank you for 'oinin~ world of football. thank you for joining us- _ world of football. thank you for joining us. reflecting _ world of football. thank you for joining us. reflecting on - world of football. thank you for joining us. reflecting on the . world of football. thank you for i joining us. reflecting on the death of grant wahl who collapsed at the age of 48 in doha whilst reporting on the world cup. we're going to

stay with the events in doha now and joining me is the manager of an english themed pub in paris. hello and good morning to you. thank you forjoining us. what's the atmosphere like where you are? it’s atmosphere like where you are? it's treat. atmosphere like where you are? it�*s great. it's quite quiet right now but everybody is preparing for tonight. it's going to be a big show, a big game.— tonight. it's going to be a big show, a big game.- tonight. it's going to be a big show, a big game. how big? how is this bein: show, a big game. how big? how is this being regarded _ show, a big game. how big? how is this being regarded in _ show, a big game. how big? how is this being regarded in france? - this being regarded in france? everybody will watch the game, even people that are not football fans. everybody will be in the pub or at home with friends watching the game tonight, for sure. paris home with friends watching the game tonight, for sure.— tonight, for sure. paris itself is home of a _ tonight, for sure. paris itself is home of a very _ tonight, for sure. paris itself is home of a very big _ tonight, for sure. paris itself is home of a very big football- tonight, for sure. paris itself is i home of a very big football club, paris saint—germain, how our prescience, how are the french regarding the english as a threat? not really. i think we know that the

english team is a good team, but, we think that we are better than you so we are saying bring it on for tonight. we are saying bring it on for toniaht. ~ ., ., ._ tonight. we are worried, i say in inverted commas, _ tonight. we are worried, i say in inverted commas, about - tonight. we are worried, i say in inverted commas, about kylianl inverted commas, about kylian mbappe. he was a threat on the english team for the french? i think it is harry kane. _ english team for the french? i think it is harry kane. your— english team for the french? i think it is harry kane. your captain. - english team for the french? i think it is harry kane. your captain. but l it is harry kane. your captain. but in back —— kylian mbappe will be better. 50 in back -- kylian mbappe will be better, ., ., in back -- kylian mbappe will be better. ., ., , ., in back -- kylian mbappe will be better. ., ., ., ., better. so what are you going to have in terms _ better. so what are you going to have in terms of— better. so what are you going to have in terms of preparations i better. so what are you going to have in terms of preparations in | have in terms of preparations in terms of some of the venues in paris? �* ., ~' terms of some of the venues in paris? �* ., ~ , , ,., paris? i'm working in the pub so it is auoin paris? i'm working in the pub so it is going to — paris? i'm working in the pub so it is going to be _ paris? i'm working in the pub so it is going to be big. _ paris? i'm working in the pub so it is going to be big, we _ paris? i'm working in the pub so it is going to be big, we are - paris? i'm working in the pub so it. is going to be big, we are preparing food, we are preparing the air especially, because we are going to have english but also a lot of french people coming to the english pub to watch the game. they will

need to eat and to drink. i pub to watch the game. they will need to eat and to drink.- need to eat and to drink. i take it ou've need to eat and to drink. i take it you've got _ need to eat and to drink. i take it you've got burgers _ need to eat and to drink. i take it you've got burgers and _ need to eat and to drink. i take it you've got burgers and chips - need to eat and to drink. i take it you've got burgers and chips on | need to eat and to drink. i take it i you've got burgers and chips on the menu? , .. , �* , you've got burgers and chips on the menu? , , �* ,., menu? yes, exactly. burgers and chis. menu? yes, exactly. burgers and chips- quite _ menu? yes, exactly. burgers and chips. quite normal— menu? yes, exactly. burgers and chips. quite normalfor_ menu? yes, exactly. burgers and chips. quite normal for the - menu? yes, exactly. burgers and| chips. quite normalfor the french watching a football game. find watching a football game. and finall , watching a football game. and finally. you — watching a football game. and finally, you think _ watching a football game. and finally, you think the french are going to win. by what score? what's your prediction? i going to win. by what score? what's your prediction?— your prediction? i think 2-1 for france. thank— your prediction? i think 2-1 for france. thank you _ your prediction? i think 2-1 for france. thank you very - your prediction? i think 2-1 for france. thank you very much. | 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. an eight—year—old boy in central india has been found dead more than 72 hours after he fell into a bore well. frantic attempts had been made to free tanmay sahu,

who got stuck 15 metres down the well in madhya pradesh state on tuesday. rescue workers spent more than three days digging a shaft parallel to the well and pumping oxygen to tanmay, but could not reach him in time. the bbc�*s salman ravi sent this report from the site of the well. it was on the 6th of december that the eight—year—old boy tanmay sahu living in battle district of madhya pradesh. he fell into a 60 feet deep bore well which is situated right below my feet here. and you can see here that this has been filled up, but for the last four days, the rescue operations to bring him out alive, they actually failed because this morning, the rescue teams, they recovered his body. authorities say that the main problem was that even though they had dug up a parallel ramp, they were facing difficulties because of the rocky terrain. there are rocks beneath the surface and that is why they could not dig

up much further into this area and reach the boy. ultimately, after four days when they managed to actually reach that boy inside that bore well, he was already dead by then. these bore wells are a big problem in india. boreholes like these are actually constructed to plough the fields, to irrigate the fields, and when the water dries up, most of the farmers, they leave the boreholes open. and according to a report by national disaster response force, since 2009, there have been around a0 deaths of children due to these incidents. there are around 7 million such bore wells throughout the country. but tanmay was very unlucky to survive this, though. in 2006, prince, as a young boy in haryana, he made the headlines when 48 hours long operation could actually save his life. but tanmay was not

that lucky to survive. you're watching bbc news. we're going to bring you some breaking news regarding roof magic. we understand via her agent that she has died at the age of 79 —— ruth maddock. we understand that she had been rushed to hospital earlier this week following an accident which had forced her to pull out of pantomime performances in the torquay area.

she has died aged 79, rushed to hospital earlier this week following an accident. the �*inclusive farm' in bedfordshire has everything you might expect on a working farm — it's home to pigs, sheep, goats and chickens and produces meat for local businesses. it also provides a route into agriculture for people with disabilities. it was set up by mike duxbury, who lost his sight when he was six and believes he's the only blind farmer in britain. nicola hasler has been to meet him. this is how mike duxbury sees his farm. through a series of carefully designed memory aides that tell him where he is. the only blind farmer in britain, mike has a point to prove — that disability is not a hindrance to working in agriculture. blindness and everything else aside, ijust wanted to be a farmer. i put all the fences up.

i built the barn behind me. you know, i do and do and keep doing. and to me, it'sjust the best life ever. you know, i'm doing what i always dreamt. not many people get to where they dreamed to be. and finally, i'm there. mike wanted to share his dream with young people who have their own additional needs. and since the farm opened a year ago, students from milton keynes college have been coming here to get valuable hands—on experience. so every pig that comes on the farm has to be identified. inside his ear has got some raised veins. i always go for the second, the middle two veins. and place the gun... he's helping us to learn for the future and to be confident. he's a nice man to work with. the first time i came here,

i was nervous, shy. then me and mike, like a bond together. proud as punch. makes everything we've planned, all worthwhile. you know, to somebody like leona, adam, they've all come along and they're all learning something. well, agriculture is one of the industries least likely to employ people with any kind of disability. but this working farm wants to try and change that by offering students the skills to start their careers. somebody else can have a go. the first year was really strange. i never worked with any of the animals before, i and when i got used to it, i had more confidence - in myself doing it. really what we've got to do is show the world what disabled people can do. so if they can get students in and they came out with certificates, then we can

demonstrate to the world around us, don'tjust shut the door on people, give them a chance. mike wants to take on students with disabilities from more schools and colleges, but he needs funding to expand his farm and his vision of a more equal world. if you think it's been cold so far this week, it'll be colder still through this weekend as the freezing fog lingers and the grey clouds are with us. still concerns with ice and snow. we have seen snow showers across scotland, north—east england, north—west and england, down into the midlands, wales and the southwest this morning. snow in land because it's cold. temperatures 1—2,

with fog lingering