this is bbc news with the latest headlines: one person has died and a dozen are 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. 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. actress ruth madoc has died aged 79. she was best known for starring in bbc sitcom hi—de—hi! parts of the uk have been warned to expect severe conditions this weekend. manchester airport have just

reopened their runways after closing them today due to �*heavy snow�*. good afternoon. at least one person is dead — and around another dozen people are missing after an explosion brought down a block of flats on jersey. the blast happened in the early hours of the morning — in the capital, st helier. jersey police say residents had reported smelling gas in the area. a warning, that this report from our correspondent, robert hall, contains footage of the explosion. we will try to bring you that report in a little bit later, apologies for that.

the england team are preparing to play france, for a place in the last 4 of the men's football world cup. they take on the reigning champions this evening, in the quarter finals of the tournament in qatar. here's our sports correspondent, natalie pirks. it's not quite the big one. but when the undercard played out in doha this morning... that's an england ball, isn't it? ..the goals were flying in. a 7—4 victory to england over their friends from across the channel. england's a—team haven't quite found it so easy. the last two major tournaments have ended in heartbreak. it's mandzukic, is that the goal that has finished off england's world cup? but, as gareth southgate bids to become the first manager to lead england into two world cup semi—finals, he says his team are ready. some defeats that have hurt, but we've learned a lot from. and they prepare you for nights where you have got to produce the very best version of yourselves. we are ready to fight france for that place in the semifinal.

so far it's been plain sailing here in qatarfor england, they have only conceded two goals and have kept consecutive clean sheets in their last three games. but the world champions bring choppier water ahead. mbappe. france have scored nine goals in qatar, with each of the last seven scored 0rde assisted by this guy. inevitable... france are unbeaten in kylian mbappe�*s 13 starts at major tournaments. no wonder they love him. as a guy, he is incredible, - nobody can stop, they want to stop, but they can't stop. of course i don't say we will win for sure, but i think we have the biggest chances and now we have to prove it. france's individual talent undoubtedly shines, but might england boast the better team? sometimes tactics go out the window, sometimes all the training you've done goes out the window, and it comes down to a togetherness, a team spirit and that counts for a lot.

that is a big difference between this generation and my generation. it's thought around 9,000 england supporters could be in the stadium tonight, so how are fans�* nerves holding out? my head may go france, my heart goes england. for every mbappe, we have got a saka, a foden, a grealish. i we are really strong, - it's a good squad and i'm confident for a 2—1win. i don't think we need to go in with an inferiority complex, i think we've got a team good enough to win the world cup. a win for england tonight would set up their third consecutive major tournament semifinal. the french might call that deja vu, england will be opening it is not au revoir. let's cross over to qatar and to the al—bayt stadium where england will face france later this evening, alex howell is there for us. iam here

i am here at the stadium, has turned into a home ground for england, this will be the third time they play in the stadium and all of the dog going into it is their first real match they played in this world cup. it will be interesting to see and the discussion is around whether gareth southgate will give the team to attack and play the exciting football they have done so far in this tournament, or whether they will revert back to how they have donein will revert back to how they have done in previous campaigns and be more defensive, going back towards that back vibe. the branch manager has said england have no weaknesses, that could be mind games orjust a truly respect. by the time england play later they will know the three other teams in the semifinal and, come the end of the game, against the world champion, they will be hoping that they are the fourth one joining them in the semifinals. alex, thank you.

some sad news from the tournament where a prominent football journalist from the united states has died while covering the tournament. 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. a little earlier, henry winter, chief football writer at the times paid tribute to mr wahl. anyone who met him was immediately enthused by him, this was his eighth world cup, i have known him since france 1998, he wasjust world cup, i have known him since france 1998, he was just so passionate about the game, passionate about the game, passionate about the game, passionate about our industry, that fantastic career he passionate about our industry, that fantastic caree— fantastic career he has been doing amazin: fantastic career he has been doing amazing work— fantastic career he has been doing amazing work with _ fantastic career he has been doing amazing work with others - fantastic career he has been doing amazing work with others and - fantastic career he has been doing| amazing work with others and also with american television. he had his own podcast as well, so he embraced all of the new industries, he had

this huge passion forfootball, soccer as he used to call it. i saw him three or four times out here, soccer as he used to call it. i saw him three orfour times out here, i would always put him up on the word soccer. but he promoted a soccer, football in the united states, probably one of the reasons why they are going to be good hosts in for years' time, because his passion, his writing, he is almost evangelical zeal to promote the sport in his homeland and also to get behind the men puzzling national team and the women's national team, he has done so much for women puzzle of kabul around the world and i think a lot of the tributes have been made to an adult about his values on his conscience, if you look at his outpourings from his out but it has been about migrant workers, about homophobia and he is going to leave a huge hole in the box. services have resumed at manchester airport after dozens of dozens of flights

were disrupted by snow. both runways were closed for a time this morning disrupting around 2a flights. in a statement the airport operation company said, "we are advising all passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline." here in the uk, 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. specialists from the uk health security agency are working with brighton and hove council and the child's school to keep parents informed, but say that serious complications from the bug remain rare. 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. the �*reichsburger�* movement in germany was catapulted into the headlines this week,

after 25 members and their aristocrat leader were arrested in co—ordinated raids by anti—terror police. accused of plotting to overthrow the government with violence, they're part of a small, but growing number of people in germany who refuse to accept the country's post—war government as legitimate. jenny hill went to visit one such group, whose self—declared independent kingdom in the east of germany even has its own currency. deep in the german countryside, an invisible border. we're stepping into the self—proclaimed kingdom of germany, and i've come to meet the king. a sign on the door tells us we're now temporarily his subjects. peter i, as he likes to be known, has minted his own currency, made his own laws and recruited around 5,000 citizens. why?

people who are corrupt, criminal or willing to be used thrive in it, translation: the german system is fascism and satanism. _ people who are corrupt, criminal or willing to be used thrive in it, and those with an honest heart who want to change the world for the better, for the common good, don't have a chance. the kingdom is expanding, buying up land, building outposts. we visited one of its newest colonies. we're told about 30 people live here. they don't pay german taxes, won't send their children to school, plan their own healthcare system. and they don't observe german law. benjamin, who speaks for the community, lives here with his young family. translation: if someone lives on german territory, _ of course he is subject to its laws. that's fine. but if someone has practically no connection to germany and spends his life in the kingdom, then our laws apply. the people we have been speaking to are known as reichsburger,

"citizens of the reich". the name may sound familiar. just a few days ago, several reichsburger were arrested for allegedly planning the violent overthrow of the german government. the people we have met in the kingdom of germany say they have no violent intentions. nevertheless, the country's intelligence agencies say they do represent a threat, because they peddle conspiracy theory and extremist ideology. not true, says the king. but he's found a new audience — those who deny covid, reject the vaccine. and he's planning a tv channel. many dismissed reichsburger — the kingdom of germany was a bit of a joke. germany is learning to take them seriously. jenny hill, bbc news, eibenstock. let's return to our top story, at least one person is dead and around

another devon dozen people are missing after an explosion broad and a block of flats injersey. robert hall reports. just to warn you this footage contains footage from the explosion. it sounded like a roll of thunder according to eyewitnesses. the explosion happened on a hillside street overlooking st helier�*s harbour. this is the moment captured on a close circuit television camera on a cafe half a mile away. emergency services were on the scene within a few minutes. they found one three storey block of flats virtually demolished, with adjoining buildings on fire or badly damaged. the explosion hurled debris and glass over an area several hundred yards across. every available emergency vehicle was sent to the scene, as island authorities declared a major incident and the hospital's casualty department closed to non—urgent cases. fire crews helped some people from the area, but police confirmed that one individual had died, and that more casualties were likely. you know, it is hard to speculate,

and i wouldn't want to speculate on those sorts of things. there is a reality to this, of course, and we should probably condition ourselves to that or at least consider that, but you know, i want us to be hopeful that we will start that search. but there has to be a recognition that we could have more fatalities, of course. the priority now is to begina search of the building, but police say the site is still highly dangerous and they have sought help from hampshire fire service. meanwhile dozens of people have been evacuated to the town hall and provided with clothing, food and warmth, while efforts are under way to rehouse them as temperatures continue to fall. this is the second tragedy to hit jersey in the past few days. the island is still grieving the loss of three fishermen following a collision between their vessel and a ferry. a recovery operation is due to begin tomorrow. we all come together at the hard times, and support each other. that is what we do, and i think it is through those hard times

that we really understand what it means to be a community. the cause of the explosion is unconfirmed but police are following up information that fire crews were called to the flats in the hours before the flats, following concerns about a smell of gas. a search for further victims expected to last several days. back to the world cup now — where kick—off in the first game morocco v portugal nears, let's hear from some moroccan fans. joining us now from east london is moroccan restauranter, nadine. welcome, thank you for taking the time to speak to us on bbc news, medina, did you ever envisage that you would see morocco get this far? —— nadine. i you would see morocco get this far? -- nadine. .

you would see morocco get this far? -- nadine-— -- nadine. i am 'ust very happy we have not -- nadine. i am 'ust very happy we have got this — -- nadine. i amjust very happy we have got this far. _ -- nadine. i amjust very happy we have got this far. did _ -- nadine. i amjust very happy we have got this far. did you _ -- nadine. i amjust very happy we have got this far. did you ever- have got this far. did you ever anticipate this might happen, how much of a shock was it? how much of a shocker we come through i think everyone is so elated that we got through this far that we did think that this year we have a solid team and a good team, so i do think we area and a good team, so i do think we are a strong team this time so i do think that we could have seen this coming. this year yes we could have seen it coming. find coming. this year yes we could have seen it coming-— seen it coming. and what has a success so _ seen it coming. and what has a success so far _ seen it coming. and what has a success so far in _ seen it coming. and what has a success so far in the _ seen it coming. and what has a l success so far in the tournament done for the community of moroccan fans? figs done for the community of moroccan fans? �* , , ., done for the community of moroccan fans? m y., done for the community of moroccan fans? m , done for the community of moroccan fans? as you can see, supporters are toaether fans? as you can see, supporters are together and _ fans? as you can see, supporters are together and it — fans? as you can see, supporters are together and it is _ fans? as you can see, supporters are together and it is not... _ fans? as you can see, supporters are together and it is not... when - fans? as you can see, supporters are together and it is not... when we - together and it is not... when we come together we share the tables, we share our space and we are open to all of the moroccans and we are just happy to be together, support our teams, support our country, so yes, it has brought us all together.

and how do you feel that they are going to be doing today? what is your prediction,...— your prediction,... what is our prediction? — your prediction,... what is our prediction? 2-1. _ your prediction,... what is our prediction? 2-1. 21 _ your prediction,... what is our prediction? 2-1. 21 easy! - prediction? 2-1. 21 easy! realistically, _ prediction? 2-1. 21 easy! realistically, obviously l prediction? 2-1. 21 easy! i realistically, obviously not prediction? 2-1. 21 easy! - realistically, obviously not one to rain on your parade, but realistically, how far down that close do you think they can get that result? i close do you think they can get that result? ., , .., close do you think they can get that result? ., , .. ~ result? i do believe we can, i think it is definitely... _ result? i do believe we can, i think it is definitely... it _ result? i do believe we can, i think it is definitely... it is _ result? i do believe we can, i think it is definitely... it is going - result? i do believe we can, i think it is definitely... it is going to - it is definitely... it is going to be a bit of luck but our skill set has been fantastic this year and our team has played phenomenally, so i actually do think we can do the tu— one and i am looking forward to celebrating our win tonight. nadine and all the other— celebrating our win tonight. nadine and all the other fans, _ celebrating our win tonight. nadine and all the other fans, thank - celebrating our win tonight. nadine and all the other fans, thank you i and all the other fans, thank you for speaking to us and i hope for all your sakes that we get the tu — one results that you are hoping for. we shall see. fingers crossed. thank

you! cheering you are watching bbc news. it is just past to 15 pm. the actress ruth madoc has died at the age of 79. she was best known for her portrayal of gladys pugh, in the 1980s, bbc comedy — �*hi—de—hi!�* she also appeared in the second series of �*little britain', as daffyd thomas' mother. yesterday, it was reported she'd been forced to pull out of a christmas panto after being hospitalised due to an accident earlier this week. let's talk to the actor jeffrey holland who starred as spike in "hi—de—hi!" alongside ruth madoc. sorry for your loss and thank you so much for taking the time to speak to us when this must all still feel quite raw. tell us, what are your memories of her? it quite raw. tell us, what are your memories of her?— quite raw. tell us, what are your memories of her? it is always sad when somebody _

memories of her? it is always sad when somebody you _ memories of her? it is always sad when somebody you work - memories of her? it is always sad when somebody you work with - memories of her? it is always sad when somebody you work with for memories of her? it is always sad i when somebody you work with for a long time passes away and we were together for a long time, long time passes away and we were togetherfor a long time, notjust in weight but also in the stage show, i did several pantomimes. not just in hi—de—hi. she was a wonderful performer and she will be greatly missed. her wonderful performer and she will be greatly missed-— wonderful performer and she will be greatly missed. her character was so iconic in hi-de-hi _ greatly missed. her character was so iconic in hi-de-hi and _ greatly missed. her character was so iconic in hi-de-hi and loved, - greatly missed. her character was so iconic in hi-de-hi and loved, she - iconic in hi—de—hi and loved, she was also very skilled actress on stage screen. was also very skilled actress on stage screen-— was also very skilled actress on state screen. , ., , ., , stage screen. indie she was, a very talented musical— stage screen. indie she was, a very talented musical performer - stage screen. indie she was, a very talented musical performer as - stage screen. indie she was, a very talented musical performer as well| talented musical performer as well with a wonderful singing voice and her history goes back a long way to minstrel shows and all of that back in the 1960s. it was a joy to work with somebody like her. we have such laughs, i was very lucky to work with that comedy crew and we just never stopped laughing from the morning to night and i will have

those memories of her forever. morning to night and i will have those memories of herforever. she has left us a wonderful legacy. i has left us a wonderful legacy. i imagine at the antics on set and the amount of fun you would have had with your co—stars, it would have been just a laugh a day. with your co—stars, it would have beenjust a laugh a day. it with your co-stars, it would have been just a laugh a day.- been 'ust a laugh a day. it was, i was beenjust a laugh a day. it was, i was very lucky — beenjust a laugh a day. it was, i was very lucky to _ beenjust a laugh a day. it was, i was very lucky to do _ beenjust a laugh a day. it was, i was very lucky to do a _ beenjust a laugh a day. it was, i was very lucky to do a job - beenjust a laugh a day. it was, i was very lucky to do a job like i beenjust a laugh a day. it was, i i was very lucky to do a job like that that we could have such fun doing a job you liked. wejust had that we could have such fun doing a job you liked. we just had such a laugh together. it really was great fun. ~ , ., , ., laugh together. it really was great fun. ~ , ., ~' laugh together. it really was great fun. ~ , ., y., 4' ., fun. why do you think her role resonated _ fun. why do you think her role resonated so _ fun. why do you think her role resonated so much _ fun. why do you think her role resonated so much with - fun. why do you think her role - resonated so much with audiences and why was her role so well loved? because it was the frustration of the character, she drew on her own ancestry, i will drag that wonderful voice up, exaggerated welsh valleys voice, they call her revamp from the valleys and she played a lot of people she knew, a lot of people she had grown up with, as a role model for the voice of the characterisation and it was the

frustration, she was trying to flirt with simon in the first few series and then when he left, david griffin came along and the roles were reversed, because he did of letting and she did the fending off, the show survived, she survived that, the character survive that, that is how good she was. at, the character survive that, that is how good she was.— the character survive that, that is how good she was. a whole portfolio of work in the _ how good she was. a whole portfolio of work in the decades _ how good she was. a whole portfolio of work in the decades since - how good she was. a whole portfolio of work in the decades since and - of work in the decades since and even up until recently she was still working, she was due to be in that pantomime even at her age are? yes. pantomime even at her age are? yes, she had a pantomime, _ pantomime even at her age are? yes she had a pantomime, she was going into a national tour of the marigold hotel which is on stage as well, she had a lot of work to look forward to, it is such a tragedy, but there you go. it to, it is such a tragedy, but there ou o. . , , to, it is such a tragedy, but there ouo. . , , ., ~ to, it is such a tragedy, but there ou o. ., , , ., ~ to, it is such a tragedy, but there ouao. ., , , ., you go. it really is, thank you so much again _ you go. it really is, thank you so much again for— you go. it really is, thank you so much again for taking _ you go. it really is, thank you so much again for taking the - you go. it really is, thank you so much again for taking the time | you go. it really is, thank you so| much again for taking the time to speak to us and share your lovely memories of working with her. thank you. fit. memories of working with her. thank ou. �* , ., , ., " memories of working with her. thank ou. ., 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. our 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 - 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 - 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. 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 — "it saddens me to see how misinformation is now being used "to divide our world. "i've decided to no longer use twitter, given their recent change "in policy which will allow misinformation to "flourish unchecked." in response to the announcement, mr musk said he hoped the star would return. a farm in bedfordshire has everything you might expect to see — a home to pigs, sheep and chickens plus it produces meat for local businesses. but it also provides a route into a career in 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.

beautiful sunshine but it is bitterly cold isn't it?- beautiful sunshine but it is bitterly cold isn't it? yes, when ou have bitterly cold isn't it? yes, when you have this — bitterly cold isn't it? yes, when you have this hunch _ bitterly cold isn't it? yes, when you have this hunch and - bitterly cold isn't it? yes, when you have this hunch and it - bitterly cold isn't it? yes, when i you have this hunch and it doesn't feel quite so bad, but there are some parts of the country that have not really been seen sometime today and instead have been seeing some sleet and snow falling on this is the radar over the past few hours, we have that wintry weather across many parts of scotland, and wintry showers coming into parts of north—west england, north and west wales and continuing down towards the south—west of england as well. a bit drier for northern ireland, the south—west of england as well. a bit drierfor northern ireland, best of sunshine south. we see those wintry showers wheeling down across scotland, few showers for western parts of england and wales and northern ireland, some icy conditions around following those early wintry showers and snow mainly inland. widespread frost, lowest temperatures 7 or so, we could see a bit of snow here moving down from southern scotland. a bit of ploughed through midlands, wintry flurries

here, on the whole there will be fewer showers around, driver wales and south—west are northern ireland and south—west are northern ireland and scotland seeing the way of sunshine. a cold day, struggling temperatures up to one or 2 degrees.

ukrainians hello this is bbc news. the headlines. one person has died and a dozen are still missing

after a massive explosion in a block of flats in st helier injersey. 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. i want us to be hopeful i want us i , that we start out the search but the way i want us to be hopeful at the way i want us to be hopeful at the start of the search. the head of the rmt union, mick lynch, has called for an urgent actress ruth madoc has died aged 79. she was best known for starring in bbc sitcom hi—de—hi. parts of the uk have been warned to expect severe conditions this weekend. manchester airport have just reopened their runways after closing them today due to �*heavy snow�*. now on bbc news it's time for hard talk.