to the wreck of the titanic. five people are on board the vessel, including pakistani businessman shahzada dawood and his son, and british billionaire, hamish harding. controversial influencer andrew tate is charged in romania with rape, human trafficking and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women. former chancellor, george osborne, tells the uk's covid inquiry that britain never had a plan for lockdown. french police search the headquarters of the organising committee for next year's paris olympics. welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast moving news, interviews and reaction. search teams are racing against time to find a submersible vessel which has gone missing in the north atlantic,

close to the wreck of the titanic, with five people on board. ships and planes are scouring the area around 640 kilometres or 400 miles off the coast of newfoundland in canada and dropping sonar buoys to detect underwater activity. the titanic, which sank in 1912, lies nearly 4,000 metres beneath the surface. on sunday, all contact with the submersible was lost, about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive. there is only enough oxygen for up to 96 hours. in the past few moments we've had reactions from one of the men on board. this is the family of the missing british billionaire, hamish harding. they say they are very grateful for the kind harding. they say they are very gratefulfor the kind messages over the disappearance of the coast of canada of this submersible. they said they are thankful for the continued efforts of the authorities and companies that have stacked internet and rescue efforts. they say they put great faith and trust

in their expertise and that captain hamish harding is a licensed air transport pilot. they say he is a living legend of aviation, he has three guinness world records and is an explorer and entrepreneur were. they say he is extraordinarily accomplished and he has successfully undertaken challenging expeditions including but not limited to one or more orbit projects. they talk about the various things that he has done and said they are extremely proud of him and look forward to welcoming him and look forward to welcoming him home. we've also had a statement and for the boston coastguard who are leading the search and rescue operation for the submersible which is named titan. a survey completed a night radar search with people on board from the polar prince. they also said that the atlantic merlin is on its way and should arrive tomorrow. there is air support and various vessels which are both research vessels. they also said there will be a news conference at

1pm eastern standard time. of ipm eastern standard time. of course, we will be bringing back to life. david mearns is a marine scientist, oceanographer and director of �*blue water recoveries�* a deep sea shipwreck recovery company. he's also a friend of two of the men trapped under the sea. he's been speaking to our special correspondent lucy manning. i know two of the people, hamish, who was one of the people on board. they are calling themselves citizen scientists and also ph nargeolet who was a professional who had been a guide, basically taking people around the wreckage of the titanic. he had been there many times before. so tell me a little bit about hamish, who is, what he's like, how you know him? i hamish, who is, what he's like, how you know him?— hamish, who is, what he's like, how you know him? i know him for a club that we are — you know him? i know him for a club that we are involved _ you know him? i know him for a club that we are involved with, _ you know him? i know him for a club that we are involved with, the - that we are involved with, the explorers club, i met him several years ago. he is a very charming guy and in the course of a dinner, we were sitting together, by the end of it we were planning an expedition to

give with ourfamilies. 0ur families. it didn't happen because of curve age and illness is getting in the way, but he is a very charming guy, very adventurous and very professional about the way he goes about things. but he does these extreme adventures, and this was the latest one. he extreme adventures, and this was the latest one. , ., ., latest one. he is an adventure, he likes the sort _ latest one. he is an adventure, he likes the sort of _ latest one. he is an adventure, he likes the sort of challenges? - latest one. he is an adventure, he likes the sort of challenges? yes, | likes the sort of challenges? yes, he's been to _ likes the sort of challenges? yes, he's been to the _ likes the sort of challenges? yes, he's been to the bottom - likes the sort of challenges? yes, he's been to the bottom of - he's been to the bottom of the marianna trench in a manned submersible almost three times the depth of the titanic. the deepest part of the planet. he's been up into space. yes, this is something that he lives for.— that he lives for. and, the other erson that he lives for. and, the other person on _ that he lives for. and, the other person on the — that he lives for. and, the other person on the board, _ that he lives for. and, the other person on the board, paul- that he lives for. and, the other. person on the board, paul henry, that he lives for. and, the other - person on the board, paul henry, how do you know him and what is he like? i know him professionally, he is a frenchman. a former navy man and we were involved in the search for an

aircraft that crashed years ago in the atlantic. and so i know paul henry professionally and he is very well known in the titanic community. he is probably maybe one of only two people who have more dives on the wreck than he does. so he understands what it looks like on the sea bed and that provides that service is an expert guide. notjust looking back, but also giving people the history and the context of the shipwreck. so they are the two people that i know, friends, we are in a small community. when something like this happens, we all try to band together to come up with ideas about how we can help the search and rescue that is ongoing. i'd it must be very stressful for you to know two of the people who are missing? yes, it brings it home personally. that is the difference. this also happens to be my field, search and recovery. but when it is involving

people let you know personally, the impact is bigger. so when i found out, initially, that hamish was on board, that was very upsetting. and then when later in the day, that paul henry was also with him in the sub, which was almost a typical thing to expect. they would have gotten on fantastically well, these two characters. that really started to make the day a lot worse. i guess, normally when you are involved with search and rescue, you have some sort of detachment, but here, there is not a level of dust went on this?— here, there is not a level of dust went on this? ., , ., ~ went on this? know, but we are like professionally _ went on this? know, but we are like professionally. we'll _ went on this? know, but we are like professionally. we'll try _ went on this? know, but we are like professionally. we'll try to - went on this? know, but we are like professionally. we'll try to come - went on this? know, but we are like professionally. we'll try to come up| professionally. we'll try to come up with ideas and suggestions and, you know, there are people on the scene that are dealing with it in real life. and what we are trying to do is provide input and ideas to help them. and sir, i am is provide input and ideas to help them. and sir, iam not is provide input and ideas to help them. and sir, i am not involved is provide input and ideas to help them. and sir, iam not involved in them. and sir, iam not involved in the real search planning, i am just they're trying to support our own

community. and yes, because it is somebody that you know, you are putting more effort into it, and you? this isn't the casual occurrence for us, this is something thatis occurrence for us, this is something that is personal. they are friends, but they are also part of our small community. but they are also part of our small community-— community. and how does that community _ community. and how does that community work? _ community. and how does that community work? it _ community. and how does that community work? it is - community. and how does that community work? it is people | community. and how does that. community work? it is people that are involved with the search and rescue. how is it working today to try and support the effort? it is hard to know _ try and support the effort? it 3 hard to know because there are people probably all over notjust hard to know because there are people probably all over not just to contribute to the globe, providing input. hamish had just come from a meeting with a lot of people and so they all were aware of it. we've been working in whatsapp groups to try and come up with ideas. trying to come up with suggestions, those of those who come up with this professionally are trying to help as much as possible. maybe that has

shortened the time frame, because thatis shortened the time frame, because that is the issue here. time is of the essence. there is a limited life supply for a situation like this, and so time is of the essence. so anything you can do to come up with anything you can do to come up with an idea, if you have a contact, you can get through to somebody faster, even 30 minutes, that could possibly help to make the difference. find help to make the difference. and what to do _ help to make the difference. and what to do you — help to make the difference. and what to do you know of what is happening on the scene at the moment in terms of trying to help the search and rescue?— in terms of trying to help the search and rescue? well, there will be two different _ search and rescue? well, there will be two different searches, - search and rescue? well, there will be two different searches, one - search and rescue? well, there will be two different searches, one is i search and rescue? well, there will be two different searches, one is a | be two different searches, one is a surface search in case the submersible was able to abort the dive and come up to the surface, it would be floating on the surface and that would be a search led by mainly ships and aircraft. the us coast guard and the canadian coastguard are involved in that, i think the boston coastguard are leading it. and that is mostly a visual search but also using radar to try and

visually find the submersible. the problem with that is, if it is on the surface, it is now moving and is no longer fixed. the surface, it is now moving and is no longerfixed. and sir, time is of the essence before it moves far away. also, there could be a subsea search, underwater. the wreckage is 3800 metres deep. descending, when whatever happened happened, that is when they lost communications with it, and the latest news, just in the last half hour or so, is that another commercial vessel, a very capable pipe—laying vessel, modern ship with rav capabilities, is actually over the site now. and we just hoping that it has the capabilities to reach those kinds of dabs, 3800 metres. search for the

submersible and have the to recover it. and there is some hope that that could happen. i it. and there is some hope that that could happen-— could happen. i spoke earlier to our corresponded _ could happen. i spoke earlier to our corresponded jessica _ could happen. i spoke earlier to our corresponded jessica parker - could happen. i spoke earlier to our corresponded jessica parker who i could happen. i spoke earlier to our corresponded jessica parker who is | corresponded jessica parker who is following situation in boston. it is 'ust after following situation in boston. it is just after 8am _ following situation in boston. it 3 just after 8am here so it will be much more difficult for the search as it is dark. there are two elements that they are trying to do, they deployed aircraft from the us and from canada to scare the surface of the ocean in case the vessel did actually manage to get back up to the surface. and is waiting to be recovered. then, as well, they are using sonar technology to drop boys onto the surface of the ocean which will detect activity underneath. of course, the submersible was on a journey to try and view that wreckage. what would actually happen if they did discover the vessel was deep underwater? well, there are big questions there. it's clear the us coast guard

would then be looking to help from the us navy, the canadian navy and the private sector as well to try and carry out some sort of rescue mission. yeah. and, jess, we understand that the owner of the company of ocean gate is actually on board. just briefly, what are they saying? yes. so we had a statement actually last night from 0ceangate, an updated statement, 0ceangate expeditions, which was the company operating this. and as you say, it's widely reported that stockton rush, its chief executive, is among the five people on board. they say they are really trying to focus on bringing all the crew members safely back and safely home. they said that they hadn't had contact for some time with the vessel. we know what happened was that on sunday morning it began its dive, early on sunday morning, from the mother ship. and then about an hour and 45 minutes into that dive, that's when contact was lost. and a key concern at the moment, as we know, is last night

what the us coast guard was saying is they are operating on the basis that they think the vessel will have somewhere between 70 to 96 hours of emergency oxygen left. in the past half hour, we also heard from the uk foreign secretary speaking at a press conference allowed inside his us counterpart. mr cleverley said that the government's thoughts are with those missing in the submersible. i want to ut on missing in the submersible. i want to put on record _ missing in the submersible. i want to put on record the _ missing in the submersible. i want to put on record the uk _ missing in the submersible. i want. to put on record the uk government's thoughts to those individuals who are currently in the submersible in the north atlantic. we wish them all the north atlantic. we wish them all the luck and, of course, we hope that they will be swiftly found. we hope that they will be returned to their loved ones, thank you. {lift their loved ones, thank you. of course, we will keep across all development is under that story. prosecutors in romania have charged

the controversial influencer, andrew tate, and his brother tristan, with rape, human trafficking, and forming an organised crime group to exploit women. two associates of the brothers have also been charged. andrew tate was first arrested at his home in bucharest in december. prosecutors allege that the four defendants formed an organised criminal group to commit human trafficking in romania and other countries including the united states and britain. 0ur correspondent in bucharest lucy williamson gave us the latest on today's charges and the background to the case. its investigation has taken six months to complete. they have been in detention or under house arrest for all that time. and romania's organised crime unit have come out with a statement this morning which outlines some of the information that led to this indictment. as you outlined there, we know the main charges that are being filed. we know there are seven alleged victims who were apparently allegedly recruited by false promises of love and marriage by the two tate brothers. and it does seem to be quite a wide ranging set of charges.

the charge of human trafficking is an umbrella charge, and within that there are several counts against each of the four defendants. we're also getting some information from the organised crime unit about the assets that have been seized — properties, cars, luxury watches — but also more than 300 million usd in cryptocurrency. and we're told that there are separate charges that are still under investigation that may be the subject of a separate indictment in the future. and they include money laundering, influencing statements and trafficking of minors. lucy, for those who do not know andrew tate, just explain who he is. you did a lengthy interview with him just a couple of weeks ago, didn't you? he's become extremely well known, particularly amongst young people, for his controversial statements online. he presents himself as someone who teaches young men how to be men. he gives them inspirational statements, but he also puts out

advice on relationships that's really concerned a lot of people across the uk. police, teachers, rights organisations have all warned about his influence. and so the investigation here in romania has really increased the spotlight on him and brought many more people into awareness of the kind of things that he's been saying. i should also mention that his team have responded to the indictment here this morning with a statement saying that the brothers embrace the opportunity to demonstrate their innocence. and she said, our primary focus will be to establish the truth. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's take a look at some other stories making news in the uk. price rises in supermarkets have slowed to their lowest level since last year, but still remain very high according to the grocery research firm kantar. in the four weeks to mid june, the price of groceries rose 16

and a half percent compared to the year before. kantarfound nearly 70% of households say they are "extremely" or "very" worried about rising food prices. the amount of money tenants spend on rent as a proportion of their salary has risen to its highest level for a decade. the property website zoopla says the average british tenant is spending more than 28% of their pre tax income on rent. scotland's target for cutting planet warming greenhouse gas emissions has been missed after a bounce back following the pandemic. total emissions are now 49.9% lower than in 1990 but the target for this year was a 51.1% cut. it is the eighth time in 12 years that the scottish government has missed its legally binding target. you're live with bbc news. the united nations refugee agency says the number of people who've fled sudan since war broke out

in april has reached more than 500,000. another two million people have been internally displaced since the conflict erupted between rival army generals. the figures have been released to mark world refugee day. the head of the unhcr, filippo grandi has been visiting kenya where he's met refugees and held talks with president william ruto to discuss resettlement plans. we'll speak to mr grandi in a few minutes but first, my colleague zari kargar looks at the global situation. every year, millions of people are forced to flee their homes in order to keep safe from persecution, war or natural disaster. these are the pictures from sudan, where thousands of people had to flee their homes during the recent conflict that erupted in the country in mid—april this year. thousands of them had

to flee via the red sea

to neighboring country, egypt. let's have a look at some numbers. according to the unhcr, there are currently 108.4 million refugees around the world. out of that number, 43.3 million of them are children under the age of 18. this is a picture of children from syria who had to flee their homes for safety during the recent conflict.

syria has 6.8 million people, the biggest number of refugees around the world. after that, it's ukraine with 5.7 million people being refugees. this is due to the invasion of russia, of the country. and according to the united nations, the crisis has caused the biggest and largest movement of people in europe since the world war two. and after that, afghanistan always in the news for its conflict. and recently, many people had to flee their homes because of the takeover of the country by the taliban. and around the world, countries that host the biggest number of refugees are these — turkey hosts the biggest number of refugees around the world with most of the people from syria, iraq, afghanistan and iran. after that, it's iran hosting many, many afghan refugees. and colombia, who is the biggest number of refugees in the region. after that, it's germany and then pakistan again hosting many, many people from afghanistan.

and today, the 20th ofjune, is designated by the united nations as the world refugee day to raise awareness about the situation of refugees and how they live and how they survive. the united nations high commissioner for refugees filippo grandi joins us from nairobi. welcome to you, thanks for being with us. just looking bad the figures of whether refugees are coming from, where they are going to. what are the biggest challenge is now? it to. what are the biggest challenge is now? ., , �* ., ~ to. what are the biggest challenge isnow? ., ,�* , , is now? it doesn't make pretty readin: , is now? it doesn't make pretty reading. does _ is now? it doesn't make pretty reading, does it? _ is now? it doesn't make pretty l reading, does it? unfortunately, this figure that rises every year, it is the multiplication of conflict, it is conflicts that do not get resolved. therefore, the people displaced remain displaced. and it is the combination of other causes, like climate change, that intercept conflict more and more. this is why we have the situation growing exponentially. so it is not

a pretty reading, and of course, the fact that today, by coincidence, on world refugee day, we had to announce that half a million people had left sudan isjust announce that half a million people had left sudan is just further proof of this global crisis.— of this global crisis. which countries _ of this global crisis. which countries do _ of this global crisis. which countries do you - of this global crisis. which countries do you think - of this global crisis. which | countries do you think face of this global crisis. which - countries do you think face the biggest issues when it comes to these refugees crossing into their countries are trying to seek asylum in their countries? i countries are trying to seek asylum in their countries?— in their countries? i think it was interesting _ in their countries? i think it was interesting to _ in their countries? i think it was interesting to listen _ in their countries? i think it was interesting to listen to - in their countries? i think it was interesting to listen to the - in their countries? i think it was. interesting to listen to the report of your colleague, because it shows clearly one fact, that whilst we often have the perception that the refugee crisis is a crisis over the rich countries. everybody wants to go there. in reality, the majority of the refugees go to their countries next door. to the countries next door. to the countries that are closest to the crisis. like here, in canyon. there are 6000 —— there are 600,000 refugees here. mostly, they come from the two nearby countries that have gone through a lot of turbulence. here, because canyon is

one of the countries with the best refugee policies at the moment. i want to give visibility to that. so some of these countries with few resources, with many other challenges are the ones that trying to be more humane and more visionary and forward—looking and dealing with refugee issues. you and forward-looking and dealing with refugee issues-— refugee issues. you say they have the best refugee _ refugee issues. you say they have the best refugee policies, - refugee issues. you say they have the best refugee policies, just - the best refugee policies, just explain what they are, what example they can set other countries around they can set other countries around the world? for they can set other countries around the world? ., ., ., the world? for a long time, here in can on, the world? for a long time, here in canyon. the — the world? for a long time, here in canyon, the issue _ the world? for a long time, here in canyon, the issue was _ the world? for a long time, here in canyon, the issue was a _ the world? for a long time, here in canyon, the issue was a long - the world? for a long time, here in canyon, the issue was a long time, j canyon, the issue was a long time, hearing canyon, the issue was very controversial. a little bit like we here in europe. the refugees bring insecurity, they take awayjobs, we are already deprived of resources, they live in parts of the country that are prone to drought. but i think in the last few years, we have seen a shift, they issued a very progressive refugee law, representing refugee rights and promoting the inclusion of refugees in services and the economy. and the

president to sr this morning wants to start a programme to make real this direction. to incentivise sent reliance of refugees, trying to get them off the dependency on humanitarian assistance, and by the way, supporting in the process the communities that have hosted them for so long. the kenyan communities, that are equally resource deprived. so this is a very forward—looking. i wanted to come here to highlight this as an example to others. i guess the issue is for lots refugees, they say they are a drain on our resources. i

refugees, they say they are a drain on our resources.— they are entrusted to the international community, to the international community, to the international community, to the international community support. what kind of global action is required to deal with this? we need to work more _ required to deal with this? we need to work more together. _ required to deal with this? we need to work more together. because - to work more together. because refugees have been so politicised in so many countries, especially rich countries, the tendency has been to craft responses that are very much in isolation with others and we see this all the time. as with all global challenges, like climate and

inequality and pandemics and insecurity, states have got to work together, they have got to put their resources together, and make compromise and share this responsibility. this is my broad research on world refugee day and i hope that states begin to listen because otherwise we will still have challenges. thanks forjoining us. convention special counseljack smith had promised _ convention special counseljack smith had promised a - convention special counseljack smith had promised a speedy l convention special counseljack i smith had promised a speedy trial but legal experts say could turn into a lengthy process given the complexities of handling a highly classified evidence. the degree to which the former president's legal team challenges of the government's

pre—trial motions and the way that the judge pre—trial motions and the way that thejudge manages pre—trial motions and the way that the judge manages the schedules. and of course, donald trump denies those charges. the former uk chancellor, george osborne, has told the public inquiry into the covid pandemic that the treasury had no prior plan for the country to go into lockdown. mr osborne said that no treasury in the western world had planned for such an event. mr osborne also argued that his austerity programme while chancellor made britain better prepared to weather the coronavirus pandemic. there is some good news for those of us who would like to take a nap during the day, it could help to preserve brain health. more on all of their stories on the bbc news website. hello. good afternoon. well, there's plenty of dry and indeed sunny weather to come in the forecast as we head through the rest of the week for most of us, but it's been rather unsettled so far today.

heavy rain in central southern england earlier this morning and some thunderstorms breaking out. a lovely weather watcher picture here from north uist in the western isles. there could be some more heavy, thundery showers breaking out for many of us as we head through the rest of today. there are localised weather warnings in place, but also some sunny spells too and it will still be feeling warm. earlier on we saw this feature just move its way northwards, currently across north—eastern areas of england and north—eastern scotland too, where it's likely to linger on for much of the rest of the day, eventually pulling out into the north sea. watch out for some thunderstorms across western scotland and northern ireland. also possibly some heavy, thundery showers across south—west england and south wales forming in lines, but further east it's largely dry. temperatures here peaking in the mid—20s in celsius. 0vernight tonight, the thunderstorms are likely to rumble on across western scotland and northern ireland, but for most they will fade away where we see them to leave us with a dry night, feeling slightly fresher and a little more comfortable for sleeping, but still warm into tomorrow morning with some areas of mist,

especially in the south. on wednesday, there will still be some showers forming in lines, perhaps for south—west england and for wales. across much of scotland we could see some more thunderstorms break out, frequent lightning across eastern scotland, maybe some thunderstorms across northern ireland too. temperatures coming up slightly. towards the east it should stay largely dry and it will still feel warm here at 23 to 25 degrees. then high pressure starts to build in from the south—west as we head through the middle of the week. it's quite firmly established by the time we get to the weekend, but on thursday there will still be a few showers around. the air is more stable, so the showers shouldn't be as heavy as they've been in recent days and there will be some sunny spells too. temperatures for most will peak in the low 20s in celsius. starting to rise, but maybe 26 or 27 degrees celsius in south—east england and east anglia. that high pressure becomes quite firmly established across the south of the uk as we head through the weekend. temperatures will be rising, the humidity levels too. weather fronts pushing

into the north and the west.