this is bbc news, the headlines.. the uk's general election campaign continues. the conservatives say they will bring back mandatory national service for 18—year—olds, if they win the election. as kenya struggles with rising violent crime, we follow a former criminal as he tries to persuade men to turn in their illegal firearms. rescue crews in texas say they've witnessed an unprecedented rate of drownings, as more people are trying to make a deadly river crossing over the borderfrom mexico. we take a look at indian—administered kashmir, in the first general elections since the modi government took away the region's special status.

i more now on the uk general election, and the conservative�*s plans to introduce a form of mandatory national service. under the plans, 18—year—olds would be given the choice of either joining the military for a year, or taking part in community service. earlier on radio four they spoke to anne—marie trevelyan, a minister of state of the foreign office and a former armed forces minister. the? former armed forces minister. they asked how the _ former armed forces minister. they asked how the conservatives helped to house 30,000 new recruit went according to experts from the kerslake commission existing troops are experiencing damp, mouldy homes, riddled with pests and plagued by shoddy gas and electrical fittings in service accommodation. it is shoddy gas and electrical fittings in service accommodation. it is not a matter of— in service accommodation. it is not a matter of prioritising _ in service accommodation. it is not a matter of prioritising one - in service accommodation. it is not a matter of prioritising one of- in service accommodation. it is not a matter of prioritising one of the l a matter of prioritising one of the other, this would be an expansion of the early training programmes and opportunities for young people to

learn those skills. you're absolutely right, one of the pieces of work ice set running when i was the armed forces minister was to really start tackle that and the prime minister has committed £4 billion to the military estate, which should bring it up to scratch, quite a lot of work has been done in some areas but there is more to do. let speak to the senior fellow at the atlantic council and has looked at the issue of national service in other countries as well as what is planned here in the uk. i wondered if i could get your reaction to the plans for the uk. do you have any more understanding of how they will actually work? i more understanding of how they will actually work?— actually work? i don't. i think we are all looking _ actually work? i don't. i think we are all looking at _ actually work? i don't. i think we are all looking at the _ actually work? i don't. i think we are all looking at the same - actually work? i don't. i think we | are all looking at the same points the tories put out and frankly it looks like they put out the points in haste because what they are proposing is not particularly detailed, but what we do know is

they want 18—year—olds to serve in some capacity and most importantly the military capacity, which is where you would be selected. you would be selected for a slot in the armed forces. but all of this, if it is to be a success the waiters in norway, it has to be properly thought through and planned and i think that is where we are waiting for more details from the tories. it is going to be difficult if you have people who serve for a year but we have also seen a reduction in the number of troops in the armed forces generally. we number of troops in the armed forces aenerall . ~ ., number of troops in the armed forces aenerall . ~ . ., ~ generally. we have and i think the beau of generally. we have and i think the beauty of the _ generally. we have and i think the beauty of the norwegian _ generally. we have and i think the beauty of the norwegian model, l generally. we have and i think the - beauty of the norwegian model, which is every 18—year—old is assessed and the best are selected for national service, so it is usually around i7% are selected, that means that the armed forces get an incredible cohort of the young soldiers, many

of whom go on to a professional career in the armed forces and the rest going to the reserve. in order for that aware, you have to plan it properly. you only get one shot at it really and if you don't do it well, then the whole programme, the whole initiative loses credibility so that is why it is so important for them to put out more details and if it were to be the case that these young soldiers were to be housed in housing that is not appropriate, then the whole scheme would lose credibility and nobody would benefit. 50 credibility and nobody would benefit. ., ., , credibility and nobody would benefit. ., . , , benefit. so more details please. if we look at — benefit. so more details please. if we look at the _ benefit. so more details please. if we look at the wider _ benefit. so more details please. if we look at the wider issue, - benefit. so more details please. if we look at the wider issue, is - benefit. so more details please. if we look at the wider issue, is this | we look at the wider issue, is this down to the fact that the security situation generally in the world is seen at the moment to be more unstable and therefore it is a good idea to have more forces on standby just in case? i idea to have more forces on standby just in case?— just in case? i think it is two thins, just in case? i think it is two things. first. _ just in case? i think it is two things, first, the _ just in case? i think it is two

things, first, the security i things, first, the security situation is deteriorating and that uk armed forces need to grow. they are already struggling to recruit which is a second problem. the uk armed forces for so long have been an institution into which certain families field members, but it is not an institution which the whole of society participating and as a result when those families perhaps stop feeding themselves and others into the system, the uk armed forces no longer have enough soldiers and it becomes a burden and something you do if you can find a job elsewhere. so with the norwegian model you would essentially select the top performers in any year group and they would do military service and they would do military service and as a result many would decide a military career is what they would like to do. so it has so many benefits, both for the individuals and for the country but for that to work you have to make it a really

strong offering for those selected, otherwise it will essentially become almost a laughing stock if it is not almost a laughing stock if it is not a good experience, if it doesn't translate into good defence. but if it is done well, it means we get better defence, the armed forces get a wider pool to recruit from and to get a better connection to society because that is also really important in a liberal democracy, the military is not disconnected, shouldn't be disconnected from society. shouldn't be disconnected from socie . ., ., shouldn't be disconnected from socie . ., ~ , ., shouldn't be disconnected from socie . ., ., shouldn't be disconnected from socie . . ~' ., , society. thank you for your insight. to germany- _ french president emanuel macron and his wife brigitte are in germany for the first official presidential state vist for 24 years. on arrival they were greeted with full military honours and a state banquet. today mr macron will comemmorate victims of the holocaust in berlin and present an award to two elderly nazi hunters. shortly after arriving, he warned of the dangers of the far—right in europe today

and said democracy was under threat. live now to berlin and our correspondent damien mcguinness. he has following president mccrum's visit. he got the full welcome last night but today he is focusing on this memorial and presented this award to the two elderly natty hunters. ., �* , ., award to the two elderly natty hunters. . �* , ~ ., hunters. that's right. i think what we are seeing _ hunters. that's right. i think what we are seeing is _ hunters. that's right. i think what we are seeing is a _ hunters. that's right. i think what we are seeing is a visit _ hunters. that's right. i think what we are seeing is a visit with - hunters. that's right. i think what| we are seeing is a visit with plenty of pomp and ceremony —— nazi hunters. today is all about historical symbolism because emmanuel macron is trying to draw a parallel between the european union as a peace project, continually saying it is a miracle after centuries of conflict between france and germany, the continuation has been successful and that is why the german president and emmanuel macron are both saying you need to vote in these upcoming eu elections in two

weeks' time because it is about peace, reconciliation between european countries and they are both highlighting the traumatic memories of germany's 20th century, almost as a symbolic point. also awarding two very renowned nazi hunters, one is particularly famous in germany because she and her husband, franco german couple, they tracked down nazis after the second world war, and brought them to justice and she is particularly renowned here because in the 1960s she stormed a conservative party conference and delivered that then chancellor with a slap on the face. he had been a member of the nazi party. she was put injailfor member of the nazi party. she was put in jail for that but she got a jail sentence, put in jail for that but she got a jailsentence, but put in jail for that but she got a jail sentence, but she is seen as a hero because of her fighting against nazism and that is what it is all about. later macron will be going to

dresden, delivering a major speech to european young people, talking about their historic symbolism of voting for europe. but tomorrow will be the key thing because that is when they will talk about policy, they will be a meeting with olaf scholz, and that is where difficulties arise you have got key policy differences to the german government and the french government. fin government and the french government.— government and the french government. on that, iwas interested _ government. on that, iwas interested this _ government. on that, iwas interested this was - government. on that, iwas interested this was a - government. on that, iwas interested this was a first . government. on that, i was- interested this was a first official state visit in 24 years because the two nations talk to each other but the fact that the french president, the fact that the french president, the first one in 24 years, it seems a long time. how difficult are those tensions between the two nations, particularly on ukraine and russia? emmanuel macron regularly visits germany, he has been here three times this year but it is the first times this year but it is the first time in 24 years he has had this official state visit, the last time was a long time ago and what we have seen is the relationship between

emmanuel macron and olaf scholz is far from wild, emmanuel macron and olaf scholz is farfrom wild, not emmanuel macron and olaf scholz is far from wild, not the friendly relationship as the predecessor, and hille merkel. the two men have a slightly frosty, competitive relationship and the difficulty is when you comes to key policies, they have different views on how to support ukraine militarily. they both agree that the west needs to give the ukraine substantial military support. germany does so to a large extent and is the biggest payer of military support and second to the us in the world but where they differ, mr macron has been vocal saying he will not rule out sending nato troops to ukraine, he sent long—range french missiles to ukraine and also said that ukraine possibly should be allowed to attack russian military targets with western weapons. those three positions have been rolled out

categorically by olaf scholz. he said yesterday that western weapon should not be used to attack russia. so they have very different views on how to support ukraine. on the economy, different views. concrete policy differences. both leaders say more commonalities and differences, but still lots to hash out tomorrow when those two cabinet meetings come together. in when those two cabinet meetings come touether. �* ., ., when those two cabinet meetings come touether. �* ., ~ , ., , together. in berlin. thank you very much indeed- _ together. in berlin. thank you very much indeed. i— together. in berlin. thank you very much indeed. i want _ together. in berlin. thank you very much indeed. i want to _ together. in berlin. thank you very much indeed. i want to show - together. in berlin. thank you very much indeed. i want to show you i together. in berlin. thank you very - much indeed. i want to show you some live pictures we are getting rebelling. you can see the french president emmanuel macron in berlin as we said, he is going to visit a holocaust memorial and as damien mentioned, present that award to two elderly nazi hunters as part of this, the first presidential state visit to germany in 24 years. we will have further coverage throughout the day.

rescue crews in the us state of texas have told the bbc they've witnessed an unprecedented rate of drownings over the last year and a half, as rising numbers of people have tried to make a deadly river crossing over the borderfrom mexico. undocumented migration figures into the us hit record highs last year, with the issue a major one ahead of november's presidential election. our correspondent tom bateman reports from the border town of eagle pass. a warning — this report contains images you may find distressing. where the deadly waters of the rio grande meet the razor wire of america's southern frontier, a woman has waded her way from the mexican side, finally reaching the safety of us soil. she pleads to cross the fence. she has gone back into the water. oh, my goodness, oh, my goodness, oh, my goodness. an activist films the scene as the woman, met by us guards, returns to the river, which is notorious for the numbers killed trying to cross.

herfate is now unknown. directly on the other side it goes slower, you can see through and you can see the river right there. we joined a volunteer who saw the scene unfold. here, at the ground zero of america's bitter feud over immigration. in texas, drownings have risen dramatically in the last 18 months, as the numbers of people trying to cross into the us hit record highs. i felt very helpless there, and i felt like there was nothing that i could do. and i remind myself that telling her story, telling what i witnessed, that words have power. this is one person, one story, but this is happening hundreds of times on our border. we are out with a rescue crew. geared up to fight fires, these days they are the first responders to a global surge of movement, as people fleeing conflict or seeking work in america encounter its hidden dangers.

people don't understand when they cross, right now it looks slow, but as soon as they get in, they are going to feel the power of the river, and it is always in the middle area, and they underestimate it. a border patrol brings its boat in, but the rescue team's hopes quickly fade. they pull the body of a man to the shore. no one knows where his journey started, only how it ends. a fate these teams see here every day. this man's pockets have been checked. they found no documentation, no id, so at the moment nobody knows who he is, where he has come from, which country he has come from. we have heard so many of the political rows about this issue of immigration, but in the end this is the human cost. there are no recent official figures on the numbers killed in the river. hundreds drowned last year. the republican governor of texas says his troops and razor wire deter crossings, a claim activists reject, saying

they have made it more dangerous. tragedy keeps flowing into this riverside town. immigration is now a decisive election issue at home, but one they know here along the border also needs global answers, in the town where they bury the dead with no names. tom bateman, bbc news, eagle pass in texas. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

indian—administered kashmir has seen its highest voter turnout in more than three decades. elections are normally boycotted, seen as a way for the indian government to legitimize control over the region. these are the first general elections since the modi government took away kashmir�*s special status in 2019. voting has become a way for many

kashmiris to protest that move. our south asia correspondent samira hussain reports from new delhi. chanting. political rallies, common in general elections. this one is different. for people in indian—administered kashmir, voting has become a form of protest. garlands and sweets. a voice for that anger. now clearly there is a huge gap between what they claim and what is the reality on the ground. what you see it in spite of what the bjp data. what you see it in spite of what the bjp data. because in 2019, the government revoked kashmir�*s autonomy. a guarantee to its own flag, constitution and statehood, saying it would bring development to the region.

but a crackdown on any dissent against the move was swift. government forces took over, there was a complete communication blackout for months. hundreds were arrested, including this man. in the shadow of what happened on the 5th of august 2019, i think has given fresh voters, young voters a new impetus to come out and make their voices heard. not voting for just representation, they are voting to protect their identity. translation: we are not voting for i better electricity, better roads. i the crowds that you are seeing now, they are out because they want the restoration of kashmir�*s special status. they are voting for the young people who are in jail just for speaking out. so much injustice has been done to us. our rights have been taken away. this is why we are here to send omar

as our representative to parliament. without an elected government since 2018, kashmir is ruled directly by the central government. curtailing of democratic freedoms common. foreign media needs special permission to visit the region. i applied for a permit two months ago and i'm still waiting. my team is there. i rely on them to tell the story from afar. enthusiasm for these elections is not widespread. many are sceptical. we kashmiris feel helpless because we have no voice. speaking to us on the condition of anonymity from the work reprisals, this man told us he didn't cast a ballot. even if people are coming out to vote to oppose the bjp, they will say, look, we have brought democracy to kashmir. whether you vote for bjp or you vote for someone else, you are harming the kashmiri movement. and it is this bringing of democracy

that the bjp party, who doesn't have its own candidate in these elections, are championing, taking credit for the higher turnout despite people casting a ballot against government policies. people that are suppressed _ against government policies. people that are suppressed before, - against government policies. people that are suppressed before, during l that are suppressed before, during elections. — that are suppressed before, during elections, controlled by separatist, militant, _ elections, controlled by separatist, militant, pakistan. now these elections_ militant, pakistan. now these elections are absolutely controlled by a belt _ elections are absolutely controlled by a belt of water, the belt of kashmirt _ by a belt of water, the belt of kashmiri. they have to go out to vote _ kashmiri. they have to go out to vote |t— kashmiri. they have to go out to vote. , , . ., , vote. it is their wish. elections for the will _ vote. it is their wish. elections for the will of _ vote. it is their wish. elections for the will of the _ vote. it is their wish. elections for the will of the people, - vote. it is their wish. elections . for the will of the people, integral to a functioning democracy. but so is being able to speak freely and without fear. i guarantee most kashmiris say not necessarily afforded to them. this you can get much more on the indian elections, the biggest

democratic election in the world, on the bbc news website. stay with us here on bbc news. an raf pilot, who died when his spitfire crashed during a battle of britain memorial flight, has been named as squadron leader mark long. the vintage aircraft came down in a field near raf coningsby in lincolnshire yesterday. phil norton has the story. hugely respected and highly talented. squadron leader mark long was one of the raf�*s finest pilots. he served his country in modern day fighterjets and relished the chance to honour wartime heroes. he was due to take command at the battle of britain memorial flight later this year. outside the hangar at the team's base at raf coningsby, where he took off from on saturday, a sign still shows the expected departure and return time for the spitfire he was flying. but the aircraft crashed into a field a short distance from the lincolnshire runway.

a great friend, colleague and a passionate professional aviator, he will be sorely missed by all that knew him. already many flowers have been left here. this is a community proud to live side by side with the royal air force. i think everyone's respectful to the family at this time, to the air force. you can see them flying over, and you could see them yesterday as well, and then to hear that it's happened, it's devastating. squadron leader long had helped train future pilots as an instructor and previously delighted crowds as a typhoon fighter jet display pilot. he first flew the spitfire in 2021. this is the aircraft he was flying on saturday, spitfire mk356. one of only a handful still flying, which saw active service during the second world war, including taking part in d—day operations. it's been in existence since 1957,

and this is the first fatality in all those years of operating the battle of britain memorial flight. the royal family are among those who have paid tribute to squadron leader long, adding to the outpouring of love and support from many of those who've admired his flying skills at airshows across the country. the raf says an investigation is under way into what caused the crash and that their thoughts remain with mark's family and friends. phillip norton, bbc news, at raf coningsby in lincolnshire. back now to the election and one of the final pieces of legislation passed by parliament on friday before breaking up for the election was aimed at helping around 5 million owners of leasehold properties in england, mainly living in flats. the government says the costs of renewing leases should now come down, with a standard duration of 990 years.

it'll be easier for leaseholders to manage the buildings they've bought flats in, and service charge costs for maintenance, will become more transparent. but campaigners say the law falls short of what they'd expected. here's phil hendry. meet richard moore. he bought a flat to rent out and provide a pension for his retirement. but beyond the colourful artwork, the building has dangerous cladding, roof problems and, as a result, rocketing service charges which he has to pay because it's leasehold. ifeel like i'm being robbed blind. i feel like the government has my bank accountjust wide open for these corporate interests just to take what they like. his service charges, he says, are now £8,000 a year. it's affecting millions of people in the country. i'm not the only cladding hostage that there is out there, and i'm not the only apartment getting ripped off with ridiculous service charges. richard pays a managing agent who maintains the building.

they say the increase is justified. their trade body, the property institute, agrees, saying service charges have risen by 40% on average in the last five years. i think when leaseholders are getting very large bills and they're difficult to understand, it's perfectly rational for them to question and to wonder what's going on. the data explains why those bills are going up, and it's not good news. but it is... it's easy to shoot the messenger. so what's behind the increase in service charges? well, in the last five years, the property institute says most things like maintenance and staffing costs have gone up by about a third. spending on professionalfees for surveys and inspections has gone up by 69%, reflecting concerns about building safety. energy prices are up by over 70% for communal heating and lighting. but by far the biggest rise has been for insurance, up more than 90%. the industry denies

it's profiteering. i think the industry is correctly pricing the risk that's there. i unfortunately, the risk wasn't known in the same way prior— to the tragedy at grenfell. now the risk is well known. after the tragedy, many insurers stopped covering high—risk blocks, pushing up premiums, and insurance brokers took large commissions. the new laws aim to stop this so leaseholders no longer have to pay them. the industry has also started underwriting riskier policies. the capacity in the market under basic supply and demand should lead to changes in premiums. for millions of flats like richard's, ministers also say the new legislation should make managing agents be more transparent about their charges. little comfort to him right now. it's the worst decision of my entire life. it's like i'm turning into a wage slave for, for what?

there's no reason why i should be in this situation. sorry. the labour leader sir keir starmer is set to deliver his first major speech of the general election campaign, that is coming up in the next couple of hours and we will haveit next couple of hours and we will have it live here on bbc news, but what is whether going to be like for general election campaigning or if you arejust going general election campaigning or if you are just going out on general election campaigning or if you arejust going out on bank holiday monday? as we go through this week, temperatures will be roughly where we expect at this time of year. there will be heavy showers in the forecast but it looks like it will turn drier later in the week as low pressure loses its grip and high pressure takes over. low pressure is firmly in charge today with a weather front to the north—east,

enhancing the showers, especially later in the day. for most, a mixture of bright spells, sunshine and showers, slow—moving showers across the north—east of scotland, could be heavy and sundry with hail. later the crowd thickens across the isles of scilly. —— of the cloud thickens. temperatures up to 70 degrees will feel quite pleasant. this evening, the showers very quickly. clearskies, this evening, the showers very quickly. clear skies, a weather front towards a weather front towards the west, continues to bring in rain, pushing northwards and eastwards. underthe in rain, pushing northwards and eastwards. under the band of cloud and rain, relatively mild but cooler, chillierthan and rain, relatively mild but cooler, chillier than last night in the east. this is a weather front coming our way. there is another one on its heels, all connected to low pressure and although we start off dry and sunny in some eastern areas, we can see where the two weather fronts, they will be pushing northwards and eastwards. you may hear thunder as well. i say clear

from the south—west, we see a return to sunshine and showers. these are our temperatures, 14 to 18 degrees. wednesday, we have a low pressure without pulling steadily eastwards. wednesday itself, showery outbreaks of rain, that moving southwards across england and wales but through the afternoon so much i was turning quite heavy. push further west, drier, the driest conditions are in northern ireland where we have heights of up to 70 degrees, but widely it will be 13 to about 90 degrees. towards the latter part of the working week, the low pressure works away allowing high pressure to move in for a time, so that means the weather will start to settle. on thursday we have sunshine and showers, a few on friday and then looking drier into the weekend.

live from london, this is bbc news. the first full week of the general election gets under way. we are expecting a major speech from a labour's sir keir starmer. we will watch it live in a moment. the authorities in papua new guinea say they estimate that more than 2,000 people were buried by a huge landslide on friday. cases of melanoma skin cancer are set to hit record levels as charities warn us to do more to protect ourselves from the sun. hello, i'm kasia madera. sir keir starmer will attempt to appeal to undecided voters

in a keynote speech this morning, saying they can trust labour