as the to remember fallen comrades. as the auoin down to remember fallen comrades. as the going down of— to remember fallen comrades. as the going down of the _ to remember fallen comrades. as the going down of the sun, _ to remember fallen comrades. as the going down of the sun, and _ to remember fallen comrades. as the going down of the sun, and in - to remember fallen comrades. as the going down of the sun, and in the - going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them. we will be live in normandy, as commemoration events take place throughout the day. in other news, more than 30 people are reported to have been killed in gaza after the israeli military attacked a school with displaced palestinians. israel say it was targeting. days after he was accused of making racist remarks about kian abbott. and it is left off. the launch of the latest rocket, the biggest in the latest rocket, the biggest in

the world. exactly 80 years ago, tens of thousands of allied troops mounted the greatest seaborne invasion in military history. one that would change the course of the second world war. today, d—day veterans and world leaders are taking part in major commemorations in northern france. at a new memorial above gold beach, where british troops landed, the king has laying a wreath. close to where american forces encountered the fiercest german resistance, presidentjoe biden has given a speech warning that democracy in europe and around the world remains fragile. this is in the wake of russia's invasion of ukraine. the

prince of walesjoined russia's invasion of ukraine. the prince of wales joined the prime minister of canada. and alongside the solemn ceremony, it has also been a chance for attendees, including the king, to meet and speak to the guests of honour, the veterans themselves, each of whom played such a crucial part in one of the defining days of european history. as you look back now, our correspondent has this report. remembering the dawn on the 6th of june 191m that changed the second world war and with it the entire world forever. piper plays and alone piper marked the moment

when tens of thousands of british, american and canadian troops stormed the beaches in northern france... ..to free europe from the grip of the nazis. it was the largest combined land, naval and air operation the world had ever seen, when sailors, soldiers, airmen and civilians left their homes and gave their lives — to give us our futures. a liberty that cost so much. king charles and queen camilla joined the prime minister and the few surviving british veterans who made the journey, the youngest now in their late 90s. at a service at ver—sur—mer, at a new memorial built especially for the occasion. let us affirm that we will strive to live by their example. let us pray such sacrifice need never be made again. our gratitude is unfailing and our admiration eternal.

applause some of the veterans' memories were read out. "i was 19 when i landed but i was still a boy." the actor martin freeman recounted the words ofjoe mines from the 2nd battalion of the essex regiment, on his first return to normandy. "so why would i come back? "well, this is the last and only opportunity for me. "the last there will ever be, and it's because of the lads. "i want to pay my respects to those who didn't make it. "may they rest in peace." six miles away onjuno beach, prince william joined canadian veterans. standing here today in peaceful silence, it is almost impossible to grasp the courage it would have taken to run into the fury of battle that very day.

thank you for our freedom and thank you for your service. he continues in french. services will continue to be held throughout the day, the memory of what was fought for never forgotten, forever remembered here by ken hay, who landed on the beaches alongside his brother 80 years ago. they shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old. age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. in the last hour or so we have heard

from joe biden, drawing comparisons with the war now in ukraine as well. let's listen to some of what he has been seeing enormity.— been seeing enormity. history us freedom is _ been seeing enormity. history us freedom is not _ been seeing enormity. history us freedom is not free. _ been seeing enormity. history us freedom is not free. if _ been seeing enormity. history us freedom is not free. if you - been seeing enormity. history us freedom is not free. if you want i been seeing enormity. history usl freedom is not free. if you want to know the price of freedom, come here to normandy. come here to look. go to normandy. come here to look. go to the other cemeteries in europe where our fallen heroes rest. to the other cemeteries in europe where ourfallen heroes rest. i to the other cemeteries in europe where our fallen heroes rest. i will pay respects. go there as well and remember the price of unchecked tyrannies, the plight of the young and the brave. their generation, they are hours. now, the question for us is, in our our trial, will we do ours? we're living at a time when democracy is more at risk across the world than any point since the end of the world war two, since these beaches were stormed in1941i.

now we have to ask ourselves where we stand against tyranny. against evil. against crushing brutality of the iron fist. what we stand for freedom. we defend. we stand together. my answer is yes. only can be yes. let's speak now to our correspondence it is in normandy, covering the event is for us this afternoon. covering the event is for us this afternoon-— covering the event is for us this afternoon. , . ., , afternoon. then, the service was in arts afternoon. then, the service was in parts moving. _ afternoon. then, the service was in parts moving, inspiring, _ afternoon. then, the service was in parts moving, inspiring, especially| parts moving, inspiring, especially those moments when we heard the direct stories from the veterans about what their feelings where, what their emotions wear. they tried to recall events from 80 years ago, but particularly how they are

feeling about being here today. some come back every year. why did they do it? they always say, as we heard in the report, it is for their friends, our comrades. there was that never made it home. here at the british memorial, there are 22,41i0 names on those pillars and those walls. those are the men, two women included in that, he never made it back home to the uk, who died here in normandy, fighting against the nazis to try to liberate europe. the veterans that have been here, many have been here for a couple of days, have been here for a couple of days, have enjoyed a busy schedule, they enjoy talking to as many people as they can. of course, they are rather old so they sometimes have to be forced to limit the amount of time they spend with people because, you know, they are getting on a bit. but

they are absolutely determined to speak to as many people and receive those of thanks. i managed to grab a couple of veterans after the service to hear what they made of the events today. as dawn broke at ver—sur—mer, the british memorial prepared to commemorate 80 years sincejune the 6th1944. french schoolchildren arrived ready to play their part in honouring the veterans and remembering those whose names are carved into these walls. when the normandy veterans, the stars of the show, arrived, there was once again applause, each of them will have their own reason for coming back to northern france but all are motivated by a desire to remember those left behind. the service, they said, felt purposeful and poignant. how was that? wonderful, wonderful. very touching. it is every emotion. it is happiness, it is comradeship, it is respect. people applauding us and so on,

which is nice, let's face it, it is nice. they don't do it in england, do they? well, they should. there was a chance to renew some old acquaintances. he is going to start my card when he goes home. the king will do that for you, start writing a birthday card? how was it today? it was good. but i reminded him when i said to him, my name is stan and i did it again now. you won't forget that again in a hurry. as the years pass, their number reduces but as long as they are able to return, they hope is there message will get through and that future generations will never have to experience what they have.

let's rejoinjohn let's rejoin john live let's rejoinjohn live now. wonderful conversations you had with some of the veterans. you have covered these events down the years and give us your overriding personal impressions of what we have seen today. impressions of what we have seen toda . ~ ., ,. , today. well, we often describe them as the greatest _ today. well, we often describe them as the greatest generation. - today. well, we often describe them l as the greatest generation. whenever we ask that classicjournalist?, do you feel like a hero? it is thrown backin you feel like a hero? it is thrown back in your face. they say no, go away. the heroes are the people whose names are on the memorial. they are the ones he did not make it back. one of the most moving, most poignant parts of the service today was when a young soldier started telling a veteran story and then suddenly switch to the veteran himself he finished off the end of the story. he was talking about a friend who had saved his life,

storming one of these normandy beaches. at that point, there was a standing ovation. these men and women are, as i say, a ripe old age, late 90s even older. he ran in the second world war and worked alone, in secret, the maps at the landing craft used to bring themselves safely into the shores of the normandy beaches. she had never seen one before. she sat down and saw one of those maps and was very, very moved by what she had done. she thought she had an importantjob there. everyone thought they had an importantjob, but only in the intervening years did they realise just how important it was. the highest honour was given by president macron here and he paid

tribute to her and all the other veterans as well. because of their age, their number is reducing. the next anniversary, the 85th, we don't know how many will be able to make it back. just five years ago very many more made it of course. those who are able to do so tell me they are determined to keep coming back. they receive a wonderful welcome. they receive a wonderful welcome. the people here, the liberated population here in northern france, the beginning of the fight back, is one way to look at it, they very much appreciate what was done for them 80 years ago. they very much enjoyed meeting the veterans and showing their appreciation once again on days like today. mani; again on days like today. many thanks. sara _ again on days like today. many thanks. sara rose _ again on days like today. many thanks. sara rose is— again on days like today. many thanks. sara rose is an - again on days like today. many thanks. sara rose is an author| again on days like today. many thanks. sara rose is an author of a bic about the female asians who played such an important role in the d—day landings. thank you for

joining us. tell us more about the dd girls. we tend to think about the troops who stormed the beaches so heroically, but there were others with a crucial role.— heroically, but there were others with a crucial role. absolutely. the first women _ with a crucial role. absolutely. the first women in _ with a crucial role. absolutely. the first women in combat _ with a crucial role. absolutely. the first women in combat were - with a crucial role. absolutely. the i first women in combat were recruited to help the d—day landings. 39 women in 1942 and onwards were recruited into uniform because, basically, the allies had run out of men by then. they needed french speakers to go behind enemy lines to help recruit a resistance, army resistance, train a resistance, army resistance, train a resistance and lead a resistance so that on d—day they could rise up, detonate the secret army and in the morning they would be 950 cuts on the roads, telephone wires, such

that normandy is completely isolated. the tanks could have returned was it not for the women leading the french resistance trips, a trip that should have taken three days to three weeks for the armed divisions and when they had to go over, when the germans had to communicate over radio instead of telephone wires, the allies had decrypted the enigma code. they can anticipate where the german army would be. this work, training, recruiting and reading was done in part alongside the men, by women, because there were not enough men left. the armistice with france was not a peace treaty, so the men who fought against france were largely injail during the war. the french

resistance was led, in part, by women. ~ ., ~ ., ., women. when you talk about women auoin women. when you talk about women going behind — women. when you talk about women going behind enemy _ women. when you talk about women going behind enemy lines. _ women. when you talk about women going behind enemy lines. give - women. when you talk about women going behind enemy lines. give us i women. when you talk about women | going behind enemy lines. give us an idea of how dangerous that was. because obviously it was potentially lethal, wasn't it, to go there, to base yourself there? this lethal, wasn't it, to go there, to base yourself there? as dangerous as could be. base yourself there? as dangerous as could be- the — base yourself there? as dangerous as could be. the parachute _ base yourself there? as dangerous as could be. the parachute in _ base yourself there? as dangerous as could be. the parachute in on - base yourself there? as dangerous as could be. the parachute in on a - could be. the parachute in on a night with a men with guns. they have to hide their parachute, meet some french person, live as if they are french, they are among french, they cannot give themselves or their colleagues away, they need to recruit an entire secret army. the whole time, the nazis are hunting them. the nazis are very good at hunting them. they are told they have a life expectancy of six weeks when they are leaving behind enemy lines, and still these brave women

decide to go. one was in charge of 20,000 resistance trips in normandy. sara, thank you very much indeed. i just want to show you some of the pictures of what is happening there in normandy. some veterans have been arriving and this afternoon we have the international service attended by world leaders, including president biden. that will be starting very shortly. it is quite a nice day they are, as you can see. quite bright as well. such contrast to how it was 80 years ago when the d—day invasion was at its peak and the thunder of guns was being heard across those beaches. so we will be

back there in just a few moments for more of the d—day commemorative events of this 80th anniversary and as our correspondent was just telling us such a poignant anniversary. if you are veterans being able to attend. in the meantime, let's have a look at some of the other news. new figures have revealed that a major conservative party donor who was accused of making racist comments about abbott, gave an extra £5 million to the party. the money was donated injanuary by a software company run by frank hester, who has admitted his comments about diane abbott were rude but — he says — not racist. our political correspondent henry zeffman reports. a furious row back in march over the conservative donor frank hester prompted rishi sunak to say this... the alleged comments were wrong. they were racist.

as i said, the comments were wrong, they were racist. he has rightly apologised for them and that remorse, and that remorse should be accepted. mr hester is alleged to have told his staff that the veteran labour politician diane abbott made him want to "hate all black women and that she should be shot." he subsequently apologised for being rude but insisted his comments had nothing to do with ms abbott's race or gender. we knew back then that mr hester had given the conservatives £10 million in 2023. what we now know is that injanuary, through his company, mr hester gave the conservatives £5 million and another £150,000 was accepted in march — the day after rishi sunak�*s comments in parliament. taking the total to more than £15 million injust ten months. today, those donations are an election issue. people make comments and i'm not going to stand here and defend those comments.

but what's really important is the choice for people onjuly 4th. a conservative spokesman said that mr hester had rightly apologised for his past comments and shown contrition, so they consider the matter resolved. labour, who re—admitted diane abbott to their fold last week, said it showed mr sunak is a man with no integrity. ms abbott said the donations were an insult to all black women and the liberal democrats asked — "how low can rishi sunak�*s conservatives go?" henry zeffman, bbc news, westminster. letsjoin henry live now. the frank hester row was one that hit the headlines if you weeks ago and has resurfaced. not ideal timing from the conservative party point of view. ., . , the conservative party point of view. ., ., , ., view. not ideal. they will have known these _ view. not ideal. they will have known these figures _ view. not ideal. they will have known these figures are - view. not ideal. they will have l known these figures are coming view. not ideal. they will have - known these figures are coming out today because this is the quarterly release by the commission. the

conservatives will have known these were going to be disclosed at this point and, yes, were going to be disclosed at this pointand, yes, at were going to be disclosed at this point and, yes, at this point during a general election campaign. the awkwardness is clearly, from their point of view, worth it. they say because of his contrition, but let's because of his contrition, but let's be clear, because of his money. he has given the conservative party an extraordinary amount of money, £15 million, in the space ofjust ten months. that makes him by far and away the biggest conservative party donor. that is his significance to the conservative party.- donor. that is his significance to the conservative party. henry, thank ou ve the conservative party. henry, thank you very much _ the conservative party. henry, thank you very much indeed. _ the conservative party. henry, thank you very much indeed. the _ the conservative party. henry, thank you very much indeed. the green - you very much indeed. the green party court leader has been outlining its plans for the national health service, including an extra £30 billion of funding per year in england. he says the health service is in a desperate situation and they have a fairly costed proposal for the rich is to pay more tax. the

costings will be in the party manifesto. our correspondent is at the launch of the policy in central london. the greens say, in the words, they want to nurse the nhs back to full health. they say how they intend to do that here in central this morning. what stands out is what the, even they admit, is an eye watering sum of money the will want to spend. they say they want some £50 billion per year. they say that is required if they want to make sure there are on the day gp appointments for those who need them, to make sure people have access to nhs dentists and they want to invest heavily in mental health provision and social care. the obvious question is how they are going to pay for it. the immediate response, well, they say they are going to tax the wealthiest in society. as you would expect, we

pressed them for more details as that wealth tax. they say those details won't be available until they publish their fill manifesto next week. now, the court leader says the party intends to field a candidate in every single seat in england and wales. he has admitted that recently the party has had to drop for candidates because of reported anti—semitic or extreme comments. he also says they are investigating a small number of other candidates. bear in mind, too, this is a party that has only had one mp. they are hoping to quadruple that this time round. let's bring you the latest on the middle east now. in gaza, an israeli air strike has hit united nations school in the central part of the gaza strip. the hospital there says at least 30 people were killed and the hamas run

figures well, our middle east correspondent gave us this update. in the courtyard of the school, i have seen footage of women crying over the bodies of the dead, cradling their heads and hands. nearby classrooms have been turned into shelters. there are several thousand displaced people. some people had only recently arrived at the school because they fled from the israeli offensive in the south of the gaza strip. the israeli military says they carried out a precise air strike here, they were acting on intelligence, between 20 and 30 hamas fighters were using this skill as a base to plan and carry out attacks. they said some of those fighters had been involved in the

deadly 7th of october attacks on israel. they said they took numbers of steps to reduce harm to civilians, including twice calling off the strike. the tv doctor michael mosley has gone missing while on holiday on a greek island. that is according to his agent. it is understood the daily mail columnist, who has also made several programmes on the bbc, was on a walking break. our correspondent has the latest. we got this confirmation from doctor michael mosley�*s agent in the last hour or so, as you mentioned the 67—year—old has gone missing. he is on holiday on the greek island with his wife. we understand that there is a huge search now for the 67—year—old. you mentioned there, a very well—known broadcaster. he is known for

television programmes, including the bbc series, trust me i'm a doctor, and on the radio as well. he is a health bureau, it popularised various diets as well. that big search for doctor mosley on the greek island is under way. i will bring you some information we have had from the greek police. a spokesperson has told the bbc that doctor mosley was with his wife on a beach when he decided to leave on foot to go to the centre of the island. the spokesperson also says that doctor mosley�*s wife returned but doctor mosley was not there. that is when she informed the local police department. we also have been told by the fire department press office that there are firefighters

and volunteers who are currently looking for doctor mosley on foot. they are also using drones in the area to try and search for him. doctor michael mosley, very popular television presenter and radio as well, well known to many, many viewers has gone missing and we understand he went missing yesterday and his wife reported him missing and his wife reported him missing and that big search for him is continuing. thank you very much indeed. back now to the d—day commemorations and the centrepiece of those commemorations today is the international ceremony. here, world leaders from each allied nation are coming together to pay tribute to the veterans, courage, commitment and sacrifice. let's beat our

correspondent. hello. i and sacrifice. let's beat our correspondent. hello. lam in the seaside town where hundreds of people are gathered. this seaside town sits on a stretch of coast known as gold beach. it was one of the first towns to be liberated on d—day. it has become a hub of annual celebrations. earlier on, we had a royal visit. celebrations. earlier on, we had a royalvisit. prince celebrations. earlier on, we had a royal visit. prince william came here and met some of the british veterans. he then went out into the crowd. some were very excited to see him a living out of windows. i caught up with two french women, marianne and patricia, who had their own conversations with the prince of wales. we own conversations with the prince of wales. ~ ., ., ., ., ., ~ wales. we are on holiday for a week with friends — wales. we are on holiday for a week with friends and _ wales. we are on holiday for a week with friends and we _ wales. we are on holiday for a week with friends and we wanted - wales. we are on holiday for a week with friends and we wanted to - with friends and we wanted to celebrate this day, it is important for us. , , ., for us. just explain the significance, _ for us. just explain the significance, how - for us. just explain the - significance, how important is it for french people? aha, significance, how important is it for french people?— significance, how important is it for french people? a big part of the french history _

for french people? a big part of the french history and _ for french people? a big part of the french history and with _ for french people? a big part of the french history and with our- for french people? a big part of the french history and with our friends. french history and with our friends and all these countries, they come here, and is very important to celebrate together, all together for peace. celebrate together, all together for eace. ~ , y ., celebrate together, all together for eace. ~ , peace. why did you come here specifically? — peace. why did you come here specifically? l— peace. why did you come here specifically? i think _ peace. why did you come here specifically? i think it - peace. why did you come here specifically? i think it is - specifically? i think it is important _ specifically? i think it is important to _ specifically? i think it is important to remember specifically? i think it is - important to remember what specifically? i think it is _ important to remember what happened here for— important to remember what happened here for the _ important to remember what happened here for the other generation after us and _ here for the other generation after us and don't forget all of the people — us and don't forget all of the people we come here to say france. it is important for us. just people we come here to say france. it is important for us.— it is important for us. just tell us what is happening _ it is important for us. just tell us what is happening there - it is important for us. just tell us what is happening there right - it is important for us. just tell us l what is happening there right now. the town is holding its own commemorations. there will be a service in the square. you might be able to see that there is a pipe band preparing to play. we are expecting a number of british d—day veterans to arrive, they are being treated, we have heard some people refer to them as rock stars. one gentleman arrived earlier today and

he walked to the crowd and they were shouting with joy to meet them. some of the people in the crowd thanking him for his military service. he ditched his walker and met with all of the crowds. he was really happy to see those people. there is a gentleman just over here who is also a d—day veteran who is greeting led crowds as well. in this service they are going to pay their respects. the town is exceptionally grateful for those who were involved in its liberation and it wants to honour those accordingly.— liberation and it wants to honour those accordingly. victoria, thank ou ve those accordingly. victoria, thank you very much — those accordingly. victoria, thank you very much indeed. _ those accordingly. victoria, thank you very much indeed. we - those accordingly. victoria, thank you very much indeed. we just i those accordingly. victoria, thank. you very much indeed. we just want to show you some live pictures at the national memorial arboretum in staffordshire. 26 veterans are in attendance there. so we have got veterans attending this commemoration but also the commemorations in normandy as well.

we willjust have a listen in for a minute. we will 'ust have a listen in for a minute. ., , ., we will 'ust have a listen in for a minute. . , ., ., ~ minute. have been given and taken awa . let minute. have been given and taken away- let us _ minute. have been given and taken away. let us remember— minute. have been given and taken away. let us remember before - minute. have been given and taken away. let us remember before god| minute. have been given and taken i away. let us remember before god all who took part in the normandy landings, those who gave their lives as comrades in the royal navy, the royal marines, the army, the royal air force, the merchant navy and in the armed forces of our allies. we remember them with gratitude and honour their memory. if remember them with gratitude and honour their memory.— honour their memory. if you are able, honour their memory. if you are able. would _ honour their memory. if you are able, would you _ honour their memory. if you are able, would you please - honour their memory. if you are able, would you please stand. l

they will grow old those who will grow old, age will not weary them going down in the sun and in the morning. we will remember them. we will rememberthem. trumpet fanfare

when you go home, tell them of us and say for your tomorrow, we go out today. and say for your tomorrow, we go out toda . ,., ., ., today. god grant to the living race, today. god grant to the living grace. to _ today. god grant to the living grace. to the _ today. god grant to the living grace, to the departed - today. god grant to the living grace, to the departed rest, l today. god grant to the living | grace, to the departed rest, to today. god grant to the living - grace, to the departed rest, to the church, _ grace, to the departed rest, to the church, the — grace, to the departed rest, to the church, the king, the commonwealth and all— church, the king, the commonwealth and all people unity and peace. and to us— and all people unity and peace. and to us and _ and all people unity and peace. and

to us and all god's servants life everlasting and the blessing of god almighty, father son and holy spirit be with_ almighty, father son and holy spirit be with you and remain with you always — be with you and remain with you always. amen. # i won't cry because it's over # i won't cry because it's over # i won't cry because it's over # i will smile because you happened # i will smile because you happened # with your eyes i saw the world i never knew # for this life may bring me sadness

# for this life may bring me sadness # it's a promise i'll look after # it's a promise i'll look after # that will forever be there because of you # because of you i am an open field, open fields and fences # as sunrise as it reaches for the sky # because of you i know that i am under no false pretenses # because of you i have these wings for me to fly # as i wash the work around me in every way you will be there # feel the wind that dances # feel the wind that dances # for these tears with you i'm crying not from sadness

# because of you i know i will be all right # because of you i am an open field of open doors and faces # as sunrise at the greatest part of the sky # because of you i know that me i am with no false pretenses # because of you i have these wings for me to fly # for me to fly # for me to fly # because of you...

# because of you... # i have these wings to me to fly # i have these wings to me to fly # because of you i am an open field of open doors and faces # as sunrise and the greatest part of the sky # because of you i know the feeling... # because of you i have these wings for me to fly # for me to fly. # i # ijust # i just know # ijust know it'll # ijust know it'll be # ijust know it'll be all # ijust know it'll be all right # ijust know it'll be all right ijust know it'll be all because # ijust know it'll be all right because of you.

#. studio: we have just studio: we havejust been studio: we have just been watching that the service of remembrance at the national memorial arboretum in staffordshire to mark the 80th anniversary of d—day. among those attending that service in staffordshire, 26 veterans are there. also the duke and duchess of edinburgh. there are commemorative events notjust in normandy and staffordshire but across the uk and this is the royal british legion remembrance service at the national memorial arboretum. there is also an

event at the royal albert hall in london which the duke and duchess of gloucester will be attending. and in france, you can see the preparations beginning for the international commemorative event which is going to start shortly, quite imminently at omaha beach. we just saw president macron there. we also saw the us president, they were greeted by a flyover. they gave out the medal of honour to surviving veterans. we had a speech from us presidentjoe biden in which he was very much comparing the struggle against hitler and nazi dictatorship

with the struggle now in ukraine against the russians and grant shapps there we can see live in normandy exchanging pleasantries normandy exchanging pleasa ntries with normandy exchanging pleasantries with the french president and his wife. joe biden and his remarks was saying that d—day veterans met the test of the age is 80 years ago on behalf of the american people, he said, it is the highest honour to salute you in normandy want more pit —— once more. he spoke of the noble band of brothers, every soldier and aviator who served. he said that in the cemetery thousands of heroes were buried there side by side from different races, faiths and

backgrounds but all, he said, served with honour when america and the world need them the most. thenjoe biden also drew comparisons with the struggle of ukraine in face of russian aggression and said that that captured the spirit of d—day. he described the conflict as an ongoing struggle in drawing comparisons with the second world war and the d—day landings 80 years ago with what is happening right now in europe as ukraine fights for its survival. he said that ukraine has been invaded by retirement and that they are fighting with courage but never backing down. any compare this to the struggle for freedom on the beachesin to the struggle for freedom on the beaches in d—day and he pledged that nato and the wider coalition would stand strong with ukraine and not

walk away. let's have another lesson do what is happening here in the uk at the national memorial arboretum in staffordshire. to at the national memorial arboretum in staffordshire.— in staffordshire. to remember this ivotal in staffordshire. to remember this pivotal part — in staffordshire. to remember this pivotal part of _ in staffordshire. to remember this pivotal part of world _ in staffordshire. to remember this pivotal part of world war - in staffordshire. to remember this pivotal part of world war ii - in staffordshire. to remember this pivotal part of world war ii and - pivotal part of world war ii and paid tribute to all those involved. the 6th ofjune 1944 paid tribute to all those involved. the 6th ofjune1944 was not only a military operation but provided that beacon of hope the allies needed. today we cherish the freedoms that so many that day fought and died to defend. and now, let us stand if you are able for the national anthem. thank you.

# god save our gracious king. band plays

this so we are keeping an eye on events they�* re this so we are keeping an eye on events they're both in staffordshire and in normandy with that international commemoratives service about to begin with president macron hosting, of course, the french president and joe biden is expected there very shortly as well. in the meantime, let mejust there very shortly as well. in the meantime, let me just tell you that 97—year—old alfred was just 17 years old when he was tasked with manning the guns during the d—day landings. alfred is not one of the estimated

40 veterans who have attended for today's commemorating events. he has been telling our correspond on how the events shaped our lives and how he will be marking today's anniversary. alfred remembers. he can't help but remember. but he never celebrates, and he has no time for people who do. if they saw what i saw, they wouldn't want to celebrate, they'd want to remember and then go and sit down somewhere quiet and forget about it. archive: this is it - | they're on the beach, plunging waist deep into the sea. and this is what he remembers. the 6th ofjune, 1944. d—day. the moment allied forces arrived in normandy, nazi—occupied france, and began the liberation of western europe.

it was the largest sea and airborne invasion the world had ever seen and one of the great turning points of 20th century history. alfred was just 17 years old, an able seaman in the royal navy. we didn't really know a great deal because we weren't told a lot. we were told, "you're going," you know, "you'll be in action tomorrow," and all the big guns would be going off, which they did. his battleship, hms ramillies, arrived that morning at sword beach on the north west coast of france. oh, what we saw was the main thing that i can't forget. it was all them young lads, running and climbing up the beach to get out the way of the bloody german machine guns that were firing everywhere, mowing them down. terrible, terrible.

it makes you wonder why i'm still alive, wnd they've all been dead for years — years and years. and i mean, they would have grown up like i did, and had a family and all that, and all that was all lost, wasn't it, with all them that were killed? in total, more than 4,000 allied troops were killed that day. i'm nearly in tears thinking of those lads. oh, what a way to go. go out there, bang, dead. you were there 80 years ago. what do you want people to know to be your message?

for god's sake, keep away from war. alfred is a father, grandfather and great grandfather. he's thankful for the life he's had after the war. they are all to do with normandy. on the anniversary, the 97—year—old will be remembering those who didn't make it. you survived it. yeah, lucky, wasn't i? lucky old hugger. if you can survive that, you could survive anything. navteonhal, bbc news. well, let's take you back live to commemorative events on this 80th anniversary in france. president macron of france has been meeting various dignitaries and leaders,

members of royalty who are coming for the international commemorative events this afternoon. we had joe biden not very long ago talking about how important memories of d—day are. he was drawing a close comparison between the fight against dictatorship 80 years ago and the fight against tyranny in ukraine and saying that the world has to keep supporting ukraine in the fight against russian aggression. he said ukraine had been invaded by a tyrant and amongst those coming to the event, volodymyr zelensky of ukraine who has arrived in france for these commemorative events. it will be interesting to hear what he has to say as well. joe biden saying that under his leadership, the united states will not walk away from

ukraine because if we do, ukraine, he said it won't end there. all of europe will be threatened calling president putin of russia a tyrant went on domination. this is also of course about looking back notjust drawing comparisons but looking back to the bravery, and the courage of the service men and women 80 years ago on this momentous day. a huge allied invasion which was such a turning point in the second world war. the landing by forces that parachuted troops directly on occupied soil. the biggest naval operation ever in terms of the number of ships and troops deployed. an operation that was kept closely guarded secret from the germans before the allies landed on those five beaches spread across the

normandy coast. which is where the commemorative event yesterday and today have been taking place. omaha and utah, gold for the beach and you know for the —— juno beach for the canadians. this service hosted by president macron is going to be taking place. by the end of what became known 80 years ago as the longest day. 156 allied troops with 20,000 vehicles landed in nazi occupied northern france. they faced aircraft fire artillery fire, such a contrast to the calm and quiet of normandy today 80 years later where it is diplomatic pleasantries that are being exchanged on the red carpet at that commemorative event

thatis carpet at that commemorative event that is going to be beginning imminently. it really was a turning point in european history and war. the landings 80 years ago marked the beginning of the end of the nazi occupation of western europe. although months of intense fighting did still lie ahead before the final victory. we will have much more in the coming hour but for now i am just going to pause for a little while and take a look at the weather. hello. the sun is strong but if you are in the shade it does feel a little in the cool side. temperatures will be below the average for the time of year, at least for most of us. on top of that, a scattering of showers. our weather has been coming in from the north for the last two days you can tell by the motion of the cloud. all the way from i believe that iceland

and the norwegian sea. through this afternoon, we will have had showers scattered across the northern two thirds of the uk, quite frequent across parts of scotland and in the south less frequent with sunny spells. temperatures will be struggling, around 15 in belfast and 16 to 18 across the south of the country. should be closer to 24 the south. by the end of the night the showers will become more frequent in western scotland but the rest of the uk should have generally clear weather. could be quite chilly. in towns or cities seven or eight celsius, in rural parts two or three celsius, in rural parts two or three celsius lower than that. a weather front crossing the uk from the north which is where the air is coming from as well. i think a spell of rain for parts of scotland and then the north of england later on in the morning. showers will be quite

frequent for the north of scotland and in the south showers will be less frequent and predominantly sunny spells. again temperatures struggling. about 15 in newcastle, 18 in birmingham. through saturday, low pressure is close by in fact in the north sea, the wind blowing in from the north—west. temperatures are going to change and the wind will be quite strong across scotland, really quite gusty and chilly. old enough for a little bit of wind across the mountains. temperatures, high teens for the south of the uk, low teens for the north. is it going to warm up in the next few days? in short, no, it isn't. that cooler air from the north will continue and we will have that mixture of sunny spells and showers. that's it for now. goodbye.

it is important for us. just tell us l what is happening there right now. live from london, this is bbc news. our latest headlines: world leaders gather in normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of d—day, including the us president. in memory of those who fought here, died here, saved the world here, let us be worthy of their sacrifice. veterans have gathered

to remember fallen comrades. at the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them. we will be live in normandy, as commemoration events take place throughout the afternoon. in other news, more than 30 people are reported to have been killed in gaza after the israeli military attacked a school sheltering displaced palestinians. israel say it was targeting hamas fighters. michael mosley has gone missing while on the greek island. and it is lift off. the launch of the latest space x rocket, the biggest in the world.

exactly 80 years ago, tens of thousands of exactly 80 years ago, tens of thousands of allied exactly 80 years ago, tens of thousands of allied troops exactly 80 years ago, tens of thousands of allied troops mounted what was the greatest seaborne invasion in military history, one that would change the course of the second world war and european history. this afternoon, d—day veterans and world leaders are gathered for the centrepiece of the commemorative events in france. earlier, at a new memorial above a gold beach, where british troops landed, the king has a wreath, accompanied by president macron of france. close to american fighters faced the biggest resistance, us presidentjoe biden gave a speech, warning democracy in europe and around the world remains fragile in the wake of russian evasion of ukraine. the prince of walesjoined the canadian prime ministerjustin trudeau to remember canada's de day

trips. and alongside solemn ceremony, it has also been a chance for attendees, including the king, to meet and speak to the guests of honour, the veterans themselves, each of whom played such a pivotal part in one of the defining days in european history. with a look back now at the key event so far, here is our correspondent. remembering the dawn on the 6th ofjune1944, that changed the second world war and with it, the entire world forever. with the rising sun on the 80th anniversary of d—day came a fly past. piper plays and alone piper marked the moment when tens of thousands of british, american and canadian troops stormed the beaches in northern france... ..to free europe from

the grip of the nazis. it was the largest combined land, naval and air operation the world had ever seen, when sailors, soldiers, airmen and civilians left their homes and gave their lives — to give us our futures. a liberty that cost so much. king charles and queen camilla joined the prime minister and the few surviving british veterans who made the journey, the youngest now in their late 90s. at a service at ver—sur—mer, at a new memorial built especially for the occasion. let us affirm that we will strive to live by their example. let us pray such sacrifice need never be made again. our gratitude is unfailing and our admiration eternal. applause

some of the veterans' memories were read out. "i was 19 when i landed but i was still a boy." the actor martin freeman recounted the words ofjoe mines from the 2nd battalion of the essex regiment, on his first return to normandy. "so why would i come back? "well, this is the last and only opportunity for me. "the last there will ever be, and it's because of the lads. "i want to pay my respects to those who didn't make it. "may they rest in peace." six miles away onjuno beach, prince william joined canadian veterans. standing here today in peaceful silence, it is almost impossible to grasp the courage it would have taken to run into the fury of battle that very day. thank you for our freedom and thank you for your service.

he continues in french services will continue to be held throughout the day, the memory of what was fought for never forgotten, forever remembered here by ken hay, who landed on the beaches alongside his brother 80 years ago. they shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old. age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. let's show you the scene where prince william is being greeted by president macron ahead of the

international ceremony. there is prince william who was speaking to veterans and hundreds of people had gathered at the square to catch a glimpse of prince william on this 80th anniversary. and the prince delighted by the crowd there and when he walked away there was applause and enthusiastic cries of william ringing out on the streets. earlier, we heard from presidentjoe biden, who gave an address. let's listen to what he had to say. history tells us the freedom is not free. if you want to know the price of freedom, come here to normandy. go to the other cemeteries in europe where ourfallen go to the other cemeteries in europe where our fallen heroes rest. tomorrow, i will pay respects. go there and remember the price of

unchecked tyranny is the blood of the young and the brave. in their hour of trial, the allied forces of d—day did their duty. now the question for us is, in our hour of trial, will we do ours? we are living in a time when democracy is at risk across the world, since these beaches were stormed, in 1944. now we have to ask ourselves, will be stand against tyranny? against evil? against crushing brutality? of the iron fist? will we stand for freedom and defend democracy? we stand together. my answer is yes and only can be yes. stand together. my answer is yes and only can be yes-— only can be yes. president joe biden really drawing _ only can be yes. president joe biden really drawing strong _ only can be yes. president joe biden really drawing strong parallels - only can be yes. president joe biden really drawing strong parallels with l really drawing strong parallels with the fight against tyranny and dictatorship in the second world war

and the fight now in ukraine against russian tyranny, he said. he was talking about the importance of an international coalition infighting that russian aggression. the president of ukraine is in normandy. there have been re—enactments and tributes across normandy to those who gave, with their lives, to preserve freedom in that time of the second world war and on d—day in particular. our correspondent was with a detachment of royal marines this morning who were honouring the memory of the d—day heroes. we can talk to him now. let memory of the d-day heroes. we can talk to him now.— talk to him now. let me point out what is happening _ talk to him now. let me point out what is happening now. _ talk to him now. let me point out what is happening now. an - talk to him now. let me point out - what is happening now. an important town for british remembrance and we have just seen the arrival of veterans, who are being applauding ljy veterans, who are being applauding by everyone in this town square as

they are taken up onto the podium here and there is going to be a short ceremony now. we did not know they are coming. they are here and everyone is clearly very, very moved by their appearance here. a very important place in the hearts of everyone who remembers d—day because the harbour was built to bring in the harbour was built to bring in the troops after d—day. earlier on, we wear out with commandos, royal marines, as they paid their tributes. and the landed on the beach if you hours ago. their unit was one that fought with honour on d—day. for their unit was one that fought with honour on d-day._ honour on d-day. for me, this is robabl honour on d-day. for me, this is probably one _ honour on d-day. for me, this is probably one of _ honour on d-day. for me, this is probably one of the _ honour on d-day. for me, this is probably one of the most - honour on d-day. for me, this is l probably one of the most humbling privileges that i have had a 26 years of service. i get goose bumps

every year when i do it. the years of service. i get goose bumps every year when i do it.— every year when i do it. the landing craft has come _ every year when i do it. the landing craft has come over _ every year when i do it. the landing craft has come over from _ every year when i do it. the landing | craft has come over from plymouth. they haven't evolved that much since the d—day craft. but the coastline today, so peaceful, is a world away from the mayhem. at this distance in time it is a struggle to imagine what must have been going through the minds of those grim faced, fired up the minds of those grim faced, fired up men as they prepared to go on sure on d—day. the noise, the confusion, the bloodshed and the certain knowledge that some of you were not going to come back alive. for the young commanders taking part, it is all about the collective heritage of the marines. we part, it is all about the collective heritage of the marines.- heritage of the marines. we are showin: heritage of the marines. we are showing our— heritage of the marines. we are showing our respects _ heritage of the marines. we are showing our respects to - heritage of the marines. we are showing our respects to the - heritage of the marines. we are i showing our respects to the fellow lads who have come over here during d—day and laid down their lives so we can have the freedom we have today. we can have the freedom we have toda . , , ., ., ., ., ~ today. they still managed to take the ground. _

today. they still managed to take the ground. is — today. they still managed to take the ground, is a _ today. they still managed to take the ground, is a part _ today. they still managed to take the ground, is a part of _ today. they still managed to take the ground, is a part of the - today. they still managed to take | the ground, is a part of the spirit, determination over the overwhelming odds _ determination over the overwhelming odds we _ determination over the overwhelming odds. we had to take pride in that. in peaceful— odds. we had to take pride in that. in peaceful waters, and to a reception committee of smiling local people, the royal marines weighed ashore again. the years have passed and those who fought and nearly all gone. this memory, this tribute lives on. and let's go back alive now. those pictures showing what it might have been like coming off of the boat, the landing craft. tell us more about, you know, we talk about what this means to be british, in particular. what about what it means to the french. just give us the french perspective on all of this. i think you can draw to pout to that.

one is the reaction of people around here in normandy. the memory is still very fresh and very alive. the gratitude is heartfelt. families have borne this memory inside themselves and every time the veterans comeback it is with the same wonderful welcome that they are received. around the country of france, the memory is different. it is not so personal. but, there again, the official level, the nation of france, remains extremely grateful and extremely mindful of the sacrifice of british and canadian and american forces who came ashore here 80 years ago. it hasn't got quite the same impact on the country as a whole as it does in normandy. there is that mixture of slight guilt and shame that the french feel that they were not really part of the normandy landings. nonetheless, it has become a symbol of proximity and the

alliance which still holds firm today. alliance which still holds firm toda . �* , ., alliance which still holds firm toda . �* ., , alliance which still holds firm toda .�* ., , ., today. and you are telling us that the veterans _ today. and you are telling us that the veterans are _ today. and you are telling us that the veterans are there _ today. and you are telling us that the veterans are there this - the veterans are there this afternoon and have been getting a rapturous reception from people they are. , ., rapturous reception from people they are. , . ., , , are. they have, indeed. it was very touchinu. are. they have, indeed. it was very touching- we _ are. they have, indeed. it was very touching. we didn't _ are. they have, indeed. it was very touching. we didn't know— are. they have, indeed. it was very touching. we didn't know they - are. they have, indeed. it was very| touching. we didn't know they were going to be brought here. theyjust came up. you could see from the automatic way that everyone around here applauded, they know who they are and the no this is the last time they will get to see them and say thank you. there are many, many people here from all over europe and what has been surprising to me here are the enthusiasts for d—day who have come in their vehicle and their material. they are a different kind of honour, but it is a kind of honour and tribute the paying. they are here in their hundreds. it is very much a symbol that memory is

changing and becoming history. this enthusiasm. it shows the idea of d—day is very much alive. enthusiasm. it shows the idea of d-day is very much alive.- enthusiasm. it shows the idea of d-day is very much alive. good to talk to you- _ d-day is very much alive. good to talk to you. thank _ d-day is very much alive. good to talk to you. thank you _ d-day is very much alive. good to talk to you. thank you very - d-day is very much alive. good to talk to you. thank you very much | talk to you. thank you very much indeed. we can speak to george night. thank you very much for being with us. just tell us what your father dead. he doesn't really talk very much about it until shortly before his death. ., , , death. good afternoon. yes, my fatherioined _ death. good afternoon. yes, my fatherjoined the _ death. good afternoon. yes, my fatherjoined the territorial - death. good afternoon. yes, my| fatherjoined the territorial army in 1939, a couple of months before the war started, at the age of merely 19. the war started, at the age of merely19. during the war started, at the age of merely 19. during the war he didn't serve abroad until after the air raid and the italian campaign, when the commandos lost a lot of guys. he

volunteered for the commandos. in 1944, early 44, hejoined the volunteered for the commandos. in 1944, early 44, he joined the three army commando and landed on d—day with the commanders. he was in action for about ten weeks until he was put out of action by a heavy mortar attack on his commando position. so after that he survived. he was declared unfit for further action. he went to a prisoner of war camp, and he used to go into bartering with an elderly lady in a farmhouse on the edge of the village. one day, two young ladies came up from burgundy and that is where he met my mother. my mother

was a french women. he met my mother and eventually brought her back to the uk and married her. he didn't talk about the war at all. when we were children. he suffered from what is now called ptsd. sometimes he would just sit with his head in his hands, tears pouring down his face. we had six children and we were told by our mother tojust we had six children and we were told by our mother to just leave him alone and he would be fine eventually. that is what happened and he didn't talk about his experiences at all until a couple of days before his death. it was almost as though he was clearing his desk, as though he was clearing his desk, as it were. hand as though he was clearing his desk, as it were. �* ., .. as it were. and when he did talk about it, towards _ as it were. and when he did talk about it, towards the _ as it were. and when he did talk about it, towards the end - as it were. and when he did talk about it, towards the end of - as it were. and when he did talk about it, towards the end of his| about it, towards the end of his life, what did he tell you about his role and what happened? he life, what did he tell you about his role and what happened?- life, what did he tell you about his role and what happened? he told us that a couple — role and what happened? he told us that a couple of— role and what happened? he told us that a couple of days _ role and what happened? he told us that a couple of days after _ role and what happened? he told us that a couple of days after the - that a couple of days after the commanders landed, there was a huge

german counterattack, and infantry battalions, attacked the fields above the reg. he told us that basically the germans attacked en masse and he took part in destroying that attack and shot and killed germans. at that point he went very quiet. his voice broke and that wasn't the end of it. it carried on for ten weeks after that. they were subjected to serial attacks by the germans. suffered really heavy casualties. more than half of his commando unit were killed or wounded, before he was actually taken out of action, as well. it is interesting _ taken out of action, as well. it is interesting you _ taken out of action, as well. it is interesting you say _ taken out of action, as well. it is interesting you say that. this is something we don't often focus on, these were young men facing utterly

traumatic and horrific scenes, that they would have to then, if they survive, with live with for the rest of their lives.— of their lives. yes, they wear, to me, the of their lives. yes, they wear, to me. the most — of their lives. yes, they wear, to me, the most special— of their lives. yes, they wear, to me, the most special generation of their lives. yes, they wear, to i me, the most special generation of british people that ever lived because i could remember when i was a child, i knew dozens and dozens of these chaps who just came back and got on with their lives, were very modest, never bragged about it, very rarely talked about it. if they did, it was only sketchy details of what they had been through. and also the humorous parts that the had seen, very rarely did they talk about the terrible bits at all. which, to me, is incomprehensible. but terrible bits at all. which, to me, is incomprehensible.— terrible bits at all. which, to me, is incomprehensible. but i suppose auoin out is incomprehensible. but i suppose going out for— is incomprehensible. but i suppose going out for you. _ is incomprehensible. but i suppose going out for you, is _ is incomprehensible. but i suppose going out for you, is one _ is incomprehensible. but i suppose going out for you, is one of- is incomprehensible. but i suppose going out for you, is one of his - going out for you, is one of his children, you must have been yearning to ask lots of questions.

you must of been fascinated and wanted to know what he had done but he didn't feel able, really, to talk about it. ., , he didn't feel able, really, to talk about it. . , ., , , about it. that is absolutely correct- — about it. that is absolutely correct. they _ about it. that is absolutely correct. they just - about it. that is absolutely correct. they just wanted | about it. that is absolutelyl correct. they just wanted to about it. that is absolutely - correct. they just wanted to put it correct. theyjust wanted to put it behind them, i think. and also, they didn't get, apart from their peers, their powers, when they went to the legion on a sunday for a pint or two, the didn't feel as though they could share with what they had been through with those who had not seen it. that is a common thread with service men anywhere in the world. their peers are the best therapy. and the service men that i have served within past as well. i belong to a group of ex servicemen and we find that it is just a community and a brotherhood that you cannot understand unless you have been through it. my part was absolutely nothing compared to what those guys

have gone through. find nothing compared to what those guys have gone through.— nothing compared to what those guys have gone through. and when we look at toda 's have gone through. and when we look at today's commemorative _ have gone through. and when we look at today's commemorative events. - at today's commemorative events. there are obviously a dwindling number of veterans who are able to attend. how important is it that we do keep on remembering what happened 80 years ago on those beaches and the sacrifice of those who fell, and how important is it we keep having these anniversaries and commemorative events? i these anniversaries and commemorative events? i think the takeawa s commemorative events? i think the takeaways are _ commemorative events? i think the takeaways are that _ commemorative events? i think the takeaways are that we _ commemorative events? i think the takeaways are that we must - commemorative events? i think the | takeaways are that we must educate our children and young people in britain and all over the world about these events. we must not allow them to forget and we must tell them about sacrifices and to coin a french phrase... peace and freedom don't come free. it is always at the

cost. and we must try to strive to avoid conflict. but should it arise, then the sacrifice needs to be made. well, thank you so much for sharing your memories of your father. that is frank knight, whose father, george night, was involved in the d—day landings, as he wasjust telling us. thank you for your time. thank you it has been a privilege. thank you it has been a privilege. thank you. let's take you back to what is happening in normandy. veterans have been arriving at where the international commemorative event is going to take place very shortly, attended by presidentjoe biden, president macron of france, other world leaders and they are going to be remembering this momentous sacrifice that was made 80 years ago today onjune the 6th,

1944. it was a day when there was that enormous seaborne landing into nazi occupied france, nazi occupied europe. and the allies landed on those five beaches spread across the normandy coast, omaha beach, very close to where this event is going to take place, juno beach for the british and the canadians as well. by british and the canadians as well. by the end of what was known as the longest day, 156,000 allied troops had landed in nazi occupied northern france and they were about to change the course of the war and modern european history. let's listen in to the event now.

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applause so you are seeing some of the veterans arriving there at the commemorative event, the international event, that is going to begin very shortly there. let's just remind you what has been happening in the last few hours. notably, we have had us president joe biden giving an address saying, echoing, and there is president zelensky of ukraine and his wife meeting some of the veterans. i was about to say your biden was drawing parallels with fighting dictatorship it years ago, with the fate of

russian now. and that ukraine would have the support against russian aggression. present biden very keen to make those and draw those parallels. and saying that dark forces, he talked about the struggle between a dictatorship and freedom being on ending, the american president said. he said that ukraine had been invaded by a tyrant. president zelensky, who we just thought there, thinking it important he comes there to normandy to echo those parallels, i suppose, thatjoe biden has drawn, but also to talk those important western leaders as he continues to seek more western military and financial support, seek more western military and financialsupport, in seek more western military and financial support, in the struggle

against russia. so veterans they are ahead of commemorative event, which is close to omaha beach, where the americans landed. it has been a day where we have also seen king charles talking of the supreme test of d—day and the generation that did not flinch when the moment came to face that test. and we are seeing some of the veterans there with the canadian prime minister. but back on the 6th ofjune 1940 prime minister. but back on the 6th ofjune1940 tens of thousands of soldiers landed on those five beaches, canadian, us troops. the landing the start of the campaign to liberate nazi occupied north—western europe. here is mr zelensky meeting another of the veterans. dressed in

his, not a suit and tie like the other leaders, but his usual dress, the ukrainian president. just a word about the veterans, in terms of the british veterans, just to say that five years ago, 225 british veterans travel to normandy. this number that number has dwindled to 23. many historians and commentators saying it is very, very important that as those numbers of veterans do dwindle, we keep having these commemorative events, we keep on remembering the sacrifice that was made 80 years ago and those extraordinary landings and the courage, the bravery that there was troops showed when they came off the landing craft and faced that weathering german fire. many, of

course, did not survive and that it had to fight on for and months ahead in nazi occupied europe, to finally win the war against hitler and the nazis. well, prince william has been amongst the dignitaries in normandy for these commemorations. and he got a rapturous reception and was saluted by people who were waving out of windows. and just a word aboutjoe biden, emmanuel macron, the american and french leaders, they have been handing out the highest medal of honour to veterans. that was just before joe biden's

speech. it has really been a day of commemorations and commemorative events. it has also been echoed here in the united kingdom at the national memorial arboretum in staffordshire. there has been an event there. there was another event at the royal festival hall. it is notjust in normandy, where we are watching. and really remembering what happened 80 years ago. the landings marking the beginning of the end of the nazi occupation of western europe. months of intense and bloody fighting did, of course, lie ahead.

pause there is president zelensky meets one of the veterans. mrs zelensky is of course relieved to get that package of military aid from the us. the ukrainian military have been struggling against a new russian incursion but he obviously feels that he is able to leave ukraine at that time he actually cancelled a couple of overseas visits but he is now feeling confident enough to leave the country and come to these normandy commemorative events and as i say,

just to rub shoulders with needles like joe just to rub shoulders with needles likejoe biden and president macron as well as the veterans, of course as well as the veterans, of course as he is doing there now. . very important role of president zelensky as he seeks to receive more western help, diplomatic help, financial help, diplomatic help, financial help in the war against russia. no doubt when he makes remarks he will be drawing the same parallels that we heard from joe barden comparing the fight against the nazis against the fight against the nazis against the fight against president putin and the russian aggression aggressors as we call them. the russian tyrant was the term from joe biden for vladimir putin. a little earlier on at the british ceremony king charles expressed gratitude for the sacrifice of the wartime generation.

over the past 40 years i have had the privilege of attending seven d—day commemorations and meeting so many distinguished veterans. i shall never forget — many distinguished veterans. i shall never forget the _ many distinguished veterans. i shall never forget the haunting _ many distinguished veterans. i shall never forget the haunting sights - many distinguished veterans. i "i—ii never forget the haunting sights and sound of thousands of muddled figures proudly marching past into a french sunset on these beaches. our ability to learn from their stories at first hand diminishes but our obligation to remember them, what they stood for and what they achieved for us all can never diminish. that was king charles a little earlier and prince william has been at the canadian ceremony where the bravery of saw juries at the canadian ceremony where the bravery of sawjuries in the armed forces was heard. i bravery of sawjuries in the armed forces was heard.— bravery of sawjuries in the armed forces was heard. join you to commemorate the bravery

and sacrifice of the canadian troops who gave so much 80 years ago. on during the sixth 1944 as part of the 150,000 allied troops that landed or parachuted into normandy, 14,000 were from canada. farfrom home, they stormed these very sand dunes behind me. shoulder to shoulder with thousands of british troops. standing here today, in peaceful silence it is almost impossible to grasp the courage it would have taken to run into fury and battle that very day. that was prince william a little earlier on. their areas live in fact.

waiting for the service that is about to begin. commemoratives events and he is talking to the canadian prime minister there. he has really been at the heart of these events, prince william, he was in arromanches a little earlier and he got a great greeting their id there were hundreds of people in the square in arromanches to see prince william. some were even hanging out of windows to catch a glimpse of him, the prince of wales. there were also veterans in the town there to greet the crowds. many british people also came to arromanches to soak up the atmosphere. the atmosphere is dominated by all of these veterans that we are seeing, americans, canadians, british veterans. not so british veterans, five years ago as i was saying, 225 british veterans travelled to

normandy for the commemorations, this yearjust 23. so it is a dwindling band but clearly, there is a sense that it is very important to keep remembering what happened this day on the 6th ofjune in 1940 41 tens of thousands of soldiers landed on those five beaches of normandy. the longest day, as it was called. omaha beach, utah beach for the americans, gold beach and sword beach for the british and juno beach for the canadians. 156,000 allied troops landing. and huge enemy fire of course from the germans although the germans were largely taken by surprise by the attack. but it did mark a turning point in the second world war because it was the beginning of the end of the nazi

occupation of france in western europe. but even then, afterjune the 6th, much more intense fighting and sacrifice lay ahead for the allies in that attempt to defeat hitler and to defeat the nazi regime after so many years of warfare. we are going to hearfrom we are going to hear from the various leaders, we are going to hearfrom president various leaders, we are going to hear from president macron, various leaders, we are going to hearfrom president macron, the french president. joe biden has already made remarks in which he compared the struggle of 80 years ago with the struggle now against russia and ukraine. talking about

the struggle between a dictatorship and freedom being an ending. and ukraine, who is present we werejust seeing, president zelensky, joe biden saying that it has been invaded by a tyrant. joe biden thanks the forces who did their duty on d—day and invited the audience to ask whether we would do the same in our hour of trial there. he said that we cannot allow what happened here to be lost to the silence of years to come. we must remember it, and honour it. he said every generation must preserve democracy calling it the test of the ages and that freedom comes with a price and the price in terms of d—day is the cemeteries there and the many who died. the scene, of course, in

normandy is so much,. hard to imagine what it would have been like on those beaches, those five beaches with all that fire from ships, planes, small arms fire. and president macron of france and his wife who have been greeting all the dignitaries who are arriving for this international commemoratives events we think this is the us presidentjoe biden. that is the guard of honour waiting to greet him

as it has for various other leaders who have been arriving. you can see the canadian prime minister and various other leaders and here is joe biden who, as i was saying was making that speech a little earlier on comparing what the west had to do 80 years ago with what it has to do now in ukraine. a smiling president macron waits to greet the us presidentjoe biden on the red carpet. joe biden has been stressing just in terms of the american presidential election and how his approach to diplomacy is very much multinational, working with allies in nato, and it is not the isolationism that he would say that donald trump would bring. the

presidents and their first ladies posing for a quick shotjust ahead of the beginning of this service, the commemorative service. an international commemoratives service with representatives from all the key allies who sent troops on june the 6th 1944. key allies who sent troops on june the 6th1944. in d—day to take the fight to the heart of nazi occupied europe from the beaches of normandy. a round of applause than for the two presidents who are arm in arm. applause

really, this is the centrepiece, i suppose, of the commemorative events that we have been seeing in normandy. posted by president macron, there is grant shapps the british representatives, rishi sunak is not actually there. grant shapps representing the united kingdom. and joe biden meeting all the other

leaders who have come to normandy to remember the fallen, to praise the veterans who are still alive and do other —— who are there and to talk about the enduring struggle between democracy and dictatorship. just got a glimpse there of the beach, one of the beaches, that is omaha beach, one of the five beaches where the troops landed. smiles from president macron the host of all of this. and prince william who has been, as i was mentioning in arromanches and very much at the heart of these d—day commemorative events.

some 25 heads of state who are here and president macron as the host. presidentjoe biden alongside him. they speak french just seeing some of the opening of

the event. we will bring you a translation very shortly of that. just some archive pictures to remind everybody the threat that europe faced in those dark days. speaks french

just a reminder, you are looking at the international memorial ceremony at omaha beach in normandy. where world leaders and prince william are commemorating the 80th anniversary of d—day. veterans there, world leaders there, president zelensky of ukraine is there as well with his wife as well. and they have all been stressing the importance of the need to remember what happened 80 years ago, not to let it fade into history but to tell the stories and retell the stories of the veterans, the survivors and to talk about and discuss the sacrifice that was made in the battle between democracy and

dictatorship. between civilisation and tyranny.

speaks french singing

speaks french

they whistle they continue to whistle so, we are watching the international ceremony, the commemoratives ceremony by omaha beach where the americans landed on this day 80 years ago and veterans are here from the united states,

canada, great britain to watch this which has been organised. the three tableau that are being presented there will then be a speech by the president of france, emmanuel macron and later he will be presenting the medal of honour to veterans. now performance from the french honorary choir. an international military air parade as well. so this is the centrepiece, if you like, of the commemorative events in normandy where we are remembering the sacrifice 80 years ago when thousands of troops landed on the beachesin

thousands of troops landed on the beaches in normandy to liberate europe and france from nazi occupation and two, really, change the course of the second world war. they sing

they continue to sing

applause

studio: well, we werejust studio: well, we were just seeing president macron and president biden watching as this ceremony unfolds by

omaha beach. and we will be hearing from president macron quite shortly with his impressions of that, what happened 80 years ago and the need to remember. in the veterans who are here being honoured, receiving the legion of honour very shortly from president macron. just a reminder, these events taking place both in france and in the uk to mark the 80th anniversary of d—day, the allied invasion of nazi occupied france. a turning point in the second world war, a turning point in the struggle against hitler. and joe biden who is there saying in his

remarks earlier that what's happening in ukraine echoes the struggle for freedom that we saw on the beaches in normandy 18 years ago on the 6th ofjune1944. earlier we had king charles talking about the supreme test and the generation who did not flinch when the moment came to faced —— face that test. there are british veterans in normandy but not so many. just over 20, a rather reduced number compared to previous anniversary commemorations. saying very much that these commemorative events need to continue and that it is important to remember what happened 80 years ago. the sacrifice that was made, the lives that were lost, the struggle against tyranny,

fascism, dictatorship that played out on the beaches that you can see the. such a calm sea now it's hard to imagine what a hell on earth it must�*ve been 80 years ago. when the troops landed and —— in such huge numbers. the biggest amphibious landing in military history. 156,000 allied troops landing on the beaches with 20,000 vehicles facing a hail of bullets, artillery, aircraft fire but overcoming it all and gaining a foothold into nazi occupied europe. that is what is being remembered here with these various commemorative events laid on by the

french and the children that we are seeing their part of the idea of events like this, really, to educate children, the younger generation into what happened. why it is so important to keep on remembering the sacrifice that was made and how freedom comes with a price and can't be taken for granted.

soft choral music

applause

well, you are watching bbc news and we have live coverage of the international commemorative event remembering the sacrifice of d—day 80 years ago today. and amongst the world leaders at this event by omaha beach, presidentjoe biden and resident macron of france and it is running a little late, in fact about an hour late, and joe biden was the last to arrive at the ceremony and there it is, a spectacular scene right by omaha beach. —— president macron. one of the five to beaches where the allied forces landed, facing devastating losses of course,

but gaining a foothold into nazi occupied france, nazi occupied europe, changing the entire course of the second world war, opening up a second front and eventually leading to the defeat of the nazi regime and adolf hitler. the prince of wales is among the world leaders and d—day veterans who are here listening to music, remembering the events of 80 years ago. by the way, rishi sunak is not attending this particular ceremony, but plenty of other allied leaders are there. and president fuller de at zelensky of ukraine arrived not very long ago and of course there have been parallels drawn with the struggle

against nazi tyranny and ukraine's struggle against russian aggression. —— president volodymyr zelensky. joe biden drawing those parallels very firmly. let's listen into the memory commemorative services that continues. ii commemorative services that continues-— commemorative services that continues. . ., , continues. if a plan could have been worked out — continues. if a plan could have been worked out with _ continues. if a plan could have been worked out with the _ continues. if a plan could have been worked out with the wholehearted l worked out with the wholehearted support of all of the nations, then that never would have been a world war ii, as we call it. just think how wonderful that would have been, and no other wars either. .

the whole difficulty seems to be that each new generation must find out for itself.

the whole difficulty... well, as we watch those _ the whole difficulty... well, as we watch those commemorative - the whole difficulty... well, as we i watch those commemorative events there, and veterans and world leaders there, and president macron of france and joe biden of the united states and various re—enactments and aerial displays happening as well, let's just bring in hugh schofield he was actually not too far away from there, our paris correspondent, and maybejust reflect for us what you have seen in normandy over the last day or so and the importance of continuing to remember the sacrifice of 80 years ago, even as the number of veterans dwindles and the importance, i suppose, of reminding young people and educating young people about what happened all that time ago. well, let mejust what happened all that time ago. well, let me just show you this

image now one of the veterans who has been at the memorial ceremony here and this is the kind of reception they have all been having from local people, very, very moving here in arromanches. and there have been about 15 or so veterans in wheelchairs attending this is a ready and some others that are more mobile have been meeting and greeting and everywhere it has been a touching moment because people have wanted to shake hands to say thank you and the veterans have been delighted to be part of it as well and you have seen that he welling up in people's eyes and it really has been quite something and at the end of that service of about an hour which has concluded, we were addressed by the mayor of arromanches and lourdes done it, the chief of general staff, and they remembered the events of 80 years ago and the mayor said something

very touching as well, how the 6th ofjune had in many ways been ordered every day and the baker had got up and started breaking his day and suddenly all this noise and confusion and everything changed. —— ordinary day. arromanches is the town close to all that was to remember d—day and it is close to mole beach and is also where the harbour was built, this vital piece of infrastructure which allowed materials to pour in in the weeks of the normandy campaign that followed and since then there have been commemorations and it is a town heaving with people that have come to rememberfrom heaving with people that have come to remember from all over heaving with people that have come to rememberfrom all over europe, many brits but i have seen dutch and belgians, many dressed up in their costumes, with their enthusiasm for dressing up in world war ii out which seems to keep on unabated if not to get more and more popular and

earlier we spent the day with the royal marines, part of the official army, navy led part of the commemorations and the royal marines following in the commemorations of their forebears, following in the commemorations of theirforebears, the following in the commemorations of their forebears, the 47 commando who arrived just beside arromanches and were on that lighting craft with peaceful, beautiful surroundings and a welcoming committee on the beach. —— landing craft. the poignancy of the contrast between that and the hellish shelling and mayhem that accompanied the men who arrived at exactly the same time 80 years ago it was something we all felt. and exactly the same time 80 years ago it was something we all felt. and we think we are — it was something we all felt. and we think we are just _ it was something we all felt. and we think we are just about _ it was something we all felt. and we think we are just about to _ it was something we all felt. and we think we are just about to hear- think we are just about to hear from president macron at the commemorative events at saint—laurent—sur—mer and earlier joe biden was drawing parallels to what happened 80 years ago with the fight against russian tyranny and i

wonder if president macron will draw similar parallels and talk about the state of modern europe as well as the europe of 80 years ago. i have no doubt at _ the europe of 80 years ago. i have no doubt at all _ the europe of 80 years ago. i have no doubt at all that _ the europe of 80 years ago. i have no doubt at all that that _ the europe of 80 years ago. i have no doubt at all that that is - the europe of 80 years ago. i have no doubt at all that that is what. the europe of 80 years ago. i have no doubt at all that that is what he will do. he is a man that has thought deeply about all these matters and has arranged in france a three—day period of commemorations of d—day and a man who we know in recent months has become more and more hardline in his attitude towards russia and has talked recently of sending french troops even into ukraine and with who it is said they may be about to agree the sending of instructors even now to ukraine so it is a man to whom ukraine so it is a man to whom ukraine war is an extremely importance, decisive moment at a turning point in european history went europe, he thinks, needs to draw on the wellspring of history to find the inspiration for sacrifice

again, to stand up to dictatorship. that is his message and i have no doubt at all he will be pressing at home in his speech now. we doubt at all he will be pressing at home in his speech now.- doubt at all he will be pressing at home in his speech now. we are 'ust seeinr home in his speech now. we are 'ust seeing some — home in his speech now. we are 'ust seeing some effi home in his speech now. we are 'ust seeing some of the i home in his speech now. we are 'ust seeing some of the many * home in his speech now. we are just seeing some of the many veterans i home in his speech now. we are just i seeing some of the many veterans and it has been wonderful to see the veterans coming back once again to normandy, hasn't it? filth. veterans coming back once again to normandy, hasn't it?— normandy, hasn't it? oh, it has. the are normandy, hasn't it? oh, it has. they are few— normandy, hasn't it? oh, it has. they are few and _ normandy, hasn't it? oh, it has. they are few and far _ normandy, hasn't it? oh, it has. they are few and far between - normandy, hasn't it? oh, it has. they are few and far between it i normandy, hasn't it? oh, it has. i they are few and far between it has to be said, butjust ended last hour i have been very moved by the of them —— just in the last hour. their stoicism and their smiles, and at the end of the service now, they sang, we will meet again and then auld lang syne and it was a moment for all the people who are close to these veterans to come up and hold their hands as the whole display area here was full of other people holding hands and singing auld lang syne and these songs clearly resounded with the veterans and they were singing along and one or two of them were standing up and it was an

exceptionally tender moment and one which i'm sure they will remember for the rest of their lives as a kind of concluding moment in the many, the 80 years of commemorations they will have attended. thank many, the 80 years of commemorations they will have attended.— they will have attended. thank you ve much they will have attended. thank you very much for— they will have attended. thank you very much for all— they will have attended. thank you very much for all of— they will have attended. thank you very much for all of that. _ they will have attended. thank you very much for all of that. that - they will have attended. thank you very much for all of that. that is i very much for all of that. that is hugh schofield, are correspondent who is in arromanches covering the wonderful commemorative events there and that is the scene not too far away at saint—laurent—sur—mer and this is the main international ceremony to remember the sacrifice of 80 years ago and the astonishing achievement of the allied forces in landing on those five beaches, what was the biggest amphibious invasion in military history. president macron there and joe biden, the american president, side by side and president macron is the host of this

spectacular event. reasonably blue skies and reasonably clement weather for this commemorative anniversary event. some wonderfulfaces for this commemorative anniversary event. some wonderful faces there as well. applause and as he was telling us, we will hear quite shortly from president macron and events at the main commemoration here are running pretty late, about an hour later, in fact, and president biden and his wife, jill, were the last to arrive and he was greeted by various world leaders, more than 20 of them, in the front row of the main stand and he had a brief word with prince william as well and then the event you are now watching got under way and we had some black and white footage of the second world war as you would expect. let's just continue to watch and listen in to this commemoration service. this

time, we climbed _ this commemoration service. ti 3 time, we climbed aboard. then the engine started and the plane moved to the runway and a few seconds waiting, and then the engine is increased revs and we were away. after what seemed a lifetime, the dispatcher came out with the order, stand up, put up, your parachute opened and the noise of those four engines fading, the plane, your last link with home, disappearing. it is so dark, you cannot see the ground. on the ground in a strange country, i loaded my stun gun. i could hear shooting and sea tracer fire but it was not coming in my direction. a

voice called, tommy, tommy! it was a french partisan who led us to a house and while i was in the house i met some of the robert family, including a five—year—old girl and i offered the chocolate bark from white russian pack but she would not take it —— the chocolate bar from my third backpack. should we meet again, i still have chocolate bars and shall make the offer again. —— the chocolate bark from my third backpack. —— the chocolate bar from my ration pack.

soft piano music applause

he speaks in french so, this is the service at saint—laurent—sur—mer in normandy where world leaders and veterans together art remembering what happened on this day 80 years ago, during the 619 44, that astonishing invasion of nazi occupied france by the allies, tens of thousands of troops, many of whom were to die on

the beaches close to where the service is taking place. —— the 6th ofjune 1944. joe biden is there to remember the american sacrifice. many of the veterans wearing military uniforms and medals, greeted by world leaders including ukraine's president zelensky, canada's prime ministerjustin trudeau as well asjoe biden and emmanuel macron as well so the veterans and the leaders have been talking side by side asjoe biden and emmanuel macron, who we are expecting to hear from and emmanuel macron, who we are expecting to hearfrom quite shortly, and many of the veterans clapping, smiling, saluting and you saw one or two of them with the victory sign as well there are remembering the victory against the nazi regime, against hitler, that

they helped to ensure by their invasion of those beaches, those five beaches in normandy. many of the veterans there in wheelchairs, being pushed in wheelchairs by carers but they wanted to be here. veterans from the united states, from canada, from britain, really wanted to be there. some of them in their 90s and some 100 as well, still determined to see these commemorations and remember their comrades of course, people they fought with, friends they fought with who didn't survive, who lost their lives, who gave their lives to their lives, who gave their lives to the fight against tyranny. the

their lives, who gave their lives to the fight against tyranny.- the fight against tyranny. the few civilians we _ the fight against tyranny. the few civilians we have _ the fight against tyranny. the few civilians we have met _ the fight against tyranny. the few civilians we have met so - the fight against tyranny. the few civilians we have met so far- the fight against tyranny. the few civilians we have met so far seem the fight against tyranny. the few i civilians we have met so far seem in good health, and farfrom undernourished, but that may be... we will have another at this and into the service as it continues now. �* , ., ,., into the service as it continues now. �* , ., ., now. but when it gets to some of the bi aer now. but when it gets to some of the bigger towns — now. but when it gets to some of the bigger towns it _ now. but when it gets to some of the bigger towns it may _ now. but when it gets to some of the bigger towns it may be _ now. but when it gets to some of the bigger towns it may be a _ now. but when it gets to some of the bigger towns it may be a different i bigger towns it may be a different story. would it not be grand if that stupid man called hitler would be sensible enough to pack it in and the wholejob be sensible enough to pack it in and the whole job he considered sensible enough to pack it in and the wholejob be considered over? just wishful thinking once again. it seemed a noisy night last evening but i seemed to sleep with only the minimum amount of disturbance. i suppose one can get used to almost anything. but it intrigues me how the gunners can get any sleep at all, for there appears to be a barrage going all day and most of the night. here again, i suppose,

barrage going all day and most of the night. here again, isuppose, it is simply a matter of practice. i can't help feeling the first phase of this landing is nearing completion and that we can look forward to a breaking out of hostilities shortly, and it will be pretty big too, i'm afraid. applause james macpherson, third infantry division, — james macpherson, third infantry division, canada. he speaks in french

more contributions, more memories, testimony from the times and canada's prime minister is amongst those listening in there, justin trudeau, one of more than 20 world leaders at this event next to omaha beach. prince william there as well and president zelensky of ukraine and president zelensky of ukraine and joe biden, the president of the united states, all hosted by president emmanuel macron. this is really the centre piece, i suppose, the highlight, the climax of the commemorative events we have been reporting on and watching over the last couple of days. and the importance of this is the veterans, the surviving veterans, have been able to come, slightly dwindling number of them but still they have

come to rub shoulders with those world leaders and with the rest of the free world to remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for freedom, and as joe sacrifice of those who gave their lives for freedom, and asjoe biden lives forfreedom, and asjoe biden was sitting in his remarks a little earlier on, freedom does come with a price and the price is seen in the cemetery of northern france. —— joe biden was saying. applause military drumming

#he # he wasjust # he was just a rookie trooper, he took the equipment and made sure his bag was tied # you ain't gonna jump no more. # you ain't gonna jump no more. # glory, glory, what a hell of a way to die # glory, glory, what a hell of a way to die # he ain't gonna jump no more

# he ain't gonna jump no more # he ain't gonna jump no more # he wasjust # he ain't gonna jump no more # he was just a rookie trooper # he was just a rookie trooper # he was just a rookie trooper # he checked all his equipment and made sure his pack was tied # he had to sit and listen to this awful war # you ain't gonna jump no more # you ain't gonna jump no more # glory, glory, what a hell of a way to die stocks at glory, glory, what a hell of a way to die # glory, glory, what a hell of a way to die # he ain't gonna jump no more # he ain't gonna jump no more # is everybody # "is everybody happy?" # cried the sergeant looking up # our hero feebly answered, "yes" and then they stood him up

# hejumped into the icy blast, his static line unhooked # and he ain't gonna jump no more #he # he counted long, he counted long, he waited for the shock. # he felt the wind, he felt the cold, he felt the awful drop # the silk from his reserves spilled out and wrapped around his legs # and he ain't gonna jump no more # gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die # he ain't gonna jump no more

applause he speaks in french

studio: said the ceremony continuing. we are hearing a lot of readings in french and recollections from the second world war from service men. performances by young people have been very much at the heart of the ceremony and a reminder that the sacrifices made 80 years ago by the allied troops who invaded the beaches there in normandy were very much about preserving freedoms for the young people of the future, really. and it's a continuing mission in the eyes of veterans to make sure that young people do know what happened in the second world war in the fight against nazi terror many and dictatorship. we have been seeing pipers playing as skydivers

have landed on the beach and various other elements of the commemorations as the veterans there, you can see one of them watching on and listening to translations of the speeches as well. american veterans, canadian and british veterans. we will have a listen in. translation: and i have seen my hometown through my final tears. music plays

translation: on the evening at the 6th ofjune the _ translation: on the evening at the 6th ofjune the allies _ translation: on the evening at the 6th ofjune the allies gained - 6th ofjune the allies gained control of the five allied beaches. allied troops set off to liberate france.

singing

applause translation: world war ii clearly showed the need _ translation: world war ii clearly showed the need for _ translation: world war ii clearly showed the need for a _ translation: world war ii clearly showed the need for a united - translation: world war || clearly i showed the need for a united europe. in the post—war period discussions are inebriated, alliances forged and institutions founded. but it is of course thanks to the restored understanding between france and germany that a united europe can

emerge. the franco german relationship nurtured by the state and government of these two countries has been a driving force behind the european integration.

applause

band plays singing

applause and now, from the second 707th bomb squadron, eighth air force. from the united states of america. wednesday knightjune seven, 1944. dear mum, justa wednesday knightjune seven, 1944. dear mum, just a few lines to tell you that we are all ok. we flew mission number ten on d—day. it certainly was a terrific show from what we could see. this is what

everyone has been waiting for. now we can see the results that the bombing air force has been doing the past few months. i have been writing very long letters but there hasn't been much to say these days. i don't hear from you. been much to say these days. i don't hearfrom you. happy been much to say these days. i don't hear from you. happy to been much to say these days. i don't hearfrom you. happy to hear virginia found a place, i suppose she is getting ready to move. i had a letter from she is getting ready to move. i had a letterfrom helen today, it was swell to hear from a letterfrom helen today, it was swell to hearfrom her. a letterfrom helen today, it was swell to hear from her. just received my rations from the week and they have been increased. we are getting american candy now. so we don't stand short there at all. however, as i said before, airmail paper is hard to get. i hope you are all ok love aired. ——. ed.

band plays singing

applause

we thank all the veterans for being present here. i we thank all the veterans for being present here-— we thank all the veterans for being present here. i 'ust want to express cratitude present here. i 'ust want to express gratitude from — present here. ijust want to express gratitude from the _ present here. ijust want to express gratitude from the french _ present here. ijust want to express gratitude from the french people. i gratitude from the french people. three of you have a special relationship if i may say. and now, i will give this legion of honour for three of you. he speaks french

applause mrjoseph miller... he speaks french

studio: so here we are, the french president emmanuel macron giving the legion of honour to veterans at the culmination of this official commemorative ceremony in normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of the d—day landings. mr alistair brown...

he speaks french applause

translation: royal highnesses, heads of state and heads _ translation: royal highnesses, heads of state and heads of _ translation: royal highnesses, heads of state and heads of government, - of state and heads of government, everybody at different levels, dear veterans, ladies and gentlemen. here 80 years ago, exactly to the day, men defied everything, defied

everything to liberate our land, to liberate our nation. here they defied the elements it was the sea and the swale, the cloud in the sky, the wind on the cliffs. they defied the wind on the cliffs. they defied the facts. hitler maintained that the facts. hitler maintained that the atlantic was a wall, that the waves were the to tear apart the landing craft and there were explosives and anti—tank obstacles, barbed wire, mines. more than 500,000 obstacles. there were helmets, gun batteries on the dunes. the dunes filled with metal. but the

men defied death. the attempt to land on the beaches in the summer of 1942 had become a massacre. just want a month beforejune there was a rehearsal of d—day on the beaches in england and the attack of two ships because more than 800 allied deaths. yet there were people, women and men, 80 years ago who were willing tojoin the french men, 80 years ago who were willing to join the french fighters outside france and in london to join forces with the french resistance to liberate france. the nazi enemy was busyin liberate france. the nazi enemy was busy in the east with the units of the red army, they were fighting on the red army, they were fighting on the west with the long work but the

resistance from the inside and the outside. in may 1942, the french resistance had a job as a painter and he stole the plans for the fortifications on the coast of normandy to ensure and then a colonel forwarded them to london. for months, preparations went on in great britain with dummies, dummy tanks, fake uniforms, women kernels, phantom radio messages to give the idea that there was going to be landing in norway in the north. and here the most ambitious operation of intelligence was prepared, this operation was prepared in secret and there was a huge armada, the largest

of all time being prepared to face up of all time being prepared to face up to the fortifications. 80 years ago on the night of the 6th ofjune 1944, we saw the beginning of what seemed impossible — to face up to the implacable. behind us we have the implacable. behind us we have the english channel disappearing into the horizon deep and dark opposite in the shadow standing still was france sleeping in the long night which had come out of the defeat in 1940. europe with failed democracy standing up tanak as —— to nazism had glimmers of resistance. just after midnight general eisenhower gave the order, ok, let's go. the bombing began. 23,000

paratroopers flew into the night from the open plains, 800 planes. and they were convinced that when they dropped they were leaping into history. there was a forest of landing crafts, battleships, cruisers, destroyers. the trips were made, the transport was done, the heavy material was transported towards france. on board the men were shoulder to shoulder, many were pale, sometimes there was seasickness, many had written farewell messages and folded them into their uniforms. words of history written and which were intended for a loved one, an elderly parent or a child. and they were

facing ashore which they had never seen before and which perhaps would be the last thing they would ever see. the united states was there, 55,000 americans were heading for utah beach and omaha beach. the bloody omaha. they had crossed the ocean to save a continent which was not theirs but because they share in the cause of europe. the united kingdom was there with 73,000 soldiers of all colours. they were heading towards gold beach and sword beach and with them the piper from scotland bill miller who had his bagpipes and played it to galvanise the attack. canada was there, 21,000 men all of them volunteers ready to attack onjuno beach. minute by

minute, they could see the sound on the horizon getting closer. the summit was the land of their ancestors who had left france early as before for quebec and there were french troops, 177 men and they were ready to land on the beach at sword beach. they were to be the first because the landing craft with the british commandos had been very polite, letting them be the first to set foot on french soil. and i think of them today. i think of them and the others.

the sky was crisscrossed by american pilots, british pilots, canadian pilots, british pilots, canadian pilots, french, greeks, belgians, norwegians, polls, dans, the dutch, south africans, new zealanders and australians. 150,000 landed on d—day and they did not speak the same language. they did not have the same flag, they did not have the same uniform, but what they did have, what they did share was their determination to liberate europe from the scourge of nazi tyranny and to bring back the message for living in a free world. it was a vision of of human beings worthy and free, knowing that what they brought was a new form of freedom that must be

brought, sometimes at the cost of their own lives. what they did share was that dawn, that bloody dawn, what they shared was fear and glory. there was sand and blood. it was there gold and their purple. and we think of them all with immense gratitude. think of them all with immense iratitude. �* . ,, we think of those men who were only 17 or 18 years old, some were 20 or 40, and they had left their farms somewhere in minnesota or kent or france, to take up arms. some at the bottom of the sea, some died face down on earth, some were shot down in the sky. and we think of those

who survived, we think of those who are here today, we think of you who have taught us how you were in dc with 30 kilo bags on your backs, how you had to get across the bridge underfire —— in the sea. across under fire —— in the sea. across the landmines come in the dunes, and get to the cliffs, to destroy the gun batteries at the top, walking, for behind there was a wave, more shells. you who have told us a bit about your lives, of your 10,000 comrades who fell about your lives, of your 10,000 comrades who felt that day. dead or injured. the bodies floating in the water, swept by the waves. but you had to move ahead, move ahead, in the red water. being brave does not

mean that you know what fear is. courage means being afraid and still moving forward. it's the song of the gis, theirfaces moving forward. it's the song of the gis, their faces were moving forward. it's the song of the gis, theirfaces were black, marked with burnt corks, they were ready to jump and they were singing, it's a long way to tipperary, it's a long way to go. bravery is bill miller and walking along with his bagpipes on the bridge while the germans were hauling a gun to him, absolutely astounded but not daring to shoot such a madman. bravery is the canadian sniper who became a legend because he attacked a bunker, stopped a german tank and later took 93 prisoners himself, by himself. as

the captain of the unit, who had no weapons but was there, taking the confession of dying men, lying there while bullets kept coming. bravery is the american rangers, climbing up with the shells coming down, 30 metres high. they were all afraid, but is quite clear that they knew that they were fighting a war which was a just war, they knew that they could die, but they were still walking onwards, because each one of their steps brought them closer to a world of freedom. liberation of our liberation in france, was not done in one day. it was a very long day. it was not done in just one summer.

it was not done in just one summer. it had been prepared by resistance, and thanks to assistance from those elsewhere, there was assistance and then there was orchestration from then there was orchestration from the allied forces. it was the slow effort to reconquer europe, it had to belong, it had to be tenacious, self—sacrifice for the love of freedom. the 6000 men with the french forces, the free french forces, who landed in corsica in the summer of 1943, support from italians were involved, there was the patient work of french resistance working in france, trying to great disturbances, stopping communications with the enemy, stopping the troops, making it impossible for the access to get up,

slow them down. they were reinforcement from the allies that came to normandy throughout the months ofjuly and august —— the axis forces. the brigade, of luxembourg and belgium, with the golden lion on their chest, the dutch regiment, the second french armoured division, the first armoured division, the first armoured division, the first armoured division of poland, there was the czechoslovakian armoured division, and then the allied forces landed in the south of france, 250,000 under french colours, the free french, they had escaped from france of north africa, western africa, equatorial africa, some naval infantry arrived from the colonial forces. naval infantry arrived from the colonialforces. there naval infantry arrived from the colonial forces. there were moroccans, tunisians and senegalese, and together they opened another

front. and there was also a struggle hold on the eastern front —— stranglehold. and the determined commitment of the red army and all the people that formed the soviet union at the time. there were millions of soldiers who sacrificed their lives to stop 180 german divisions causing heavy losses and paying with their own blood. but with these joint efforts, with all forces rot together, share board —— cherbourg fell after a month, than others. there was lyon, metz, kelly and then finally in late november, strasbourg and then germany, which finally surrendered in may 1945.

then we had to rebuild europe, doing so through peace and friendship between peoples, through forgiveness and promises, as hannah arendt said. we had to build our europe as a treasure of freedom and democracy and has been for more than 70 years, even though, for two decades, there was some part of the west which was taken, in the centre and eastern europe, under otherforces. we had to set the basis for new international order, based on rights such as the declarations of philadelphia and san francisco. we did this by finding the path, sharing and ambition with germany. this is the foundation of our union. wejoin together, the this is the foundation of our union. we join together, the destiny of our peoples. as is the case for the

d—day veterans, the path can be sure, and here, iwould like d—day veterans, the path can be sure, and here, i would like to cite a 19—year—old german paratrooper who, on d—day, was on the other side of the beach. he was taken prisoner. later, he came back to france and settled in normandy. he requested french citizenship and was given it, and he married therese, a french girl from normandy. and he became profoundly european. he opened a restaurant and johannes met a former member of the commander unit. and a firm friendship develops between these two brothers who had previously been enemies. there were

two voices with two versions of history, and that has brought us together in our reconciled memories. today, as we stand here, we are all children of the landing.— those who landed on the 6th ofjune were not fighting on their own land orfor their were not fighting on their own land or for their own villages, they were fighting against and ideology of death, they were fighting against belief in hatred, spreading everywhere, which destroyed jews, disabled, foreigners, homosexuals, gypsies, freemasons and communists, all those who live, who love and think and who believe differently.

and the silence of our beaches at the moment is full of echoes, the noises of bullets and voices of echoes of men facing the impossible, so many people, so many peoples, there are those who are in the cemetery, the watery cemetery, those who are under the son of normandy, those who are under the sea, those who are out in the fields, those who fell in turn, year after year, a longtime after, elsewhere, not in normandy, but who always remained of those who fought. when we look at war, coming back to our continent, when we look at people questioning the values for which they fought, when we look at those who want to change orders by force to rewrite history, let us stand with dignity

and look at those who landed here. let us have their courage. here, president of ukraine, your presence here today shows us this in a very forceful way. here today shows us this in a very forceful way-— cheering applause studio: there we are, president macron, talking _ studio: there we are, president

macron, talking to _ studio: there we are, president macron, talking to that _ studio: there we are, president macron, talking to that official. macron, talking to that official international commemorative events international commemorative events in normandy, to remember 80 years since the d—day landings, at eight dramatic five past in the skies over normandy as well. —— dramatically passed. joe biden and other world leaders they are. we will continue watching these pictures butjust want to speak to the minister of state for veteran affairs, who joins us, johnny mercer. can i ask you first of all, your impressions of the commemorative event on this 80th anniversary, and anniversary of which there has been a dwindling number of veterans still able to attend, but still quite a few of them have made it to northern france? . , . ., . , them have made it to northern france? . , .., ., , ., france? yeah, it is extraordinary to see the veterans, _ france? yeah, it is extraordinary to see the veterans, to _ france? yeah, it is extraordinary to see the veterans, to hear— france? yeah, it is extraordinary to see the veterans, to hear their - see the veterans, to hear their stories, i think it's just reinforcing the kind of mind blowing scale of the operation but also

their courage and sacrifice. and just rams home, i hope, to today's generation of both young people but also of politicians of how lucky we are to enjoy the freedoms and privileges we do, because of the sacrifices of men and women who serve in the military. fiend sacrifices of men and women who serve in the military. and speaking of them, serve in the military. and speaking of them. as _ serve in the military. and speaking of them. as we _ serve in the military. and speaking of them, as we are _ serve in the military. and speaking of them, as we are in _ serve in the military. and speaking of them, as we are in an _ of them, as we are in an election campaign, you and the prime minister have been talking about a new veterans bill that you would introduce. just tell us more about that. g, introduce. just tell us more about that. . ,., ., ., introduce. just tell us more about that. . ., ., ., ., that. yeah, so we have made a lot of iiroress that. yeah, so we have made a lot of progress on — that. yeah, so we have made a lot of progress on veterans _ that. yeah, so we have made a lot of progress on veterans affairs - progress on veterans affairs over the last five years. i obviously got into politics as a veteran myself, because i wanted to change what it meant to be a veteran in the uk. we have always been pretty good at remembrance and stuff like that, but once the cameras go and the lights go down, what does if you like to be a veteran? that is what we have tried to change, change the

structure of government, the cabinet, veterans affairs, his own office outside the ministry of defence. we have delivered multi—million pound programmes across health, housing, education, criminaljustice, homelessness and all these other things, but it's always further to go, but we want to enshrine these rights in law, veterans should not be disadvantaged because of their service. and we are determined to see that through, making sure that their military qualifications are recognised in civilian life, they're not penalised for their war pension awards, and bit by bit by bit, we are slowly but surely making this the best country in the world to be a veteran, but always mindful of how much further we have to go. it a veteran, but always mindful of how much further we have to go.- much further we have to go. it does not sound very _ much further we have to go. it does not sound very different _ much further we have to go. it does not sound very different from - much further we have to go. it does not sound very different from whatl not sound very different from what see her keir starmer and labour are promising. they say there will be a military services are, and in the first king's speech, if labour wins

the election, plans to fully enshrine in law and armed forces covenant. i enshrine in law and armed forces covenant. . g, g, enshrine in law and armed forces covenant. . . ., ., �* , covenant. i am afraid that's completely _ covenant. i am afraid that's completely wrong. - covenant. i am afraid that's completely wrong. we - covenant. i am afraid that's completely wrong. we are i covenant. i am afraid that's - completely wrong. we are already bringing forward the plans around the armed forces covenant. we were the armed forces covenant. we were the first party to legislate for it and it armed forces in commissioner, there already is a complete commissioner, so what you're seeing is a clear difference between people who want to get into the veteran community, work with the charities and actually bring forward policies that are going to improve their lives, versus a bit of virtue sibling to make sure you get the veteran vote. what we've always done is try and understand what it means to be a veteran, actually needs to change. they should not be discriminated against because of their service, they should not lose money on their pension credit, their life changes should be better after service and they should have clear pathways around mental health and physical health and things like that, and you never hear anything like that, and to be fair, the media

never gives any scrutiny on that either. it is all wrapped up to one package and that is why we are in such a difficult state before i decided to try and change it. ieiigthezit decided to try and change it. what about the state _ decided to try and change it. what about the state of _ decided to try and change it. what about the state of the _ decided to try and change it. what about the state of the british army? the army has shrunk under conservative governments. the size ofthe conservative governments. the size of the army — conservative governments. the size of the army is _ conservative governments. the size of the army is not _ conservative governments. the size of the army is not what _ conservative governments. the size of the army is not what the - conservative governments. the size of the army is not what the army i conservative governments. the size of the army is not what the army is | of the army is not what the army is about, it is all about fighting power and what you can produce, in order to defend this nation, and our ability to project force at reach now is like is ever been before in our history and we have an extraordinary set of armed forces. everyone would argue for more money, of course everybody would argue for more money to go into that, actually have seen a commitment that from the conservatives, 2.5% by 2030, and again you've seen the kind of aspiration from the labour party, but they get let off it because of the slant that is put on all their announcement. it matters, it matters if you're going to get 2.5%, if you

say we are gonna do it when conditions allow it, it matters if you say, we're just going to have a commissioner to look after people in the armed forces which nobody has ever mentioned to me and my seven years of campaigning. actually that i wish people would pay a bit more attention to the real detail around veterans policy and what it means to be a veteran so that we can improve these peoples lives.— these peoples lives. johnny mercer, thank ou these peoples lives. johnny mercer, thank you for— these peoples lives. johnny mercer, thank you for that, _ these peoples lives. johnny mercer, thank you for that, let's _ these peoples lives. johnny mercer, thank you for that, let's go - these peoples lives. johnny mercer, thank you for that, let's go back i these peoples lives. johnny mercer, thank you for that, let's go back to i thank you for that, let's go back to the scene in saint—laurent—sur—mer and listen in for a few seconds. singing: la marseillaise applause

wonderful since once again there on the french coast, as we remember the 80th anniversary of d—day. we were just speaking to the conservative ministerjohnny mercer there, and we can ashley now speak to the shadow armed forces minister —— actually now speak. luke pollard. thank you for being with us as well. as you watch these services 80 years on from d—day, what are your thoughts? it on from d-day, what are your thoughts?— on from d-day, what are your thoughts? it was an incredible o -eration thoughts? it was an incredible operation 80 _ thoughts? it was an incredible operation 80 years _ thoughts? it was an incredible operation 80 years ago, - thoughts? it was an incredible operation 80 years ago, not i thoughts? it was an incredible i operation 80 years ago, not only landing on the beaches but dropping the paratroopers behind enemy lines, and for me i think it is about how we continue to tell this story, because we are seeing fewer and fewer d—day veterans, those people who stormed the beaches, and we need

to tell their stories, so our younger generations can understand not only what they did on that day and throughout the second world war but why fighting for freedom, fighting for our liberty really matters. and that means making sure that story is told to young people in school, and it is continue to be told so even at the point where we don't have any d—day veterans left, we will still be able to mark and commemorate this really important day and tell a story about why it matters. �* g, day and tell a story about why it matters. . ., , day and tell a story about why it matters. . . , ,., ., matters. and we have seen some of the veterans — matters. and we have seen some of the veterans there. _ matters. and we have seen some of the veterans there. we _ matters. and we have seen some of the veterans there. we were - matters. and we have seen some of the veterans there. we were talking j the veterans there. we were talking tojohnny mercerfor the tojohnny mercer for the conservatives about conservative policy on a new veterans bill, with various measures to help veterans. what would the labour party do? ieiigte what would the labour party do? we want what would the labour party do? , want to see more support for veterans. we know veterans homelessness is increasing despite promises made by the minister you just interviewed, abolished by christmas, we know there is a real favourite to rule out veterans id cards something we want to

accelerate. only one in ten veterans now has a veterans id card. and shameful delay in those veterans able to be using those id cards to actually prove they can vote in a general election, something that should have been sorted out over a year ago, so we do need to support our veterans but also we need to support that wider armed forces community as well, and that means supporting those people who are serving —— have served, and clear policy of establishing and armed forces commissioner was mentioned in your previous interview. that will be transformative, a person independent of government with the power to inspect military bases without notice, to look after the concerns of those people who serve an important either families as well, will be a game changer in improving the contract between those who serve and the nation that has been so eroded over the past 14 years of. been so eroded over the past 14 ears of. ., ., �* ., years of. you would've heard, then, johnny mercer _ years of. you would've heard, then, johnny mercer also _ years of. you would've heard, then, johnny mercer also talking - years of. you would've heard, then, johnny mercer also talking about i years of. you would've heard, then, | johnny mercer also talking about the conservatives's plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of gdp by

2030, and saying that your commitment to that is not the same? labour is committed to get the 2.5% of our gdp being spent on defence, and we have said we will set that out with a defence review on day one of the labour government. we will start looking at the classified intelligence and security briefings we are not seeing in opposition but in government we will be able to come to start correcting and filling backin come to start correcting and filling back in those capability gaps that exist in our military. we have seen one in five real warships but since 2010, raf plans taken out of service and the army to the smallest level since napoleon, but at the same time, threats to our country and allies are growing. we need to reverse the fall in morale we have seenin reverse the fall in morale we have seen in recent years and that doesn't renewing the contract between those who serve in the nation, an effort to improve military housing, because it is directly shameful that so many of our forces and their families are

living in appalling accommodation with broken boilers, multi—bedrooms and leaky rooms, on accessible and we are seeing people leave the armed forces when we need them in uniform —— mouldy bedrooms. just forces when we need them in uniform -- mouldy bedrooms.— -- mouldy bedrooms. just on that 2.5% -- mouldy bedrooms. just on that 2-5% defence _ -- mouldy bedrooms. just on that 2.5% defence spending, _ -- mouldy bedrooms. just on that 2.5% defence spending, the - 2.5% defence spending, the conservatives are saying they do it by 2030, you are not giving a specific timeframe. ieiigte by 2030, you are not giving a specific timeframe.— by 2030, you are not giving a specific timeframe. we have said, because we _ specific timeframe. we have said, because we cannot _ specific timeframe. we have said, because we cannot see _ specific timeframe. we have said, because we cannot see the - specific timeframe. we have said, i because we cannot see the briefings that we need to do to make that decision, we say that we will, in the defence review that will start on day one of the labour government, that will set out the timetable about how we get to 2.5%, but importantly, what we will spend that money on, but as we have seen £15 billion worth of waste in the military defence in recent years, money that should be spent on our front—line forces. we've also wanted to make sure we can mobilise the industrial base of the uk to respond to any increase in defence spending. that means spending, directing defence spending towards british

company first rather than sending contracts abroad as we have seen the government you recently. the new supply ships, the giant supply ships supporting our carriers, they are being built in spain, they should be built in british shipyards. that's what labour has been arguing for and sadly the government sent that contract abroad, sadly the government sent that contractabroad, meaning sadly the government sent that contract abroad, meaning we are losing the skills and tax revenues that come from it, so it is important not only that we increase defence spending to two point i present we spend that money better than we have seen on the conservatives —— 2.5%. than we have seen on the conservatives -- 2.5%. luke pollard, thank ou conservatives -- 2.5%. luke pollard, thank you very _ conservatives -- 2.5%. luke pollard, thank you very much, _ conservatives -- 2.5%. luke pollard, thank you very much, shadow- conservatives -- 2.5%. luke pollard, thank you very much, shadow armed j thank you very much, shadow armed forces minister, thank you for your time today, and we willjust take you back and look at these pictures, on a nice, sunny evening there in normandy, as the commemorations continue, prince william was there, talking to one of the veterans. we heard president macron alluding again to the need to fight tyranny and dictatorship now, as the allies did 80 years ago. there isjoe

biden, who was ramming home the same message in his speech a little bit earlier on this afternoon at lunchtime, a very strong defence of the international coalition in support of ukraine, saying that russia and putin, putin is a tyrant who has to be thought in the same way that hitler was thought 80 years ago, drawing strong parallels, both those leaders, mr macron and mr biden, strong parallels between the fight against fascism and nazi —ism 80 years ago and the fight against russian aggression in ukraine now, and president of a lot of her zelensky is among those leaders there —— volodymyr zelensky. lord cameron, the foreign secretary, amongst others as well, and there they are on the beach, such a different scene on the beach to what it was 18

-- 80 —— 80 years ago, when he was presumably like hell on earth, really. a constant barrage of fire as those invading troops try to get as those invading troops try to get a foothold on the beaches, the five beaches of normandy, in order to liberate france and to liberate europe from nazi occupation, and a turning point in the second world war, the opening of a second front, the landing of more than 150,000 troops, an extraordinary day, ajay that will never be forgotten. just some of the leaders there, joe biden, president macron, amongst them, posing for photographs at the end of that commemorative event, the international event. there have been

many others, of course. there was one of little earlier on not too far away where prince william was being feted by some of the local people in arromanches, and have been services in the uk as well of the national arboretum in staffordshire, organised by the royal british legion. remarkable anniversary of that remarkable events to remember what happened, and he sacrifice that was made onjune the 6th1944, 80 years ago, on the beaches where now world leaders stand and discuss the new threats that western democracies are facing. we will move away now from those d—day commemorative events and let's

turn our attention to the middle east and gaza. dozens of people are reported to have been killed when an israeli air strike hit a un school sheltering displaced palestinians. the un agency for palestinian refugees says there were 6,000 people in the school when it was hit. unrwa says the israeli military acted without prior warning to the displaced people or to unrwa. the israeli army says the school contained a hamas compound with some 20 to 30 fighters. people in nuseirat have been describing what they witnessed. translation: we were sleeping at 2am in the morning. _ we woke up and the ceilings, the walls, the windows were falling on us. people came out to help. those that could be rescued were rescued. the rest were martyred or injured. translation: people were asleep. they were civilians. they had fled from their homes in the north and came here to hide, to live a safe life.

as you can see, rockets fell on them and destroyed them. translation: why? what have we done i for them to bomb us? we've fled from place to place. there is no safe place. no un school is safe, no tent is safe — - there is no safe place. a palestinian journalist, hind khoudary, posted this clip on social media in the morning after the strike. i'm currently in a school that was targeted by the israeli forces with at least a three air strikes. at 1:30am in the morning, people were sleeping when the israeli forces targeted them. all of the floor, is still they're blood. children, women are terrified, but unfortunately they don't have anywhere to go. they are still sheltering in the school. our middle east correspondent

hugo bachega gave us this update. they said they they say, the israeli military, that they were using this facility as a base to plan and carry out attacks. there is no evidence of that. local officials saying — there is no evidence of that. local officials saying that _ there is no evidence of that. local officials saying that at _ there is no evidence of that. local officials saying that at least - there is no evidence of that. local officials saying that at least 35 i officials saying that at least 35 people killed and half of the victims are women and children and we have seen some dramatic images of the hospital in central gaza that received some of the casualties. people being treated on the floor. we also saw bodies being laid out including some bodies that were said to be of children. so chaotic scenes from this hospital and also dramatic scenes from the aftermath of this attack. again what is really authority said this morning is that they have intelligence that hamas was using this building as a base.

they say that this operation was a success. they also said they had taken steps success. they also said they had ta ken steps to prevent large success. they also said they had taken steps to prevent large numbers of civilian casualties and that because of those concerns they had called off this attack twice. but we are hearing from palestinian officials in gaza is a rejection of those claims and also we heard from the head of the un agency for palestinian refugees saying that 6000 people were sweltering in this building, some witnesses told the bbc that some of those people had just arrived —— sheltering. they had fled parts of rafah in southern gaza with the israeli military had been carrying out this military offensive against hamas. but again the head of the agency talk about the claims by the agency talk about the claims by the israeli military sank the accusations were shocking but that they could not confirm whether the building was being used by some hamas members. but again local

officials saying that most of the civilians, most of the people killed were civilians. back to the date commemorations. exactly eight years as we have been reflecting. it's exactly 80 years since d—day when tens of thousands of allied troops mounted the greatest seaborne invasion in military history one that would change the course of the second world war. and modern european history. this afternoon, president biden is among world leaders who've gathered alongside veterans for the centrepiece of two days of commemorations. speaking close to omaha beach where us troops fought their way ashore he warned that democracy in europe and around the world remained fragile, in the wake of russia's invasion of ukraine. earlier, at a new memorial above gold beach where british troops landed the king laid a wreath for the fallen, accompanied by president macron of france. and alongside the solemn ceremonies, it's also been a chance for attendees to meet and speak

with the guests of honour the veterans themselves each of whom played such an important part in one of the defining days in european history. let's reflect more on this extraordinary day. joining me now from burton on trent are antony baines, the executive director of services at the royal british legion and neiljames, county chairman of the staffordshire branch. thank you both for being with us. it has been a wonderful set of commemorative events, both in france and in the uk and at the national memorial there has been in service today. tell us how important all of this is in your mind. to today. tell us how important all of this is in your mind.— this is in your mind. to the royal british legion, _ this is in your mind. to the royal british legion, the _ this is in your mind. to the royal i british legion, the commemorative events of remembrance goes back to

the absolute reasons we were founded. remembrance and recognition of service, they campaigning and to the welfare work. we are 103 years old and it is absolutely fundamental. so having the opportunity to run the event here at the royal british legion's arboretum and over in normandy to be part of this isjust incredible. and brings us great pride. it is this isjust incredible. and brings us great pride-— this isjust incredible. and brings us great pride. it is also important to remind people _ us great pride. it is also important to remind people who _ us great pride. it is also important to remind people who know - us great pride. it is also important to remind people who know a - us great pride. it is also important to remind people who know a bit i to remind people who know a bit about what happened eight years ago, but also perhaps to educate younger people, may be children who did not know much at all about it. these anniversaries are a good opportunity to educate people about the sacrifice that was made. 100%. i have never— sacrifice that was made. 10096. i have never served _ sacrifice that was made. 10096. i have never served myself - sacrifice that was made. 10096. i have never served myself but i sacrifice that was made. 10096. i i have never served myself but both sacrifice that was made. 10096. i - have never served myself but both my parents _ have never served myself but both my parents and _ have never served myself but both my parents and grandparents served. my

grandfather was in world war ii, north_ grandfather was in world war ii, north africa italy and france. my father_ north africa italy and france. my father 32— north africa italy and france. my father 32 years and remembrance is so important. i befriended quite a lot of— so important. i befriended quite a lot of friends from afghanistan and they are _ lot of friends from afghanistan and they are also worried about their loved _ they are also worried about their loved ones being forgotten. so remembrance to me is so important in education _ remembrance to me is so important in education is _ remembrance to me is so important in education is so important. we hear veterans— education is so important. we hear veterans stories today during the surface, — veterans stories today during the surface, it — veterans stories today during the surface, it was humbling and just humbling — surface, it was humbling and just humbling to hear. just surface, it was humbling and 'ust humbling to hear.i humbling to hear. just tell us a bit about what — humbling to hear. just tell us a bit about what happened _ humbling to hear. just tell us a bit about what happened at _ humbling to hear. just tell us a bit about what happened at the - humbling to hear. just tell us a bit i about what happened at the national memorial arboretum because we were focused largely on events in france this afternoon and of course, world leaders there walking on the beaches where that allied troops landed 80 years ago. but an important service of remembrance and staff are true as well. , , ,., ., , well. yes, very important, this ear. 26

well. yes, very important, this year- 26 vip — well. yes, very important, this year. 26 vip veterans - well. yes, very important, this year. 26 vip veterans that i well. yes, very important, this| year. 26 vip veterans that were well. yes, very important, this- year. 26 vip veterans that were part of that historic event 80 years ago that changed the course of history and changed our country. the vip guests were visited and talked to at length by their majesties the duke and duchess of edinburgh and a really moving service. can and duchess of edinburgh and a really moving service.— really moving service. can i ask about veterans _ really moving service. can i ask about veterans of _ really moving service. can i ask about veterans of other - really moving service. can i ask| about veterans of other conflicts because there are veterans of course from the falklands war, the war in afghanistan and so on, or rack. it is important to remember what they did as well. . , , is important to remember what they did as well._ through i is important to remember what they did as well._ through my| did as well. absolutely. through my role with the — did as well. absolutely. through my role with the royal _ did as well. absolutely. through my role with the royal british _ did as well. absolutely. through my role with the royal british legion i i role with the royal british legion i have met a lot of different veterans from different conflicts, the northern ireland gear their stories

arejust as important. some of northern ireland gear their stories are just as important. some of these guys are very important and humbling to hear their stories, when they tell the process a lot will not talk about it so to me, recording this information for future generations and education is important. that is and education is important. that is an interesting point _ and education is important. that is an interesting point about - and education is important. that is an interesting point about not - an interesting point about not talking about the trauma and the horror that servicemen and women have been through. we were talking to a man his father, late father did serve d—day and was part of the day and his father never really talked about it, probably suffering from posttraumatic stress with a lot of depression and only talked about it at the very end of his life and talked about having to kill germans and how upset he was. i guess that is a common trait amongst those who have been through war.—

have been through war. absolutely. that generation _ have been through war. absolutely. that generation particularly - have been through war. absolutely. that generation particularly are i that generation particularly are known — that generation particularly are known as— that generation particularly are known as the silent generation but we see _ known as the silent generation but we see that more from contemporary conflicts. _ we see that more from contemporary conflicts, more modern war where we are seeing _ conflicts, more modern war where we are seeing the trauma of conflicts not coming out for sometimes eight or ten— not coming out for sometimes eight or ten or— not coming out for sometimes eight or ten or 12— not coming out for sometimes eight or ten or 12 years later after the person— or ten or 12 years later after the person has— or ten or 12 years later after the person has served and then returned home _ person has served and then returned home and _ person has served and then returned home and then you are seeing the trauma _ home and then you are seeing the trauma come out in a variety of different— trauma come out in a variety of different forms of mental health conditions including ptsd. just outline some _ conditions including ptsd. just outline some of _ conditions including ptsd. ji,sii outline some of the things that you as the british legion do for veterans and for people who have served their country? the veterans and for people who have served their country?— served their country? the royal british legion, _ served their country? the royal british legion, membership i served their country? the royal. british legion, membership aside, served their country? the royal- british legion, membership aside, we have branches all over the country 59 in my county. we try and engage

with local veterans with coffee mornings and we try and engage with them. we do telephone bodies as well. we also signpost for the right health which is the helpline and cover all aspects from ptsd to physical support to financial support. it is tremendous with the legion actually does. just support. it is tremendous with the legion actually does.— legion actually does. just a quick last word. _ legion actually does. just a quick last word, how _ legion actually does. just a quick last word, how important - legion actually does. just a quick last word, how important would i legion actually does. just a quick i last word, how important would you say the british legion is to helping those who have served. we saw a very small number of veterans still there at the d—day beaches today, just over 20 british veterans. but of course there are seven other veterans from any other conflicts. the royal british legion, we are there _ the royal british legion, we are there to — the royal british legion, we are there to recognise service throughout life so whether someone

served _ throughout life so whether someone served 80 _ throughout life so whether someone served 80 years ago, and we have seen _ served 80 years ago, and we have seen those — served 80 years ago, and we have seen those remarkable symptoms dreadful— seen those remarkable symptoms dreadful stories today, but up until contemporary conflict in the armed forces— contemporary conflict in the armed forces today the royal british legion — forces today the royal british legion are there for them at their time _ legion are there for them at their time of— legion are there for them at their time of need. so whether it is while they are _ time of need. so whether it is while they are in — time of need. so whether it is while they are in service or 25 years after. — they are in service or 25 years after. the _ they are in service or 25 years after, the royal british legion of honour— after, the royal british legion of honour their service and their sacrifice — honour their service and their sacrifice that they make. fantastic work and really _ sacrifice that they make. fantastic work and really good _ sacrifice that they make. fantastic work and really good to _ sacrifice that they make. fantastic work and really good to talk- sacrifice that they make. fantastic work and really good to talk to i work and really good to talk to both of you on this very important day. remembering the sacrifice that was made 80 years ago. many thanks. while we were talking to those gentlemen we got the news of the england football squad for the euros. one notable omission which is

jack grealish for manchester city. a bit of a shock but more details at the bbc sport centre. thank you. as you say there. jack grealish left out of the squad. manchester city forward jack grealish and manchester united defender harry maguire are expected to be left out of england's euro 2024 squad. announced in the last ten minutes or so. it's is understood maguire hasn't recovered sufficiently from the calf injury which kept him out of united's fa cup final victory over city last month. the centre—back hasn't played since april and was expected to miss tomorrow's final warm—up game versus iceland. grealish remained on the bench throughout the cup final, as he did for the key premier league matches against tottenham and west ham at the end of the season. he did howver feature for england as a substitute in their win over bosnia—herzegovina on monday.

earlier it was confirmed tottenham forward james maddison and liverpool midfielder curtisjones, had both left the training camp. all four players had been part of gareth southgate's initial 33—man selection, with seven players having to be dropped so here's confirmation of the players that have been left out of gareth southgate' squad having been named in the provisional group of 33: scotland have added new york red bulls' lewis morgan and bristol city forward tommy conway to their provisional squad after striker lyndon dykes and winger ben doak withdrew injured. manager steve clarke has 28 players to consider for the final selection of 26 that will go to germany. the scots face finland at hampden tomorrow in a final warm—up match before taking on hosts in the opening match of the tournament next friday.

premier league clubs in england have voted to keep var at their annual meeting. the vote was triggered by wolves who said the technology has led to "unintended negative consequences". but none of the 19 other clubs backed the proposal — 14 were needed in orderfor it to be scrapped. here's our sports editor dan roan. it has been clear since last month when wolves made this bed to try and scrap var that they were not going to receive the required number of clubs to support them, they would have needed 14 to back that proposal for it to be passed. there were some doubts to whether there would even be a vote, it did happened and they were isolated all of the 19 clubs voted against their proposal and i think that will dismay many fans. of course many have lost faith in va

arc, recent surveys have shown. perhaps it was no surprise that it did not pass. nonetheless, it has triggered a debate. the premier league issued a statement of their own saying while they felt that vr had improved the accuracy of decisions they agreed that improvements should be made for the benefit of clubs and supporters as well —— var. 17—year—old russian mirra andreeva is playing italy's jasmine paolini for a place in the french open final at roland garros. italy's jasmine paolini has beaten the 17—year—old russian mirra andreeva to book a place against iga swiatek in the french open woemn's final at roland garros. paolini beat andreeva 6—3, 6—1 the top seed and world number one beat american coco gauff 6—2 6—4. third seed gauff saved three match points before swiatek eventually closed out victory. she could join monica seles and justine henin as the only women to win three straight french open women's titles during the open era. after dominating against england in their opening t20 world cup match before rain forced an abandonment,

scotland's cricketers will be hoping for better luck with the weather. when they play their second game against namibia in barbados this evening (gfx)meanwhile the united states are looking when they play their second game against namibia in barbados this evening. meanwhile the united states are looking to make it two wins out of two. they're up against pakistan in dallas. usa won the toss and decided to field. they've had a great start. a few moments ago pakistan were 180 for 5. with the latest on the england squad and jack grealish out of that squad. let's go back to the general election for you. the green party co—leader, adrian ramsay, has been outlining its plans for the nhs including an extra £30 billion of funding a year in england. he says the health service is in a desperate situation and that he's outlined a fully costed proposal for the very richest to pay more tax. a full breakdown of costings will be

in the party manifesto. we all value our nhs in the green party is the only party being honest in the selection up at the level of funding that is going to be needed and being honest that we are going to need to ask the richest in society including the multimillionaires and billionaires to pay modestly more in taxes and the way that could raise the funding needed to protect our nhs. our correspondentjenny hill was at the launch of the policy in central london. well, the greens say, in their words, they want to nurse the nation back to full health, and they've been telling us how they intend to do that here in central london this morning. what stands out is what even they admit is an eye—watering sum of money they intend to spend. the greens say they'll need some £50 billion a year. they say that's required if they want to, for example, make sure that there are on—the—day gp appointments for those who need them, to make sure that people have

access to nhs dentists. they also want to invest heavily in mental health provision and social care. the obvious question, of course, is how are they going to pay for it? the immediate response, well, they say they're going to tax the wealthiest in society. now, as you'd expect, we pressed them for more details on that so—called wealth tax. they say those details won't be available until they publish their full manifesto next week. now, the greens co—leader adrian ramsay has said that the party intends to field a candidate in every single seat in england and wales. but he has admitted that recently the party has had to drop four candidates because of reported anti—semitic or extreme comments. he also says they're investigating a small number of other candidates. bear in mind, too, that this is a party which has only had one mp. they are hoping to quadruple that this time round.

news just newsjust coming into news just coming into us that the chief of sussex prince harry has been given the green light to appeal against a hard court ruling which dismisses challenge over the decision to change his level of personal security when he visits the united kingdom. iwill give personal security when he visits the united kingdom. i will give you a bit more detail on that. he started that action after the home office, you may remember, decided to back in february of 2020 that he would not automatically receive personal plea security when in the united kingdom. in february of the high court in london ruled that decision was [awful and dismissed the case of lawful and dismissed the case of prince harry. in april it refuse to permission to challenge the ruling and a high court, but the court of appeal now says in another twist that it will hear his challenge. that is after each direct

application from prince harry's lawyers who say prince harry had been granted permission to appeal. so all really over the decision for years ago in february 2020 that he could not automatically receive personal police security while in britain. he said that was unfair. the tv doctor and newspaper columnist michael mosley has gone missing while on holiday on a greek island. it's understood mr mosley who makes programmes for the bbc was on a walking break. our correspondent, helena wilkinson, gave us this update the 67—year—old has gone missing on holiday in greece with his wife. we understand that there is a huge search now for the 67—year—old. you mentioned a very well—known broadcaster, known for television

programmes including the bbc series, trust me i'm a doctor. also appearances on the bbc one show and on radio for as well. also a health group, popularised various diets as well. the search is currently under way. i will bring you some information we've had in the last few moments from the greek police. a spokesperson has told the bbc that the doctor was with his wife on a beachin the doctor was with his wife on a beach in greece when he decided to leave on foot to go to the centre of the island post office spokesperson also said that the doctor's wife then returned but the doctor was not there. that is when she informed to there. that is when she informed to the local police department. we also have been told by the fire department press office that there are firefighters and volunteers who

are firefighters and volunteers who are currently looking for the doctor on foot and are also using drones in the area to try and search for him. but doctor michael mosley, known popular television presenter and on radio as well well—known to many viewers has gone missing on island and we understand he went missing yesterday and his wife reported him missing and that big search for him is continuing. our correspondent with the latest on that disappearance. junior doctors in northern ireland are taking part in northern ireland are taking part in a two—day strike a dispute over pay and the staff retention. a walk—out until 7am on saturday will affect hospitals and gp surgeries. our ireland correspondent has been giving us more information from stormont. ., , ., ., stormont. the doctors who have iathered stormont. the doctors who have gathered from _ stormont. the doctors who have gathered from this _ stormont. the doctors who have gathered from this valley - stormont. the doctors who have gathered from this valley this i gathered from this valley this lunchtime has said that their pay

has dropped in real terms by 30% over the last 15 years. ultimately, they want a genuine commitment that their wages will be restored to fair levels in the longer term. so this industrial action which is really the most serious in northern ireland has been going on for a few months before doctors in this part of the uk before march and now are staging a third walk—out for 48 hours beginning at seven o'clock this morning going onto the same time on saturday morning. according to the british medical association there are more than 2000 junior doctors in northern ireland all entitled to join the state. the background to this, northern ireland has a health service regarded as being in crisis for the longest hospital waiting times in the uk. the department of health here has said that the ballot for strike action has been launched at a time when doctors did not have at a time when doctors did not have a backdated pay rise and now they do to the tune of 9%. there is no sign

of this dispute ending anytime soon. our ireland correspondent reporting. the european central bank has cut its main interest rates today from 4% to 3.75%. the first reduction since 2019. our business correspondent with more on that. interest rates were raised by central banks all around the world after the inflation took off after the invasion of ukraine and bounce back from the pandemic in 2022. since then, they have risen to levels we had not seen for about 15 years. now at 4% now cutting to 3.75% now reflecting the fact that they are much more worried about inflation a year and certainly two years ago. inflation in the euro zone is about 2.6% and it actually ticked up last time but it is an indicator of how firmly convinced central bankers are that the inflation spike is now behind us that they are nevertheless cutting

rates as expected. canada has cut rates as expected. canada has cut rates as expected. canada has cut rates as well, sweden and switzerland have cut rates at a rate cut is expected here in the uk as well as sometime in the next few months but probably not this month. our economics correspondent. starship space x's prototype rocket undergoing its latest test flight. it is the fourth time it has been launched. this time around the main booster rocket section which is designed to be reusable has completed what the company founder elon musk has described as a successful sauce bully soft landing. it is designed to send astronauts back to the moon or even mars. in a moment it will be time for the bbc news at six with sophie ray werth who has been covering those 80th anniversary d—day events in northern

france and now for a quick look at the rather. hello, thanks forjoining me. it's been a day of sunshine and showers, with the most frequent showers across scotland today. how about tomorrow? more of the same. a keen north—westerly breeze, sunny spells and, once again, scattered showers. and in fact, over the last few days, the weather has been generally coming in from the northern climes. if you look at the satellite picture, you can see the motion of the cloud all streaming in from the north—west, iceland and the norwegian sea. so, more of the same — through tonight as well. if anything, these showers will become more frequent across the north—west of scotland through the small hours of friday morning. but elsewhere, generally clear and really quite chilly in towns and cities. temperatures early on friday morning will be around 7 degrees, but outside of town, in the countryside, it could be as low as 3 or 4. so, definitely a nip in the air first thing on friday. but a lot of sunshine from the word go, i think, across england and wales. not the case in northern ireland

and western scotland. a weather front moving through, bringing a period of rain, a couple of hours of some steady rain, but that should eventually clear after the rush hour to sunshine and showers. could end up being quite cloudy around the lake district, northern england, through much of yorkshire, quite thick cloud. but come the afternoon, i think for most of us, it's a case of sunny spells. frequent showers in scotland, though. less frequent in the south. and the temperatures struggling — 11 in stornoway, no higher than around 17 expected in cardiff. here's the weather map for saturday. the low pressure still with us. and on its western edge, the wind continues to stream in from the northern climes. it's quite chilly air — in fact, cold enough for a little bit of wintriness across the scottish mountains, and gusty winds around these northern and western coasts. showers again will be most frequent in scotland on saturday, but northern ireland, wales and england should have a generally dry and mostly sunny day, just scattered fairweather cumulus clouds. temperatures again about 12 in aberdeen, struggling here, 15 in belfast, no higher than around 17 in birmingham.

is it going to be warming up over the next few days? no, it's not. the air will keep on streaming in from the north, so temperatures will remain below the average for the time of the year, but it will he often dry with fleeting showers. that's it for me. bye— bye.

at six... d—day remembered — 80 years after the allied invasion on the normandy beaches. a service for the remaining veterans at the british normandy memorial overlooking gold beach where so many thousands came ashore on this day in 1944. our gratitude is unfailing and our admiration eternal.

applause. applause for ukraine's president zelensky as he joins world leaders at an international event — president biden compares the fight for ukraine to the struggle for freedom on the normandy beaches. and the other main stories on today's programme... the tv doctor michael mosley goes missing on holiday in greece — a search and rescue operation is under way. who's in — and who's out — as england name their 26—man squad for euro 2024. here in north london, manager gareth southgate is expending those selections right now. harry maguire are not fit but madison and grealish not wanted. and lift—off for elon musk�*s starship rocket system — but its soft—landing back on earth is what's causing waves and coming up on bbc news, harry maguire isn't fit enough for the euros. he's one of seven players left out as gareth southgate names his final

26—man squad for germany.