this is bbc news. i'm ben brown near grenfell tower in west london where 30 people are confirmed dead — but with that number expected to rise significa ntly. the bbc understands a total of 70 people are dead or missing. the headlines... in an unprecedented statement on her official birthday, the queen said it was difficult to escape a very sombre national mood in the light of recent tragedies. angry residents are demanding justice for the victims of the tower block fire — but ministers have defended theresa may's handling of the disaster. the prime minister is distraught about what has happened, as everyone in the country is. we all desperately sad, we're all angry but, of course, none of us as angry as those directly affected. hundreds of mourners attended a late—night vigil for the dead and missing as the search for victims enters its fourth day. i'm chris rogers.

the other main headlines on bbc news... pc keith palmer, who tried to stop the terror attack in westminster, has been awarded the george medal for his bravery as the queen's birthday honours are announced. among others to be recognised is the scottish comedian and actor billy connolly, who's been knighted. and in dateline london, jane hill and the panel will be discussing whether theresa may can remain at number ten. that's in half an hour's time here on bbc news. good morning and welcome to bbc news. we are close to grenfell tower and

outside a methodist church very nearby where you can see some of the flowers a nd nearby where you can see some of the flowers and messages that have been left by local people for the dead and the missing, and pictures of those who are still unaccounted for. there will be a service tomorrow to remember those who have lost their lives in the disaster, there is another service at a catholic church around the corner at midday today. there was going to be another protest at kensington town hall is similarto protest at kensington town hall is similar to the one yesterday but that has been postponed, people here are extremely angry about what happened at the reasons for it. let me tell you about the queen's response. we have had a message to her... from her. it is a statement of great sadness. her majesty the queen has been attending the trooping the colour, and there has been a minute's

silence there in memory of those who have lost their lives and been injured in the grenfell tower disaster. let's bring in our royal correspondent nicholas witchell, who was outside buckingham palace. nicholas, the words from the queen, actually just talking to nicholas, the words from the queen, actuallyjust talking to people here around the tower, have been very well received. striking a toll of national sadness. —— striking a tone. national sadness. -- striking a tone. the queen's birthday parade is normally the ceremonial high point of the summer, it is very much been marked by and sharing in the sadness that the nation feels at the losses at

g re nfell tower. nation feels at the losses at grenfell tower. there was the minute's silence observed by the queenjust before she minute's silence observed by the queen just before she left buckingham palace with the duke of edinburgh, observed there and also one horse guards correct... also on horse guards parade. we're now seeing the queen inspecting the lines of footguards in the carriage. she goes down the ranks of the guards prior to the trooping the colour of the 1st battalion the irish colour of the ist battalion the irish guards this year, there she is with the duke of edinburgh, for the first time he is appearing at the ceremony not in military uniform. we recall that just one week ceremony not in military uniform. we recall thatjust one week ago today he celebrated his 96th birthday and this might be the last time we see him at the ceremony. he is, of course, moving more into retirement in the autumn. these the traditional images we associate with this ceremony, which has been taking place for more than 200 years, marking the sovereign‘s birthday. this year, as i say, burial at

sharing in the national sadness because among the spectators on horse guards parade will be the prime minister, will be other leading politicians who are organising the response to the events tower and, of course, being criticised for the slowness of response. “— criticised for the slowness of response. —— organising the response to the events at grenfell tower. it is perhaps in this context that this unprecedented statement from buckingham palace, from the queen, this morning, has made a particular impact. speaking of a very sombre national mood and a succession of terrible tragedies. the queen visited grenfell tower yesterday and was undoubtedly very struck by what she saw and heard. in this moment of silence, leading the nation's tribute. all right, nicholas, thank you. that is nicholas witchell, our royal correspondent. the government has promised £5

million in emergency aid to the victims of the grenfell tower disaster and promised a full commission quietly. they say that the head of that inquiry will be appointed within days and there is a new government task force to try to coordinate efforts to help the victims of the disaster. 0ur political correspondent emma vardy is in downing street for us. the prime minister, theresa may, is expected to be chairing the task force in the next half—hour. there will be representatives from a number of government departments including the home office, treasury and the department for communities and the department for communities and local government. ministers have faced a very challenging few days with increasing hostilities from local residents demanding answers as the horror of this tragedy has unfolded. damian green spoke this morning, trying to address some of those concerns. he spoke about the £5 million of emergency funding

being released and set that is just the start, there will be more funds to come forfurther the start, there will be more funds to come for further expenses. he said there is a better coordinated effort on the ground to help people looking for answers about loved ones being cared for in local hospitals. but damian green this morning was also pressed over whether prime minister theresa may has been able to show enough empathy. after the meeting yesterday of the recovery task force there is now from today on the ground a central operation precisely to answer all those perfectly reasonable questions that people have in these desperate circumstances. there will be a combination of the local council and central government, the department for communities and local government, and other departments. there will be representatives of those departments on the ground, immediately accessible to residents so immediately accessible to residents so those questions can be answered. we have moved very fast to set up a

public inquiry, we want that to be set up as fast as possible. we will appoint a judge as chairman within days rather than weeks, we have said will produce interim - so it will produce interim report so people do not - too wait a long people do not have too wait a long time. very importantly, the residents will have a direct voice, they will be consulted on the terms of reference of the public inquiry, and if they want legal representation at the public inquiry the government will pay for that, so the government will pay for that, so the residents' voices will be heard very low debt that public inquiry, thatis very low debt that public inquiry, that is the body that will look at the cladding and the other issues that have arisen —— the residents' voices will be heard very loudly at that inquiry. have been angry scenes from local residents towards theresa may and ministers, but this is a difficult position for the government because people have a legitimate outpouring of grief and need questions answered, but the

government must maintain a position of responsibility and need to take things step—by—step. the task force that we expect to be chaired here over the next half—hour will, it is likely, address some of those immediate concerns. thank you very much, and. —— emma the minister of the notting hill methodist church is behind me, mike long. you have your name written on your shirts because people are coming from all over, they don't know quite to everybody is that you are all pulling together? that is pa rt are all pulling together? that is part of it, those initially involved we re part of it, those initially involved were all local but we were so divers from the local community, because thatis from the local community, because that is who we are as a local community, we do not know names and it fosters a sense of team working at togetherness, which has been remarkable even amongst the global

demand, confusion and anger that have. lots of supplies have people have. lots of supplies have been coming and going, what has been happening? today is the very remains of taking the final few goods from the church to a warehousing facility. we have said since wednesday no donations, please, we have been overwhelmed just from the local community, let alone elsewhere. i think you have a service tomorrow, this is a time of enormous grief in the community? yes, and it is hard to know how to express that. with the flowers and the candles behind as we have been trying to help the community express what is very hard to express, we do that in different ways. some people money, some of the time, some offer money, some of the time, some offer money, some of the time, some of the labour, some bring flowers. there are all kinds of ways, but people want to do something because the feelings are so profound, deep

and painful. we have seen incredible generosity of spirit, we have also seen some grief turned to anger? yes, we have had scenes outside the church in the last few days. i would yes, we have had scenes outside the chu condone last few days. i would yes, we have had scenes outside the chu condone violence days. i would yes, we have had scenes outside the chu condone violence buts. i would yes, we have had scenes outside the chu condone violence but the would yes, we have had scenes outside the chu condone violence but the anger not condone violence but the anger is understandable, there are huge, deep—seated frustrations in this community weather has been persistent and increasing social inequality, and this terrible disaster simply aggravates those feelings in an understandable way, because this is a place where the juxtaposition between the very wealthy and those with very little is very, very stark, and yet people do not know each other. it is hard for people to understand the situation is that neighbours might live aid, somebody living in a house of several million pounds is next to a one bed flat which has a family of six living in it in this area. we

have mothers with teenage daughters who have always shared their bedroom throughout their lives, there is massive overcrowding and these things inevitably lead to deep—seated frustrations. things inevitably lead to deep-seated frustrations. mike long, thank you for talking to us, mike long, the minister at the notting hill methodist church. that is the latest from here, the death toll currently stands at 30 officially, but the bbc understands a total of 70 people are dead or missing. in terms of the injured in hospital, 2a are still in hospital, we are told, 12 of them in critical care. i will hand you back to chris in the as well as the public inquiry into what happened and why, there are what happened and whtheceate ‘ various the fire at groenefeld. we heard we will be gizren an have heard we will be given an update by the police, possibly the fire brigade, at approximately iam today. we will bring you more

details from that press conference in the area close to the scene as soon as we get them. other news, events a re soon as we get them. other news, events are taking place across the events are taking placeacrossthe events are taking pleceecrossthe this events are taking pleseesrossthe this weekend to mark first country this weekend to mark first anniversary ofjo country this weekend to mark first anniversary of jo cox's country this weekend to mark first anniversary ofjo cox's murder. it is being called the great get together, it is being organised by family and the idea is for friends, neighbours who do not know each other to spend some time together. fiona trott is in west yorkshire, which isjo cox's former constituency. what is taking place today? we are in green park in 10 cox's constituency, the focus of the great get together this week. hundreds of people expected today, there will be a picnic and all kinds opportunities, circus skills, i of opportunities, circus skills, i have been told. simon is the man who

has put this together, what is the importance for you of bringing l together? creating everybody together? creating opportunities for the community to come together and share, using spaces to encourage people to come together and talk to each other, who might not have people who might not have had before, people are conversations before, people are sitting down and talking, that is great. you knew jo sitting down and talking, that is great. you knew 10 cox, what would this have meant her? a blow she would have loved it, she was all about this, seeing community is coming together, having tea and this is what she was all cake. this is what she was all the first time i met her she about. the first time i met her she came in to my cafe and introduced herself ventures said what other problems, who needs help, how do we problemsgwhe' fie§d5"hélfl;'hfiwflfi—ve itlthem, problemsgwhe' fie§d5"hélfl;'hfiwflfi—ve it. them, who problemsgwhe' fie§d5"hélfl;'hfiwflfi—ve it them, who help? problemsgwhe' fie§d5"hélfl;'hfiwflfi—ve it. them, who- help? no get it to them, who needs help? no nonsense , get it to them, who needs help? no nonsense, straightaway she - to nonsense, straightaway she wanted to get the message. and you have m everybody together, i hope brought everybody together, i hope it goes well. thank you for chatting to us. a bandstand, ten groups to us. a bandstand, tertgroupswill throughout the day until around play throughout the day until around

3pm, this grand - is called if ;;’ ’§ an eye on everybody. molly, keeping an eye on everybody. —— this grand dame. this stand is molly, keeping an eye on everybody. —— th held 1d dame. this stand is molly, keeping an eye on everybody. —— th held by dame. this stand is molly, keeping an eye on everybody. —— th held by the e. this stand is molly, keeping an eye on everybody. —— th held by the local is stand is molly, keeping an eye on everybody. —— th held by the local scoutsd is molly, keeping an eye on everybody. —— th held by the local scouts and being held by the local scouts and curbs,itis being held by the local scouts and curbs, it is very hard but. has curbs, it is very hard but that has not deterred them, they will be making pancakes. ian, you i in w 34354; of. scouts and - have a charge of the scouts and you have a toughjob. jo cox charge of the scouts and you have a tough job. jo cox was very involved with the local scouts, tell us the importance of today for you? i look after these scouts across the district. add heckmondwike we - a 95193 sis-39 fi§;t§;r-§§slt§ we hiss s and 551951 5-3-3 fi55t§555§5lt5 555 5555 5 and girls involved, which 5'555'55 555 fi55t§55555lt5 555 i5555 5 and girls involved, which is boys and girls involved, which is fantastic news. everything we try and do is ensure that we are and do is ensure that—weaite in community organisations involved in community organisations and different community groups. jo was our president for a few weeks before she was sadly taken from us. she was so proud and so happy to be the scout president. she - herself

the scout president. she saw herself as our little b0 grills, which was fantastic for us as an ambassador. to get the kids today, cooking pancakes for the community, tea and coffee for the kids. let's chat to the kids. thanks very much. how is it going? have you been eating or cooking today? we have only had one or two macro. here the taste tester? yes. we - sugar here and oranges yes. we have sugar here and oranges and chocolate sauce. this looks healthy. which is the best topping? i think chocolate, because it really pays good, but the healthiest is probably sugar. chocolate or sugar. both, maybe? yes. brush your teeth afterwards. have a great day. you will want afterwards. have a great day. you will wa nt lots afterwards. have a great day. you will want lots of donations today. and pancakes. there is lots to go around. thanks for chatting to us today. hundreds of people expected.

0ver today. hundreds of people expected. over 120,000 events like this today. hundreds of people expected. 0ver120,000 events like this when expected all over the country today. people here want this to happen people here we ntthis to hopped year. people here we ntthis to hepped year. as we were hearing every year. as we were hearing earlier, jo cox part of bringing communities together. they hope like him -- communities together. they hope like him —— they hope that events like these will be her lasting legacy. w {1525 g you for that. those events thank you for that. those events taking place all over the country. whenever you go today, i hope you a great time as we remember the have a great time as we remember the= and work ofjo cox. let's bring life and work ofjo cox. let's bring you some other developments. we have been hearing that us officials are saying that seven crew members are unaccounted for. this is after a us navy destroyer collided with a merchant ship off the coast of japan. the uss fitzgerald was seriously when it was japan. the uss fitzgerald was seriously - when it was struck seriously damaged when it was struck bya seriously damaged when it was struck by a philippine registered container ship in the middle of the night. among the injured as the ship's commanding officer who has been taken to hospital by

helicopter. uss fitzgerald sustains the uss fitzgerald sustains significant damage to its starboard side in the middle of the night. it somehow collided with a container ship on the approach to tokyo bay. seven sailors are still missing. three crew members were airlifted to hospital, including the commanding officer, who is in a stable condition. the total number of injured is unknown. the incident happened at 2:30am local time on saturday, 56 miles south—west of this busy commercial waterway. this is the merchant vessel involved. it is the merchant vessel involved. it is philippine registered. relatively light damage can be seen on the port bow. the fitzgerald, with a crew of more than 300 sailors, started taking on water, with at least three compartments flooded. there is major compartments flooded® to the ship. any time you damage to the ship. any time you hear a vessel is taking on water, it hear e vessel is teking on wete1'.—it the hear e vessel is teking on weten—it the hull. been breached.

means the hull has been breached. this was not just means the hull has been breached. this was notjust bumping each this was a serious collision. other, this was a serious collision. we will have to see why it happened, why the vessels did not see each other, did not communicate clearly or if there was something else going on. the fitzgerald is a guided missile destroyer. in the billy, a $21 million upgrade and repair was completed. its role is to support security and stability in the asian pacific region. with the help of the coast guard, the warship is heading back to port slowly under its own power. these kind of incidents are real, but how did a warship - one real, but how did a warship with one of the most advanced radar naval systems —— maven —— naval radar systems —— maven —— naval radar systems hit a massive container ship in open water? the queen's birthday honours list has been released. julie walters and june whitfield have received damehoods and there's also

a knighthood for billy connolly. been released at the same time. 0ur entertainment correspondent, lizo mzimba, has more. several people are being recognised for their bravery. among them, pc keith palmer, killed as he tried to stop a man from entering parliament in the westminster attacks in march, he has been awarded a posthumous george medal. for pcs craig nicholls and jonathan wright, who arrested the man who killed mpjo cox, queen's gallantry medals. bernard kenny, who was with the mp received the george medal. he sano and he tried to save her and we cannot thank him enough. and the two boys, similarly unarmed, just went in. they knew that he was armed, but not a thought. theyjust went in. we are absolutely delighted. true heroes. and the last surviving member of the famous dambuster raids, johnnyjohnson, has been made an mbe. in the world of music, 1960s eurovision winner sandie shaw becomes an mbe.

chart—topping singer ed sheeran has also been made an mbe. i'm on record as having said, why would i learn algebra, i have no intention of going there! billy connolly knows his knighthood is likely to produce a strong response from fans. some will say high time, and some will say "what the hell is that all about?" i don't know what to prepare for. terry and june and absolutely fabulous's june whitfield has been made a dame. just a few of over 1,000 people being honoured. lizo mzimba, bbc news. sport now and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's katherine downes. thanks. morning. with the first test against new zealand nowjust a week away, the british and irish lions have this morning beaten the maori all blacks by 32 points to 10.

leigh halfpenny kicked 20 of those points for warren gatland's side in a chilly looking rotorua. the saracens player maro itoje scored the only try for the tourists fifteen minutes into the second half. the victory was the lions third of the tour in their five matches. there is nowjust one more warm—up game to come against the chiefs before the opening test. before the game it was confirmed that ross moriarty had left the tour due to a back injury. it comes as coach warren gatland added four wales players to his squad. cory hill, kristian dacey, gareth davies and thomas francis willjoin the set—up this afternoon. scottish duo allan dell and finn russell have also been called up. it's a busy day of rugby for the home nations. quite a day for scottish rugby. they beat the wallabies 2a points to 19 to make it two wins from two

for scotland head coach gregor townsend. ireland have also been in action, they beat japan 50—22. england play argentina this evening. england's women are the world's number one side this morning after they beat new zealand. the red roses had beaten australia and canada already in the international series. they'll take great confidence from those results in what is a world cup year. lydia thompson, marlie packer and vicky fleetwood added second half tries to help seal a 21—29 victory. coming across the world to a rugby mad country, it is not an easy place to play or wind. we find out for four years the hard way when we lost all three tests. tonight was a real showcase of women's rugby, the top two macro - —— the top two macro two macro sack —— the top two macro sides in the world going - and sides in the world going hammer and tommy gainey each other. we are sides in the world going hammer and tomn happy ey each other. we are sides in the world going hammer and tomn happy abouth other. we are sides in the world going hammer and tomn happy about ourher. we are sides in the world going hammer and tomn happy about our performance. really happy about our performance.

—— going hammerand really happy about our performance. —— going hammer and tong against. for the first time since world rankings began in 1986, the world's top three golfers have missed the cut at a major. dustinjohnson, rory mcilroy and jason day are all out of the us open in wisconsin. whilst they were struggling, others were making light of the huge course at erin hills. england's paul casey set the early pace, finishing on seven under. he was joined by another englishman tommy fleetwood. they are both part of a four—way tie for the lead with the americans brian harman and brooks koepka. i have never led the us open so tomorrow will be a very cool experience. it is still only saturday. 36 holes i a long experience. it is still only saturday. 36 holes. a long time. saturday. 36 holes is a long time. anything can happen. there are always ups and downs. with how long the courses and how long bidets are, i will make the most of being able to relax for a little and wilmot worry. thanks to goalkeeper jordan pickford, england's under 21s drew their opening match with sweden at the european championship. a day after completing a record £30 million move to everton, pickford produced a vital penalty

save with 10 minutes remaining to help england draw 0—0 in poland. they face the hosts and slovakia in their remaining group games. british number one johanna konta will play in the semifinals at the nottingham 0pen this afternoon. she overcame australia's ashleigh barty in straights sets yesterday in, her first tournament into the world's top ten. she'll play slovakia's magdalena rybarikova for a place in the final. and the queen's birthday honours have recognised a number of figures from the sporting world. double 0lympic rowing champion heather stanning, who won her second gold with helen glover in rio last year, is now an 0be. lions prop rory best has also been awarded an 0be. the coach who guided great britain's women to hockey gold in rio, danny kerry, has received an mbe, as has world superbike champion jonathan rae and northern ireland football captain steven davis. and judy murray receives an 0be too. that's all sport for now. more from me in the next hour. now

it is time hello. we are seeing i big leap in temperatures compared with temperatures - expected yesterday. temperatures are expected to get to the high 20s in - areas we are seeing plenty of today. we are seeing plenty of sunshine, very strong sunshine the southern - of the across the southern half of the uk. we had low cloud to start equally, we had low cloud to start the day, cloud for the north west of england. the cloud - the north it is stubborn, tied in with west, it is stubborn, tied in with the weather front and it will bring damp conditions across the highlands i well. low of scotla nd of scotland and northern ireland. the cloud will melt away.

irete n’djthefloud'witl‘meltewer be fair weather cloud at there will be fair weather cloud at best. across the northern isles, we have that weather front overhead bringing patchy rain and drizzle. across the eastern grampians, the across the eestern grempiens. the lowlands, decent spells of ” " " " $ lots ” w " w $ lots of warmth in ” w w' w $ lots of warmth in the it is a little fresher sunshine. it is a little fresher around the coast, more like low 20s, but even though we will see only the low 20s compared with 28, 29 inland, the sun is just a strong and not temperature dependent. that can catch people out. very high pollen as well. 0vernight, it will more uncomfortable for sleeping be more uncomfortable for sleeping in and eastern areas in southern and eastern areas because the humidity is rising. we because the bu mid ity' is rising. wej got because the hu mid ity' is rising. ‘w’ej got to make the mac with the have got to make the mac with the damp conditions continuing for the western side of scotland and the western side of scotland and the western isles, perhaps northern and western isles, perhaps the far north—west of northern ireland. but otherwise, it looks like a ireland. but otherwise, it looks likea similar ireland. but otherwise, it looks like a similar day. more sunshine and we saw this morning. as a

consequence, because temperatures consequence.j1ecau_seien1pecatuces not as low overnight, we will are not as low overnight, we will see temperatures by several degrees on today. potentially 31 or even 32. the kit will stay with us in england and wales on monday into - it cool slowly. the kit will will cool slowly. the kit will diminish, notjust by day, it will diminish. not iust bu dev it will ~ co mforta bly diminish; not iust bu deu it will ~ comfortably warm for some by be comfortably warm for some by night as well. there is more on the