good afternoon. these today's headlines: the queen says it is difficult to escape a very sombre national mood following tragedies in london and manchester. she has led a minute silence at the start of events to mark her official birthday. theresa may chairs a task force to coordinate efforts to help people affected by the grenfell tower tower fire. she will be meeting begins at downing street later. and the archbishop of westminster celebrates mass at a service to remember those who died and asked your missing. —— are still missing. the queen has led a minute silence

for the victims of the grenfell tower fire. for the victims of the grenfell towerfire. she for the victims of the grenfell tower fire. she was for the victims of the grenfell towerfire. she wasjoined by for the victims of the grenfell tower fire. she was joined by the duke of edinburgh outside buckingham palace where crowds have gathered for trooping the colour. we are expecting to hear an update from the metropolitan police shortly. to tell you what we know so far, 30 people are confirmed as having died but that number is expected to rise. the bbc understands that the number of casualties could be as high as 70. and in the last few minutes it has been confirmed that two tube lines in west london where partly suspended this morning by transport for london amid concern about the safety of the tower. my colleague who is in west london has been talking to the friend of one of the people missing. my people missing. my worries is that everything is very bad and i worried that he is not alive. there are a lot of people who are grieving for him right now,

my family who are grieving for him right now, myfamily and who are grieving for him right now, my family and friends and relatives who i know of. and he was a very loving man, you know. he always used to make sure that people were cared for and looked after. yet, he was very loving. where was he living? what floor of the block? he was living on the 20th floor. so quite high? quite high up. what sort of man... and you tell us a bit about him? he liked doing wash racing. he was very funny, he was very caring. he used to love his food and he always made sure that whenever we were hungry or if something was to happen that we we re if something was to happen that we were always looked after. he used to know my family very well. i used to live on the eighth floor. i was there with my mum and everyone loved him from the block, you know. but other people. it was very one

community, it was very tight, you know. there was never any trouble here. young people, they used to play on the grass before this thing was built and have little barbecues and it was very nice. and a longer time goes on obviously and you hear nothing of him the more worried you must be. yeah, definitely. iwas worried you must be. yeah, definitely. i was up most of the night. and i was thinking, how ami the night. and i was thinking, how am i going to get down here? i tried speaking to relatives, i've tried speaking to relatives, i've tried speaking to relatives, i've tried speaking to his other partner, which wasn't there at that time which was really positive. in a sense it was very sad. ijust put really positive. in a sense it was very sad. i just put all really positive. in a sense it was very sad. ijust put all my heart out there which, for all the people who've actually, it has touched us all, you know. i'm really sad. i feel sad. all, you know. i'm really sad. ifeel sad. 0f all, you know. i'm really sad. i feel sad. of course. all, you know. i'm really sad. ifeel sad. of course. and we all, you know. i'm really sad. i feel sad. of course. and we show your distress. thank you so much. you're welcome.

just tell us, you're helping to organise this emergency effort. the community is organising itself. we have been overwhelmed by the way local people have simply arrived not knowing each other, that's why we we re knowing each other, that's why we were name badges. offering their expertise for the local community and its been remarkable how much time for us backgrounds have been. that was ben brown at their talking to gu ests that was ben brown at their talking to guests in west london. ben is that keeping us up to date with all the development is following about desperate fire in west london earlier this week in particular he was into the young man michael who are still waiting for news of his friend who lived in the grenfell tower. we know of course that 30 people are confirmed as having died but as has been said consistently, the metropolitan police expects that

number to rise, to rise significantly as the phrase that the police use. the bbc certainly understanding that the death toll could be at least 70. 0f understanding that the death toll could be at least 70. of course so incredibly hard to know, impossible to say as i see how many people would have been in the tower in the early hours when that buyer too cold. at 30 people confirmed as having died and were just i cold. at 30 people confirmed as having died and werejust i do knew that there is a police news conference expected really quite soon. we're keeping an eye on that. the blues are due to be talking to journalists there in west london and will give us the latest on their investigation. we will have more from west london in the coming minutes and an update on all the date‘s news and we are joined by viewers on bbc one. good afternoon. theresa may has this morning chaired a meeting of a government task force — set up to support victims of the grenfell tower fire, in which at least 30 people died. frankie mccamley reports.

bringing flowers, lighting candles and leaving messages at one of many churches in the area. a sombre time for people to reflect and come to terms with what has happened here. michael used to live in the grenfell tower and has come to pay respects to his friend affectionately nicknamed moses. he is still missing. there is a lot of people who are grieving for him. family and friends and relatives who i know of. and he was a very loving man, you know. you always used to make sure that people were cared for and looked after. yesterday the queen met volunteers and residents in the community and today in her birthday message that was reflected. it read, today is traditionally a day of celebration.

her words followed by an impromptu minute silence at buckingham palace. just a few miles away the governments task force met this morning to discuss how to help those affected by the fire. denver is now from today on the ground a central operation precisely to a nswer ground a central operation precisely to answer all those perfectly reasonable questions that people have in these desperate circumstances. police have confirmed at least 30 people died in the fire but that number is expected to rise. that will only happen when firefighters can will only happen when firefighters ca n safely will only happen when firefighters can safely make their way up into this child to building that once used to be home to hundreds of people. but the questions

surrounding this tragedy remain unanswered. how did it start? why did it spread so quickly? and who, if anyone, is to blame. 0ur political correspondent emma vardy is in downing street. we have heard that the prime minister will be meeting some of those directly affected by this fire. that is right. here at downing street she will be meeting victims, volu nteers street she will be meeting victims, volunteers and residents of grenfell tower is as the government tries to build trust with the local community and it follows a difficult few days as we have seen increasing hostility, increasing anger towards ministers and last night theresa may had to leave the grenfell tower site under a police guard. the secretary of state, we're seen him coming out defending to reason me against what he says is on their criticism over her empathy with victims. now, to be isa her empathy with victims. now, to be is a has been chairing a task force at the cabinet office in the past

hour. we expect to hear the outcome of that soon. we expect to hear the outcome of that soon. ben brown is in west london. give us your sense, having spoken to people all morning, about what people all morning, about what people are saying about the response, the quarter nation, the mood there. they are still saying there is not enough communication, not enough coordination and there is supposed to be those governments task force. they were told on the grounds today, but i've been talking to some volu nteers but i've been talking to some volunteers who say they have not seen any sign of it. and they say some of those made homeless by this disaster are still sleeping on floors here and they say that is not good enough. community organisers have been telling me they have been trying to calm down that anger. in terms of the latest casualty figures, we are respecting a news conference right here. was supposed to be around now and it has been delayed. that would be with the metropolitan police commander stuart cundy and we may get an update on

the casualties figures. we know the official death toll is 30. 70 we understand are either dead or missing. that is the bbc‘s understanding. 2a in hospital, 12 in critical care but those figures may change when we get the latest from the police at this news conference this afternoon. then, thank you. in a statement released to mark her official birthday, the queen has said it is difficult to escape the sombre mood in the country in the wake of recent tragedies. the message comes in advance of the annual trooping the colour parade in london — our royal correspondent, nicholas witchell is there. a slightly different tone on route this year, nick? yes. the queen's birthday parade is normally the ceremonial high point of the summer but this year and expression of a nation's sadness. that was given expression both in

the minute's silence and in the statement issued by the queen this morning. that minute's silence added to the programme very much at the last minute but ioas as the queen and duke of edinburgh left buckingham palace they stood in a minute into bute to those lost at g re nfell tower minute into bute to those lost at grenfell tower and also the terrorist atrocities in manchester and london. i do then in that statement which she issued this morning, referring as we opposed to the sombre national mood, and recalling the fact of course that she visited grenfell tower yesterday herself and manchester last month when she said that she was profoundly struck by the immediate inclination of people throughout the country to offer comfort and support to those in desperate need. although this birthday parade, the normal components, the fly—past, the balcony appearance, prince george of princess charlotte there, this today was rather subdued. reflecting on these recent tragedies. thank you. seven us navy crew are missing after an american destroyer collided with a container ship, off the east coast of japan. the uss fitzgerald, which has now

arrived back at port, crashed into the phillipine vessel in the middle of the night. a major search and rescue operation is underway. the ships commanding officer has been taken to hospital by helicopter. the policeman who died confronting the westminster attacker in march, pc keith palmer, has been awarded a posthumous medalfor bravery. he is named in the queen's civilian galla ntry list, released this year alongside the birthday honours. among this year's honous, is a knighthood for the comedian billy connolly, and a damehood forjulie walters and june whitfield. lizo mzimba reports. pc keith palmer was killed in the westminster terror attack. he receives a past ms george medal. the other pcs seen here arresting the man who killed jo cox, queen's

gallantry medals. bernard kelly who was injured trying to protect the mp receives the george medal. hejust saw her receives the george medal. he just saw her and tried to save out we can't thank him enough. and the two boys similarly. an armed, just went in. they knew he was armed. but not afford. just went in. and we are absolutely delighted. true heroes. true heroes. why should we learn algebra? i've no intention of ever going there. billy connelly knows his knighthood will produce a strong response from france. —— fans. some of them will say hi time and some of them also, what is that? i am a little bit embarrassed but deep within me i am very pleased to have it. june whitfield has been made a dame.

19605 june whitfield has been made a dame. 1960s eurovision sandie shaw becomes an mbe and the last surviving member of the lamest dambuster aircrews also becomes an mbe in a list that honours more than 1000 people. with all the sport, here's katherine downes at the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. it has been a big morning of rugby union. they have a warm up morning of rugby union. they have a warm up game morning of rugby union. they have a warm up game before they take on the all blacks a week today. katie reports. the north island in new zealand is marry heartland. and when the lions are in town they pull out all the stops. there are thousands of people here for this world—record attempt. they are facing the hotel.

just another reminder for the lions, as if they needed it, of who is terrified they are on. then it was time for the all blacks, a side steeped in cultural history, to lay down the road challenge. 0nly steeped in cultural history, to lay down the road challenge. only on the lions were in control but as soon as their concentration wavered the maori were in. once again on this tour, the lions and their slightest m ista kes tour, the lions and their slightest mistakes punished. his kicks took the visitors into a narrow half—time lead. their opponents returned, keen to snuff out the danger man. it legally, according to the referee. with a player advantage the lions made their pressure account. a penalty try, the first of the match. they punished the all blacks whenever we kissed. with their power and position they moved out of sight. the home side dominated and

defeated. this was a morale boosting win. will they have enough to pass the ultimate test in seven days' time? scotland's players are pink old up to the squad after helping the country to a 24—17 win over australia. it is the first time scotla nd australia. it is the first time scotland have won a test match in sydney. the final score coming from hamish watson. the winner sees scotla nd hamish watson. the winner sees scotland move up to fourth in the world rankings. ireland beatjapan about england they argentina late this afternoon. england's women have become the world number one side. a day after they beat new zealand. the red braces have beaten australia and canada are already in international series. second—half tries helps you would a 29—21 points victory. and stay three of the us open will get underway in about an hour's time without the wilds top three golfers. dustinjohnson,

without the wilds top three golfers. dustin johnson, rory mcilroy and jason day all missed the cut. they were struggling others we re cut. they were struggling others were making light of the huge course. england's paul casey set the early pace. and he wasjoined course. england's paul casey set the early pace. and he was joined there by another english man. tommy fleetwood. they are both part of a four way tie for the lead with two americans. and that is all the sport. back to you, jane. thank you. that is it from us. the next news is at 5:35pm on bbc one. this is bbc news. more now on the grenfell tower fire. the prime minister has been chairing a meeting of the government task force that's been set up to support victims of the grenfell tower fire in west london. at least 30 people are known to have been killed but many are still missing. let's go straight to west london and my colleague ben brown. ben. we have been getting some more

information, haven't we? we're hoping for a police news conference, actually. it was due to be at one o'clock yearjust close to g re nfell tower be at one o'clock yearjust close to grenfell tower with the metropolitan police commander stuart cundy. that is actually now been delayed. we're not sure how long for but we will be getting an update, or at least the latest information from the police on the investigation into what happened in the tower block and also possibly the casualties figures. the dovetail still standing officially at 30 but the police have always said that will rise. unofficially, we understand that the total of dead and missing is currently 70 and minute 2a people in hospital, 12 of them ina minute 2a people in hospital, 12 of them in a critical condition, in critical care. those figures may change when the police come here and give us their latest update later on this afternoon. some other news to bring new is about the underground. the london underground. and we're hearing that to london underground

lines close to the tower have been partly suspended because of concerns about the safety of the damaged building. transport for london has said that the hammersmith and city and circle lines have been halted at the request of the london fire brigade. we will try to get you more information on that and indeed when there is that police press conference if they have any more information about the safety of the building. in terms of the community but here, well, it continues apace, really. and all sorts of donations have been given. the community organisers saying they have enough donations now. but what they're looking for is more coordination. and although there is this task force that the government have set up force that the government have set up and it is' on the ground today, the volunteers out and speaking to say they have not seen any sign of it yet. i was talking to one community organiser and asked her how things are going.

it is going really, really well. volunteers are in high spirits. i just wanted to touch upon your point, actually, we are calling for people to be calm and there are loads of peace ceremony is being conducted. just a few words. the wisdom that comes from heaven is that all pure, peace—loving, considerate, submissive and full of mercy and there is good for it. we wa nt mercy and there is good for it. we want to be peacemakers because there is another greek want to be peacemakers because there is anothergreek and want to be peacemakers because there is another greek and this is an atrocity that should not have happened. we want to respond in love so happened. we want to respond in love so that those who are grieving do feel loved by their community. you do understand the anger you have seen. there needs to be answers. there needs to be a response to that. if you are here at the scene there are similar people who are grieving and there are so many people who are weeping. i don't think lashing out, you know. the news and the press to a greatjob but yesterday was not a

true reflection on what happened. i was down at latimer chechen we did all day was boxed up thousands of boxes to for storage and oliver the news is right—thinking down doors. that is not a true reflection. if you're on the ground you know the community spirit is. it is in the hands of people like yourselves to show a balanced view. yes, people are angry but yes, people are loving. we have been trying to show incredible efforts from the community to deliberate, to bring in eight. you have got enough supplies now. we have too many now. people are still donating. ijust have too many now. people are still donating. i just want to say a massive thank you to ban drivers and people were opening up storage and times. i would love to get a conversation going between storage and donation centres because i have not seen any council members and we're doing this very organically but we're doing our best lead a community where we are still mourning very much. that is one of the issues, isn't it? people are still sleeping on floors, people who have been made homeless

by this and also that this government task force, which has been created is supposed to be on the ground today. have you seen any evidence of that? no, but there is a lot of people in the community say why are people sleeping on floors when there are houses available. in the richest borough you to purchase a block of houses for people. people on the ground are thinking, why can't this just happened? if it is going to ta ke just happened? if it is going to take the community to do it then that's spans together and make sure things are getting done. your sense, a few days after this disaster, it is such a difficult time, isn't it? the grief isjust disaster, it is such a difficult time, isn't it? the grief is just so for because people are still, not everybody knows what has happened to their loved ones in the building. yes. and a few clips going around one of the ladies who was really grieving, and the grief is understandable. it is not that we're saying you cannot grieve because of course you look back and you see all the information that is going out but actually, can i encourage people to hug people in grief? people are

very in need of a hug and consolation and so a bottle of water and a hug go hand in hand very well. good advice there. a bottle of water and a hug. 0ne good advice there. a bottle of water and a hug. one of the amazing volu nteers and a hug. one of the amazing volunteers who has been working here so hard for the last four days ever since the disaster. want to reach to un letter which has been sent from the mp david lambie who lost a friend in the disaster here. and he has written to the metropolitan police commissioner about the criminal investigation into what happened. he says, i'm writing regarding the criminal investigation, saying that i welcome this announcement. it is absolutely right that anyone responsible for the values that caused the fire should be held to account in a court of law before a judge and jury. and david lambie saying this is a matter of huge public concern. i would urge you to provide details about the level of resources that is being

dedicated to this investigation and whether more funding and support is required from central government. i also call on you to confirm that the scope of the criminal investigation will be comprehensive. so it concerns the investigation. an mp who lost a friend in this disaster writing to the commission of the metropolitan police. much more from here coming up later this afternoon but let's get the latest weather now with ben. the mercury has been climbing. temperatures are rising across many parts of the country at the moment. not only a hot afternoon but a sunny afternoon. if you're looking for some relief from the heat heads to the coast. the other exceptions the far north—west. parts of scotla nd exceptions the far north—west. parts of scotland and northern ireland for you have some extra cloud, if used bashes a rain that only the high ground in the far north—west seemed

that. temperatures down to the south—east up to 29 or 30 degrees. this evening cloud and patchy rain will affect the far north—west but really nowhere much else. further south across england and wales clear spells, very warm and muggy. tomorrow a sunny day across england and wales. cloud and patchy rain for northern ireland and north—west scotla nd northern ireland and north—west scotland and temperatures to watch the south—east up to 31 or 32 degrees. things don't could of much of the south as we head into monday and tuesday. slightly fresher into edinburgh and belfast. cardiff and london with temperatures close to 30 degrees. hello. this is bbc news — the headlines. it is just it isjust coming up it is just coming up to it isjust coming up to 1:30pm. the queen says it's "difficult to escape a very sombre national mood" following tragedies

in london and manchester. she's led a minute's silence at the start of events to mark her official birthday. theresa may chairs a task force to co—ordinate efforts to help people affected by the grenfell tower fire — she'll meet victims at downing street later. the archbishop of westminster celebrates mass at a service to remember those dead and missing. transport for london save the hammersmith and city line has been pa rt hammersmith and city line has been part suspended at the request of the metropolitan police and london fire brigade, coupled with planned engineering work safety concerns around the fire mean the circle line is closed. in other 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. seven us navy crew are missing after a us destroyer collided with a container ship off the east coast of japan.

more on those stories later. now on bbc news, it's time for talking books.