this is bbc news. i'm ben brown. the headlines at nine... a global day of commemorations is under way to mark the centenary of the end of the first world war. pipers have played in cities and towns across the country to mark the end of a conflict that claimed almost 20 million lives. in london, big ben will mark the beginning of a two—minute silence, followed by the laying of wreaths at the cenotaph. the prince of wales will lead the commemoration on whitehall and here later 10,000 members of the public will pay their respects as they walk as part of the people's procession. in paris, world leaders are gathering for a ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier beneath the arc de triomphe. this is the scene at the elysee

palace as president macron greets world leaders ahead of the service. we'll have special coverage throughout the day to mark the armistice centenary. the other stories on bbc news at nine... 25 people are now known to have died in wildfires in northern california — firefighters are still trying to bring them under control. labour's shadow brexit secretary sir keir starmer says the government's threat of leaving the eu without a deal is a political hoax. three men have been arrested following a fatal crash in sheffield which involved a car that was being pursued by police. good morning.

a day of remembrance has begun across the uk, marking the centenary of the armistice that ended the first world war. in london, renovation work at big ben will be suspended to allow it to ring out at 11 o'clock, before a two—minute silence will be observed nationwide. 10,000 members of the public will take part in a procession past the cenotaph. events started early this morning to mark the end of the war. pipes play before dawn, at six o'clock, pipers at locations across the uk and around the world, including lichfield and ayr, performed battle's 0'er, traditionally played at the end of conflicts. every year since the end

of the first world war, the royal family, politicians and members of the public have gathered at the cenotaph in central london to honour those who lost their lives. 0ur royal correspondent, nicholas witchell, looks back at that day, 100 years ago, when the guns fell silent. london at 11 o'clock on monday, november 11th, 1918. as the news spread of the armistice, the crowds came out to celebrate. at buckingham palace, the king, george v, appeared on the balcony with queen mary and other members of the royal family. the prime minister, lloyd george, went to the house of commons to make a statement. "at 11 o'clock this morning," he said, "came to an end the cruellest and most terrible war that has scourged mankind." in many homes, and in the trenches on the western front, many said they felt numb.

the happiness that the war was over was accompanied by the anguish of bereavement. it's thought that something like 800,000 british lives had been lost. the nation returned to peace and mourned its dead. the following year, a temporary structure was built on whitehall. it was known as the cenotaph. it was the focal point for a parade attended by many thousands of people. they'd come from across the united kingdom. some were former soldiers, many others were wives and parents who had lost members of theirfamilies. they came to place their wreaths and remember. so striking was the impact that a decision was taken to rebuild the cenotaph in permanent form as britain's national memorial to its war dead. it was unveiled by the king on the second anniversary of the armistice in november, 1920. and in every peacetime year since then, in almost unchanging form, the ceremony of remembrance has

taken place at the cenotaph. this was 1952, the first year of the queen's reign. by then, of course, the dead of two world wars were being remembered. last year, for the first time, the queen watched from a balcony overlooking whitehall. the same thing will happen today. if that original armistice which ended the first world war will be recalled. at 11 o'clock on the 11th day of the 11th month, the prince of wales will lead the nation's tribute. nicholas witchell, bbc news. 0vernight, crowds fell silent across the commonwealth to commemorate the centenary of the armistice. thousands gathered for a national service of remembrance at the australian war memorial in canberra, and large crowds also attended new zealand's national war memorial park in wellington. more than 200,000 commonwealth troops were killed in the conflict.

the main remembrance events started earlier this morning. danny boyle's tributes to the fallen have begun. huge portraits of some of those who lost their lives are being etched onto 32 beaches, before being washed away by the tide. this morning, the queen will attend the national service of remembrance at the cenotaph and two minutes of silence will be observed. then, at 12.30, big ben will lead bells of remembrance across the world. and later this evening, the royal family will attend a special service at westminster abbey. then more than a thousand beacons will be lit around the uk, to symbolise an end to the darkness of war. we've mentioned the beach portraits,

live pictures from folkestone, wilfred 0wen, famous first world war poet. his poetry for many symbolised the horror of the conflict. wilfred 0wen, a young officer killed very shortly before the armistice, before the end of the first world war, and his mother got the telegram telling her he was dead just as the bells we re her he was dead just as the bells were ringing out for the armistice, by cruel irony, just as the war was lending, she heard her son, the great first world war poet, was dead. this is one of the beach portraits, conceived by danny boyle, 32 of them around the country, they

will be washed away by the tide. last night, on the eve of armistice day, the queen led members of the royal family and members of the armed forces in a special festival of remembrance at the royal albert hall. here's sarah campbell. 0n the eve of the 100th anniversary of the 1918 armistice, the audience stood to give thanks to all those who fought and died in the great war. the sounds and stories from conflicts past were played out. 100 years of the royal air force celebrated. watching, as she does every year, the queen, surrounded by members of herfamily. they came because country called. because they knew it had to be done.

that unless they went to fight, there could be no peace. last post thousands of poppy petals, a silent tribute to all those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice. sarah campbell, bbc news. in a moment, we'll talk to duncan kennedy in folkestone, but first to the mall in central london and our correspondent, daniela relph. tell us what we can expect there. the rain has just tell us what we can expect there. the rain hasjust stopped tell us what we can expect there. the rain has just stopped and hopefully it will stay that way because i am here were 10,000

members of the public will gather later on for the people's procession, a chance for them to pay their own respects to a generation that served, many of whom did not come home. joining me now is a government minister who for the past seven government minister who for the past seve n years government minister who for the past seven years has been involved in planning for today. something particular about this remembrance? very much so. particular about this remembrance? very much 50. what struck me particular about this remembrance? very much so. what struck me through the seven years is how much this has beena the seven years is how much this has been a people's centenary and i think we will see today that interest in the personal and procure above all things, we can debate the grand strategic, but this is about individuals and people's remembrance of those who served 100 years ago. we are very used the choreography of remembrance sunday, but the people's procession is unique and it will bring in people who perhaps have never been involved

in official remembrance before. that has been at the heart of the government's intent, bringing people m, government's intent, bringing people in, overseven years, government's intent, bringing people in, over seven years, and the various programmes facilitated by government, we have managed to achieve that. it has been grassroots up. i have been struck by the activity across the country. today will be special but it will also follow a familiar pattern. of course, this is the centenary of armistice but we remember particularly as on every remembrance sunday those who have served in more re ce nt sunday those who have served in more recent conflicts and i know our thoughts are very much with them today. today is different and special but it will also be very familiar. what about the idea of remembrance, where we go from here? there is a marker about this year, something very big that people are able to latch onto one that understand. will it be hard to keep remembrance alive? i think it will be very difficult to predict. the whole centenary has been a journey. we have not been here before. we have helped our way as we have been

going along and responding very much to what the public have said. i think going forward it is difficult to say where we go, but what i do believe is the interest sparked a fresh in the events of 100 years ago through the centenary will be enduring andl through the centenary will be enduring and i think that is a good thing, a positive thing, good for the country. in terms of the procession, what was the level of interest? people applied and got a ticket through a ballot. we have had to of course issue tickets, there has to be a ballot for these things, that has been the case right the way through the former careers of the centenary and some people are disappointed, we do try to ensure that as many people who want to come are able to come but it is always oversubscribed — — are able to come but it is always oversubscribed —— the four years of the centenary. the people's procession will march from here down the mall to the cenotaph. now to

folkestone where we were just looking at the extraordinary portrait of wilfred 0wen, the great first world war poet, on the beach, that will be washed away by the tide. that is exactly right. one of something like 10 million soldiers, nurses, who passed through folkestone. they thought because of his famous nature and the sacrifice he gave, he would be the face to latch on the beach here. taking a look at the high shot, you can see what they have done, the artists, creating this image, 60 metres by 60 metres, in the low tide. as you said earlier, it will be washed away eventually. but not for the next couple of hours. the high tide is at about 10am and then the whole face will be washed away. it is notjust the face of wilfred 0wen being etched onto the beach, we have got hundreds of members of the public etching silhouettes of fallen

soldiers on the sand. among those who are doing the etching is angie and her family. why who are doing the etching is angie and herfamily. why have who are doing the etching is angie and her family. why have you who are doing the etching is angie and herfamily. why have you come down here to put your mark on the beach along with wilfred 0wen? because we lost three members of our family in world war i. in a raid, 1917. you have come down to etch the silhouettes? that is right. i have brought my children along. georgie and kate. what does it mean to you to be here today on the hundredth anniversary? what have you been doing? we have been sketching out these things to remember the fallen troops who lost their lives. why is that important? because if we do not rememberthem, they that important? because if we do not remember them, they lost their lives in vain. you have helped out as well, etched out the silhouette, what does it mean to you? it is important we remember because they gave their lives to make our lives

better. it is important that we rememberthem and all better. it is important that we remember them and all they did. when you see all of the numbers, it gives you see all of the numbers, it gives you an idea of the scale of what went on in the first world war? yeah, there were millions and millions of people who just died for nothing except our freedom. when you see the image of wilfred 0wen alongside these, what goes through your mind? it is very poignant and a chance to remember all those who gave their lives and to appreciate the life we are able to live now. in the life we are able to live now. in the space of a few yards, we have wilfred 0wen the space of a few yards, we have wilfred owen and alongside that, all these other images, it gives you a sense of the scale of loss in the first world war. yeah, it isjust remarkable for us to be here and remember those who gave their lives so remember those who gave their lives so that we can live the way we do

today. what will you be doing at 11 o'clock? will you be? what will you be remembering? remembering all of those who gave their lives and remembering the complex happening still in the world today. angie, george, katie, thank you. wilfred 0wen over here, just one of 32 faces all around the beaches of great britain created as representative of those who died in the first world war, there are airmen, sailors, pilots, munition workers, nurses, all people who have taken part in the first world war and given the ultimate sacrifice. 0n the first world war and given the ultimate sacrifice. on a beach in scotland, in ayr, and etching of a man called walter tull, the first... 0ne man called walter tull, the first... one of the first black footballers in britain, the first black officer to command white troops in the first world war. his face is being etched

onto a beach there. walter also lost his life in march, 1918, and is being remembered. all of these images at about ten o'clock in kent and at other times around the country, they will be washed away. it was the film director's danny boyle's idea to create the images, dfl -- the boyle's idea to create the images, dfl —— the ephemeral nature, people 90, dfl —— the ephemeral nature, people go, but they will always be remembered. duncan kennedy, reporting live from folkestone. that is the flavour of what is happening in this country on this centenary. more than 60 world leaders are gathering in the french capital, paris, for commemorations to mark the centenary of the end of the first world war. they will hold a minute's silence at the tomb of the unknown soldier beneath the arc de triomphe. 0ur correspondent mark lowen

joins us from paris now. we are seeing live pictures of president macron welcoming some of those world leaders to paris, just talk us through the events we can expect today. president macron welcoming 72 heads of government and heads of state at the elysee palace at the moment. i wasjust heads of state at the elysee palace at the moment. i was just watching pictures live on tv and the commentator saying, the whole world is in paris, the idea president macron is bringing together different wings of the world and at the centre of the world as france we re the centre of the world as france were some of the worst fighting took place. 0nce were some of the worst fighting took place. once they have gathered in the elysee palace, they will come to the elysee palace, they will come to the arc de triomphe and gather at the arc de triomphe and gather at the tomb of the unknown soldier, there will be the playing of the last post national anthems, this is not a celebration, president macron making it clear he wanted it to be a commemoration rather than celebration of muscle water and that is very much the theme, the mood,

this weekend's commemorations —— a commemoration rather than a celebration of mass slaughter. president macron believes in a multilateral world in which people and countries work together and in that respect, he is targeting leaders like donald trump who represent the nationalism, the authoritarianism to some extent president macron is fighting against. let me show you how it is reflected in the front pages here, rather windy day, this says... the new front, the other front of emmanuel macron, the western front may have fallen silent, but this in the words of this newspaper is that other front. and here, the words of this newspaper is that otherfront. and here, why trump threatens us. while war itself is a distant memory for this country, post—war liberal values and liberal order coming out the the traditional

alliances, they feel under threat to some extent and president macron warning of that today in the commemorations. thank you very much indeed. mark, correspondent in paris, where the centenary events arejust unfolding. paris, where the centenary events are just unfolding. let us give you are just unfolding. let us give you a flavour of what else is happening around europe. this is the scene in brussels where there will also be memorial events. she talks in french. the scene in brussels where the centenary the scene in brussels where the ce nte nary of the scene in brussels where the centenary of the armistice being marked and also this is ypres, the menin gate, memorial to so many of those who died. right across europe,

the great war, supposed to have been the great war, supposed to have been the war to end all wars, the end of it being marked this morning, 100 yea rs on it being marked this morning, 100 years on from the armistice that finally ended the slaughter. just to let you know, at 9:30am, we will bring you special coverage from paris where the 60 heads of state and government including donald trump, vladimir putin, angela merkel, they are gathering to mark the end of the first world war. at 10:a5am, live coverage from the memorial service at the cenotaph in central london. let us give you a

look at some of the other new stories today. recovery teams in northern california have found more bodies under debris in a town that was all—but destroyed by intense wildfires. it brings the number of people known to have died there to 23. two more people were killed in a separate blaze in southern california, near the coastal town of malibu. dangerous winds are expected to return later today, which could put more homes in danger. peter bowes has the latest from los angeles. the scale of the devastation is overwhelming. this is all that remains of paradise, a quiet retirement community to the north of sacramento. thousands and thousands of homes reduced to rubble. the roads are strewn with burned—out vehicles where some people were overcome by the flames trying to escape. 0thers made it, but onlyjust.

0h! oh, my god! i am so scared right now. baby cries. so terrified. in southern california, many more homes have been destroyed or damaged in two majorfires close to thousand oaks, the city where a gunman went on the rampage earlier in the week, killing 12 people in a bar. it has been a brutal, hellish three days for the city of thousand oaks. we are still not where we need to be. i know firefighters from various agencies including our fire department, ventura county, have slept in the streets overnight to keep an eye on fires, members, making sure that there are no additional homes burning or any other property. the authorities are

still trying to assess how many homes have been destroyed. some have been allowed to return to their neighbourhoods, often not prepared for what they will find. there is a house that they took all the motorcycles out but the house made it, so i was just coming up the street to see my neighbours and i didn't realise my house is gone too. the city of malibu, popular with celebrities, has also been badly hit. it is completely evacuated now and the authorities say they are having to deal with looters who have attempted to steal valuables from abandoned homes. there's been a lull in the strong winds which have been fanning the flames, but they're forecast to pick up speed again and may last until tuesday. this state—wide emergency is far from over. peter bowes, bbc news, los angeles. three men have been arrested following a fatal crash in sheffield which involved a car that was being pursued by police. a one—year—old boy is among four people who were killed in the incident on friday night.

a three—year—old girl was also taken to hospital with life—threatening injuries. the independent 0ffice for police conduct has opened an investigation. labour's sir keir starmer says the government has no mandate for leaving the eu without a deal. writing in the sunday times, the party's brexit spokesman said it would be politically unsustainable for the prime minister to deliver a no—deal brexit without the consent of parliament. meanwhile, conservative brexiteers and the dup are warning they couldn't vote for the government's vision of brexit as it currently appears. a downing street source said the government aimed to conclude an agreement as soon as possible, but it would not be at any cost. for one woman, today is particularly poignant. gracejones is the oldest person in britain. she's 112 and was just a schoolgirl when world war i broke out. she vividly remembers the euphoria of the war ending, but also the pain of losing her brother. david garmston went to meet her.

lovely to meet you. this is gracejones, the oldest lady in the united kingdom at 112 years. i went to see her at her home in the cotswolds. that's my father and that is me. she is one of the very few with personal memories of 1914, when war was declared. i can remember people saying the war had started and people crying and then, of course, it was the husbands or boyfriends, they had to go to war. the conflict touched every family, including grace's. her brother, tom, signed up and served in gallipoli. there are no surviving pictures of the dashing young man who went to war. he was a lovely brother. he was in australia

when the war started. i can always remember, my father had a letter saying that he should join up. hejoined up and he was killed. that was a very sad time. 100 years ago this weekend, on november 11th, the nation erupted in relief as the guns fell silent and grace was there on that first armistice day. people with union jacks, screaming and laughing, singing. my eldest sister took me down to where the cars were, to see the people dancing all in the road,

and on the tramcars, the open ones, singing away. it was lovely. i remember that. just to remind you, much more coverage on bbc news of today's armistice centenary events. now it is time for a look at the weather forecast. sunday's weather continues work saturday's left off, sunshine and showers, showers falling widely today, some heavy inventory, organised by pushing across england and into scotland —— heavy and thundery. gusty south—westerly

winds. 0vernight, gusty south—westerly winds continuing, further showers likely, particularly across western and southern parts of the country. temperatures with the onshore wind is not too low, 8—10 in the south, a bit cooler in northern areas, 5a example in newcastle. —— five, for example, in newcastle. tomorrow the lion's share of the showers in western and southern parts of the uk. we will all see some sunshine at some point and the temperatures staying miles. —— staying mild. that is your latest weather. goodbye four —— goodbye for now. hello and welcome to viewers from around the world joining us for this bbc news special marking the centenary of the end of the first world war. a day of commemorations is under way. world leaders including us president donald trump president vladimir putin

are in paris to attend a ceremony this morning at the arc de triomphe. france's president emmanuel macron will light a flame at the tomb of the unknown soldier, before the last post sounds, followed