this is bbc news with the latest headlines. opening up borders for travel is on the agenda, as borisjohnson prepares to welcome the french president, but there was a note of caution from the foreign secretary. we just want to be very careful, yes, to open up, but to do so when it is safe and responsible so we will work through all of that with oui’ will work through all of that with our french friends. the french president is coming to london to commemorate the 80th anniversary of general charles de gaulle‘s famous bbc broadcast urging the french to resist the nazi occupation. beer gardens and small shops could soon be re—opening in scotland as the first minister prepares to announce further easing of lockdown restrictions.

an oxford college votes to remove a statue of the colonialist cecil rhodes which has been criticised by anti—racism protesters. the pub chain greene king and lloyd's of london insurers apologise for past links to the slave trade. president trump's former national security adviserjohn bolton accuses him of seeking china's help to win re—election in a new book the white house is trying to block. and the premier league is back, returning after three months with a moment of solidarty with the black lives matter movement as players took a knee straight after kick—off. good morning.

the french president, emmanuel macron, will ask for a review of the uk's 14—day quarantine rule when he meets the prime minister in london today. this is the president's first foreign trip since the coronavirus lockdown began. but the foreign secretary, dominic raab, has sounded a note of caution about the possible easing of travel restrictions. our assistant political editor, norman smith, is in westminster this morning. hello to you, norman. as we mentioned, president macron‘s first foreign trip since restrictions eased in france, marking the 80th anniversary of that bbc broadcast by charles de gaulle. so, a really important commemoration for france, and for the important commemoration for france, and forthe uk, important commemoration for france, and for the uk, but contemporary issues clearly at the forefront as well, including opening up travel for the summer. how much headway are they going to make, do you think?

well, i think they will certainly try and work out some sort of agreement because it is obviously in both countries interests, i doubt very much whether we will get a result today. all the indications from number ten are that opening up these travel corridors we are probably not going to get before the next view on the 29th ofjune, but clearly the two men will want to address that. borisjohnson has already said that the downing street news c0 nfe re nce already said that the downing street news conference on tuesday —— at the news conference on tuesday —— at the news c0 nfe re nce news conference on tuesday —— at the news conference “— news conference on tuesday —— at the news conference —— that he was going to raise this issue. the difficulty we have at the moment is that our infection rate is quite a bit higher than france's. so there is obviously some concern on the french side about easing up access. but bear in mind, around 12 million brits go to france every year, economically, it's a hugely important matter for the french tourism industry as well. so, ithink the french tourism industry as well. so, i think they will try and a to find a way, may be discussed when the infection rate is lower here,

maybe in the next week or so, they might be able to announce something, although at the moment the focus appears to be on opening up corridors with greece, spain and portugal. but i thought the foreign secretary speaking this morning sounded cautiously hopeful that they would be able to make some progress. the key thing for us is to, yes, open up our airports and our air—traffic and all of the travel that goes with it, as soon we can responsibly and safely do so. and what we know as we come out of lockdown, and european and asian countries going through the same thing, is that there is a risk of reinfection from abroad. and i know, of course, people will say, this country or that country has got a lower rate of transmission or incidence, but actually, we've seen second waves, and we're starting to see the emergence of second outbreaks of the virus in europe and in asia. and so, we just want to be very careful, yes, to open up, but to do so when it is safe and responsible.

so we will work through all of that with our french friends. i suspect, though, a lot of today's session will be a simple note comparing session, because all the eu leaders are struggling with coronavirus, each trying to learn from the other about how to handle it. but france is now quite a bit ahead of us in terms of easing restrictions, so, they have, for example, opened up bars and restau ra nts, example, opened up bars and restaurants, they have opened up their borders to most other eu countries, and french schools, all of them are meant to be back from monday. so, boris johnson of them are meant to be back from monday. so, borisjohnson may well wa nt monday. so, borisjohnson may well want some insight from president macron, at least on the schools issue, how he has managed to get to a situation where all french schools look like they are going to be going back this month, whereas we know there is still a lot of doubt about how we are going to get our schools backin how we are going to get our schools back in september. absolutely, a lot of people would like to know exactly how that is going to happen. let's just talk, if we may, about a

meeting that happened yesterday evening between the prime minister and his party backbenchers, the 1922 committee of senior backbenchers — what was discussed at that? we know there has been a bit of disquiet in there has been a bit of disquiet in the party about the way no 10 is handling things? yesterday we were talking about the decision—making process over extending the school meals scheme, the free meals, through the summer holidays? well, thatis through the summer holidays? well, that is part of what i think the 1922 committee focused on, which is the sense that no 10 would benefit from listening more to backbenchers, because many tory mps just think borisjohnson because many tory mps just think boris johnson unnecessarily because many tory mps just think borisjohnson unnecessarily got himself into completely the wrong place in terms of free school meals, given that the government has already agreed to provide free school meals over the easter holiday and the may holiday, why on earth did the government seem to be positioning itself to die in a ditch

with regard to the summer holidays? the position of many tory mps is that no 10 are in a bit of a bunker mode and they need to listen more to backbenchers, who get feedback from constituents and can see issues and constituency problems and bad headlines emerging perhaps before no 10 does. i don't think we're anywhere near a revolt or rebellion, but i think there is genuine apprehension. 0ver but i think there is genuine apprehension. over the two—metre rule in particular, i think there is a lot of disquiet that this seems to be dragging on and on, with no clear decision in sight and i think there isa decision in sight and i think there is a view that tory mps want boris johnson to listen more to their views and to take on board their concerns. norman smith, thank you very much for that. scotland's first minister is set to announce further easing of lockdown restrictions for the country. lorna gordon is in glasgow. good morning to you, and i am

wondering if that rather pretty cobbled street behind you could soon look a little busier, depending on what the first minister is going to say today? well, it's interesting, i think the owners of these bars, restau ra nts, think the owners of these bars, restaurants, shops and cafes, the people who work in them and the people who work in them and the people who work in them and the people who use them, are waiting with great interest to see what the first minister says. we have this route map out of lockdown here in scotland, with stage one, two, three and four, and she will be talking about stage ii today in her press conference, which takes place usually at about the middle of the day, usually 12.30. i'm not sure if thatis day, usually 12.30. i'm not sure if that is the time today, though. if you look at the route map, and it is a blueprint, so it is under discussion, it sets out in fairly extensive detail what might happen at this point. it talks about smaller retail, shops, being allowed to reopen, be a garden is being allowed to reopen, outdoor cafe areas being allowed potentially to reopen. these are the kind of things

that are being discussed. —— beer gardens. also things like construction, factories, warehouses, all with physical distancing in place. at the moment in scotland, one family is allowed to meet another, up to a maximum of eight people, outside. in phase two, it talks about people being able to meet inside once again, with strict hygiene and physical distancing. those are the suggestions for phase two. we don't know if they'll go ahead yet, but i think what is becoming clear is, it is unlikely to becoming clear is, it is unlikely to bea becoming clear is, it is unlikely to be a flick of the switch moment, but if the government does agree to these phase two easing is to go ahead, it will happen gradually over the next few weeks. and nicola sturgeon has always struck an extremely cautious note when it comes to talking about that gradual easing of restrictions, so where does scotland stand right now in

terms of the infection rate? yes, it has always been the talk of a gradual, cautious easing here in scotland. all to do with that crutch number. the last figures were well below one, but they are taking it very slowly her. —— that r number. 0pinion polls suggest that the public doesn't support the stance and strategy of the first minister, but there has been increasing disquiet recently, a lot of pressure to do with that two—metre rule, in fa ct, to do with that two—metre rule, in fact, one of the owners of one of these establishments came down here a few minutes ago and he said he thinks the scottish government is dragging its feet and if people don't get back to work soon, these jobs will be going. there is also increasing pressure from opposition parties in scotland about the strategy on schooling. schools are not back in scotland, they are due to return from the 11th of august onwards, with what is called a blended model of learning. but some

councils are saying that children will only be able to return to the classroom for one day a week and the rest of the schooling will have to ta ke rest of the schooling will have to take place at home. 0pposition parties are saying that's not good enough. nicola sturgeon does say it isa enough. nicola sturgeon does say it is a national priority but the opposition parties are saying that's not good enough, and there has to be a national effort to get the education system on track. lorna gordon, thank you very much, in glasgow. and in a few minutes, we will to a bit more about the situation in scotland with a public health expert from nhs grampian and also a glasgow pub owner as well, thatis also a glasgow pub owner as well, that is coming up in a few minutes. right now we are going to take a look at the scene in paris. president macron will be coming to london today, but before that he will be taking part in events in paris itself to commemorate the 80th anniversary of that famous address, the "appel", or appeal, anniversary of that famous address, the "appel", orappeal, by anniversary of that famous address, the "appel", or appeal, by france's wartime leader charles de gaulle, to

urge french citizens to resist the nazi occupation. we are expecting a fly past to happen in paris. the plaque on the wall bearing the names of the order of liberation, an honour given by france to those who played an outstanding role in defeating the nazis. and today, four french resistance fighters, now aged between 98 and 100, will be awarded honorary your shot for their role in world war ii. they are all surviving members of that 0rder world war ii. they are all surviving members of that order of liberation. —— honorary mbes. and we will be in paris very soon.

the white house is scrambling to block publication of a book by president trump's former national security advisor, john bolton in which he claims donald trump approached the chinese leader, xijinping, for help to win re—election. the book is due to be released next week, but extracts have been printed by american newspapers. mr trump has described mr bolton, who left office last year, as a "washed up guy". 0ur north america correspondent david willis reports. he's a controversial figure whose hardline views on american foreign policy led to clashes with president trump during his 17 months as national security advisor. now, in the first memoir by such a high—ranking administration official, john bolton provides a withering portrait of his former boss in what is being touted as the book donald trump doesn't want you to read. referring to a meeting with president xijinping injune 2019, bolton accuses donald trump of soliciting the chinese leader's help in the forthcoming us presidential election. trump, he writes, was pleading

with xi to ensure he'd win. having stressed the importance of farmers and increased chinese purchases of soybeans and wheat in the electoral outcome, trump urged china to, in bolton's words, "buy as many american farm products as it could". the us government has now filed a lawsuit seeking to block the book's release, alleging it contains information that could cause irreparable harm to national security. this book is full of classified information, which is inexcusable. former national security advisor john bolton should know all too well that it's unacceptable to have highly classified information from the government of the united states in a book that will be published, it's unacceptable. john bolton is set to go even further in a television interview this weekend, giving this view of the president's relationship with vladimir putin.

i think putin thinks he can play him like a fiddle. i think putin is smart, tough, i think he sees that not faced with a serious adversary here. i don't think he's worried about donald trump. but speaking on fox news, mr trump denied allegations contained in the bolton memoir. nobody has been tough on china, and nobody has been tough on russia like i have. and that's in the record books, and it's not even close. the last administration did nothing on either. and then in terms of bolton, he broke the law. blistering thouthohn bolton's attacks are on president trump, his is just the latest in a string of memoirs and tell—alls. others are set to follow, that will examine the persona and the performance of the man in the white house in the run—up to this year's presidential election. david willis, bbc news. boris johnson will welcome emmanuel macron to downing street later today to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the bbc broadcast by wartime leader charles de

gaulle to occupied france. the "appel", or appeal, rallied the country in support of the resistance after the 19110 nazi invasion. four french resistance fighters aged between 98 and 100 will be awarded honorary mbes for their role in world war two. they are all surviving members of the order of liberation, an honour given by france to those who played an outstanding role in defeating nazi occupation. let's speak now to our paris correspondent, hugh schofield. good morning to you. tell us a bit about what's happening in paris first of all, before president macron makes his way to london? indeed. you only i will explain where i am first of all, this is what they call the memorial for fighting france, which was created in1960, 60 fighting france, which was created in 1960, 60 years ago, by general de

goal, as a memorialfor the national effort made in the war to defeat the germans and liberate the country. there are 16 bodies in the memorials, representing 16 people who carry the fight for france, resista nce who carry the fight for france, resistance members, members of the army, african colonial troops as well are here, and it is here that every 18th of june, well are here, and it is here that every 18th ofjune, the president of the country comes to remember this famous speech made from the bbc exactly 80 years ago today. that was when charles de gaulle fresh off his flight when charles de gaulle fresh off his flight from france as germany marched south and one day after the surrender, the capitulation, in effect, by philippe petain, general de gaulle without consulting anyone except his own heart came to london and made this famous broadcast in which he said, we need to stand firm, resistance must be done, this defeat is not final. it was a

turning point in his life and a turning point in his life and a turning point in the history of the war as well because it meant that from then on, there was an embodiment of france, and that is exactly how charles de gaulle saw himself, based in london, and from that embryo that post—war france was born. so i think it is an incredibly important day in france, the 18th of june, a day of national memory and every year there is a commemoration here. it is here that president macron will be arriving quite shortly. before that he is having an interview with one of those last four members of the order of liberation that you were talking about. the man he is talking to is 99. he was a fighter in a battle in the libyan desert, a famous victory for the french against the germans and the italians, he is one of the last four, symbolically, the last one of those 0rder last four, symbolically, the last one of those order of liberation who dies will be interred, it will the

last coffin to enter into this place, presumably in the next few yea rs. after place, presumably in the next few years. after that president macron will be coming to london around lunchtime, going to the place where general de gaulle had his headquarters, meeting the prince of wales, and conferring the legion of honour on the city of london. an incredible day, some incredible people being honoured, as well as the history, when president macron meets borisjohnson, they will be talking very much about contemporary events, particularly about the prospect of opening up, easing restrictions for the summer, to allow greater travel. 0ne restrictions for the summer, to allow greater travel. one of president macron's closest advisers i have been hearing this morning has been rather critical of the uk approach to handling the pandemic? yeah, alli approach to handling the pandemic? yeah, all i can say is that this idea that this meeting is going to end the quarantine on either side, i don't think that is going to happen.

certainly there have been criticisms, or shall we say, some reservations raised here in france about the british approach. but the french attitude to the quarantine is quite simple — britain is imposing a 14—day quarantine on people coming from france, so france will do likewise. as far as i can see, it is a question of sovereignty. rather than sanitary logic! but the french approach is quite different to the british approach, the french approach is that it is a voluntary quarantine, it says quite clearly on the website for france that people coming from britain will be asked to doa coming from britain will be asked to do a voluntary quarantine, there will not be any police checkups or anything, it seems to be almost a symbolic gesture to say to the british, if you're doing that, we can do it, too. is for it being lifted, i can't see that until time works its way through, the british eventually will lift theirs, and the french will do likewise. i very much doubt that there will be any breakthrough on this, and it is

certainly not a priority on the french side. the briefing we were given from the elysee palace contains no mention of the quarantine at all. you schofield in paris, thanks for that, much more coming up in the next hour. a further easing of scotland's lockdown rules will be announced later today. pubs may be able to open beer gardens, people could meet outside in larger group and places of worship could reopen for private prayer. scotland's first minister, nicola sturgeon is also expected to announce a likely date for when shops selling non—essential goods can reopen. so, how other people of scotland feeling about the country beginning to open up? we can talk now to a co nsulta nt to open up? we can talk now to a consultant in public health at nhs grampian, and also to neal douglas, the owner of a restaurant in glasgow. hello to you both.

first of all, dr tara shivaji, do you think the conditions in scotland and now right for a gradual relaxation? over the last few weeks, what we have seen is a steady decline in the number of newly diagnosed coronavirus cases. and we've had really positive indications such as days where no new deaths have been reported. so although it is difficult to get a sense of exactly how many people have coronavirus in our community, that requires everybody to be tested, and we are taking steps to get that done, what the figures show us oui’ some get that done, what the figures show us our some very get that done, what the figures show us our some very positive and encouraging signs that the coronavirus is increasingly under control. so, things moving in the right direction, it seems, thankfully. that must be music to

your ears, neil, because i'm sure like every other business person you are desperate to get back to work and start making money again? yes, the restaurant is ready to go and we're excited about being able to use the space again. normally when you finish a project like this, you finish at half past four and you open the doors again at five o'clock. so, four weeks of lead in time before we get to use what we finished. so, you're waiting for the official announcement, what preparations have you made, then, in anticipation of the first minister saying that things can be eased? well, four hour restaurant, we have i'io well, four hour restaurant, we have no outside space but we have another unit across the road where we have had to submit detailed plans to ensure social distancing, hand sanitiser pumps, screens across the bar, infrared taps in the toilet, infrared flushes in the toilet, one—way systems around the restaurant, staff training online at cetera. how much investment have you

had to put in to make all of that happened? there has been investment in the materials but because i have not been in fellow, i've done almost all of the work myself. so, the investment is not too substantial, the most important thing is the money, making sure that our staff and customers are all kept safe. dr ta ra and customers are all kept safe. dr tara shivaji, as a clinician, a public health expert, are you in the camp of people who thinks that at this point there has got to be a balancing up between the health concerns and other issues caused by coronavirus, the impact on the economy, the impact on mental health et cetera ? economy, the impact on mental health et cetera? yes, absolutely. we are really concerned about the impact on the wider economy and i think it's really important to say that from a public health point of view, yes, there are the risks of coronavirus and the harms that the actual

disease can cause, and we've seen that, but damaging the economy can have quite long lasting and substantial negative impacts on our health. so for us, it's about trying to balance these two risks, protecting the economy, starting to open, but at the same time minimising the risks of coronavirus. and as things start to reopen, are of the proper effective systems in place, do you think, to monitor what's happening with public health in terms of the number of cases, to test and track and trace people if necessary? yes, so, we've spent, since the 28th of may, we've been implementing test and protect in scotland, and we've got quite a robust system now where people who are symptomatic can request a test and then if they test positive, that

sta rts and then if they test positive, that starts a whole process which, we can isolate them and their family and contacts, and that's one of the important measures that needs to be in place as we start to release lockdown. i think the other thing that's really important to emphasise is that we still need the help of people and communities. so, absolutely respecting physical distancing measures as much as they can, remembering how important hygiene is, so, regular washing of hands and cleaning of surfaces, as we start to move out and about, as we start to move out and about, as we start to take on activities that we start to take on activities that we are more accustomed to doing, but we are more accustomed to doing, but we still keep going with these measures, because for us, preventing a second wave, this will help us to do that. neil, how much of the onus

do that. neil, how much of the onus do you think in terms of preventing that second wave is on business owners like yourself, and your employees, going around and monitoring what the public is doing and reminding them of all of these measures, or how much is it down to the individuals who want to come into premises like yours to take that responsibility? we feel physically in terms of the space we've created, we've done as much as we've created, we've done as much as we can to help manage of the people. but as a licensee republican, the responsibility has always lain with us responsibility has always lain with us to ensure that our customers behave in a responsible fashion. we have never been there to encourage people to go and get drunk, we will just have to control it. certainly there is a responsibility and a duty of care as an employer to make sure staff are safe and as a business owner to make sure our customers are safe. and do you think the scottish government has been too cautious in its approach? we heard our scotland correspondent lorna gordon saying that a restaurant owner had just come over to her saying that he thought the government had been too

cautious, where do you stand on that? it's a fine balance tween putting personal profit ahead of public safety and health. i would not want to criticise her for it because i'm not aware of the science that she's been using to make these decisions, but personally, ithink she's got it right. neal douglas and dr tara shivaji, thank you both very much for your contribution today. it is time for a look at the weather. matt taylor has the details. i had just got home yesterday in the heavens opened, and later on, it was the thunder and lightning. what have you got for us today? more of the same, to be honest, annita. across england and wales we have got a broad area of study and persistent rain coming westwards. much of england and wales will have rainfora much of england and wales will have rain for a good part of the day, particularly in the west. southern

counties could see some torrential thunderstorms, one or two very close to the south of northern ireland, but much of scotland will be dry and sunny, and northern ireland as well. eastern scotland sees mist and fog returning overnight. for northern ireland and western scotland, some rain coming into tomorrow morning. brightening up relative to today across southern counties of england and wales. still with the odd shower or thunderstorm. through the afternoon across an island, there was torrential thunderstorms could be back. temperatures into the low 20s for some of you but this weekend, a big change, fresh air is on the way and it will turn when diverse wealth. more on that later. -- it diverse wealth. more on that later. —— it will turn windier as well.

hello, this is bbc news with annita mcveigh. the headlines: opening up borders for travel is on the agenda

as borisjohnson prepares to welcome the french president. but a note of caution from the foreign secretary. and so, we just want to be very careful, yes, to open up, but to do so when it is safe and responsible. so we will work through all of that with our french friends. the french president is coming to london to commemorate the 80th anniversary of general charles de gaulle's famous bbc broadcast urging the french to resist the nazi occupation. beer gardens and small shops could soon be re—opening in scotland as the first minister prepares to announce further easing of lockdown restrictions. an 0xford college votes to remove a statue of the colonialist, cecil rhodes, which has been criticised by anti—racism protesters. the pub chain, greene king, and lloyd's of london insurers apologise for past links to the slave trade. president trump's former national security adviser, john bolton, accuses him of seeking china's help to win re—election in a new book the white house is trying to block

and the premier league is back, returning after three months with a moment of solidarity, with the black lives matter movement as players took a knee, straight after kick—off. a senior chinese health official has warned that beijing's coronavirus outbreak could see "persistent new cases for a period of time". with 31 new infections, fears of a second wave in the chinese capital have led to the re—imposition of major restrictions on all people's movements. this is the worst resurgence of the disease in beijing since early february. here's our china correspondent robin brant, in shanghai. the origin appears to be a wholesale food market that supplies the majority of food and vegetables to all of the capital city. almost all the cases that have been reported

and investigated so far are associated with people who worked there, or people who have met people who worked there. there was initial talk of evidence of this type of coronavirus being found on a chopping board used by workers dealing with imported salmon. that has now been debunked, but the focus in the early stages was very much that market but it is now broadening out to other districts of beijing where we are seeing quite severe restrictions being put in place, particularly in the place is regarded as being high risk. there are areas in beijing regarded as medium risk but people's movements are being restricted in the high risk areas. everyone in beijing is being urged to stay in the city and not leave. some people in the higher risk areas are not allowed to leave in all schools are closed and there are on businesses and restaurants in those high risk areas. the latest on the numbers is 21 new cases being

reported today in beijing so those are new cases which takes the tally to nearly 160, a slight fall on yesterday's numbers. 0ne slight anomaly that appears ominous is one case being reported in tien gin, which is quite close —— close to beijing in the sense of how big china is, but it's not beijing. a case of a man who was a dishwasher ata case of a man who was a dishwasher at a hotel has tested positive for the virus. he's been there for two weeks and there doesn't seem to be any links —— evidence of links with anyone with what is going on in beijing so that in itself appears even more worrying in this cluster of outbreaks in beijing. the family of harry dunn are bringing legal action in the high court against the foreign 0ffice. 19—year—old harry was killed after a crash in northamptonshire. anne sacoolas who is the wife of a us intelligence official based at raf croughton, was accused of causing his death by dangerous driving. the family argues the foreign 0ffice advice to police

regarding diplomatic immunity for sacoolas was unlawful. we can speak now to harry dunn's mother, charlotte charles. charlotte, thank you very much for joining us on bbc news this morning. 0ur viewers are well aware of the campaign you are fighting to get justice for harry but perhaps you could begin by reminding us precisely what this piece of legal action is about. this is purely for us action is about. this is purely for us to start to get to the truth of everything that went on. we are really shocked, still, to this day, that anne sacoolas was allowed to leave the uk and our main aim is that she needs to come back, face our justice system that she needs to come back, face ourjustice system and allow us to move on and have closure, so today really is the major first step to us getting that truth. so how do you hope this piece of legal action would contribute to getting anne

sacoolas back to the uk? to be able to get more disclosure from the happenings of how they came to the decision to let her leave. and i think once we've established where all of that came from, we will be able to go back to court in due course and put our case forward even more so to get her back. so today is all about starting to find the truth out. we know some truth already through some paperwork that has been disclosed, but ideally we would like to know really to get to the bottom of what was going on so we have got even more of a case to get her back. she needs to do the right thing. the us government still needs to do the right thing. she should never have left in the first place. of that we are absolutely sure. so, today is

really the start of pushing for that to happen, for her to come back. the government here says it is lobbying ha rd to government here says it is lobbying hard to try to get that to happen. asa hard to try to get that to happen. as a family, do you have evidence of that? no, not as yet. they keep telling us that they are working very ha rd to telling us that they are working very hard to get her back. when we asked him which way they were doing it, what words they were using, how often they are raising the issue, we don't get any answers. so this course “— don't get any answers. so this course —— court case comes from that lack of communication and lack of a nswe rs lack of communication and lack of a nswers to lack of communication and lack of answers to your questions? absolutely. if they'd been honest with us right from the off, if they had come to us right from the off and they have had the last eight months of this campaign to tell us the truth and come clean with everything. we've met with them on a number of occasions, we've met senior officials on a number of

occasions and we've given them so many opportunities. we keep dialogue open constantly via e—mail and telephone but unfortunately we have had to take it to this point because the truth still isn't coming out yet. and it needs to. so what dialogue have you had? what communication has there been from the government in terms, as i quoted, the government is saying that it quoted, the government is saying thatitis quoted, the government is saying that it is lobbying hard, but what actual communication have you had about what they are doing? we haven't. there's been absolutely nothing question when you talk about e—mails and lines of communication being open but there is nothing coming back in your direction? nothing with those answers. we do get e—mails back and our spokesperson has conversations, many conversations with dominic rather‘s aids at the fco but it's never along the lines of what they are doing to get her back. like i said, it'sjust empty words every time. we've not

yet had any evidence in writing, or otherwise, of what they are doing and how they are doing it. and i feel we have a right to know that. charlotte, what is all of this doing to your ability as parents, and as a family, to grieve for harry? it's putting everything on hold. we thought we had started to grieve around christmas time, that was particularly difficult and their birthdays were particularly difficult in march. we had an extremely tough time but since that, the campaign has gained even more momentum and we are so focused and determined like we were on day one. the promise i made to harry on the night we lost him has never wavered.

my night we lost him has never wavered. my determination to achieve that promise has never gone away. so every day is still excruciatingly painful. we are very, very aware that everything we are doing is not going to bring harry back. we have to live every day knowing we have not got him. we are very aware that everything we are doing is not going to bring harry back but what we are determined to make sure of is to make sure that this does not happen to another family again in the uk. this has to stop. 0ur grief has been so utterly compounded, and made so much more difficult by everything that the governments have decided to put us through, and it's just not fair. it's not the right thing to do toa uk fair. it's not the right thing to do to a uk family and again, this determination of ours is to make sure it does not happen to anyone else. this fight we are going

through is not just else. this fight we are going through is notjust for us, it's for everybody else as well. charlotte, we appreciate you talking to us about the case and thank you for talking to us. thanks for having me. just in the last few seconds, news coming into us that dame vera lynn has died at the age of 103. her family have said this. the forces sweetheart, synonymous with her song, wheel cat meat again, that song, wheel cat meat again, that song echoed by the queen in her address to the public in the early weeks of the covert 19 panic. , we'll meet again, and dame vera lynn dame vera lynn, the forces sweetheart, has died at the age of 103. earlier this year injanuary a

new portrait of dame vera lynn was unveiled at the royal albert hall in connection, of course, with the 75th anniversary of peace being declared in 1945, and it was unveiled by her daughter, virginia. dame vera lynn, who was born on the 20th of march 1917, has died at the age of 103. her songs have very much been, of course, in mind in recent weeks as we think about the end of world war ii, and this will come as a huge shock to so many people, not only the forces sweetheart, but someone who was held so dearly, i think it

is correct to say, in the national memory because of her contribution throughout the years, particularly during the war years. her songs which help so many people and consoled so many people through that time. robert hall has been looking back at the life of dame vera lynn. # they'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of dover. it's the voice that spanned decades, the voice that spanned decades, the voice of an ordinary london girl who was born at the end of the first world war and became an iconic symbol of the second, the daughter ofa symbol of the second, the daughter of a plumber symbol of the second, the daughter ofa plumberand symbol of the second, the daughter of a plumber and dressmaker began singing asa of a plumber and dressmaker began singing as a child. she took her grandmother's surname as a stage name and made herfirst record aged 19, and sold 1 million records in the next three years. this little

girl from east ham would never have had the opportunity is if she had not been singing, if my mother hadn't put me on the stage. this is getting to be a sort of rendezvous where husbands and wives, torn apart by war, can be brought together by music. when war broke out again, vera began broadcasting with the bbc. through a forces request programme, sincerely yours, she became the girl that thousands of fighting men hoped they would meet when they returned home, although some accused the programme of missing —— damaging the war effort. too sentimental, making the boys homesick, and i said, that's rubbish. a lot of rubbish. because the letters are so thankful for the programmes. vera was a star, but her desire to do more took her to meet fa ns desire to do more took her to meet fans halfway around the world. they

said, where where do you want to go? isaid if said, where where do you want to go? i said if i'm going in, said, where where do you want to go? isaid if i'm going in, i know europe are getting well supplied and i want to go somewhere where there isn't any entertainers. well they said, burma is the only place. she kept a record of herjungle adventures in a secret diary.|j kept a record of herjungle adventures in a secret diary. i took my little diary, my little pencil andi my little diary, my little pencil and i canjust about my little diary, my little pencil and i can just about see my little diary, my little pencil and i canjust about see it, the tiny little writing. slept on stretchers, oh, yes, balanced on to kitchen chairs. a rotten night. i should think so. it's not being awarded, you earned it. it was another 40 years before vera lynn received her own burma star, and by then she was dame vera lynn, but was as busy as ever. am i allowed to kiss you. in 1995, vera lynn led vetera ns kiss you. in 1995, vera lynn led veterans in song outside buckingham

palace to mark the 50th anniversary of the d—day. ve day. and in 2010, aged 94, she topped the charts once again. it was a shock. i thought, oh, 70 years ago, the same song was number one, and little did i think that i would even still be around, let alone have a number one hit. on dame vera's 100th around, let alone have a number one hit. on dame vera's100th birthday, she listened to the children of her old school and remembered the singing coach she adored. when she heard me sing, she said, no, i cannot train that voice. it's not a natural voice. so i said, well, thank you very much, madam, and left. # keep smiling through,

just like you always do. # until the blue skies chase the dark clouds far away. but vera lynn's national presence was more than a voice. it was a spirit carried forward across the decades and still resonating during the current pandemic. a spirit reflected by the queen during her recent, very personal message. we should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return. we will be with our friends better days will return. we will be with ourfriends again. better days will return. we will be with our friends again. we will be with our friends again. we will be with our friends again. we will be with ourfamilies with our friends again. we will be with our families again. with our friends again. we will be with ourfamilies again. we with our friends again. we will be with our families again. we will meet again. # we'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when.

vera lynn's strongest bonds were a lwa ys vera lynn's strongest bonds were always with the veterans she still referred to as my boys. the words she sang will endure long after the last of them has left us. # but i know we'll meet again some sunny day... robert hall there, looking back on the eventful life of dame vera lynn, who has died at the age of 103. the news of her death, announced by her family in the last few minutes she, of course, was famously known as the

forces sweetheart whose songs helped raise morale in world war ii she undoubtedly the voice of a wartime generation, synonymous with that period in history. looking at tweets coming in, paying tribute to her. what a wonderful life she lived and what joy and hope what a wonderful life she lived and whatjoy and hope she brought to so many. rest in peace, dame vera lynn, says one. so sad, dame vera lynn dies at the age of 103. british world war ii icon, vera lynn, has died and in another tribute, and she absolutely was an icon, wasn't she? as robert mentioned in his report, the queen are making reference to her most famous song, we'll meet

again, when she addressed the nation about the coronavirus pandemic. she chose those words to send a message of hope to people that despite time as being incredibly tough, people would eventually be able to be reunited with loved ones. sentiments that vera lynn very much wanted to pass on through her music, through her songs, although it was interesting to hear her in that clip talk about how sometime she thought the sentimental nature of the music might make the troops homesick. so, many tributes coming in already to dame vera. 0bviously, many tributes coming in already to dame vera. obviously, in more recent yea rs, dame vera. obviously, in more recent yea rs , we dame vera. obviously, in more recent yea rs, we have dame vera. obviously, in more recent years, we have seen less of her but

she reached a wonderful age of 103 and her music, that time, that period she represents kept her very much in the public eye and in the public consciousness. especially with anniversaries like this year's anniversary, the 75th anniversary of the end of world war ii. and so many parallels drawn between that period and what people went through and what people are going through with the pandemic, that it brought her back to the national consciousness. and just looking now again at tributes coming in to dame vera lynn on social media. her iconic song has

once again been spurring on so many, especially in care homes. no more detail as yet from her family beyond that very brief statement. rip, dame vera lynn, the woman who gave the country hope by telling us we'll meet again. rip, vera lynn, you were just incredible. what a life you lived says another tribute. angela rayner, the deputy labour leader, saying her morale boosting songs we re saying her morale boosting songs were legendary during world war ii. a beautiful person who will be missed by those who knew her. i send my deepest condolences to dame vera lynn's family and friends. she entertained the troops during our

darkest hour and has helped us celebrate their victory ever since. a true inspiration and a national treasure says another tribute to dame vera. there can be few people who brought so much happiness to so many over so many years. a great loss, says another. thank you, vera lynn. thank you for everything. the actress, anna friel says,, legend, rest in peace. thank you for giving us so much. the whole world knows that song. it gave us so much hope. rip, beautiful lady, says another, simply. and another says we thank you for the strength and support you gave our nation during our darkest hours. rest in peace, i know we will meet again some sunny day, that tribute says. and she was, i think it's fair to say, more than the forces' sweetheart, she was the nation's sweetheart as well.

especially as years and decades past and people returned to that period, that world war ii period and to her music. she was born on the 20th of march 1917. in east ham, in essex. the daughter of a plumber and dressmaker. she nearly died when she was two years old when she fell ill. and she was sent to an isolation unitand and she was sent to an isolation unit and was discharged after three months. she had been suffering with diphtheria. and because of that, she wasn't allowed to visit friends or play in the street for a long time afterwards. i think, play in the street for a long time afterwards. ithink, echoes play in the street for a long time afterwards. i think, echoes of today when we think about what children are going through right now, and she began performing publicly at the age of just seven, began performing publicly at the age

ofjust seven, adopting her maternal grandmother's maiden name as her stage name when she was just 11 yea rs stage name when she was just 11 years old, her first radio stage name when she was just 11 years old, herfirst radio broadcast was in 1935. and around that time she was appearing on records released by dance bands. she was one of the few artist to do a show for jewish refugee children before war broke out and took part in a charity show to raise funds to get them out of germany. her first solo record was released in 1936. and her wartime contribution began when she would sing to people who were using london's tube station platforms as

air raid shelters. she would drive there in her carand, air raid shelters. she would drive there in her car and, of course, throughout that wartime period, as we have been discussing, she is best known for that recording in 1939 of we'll meet again. hugely nostalgic lyrics, which are very much echoed today in the situation we are in, fitting for the times we are in, just as they were during world war ii. the news coming in that the forces sweetheart, dame vera lynn, has died at the age of 103. and we will have much more on the life of dame vera lynn, tributes to her, here on bbc news. time to look at the weather with matt taylor. for some of us another thoroughly wet day and more extensively across england and wales but it will be wet anywhere. a

beautiful start to the day earlier on in the west of scotland and we will see some of the sunniest and warmest conditions there and it's across scotland and northern ireland where many will stay dry and sunny through the day and more warm and humid in the sunshine but rain, quite extensively across england and wales and some of those hit and miss downpours in the morning and through the downpours there will still be some possible with south wales and southern england with thunderstorms but it is that persistent steady rain across much of wales and south—west england and into parts of northern england. writer in the afternoon, some brightness remaining in cumbria and whilst there will be the odd heavy showers and thunderstorms near western scotland, most thunderstorms near western scotland, m ost pla ces thunderstorms near western scotland, most places will be dry and sunny. 24 degrees in western scotland, cool across the east of scotland but missed and low cloud extensively through the afternoon and evening and into the evening and overnight, misty and murky night with further rain, scotland and northern ireland see splashes of rain overnight and into the morning where it will be another fairly humid start with temperatures between ten or 14

degrees. lots of clout to begin on friday with eastern parts faring best with the sunshine and sunshine breaking through here and there and more cloud for scotland and northern ireland and outbreaks of rain in the morning and slow moving thunderstorms in the morning, especially in western scotland. that means across the southern half of england and wales, compared to today, a drier and brighter day with a few isolated showers and thunderstorms and temperatures much like today, into the low 20s for some of you. a big change this weekend. the weather fronts working through on saturday night into sunday which will introduce atlantic air which will sweep away the humid conditions and temperatures will ta ke conditions and temperatures will take a bit of a drop and things will get windier as we go through the weekend. saturday, lovely sunny start, mist and fog patches but showers developing as cloud bills through the day with the odd heavy one but later more persistent rain spreads across ireland with temperatures like tomorrow into the low 20s for a few of you. as we go through saturday night, we will see a spell of several hours of heavy rain working across most parts, a

bit erratic in the south and more persistent across parts of scotland we will see the heaviest burst, but through sunday the morning brightens up through sunday the morning brightens up and a few scattered showers, but vertically scotland, northern ireland and western england and temperatures are more likely to be in the teens, but especially scotland.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. british wartime singer dame vera lynn has died at the age of 103. # we'll meet again # don't know where, don't know when # but i know we'll meet again some sunny day... the forces sweetheart‘s songs helped raise morale during the second world war travelling to meet british troops around the world.