a single place for all the comrades who lost their lives serving under general montgomery in 191m can be remembered together. borisjohnson will tell global leaders he wants the whole world to be vaccinated against coronavirus, by the end of next year.

uk pupils are urged to take a covid test before returning to school after half term, amid rising infections. el salvador says it wants to be the first country to adopt bitcoin as an official curency. charities are warning that cuts to foreign aid are casting a shadow, over the uk's influence at the g7 summit. hello and welcome to bbc news. a memorial to commemorate british and commonwealth serviceman who died on d—day is to be unveiled in normandy this morning. the monument honours more than 22,000 serviceman who died on this day exactly 77 years ago and in the fighting that followed. 0ur correspondent hugh schofield reports. d—day, the normandy campaign. the thousands of british and commonwealth soldiers who died to liberate europe. it's here that future generations are going to come to honour their memory. part temple of remembrance,

part cloister of contemplation, the british normandy memorial is a place of serene beauty. at its centre, a statue of three infantrymen caught in the grip of battle, and on its 160 columns, the names, ranks and ages of all those who were killed. as the years pass and the numbers of those who fought in the campaign dwindle, it is the fulfilment of a promise. the inspiration for it came from the veterans themselves. they wanted to have one single place where all the comrades who lost their lives, serving under general montgomery in 1944, can be remembered together. and i think they felt that with the passing of time it was important there was a single place where people could come, to reflect, to think about what happened, to realise the importance of what happened in 191m and how it is still relevant today. the most glorious thing about the normandy memorial is the setting. on a hill, plumb overlooking gold beach. to the west, clearly visible off

arromanches, the remains of the mulberry artificial harbour. and below us, the sands, where, on the morning ofjune 6th 1944, thousands of british and commonwealth troops came pouring off their transports. gold beach was at the centre of the landings — the americans on one side, the canadians on the others. here, british soldiers scored early success, but it was the start of a long and bitter fight through the lanes and villages of rural normandy. not till latejuly did the allies take the key city of caen, opening the way to paris. among those killed in the later fighting was desmond smallman—tew, who parachuted in as a signals officer on d—day. his son michael was a boy at the time. he lives in france now and comes often with his children and grandchildren to visit the grave. i hero—worshipped him, really, when i saw all the stories in the letters and all of that that related what he had done. i will often think of him, even now, i think of him, and think what a wonderful

job he did. but, i mean, he is one of so many when you think of all these others who were equally brave and who lost their lives. this year, because of covid, there is no d—day tourism. the hotels are empty. but the people of normandy haven't forgotten and the famous pegasus bridge over the 0rne canal is once again the scene of french re—enactors. british visitors will have to wait a little to see the beaches again and relive in their minds the excitement and the sacrifice of those terrible days. one thing is sure — when they do come, it is here at the normandy memorial that they will gather. and hugh is in ver—sur—mer in normandy where today's events are taking place. it's a very beautiful memorial. tell us more about what will be happening there today.

us more about what will be happening there toda . , ~ there today. events will kick off in about an hour— there today. events will kick off in about an hour from _ there today. events will kick off in about an hour from now _ there today. events will kick off in about an hour from now and - about an hour from now and rehearsals are going on now, you may hear sound check there is a piper who has been playing the pipes, security has arrived, there have been sniffer dogs and it will get under way in about an hour, it will not be an elaborate ceremony, it will be quite brief, that is covid for you, will be quite brief, that is covid foryou, but will be quite brief, that is covid for you, but it will mean speeches from the british ambassador in france and the french defence minister is here and all of it transmitted back to britain where there is a gathering of normandy veterans in staffordshire at the arboretum there, so clearly people would have liked this to have been a much more elaborate and bigger ceremony, it certainly deserves it but the building is here, covid is

here, it will be officially opened today, it will be a portland moment and from now on it will be open for visitors. , ., and from now on it will be open for visitors. , . ., , visitors. the 75 year anniversary in 2019 was big. _ visitors. the 75 year anniversary in 2019 was big. it — visitors. the 75 year anniversary in 2019 was big, it was _ visitors. the 75 year anniversary in 2019 was big, it was the _ visitors. the 75 year anniversary in 2019 was big, it was the time - visitors. the 75 year anniversary in | 2019 was big, it was the time when many of the veterans, it was going to be the last time they would be able to go to commemorations like this. how meaningful is it that on the 77th anniversary, this memorial is being unveiled? i the 77th anniversary, this memorial is being unveiled?— is being unveiled? i think it's absolutely — is being unveiled? i think it's absolutely no _ is being unveiled? i think it's absolutely no coincidence - is being unveiled? i think it'sl absolutely no coincidence that is being unveiled? i think it's - absolutely no coincidence that the pressure for this memorial emerged at a time when the generations are moving on, numbers are dwindling. as long as the memories alive and that were coming in big numbers and visiting normandy, we were taking theirfamilies to visiting normandy, we were taking their families to places they knew, cemeteries to visit their comrades, the places where they died and

thought, there was a personal sense of history and real memories were evoked by people who had fought in the normandy campaign, that period of memory is passing on, we are entering a period where it becomes history. soon there will be no veterans so it was important in the minds of the surviving veterans that as they move on there should be a monument which unites everything because there won't be the personal stories to tell from the mouths of veterans any more.— stories to tell from the mouths of veterans any more. thank you, hugh. let's no to veterans any more. thank you, hugh. let's go to the — veterans any more. thank you, hugh. let's go to the historian _ veterans any more. thank you, hugh. let's go to the historian and - let's go to the historian and normandy guidejonathan crow. we werejust normandy guidejonathan crow. we were just hearing about how the way were just hearing about how the way we remember will change as the veterans sadly pass on. very few remain, without personal connection. how do you see the importance of this new memorial? i

how do you see the importance of this new memorial?— this new memorial? i think it's fantastic because _ this new memorial? i think it's fantastic because until - this new memorial? i think it's fantastic because until now- this new memorial? i think it's i fantastic because until now there hasn't been a real focal point for the british sector. the americans have their big cemetery of omaha beach, now we have ver—sur—mer, which commemorates everyone who lost their lives. there are 18 british cemeteries in the area but most people haven't got the time to visit more than one of those so to have a focal point, whether you are an individual to arrest or on a guided tour, is brilliant and it's a fabulous memorial, before it opened we were allowed to go and have a look around the setting is stunning, looking out at gold beach where they landed early that morning, down the bottom of the health you have the hot—wire one of the green howards was the only man to be awarded the george cross for his actions on the

beach and it is a brilliant location and a brilliant memorial. for someone — and a brilliant memorial. for someone with _ and a brilliant memorial. for someone with all— and a brilliant memorial. for someone with all the knowledge you have around the history of uptime, what are the things that come directly to the front of your mind? the thing i like about what i do, which is taking people around the beaches and inland, is all the little individual stories so we heard from a couple of people whose relatives were involved and we pick those up every day from people whose grandfather or great uncle or sometimes from a veteran themselves, although as you said that is getting rarer and that is a brilliant thing and notjust from soldiers who left their stories but also from the french locals, a lot of older people in france were children at the time so they have memories, it is linking those with the bigger picture, the strategy, the thousands of men and

thatis strategy, the thousands of men and that is one of the fascinating things which is why i keep doing it every day. it things which is why i keep doing it eve da . , . things which is why i keep doing it eve da . , things which is why i keep doing it eve da. ,. every day. it is a big picture with so many individual— every day. it is a big picture with so many individual stories - every day. it is a big picture with so many individual stories but i i so many individual stories but i want to put you on the spot because often it's the individual stories that bring it home to people so is there a particular story you could tell us that you feel encapsulates it for you? tell us that you feel encapsulates it for ou? , ~ ., , it for you? yes... i think the only veteran i — it for you? yes... i think the only veteran i have _ it for you? yes... i think the only veteran i have taken _ it for you? yes... i think the only veteran i have taken on - it for you? yes... i think the only veteran i have taken on a - it for you? yes... i think the only veteran i have taken on a tour. it for you? yes... i think the only veteran i have taken on a tour on june the 6th was a man from gloucestershire and he had landed on thejena six, he was a dispatch rider and we spent the day with him and his four sons looking around the beach and we found the spot, there is a ramp of gold beach which is where he drove his motorcycle up so we stood on that ramp and took photographs and he had never been back, this was 2014, he had never been back in all that time and he

started telling his stories and his sons were there, stories and they had never heard from him and that was a very moving day. i had never heard from him and that was a very moving day.— was a very moving day. i can seat ou are was a very moving day. i can seat you are moved — was a very moving day. i can seat you are moved even _ was a very moving day. i can seat you are moved even telling - was a very moving day. i can seat you are moved even telling us. i was a very moving day. i can seat - you are moved even telling us. thank you are moved even telling us. thank you forjoining us. it will be a very moving date for many. jonathan crow, sankey. —— thank you. many of the veterans and their families can't make the journey over to normandy this year because of the pandemic. a group of them will watch today's ceremony at the national memorial arboretum in staffordshire — from where our correspondent graham satchell is for us. yes, we expect around 108 veterans from the date to be here at the arboretum in staffordshire, around 300 or 400 family members from those who lost their lives. they will be able to see on a big screen at the events happening in france but cannot doubt themselves because of covid. we have doug farrington, who was d—day plus 17 18. i?

covid. we have doug farrington, who was d-day plus 17 18.— covid. we have doug farrington, who was d-day plus 17 18.- 19 - was d-day plus 17 18. 19 days. 19 da s was d-day plus 17 18. 19 days. 19 days after— was d-day plus 17 18. 19 days. 19 days after may _ was d-day plus 17 18. 19 days. 19 days after d-day and _ was d-day plus 17 18. 19 days. 19 days after d-day and paul - was d-day plus 17 18. 19 days. 19. days after d-day and paul gamble days after d—day and paul gamble from the british legion. perhaps you could tell me about the action you sort when you got to france. {lime could tell me about the action you sort when you got to france. once i not off on sort when you got to france. once i got off on gold — sort when you got to france. once i got off on gold beach, _ sort when you got to france. once i got off on gold beach, being - sort when you got to france. once i got off on gold beach, being just i sort when you got to france. once i got off on gold beach, being just on my own, i went to the red cap office and said i was for the fusiliers, i have to get to my regiment because i was on my own, and he said right, so while i was stood there at their office, there was a motorbike, a dispatch rider and they said to him, do you know where the royal welch

fusiliers are? you said yes, i have a dispatch for them here. they said, we have a soldier here, royal welch fusiliers, reinforcement. so anyway, he said, what are you like riding on the pillion of a motorbike? i said i have a motorbike at home, a triumph, they said all right, so they said, when you take them on the back? he said right, leave all your kid here, just take your rifle and your bandolier and away you go. i should exlain to bandolier and away you go. i should exolain to people — bandolier and away you go. i should explain to people watching - bandolier and away you go. i should explain to people watching at - bandolier and away you go. i should explain to people watching at home j explain to people watching at home that you were 17 when you joined up so you were too young and you lied about your age. i don't mean to cast aspersions at what i want to ask it was why was it so important for you

to go to france to fight? i was why was it so important for you to go to france to fight?— to go to france to fight? i came as my father's _ to go to france to fight? i came as my father's apprentice _ to go to france to fight? i came as my father's apprentice and - to go to france to fight? i came as my father's apprentice and just - to go to france to fight? i came as| my father's apprentice and just one day when i came home, i said to my mother, i've got to journey out. 0h, mother, i've got to journey out. oh, no, because in the first world war she had lost two husbands and i was the son of a third husband and she had that many telegrams, she said no, don't go. i said had that many telegrams, she said no, don't go. isaid i had that many telegrams, she said no, don't go. i said i want to go, mum. he's making everybody slaves and their lives are a misery and everything to and he's trying to come and take over britain, and i said i want to help stop him. nobody

should be slaves and i'm determined to go so she said to my father, you will not stop doug, he wants to come. �* will not stop doug, he wants to come. ~ , ., will not stop doug, he wants to come. ~ . will not stop doug, he wants to come. ~ i. y, i. . ., come. and you did. bob, you are from the r0 al come. and you did. bob, you are from the royal british _ come. and you did. bob, you are from the royal british legion, _ come. and you did. bob, you are from the royal british legion, perhaps- the royal british legion, perhaps you could explain a bit about what we will see today because normally people like doug would be in northern france but we cannot do that today. northern france but we cannot do that today-— that today. this is a unique year, usually the _ that today. this is a unique year, usually the veterans _ that today. this is a unique year, usually the veterans would - that today. this is a unique year, usually the veterans would all. that today. this is a unique year, usually the veterans would all go j that today. this is a unique year, i usually the veterans would all go to the commemorations in france but what _ the commemorations in france but what we _ the commemorations in france but what we will try to do is combine a formal_ what we will try to do is combine a formal d—day commemoration as in each year— formal d—day commemoration as in each year and we are intimating that with the _ each year and we are intimating that with the opening of the british normally memorial in ver—sur—mer overlooking — normally memorial in ver—sur—mer overlooking gold beach which is a fantastic— overlooking gold beach which is a fantastic edifice overlooking sword beach _ fantastic edifice overlooking sword

beach with names of the men who died during _ beach with names of the men who died during operation overlord, that veterans— during operation overlord, that veterans like doug came home and left behind so it's important to them — left behind so it's important to them to— left behind so it's important to them to see that monument being built and _ them to see that monument being built and opened but it is equally important — built and opened but it is equally important that veterans who each year meet — important that veterans who each year meet each other have the opportunity to look across the aisle and see _ opportunity to look across the aisle and see a _ opportunity to look across the aisle and see a guy they meet each year at events— and see a guy they meet each year at events like _ and see a guy they meet each year at events like this and comradeship goes _ events like this and comradeship goes on — events like this and comradeship toes on. ., ,., . events like this and comradeship toes on. ., . , goes on. doug, how important is it for ou goes on. doug, how important is it for you that— goes on. doug, how important is it for you that we _ goes on. doug, how important is it for you that we remember - goes on. doug, how important is it for you that we remember your i for you that we remember your friends who lost their lives in northern france at this memorial today? northern france at this memorial toda ? , , ., , northern france at this memorial toda ? , ,., , northern france at this memorial toda? , , today? very, it should be so. we did what we could _ today? very, it should be so. we did what we could for— today? very, it should be so. we did what we could for this _ today? very, it should be so. we did what we could for this country, - today? very, it should be so. we did what we could for this country, we i what we could for this country, we kept the enemy from taking over, we did what churchill said, we shall never surrender! and i admired him and i said i'm going to do my best, and i said i'm going to do my best, and i said i'm going to do my best, and i did. i got shot. i got shot in

the forest that was full of german paratroopers can we didn't know, and they spotted us first and i was just unlucky but there were two of us together on an. how we came to be together on an. how we came to be together on an. how we came to be together on our own i don't know, and i said to him, we are supposed to be with an army but i don't know where it is. to be with an army but i don't know where it is— where it is. you don't want to be in that situation _ where it is. you don't want to be in that situation surrounded - where it is. you don't want to be in that situation surrounded by - where it is. you don't want to be in i that situation surrounded by german paratroopers. thank you for talking to us can thank you for your service and i hope you enjoy the unveiling of the memorial in france later this morning. thank you to bob and back to you. the uk's prime minister is expected to call on fellow leaders at the g7 to pledge to vaccinate the world s population against coronavirus by the end of next year. borisjohnson will tell representatives it would be the "single greatest feat" in medical history. world leaders are set

to gather in cornwall in south west england on friday. the government is urging pupils in england to take covid tests before returning to school after the half—term break. it comes as the uk's health secretary warned that a "huge proportion" of the latest covid cases are in children. helena wilkinson reports. what's helped keep classrooms open has been a major testing programme which has been in place since march. schools and colleges have been testing pupils regularly. it's allowed them to identify asymptomatic cases and isolate them as quickly as possible. tomorrow, most children will go back after their half—term break. writing in the telegraph this morning, the health secretary matt hancock said a huge proportion of the latest cases are in children, and that is why he and the education secretary gavin williamson are urging secondary school pupils and college students to get a test before they return.

the association of school and college leaders say they broadly support the measure but feel it has come very late in the day. if i wanted to get a test today, i tried ordering one last night and i won't get it for two days. this could have been a reminder we got a week ago or when the secretary of state was doing the rounds on wednesday. it feels like to embargo it and announce it the day before schools and colleges go back is a little bizarre. as testing continues, so too does the vaccination programme. a decision will need to be made about whether 12—15—year—olds should get the jab. according to the telegraph, children could start getting it as early as the summer. a government source told the paper that under current modelling, they would be ready to begin by early september at the latest. ministers are waiting for advice from the uk's vaccines committee before making a decision. helena wilkinson, bbc news.

the president of el salvador has told a bitcoin conference in florida that he'll make the crypto currency legal tender in his country alongside the us dollar. if congress backs his proposal, el salvador would become the first country in the world to formally adopt bitcoin. roger ver, the founder of bitcoin.com news website, says there are other better cryptocurrencies than bitcoin which will work as a global crypto currency. this is fantastic news for all cryptocurrencies in general but most of the world doesn't realise bitcoin doesn't work as currency any more, it is a joke and i say that as the first person in the world to start investing in this ecosystem, now other like bitcoin cash to a far betterjob working as a currency can they are all volatile because the market capture is still small but if you check out why bitcoin cash, you

can see why it can work as a currency for the whole world whereas bitcoin can only process three transactions per second. there is no way that network that can only process that much could ever become money for the whole world so i'm glad the president is interested in bitcoin, but i hope it will spread to cryptocurrencies in general, about a decade light on that one. the former us president, donald trump, has demanded that china pay ten trillion dollars in payment to america and the world for the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic. emerging from political seclusion to speak at a republican party convention in north carolina, mr trump called on other nations to cancel their debts to beijing as a down payment. although he's been cut off from social networks, many republicans still see him as a valuable asset ahead of midterm elections next year. more than a thousand charities, business leaders and academics in the uk have written to the government asking it to reverse the decision to cut foreign aid this year. it comes after the uk's government said it would still spend more

than £10 billion in foreign aid this year. our political correspondent helen catt reports. the chancellor, rishi sunak, announced late last year that he was going to cut the uk aid budget from 0.7% of the national income to 0.5% — that's a reduction of about £4 billion. now, he said at the time that was a temporary measure, and it was because of the pandemic. now, in their letter, the charities and the academics say, well, that cut is having a real impact on the ground. they say that as a result, families are going hungry, girls are not going to school and vaccines are expiring on shelves. and they argue that there is no justifiable economic need for the cut and that's, they say, because forecasts suggest that by the end of this year, the economy will have returned back to its pre—pandemic levels. and they also say that the uk is hosting the g7 this week. they say that if the uk calls on other leaders to do more,

well, that's going to risk ringing hollow. now, on the government side, the government says it's going to spend £10 billion this year, 2021, on aid. a uk government spokesman said the seismic impact of the pandemic had forced it to take tough but necessary decisions, but the government was committed to returning to spending 0.7% when the fiscal situation allows. the first cruise ship to leave venice since the pandemic began has set sail. while people are keen to get back to normality, not everyone was happy about the ship entering the canal. rachel stanton reports. "no big ships". that is what is on the flags being raised here in venice. people have taken to the streets and waters, as they are concerned about the impact ships have on the historic city. back in march this year, italy's government said cruise ships would no longer sail past venice's st mark's square and dock in the historic centre,

but would instead be diverted to the city's industrial port. however, the infrastructure is not yet in place for this to happen. this is the msc orchestra. it's set to cruise around the mediterranean with about 650 passengers. but residents in venice have been urging the government to ban large ships from the lagoon over safety and environmental concerns. the reason we are here is because we are citizens of venice and we are against this passage, but we are also against this type of tourism model that is destroying the city and is pushing out residents and people that want to live here. a rival protest also took place in support of the resumption of the tourist season. many have suffered financially as well as losing their livelihoods. in the last two decades, the picturesque city has become one of the world's most important cruise destinations, and people are keen for things to get back on track.

venice is a home port. this is where many itineraries begin or end, and this means two things, first that the economic impact in venice is huge. the other thing is that, well, basically, there is a risk that if venice is taken off the itineraries, all the adriatic will suffer the consequences of this, so yeah, it would be a huge impact. the battle to stop large vessels from being in these waters is far from over. the government said it is organising bids for a viable alternative outside the lagoon, relieving the traffic through venice. very quickly — we've got time to show you some cute animals on bbc news, five wolf cubs — who made their public debut at a zoo in mexico city. the cubs — who are said to be in good health —

are part of a breeding programme that's kept the species alive. they are the most likely species to disappear in mexico. you're watching bbc news. the bafta awards ceremony will be broadcast later on bbc one, celebrating the best on—screen talent and tv programmes of 2020. steve mcqueen s five—part series small axe leads the way with six nominations. i may destroy you, normal people and the crown are also in the running, as our entertainment correspondent colin paterson reports. small axe, large after hopes. steve mcqueen's bbc series of stand—alone films telling black british stories has the most nominations at today's bafta tv awards. six, including shaun parkes, best actor for the mangrove episode.

he is thrilled the show has done so well. what can i say? it puts a smile on my face. but for some reason puts the pressure on as well, i don't really know why, it makes me more nervous. now, if you say you're nervous, that suggests to me that you do care about whether you win or not. well, of course, because there's this build—up, right? there's everyone around you wishing you well. but that said, fortunately, the show is there to watch, as in, we did that. you know, that's the most important thing. and that's what i have to tell myself when i get a little bit too nervous about what's going to happen at the weekend! your majesty. these baftas are rewarding the best tv of 2020, the year of lockdown when people binge watched like never before. that's reflected here, with four nominations for the crown... two women running the shop. that's the last thing

this country needs. i how'd you smash your phone? and four for i may destroy you, michaela coel�*s female revenge drama. how are you doing? great, as long as i'm around people. while bbc three's word—of—mouth hit normal people is up for three, with paul mescal in best actor. cool thing to be able to say. i know that's quite a trivial way of putting it, but it's like... it's very cool. ..huge, yeah, it's a huge... i don't know, it's like, if i ever have grandkids it's like, remember when i was young, i was nominated for a bafta. like, it's so exciting. today's ceremony will be different from usual, taking place in a covid—compliant tv studio. nominees in the performance categories can attend but in what's believed to be an award show first, those that can't make it have the option of appearing on the red carpet as a hologram.

colin paterson, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with darren bett. scotla nd scotland and northern ireland will continue to see the best weather through the rest of today, it should stay dry with spells of sunshine, some brighter skies across parts of england and wales but more cloud, buckets of rain and drizzle and were it brightens up that could trigger some heavy thundery showers further south. as temperatures towards the south—east, 21 or 22 in the sunshine for scotland and northern ireland 17 or 18. still for scotland and northern ireland 17 or18. still some for scotland and northern ireland 17 or 18. still some wet weather threatens to run east across england this evening, first part of the night, and becomes dry later, or mist and fog around by the end of the night, there was temperatures in scotland with clear skies. zero some sunshine to come but were likely to trigger a few heavy thundery showers

in the afternoon from east anglia into the north—east of england one or two in scotland, further wet a better chance of staying dry with sunshine, temperatures tomorrow very similar to lows of today.