Royals join Canadian PM for ceremony to mark centenary of WWI battle

The Prince of Wales and his sons joined Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to pay tribute to those lost in the battle of Vimy Ridge a century ago.

Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry were given a guided tour of the trenches in northern France, where Canadian troops, under British command, fought the German military.

Canada managed to capture the strategically-positioned ridge but around 3,600 of its soldiers were killed and more than 7,000 others injured.

The four-day battle was a decisive victory for the Allies and important in the development of Canada's national identity, as its troops attacked for the first time officially as the Canadian Corps.

The Queen was not present at the ceremony, but sent a message reminding that "it is our duty to remember and honour those who served so valiantly and who gave so much throughout the First World War".

Russia and Iran say US has crossed 'red line' over airstrikes on Syria

Russia and Iran have issued a warning to the US as G7 foreign ministers prepared to meet in Italy to discuss Syria.

Russian president Vladimir Putin and Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani said the US has been warned it crossed a "red line" with its missile strikes on Syria.

The cruise missile strike came after a nerve gas attack on civilians that killed more than 80 people, including children, in the rebel-held Syrian province of Idlib at the start of last week.

An arm of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, meanwhile, issued a statement it said was on behalf of Russia, Iran and its allies, vowing to "reply with force" to any future aggression "in a variety of ways".

The US and UK are expected to tell Russia it must stop supporting the regime of Syrian president Bashar al Assad and instead help with drawing up a plan to rebuild the country.

The G7 foreign ministers, led by Boris Johnson and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, are reportedly ready to offer Moscow the chance to rejoin the G8 if it complies with the demand.

Mr Johnson has warned the US could launch further airstrikes on Syria following its bombing of the Shayrat airfield near the city of Homs.

The Foreign Secretary said: "Crucially - they could do so again. We cannot miss this moment."

He said it was time for Russian president Vladimir Putin "to face the truth about the tyrant he is still propping up".

Italy, Germany, France, Britain, Canada and Japan are likely to use the G7 summit in Tuscany to tackle Mr Tillerson about US policy on the Middle East.

Some European diplomats believe US policy is unclear because of its twin ambitions of wanting Syrian regime change and defeating Islamic State.

Donald Trump's ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said at the weekend that the President's priority was regime change in Syria, but Mr Tillerson said on Saturday the first priority was the defeat of Islamic State.

Earlier on Sunday, Mr Trump's national security adviser Herbert HR McMaster said defeating IS and removing the Syrian president were the country's dual goals.

The US and UK blame Russia for being complicit in the deaths of Syrian civilians in last week's chemical attack.

Mr Tillerson will visit Russia this week to deliver a "clear and coordinated" message to the Kremlin, after Mr Johnson pulled out of a trip following conversations with Mr Trump's team.

A UK government source said: "The important thing is that this is Britain helping to influence US policy on Syria and Russia, far from being a poodle.

"Three months ago Syria wasn't really an issue for them but our push and recent events have made a difference."

Real animal fur sold as fake on British High Street

Sky News has found four types of animal fur being sold on the British High Street - but marketed to shoppers as fake fur.

A fibres expert has identified items which are most consistent with rabbit, raccoon dog, mink and cat being mis-sold to consumers as faux fur.

Fur farms were banned in the UK in 2003 - but foreign farmed fur is still finding its way in to British retailers' supply chains from Asia - and being mislabelled as synthetic material.

We found real animal fur being sold in department store House of Fraser and fast fashion outlet Missguided - despite both retailers having fur-free policies.

Claire Bass, Executive Director of Humane Society International told Sky News: "We are finding an increasing amount of real fur being sold either mislabelled or not labelled at all as real fur, in the last couple of years in the UK.

"This is a problem in two ways. Firstly it's a problem for the animals who are suffering awful, deprived lives and excruciating deaths on fur farms and traps around the world to produce these products.

"And secondly, it's a problem for consumers, who are not being protected from unfair trading, who want to shop ethically and avoid the fur trade."

All the items Sky News found were labelled as "made in China" and priced at £30 or under.

Ms Bass claims mass fur farming in Asia had driven down prices.

Image:Sky News investigators found a beanie hat described as being made with faux fur but actually made with real fur

She said: "Life is really, really cheap in the fur farming industry. These animals are kept in appalling conditions; they're denied veterinary care, they are fed terrible food."

Fibres expert Dr Phil Greaves who tested the products told Sky News the mislabelling of real animal fur is "becoming increasingly common, particularly over the past five years."

Shopper Donna Allison bought a pair of pink stiletto heels from fast fashion retailer Missguided, with pom poms that she immediately suspected were real fur.

She says she was disappointed that despite contacting Missguided on Twitter with her concerns, they simply "dismissed it as being faux" - in line with their no fur policy.

Image:These shoes were found to have been made with fur consistent with mink

When Dr Greaves confirmed the shoes were indeed animal fur, most consistent with cat, she told Sky News: "My life is basically animals and cats, so it's really hurtful, really shocking.

"Whether they know they are selling it or not there needs to be something done about it. They need to be more responsible for what they are selling."

Raccoon dog fur is becoming increasingly common and Ashley Palmier, Director of Ventura Wildlife told Sky News that the animal's soft, dense fur has made them "quite appealing to the fur trade and that, combined with massive litters of anywhere up to 16 individuals from one set of parents, they are being mass farmed now and often skinned alive".

Image:These gloves bought in House of Fraser were found to be made of real fur consistent with rabbit

House of Fraser have now stopped selling a pair of gloves which were identified by Dr Greaves as having rabbit fur trim as a result of Sky News' investigation.

A House of Fraser spokesperson said: "House of Fraser has a strict no fur policy and we ensure all of our suppliers and brand partners are aware of this.

"We would never knowingly mislead our customers, who we believe have the right to know what they purchasing. We are extremely concerned that fur can be mislabelled in this way, particularly for brands that we stock.

"Our customers want assurances that House of Fraser is not be complicit in such unnecessary suffering of animals and we take this issue very seriously and have communicated this to the brand in question.

Image:The raccoon dog is now mass farmed in Asia, and its fur is making its way in to items sold on the British high street

"As a result all products have been removed from sale and returned to the brand.

"We will offer a full refund on any purchases of this item previously made. We will also be launching a full brand partners and supplier engagement to ensure that they are reminded of our no fur policy."

In addition to the pink shoes most consistent with cat fur, a second pair of pointed pumps sold by Missguided were identified as having pom poms, most consistent with rabbit fur by Dr Greaves.

Missguided stressed it had a strict no fur policy and removed the shoes from sale after being informed of our findings.

A spokesperson said: "We will be launching an internal investigation with the relevant suppliers and will ensure these matters are addressed urgently."

Weather: Temperatures set to plunge by 10C as hot spell ends

Temperatures are expected to fall by around 10C in some parts of the UK on Monday after a weekend when many Britons basked in sunshine.

The southeast corner of England will again see the best of the weather but highs are unlikely to get past the mid-teens.

It follows a Sunday when the mercury hit 25C (77F) in Cambridge and also Northolt in northwest London as the UK enjoyed the hottest day of the year so far.

In contrast, the Met Office forecasts that London will only reach 13C on Monday, with parts of Cambridgeshire expecting to reach similar highs.

Sky News weather presenter Kirsty McCabe said: "It will be much chillier on Monday with temperatures down around 10 degrees for parts of the southeast.

"Most places will be dry with some bright or sunny spells, although scattered showers are likely in the north where it will also be quite breezy.

"Some of the showers could be heavy and wintry over Shetland and the hills of northern Scotland. Thicker cloud and more persistent outbreaks of rain will reach northwest Scotland later on.

The Met Office said it was too early to give an accurate forecast for Easter as yet but temperatures over the holiday period are not expected to reach the highs of this weekend.

Many parts of England and Wales saw highs of at least 20C (68F) with Scotland and Northern Ireland reaching 16C (61F) and 15.2C (59F) respectively.

The warm spell came as high pressure moved eastwards during the weekend, allowing for southerly winds to suck up the warm air from Spain and northwest Africa.

In Somerset, one ambulance service was called on when an elderly woman got her leg trapped in a sun lounger.

The pensioner was given first aid and oxygen as crews used cutters to release her.

The previous warmest day of the year was recorded in Gravesend, Kent on 30 March, when temperatures hit 22.1C.

Overnight on Sunday, winds will change to a northerly direction - pushing down cloud, rain and showers.

Wales is likely to reach 10C, Northern Ireland around 8C and parts of Scotland could fall to a maximum high of 6C.

Russia says there is 'no need to talk to UK' as Boris Johnson cancels visit over Syria

Russia's foreign ministry has dismissed the UK as having little real influence over world affairs after the Foreign Secretary cancelled a visit to Moscow.

Boris Johnson decided not go to Russia amid growing pressure on President Vladimir Putin to cut his ties with Syria's Bashar al Assad in the wake of a suspected chemical attack that killed at least 87 people, including children.

Mr Johnson had been due in the Russian capital on Monday but will stay away as G7 foreign ministers draw up their coordinated response.

:: Sam Kiley - Airstrikes branded 'game of American thrones'

US secretary of state Rex Tillerson is then expected to deliver a message that the Kremlin faces international isolation if it stands by the regime in Damascus.

Russia said Mr Johnson's decision showed a lack of understanding of events in Syria and claimed there was little point in speaking to Britain anyway as it was "in the shadow" of its partners.

The cancellation "once again confirms doubts about the added value of dialogue with the British, who don't have their own position on the majority of current issues", the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"We don't believe we need dialogue with London more than (London) needs it (with us)."

It was later announced that Russia, Iran and Hezbollah would increase their support for the Syrian military after the US fired 59 cruise missiles at the airbase from which it believes the gas attack was launched.

Mr Putin and Iranian president Hassan Rouhani also called for an investigation into events in Idlib.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday that Boris Johnson "should be in Moscow now".

"He should be saying to the Russians just how appalling this situation is and the role they should play," he said.

"We have got to be frank with them and we shouldn't just allow the Americans to go off and do that, we should be doing that ourselves."

Mr Tillerson said on Sunday that Russia's inaction had allowed the chemical attack to take place.

"I think the real failure here has been Russia's failure to live up to its commitments under the chemical weapons agreements that were entered into in 2013," he said on ABC's This Week.

"The failure related to the recent strike and the recent terrible chemical weapons attack in large measure is a failure on Russia's part to achieve its commitment to the international community."

And British Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has accused Moscow of being responsible "in proxy" for the civilian deaths in the attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun.

In The Sunday Times, Sir Michael said Russia needed to take action to make sure the "needless suffering" of Syrian civilians can be brought to an end.

"If Russia wants to be absolved of responsibility for future attacks, Vladimir Putin needs to enforce commitments, to dismantle Assad's chemical weapons arsenal for good, and to get fully engaged with the UN peacekeeping process," he wrote.

Russia has backed Syria for much of the six-year conflict, and has used its veto power in the UN Security Council on several occasions to prevent action being taken against the Damascus government.

US warships sent towards North Korea over nuclear threat

The US has sent warships into waters near the Korean Peninsula in a show of force against North Korea's "reckless" nuclear threat.

It comes days after North Korea condemned America's strike on Syria as an act of "intolerable aggression", claiming the move justified "a million times over" their reasons for developing a nuclear deterrent.

President Donald Trump talked to China's leader Xi Jinping this week about the need for Beijing to encourage Kim Jong-Un to halt his nuclear weapons programme.

Ahead of the meeting, North Korea fired a medium-range ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan.

Now, in the latest sign that tensions are increasing, the US has deployed a Navy strike group led by the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier from Singapore.

It described the decision to divert the fleet from scheduled calls in Australia as "a prudent measure to maintain readiness and presence in the Western Pacific".

Despite UN resolutions barring North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, Mr Kim has been busy developing missile capabilities. So far five nuclear tests have been staged, two of them last year.

:: After Syria, could North Korea be next?

US Pacific Command spokesman Commander Dave Benham said: "The number one threat in the region continues to be North Korea, due to its reckless, irresponsible and destabilising programme of missile tests and pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability."

It is feared Pyongyang may be preparing its sixth nuclear test.

Experts believe North Korea may be just two years away from developing long-range missiles capable of reaching the United States.

In February they fired four ballistic missiles towards Japan, an act Japanese PM Shinzo Abe called "absolutely intolerable".

Last August, Pyongyang successfully test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile 500 kilometres (300 miles) towards Japan.

When it comes to putting a stop to North Korea's nuclear ambition, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said: "The policy of strategic patience has ended.

"We're exploring a new range of diplomatic, security and economic measures. All options are on the table."

U.S. Navy sends strike group toward Korean peninsula

SEOUL — A U.S. Navy strike group led by the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier was making its way towards the Korean peninsula Sunday “to maintain readiness” as Kim Jong Un’s regime in North Korea prepared to mark key anniversaries this coming week.

North Korea is expected to hold a huge military parade on April 15 to celebrate the 105th birthday of its founding president, Kim Il Sung, and to mark the 85th anniversary of the creation of the Korean People's Army on April 25 with similar fanfare.

Analysts expect the recent barrage of missiles to continue, and activities around its known nuclear test site have raised concerns North Korea may be preparing for a sixth nuclear test.

Over the weekend, North Korea said it was not afraid of military strikes like those the United States launched on Syria last week, saying it could defend itself with its “tremendous military muscle with a nuclear force.”

In this atmosphere, the Carl Vinson strike group, which includes a carrier air wing and two guided-missile destroyers, was ordered to travel to the “western Pacific.” When the group left Singapore on Saturday, it was bound for Australia before receiving the new orders.


[ Will North Korea fire a missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland? Probably. ]

“The U.S. Pacific Command ordered the Carl Vinson Strike Group north as a prudent measure to maintain readiness and presence in the Western Pacific,” said Dave Benham, a spokesman for the Pacific Command.

“The number one threat in the region continues to the North Korea, due to its reckless, irresponsible and destabilizing program of missile tests and pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability,” he said, according to the AFP news agency.

The Vinson group last month participated in joint drills with the South Korean military to prepare for a sudden change on the peninsula — including the collapse of the North Korean regime or an invasion.

North Korea has been testing medium-range missiles over recent months, and Kim in January said North Korea had “entered the final stage of preparation for a test-launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile” capable of hitting the mainland United States. In response, President Trump tweeted: “It won’t happen!”