this is bbc news. the headlines at nine. the british government toughens its rhetoric over russia's involvement in the syrian civil war. defence secretary michael fallon blames the kremlin for the civilian deaths in tuesday's chemical weapons attack — borisjohnson seeks support for a new initiative to end the conflict. swedish police confirm a number of people are in custody and being questioned following raids at addresses around stockholm. the body of the police officer, keith palmer — who was stabbed to death last month — is to be taken to the palace of westminster before his funeral tomorrow. also in the next hour — commemorating the fallen of the first world war. a ceremony to mark the centenary of the battle of vimy ridge — more than twenty thousand people are expected to take part. lewis hamilton has won the chinese

grand prix beating sebastien vettel who finished second. also this morning, we meet the sisters with a combined age of three hundred — and a century of stories to share. and our sunday morning edition of the papers is at nine thirty five — this mornings reviewers are martin bentham, the home affairs editor the standard and journalist and broadcaster rachel shabi. the uk will accused russia of conspiracy in the syrian war crimes —— complicity. good morning and welcome to bbc news. there's been more tough rhetoric from the british government on russia, over its continued support for syrian president, bashar—al—assad. the defence secretary, sir michael fallon, has sharply criticised the kremlin, saying it was responsible for every civilian death in syria last week. meanwhile foreign secretary, borisjohnson, has pulled out of a planned visit to moscow and is seeking support for a new move to end the conflict. with me is our political

correspodent, susana mendonca. what has brought about this change? we are hearing a tougher stance from michael fallon and we understand that his comments are going to be echoed by what the americans are going to be saying this week as well. this idea that they see russia as being complicit in the attacks that we saw in syria last week. the reason that michael fallon says that is that they are by proxy for those civilian deaths, he says, because they are supporting bashar al—assad. what michael fallon has attempted to do with these words and this tome is to bring some pressure to bear on russia to try and get them, too i suppose, withdraw the support they have been giving to bashar al—assad.

borisjohnson has pulled out of his visit but the americans are still going to moscow. it is a difficult question to answer, but is it likely that russia and president putin in particular will listen to any of this? in terms of boris johnson cancelling his visit, they describe it as absurd and have basically said it as absurd and have basically said it was just theatrics. they have not taken not it was just theatrics. they have not ta ken not particularly it was just theatrics. they have not taken not particularly seriously. borisjohnson taken not particularly seriously. boris johnson says taken not particularly seriously. borisjohnson says that taken not particularly seriously. boris johnson says that the reason he withdrew his planned trip to russia was because the americans are going and he said he wanted there to bea going and he said he wanted there to be a coordinated, i suppose, message, to the russians and that that would come from the americans rather than from him going tomorrow and that the situation had changed. that has been seized upon the critics of borisjohnson, the liberal democrats described him as an american poodle. what we have had from the team behind borisjohnson is an indication as to what he is

doing over this weekend, he is talking to the different countries that are going to be attending the g-7 that are going to be attending the g—7 summit on tuesday in italy and he is trying to get them to have some kind of coordinated boys, i suppose, coordinated message for russia. certainly the whole rhetoric now is really moving towards trying to get russia to withdraw its support for bashar al—assad. as well is that, what we have heard from michael fallon and what he has written in the sunday times today is that he is also of the opinion that bashar al—assad cannot continue to be the leader in syria. that changes from some things we have heard previously, back injanuary boris johnson was talking about how bashar al—assad could potentially run in elections. that seems to have moved away from that now and they want a future in which syria does not have him as their leader. thank you. i

have a little bit of breaking news. we are hearing that at least four people have been killed and 20 injured in an explosion near a church in egypt. this is coming in via reuters. just to repeat that, we have really got one line on it, at least four people have been killed and 20 injured in an explosion in egypt. these are coming from security sources via reuters and we will bring you more detail as we get it. the us —— the us military has ordered a navy strike group to move towards the korean peninsula, amid growing concerns about north korea's missile and nuclear weapons programme. us pacific command described the deployment as a "prudent measure to maintain readiness in the region". president trump has said the united states is prepared to act alone if necessary to deal with the nuclear threat from north korea. thousands of people are expected to gather at services in stockholm later, to remember those killed

in friday's terror attack. four people died when a lorry was driven into them on a busy shopping street. police are still investigating whether a device later found on board was a bomb. from stockholm, maddy savage reports. thousands of people spent saturday paying their respects and, after police reopened the shopping street where the attack happened, many were quick to find new ways to make their mark. in the old town's mediaeval cathedral, there was a special service to remember the victims, attended by sweden's prime minister, stefan lofven. earlier, police revealed that when they towed away the delivery truck used in the violence they had made a disturbing discovery. we have found something in the truck, in the driver's seat. a technical device which should not be there. i can't at this stage say whether this is a bomb. the man they think was behind the wheel has connections here, a diverse working—class suburb

in the north of the city. he hasn't been named, but is 39 and originally from uzbekistan. several others have been arrested following on, but in different locations. security remains tight, but locals are expected to gather for a peaceful rally later. they've been told to leave politics at home and come together to show their love for sweden. through the raids took place across stockholm yesterday and police say they are questioning a number of people in connection with the friday's attack. no one has been arrested, except for the person arrested, except for the person arrested yesterday. roughly how many people are being questioned?” arrested yesterday. roughly how many people are being questioned? i do not have an exact figure. we are questioning people every minute and every second because we are anxious to get this investigated in the proper way and as quickly as possible. reports that other people

have been firmly arrested are incorrect? they have been taken to be questioned but no one has been sent into custody after that so far. the latest bear on the store, attack. a controlled explosion has been carried out in the centre of norway's capital, 0slo, after police found a bomb—like device. the area has been sealed off while investigations continue. a suspect has been detained. a local journalist was a localjournalist was at a local journalist was at the a localjournalist was at the scene. iam right a localjournalist was at the scene. i am right in the heart of the area near central station in oslo and now the police gordon has been lifted. life is going back to normal. i can confirm that there was a detonation. it was quite a big blast. behind me, you can see a green tarpaulin and behind that, about 20 metres back,

thatis behind that, about 20 metres back, that is where the bomb or a bomb like device was detonated. an attack here could create a lot of chaos. it is an area that has many bars and restau ra nts, is an area that has many bars and restaurants, it is a safe area and a very popular area. we are now seeing the situation de—escalating and police are still having this little area behind me cordoned off. about 50 square metres. it suggests a little area where they are cleaning up little area where they are cleaning up after the detonation. pc keith palmer, who was killed in the westminster attack last month, will today receive a rare honour. the queen has given her consent for his coffin to lie in rest at the chapel of st mary undercroft in the palace of westminster. his funeral takes place tomorrow afternoon at southwark cathedral. nick quraishi reports. a 48—year—old father and husband, pc keith palmer had been

a policeman for 15 years. he was stabbed by khalid masood during the westminster terror attack, as he stood guard outside the houses of parliament. pc palmer was one of four people killed, while a fifth, andreea cristea, died in hospital just a few days ago. later today, pc palmer's coffin will be taken to rest in a chapel of st mary undercroft in the palace of westminster. it's a rare honour and one only done with the consent of the queen. the former prime minister baroness thatcher and tony benn are the only people in recent times to have lain there too. tomorrow, pc palmer's coffin will be taken to southwark cathedral. as a mark of respect, the metropolitan police have retired pc palmer's shoulder number. a157u will not be reissued to another officer. a man has suffered what police say are life—changing injuries,

after acid was thrown at him in north london. his wife and their two year old son suffered minor burns in the attack, which happened at around i o'clock yesterday afternoon near caledonian road in islington. police say they want to hear from anyone who saw what happened. investigations are continuing into the cause of a fire at care home for the elderly in hertfordshire — in which two people died. the blaze started at the newgrange care home in cheshunt early yesterday morning, causing part of the roof to collapse. firefighters rescued thirty—three people. local authorities are working with the nhs to arrange alternative accommodation for the residents. more than 20 thousand people, including princes charles, william and harry, will gather in northern france today to mark the centenary of one of the bloodiest battles of the first world war. thousands of scottish and canadian troops died in four days of fighting in the battle of vimy ridge. our correspondent duncan

kennedy reports. a battlefield then, covered with symbolism today. vimy ridge, a place of bravery, death and victory. the fighting to take the ridge only lasted four days, but this was just part of the price paid by allied troops. overall, the arras campaign saw 300,000 casualties. the battle of arras saw over 4,000 men killed and wounded on average, which gives it a higher daily casualties rate than any of the other famous battles, somme or passchendaele. so it was one of the most intense and brutal campaigns the british army fought. these are scenes from the battlefield. much of the heavy load to dislodge the germans from the ridge was shouldered by canadian and scottish troops. the canadians won three victoria crosses on the first day alone. the scots suffered so many casualties, communities back home were shocked.

today's event, here being rehearsed, will be witnessed by prince charles, prince william and prince harry, as well as 25,000 guests. all those attending will be sat here in front of this striking monument, soaring out of the top of the ridge itself and dedicated to those who died. its humbling scale a symbol of losses on both sides. every kind of weapon was used here and, although world war i would come to a close the following year, this battle showed its horrors were drawn out to the end. the headlines on bbc news. the government toughens its rhetoric

over russia's involvement in the syrian civil war. swedish police confirm a number of people are in custody and being questioned following raids at addresses around stockholm. and the body of the police officer keith palmer who was stabbed to death last month is to be taken to the palace of westminister before his funeral tomorrow. let's go back to our main story and michael fallon has said that moscow was responsible for the civilian deaths in what he has called the barbaric gas attack in syria on tuesday. let's speak to a russian political commentator in moscow. thank you for talking to us this morning. good morning. what is russia making of what the americans and the british are saying?” suppose the chrome on must be in a state of shock because only ten days

ago something like that, this secretary of state saying it is no longer washington's priority to remove bashar al—assad and then suddenly everything goes complete about—face, 180 degrees and i suppose, it is now a very hard time for the kremlin to work out what kind of policy can cobble together, 110w kind of policy can cobble together, now that bashar al—assad has really let down his moscow ally and that the western coalition now seems to be more coherent and united than ever. the united statesjoining the uk and europe in condemnation of this attack. i think it will be a very difficult week for russian diplomacy, now we see that the secretary of state is coming here to speak to the russian foreign minister and i'm sure that will be a stormy meeting. it is interesting that use the words that bashar al—assad has let down his allies,

will be seen as some form of betrayal. i think that when the syrians allegedly launched this attack, they did not consult moscow andi attack, they did not consult moscow and i suppose it was a way by damascus to test washington after the words of rex tillerson that bashar al—assad is safe and i suppose that this really went disastrously wrong because now moscow looks not very well in the eyes of the international community. in 2013, when a co—sponsor with the united states the syrian chemical weapons deal, it deliberately lied and concealed the fact that it knew about bashar al—assad's chemical capability or alternatively, that the regime recreated its chemical facilities and reproduce some of the weapons and that means that moscow has zero real influence on damascus. i don't know, i have spent quite some time in the middle east and i

don't know which version is worse for moscow. will it change anything in the russian support for syria? no, it won't. i suppose that moscow is now set in its ways and for mr putin bailing out on bashar al—assad —ish way of showing to the world that the kremlin and moscow is the place where a regime change stops. this was his policy since four years ago andi this was his policy since four years ago and i cannot see him changing it, even in the face of western pressure. we are in a probably for more russian and western confrontation and although there is a very dim hope that rex tillerson and sergei lavrov will reach some kind of preliminary agreement to continue talking,, i still do not see how this will all end. what i see how this will all end. what i see now is that none of the sides will change their behaviour and the

fa ct will change their behaviour and the fact that the us ambassador to the un said that now the removal of assad is a priority for trump, this creates a new world for the kremlin. a lot of hopes have been dashed, a lot of hopes of washington's com plete lot of hopes of washington's complete removal from world lot of hopes of washington's complete removalfrom world politics of isolationism, it seems like they are not coming true. it seems that the kremlin has to put together some kind of new set of policies, instead of the old ones that they thought would be effective with the new american administration. thank you. thousands of people, are taking part in anti—government rallies in caracas and cities across venezuela. they are angry at the government's ban of the country's top opposition leader, henrique capriles, from office. the two—time presidential candidate was banned friday from holding political office for 15 years. greg dawson reports. in the heat of caracas,

demonstration quickly turn to destruction. a group of around 100 protesters vandalised and set fire to an office of the supreme court. even this water cannon tank was not enough to douse the anger. but before all the tension and tear gas, thousands had gathered to support the man they want to see take power in next year's elections. henrique capriles was seen as the opposition's best hope of beating nicolas madero. 0n opposition's best hope of beating nicolas madero. on friday he was banned from politics for 15 years, accused of administrative irregularities. translation: the ban will never have an effect. it isjust too tomorrow i doesn't take hope from the people and keep me from being a candidate 01’ and keep me from being a candidate or president. this is about venezuela and we are going to fight

to change our country. opponents of the president say the ban is part of his concerted effort to stifle democracy. the unrest was initially sparked by a supreme court ruling to limit the power of the country's opposition controlled national assembly. the court eventually backed down and accusations of autocracy remain. to fish-macro this isa autocracy remain. to fish-macro this is a dictatorship. the people in the street are demanding elections and this is my reason for being here. in venezuela we are not living, we are surviving. there is no food, no medicine, no security. a shortage of food and medicine is a symptom of the wider economic problems here for which the government and opposition blame each other. a three—year assertion has led to steep inflation and low salaries. the president says us backed business elites are responsible for the downturn but

these people have stopped listening and venezuela is facing the biggest sustained protest against its leader for three years. craig dawson, sustained protest against its leader forthree years. craig dawson, bbc news. and when to take you live to vatican city. let us see some live pictures. singing.. pope francis is going to address crowds who have gathered to observe palm sunday. and you can see thousands of worshippers there are gathering to hear that address. that is the scene 110w hear that address. that is the scene now at the vatican city at the moment. tributes are being paid to the former radio two presenter, brian matthew, who died yesterday aged 88. his broadcasting career spanned almost 70 years. he's most well known for the ‘sound of the 60s', a programme he presented for 27 years. but it was his first appearance on the ‘saturday skiffle club',

that caught the ear of producers, as brian matthew explained in 2013 to tony blackburn. it was a wonderful opportunity with that one, because it covered a wide range of the arts and every month or thereabouts we did a live show from a theatre and it amazed me that a vast audience always turned up and filled that theatre, wherever we were. i mean, it was an opportunity to see a number of eminent stars, i suppose that was the attraction. but it was a great programme to be associated with. those paying tribute to the radio to broadcast included sir tim rice who said he was sad to learn that brian matthew's voice had been silenced and went on to call him a truly magnificent broadcaster. his former colleague at radio 2, jeremy vine said he had done everything in

broadcasting and had met everyone in music. i want to bring you an update from that explosion we were reporting earlier in egypt. security sources by writers are telling us that the death toll has now climbed to 13 people. 42 people have been entered. it is an explosion in a church in the nile delta according to security sources. very little information apart from notjust to security sources. very little information apart from not just that the death toll is now 13 people dead and 42 others have been injured. you can see on the map, the church is in the town of tanta which is in the nile delta. people caught fly—tipping will have to help councils clean up litter, under new proposals by the government. it says fly tippers cost 50 million pounds a year in england — and the number of instances of rubbish being illegally dumped by roads or in parks is on the increase. next week is holy week, leading up to easter sunday —

the day christians mark their belief jesus rose from the dead. but research commissioned by the bbc suggests belief in a life after death is by no means limited to people of faith. the study found that a fifth of people who say they don't believe in a god — also believe in an afterlife. 0ur religious affairs correspondent martin bashir reports. you're here to worship today! come on! worship at hillsong church in surrey isn't just an expression of gratitude for what the christians say god is doing in their lives now, but also what they say he has in store for them when they die. the bible says that we will have eternal life, we will enter heaven. it doesn't go into major details, it just says that there will be no more weeping, no more tears. it will be a place of great joy. the confidence of christians in the existence of heaven is based on what they believe happened at easter, whenjesus died, was buried and then rose again.

after our life here we go to heaven and it's paradise, it's perfect, there's no pain. it's good. the resurrection is a really powerful event for me, because it's jesus conquering death, essentially. that gives us life. but what of those who don't claim to have any religious faith? a bbc poll of 2,000 people conducted by comres shows thatjust over 30% of those who say they are not religious still believe they will live again after death. mediums and tarot card readers here in covent garden charge £115 for 30 minutes and say they can put you in touch with friends and relatives who have passed away. it's hoped that what has left is literally the flesh, the physical body, but they believe that they can still sense and be

in contact with the loved ones. it's the hope that they have. a desperate hope? a desperate hope, exactly. the sense that we might be able to live beyond the grave has now made the journey from the spiritual to the scientific community. companies like this one are now offering to freeze the deceased body, just in case it proves possible to raise the dead in the future. until that happens, the world's great religions continue to fill the void. so, whether you're planning to attend church during holy week or visit a medium, our shared beliefs may be closer than we realised. that humanity has a sense that this isn't all there is, even though it's tough to prove. this morning we're celebrating three

incredible sisters who have been marking a special milestone — a 100th birthday. what makes this even more remarkable isjoan massey‘s sisters were there too — 98 year old mercia, and ailsa, who's 102. 0ur reporter david allard was invited along to the party. do we get on? we do have our arguments. why not? nobody is the same. you cannot say yes all the time, can you? three sisters, 300 years of history. there's a lot to reminisce about at joan's100th birthday party. i don't feel my age. i have to... remember. do the counting. joan was born on the day after america entered the first world war and she had a vital role in the second. drawing maps for the boys up

there and stationed at newmarket, with bomber command harris. i enjoyed it. atjust 98, mercia is the youngest sister. do you still see yourself as the baby sister really? certainly not! do they treat you as the baby sister? no. we have all had a very good relationship. one needs the other. we help each other out. 0ldest sister ailsa has travelled from scotland for the party. she finally gave up a favourite activity last week at the age of 102. i gave up driving. i am very sad about it. i feel as if i have lost my legs. ailsa has always had a zest for adventure. in her 90s, she backpacked through chile. on my last trip i went back to berlin, where i had been in 1938 to see hitler.

when you saw him did you have any inkling of what was to come? yes. it was very, very strict. i think they are role models. they are something to look up to. they are so inspirational to me. who is the bossy one? laughter. david allard, bbc news. fantastic ladies. the crew on board a turkish airlines flight ended up having to look after one more passenger than they bargained for,after a woman gave birth on board. cabin crew helped to deliver the baby girl after the mother went into labour shortly after take off. the journey from guinea to burkina faso was only just over 2 hours long, so as you can see, things happened rather quickly!

i wonder where the place of birth is if you are born in the air? now it is time for the weather. yesterday just about all of us got to enjoy the warmth and the sunshine. today, oui’ the warmth and the sunshine. today, our fortunes become a little the warmth and the sunshine. today, ourfortunes become a little more divided. southern and eastern areas see plenty more sunshine, that was the scene earlier from a weather watcher in kent and in the sunshine towards the south and east it will be even warmer than yesterday. further north and west, increasingly things are turning cloudy and we could see some outbreaks of rain around as well. this weather front thinking this way and particularly into scotland and northern ireland although other western areas will turn cloudy. further east europe closer to an area of high pressure, sunny skies will continue throughout the day through east wales and much of east england. certainly towards the