Michael Cope Held For Murder Of Linzi Ashton

Wanted man Michael Cope has been arrested in Manchester on suspicion of murdering his ex-girlfriend Linzi Ashton.

A statement released by Greater Manchester Police, said: "A man has been arrested following the death of Linzi Ashton, who was killed last month in Salford.

"At about 11.55pm on Friday 26 July 2013, police were called to an address on Larch Road in Leigh following a report a wanted man was at the address.

"Armed officers attended and a 28-year-old man handed himself in to police and was arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in police custody for questioning".

Police released this CCTV image of Cope at a supermarket in Wigan

Linzi, a mother-of-two, was found dead at her home on Westbourne Road, Winton by relatives shortly before 6pm on Saturday 29 June 2013.

A Home Office post-mortem concluded she died as a result of pressure to the neck and multiple injuries.

Cope had a brief "acrimonious" relationship with Miss Ashton, 25, who had two daughters, Destiny, seven, and Daisy, two.

In a statement issued shortly after Miss Ashton's death, her family said: "She was the most beautiful, generous, caring person anyone could ever wish to meet. She would never harm anyone and was always there for her children and family.

"Life will never be the same again without her. Our whole family and friends have been devastated by her death. The whole community is in shock."

As part of the manhunt, police searched more than 30 addresses and two men have been charged, one with perverting the course of justice and the other with assisting an offender.

Cope, who is from Salford, had been known to make visits in and around the town centre of Leigh.

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Egypt: 'Dozens Killed' As Rallies Turn Violent

At least 70 people have been killed after security forces attacked a protest by supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi in Cairo, according to the Muslim Brotherhood.

"They are not shooting to wound, they are shooting to kill," said Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Gehad El-Haddad said, adding that demonstrators had been hit by gunshot in the head and chest.

The violence broke as rival rallies were held across Egypt for and against the overthrow of Mr Morsi, who is under investigation for murder.

Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians heeded a call by army chief General Abdel Fattah al Sisi to take to the streets, while the Muslim Brotherhood mounted counter-demonstrations in Cairo.

Protesters set off flares in a mass protest in support of the army in Cairo

There were heavy exchanges of gunfire in the early hours of Saturday between security forces and supporters of Mr Morsi.

The MENA state news agency, quoting an unnamed security official, reported that nine people had been killed in the violence and at least 200 wounded.

A spokeswoman for the pro-Morsi camp said eight Brotherhood supporters had died in a clash near the Cairo vigil alone, and another said rooftop snipers had opened fire.

An Apache helicopter flies over Tahrir Square during the protests

Earlier it was reported that five people had died in Egypt's second city of Alexandria, where hundreds of people fought pitched battles, with birdshot fired and men on rooftops throwing stones at crowds below.

Several of those killed were stabbed, hospital officials said, and at least one was shot in the head.

The investigation into Mr Morsi over his 2011 escape from jail has signalled a clear escalation in the military's confrontation with the deposed leader and his Islamist movement.

Protesters stand on power lines near Cairo's presidential palace

MENA said Mr Morsi, who has been held at an undisclosed military facility since his overthrow, had been ordered detained for 15 days pending the inquiry.

Egypt's army-installed interior minister, Mohamed Ibrahim, said month-old Cairo vigils by Mr Morsi's supporters would be "brought to an end, soon and in a legal manner".

An army official said the military had given the party a Saturday deadline to end its resistance and join a military-set roadmap to fresh elections.

Lasers are pointed at an army helicopter near the palace

But the Brotherhood says it wants nothing to do with the army's transition plan and called its own crowds out for counter-demonstrations in a "day to remove the coup".

Mr Morsi has been in military detention at an undisclosed location since he was overthrown.

UN leader Ban Ki-moon has called on the military to free Mr Morsi and other Islamic Brotherhood leaders, said deputy UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey.

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North Korea: Kim Jong-Un Attends Huge Parade

North And South: A Quick History

Updated: 2:23pm UK, Thursday 25 July 2013

By Mark Stone, Asia Corespondent, in Pyongyang

On the Korean Peninsula there are two versions of history. The version people learn depends on whether they are North Korean or South Korean.

Either way though, understanding both versions is key to understanding this most unusual of countries: its quirks, its people, its politics and its government's ability to survive against the odds.

There is no logical reason why the land that makes up the Korean Peninsula should be split into two countries.

The people either side of the border speak the same language and have the same ancestors.

But since 1945, it has been two countries: the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

From 1910 until the end of World War Two, the Korean Peninsula was Japanese territory.

With Japan's defeat, America and the Soviet Union took control of the peninsula.

They decided to split it in two: America didn't want the communist administration in Moscow to control the whole thing. Moscow felt the same about total American control.

And an agreement was reached between Washington and Moscow and an arbitrary line was simply drawn across the middle.

The North became The Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It adopted the communist ideology of its Soviet masters.

A young war hero called Kim Il-Sung became its prime minister.

The South adopted American-style democracy and became the Republic of Korea.

Just five years later though in 1950, Kim Il-Sung and his new army, backed by communist China and Russia, invaded the South.

Within months North Korean forces controlled almost the entire peninsula.

An American-led United Nations force fought back and the Korean War had begun.

Three years of fighting left well over a million people dead. Among them were soldiers from both Koreas, America, China, Russia and Britain.

But no side could claim victory. The border remained where it had been at the start - across the 38th Parallel - and to this day it is a heavily guarded and mined demilitarised zone.

In the decades that followed, the Soviet Union and China continued to prop up the North.

Inside the closed country, Kim Il-Sung's government controlled information and adopted their own version of history which states that the US-backed South Koreans invaded the North.

In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed. North Korea had lost its main communist ally and trading partner.

The 1990s were dominated by a catastrophic famine in which millions died. A once strong country began to crumble.

And yet the country remained cut off, shunning most Western offers of help.

Kim Il-Sung, at his death in 1994, was declared Eternal President.

His son Kim Jong-Il ensured continuity and - on his death in 2011 - the leadership was assumed by his son, Kim Jong-Un.

And so through extreme control and isolation spanning 65 years, the Kim dynasty has cemented its cult of personality through which the state is still run.

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Stuart Hall: Court To Review Prison Sentence

Stuart Hall will find out later if he has to spend more time in prison as judges review the length of his sentence for sex offences.

Attorney General Dominic Grieve has referred Hall's case to the Court of Appeal to consider whether his 15-month jail term is "unduly lenient" and should be increased.

Hall, 83, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, admitted 14 counts of indecent assault against girls as young as nine between 1967 and 1987.

The former It's A Knockout presenter was sentenced in June at Preston Crown Court by the Recorder of Preston, Judge Anthony Russell QC.

Hall directly exploited his role as a popular BBC presenter to target four of his victims, while he assaulted another four on the pretence of giving elocution lessons to them at his home.

Before entering his guilty plea in April, he had made a public pronouncement on the steps of a court, describing all the claims against him as "cruel, pernicious and spurious".

Hall was arrested and subsequently charged on December 5 last year with indecently assaulting three young girls.

More women came forward as a result of publicity and he was rearrested before he later admitted sexual offences relating to 13 victims.

Judge Russell told Hall: "Several of these cases reveal an abuse of the trust placed in you by the parents of these children but all of them reveal an abuse of power by you because your status gave you an influence and standing which you abused."

The judge said Hall would have received 20 months after a trial but he reduced the sentence to reflect his guilty pleas.

Hall's defence barrister, Crispin Aylett QC, said that 27 years had passed since the last offence and the presenter had led an "unblemished" life over those years.

The length of the jail term was immediately criticised as "unduly lenient" by shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry.

Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the Labour party, also added to calls for the sentence to be referred.

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Wonga: Church Of England Funding Link Found

The Archbishop of Canterbury is "furious" after learning the Church of England invests in a key financial backer of Wonga, Sky sources say.

The Most Rev Justin Welby has made no secret of his opposition to the payday loans firm and had earlier said he wanted to "compete" it out of business by expanding the reach of the Church's credit unions.

But now a link has been found between the Church and the very company that lies within the Archbishop's sights.

The Financial Times reports that the CofE's pension fund has put money into Accel Partners, a US venture capital firm that led Wonga's 2009 fund-raising efforts.

The fund claims to have a strong ethical investment policy that bans firms involved in payday lending.

A Church spokesman said an investigation would be launched.

"We are grateful to the Financial Times for pointing out this serious inconsistency of which we were unaware," he said.

Mr Welby earlier said he had informed Wonga's chief executive, Errol Damelin, of his credit union mission.

"I've met the head of Wonga and we had a very good conversation and I said to him quite bluntly 'we're not in the business of trying to legislate you out of existence, we're trying to compete you out of existence'," he told Total Politics magazine.

"He's a businessman, he took that well."

The Archbishop launched a new credit union for clergy and church staff earlier this month at the General Synod in York.

Mr Welby, who has served on the parliamentary Banking Standards Commission, has said he plans to expand the reach of credit unions as part of a long-term campaign to boost competition in the banking sector.

The Government is investing £38m in credit unions to help them offer an alternative to payday lenders.

The entire payday lending industry, worth £2bn, was referred last month for a full-blown investigation by the Competition Commission after the trading watchdog uncovered "deep-rooted" problems with the industry.

Wonga is to launch an advertising campaign which will set out "ten commitments" about its lending practices - an apparently tongue-in-cheek reaction to the Archbishop's remarks.

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Spain Train Crash: Driver To Be Questioned

Police are due to question the driver of a train that derailed in Spain later, killing at least 80 people, in one of Europe's worst rail disasters.

The driver, named by local media as 52-year-old Francisco Jose Garzon, has remained under police guard in hospital since the crash on Wednesday night.

The eight-carriage train came off the tracks on a bend, hit a wall and caught fire just outside the pilgrimage destination Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain.

While data from the train's black box recorder is still being examined, early indications suggest the train may have been travelling at more than twice the speed limit at the time of the crash.

Mr Garzon boasted about speeding on his Facebook page

The train entered the bend at 190 km per hour (120mph), according to local media reports. The speed limit on the curve was 80km per hour (50mph).

Witnesses are reported to have heard Mr Garzon shout into a phone: "I've derailed! What do I do?"

A judge in Santiago de Compostela, capital of the region of Galicia, ordered police to take a statement from the driver.

It was not clear what kind of injuries Mr Garzon - who helped to rescue victims - had suffered.

But as his country mourned, it emerged that Mr Garzon is thought to have boasted on his Facebook page about how fast he was driving a train in March last year.

An official inspects the train's engine

The driver posted a picture of a train speedometer at 200kph (124mph) on the social networking site. His Facebook page has since been blocked.

"What a blast it would be to go parallel with the Guardia Civil (Spanish police) and go past them triggering the radar. Haha what a fine for Renfe (Spanish rail operator) haha," he wrote on what is believed to be his Facebook page.

Mr Garzon was being formally investigated and under police guard but he has not been arrested, the regional supreme court said.

Earlier reports said there was a second driver on the train, but it is believed Mr Garzon was the only driver at the time.

He is believed to have taken control of the train from a second driver about 65 miles south of Santiago de Compostela.

An aerial view of the carnage caused by the derailment

According to reports, one of the drivers realised what was about to happen before the crash and made a desperate call to Renfe ahead of the bend, saying: "I'm going at 190kmh, I'm going to derail."

In a second call to Renfe after the accident, the driver explained that he was trapped in the train.

"We are human, we are human," he is reported to have said. "I hope there are no dead because they would fall on my conscience."

Two investigations are being carried out into the catastrophe - one to look into possible failings by the driver and the other to examine the train's in-built speed regulation systems and see if it was a technical malfunction that meant the driver was not warned of the reduced speed limit around the bend.

Many questions remain unanswered about what went wrong, with some experts claiming that high speed alone would not explain the crash and speculation that the train's braking systems might have failed.

The impact was so huge one carriage flew several metres into the air

Reporting from the scene, Sky News Europe Correspondent Robert Nisbet said investigators would be focusing on the statements made by the driver immediately after the derailment.

Nisbet pointed to further reports from Spanish media suggesting the driver had told officials at Santiago de Compostela train station that an electronic warning signal was flashing inside the driver's cabin to indicate he was going to fast.

"He is said to have pressed a button to acknowledge the warning but still apparently did not slow down," Nisbet said.

State train company Renfe said Mr Garzon had been at the firm for 30 years and he had been driving trains for more than a decade. He became a an assistant driver in 2000 and a fully qualified driver in 2003.

Meanwhile, medical experts are continuing to try to identify 13 of the victims as distraught families continue to wait for news about their loved ones.

Relatives of passengers on the train wait for news of their loved ones

DNA tests are expected to be carried out on those with catastrophic injuries to identify them, with results available in the coming days.

The victims of the crash included a US citizen and a Mexican. At least one British citizen and four children were among the 95 people injured. Just over 30 of those in hospital are still critically ill.

Video footage from a security camera showed the train, which had 247 people on board, hurtling into a concrete wall at the side of the track.

The impact was so huge one carriage flew several metres into the air and landed on the other side of a concrete barrier.

The Alvia 730 series train was travelling from Madrid to the port city of Ferrol when it crashed about 8.40pm local time - 7.40pm UK time - on Wednesday.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy visits the scene of the crash

The crash occurred on the eve of a major Christian religious festival honouring St James, the disciple of Jesus whose remains are said to rest in a shrine.

Many of the dead or injured were believed to be Catholic pilgrims converging on the city.

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who was born in Santiago de Compostela, visited the scene of the crash on Thursday and declared three days of official mourning across the country.  King Juan Carlos also visited one of the hospitals where many passengers are being treated.

Local reaction to the crash has been such that an appeal for blood donations resulted in hospitals having to turn people away because they could not cope with the demand. Many local hotels are also offering free rooms to relatives of those involved.

Wednesday's train crash is the worst Spain has experienced since a three-train accident in a tunnel in the northern Leon province in 1944.

Due to heavy censorship at the time, the exact death toll for the Torre del Bierzo disaster has never been established.

The official figure was given as 78 dead, but it is thought that as many as 250 could have been killed.

There was another serious accident in Spain in 1972 when a Madrid to Cadiz express collided head-on with a local train on the outskirts of Seville. A total of 77 people died, with more than 100 injured.

The latest crash comes less than two weeks after six people were killed and scores injured in a train crash just south of Paris.

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River Wear Deaths: Two Teenage Girls Named

Two teenage girls who died while swimming in the River Wear have been named by police.

Chloe Fowler, 14, from Shiney Row, near Sunderland, and Tonibeth Purvis, 15, from Barmston, were spotted in the water near Fatfield, Washington, Tyne and Wear, at around 3pm on Tuesday.

An off-duty policeman and a member of the public tried to save the girls after they got into difficulties.

A boy who also tried to help was pulled to safety by the police officer, before around 100 emergency service personnel joined the search and rescue effort.

Fire crews, one in a dinghy searching the river, joined police specialists and a coastguard team.

Fatfield Bridge in Washington where the two girls were swimming

They searched into the evening when a police helicopter was brought in and its searchlight used to light up the river.

The girls' bodies were recovered by police dive teams last night, leaving the dozens of people gathered at the river banks in a state of shock at the news.

A Northumbria Police spokesman confirmed that the two bodies had been found and taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital.

The families of both girls had been informed, he added.

Sky's Gerard Tubb, at the scene, said: "A real tragedy - this was the heatwave turning to disaster by all accounts.

"The girls had apparently been jumping in the river, cooling off with, we think, a group of friends, then tragedy struck."

Paul Cronin, 63, who lives nearby, saw one of the men who had attempted a rescue.

Rescue teams searched for the girls into the evening

He told Sky Tyne and Wear: "There's a fella, come running up the park in his boxer shorts, screaming, 'can you swim?'

"He dived in from the other side and tried to rescue her, got into difficulties himself. I ran down to the river to the point where he came out ... heard some screaming a little further down."

Friends took to Twitter to express their shock at the death of the two teenagers.

One user, @Michael--Hall96, said: "I'll never step foot in that river again, not taking life for granted anymore!! RIP toni purvis and chloe fowler."

And @shannon97xxxxxx wrote: "cant get over whats happened, rip toni beth and chloe fowlerx."

Another user, @laurenlsmithx, said: "Rest in peace Toni-Beth Purvis and Chloe Fowler, rest in peace angels, you will both be such a big miss."

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Conmen Used £85m Fraud Cash For Jets And Cars

Three conmen have been jailed after leaving thousands of people penniless as they splashed stolen money on cars, jets and yachts.

Richard Pope makes an obscene gesture while driving a sports car

Richard Pope, Paul Gunter and Simon Odoni lived a life of luxury while defrauding at least 2,300 Britons, many of whom lost their entire life savings and one of whom was driven to suicide.

They were jailed at a court in Florida, where Gunter, 64, was sentenced to 25 years, Odoni, 56, to 13 years and four months, and Pope, 55, to four years and nine months.

Paul Gunter on the No Slack vessel purchased by Richard Pope

Detective Inspector Kerrie Gower said: "Pope, Gunter and Odoni are amongst the most ruthless and destructive criminals the City of London Police have ever dealt with and deserve every day they will spend behind bars in America.

"Unfortunately this sentencing will not repair the huge damage they caused to the lives of thousands of people who were simply looking for a safe place to invest their money, but hopefully it will bring a measure of comfort and a sense of closure to those caught up in what was fraud committed on a truly massive scale."

The Ferrari owned by conman Simon Odoni

The £85m ($130m) scam, a so-called boiler room fraud where unsuspecting investors hand over cash for worthless shares, was one of the biggest of its kind ever uncovered in the UK.

A total of seven defendants were charged in March 2009, and two years later Pope, originally from St Albans, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

Gunter, from London, and Odoni, also from St Albans, went on trial in March this year, forcing three British victims to fly from the UK to Florida to face them in court.

Cabanas in the Dominican beach property bought by Paul Gunter

Another three were too ill to travel, but gave evidence in the UK and the video footage was played as part of the trial. Gunter and Odoni were found guilty in May.

DI Gower said they used the stolen money to fund their lifestyle partying on yachts, driving sports cars including a Ferrari and travelling in a private jet.

"These were arrogant criminals who were just ripping off UK investors," she said.

Richard Pope has been jailed for over four years

"We have 26 properties down in relation to Paul Gunter alone."

Police said he and Odoni, who was hiding in the Dominican Republic to avoid extradition for his crimes, had so far shown no remorse.

Odoni was only caught when a flight he was on suffered engine trouble and had to unexpectedly divert to Miami. He therefore had to land on US soil and was arrested.

Their thousands of victims included Mark Goswami, who tragically took his own life after he was defrauded of more than £70,000.

Police photo of Simon Odoni (l) and Paul Gunter

DI Gower said she was shocked by the devastation that the fraud had caused.

"I don't think people realise the impact that fraud can have, and just what these individuals have done.

"Some of the victims have died and will never see an end to what was going on. They are probably the most arrogant criminals that I've come across."

The scam began in 2004 when the trio stole details of dormant publicly traded companies to use for their fraud.

Conmen Paul Gunter and Richard Pope on their boat

They employed hundreds of staff in call centres in Spain, who would phone potential victims and lure them into buying the shares.

The gang used a website to trick their targets into thinking that their investments were moving up or down to persuade them to pump in more cash, or as an excuse for why they were losing money.

Staff, who made around 50 cold calls each per day, would use high pressure sales techniques and lied that members of their own families had invested money.

Pope, Gunter and Odoni's jail terms come at the end of a seven-year investigation involving City of London Police, US authorities, the Serious Fraud Office and Norfolk Police.

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Royal Baby: World Still Guessing Over Name

Prince William and his wife Kate are still undecided about what to call their son.

The Duchess of Cambridge cradled their one-day-old boy in her arms as she and her husband walked down the steps of the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in London on Tuesday.

The couple posed for pictures and then she gently passed the baby, swaddled in a white blanket, to William as photographers continued to snap away.

Kate waves to the crowds outside the hospital

They walked towards the waiting throng of world media and the Prince told them jokingly in a relaxed fashion: "He's got a good pair of lungs on him, that's for sure. He's a big boy, he's quite heavy."

The Duke, 31, also revealed they had not yet decided what to call their son, saying: "We are still working on a name so we will have that as soon as we can."

He added: "It's the first time we have seen him really, so we are having a proper chance to catch up."

The Duchess said: "It's very emotional, it's such a special time. I think any parent will know what this feeling feels like."

Her husband also told the media it was "very emotional" and "very special".

William, wearing a light blue shirt and dark trousers, added "He's got her looks, thankfully", while Kate replied "No, no, I'm not sure about that".

And the Prince joked: "He's got way more (hair) than me, thank God."

William cradles his infant son

His wife, who was wearing her sapphire and diamond engagement ring which once belonged to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, revealed he was a hands-on dad, saying he had already changed his first nappy.

The Lindo Wing was the same place where William and his brother Harry were born.

After speaking to reporters and waving at the large crowds, William and Kate then went back inside to put the new Prince - the third in line to the throne - in a baby seat.

Charles and Diana with baby William outside the Lindo Wing in 1982

Moments later, they came outside for a second time and the Duke placed the youngster in a waiting Range Rover.

A smiling Prince then got behind the wheel and 31-year-old Kate, who was sitting on the back seat, waved with her son next to her.

The family returned home to Kensington Palace.

William and Kate address the world's media following the birth

The Royal baby, who will have the title Prince of Cambridge, was born at 4.24pm on Monday, weighing 8lb 6oz (3.798kg).

Kensington Palace officials later revealed that William had slept in the same room as the Duchess and was at her bedside during her labour. The couple had spent the rest of Monday getting to know the child and making phone calls to family.

On Tuesday, the child's grandparents visited the family separately.

The Prince waves to the crowds

Prince Charles, arriving with the Duchess of Cornwall, said his first grandchild was "marvellous", while Kate's mother Carole Middleton, accompanied by husband Michael, earlier told the media the child was "absolutely beautiful".

The first-time parents now want some private, quiet time at Kensington Palace, but it not known how long they will spend there.

Officials said the couple had been aware of the large media interest in the birth.

Meanwhile, the Queen has said she was "thrilled" at the arrival of her great-grandson, according to a guest at a Buckingham Palace reception.

Large crowds turned out to see the family

Celebrations have taken place in London and across the country to honour the Royal arrival.

Guardsmen marked the changing of the guard outside Buckingham Palace by playing Congratulations and gun salutes sounded across the capital to mark the special occasion.

The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and the Honourable Artillery Company carried out the ceremonial royal salutes in honour of the new addition to the Royal Family.

This included a 41-gun salute at London's Green Park and 62 rounds fired at the Tower of London.

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Royal Baby Boy: Three Kings To Follow Queen

By Jason Farrell, Sky Correspondent

The Queen, it seems, will be succeeded by at least three kings.

The baby Prince of Cambridge is third in line to the throne after his grandfather Charles and father William.

This is only the second time in Royal history that there has been three generations of successors alive at the same time as the reigning monarch.

Queen Victoria's reign was so long her son, who would become Edward VII, was both a father - to the future George V - and grandfather - to the eventual Edward VIII - before her death in January 1901.

Queen Victoria reigned until 1901

Constitutional expert Professor Robert Hazell, from University College London, told Sky News: "Monarchs are living longer, so the successors are starting in the job much later.

"Look at Prince Charles; at his age he should be approaching retirement, but he has been in an apprenticeship his whole adult life.

"The job he was born to do hasn't started yet."

Children born on the same day as the new prince will receive a commemorative Royal Mint penny.

When Charles was born in 1948 children born on the same day were given food parcels.

"It wasn't what you might expect," said Audrey Collins from the National Archive.

"They didn't get medals or china. They got margarine and bacon. It was a time of rationing after the war, so the gift would have been gratefully received by the children's families."

Ahead of the new Royal birth the big issue had been the right of a first-born girl not to lose the succession to a younger brother.

The Succession Act of 2013 still needs to be ratified in some Commonwealth countries, and it is hoped the birth of a boy will not reduce the momentum of this change.

It seems, however, that after the reign of Queen Elizabeth we may have a long wait before there is the chance of another female monarch.

If the Prince of Cambridge lives as long as Her Majesty he could still be king at the turn of the century.

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Royal Baby: Reaction From Around The World

Messages of congratulations have been sent from around the world after the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a baby boy.

US President Barack Obama said the new prince had been born "at a time of promise and opportunity" between Britain and America.

He said he and First Lady Michelle Obama wished Prince William and his wife "all the happiness and blessings parenthood brings".

The US leader said the prince had been born in a time of new opportunity

US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, recently informed by the New England Genealogical Society that she is a distant relative of the Duchess, tweeted her congratulations.

"It's a boy! So happy for my cousin Kate and the future King of England," she wrote.

Other celebrities also offered their best wishes on Twitter.

Comedian Joan Rivers said: "Congratulations to Kate & William on the birth of their baby boy! So relieved that his name won't include the words Ivy or Apple."

US entertainer Ellen DeGeneres added her congratulations

Actor Stephen Fry poked fun at how news of the Royal baby was announced outside Buckingham Palace, tweeting: "The official easel. We really are a marvellously bonkers country..."

TV star Cheryl Cole wrote: "Congratulations to William and Kate!! So happy they have a healthy baby and everyone is good. Can't wait to see him now."

In the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Parliament Hill was illuminated with blue lights - as were the country's famous Niagara Falls.

Canada's Governor General was among the first international dignitaries to congratulate the couple as their first day of parenting began.

He used Twitter to send a message to Clarence House, saying: "Wonderful news!"

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the arrival of a future sovereign of Canada is a "highly anticipated moment for Canadians given the special and warm relationship that we share with our Royal Family".

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also offered his congratulations, saying: "This is bright and and wonderful news for both England and the world."

Australian PM Kevin Rudd welcomed the Royal "bub" in a statement

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said: "I think all Australians at the bottom of their hearts wish the Royal bub all the best, and certainly wish the new parents all the best as well.

"When a new bub comes into the world, any old day, any part of the world, it is frankly a time for rejoicing."

He also announced the country's quirky gift to the baby prince - a research project examining the Australian marsupial the bilby.

"In terms of cute and cuddly toys, it'll be a cute and cuddly bilby," he said.

Celebrations are being held across the globe today to mark the special occasion, including gun salutes across London.

The story led many of the US news networks' bulletins

Royalist group Monarchy New Zealand said it had organised a lightshow, with 40 buildings lit up in blue, including Sky Tower in Auckland, and the airport in Christchurch.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said: "It's a fabulous day for the young couple. They'll be very excited as new parents as indeed I think New Zealanders will be very excited on their behalf.

"I mean, this is a future king of New Zealand. I think it's a moment to stay for them and we'll be celebrating alongside them as they bring their new one into the world."

Residents in Jamaica and Barbados, both members of the Commonwealth, also congratulated the couple.

Britain's biggest selling newspaper changed its name in honour

"Well it's good to know that a baby is born and it's of royalty. It means a lot to us, not only to me but I guess to most of the Jamaican people," said Kingston resident Pauline Wilson.

Media outlets around the world have been gripped by the arrival of the Royal baby.

The story has featured highly on most foreign news channels and websites, with many focusing on the image of a town crier announcing the birth in London.

"It's a Boy!" was splashed across many UK front pages, with The Sun temporarily changing its name to "The Son" in honour of the tiny monarch-in-waiting.

The baby may become the head of state of 16 countries, including Britain, Australia and Canada, and possibly the head of the Commonwealth, which covers 54 nations.

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Royal Baby: Kate And Son Due To Leave Hospital

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected to leave hospital later, giving the world the first glimpse of their newborn prince.

The Royal baby boy, whose name has not yet been revealed, was born at 4.24pm on Monday, weighing 8lb 6oz (3.798kg).

Prince William was at his wife's bedside at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London during the birth.

The Duchess spent the night in hospital, as did her husband. It is widely expected that she and William will leave the hospital with the future king in their arms at some point today.

Crowds are gathered outside the hospital in anticipation. The world's media are also waiting with cameras at the ready to snap the first pictures of the Royal heir.

Crowds are waiting outside the hospital hoping to see the new baby

It is understood the new family will go back to Kensington Palace.

But it is not yet known how the Royals will negotiate putting their newborn into a car seat, as required by law.

No such legislation existed when Prince Charles and Princess Diana left the hospital in 1982 after the birth of Prince William. 

News of the birth was issued in a statement by Kensington Palace at 8.30pm on Monday.

A very brief statement from the Duke, speaking on behalf of himself and the Duchess, added: "We could not be happier."

William telephoned his family to tell them the good news, speaking personally to the Queen, his father Prince Charles and younger brother Prince Harry.

Various celebrations will be held later to mark the special occasion, including gun salutes across London.

At 11am a changing of the guard will take place outside Buckingham Palace, playing 'Congratulations'.

And at 2pm the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and the Honourable Artillery Company will both carry out the ceremonial salutes in honour of the new addition to the Royal Family. There will be a 41 gun salute at Green Park and 62 gun salute at the Tower of London.

Gun salutes are fired for the birth of every prince or princess, no matter where their place is within the line of succession, the Ministry of Defence said.

The birth was announced on an easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace

Meanwhile, a huge queue of people eager to get a photo of the easel displaying the official Royal birth announcement has formed outside Buckingham Palace.

Officials said it will be on show on the forecourt for about 24 hours after confirmation of the birth, meaning is is likely to be removed soon after 8pm tonight. 

Many people told Sky News they had come before work as they expect larger crowds later.

Kashmira, 31 and from Hertfordshire, told Sky News: "I didn't really want to come last night when it was so hot but it's such a historical event I couldn't not come."

Lauren, 27, from Surrey, said she popped by on her way to the office, adding: "It's a pretty prestigious event so I dashed here before work. It's so exciting."

Queues forming outside Buckingham Palace to see the official announcement

Police and security have been putting up barriers to keep the queue orderly.

The jubilation of last night has died down but hundreds of people, from all over the world, still want their slice of the Royal baby excitement.

The Weiner family from Los Angeles, US, told Sky News that they were glad their holiday to the UK coincided with the baby news. They said came to the Palace to take a photo of the announcement because "it's a once in a lifetime opportunity".

There is also great anticipation surrounding the name of the new third in line to the throne, who will be known as the Prince of Cambridge.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge did not find out if their baby was going to be a boy or girl prior to the birth, meaning they are believed to have considered a stock of names for a future monarch of either sex.

Celebrations are taking place across the world

George, James, Alexander, Louis and Henry are among the favourites at the bookmakers.

The Queen will be informed of the baby's name before it is announced, which may be even be weeks away.

The Prince of Wales, who has become a grandfather for the first time, summed up the feelings of the Royal Family when he described the new arrival as an "incredibly special moment".

In a statement he said: "Both my wife and I are overjoyed at the arrival of my first grandchild.

"It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy.

New Yorkers were informed of the birth via a news ticker in Times Square

"Grandparenthood is a unique moment in anyone's life, as countless kind people have told me in recent months, so I am enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time and we are eagerly looking forward to seeing the baby in the near future."

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are delighted at the news."

William's uncle and brother of the late Princess Diana also described his joy at the new Royal baby.

Earl Spencer said: "We're all so pleased: it's wonderful news.

"My father always told us how Diana was born on just such a blisteringly hot day, at Sandringham, in July 1961. It's another very happy summer's day, half a century on."

David Cameron meanwhile declared the birth "an important moment in the life of our nation".

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Royal Baby: How Kate Handled Her Pregnancy

The Duchess of Cambridge has managed her pregnancy with panache, despite a testing schedule and early difficulties.

:: December 3, 2012: It is announced that the Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant as she is admitted to King Edward VII's Hospital in central London.

:: December 5: Australian DJs play a prank on the hospital in a telephone call in which they pretend to be the Queen live on air and are put through to a nurse caring for the Duchess.

:: December 6: Kate is released from hospital.

:: December 17: The Duchess makes her first appearance since leaving hospital presenting Sir Bradley Wiggins with the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award.

The couple leave King Edward VII's Hospital in December

:: December 25: Kate spends Christmas quietly with Prince William and her parents at their home in Bucklebury, Berkshire.

:: January 9, 2013: It is announced that under new rules the child of the Duke and Duchess will take the throne whether it is a boy or a girl.

:: January 11: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend the National Portrait Gallery where her first official portrait in unveiled.

:: February 5: The royal couple take a "babymoon" on the Caribbean island of Mustique

:: February 19: During a visit to Hope House addiction treatment centre in London, the Duchess says she is "nervous" about the birth.

:: March 2: The couple travel to the ski resort of Arosa in Switzerland for a friend's wedding.

The Duchess chats to Jessica Ennis-Hill at Sports Personality of the Year

:: March 17: The Duchess tells a soldier at a St Patrick's Day parade that she would like a boy and Prince William a girl.

:: March 20: The Duchess is given a "baby on board" badge as she joins the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to mark 150th anniversary of the Tube.

:: April 4: Kate admits taking up knitting ahead of the birth during a trip to Scotland. She said: "I've been trying to knit and I'm really bad. I should be asking for tips."

:: April 21: Now noticeably pregnant, the Duchess carries out the National Review of Queen's Scouts at Windsor Castle.

:: April 26: She joins Princes William and Harry at the Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, where the Harry Potter films were made and duels with William after being given her own wand.

Kate at the National Review of Queen's Scouts at Windsor Castle in April

:: April 29: The Duchess spends part of her second wedding anniversary celebrating Children's Hospice Week with a visit to Naomi House Children's Hospice in Hampshire, while William, an RAF search and rescue pilot, was on duty in north Wales.

:: May 20: The Royal couple attend the wedding of close friends William van Cutsem and Rosie Ruck Keene in Oxfordshire.

:: June 4: Kate attends the service marking the 60th anniversary of the Queen's Coronation at Westminster Abbey.

:: June 13: Kate carries out her final solo engagement ahead of the birth as she names a new cruise liner - Royal Princess - in Southampton.

Kate casts a spell visiting the Warner Bros studios in April

:: June 15: Kate makes her last public appearance before heading off on maternity leave at the Trooping the Colour parade.

:: July 14: Kate leaves London to rest at her parents' home in Bucklebury ahead of the birth.

:: July 22: It is announced the Duchess is in the first stages of labour at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital.

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Royal Baby Name: Kate And Wills' Big Decision

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

It's one of the hottest questions around, but whatever William and Kate name their first-born, it will likely set a trend for the next generation of babies.

And on choosing the name for their new arrival, the royal couple will take the opportunity to pay tribute to those nearest and dearest to them, so long as it is a name that befits the future monarch.

William and Kate have plenty of names to draw on - members of the Royal Family often have three other names in addition to their Christian names: William Arthur Philip Louis is the Duke of Cambridge's full name.

At the end of an extraordinary few years for the Royal Family which have included celebrations surrounding the Diamond Jubilee and concern about the health of the monarch and her husband Prince Philip, the names Elizabeth and Philip are obvious contenders.

"Since the pregnancy was announced Elizabeth has been the name on everyone's lips, but in recent weeks that momentum has shifted towards Alexandra (the Queen's middle name) and Charlotte," explained Jessica Bridge from bookmaker Ladbrokes.

"The largest bet placed on the market was £1,000 on Elizabeth by a punter in Northamptonshire. It's the biggest and most exciting novelty betting event in history, so it's not hard to imagine why people are parting with their hard-earned cash on the future King or Queen."

Diana and Frances - Diana, Princess of Wales' first and middle names - have been widely discussed.

Prince William and Catherine married in April 2011

Frances was also the Duchess of Cambridge's great great great grandmother's name and Francis, her father's middle name. Frances was also the Christian name of Diana's mother, Frances Shand Kydd.

The Duke and Duchess will notify the Queen of their chosen names more as a matter of courtesy than for her approval.

"The Queen is so down to earth that she is not likely to jump up and down and insist the baby be called George or Charles," explains royal writer Christopher Warwick.

"This isn't going to be 'Granny, do you approve?' but more 'These are the names we've chosen, do you like them?'."

It hasn't always been such a relaxed affair. When the Duke and Duchess of York had their second daughter - Margaret Rose in 1930 - they were planning to call her Ann Margaret, but changed their mind after learning George V disliked the name Ann.

And Queen Victoria insisted that the name Albert be used as a middle name, if not a first name, in honour of her consort Prince Albert.

But the Queen has gone a step further when it comes to Kate and William's baby to ensure a baby girl be given a royal title on a par with that of a baby boy.

Thanks to a Letters Patent, Kate's bundle of joy will be called HRH Prince or Princess (name) of Cambridge. Without it, a baby girl would have been a Lady rather than Princess.

Royal baby names are not always revealed straight away often leaving the public to guess for days. It took a week to announce William's name and a whole month before the public found out the Prince of Wales would be Christened Charles.

There is no hard and fast rule over how quickly William and Kate will name their baby, but after Kensington Palace revealed the couple chose not to find out its gender beforehand, a choice of name may take a little longer than expected.

And whether boy or girl, thanks to intervention by the Queen using the new Letters Patent, the newborn will be a Prince or Princess and carry the tittle Cambridge, like its parents.

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Royal Baby: Duchess Of Cambridge In Labour

Place In History For New Royal Baby

Updated: 8:30am UK, Monday 22 July 2013

By Alastair Bruce, Sky News Royal Commentator

For the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and for all of us, the wait is nearly over and, for the first time ever, the United Kingdom awaits the birth of a child that will take its guaranteed place in the order of succession to the throne as a future sovereign.

Hitherto, the gender of the baby was significant. A baby princess would have raised a muffled hooray because the subsequent birth of a prince would have displaced her claim in his favour. Not any more.

The Succession to the Crown Act, which was passed through Parliament in the closing months of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee last year, ended this ancient practice of favouring men over women.

Interestingly, this legislation, which is to be passed by all 16 nations over which the British monarch is head of state, is not retrospective.

This means that the order of succession that existed before October 2012 remains unaltered. It only affects those born after the Act.

So, the Queen's sons Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and their children still take precedence over their elder sister, Princess Anne.

This detail, which will test the concentration of most royal genealogists trying to plot the order of succession in the future, presumably saves the Crown from claims to the throne from the descendants of people like Queen Victoria's eldest child, who was female and also called Victoria.

She was parcelled off to marry the future king of Prussia and became mother of the infamous Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany.

Arguably, his heirs might have claimed to be Britain's rightful monarch.

Not for the Duke of Cambridge then the anguish of Henry VIII, who feared the end of his insecure new Tudor dynasty when successive wives only bore him princesses.

Instead, Prince William knows that the child his wife delivers will be welcomed by a nation that rightly shapes the monarchy through Parliament to meet the needs of a changing world.

But tradition will play out in the manner of the royal birth's announcement.

Despite the thicket of journalists that camp opposite the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London's Paddington, the weight, gender and time of birth of this future monarch will be communicated through a "Notice of Birth".

This document stands ready for the key details to be filled in before a member of the royal household will convey it to the Privy Purse Door of Buckingham Palace.

Waiting there will be a frame. Once securely framed a footman will place it on an easel by the railings for the world to know.

At the same time the Army will bring out the saluting guns to fire a salute.

This child will not be born a boy or girl, as would be the case for any other birth, but either a prince or princess. This is a royal difference and was only enabled recently.

The Queen stepped in to change the rule established by George V in 1917, which restricted princely rank and the prefix of Royal Highness to the grandchildren of a sovereign and no further.

Because the Duke of Cambridge is in the direct line, the Queen has decided that his children will be given the title of prince or princess.

The title of the child will therefore be His (or Her) Royal Highness Prince (or Princess) [first name] of Cambridge.

There has only been one occasion before when a monarch has lived to see the great grandchild who would ultimately inherit the throne.

This was when the future Edward VIII was born during the reign of Queen Victoria.

This nation marks its passing history through the reigns of kings and queens.

One day, that story may be identified through the reign of this coming baby.

No wonder there is such interest and perhaps this makes it the more understandable that the palace has taken trouble to remind us that this is a very private moment for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

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Trayvon: Jay Z And Beyonce At Protest Rally

The parents of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teenager shot dead in Florida, have joined protesters during a day of demonstrations across the United States.

The 17-year-old's mother, Sybrina Fulton, addressed the crowd in New York, backed by music stars Jay Z and Beyonce, who joined campaigners in a moment of prayer.

Protests were held in more than 100 US cities, sparked by the acquittal of Neighbourhood Watch volunteer George Zimmerman.

He was found not guilty of killing Trayvon during an altercation in a gated community in February 2012, after successfully arguing he was protecting himself when he shot the youngster.

Trayvon's death has become a flashpoint in national debates over self-defence laws, guns, and race relations.

Thousands of people have joined protests across the United States

Mrs Fulton told protesters: "Trayvon may not have been perfect, but he was mine. We loved him, we supported him, we cared for him, just like you do your kids.

"Of course we're hurting, of course we're shocked and disappointed. But that just means that we have to roll up our sleeves and continue to fight."

Meanwhile, Trayvon's father, Tracy Martin, spoke at a vigil in Miami.

He vowed to "fight for Trayvon until the day I die", adding: "This could be any one of our children. Our mission now is to make sure that this doesn't happen to your child."

The rallies came after President Barack Obama spoke publicly about Trayvon's death and the deep frustrations felt among African Americans over the not guilty verdict.

Trayvon Martin (L) was shot by George Zimmerman

"Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago," he told reporters.

Praising the "incredible grace and dignity" shown by Trayvon's parents, the president said "some soul-searching" on race was in order.

Although he did not comment directly on the Florida verdict, he called for a review of controversial "stand your ground" laws, which allow citizens to use lethal force - rather than retreat - if they sense their lives are at risk.

"I just ask people to consider if Trayvon Martin was of age and armed, could he have stood his ground on that sidewalk?" Mr Obama asked.

"And do we actually think that he would have been justified in shooting Mr Zimmerman who had followed him in a car because he felt threatened?"

President Obama said Trayvon could have been him 35 years ago

Trayvon's parents said they were "deeply honoured and moved" by Mr Obama's comments.

"President Obama sees himself in Trayvon and identifies with him," they said in a statement. "This is a beautiful tribute to our boy."

As well as appealing for a review of the self-defence law, campaigners are pushing the US Justice Department to investigate filing federal civil rights charges against Mr Zimmerman.

Such a case would require evidence that he harboured racial animosity against Trayvon.

Mr Zimmerman's lawyers say the shooting was not driven by race but by a desire to protect his neighbourhood after a spate of burglaries.

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Mosque Blasts Suspect Held Over OAP's Murder

One of two Ukrainian men being held in connection to bomb attacks near three mosques in the West Midlands has been arrested over the murder of a 75-year-old man.

West Midlands Police say the 25-year-old terror suspect was arrested in relation to "a further act of terrorism".

A police spokesman said: "This arrest is in connection with the murder of Mohammed Saleem in Small Heath, Birmingham on Monday April 29."

The stabbing death of Mr Saleem, a highly-regarded and well-known figure in the local community, was described by detectives at the time as a "despicable" attack on a defenceless pensioner.

Debris from a device was found close to a mosque in Wolverhampton

A joint family statement read during a press conference at West Midlands Police headquarters on May 2 described Mr Saleem as "a much-loved and respected community member".

The statement read: "We can't express our feelings of sadness and devastation.

"It's hard to accept that our beloved father and grandfather has been taken from us in such a brutal way."

On Saturday, counter-terrorism officers were granted extra time to question the Ukrainian nationals in connection with the explosions.

A sitting of Westminster Magistrates' Court granted officers up to seven days to question the men, who were initially detained on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.

Following the men's arrest, the "seat of an explosion and debris" were found on a roundabout near the Wolverhampton Central Mosque.

Police believe the debris came from a device that exploded on the city's Fiveways roundabout at about 9.15am on June 28.

The remnants of a home-made explosive device were found outside a mosque in Walsall on Saturday June 22, and another device, containing nails, exploded near a mosque in Binfield Road, Tipton, on July 12.

Another device containing nails exploded near a mosque in Tipton

No one was injured by any of the explosions.

Speaking after police were granted further time to question the two suspects, Assistant Chief Consatble Marcus Beale said: "We continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the three explosions and are appealing to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious around these dates to contact us.

"We do not underestimate the impact this will have on communities across the West Midlands.

"The support of all communities has been fantastic with wider faith communities coming together to show solidarity.

"I would appeal to people, if you have the smallest piece of information that my help the investigation then please contact us on 101 at the earliest opportunity."

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