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.

Doctors at a field hospital said another 1,000 people had been wounded in clashes on the road to Cairo's international airport.

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

He said the shooting started just before pre-dawn prayers at a round-the-clock sit-in staged by Morsi supporters at Rabaa al-Adawiya in east Cairo.

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

Activists rushed blood-spattered casualties to the makeshift hospital, some carried on planks or blankets. Many had fatal head wounds.

A Reuters reporter at the scene counted 36 bodies at an improvised morgue.

Amid claims that rooftop snipers had opened fire on the vigil, Egypt's interior ministry blamed the Brotherhood for the violence.

An Apache helicopter flies over Tahrir Square during the protests

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.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement that he was "deeply concerned" by the violence.

He said: "I am deeply concerned by recent events in Egypt, and condemn the use of force against protesters which has led to the loss of lives."

Protesters stand on power lines near Cairo's presidential palace

The violence broke out 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.

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.

Lasers are pointed at an army helicopter near the palace

At least 10 people have also been killed 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.

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.

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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China: Toddler Pulled From Pram And 'Murdered'

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12:10pm UK, Saturday 27 July 2013

The baby made no noise after being dropped, according to reports (file pic)

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Train Crash Driver Held For Reckless Homicide

The driver of a train that derailed in northern Spain killing 78 passengers is being detained for "reckless homicide".

More follows...

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Welby Defends Wonga After Church Link Emerges

The Archbishop of Canterbury has insisted he was not picking on Wonga after it emerged the Church of England invests in the payday loan firm.

The Most Reverend Justin Welby admitted being "irritated" and "embarrassed" by the revelation but went on to heap praise on Wonga and its management.

Mr Welby hailed the company for its professionalism and suggested it was far from the worst organisation in the loan sector.

The link between the Church and the firm emerged hours after the Archbishop said he wanted to force Wonga out of business by expanding credit unions.

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

Until the report emerged, Mr Welby had no idea about the connection.

Sources suggested he was "furious" but on Friday, in a lengthy interview, he merely said: "I was irritated for a few minutes but, you know, these things happen."

Justin Welby: 'It's very embarrassing'

He did admit the affair was "very embarrassing" and vowed to investigate, signalling there could be a review of the Church's entire investment portfolio.

But he said: "I never took on Wonga in particular. The context was talking about the entire payday lender movement.

"Wonga is actually a very professionally managed company. Errol Damelin, the chief executive is a very clever man, [who] runs it extremely well."

Despite praising the company, he said he was still unhappy about the Church's investment.

"They shouldn't be investing in Wonga. We don't think that's a good thing," he told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme.

And he insisted he was not backtracking on his commitment to clamp down on the industry, which is currently the subject of a Competition Commission probe.

"We need to provide a proper alternative to these very, very costly forms of finance. The worst people are not Wonga. There are plenty of others much worse," he said.

Mr Welby said Church policy allows investments in a company where 25% of its business is in the loan area, indicating the arrangement with Wonga may be against its rules.

"I think we have to review these levels and make sure we are consistent between what we're saying and what we're doing," he said.

The Archbishop conceded that it was almost impossible for the Church to make an investment that was not somehow tainted.

He said: "If you exclude any contact with anything that directly or indirectly gets in any way bad, you can't do anything at all."

Lambeth Palace has said it will ask the Assets Committee of the Church Commissioners to investigate the link to Wonga and review the holding.

It added: "We will also be requesting the Church Commissioners to investigate whether there are any other inconsistencies as normally all investment policies are reviewed by the Ethical Investment Advisory Group (EIAG)."

Mr Welby is seeking to expand the reach of credit unions as part of a long-term campaign to boost competition in the banking sector and clamp down on short-term loan firms.

The Government announced an investment of £38m in credit unions in April to help them offer an alternative option to payday lenders.

The Office of Fair Trading referred the entire payday lending industry, which is worth £2bn, to the Competition Commission last month after finding "deep-rooted" problems.

It said it decided to make the referral because it continues to suspect that features of the market "prevent, restrict or distort competition".

Wonga said in March that it welcomed any attempt to encourage responsible lending and that it has been "instrumental" in helping to raise industry standards.

Mr Damelin, its founder, said: "The Archbishop is clearly an exceptional individual and someone who understands the power of innovation.

"There is mutual respect, some differing opinions and a meeting of minds on many big issues.

"On the competition point, we always welcome fresh approaches that give people a fuller set of alternatives to solve their financial challenges. I'm all for better consumer choice."

The company has launched a new advertising campaign setting out "ten commitments" about its lending practices in an apparent tongue-in-cheek reaction to the Archbishop's original remarks.

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Stuart Hall: Judges Retire To Consider Appeal

Judges at an appeal hearing to determine whether broadcaster Stuart Hall's sentence for sexual assault was "unduly lenient" have retired to consider their verdict.

The broadcaster, who appeared in court via video link, will find out if he has to spend more time in prison for assaulting several girls the youngest of who was nine.

At the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Attorney General Dominic Grieve told the packed courtroom: "The total sentence of 15 months' imprisonment for 14 incidents of indecent assault committed against 13 female victims aged between the ages of nine and 17 ... failed adequately to reflect the gravity of the totality of the offences, and the public concern about offences of this nature.

Attorney General Dominic Grieve said Hall's sentence was 'unduly lenient'

"Some of the sentences should have been made to run consecutively, so that the total sentence passed reflected the culpability of the offender, the harm caused and to deter others". 

Hall's QC Crispin Aylett argued there was "nothing wrong" with the sentence imposed. He told the court: "If the object was to see this man punished, disgraced and financially ruined then all of that has been more than achieved."

Hall, 83, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, admitted 14 counts of indecent assault 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.

At Hall's original sentencing, Mr Aylett 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.

The judges verdict is expected some time after 11.30am

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'Speeding' Train Crash Driver Held By Police

Police have formally detained the driver of a train that derailed in Spain, killing at least 78 passengers and injuring another 130.

The driver, who has been named by local media as 52-year-old Francisco Jose Garzon and has been under police guard in hospital since the crash on Wednesday night, is being held for "recklessness", Spanish police said.

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

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.

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).

Mr Garzon boasted about speeding on his Facebook page

As the investigation turned its focus more and more towards human error, the Spanish press revealed that immediately after the derailment the driver allegedly said to officials at the railway station 3km from the crash: "I ***** up, I want to die. So many people dead, so many people dead."

Witnesses are also 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, had ordered police to take a statement from the driver.

Mr Garzon reportedly suffered minor injuries, with pictures showing him being led away from the train with his head covered in blood. Images also showed the engine cabin was largely intact compared to the rest of the train. 

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 too 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 an assistant driver in 2000 and a fully qualified driver in 2003.

Mr Garzon is understood to have been trained on the route to Santiago de Compostela, which he had been on for a year.

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

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.

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.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy visits the scene of the crash

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.

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 - one of the worst ever in Europe - 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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Michael Cope: Helicopter Joins Murder Manhunt

An investigation involving a helicopter is ongoing near Wigan as part of the police hunt for murder suspect Michael Cope.

The 28-year-old is wanted in connection with the "brutal and violent" killing of Linzi Ashton at her home in nearby Winton, Salford, last month.

A post-mortem examination revealed the 25-year-old mother-of-two, who had a brief relationship with Cope, died from multiple injuries and pressure to the neck.

CCTV showed Cope buying food and drink at a convenience store on July 14 but detectives have so far been unable able to track him down.

CCTV shows Cope at a convenience store in Hindley, Wigan

However, a police spokesman confirmed a helicopter seen hovering over the Mather Lane Estate, Leigh, less than 10 miles from where Ms Ashton's body was found, was launched as part of the search.

Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Shenton, of Greater Manchester Police, has warned Cope is "dangerous and could be armed" and should not be approached.

He said the suspect is "familiar with the canal pathways between Salford and Leigh and may have spent time near the canal and waterways in Hindley".

"He may have been sleeping rough and we would urge people to report any suspicious behaviour around outbuildings, sheds or gardens, as well as disused railway lines and open land," he added.

Cope is seen buying snacks the night before Ms Ashton's body was found

Meanwhile, detectives will appeal for information about Cope's whereabouts on the BBC's Crimewatch programme.

It comes as one of Ms Ashton's former partners pleaded for anyone harbouring Cope to contact police.

Liam Grime, who discovered her body and tried to resuscitate her, told Manchester Evening News: "It sickens me to think there are still people helping him.

"If it was any decent person they would hand him over."

A reward of £25,000 is being offered for anyone with information that leads to Cope's arrest and conviction.

:: Anyone with information is asked to call Greater Manchester Police on 0161 856 5092 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Spain Rail Crash: Train 'Travelling Too Fast'

A train that crashed killing 78 people in northern Spain was reportedly travelling at nearly three times the speed limit.

Survivors have described carriages flipping and bursting into flames after the train came off the tracks on a bend just outside Santiago de Compostela, a popular pilgrimage city in northwestern Spain.

The train "did not have any technical problems" and had been inspected just hours earlier, the state-owned Renfe railway company said.

It was the deadliest train crash in Spain in 40 years

Renfe and state-owned Adif, which is in charge of the tracks, have opened an investigation.

The carriages piled into each other and folded up like an accordion during the derailment. One was ripped apart by the force of the crash, one of its ends pushed up into the air.

Rescue teams worked through the night, searching the wreckage for survivors from one of the worst train disasters in Spain for decades.

Firefighters clambered over the twisted metal trying to get survivors out of the windows. Bodies covered in blankets lay next to the overturned carriages as smoke billowed from the wreckage.

Relatives of the passengers await news in Santiago

More than 130 people were injured, including one British national. About 20 were in a critical condition.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who was born in the city, said during a visit to the site that there would be three days of mourning across Spain.

The Galicia region had already announced it would observe seven days of mourning and the royal family has suspended all engagements.

The head of Galicia, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, said: "The scene is shocking, it's Dante-esque.

"July 24 will no longer be the eve of a day of celebration but rather one commemorating one of the saddest days in the history of Galicia."

Rescuers, forensics and police officers at the site hours after the crash

The train travelling from Madrid to the port city of Ferrol was carrying 218 passengers plus crew when it crashed.

"It was going so quickly," passenger Ricardo Montesco said.

"It seems that on a curve the train started to twist, and the wagons piled up one on top of the other.

"A lot of people were squashed on the bottom. We tried to squeeze out of the bottom of the wagons to get out and we realised the train was burning," he said.

"I saw corpses."

Officials are examing the train's black boxes to establish the cause

El Pais newspaper cited sources close to the investigation as saying the train was travelling at over twice the speed limit on a sharp curve.

It suggested the train was travelling at more than 110mph (180kph) when the accident happened.

Another Spanish newspaper, El Mundo, reported that the train had been travelling at nearly 140mph (220kph) in an urban zone with a speed limit of  just 50mph (80kph).

Authorities probing the crash were to examine the train's black boxes.

Rail expert Jeremy Acklam said investigations of this kind are often quick to establish what happened but might take a long time to determine why it happened.

The tragedy occurred on the eve of Santiago de Compostela's main festival

One of the big questions facing the investigators is whether the speed was clear to the driver of the train, he told Sky News.

"Did the system correctly tell the driver what the speed was, and for some reason he didn't take action?

"Or was there some fault, and either the wrong speed was shown or no speed at all was shown?"

Officials have already ruled out an act of terrorism, like the commuter train bombing attacks in Madrid in 2004 that killed 191 people, and sabotage.

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. Officials have now cancelled ceremonies planned for today.

Some carriages were lifted from the tracks at dawn on Thursday

Clinics in Santiago de Compostela were overwhelmed with people flocking to give blood, while hotels organised free rooms for relatives.

Santiago de Compostela is the main gathering point for the faithful who make it to the end of the El Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route that has drawn Christians since the Middle Ages.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was "very saddened to hear of the terrible train accident".

The crash happened in Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia

"My thoughts are with all those affected and their friends and family," said Mr Hague, who added that the British Embassy was providing support for the Briton who was hurt.

Pope Francis, on a visit to Brazil, called for prayers for the victims.

It was Spain's deadliest train accident since 1972, when a train collided with a bus in southwestern Spain, killing 86 people and injuring 112.

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Danny Nightingale Given Suspended Sentence

A former SAS sniper has been handed a suspended sentence after being convicted for a second time of possessing a gun and ammunition.

Danny Nightingale, 38, from Crewe in Cheshire, was given two years military detention, suspended for 12 months.

He was originally jailed for 18 months last year but had his sentence cut and then quashed by the Court of Appeal after an outcry over his treatment.

At the latest sentencing, Judge advocate Jeff Blackett said Nightingale would be going to prison if it was not for the Appeal judges' previous decisions.

"In our opinion, the seriousness of this case does merit an immediate custodial sentence but we feel constrained by the decision of their Lordships," he said.

The senior NCO was found guilty at a retrial of having a 9mm Glock pistol and 338 rounds of ammunition in the bedroom of his shared Army house in Hereford.

The gun and bullets, said to have been brought back from Iraq, were recovered from the rented house by civilian police in September 2011.

The pistol was found in the father-of-two's wardrobe and the ammunition was under his bed in a plastic box.

Nightingale had pleaded not guilty, saying he had no knowledge of them being in his bedroom and claimed someone else had put them there.

The court heard he received a head injury during an endurance marathon in 2009 that affected his memory and caused confusion.

Mr Blackett said the soldier's account about how the gun came to be in his room "lacked credibility".

However, he said there were "exceptional circumstances" that allowed the court to suspend the sentence "because of your exceptional character".

The judge also said that "criticism of the prosecution and the Army is unmerited and totally without foundation".

He told Nightingale: "We understand how difficult these proceedings have been for you and your family.

"However, you have brought much of that anguish upon yourself and your public assertions that you are scapegoat or the victim of some wider political agenda is absolute nonsense," he said.

"You are simply someone against whom there was a strong prima facie case of serious wrongdoing and, given the dangers to society caused by illegal firearms and their misuse, it was in the public interest to prosecute you.

"You have now had a fair trial before a civilian judge and an independent and impartial board.

"All of the issues you wished to raise and all the submissions you wished to make have been fully considered and verdicts properly given.

"It would have made no difference had you been tried before a civilian jury. The evidence against you was overwhelming and I have no doubt the verdicts would have been the same."

The hearing was told that Nightingale and his family, who were all present, have spent around £120,000 trying to clear his name.

The soldier, who served in the former Yugoslavia, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan in an 18-year career, has received a medical discharge which will start next February.

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Royal Baby: Reaction From Around The World

New grandparents the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have popped the bubbly as world leaders and celebrities toast the birth of the new Royal baby.

The pair were met by cheering crowds of well-wishers on a visit to the village of Bugthorpe in East Yorkshire.

Prince Charles said he was "thrilled and very excited" after the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a baby boy and told how he had celebrated the news.

One resident in the flag and bunting-draped village told Charles: "We popped a bottle of bubbly last night at our house. I hope you did too."

The Prince replied: "Yes. But just a little bit."

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

Messages of congratulations have been sent from around the world, with Barack Obama saying the new prince had been born "at a time of promise and opportunity" between Britain and America.

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

US entertainer Ellen DeGeneres added her congratulations

US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who was 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."

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."

Cheryl Cole said she was delighted at the news

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 was 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

A spokesman for the Russian President said: "Vladimir Putin congratulated the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Elizabeth II on the birth of her grandson and wished her good health of the newborn, the Duchess of Cambridge and all the members of the Royal Family."

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 bilby, an Australian marsupial.

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

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.

"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.

Britain's biggest selling newspaper changed its name in honour

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 also sparked a frenzy of excitement on Twitter which spread rapidly across the world.

There have been more than two million mentions of the baby's arrival on the site, with the hashtag #RoyalBaby being used more than 900,000 times.

A spike in conversation on Twitter came at 8.37pm, in the minutes following the initial announcement, with more than 25,300 tweets per minute.

Andy Murray's historic win beat Royal baby news on Twitter

But it failed to generate the same flurry of activity as Andy Murray's historic Wimbledon victory, which amassed 120,000 tweets per minute, or the election of Pope Francis, which sparked a massive 132,000 tweets per minute.

A Twitter spokesman said the Royal baby reaction may not yet have reached its peak, with a surge expected when the Duke and Duchess show their son to the world and announce his name.

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 Name: Odds In Favour Of Tradition

Thousands of punters are banking on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge picking a traditional name for their newborn son.

George is the favourite at odds of 9/4, according to Sky Bet, with James also in the running at 11/4.

Alexander, Louis and Henry are also among the top choices for those placing bets at the bookmaker.

Punters willing to take a long shot can get odds of 66/1 on Daniel, or 50/1 for Andrew - after the baby's great uncle.

The baby could have Philip as a middle name

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected to follow tradition however, with most Royal infants having names that are passed down through the generations.

Charles Kidd, the editor of Debrett's Peerage & Baronetage, predicted that William and Kate would select a conventional first name for their son.

Charles is another possibility

"I do think that Prince William is quite a traditionalist - that's my feeling," Mr Kidd said.

"The fact that he chose to use the Royal dukedom (of Cambridge) and has followed Royal precedent, I wouldn't be surprised if they use a name that is already familiar in the Royal Family - something that has Royal associations."

The Royal parents may like grandfather Michael to share a name with baby

Midway through her pregnancy, Kate revealed she and William had a shortlist of names and that her friends were giving her ideas.

"We have a shortlist for both (boy and girl) but it's very difficult. My friends keep texting me names," she told a well-wisher.

And new uncle Harry may get a namecheck too

David Beckham has also had his say, jokingly suggesting to Sky News recently that David would be a good choice.

The baby, who will eventually be king, will be styled HRH Prince (forename) of Cambridge, with - when a surname is needed - Mountbatten-Windsor as his family name.

Royal babies also usually have a number of middle names. The Prince of Wales has four names, as does William.

Charles, Philip and Michael are in the frame as possible middle names in honour of the Royal grandparent and great-grandparent and the baby's maternal grandfather.

Francis is another name considered to be a possible middle name because it has strong ties with the Duchess's family.

William's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, was given the female version, Frances, as her middle name.

And then, of course, there is Henry - Prince Harry's real name.

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Royal Baby: Kate And William Thank Hospital

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have issued a statement thanking the hospital where their baby boy was born for the "tremendous care" they received.

The Royal couple said: "We would like to thank the staff at the Lindo Wing and the whole hospital for the tremendous care the three of us have received.

"We know it has been a very busy period for the hospital and we would like to thank everyone - staff, patients and visitors - for their understanding during this time."

A Kensington Palace spokesman added: "Mother, son and father are all doing well this morning."

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

Crowds gather to watch a special changing the guard for the new prince

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. She and William could leave the hospital with the future king in their arms later today.

Sky News Royal Correspondent Paul Harrison said: "We understand that the Duke and Duchess will depart either later this evening, not before 6pm, or tomorrow morning."

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.

Excitement was fuelled when Kate's hairdresser reportedly arrived at just after 10am, indicating their departure could be imminent - although Royal officials denied such reports.

It is understood the new family of three 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. 

Meanwhile, various celebrations are being held today to mark the special occasion, including gun salutes across London.

This morning guardsmen marked changing of the guard outside Buckingham Palace by playing 'Congratulations'.

First-time grandfather Prince Charles on his visit to Yorkshire

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.

The bells at Westminster Abbey, where Kate and William married just over two years ago, will also ring out for three hours from 2pm this afternoon.

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.

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."

Crowds waiting outside the hospital hoping to see the new baby

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

The Prince of Wales today said he was "thrilled and very excited" about the birth of his first grandchild.

He and the Duchess of Cornwall were met by cheering crowds of well-wishers on a visit to East Yorkshire.

Villager after villager offered Charles and Camilla their congratulations as the royal couple walked around the green in Bugthorpe, which was decked out with Union flags and bunting for the visit.

Many people asked whether the new baby had a name, but Charles gave little away.

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

One member of the crowd, Alec Dale, said to him as he passed: "We popped a bottle of bubbly last night at our house. I hope you did too."

To this, the Prince replied: "Yes. But just a little bit."

Camilla told the BBC that Charles was "brilliant with children so he'll have a wonderful time".

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. 

Queues forming outside Buckingham Palace to see the official announcement

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."

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.

Celebrations are taking place across the world

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.

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

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

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were said to be "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."

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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 and the Prince of Wales 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 first 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

The Duchess of Cambridge is said to be "very well" after she was admitted to hospital in the early stages of labour.

Kate, who is thought to be more than a week past her due date, was taken through a side entrance of the private Lindo wing at St Mary's Hospital in London just before 6am.

The Duke of Cambridge travelled with her by car from Kensington Palace, where she went into labour naturally after spending the weekend there.

She plans to have a normal birth and the couple's spokesman said: "Things are progressing as normal."

Crowds await the official announcement at Buckingham Palace

Sky News' Royal Correspondent Paul Harrison said her condition had been described as "very well".

He said: "It seems it was a very orderly arrival. There were two vehicles. A Range Rover-type vehicle, and behind it there was an Audi vehicle.

"Prince William had said from the beginning that he wanted to be alongside his wife when she went into labour."

It appears officials staged a "dummy run" in preparation for her arrival, following reports of police activity at the hospital last night.

There is a robust police presence at the hospital

Further officially confirmed details are likely to be thin on the ground until the baby is born.

The arrival will be announced in traditional fashion, with a notice on an easel behind the iron railings of Buckingham Palace.

The brief bulletin, on headed palace notepaper, confirms the sex of the baby but usually gives little else away other than that the baby has been "safely delivered" and perhaps the weight.

Well-wishers from around the globe have descended on the palace on the off-chance of catching a glimpse.

Larissa Milare, 25, from Sao Paulo in Brazil, said she was keen to see the announcement for herself. "It would be so special," she said. "I don't want to miss this."

Terry Hutt is among the royal fans outside the hospital. Pic: Kat Higgins

Royal fans have also gathered around the hospital, where there is a strong police presence.

Among them is Terry Hutt, 78, from Cambridge, who has been sleeping at the scene for days and is wearing a Union flag suit and tie for the occasion.

The former soldier, who served with the Royal Ordnance Corps, said: "I have lost my voice with all the excitement.

"The health of the baby, and Kate, is the only important element."

Kate is being tended by a top medical team led by the Queen's former gynaecologist Marcus Setchell, who delivered the Countess of Wessex's two children.

Former midwife Clare Byam-Cook told Sky News: "I'm sure she'll be looked after to perfection.

"They'll be monitoring her very carefully to check that the baby is doing well."

Kate's due date has never been announced, but it was widely believed to be July 13.

The world's press have been outside St Mary's, in Paddington, for days in anticipation of the birth.

Some 250 reporters and crew are packed into a relatively small stretch of the street opposite the hospital. Their patch shrunk even further earlier when "twitchy" police herded them from the road to the pavement.

The 'Great Kate Wait', as it was dubbed by the press, is reaching an end

Earlier, Prime Minister David Cameron sent his "best wishes" to the couple, saying: "It is an exciting occasion and the whole country is excited with them, so everyone's hoping for the best."

Others voicing their support included the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, who tweeted: "My thoughts and prayers are with Kate and the whole family on this enormously special day."

Broadcaster Piers Morgan tweeted: "Keep Calm ... and Carry On. #Kate"

Prince Charles, who is on a two-day visit to Yorkshire, told Sky News at York's National Railway Museum earlier that he knew "absolutely nothing" about Kate's progress.

The news that the Duchess was in labour at the hospital was confirmed in a brief statement from Kensington Palace at 7.30am.

Kate is thought to be more than a week past her due date

Baby deliveries at the Lindo wing start at £5,000, while consultant fees and other charges can bring the cost of a two-night stay to more than £12,000. Its other current patients include the pregnant sister of adventurer Ben Fogle, Tamara.

The Duke and his younger brother Prince Harry were born in the same wing and the Prince and Princess of Wales famously posed on the building's steps in 1982 holding baby William.

William is known to want a daughter, while the Duchess is hoping for a son.

Betting on the name of their first-born, which will be third-in-line to the throne, has produced one favourite with a number of bookies - Alexandra. According to Oddschecker.com, George and James are the joint top contenders for a boy.

Whatever name the couple go with, it is likely to set a trend for the next generation of infants.

Recent changes to the rules of succession mean that if it is a girl, she will not be leapfrogged to the throne by a younger brother.

William is at his wife's side

The Queen will be informed of the birth in a phone call from William, according to the Queen's former press secretary Dickie Arbiter.

But he said the royal family will not visit because it demands an extra level of security. "The last thing they'll want is to disrupt the hospital," he said.

The birth will be a historic first with three heirs in waiting while the sovereign is fit and well, Mr Arbiter added.

Prince William will be on paternity leave from his job as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot for two weeks. It is not known how long Kate intends to put her royal duties on hold so she can devote her time to the baby.

They are becoming parents more than two years after they were married at Westminster Abbey in April 2011, with the celebrations watched by millions around the world.

Doctors say the royal family could have its newest member by midnight - the average length of labour for a first-time mother is 12 hours.

More follows...

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