Mumbai Gang-Rape: Third Man Arrested

By Neville Lazarus, Sky News Producer in Mumbai

A third man has been arrested over the brutal gang rape of a 22-year-old photojournalist in Mumbai.

The victim underwent minor surgery and is recovering in hospital.

The case has caused outrage in Mumbai, which is considered one of India's safer cities for women.

The woman was out on an assignment with a male colleague at an abandoned mill in the suburbs of Mumbai when she was attacked by five local men.

The male friend was assaulted and tied up during the attack.

Police released sketches of the suspects

Hospital sources say the woman, who has not been identified, is now stable.

She told police she did not resist because the men threatened her with a broken bottle and said they would kill her if she resisted.

"They took my photographs on their cellphones and threatened that if I spoke about the incident to anyone, they would defame me by revealing my identity," the woman said in her statement to local police.

Her decision to go straight to hospital helped doctors collect crucial evidence for the case against her assailants.

Twenty police teams set out to catch the attackers.

The victim's statement was recorded and sketches of the suspects have been released by police.

Photojournalists hold up placards and cameras during a protest

Officers claimed to have cracked the case within 18 hours, arresting two of the accused who have confessed to the crime. Another man was arrested on Saturday.

The state's Chief Minister has promised swift action and also visited the woman in hospital.

The latest attack comes after the brutal gang-rape and death of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student on a bus in Delhi last December.

That incident caused nationwide protests and demands for stringent laws against rape.

Under pressure, the government brought in fast-track courts for crimes against women, and six men were subsequently charged with rape and murder.

A verdict is expected soon for four of the defendants.

Suspected ringleader Ram Singh killed himself at the Tihar jail earlier this year.

A juvenile is being tried at a separate court as he was under 18 years old when he allegedly committed the crime.

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Legal Highs: Ban At Reading Leeds Festival

By Frazer Maude, North of England Correspondent

The parents of a man who died after taking a "legal high" drug have welcomed a decision by the organisers of a music festival to ban the products from their sites.

Christopher Scott, 23, from Swindon, died at the Great Western Hospital in July after taking the chemical marketed as AMT (alpha-Methyltryptamine).

His father Michael says the family are "so pleased" that promoters of the Leeds and Reading Festivals have banned the sale or use of legal highs at the events this weekend.

"Everybody knows illegal drugs - there's a big risk behind them - but as soon as you start saying 'oh it's a legal high' you get the misconception that it's okay," said Michael.

"They think it's not dangerous, it's legal, so it must be fine. And then they get the impression they can take as many as they want."

A photo of Christopher Scott at home of his family

Christopher was a father of three and only after his death did his family find out that his partner was pregnant with his fourth child.

The Government finds it hard to legislate against the drugs, as whenever one is banned the manufacturers only have to make slight changes to the chemical formula in order for the new compound to be legal again.

Former legal highs Mexxy and Black Mamba are now classified as Class B drugs, and are therefore illegal.

Sky News bought a number of the legal highs from a shop in the North of England, including AMT which Mr Scott took.

They are also freely available on the internet.

The websites, sales staff and the packaging of the chemicals all warn that these items are not for human consumption, but are for research purposes.

The drug has been banned at Leeds and Reading Festivals

Melvin Benn, organiser of the Leeds and Reading Festivals, said: "We were happy to fall in line with the Home Office request and not allow these legal highs to be sold on site.

"No one really knows what effects these things have, and of course people are still going to take them. But they won't be buying them from retailers at any of my festivals."

Mr Scott and his family used to make annual visits to the Reading Festival.

Although delighted that the festival has banned the drugs, Mr Scott's father believes more needs to be done.

"The Government needs to really seriously rethink what it's doing with this concept of legal highs. Just the word 'legal' is making everyone think it's ok to do it, that it's fine. It's not," he said.

"I'm never going get my son back. I only had one son and I'm never going to get him back."

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Mandela Shows 'Great Resilience' In Hospital

Nelson Mandela is showing "great resilience" as he remains in hospital in a critical condition, South Africa's presidency has said.

The former South African president's condition "becomes unstable" at times, the presidency added, noting that so far his health has stabilised again with treatment.

"Former President Nelson Mandela still remains in hospital in Pretoria and his condition is still critical but stable," the presidency said in a statement.

"While at times, his condition becomes unstable, the doctors indicate that the former President has demonstrated great resilience and his condition tends to stabilise as a result of medical interventions.

"Doctors are still working hard to affect a turnaround and a further improvement in his health and to keep the former President comfortable."

The ailing 95-year-old leader was hospitalised on June 8 with a lung infection.

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma urged South Africans "to continue praying for Madiba and to keep him in their thoughts at all times". Madiba is Mr Mandela's clan name.

Mr Zuma will travel to Malaysia today to collect peace award on Mr Mandela's behalf.

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Alec Baldwin And Wife Welcome Baby Girl

Alec Baldwin and his wife have welcomed a baby girl, their first child together.

Hilaria Baldwin gave birth to little Carmen Gabriela in New York and then announced the news on Twitter.

She said the family was overjoyed and that Carmen Gabriela was "absolutely perfect".

The couple married last June after a three-month engagement.

The former 30 Rock star already is the father of a 17-year-old daughter, Ireland, from his previous marriage to actress Kim Basinger.

On her Twitter account, Ireland Baldwin welcomed her new sister into the world and linked to a blog post with 10 pieces of advice for the newborn.

The advice included - enjoy your childhood, don't say yes to everything, tell the truth and be careful who you trust.

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US Marking 50 Years Since 'Dream' Speech

The United States marks a turning point in its history today with a rally held ahead of the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's March on Washington.

Some 150,000 are expected to turn out on the National Mall to re-enact the moving civil rights rally where King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech from the Lincoln Memorial.

On Wednesday, the anniversary of the speech, church bells will ring out across the US while President Barack Obama will speak from the same steps.

Among those who were in the crowd to hear Dr King's speech were Kathleen Johnson and Jean McRae. Both women returned to the site of the speech on Saturday.

Speaking about Dr King's speech in 1963, Ms Johnson told Sky News that: "It was a beautiful day. It was white and black together. It was a united day."

Kathleen Johnson at the Martin Luther King March on Washington in 1963

Many other events are planned around the country over the coming days, giving Americans a chance to reflect on race relations.

The parents of Trayvon Martin, the teenager killed in Florida, are expected to be among the speakers at the event on Saturday.

Civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton, a co-organiser of the event, said the US still had some way to go in achieving equality.

"I have always stated that we have made great progress in this country, but to blindly believe that our work is over is foolish and naive at best," he said.

Dr King delivered his speech on August 28, 1963

"If this year has shown us anything, it's that the work of the 1963 march is not yet finished," added Benjamin Jealous, head of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP).

"Voting rights are under attack, black unemployment continues to soar and thousands of black children are living in impoverished neighbourhoods and attending segregated schools ... black youth are being gunned down each and every day in senseless acts of violence."

An estimated 250,000 people of all races descended on the Mall on August 28, 1963, chanting "Equality now!" and singing "We Shall Overcome," in what was officially billed as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Millions more watched on television, among them President John F. Kennedy, who until then had been dragging his feet on legislation to end racial segregation in conservative Southern states.

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Helicopter Crash: Four Dead In North Sea

Police have named the four dead oil workers in the Shetland helicopter crash - as nearly all Super Puma aircraft were grounded.

The victims are: Duncan Munro, 46, from Bishop Auckland; Sarah Darnley, 45, from Elgin; Gary McCrossan , 59, from Inverness; and George Allison, 57, from Winchester.

The Super Puma L2 went down at approximately 6.27pm on Friday, around two miles west of Sumburgh airport as it was returning to Shetland from the Borgsten Dolphin platform.

The helicopter was carrying 16 workers and two crew.

At a meeting of the Helicopter Safety Steering Group, offshore companies and unions agreed to suspend commercial flights by all models of Super Puma until at least next Wednesday.

Top: Duncan Munro; Gary McCrossan. Bottom: George Allison; Sarah Darnley

Search and rescue flights will be unaffected.

"The bodies of three people have been recovered and work is underway to recover the body of the fourth person," Police Scotland said in a statement.

The body of the fourth victim is understood to be in the wreckage of the aircraft.

All the families have been informed.

A search operation involving coastguard, police, RAF and local lifeboats was able to rescue 14 people from the sea, including the two crew. They were taken to Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick.

One of the rescued workers is moved on a stretcher

"Five were discharged and nine detained overnight either for observation or suffering from exposure," the police statement said.

The helicopter is reported to be in several pieces but the wreckage has now been secured by the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution).

Helicopter operator CHC, which operates in 30 countries, said on its website that it was temporarily suspending all Super Puma L2 flights worldwide as a precaution.

It has also suspended flights in Aberdeen "as a mark of respect".

Amanda Smith, the mother of one of the workers, Sam Smith, said that her son had telephoned her from hospital after suffering cuts in the crash.

She told Sky News: "He said it seemed to lose power and there was no time to brace, they just dropped into the sea.

"He was by the window so he was able to escape that way as it rolled over.

Some of those rescued were able to walk unaided after the rescue

"He said he had come off better than a lot of people. It didn't seem real, I would say two hours later it's just beginning to sink in."

CHC said it was flying for French oil company Total and that the aircraft had lost communication as it approached the airport on the southern tip of Shetland's main island.

The four people who died were working for Total through contractor organisations.

A CHC spokesman said: "The aircraft was on approach to Sumburgh Airport at approximately 6.20pm when contact was lost with air traffic control."

Mark Abbey, regional director for CHC, expressed his "heartfelt sympathies to all those involved" but said the company would not be speculating about the cause of the crash.

Investigators from the Department for Transport's Air Accidents Investigation Branch are looking into the incident.

The helicopter was upside down in the water when rescuers arrived, said Sky's James Matthews in Aberdeen.

"At least three of the four who died had trouble getting out of the wreckage. One body remains in there this morning," said Matthews.

The survivors were aided by waterproof immersion suits that helped keep them afloat and warm in the North Sea.

The tide - which was heading towards the land - also helped survivors.

Jim Nicholson, RNLI rescue co-ordinator, said: "There appears to have been a catastrophic loss of power which meant the helicopter suddenly dropped into the sea without any opportunity to make a controlled landing."

Several helicopters have been involved in the search operation

Last year, two Super Puma helicopters ditched in the North Sea only six months apart.

All passengers and crew were rescued in both incidents, which were found to be caused by gearbox problems.

However, the latest incident marks the fourth in four years involving Super Puma aircraft.

In April 2009, 16 people died when a helicopter returning from BP's Miller platform crashed 11 miles from Peterhead after a "catastrophic failure" in part of its main gearbox.

The Unite union's Scottish Secretary, Pat Rafferty, said the safety record was "unacceptable" and called on the oil and gas industry to use "every means at their disposal to demonstrate that its fleet is fit for purpose".

Bob Crow, head of the RMT union, said he expected an "outpouring of  anger" after the latest incident.

"The entire Super Puma fleet must remain grounded until the causes of this latest event are established," said Mr Crow.

:: CHC has set up a helpline for concerned relatives on 01224 296 866.

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Gibraltar Row: Spanish Divers Inspect Reef

The diplomatic row between Britain and Spain has intensified after footage emerged of Spanish police divers inspecting a controversial concrete reef off Gibraltar.

Spanish police published the footage showing one of its divers during an inspection of the artificial reef, which was built by the British overseas territory.

Gibraltar's government has dropped 74 concrete blocks onto the sea floor to create the reef, which it says will boost marine life.

Madrid has reacted furiously to the construction, with Spain claiming that its fishing industry has been damaged as a result.  

Fishermen say there are iron bars protruding from the blocks which tangle and break their fishing nets.

A Spanish police diver approaches the concrete blocks on the sea floor

But the Rock's Governor, Sir Adrian Johns, says the actions of the police divers - as revealed in the footage - mark a "serious violation of British sovereignty".

In a statement, the Government of Gibraltar said: "Her Majesty's Government of Gibraltar notes the incident of executive action taken by the Guardia Civil in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters in the area of the new artificial reef.

"The matter of this serious incursion will not assist in de-escalating the present tensions."

Tensions between Spain and the British territory have been described as at their worst in 40 years.

Spain has imposed tighter controls at its border with Gibraltar amid the continuing row, causing long tailbacks at the crossing.

HMS Westminster sails into Gibraltar on Monday

The move has prompted angry words from British officials.

But Gibraltar's chief Minister Fabian Picardo has said the waters could be re-opened to Spanish fishermen again by October, potentially offering a means to resolve the spat.

Mr Picardo said Gibraltar would not remove the concrete blocks, as Spain demands, and rejected four-way talks with Spain, Britain and Andalusia.

On Monday, HMS Westminster arrived in Gibraltar a day after Spanish fishermen were involved in a stand-off with UK military and police boats.

The type 23 frigate was due to spend three days on the Rock, before joining several other vessels taking part in a pre-planned international training exercise in the Mediterranean and Gulf.

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California Wildfire Threatens Yosemite Park

A giant wildfire has spread into Yosemite National Park and triggered a state of emergency in San Francisco.

The fire, which started a week ago, closed hiking in the park but is not currently threatening the popular Yosemite Valley region.

It grew from 99 square miles to more than 165 square miles overnight and was only 2% contained.

Smoke billowing across the Sierra Nevada forced officials in several counties to cancel outdoor school activities and issue health warnings for people with respiratory problems.

Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said: "Most of the fire activity is pushing to the east right into Yosemite."

California Governor Jerry Brown declared an emergency for San Francisco 150 miles (240 kilometers) away, because of the threat to utility transmission to the city.

The fire also caused smoke warnings and event cancellations in Nevada as smoke blew over the Sierra Nevada and across state lines.

The fire is threatening around 4,500 homes, according to the US Forest Service.

Officials issued voluntary evacuation advisories for two new towns on Friday.

A mandatory evacuation order remained in effect for part of Pine Mountain Lake.

Already, the blaze has destroyed four homes and 12 outbuildings in several different areas, according to US Forest Service spokesman Jerry Snyder.

One firefighter has been injured tackling the blaze.

The spectacular Yosemite Valley offers visitors iconic sights including the Half Dome and El Capitan rock formations, as well as Bridalveil and Yosemite falls.

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Double Shooting: Woman Killed On Birthday

A woman who was killed in a double shooting in north-west London had been out celebrating her 24th birthday with friends.

Police and the ambulance service found the victim, Sabrina Moss, and another woman, also aged 24, with gunshot injuries in Kilburn.

The pair are believed to have been caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, according to detectives.

Officers had been called at 4.12am to reports of shots being fired in the street in Kilburn High Road, at the junction with Messina Avenue.

Both women were taken to hospitals and Ms Moss, of Neasden, north-west London, was pronounced dead later. A post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course.

Police investigate the double shooting in the capital

Ms Moss, thought to be the mother of one son, was attacked outside Woody Grill.

She was talking to other people when two black males approached, opened fire and then ran off.

The other woman who was shot remains in hospital and her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Tributes to Ms Moss have been left on the social networking site Twitter.

Officers were called to the scene after reports of gunshots

Adjei Adu wrote: "My heart goes out to her family and the lil one she's left behind, sleep well Sabrina Moss."

Leila Hassan tweeted: "My Thoughts Are With Your Family... A Beautiful Young Woman, Mother and Daughter!"

Another tweet read: "Lost the cousin I was close with when I was a child.. R.I.P Sabrina Moss."

A murder inquiry has been launched by detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command and police are appealing for witnesses to the double shooting.

Detective Chief Inspector John Sandlin of the Metropolitan Police said: "Enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances of this tragic incident.

The other woman's injuries are not thought to be life-threatening

"At this early stage, I believe the two women were innocent parties who were caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"I am appealing for anyone who witnessed the shooting, or who saw anything suspicion in the Kilburn area early this morning, to call police.

"In particular, I need to hear from anyone who saw two males who came into the High Road from Messina Avenue and, after the shooting, made off on foot back along Messina Avenue."

One man has been arrested in connection with the investigation.

Anyone with information that may assist the inquiry should call the incident room at Hendon on 020 8358 0300 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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3,600 Syrians Treated For 'Neurotoxic Symptoms'

Around 3,600 Syrians have been treated for "neurotoxic symptoms", and 355 of them have died, says the humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

The victims flooded into three Syrian hospitals on the day that hundreds of people were allegedly killed in a "chemical massacre" outside the capital Damascus.

They all arrived within less than three hours of each other, said MSF director of operations Bart Janssens.

He said the pattern of events and reported symptoms "strongly indicate mass exposure to neurotoxic agent".

"Medical staff working in these facilities provided detailed information to MSF doctors regarding large numbers of patients arriving with symptoms including convulsions, excess saliva, pinpoint pupils, blurred vision and respiratory distress," he said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 54 children were among the dead.

Western leaders have accused President Bashar al Assad's forces of carrying out the alleged chemical attack.

The Syrian government has strongly denied the claims, and says it has evidence the attack was carried out by rebel forces.

A child victim of the alleged gas attack

MSF provides drugs, medical equipment and technical support to the three hospitals near Damascus, which its staff have not been able to access for security reasons.

"MSF can neither scientifically confirm the cause of these symptoms nor establish who is responsible for the attack," said Mr Janssens.

"However, the reported symptoms of the patients, in addition to the epidemiological pattern of the events - characterised by the massive influx of patients in a short period of time, the origin of the patients, and the contamination of medical and first aid workers - strongly indicate mass exposure to a neurotoxic agent."

Earlier, Iran warned the West against "military intervention" in Syria and said it believes the alleged gas attack was carried out by rebel forces.

Millions of Syrians have fled the violence

Abbas Araqchi, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, said: "There is evidence that this action was carried out by terrorist groups.

"The concurrence of the use of these weapons with the presence of UN inspectors is itself an indication that there are hands at work to accuse the Syrian government of using these weapons and help the conflict and crisis to continue."

He spoke out after Syrian state TV ran footage of "barrels filled with highly dangerous toxic and chemical agents" as well as gas masks, saying they were only a small sample of what had been unearthed in rebel positions.

The UN's disarmament chief Angela Kane has arrived in the capital to push the Assad regime to allow weapons inspectors to visit the area to assess whether a chemical atrocity has been carried out.

Her visit comes as America boosted its military capacity in the region to give what it called "a range of options available".

The New York Times quoted a senior US administration official as saying Washington was looking at NATO's aerial strikes in Kosovo in 1999 as a blueprint for action against Syria without a UN mandate.

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