India: Bus Plunges Off Bridge Killing Dozens

At least 37 people have been killed after a bus packed with passengers crashed through a barrier and fell several metres off a bridge in western India.

The vehicle was travelling overnight from the beach resort state of Goa to Mumbai when the driver suddenly lost control in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, police said.

Most of the wounded, including the driver, suffered head and arm injuries and were being treated at a local hospital.

The cause of the accident, which happened in the Khed area about 125 miles south of Mumbai, was not immediately clear.

Pictures from the scene showed the bus lying on its roof next to a bridge after falling to the banks of the Jagbudi river.

The vehicle had landed on a dried-up patch of land next to low-lying water.

Police said the driver suddenly lost control

It had a capacity of 55 passengers, but police official Mahendra Singh Pardeshi said it was not known how many people were on board.

About 110,000 people were killed in Indian road accidents in 2011 - more than 300 every day - according to figures from the National Crime Records Bureau.

Bad roads, speeding vehicles and poor driving were among the contributing factors, and bus crashes with death tolls in double figures far from rare.

The Ratnagiri crash came a day after a senior official revealed over 800 people have died in accidents on the Mumbai-Goa highway in the last three years.

Maharashtra's home minister R R Patil said 828 people died and 2,411 were seriously injured between 2010 and the end of 2012, the Press Trust of India reported.

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Pope Francis To Embrace Poor As Papacy Begins

Pope Francis has vowed to embrace the world's "weakest and poorest" and called on world leaders to shun "destruction" at his inaugural mass in St Peter's Square.

Francis was interrupted by applause several times during his homily, including when he spoke of the need to serve one another with love and tenderness and not allow " hatred, envy and pride to defile our lives".

The Pope must "open his arms to protect all of God's people and embrace with tender affection the whole of humanity, especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important," Francis, the first Jesuit pope, said.

"He must be inspired by lowly, concrete and faithful service," said Francis, who as a Jesuit has taken a vow of poverty.

Francis is the world's first Jesuit pope

"I would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political and social life ... Let us not allow omens of destruction and death to accompany the advance of this world.

"It means respecting each of God's creatures and respecting the environment in which we live.

"It means protecting people, showing loving concern for each and every person, especially children, the elderly, those in need, who are often the last we think about."

The Fisherman's Ring

The new pontiff officially began his ministry as the 266th pope and leader of the world's 1.2bn Roman Catholics when he earlier received the ring and pallium symbolising his new papal powers at the Vatican.

The pallium is a strip of lambswool that represents the Pope's role as a shepherd and the Fisherman's Ring is named in honour of the first pope St Peter, a fisherman by trade.

The grand ceremony started at 8.30am GMT in a sun-drenched St Peter's Square before about 200,000 people, including royalty, political and religious leaders.

The biggest delegation came from Argentina, led by President Cristina Kirchner, who held a private meeting with Pope Francis on Monday.

Britain was represented by the Duke of Gloucester, Kenneth Clarke MP and Baroness Warsi. The Queen and Prime Minister David Cameron did not attend.

The Pope kissed several babies as he toured the square

Controversial Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, a practising Catholic, also made the journey to Rome in defiance of an EU travel ban, which does allow him to attend events within the Vatican state boundary. 

Before the proceedings began, Francis toured a crammed St Peter's Square, kissing babies and blessing a disabled man.

In another sign of the informality that is already a mark of his papacy, Francis abandoned the bullet-proof popemobile frequently used by his more formal predecessor Benedict, to tour the square.

After the Mass, Francis met with Mr Mugabe and other leaders

Francis wore a plain white papal cassock and black shoes in contrast to the luxurious red loafers that attracted attention under Benedict.

"Go Francis! We Will Be With You Wherever You Go!" read a sign held up by a group of Brazilian nuns in St Peter's Square.

Sister Rosa, an elderly Italian nun, said she expected the pope would be "another St Francis on Earth for love, goodness, poverty and humility".

Crowds had been pouring into the square and surrounding streets since before dawn.

The former archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was the surprise choice at a conclave of cardinals to find a successor to 85-year-old Benedict, who last month brought a sudden end to a papacy, saying he was too old to carry on.

The crowds had begun gathering from the early morning

After the Mass, Pope Francis met many of the world leaders, including Mr Mugabe, before having lunch.

Leaders of the Eastern Catholic Rite were also at the ceremony, including Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.

Bartholomew I became the first patriarch from the Istanbul-based church to attend a papal investiture since the two branches of Christianity split nearly 1,000 years ago.

Also attending for the first time was the chief rabbi of Rome.

Francis abandoned the bullet-proof popemobile

Their presence underscores the hopes for ecumenical and interfaith dialogue in this new papacy given Francis' own work for improved relations and his namesake St Francis of Assisi.

In a gesture to Christians in the East, the pope prayed with Eastern rite Catholic patriarchs and archbishops before the tomb of St Peter and the Gospel was chanted in Greek rather than the traditional Latin.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Francis will hold meetings at the Vatican before he holds a face-to-face meeting with Benedict at Castel Gandolfo, just outside Rome, on Saturday.

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Brit Injured 'Escaping Sex Assault' In India

By Alex Rossi, Sky News Asia Correspondent

A British woman is recovering from injuries to her legs after jumping out of her hotel window to escape an alleged sex attack in Agra in India - the home of the iconic Taj Mahal.

According to police, the incident happened in the Cantonment area of the city about four o'clock on Tuesday morning.

Deputy Superintendent Simranjit Kaur told Sky News that the 31-year-old woman escaped from the second floor window of her room after the hotel owner tried to enter "demanding" a massage.

"The woman became scared and leapt from the balcony. We have arrested the owner and may cancel the licence of the hotel depending on our investigations," she said.

The victim was taken to hospital by a rickshaw driver and was treated for muscle damage to her legs.

She has also given a statement to officers and is now "safely" in another hotel under police protection.

The police said she will be flying home to the UK shortly, even though she was planning to visit China after touring India.

The Foreign Office said it was "urgently" investigating the reports.

A spokesman said: "We are aware of the reports and we are urgently looking into it. We are in contact with our colleagues in India."

The FCO has changed its advice to female travellers visiting India in the last forty eight hours following the gang rape of a Swiss cycle tourist in Madhya Pradesh on Friday night.

British female tourists are now being advised to"exercise caution" in India, even when travelling as part of a group.

Advice on the FCO website states: "Reported cases of sexual assault against women and young girls are increasing; recent sexual attacks against female visitors in tourist areas and cities show that foreign women are also at risk.

"British women have been the victims of sexual assault in Goa, Delhi, Bangalore and Rajasthan and women travellers often receive unwanted attention in the form of verbal and physical harassment by individuals or groups of men."

Women travelling through the country are advised to respect local dress codes and customs and avoid visiting isolated areas, including beaches, alone, at any time of day.

The FCO also warns women against travelling alone on public transport, in taxis or auto-rickshaws, especially at night.

The Swiss woman was camping in a forested area with her husband when they were attacked by men brandishing sticks. She was repeatedly raped according to local police.

That attack came just a few days after the man accused of leading the fatal gang rape of a student on a New Delhi bus was found hanged in his prison cell.

India has seen anger and public protests against rapes and sexual attacks on women since the gang-rape in New Delhi in December.

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Weather: No Sign Of Spring Amid More Snow

Snow has covered the north of the UK overnight as persistently cold weather keeps an unusual grip on March.

Heavy snow - up to 10cm across lowlands and 25cm on higher ground - has fallen across Scotland, with temperatures hovering around a bitter three degrees.

The Met Office has issued amber alerts for many parts of Scotland, while gale force winds are also forecast.

Driving conditions have been made difficult and more than 100 schools have closed. Aberdeenshire and the Borders are among the worst hit areas.

Sky News Weather Presenter Isobel Lang warned people to prepare for disruption.

Several inches of snow have fallen in Scotland

She said: "Heavy snow and strong winds will bring travel disruption today with the worst of the conditions likely to be across central and eastern Scotland, northeast England and Northern Ireland.

"Bitter east winds will blow the snow around causing drifting and blizzard conditions."

The outlook for the rest of the UK also looks typically unseasonal.

Lang said: "Heavy showers in other parts of Britain could also bring hail, sleet or snow, especially later today and tonight."

Meanwhile, the whole country should be braced for further snow storms and cold wet weather throughout the week - and beyond.

"Tomorrow may start with some snow in the morning, perhaps disruptive in places, but it should turn drier during the day.

"Concerns increase again, though, later in the week as wet and windy weather, preceded by snow, moves in across the southwest and spreads north across the country.

"Although rainfall totals may be enough to cause some problems across the south and southwest, it is likely to be snow that is most disruptive, especially across central and northern parts," Lang said.

The latest snowy spell continues a cold month across the UK which has brought an unwelcome delay to springtime weather.

Forecasters said that while snow was not uncommon in March, the persistent dumpings and low temperatures were unusual.

It is too early to predict if it will be a white Easter or not, but Lang warned that the run-up looked "unsettled and unspring-like".

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Joss Stone Trial: Star Had No Home Security

Singer Joss Stone has described how her front door was rarely locked at a time when two men were allegedly plotting to rob and kill her.

She was speaking at the trial of Junior Bradshaw and Kevin Liverpool who deny they planned to murder the star and dump her in a river in June 2011.

The 25-year-old told Exeter Crown Court she became aware of the plot only when she was visited by the police at her mid-Devon home.

She said: "Apart from someone (police) coming around to say someone is trying to kill me, it was a really nice day."

Speaking about the lack of security at her home, she said: "I've lived in Devon for a long time and nobody really shuts their door."

On Monday the jury was told a metre-long samurai sword, knives, hammers, black bags and gaffer tape were discovered in the defendants' Fiat Punto when they were arrested.

A crossbow and BB gun were found at their home in the Longsight area of Manchester.

Handwritten notes that were also discovered talked of Stone's presence at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and referred to the singer and the Queen as "she devils".

The pair deny the charges against them

Describing the security arrangements at her home at the time of the alleged plot, Stone - who was referred to in court by her real name, Jocelyn Stoker - said: "I had an alarm but I did not really turn it on very much.

"I didn't really have a lock on my door ... But I do now."

She also agreed that the property in Ashill, accessed by narrow lanes, was an "open house" for family, friends and her then-boyfriend.

Wearing a white blouse and a black skirt, the singer said: "At the time I had a gate. To get in, they (visitors) would just open the gate, drive in with their car, get up to another (wooden) gate, shut the gate hopefully so the dogs don't get out, then say hello."

Stone's tour diary, charting dates when she was in and out of the country including at the time of the alleged plot, was shown in court.

The record showed the singer was "home" from June 9-20.

The trial continues.

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US Marines Killed By Explosion While Training

Seven US Marines have died in an explosion at a military ammunition storage facility in western Nevada.

The US Marine Corp confirmed the deaths early on Tuesday.

"A fatal incident occurred during a training exercise shortly before 10pm Monday at Hawthorne Army Depot, Nevada, killing seven service members and injuring several others with 2nd Marine Division," a statement said.

Several other Marines were injured and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment and further evaluation.

A Marine Corps official said a 60mm mortar exploded unexpectedly.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was not immediately clear whether the mortar exploded prematurely inside its firing tube or whether more than a single round exploded. 

Hawthorne Army Depot is made up of hundreds of buildings. Pic: KABC.

An indefinite moratorium on the firing of all such mortars worldwide was imposed while an investigation was conducted.

The identities of those killed were not being released until their families had been informed.

"We send our prayers and condolences to the families of Marines involved in this tragic incident. We remain focused on ensuring that they are supported through this difficult time," said the force's commander, Major Gen. Raymond C. Fox.

"We mourn their loss, and it is with heavy hearts we remember their courage and sacrifice."

The explosion was unrelated to the ammunition that is stored at the 147,000-acre site, about 140 miles southeast of Reno.

Hawthorne became the key staging area for ammunition, bombs and rockets in World War II.

The site was chosen for the location because of its remoteness in the wake of a devastating explosion at the government's main depot in New Jersey in the 1920s.

It now serves several purposes for the military, including storing ammunition and explosives and providing what the military calls an ideal training facility for special forces preparing for deployments to similar desert terrain in places like Afghanistan.

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Fire Deaths: Accused 'Can't Rule Out Husband'

By David Crabtree, Midlands Correspondent

A woman accused of killing her six children in a fire at the family home in Derby says she does not know if her husband was responsible and she could not rule anyone out.

Speaking at Nottingham Crown Court, Mairead Philpott, 31, said: "I don't know if he is capable of it. I don't know if he has done it or not."

She was asked under cross-examination whether it was possible that Mick Philpott, 56, got up in the night and set the fire without her knowledge.

She told the court: "I don't know, I was asleep. I can't rule out anybody."

Richard Latham QC for the prosecution said to her: "Are you saying there is a possibility your husband set this fire behind your back?"

"I honestly, don't know," she replied.

She was asked about covert police recordings made after the blaze.

In one passage of the recordings Mick Philpott is heard to say: "Don't say nothing now, don't say nothing."

The fire claimed the lives of six siblings

In another section he said: "Don't worry we will walk through it, I promise you. Unless you want me to blab about it."

The prosecution allege that they were talking about a plot to start the fire.

Mairead Philpott claims it was about not revealing details of their unconventional sex life, which they feared would get into the press.

Mr Latham said: "This is not about sex. It's about the allegation of killing your children." This was denied by Mrs Philpott.

Jade Philpott, 10, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five, perished in the fire last May.

Duwayne, 13, died in Birmingham Children's Hospital days later.

On Monday, Mairead Philpott denied starting the fire at her home in Victory Road and said there was no plan to start one with Mick and co-accused Paul Mosley, 46.

The Philpotts and Mosley are on trial for the manslaughter of the Philpotts' six children. All three deny the charges.

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School Shooter Gives Finger As He Gets Life

Ohio teenager TJ Lane, who admitted killing three students in a high school cafeteria in February 2012, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole.

The 18-year-old chuckled as the term was imposed for the deadly shootings at Chardon High School, 30 miles east of Cleveland.

After Lane arrived in court on Tuesday, he calmly unbuttoned his blue dress shirt to reveal the T-shirt reading "killer", which the prosecutor noted was similar to one he wore during the shooting.

At one point, Lane swivelled around in his chair toward the gallery where his own family and those of the slain teenagers were sitting and spoke only one sentence.

TJ Lane at a previous hearing

"The hand that pulled the trigger that killed your sons now masturbates to their memory," he said, then cursed at and tuck his middle finger up toward the victims' relatives.

The prosecutor said it just went to prove how much the killer is a "disgusting human being".

Lane had pleaded guilty in February this year to three counts of aggravated murder, among other charges, in a deal with prosecutors.

Prosecutors agreed to drop the death-penalty specifications from the counts.

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Cyprus Bailout: Cash Flown Out To British Troops

A plane has left Britain for Cyprus with one million euros onboard to ensure soldiers have access to cash.

Banks in Cyprus have been closed since before the weekend and will not reopen until Thursday in order to prevent a run on the banks as the government discusses taxing all savers in order to secure an EU bailout.

Soldiers stationed on the island and their families would be able to borrow the money if cash machines and debit cards stop working completely, the Ministry of Defence said.

"The MoD is proactively approaching personnel to ask if they want their March, and future months' salaries paid into UK bank accounts, rather than Cypriot accounts," it said in a statement.

"We're determined to do everything we can to minimise the impact of the Cyprus banking crisis on our people."

Meanwhile, just before the Cypriot parliament  was due to vote on the bailout and the levy on personal savings, Cyprus' finance minister reportedly offered his resignation.

More follows...

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Bill Roache: Soap Star Sorry Over Remarks

Coronation Street actor Bill Roache has said he is "very sorry for any offence caused" after he seemingly claimed victims of sexual abuse are being punished for their behaviour in "previous lives".

The star, who has played Ken Barlow in the ITV soap for more than 50 years, was criticised for the controversial remarks he made to a New Zealand television station.

Speaking to TVNZ, he said: "If you accept that you are pure love ... and therefore live that pure love, these things won't happen to you."

He was then pressed by reporter Garth Bray, who asked: "To some people that sounds perhaps like you're saying victims bring things on themselves. Is that what you're saying?"

The 80-year-old replied: "No, not quite, but then yes I am. Everything that happens to us is the result of what we have been in previous lives."

The comments echo those of Glenn Hoddle who was sacked as England's football manager in 1999 after he was quoted as appearing to suggest disabled people were paying for sins committed in previous lives.

Glenn Hoddle appeared to say disabled people were paying for previous sins

Roache was later asked by Sky News correspondent Becky Johnson: "You appear to have suggested some victims may be paying for things they did in a past life. Is that how you feel?"

The star replied: "No I would not go along and say things like that. I'm not saying that. In this situation where we can only talk about the law. I'm not going to talk about victims or life.

"Life is what we make it. We do come into life to learn from certain experiences and broadly some of the major experiences we have we have asked to go through. This is my understanding of life."

He added: "If you're going to pin me down and start saying 'all victims deserve what they're getting'. No I am not saying that at all."

Roache then issued his apology in a statement, saying: "I would like to say that I am very sorry for any offence that has been caused as a result of my comments.

"I would never say that victims of sexual offences are in any way responsible for the abuse they have suffered and I offer my deepest apologies if anything I have said has been misunderstood in this way.

"I had no intention of causing any kind of distress as a result of my interview and I offer my utmost sympathies to anyone affected by sexual offences and paedophilia."

His original remarks to TVNZ were condemned by the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC), which said his comments were an insult to abuse victims.

Michael Le Vell pictured arriving at court

Dr Jon Bird, from NAPAC, condemned Roache's "hippy-dippy" spiritualist beliefs, saying child sex abuse left people with horrific physical and mental scars.

Roache's co-star of 30 years, Michael Le Vell, has been suspended from the ITV soap after he was charged with 19 child sex offences.

Le Vell, whose real name is Michael Turner, appeared in court last month and was bailed until his next appearance in the dock at Manchester Crown Court. Le Vell has denied any wrongdoing.

During his interview with TVNZ, Roache said: "Everyone's innocent until they're proven guilty."

He described paedophilia as "absolutely horrendous" but added: "There's a fringe here ... particularly pop stars who have these groupies, these girls, who are sexually active and sexually mature.

"They don't ask for their birth certificate and they don't know what age they may be. They're certainly not grooming them and exploiting them but they can be caught in this trap."

He added: "These people are instantly stigmatised. Some will be innocent and some will not, but until such time as (any offence) is proven, there should be anonymity for both.

"If someone has done something wrong, the law should take its course. But whether they're proven guilty or not, we should never be judgemental about anyone. We shouldn't go round condemning. We should be forgiving about everything."

Speaking to Sky News, Roache said: "I'm not blaming anybody for anything but things were different back in the 1970s. People were more tactile.

"I think it's probably unfair to judge too harshly today on things that were done 20 or 30 years ago. There should be a greater understanding that things were different in those days."

He added: "I'm not excusing inappropriate and insensitive behaviour to women. I think women are wonderful and they should be treated with respect."

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