Top News Stories –
Royal baby: Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to daughter –
The Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a girl, Kensington Palace has announced. The princess – who is fourth in line to the throne – was “safely delivered” at 08:34 BST, the palace statement said. The Duke of Cambridge, who was present for the birth of the 8lbs 3oz (3.7kg) baby girl, brought his 21-month-old son Prince George to visit his sister at St Mary’s Hospital, west London. The couple and their daughter will leave hospital on Saturday evening. They will travel home to Kensington Palace, where Prince George has now returned. Both Catherine and her daughter are “doing well”, Kensington Palace said. The name of the baby will be announced in due course. [BBC]
Floyd Mayweather beats Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas –
Floyd Mayweather emerged victorious from the most lucrative fight in history, beating Manny Pacquiao via a wide unanimous decision in Las Vegas. American Mayweather, 38, delivered a defensive masterclass against his Philippine rival, making the necessary adjustments after only a few rounds before disappearing out of sight. Mayweather, who added the WBO welterweight title to the WBC and WBA titles he already owned, was awarded the fight 118-110, 116-112 and 116-112 by the three judges. With his victory, Mayweather also cemented his status as the greatest pound-for-pound boxer of his generation. The five-weight world champion is now undefeated in 48 professional fights, stretching back 19 years. Pacquiao’s pride will no doubt be salved when he next checks his bank account – it is estimated the fight will generate $400m (£265m) in total, with Mayweather and Pacquiao set to split in the region of $230m (£150m). [BBC]
Floyd Mayweather
Best-selling crime writer Ruth Rendell dies –
The best-selling crime writer Ruth Rendell [pen name Barbara Vine] has died aged 85, her publisher has said. The celebrated British author was best known for her series of novels featuring Chief Inspector Wexford. Her publishers announced that Rendell passed away in London at 8am today. Paying tribute, they said they were “devastated by the loss” of one of their best-loved authors. The Labour peer was admitted to hospital in January in a critical but stable condition after suffering a serious stroke. Her crime novels gained her committed fans for decades and covered a range of issues from racism to domestic violence. [Daily Telegraph]
Ruth Rendell in 2007
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