World Cup champions Germany honoured the tragic loss of 150 lives in the Germanwings plane disaster in the French Alps with a minute's silence ahead of their friendly against Australia. Joachim Low's side also wore black armbands in tribute after the crash near Digne on Tuesday left no survivors with the fatalities including 16 schoolchildren. The crowd and players alike shared in solemn silence before kick-off against the recently crowned Asian Cup champions at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion in Kaiserslautern. The German team observes a minute's silence before their match against Australia in a plane tragedy tribute . The crowd, officials and Australia side join the Germans as they honour the 150 lives lost in the French Alps . A fan holds a sign reading 'R.I.P 4U9525', the number of the Germanwings flight from Barcelona to Dusseldorf . Earlier on Wednesday, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich held their own minute's silences at training. Around half the victims in the crash are believed to be German and national Football Association president Wolfgang Niersbach said before the match: 'It is the one clear thought which overshadows everything else. 'We owe it to the victims and their families that the football family share in their grief,' he said of the German FA's website. National team manager Oliver Bierhoff added: 'We are deeply saddened and stunned. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims.' Germany's starting XI stand arm-in-arm wearing black armbands after the tragedy in the French Alps . German defender Benedikt Howedes holds a sign saying 'Haltern mourn' in relation to the plane crash .

Summary: Germanwings plane crashed near Digne in the French Alps on Tuesday . Around half of victims on board plane are believed to be German . Joachim Low's side hosted Australia in Kaiserslautern on Wednesday night . Real Madrid and Bayern Munich held minute silences at training .


Roy Hodgson will attend the World Cup draw in July as England manager but with no assurances that he will be in charge for the campaign to reach Russia in 2018. Hodgson is keen to extend his contract which will expire next year although FA chairman Greg Dyke has warned him that negotiations may not open for another 12 months. 'I get on quite well with Roy and we chat all the time but we have not talked about contracts yet,' said Dyke. 'We genuinely haven't discussed it. We will have that discussion in the next nine months to a year. England and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is kept busy during training at St Georges Park on Tuesday . Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling controls the ball during training on Tuesday . Roy Hodgson will be hoping to continue England's unbeaten run in Group E against Lithuania on Friday . 'When we decided in Brazil that we wanted Roy to continue with his contract, we thought: 'He's got a contract, he sees it through'. Sometime in the next year we will discuss what happens afterwards.' The draw for the World Cup qualifiers is in St Petersburg, Russia, on July 25. Hodgson will represent England, but Dyke plans to dodge the event after reacting to a tough World Cup draw by making a cut-throat gesture. 'Roy will go, I'm not allowed after what happened last time,' said Dyke. England, who play Lithuania at Wembley on Fridayare cruising towards Euro 2016 in France, winning the first four qualifiers to establish a six-point lead at the top of a group from which the top two automatically go through. England and Everton centre back Phil Jagielka speaks to the media after training on Tuesday . Hodgson will be 70 at the time of the World Cup in Russia but has proved a popular manager with FA chiefs and players alike since he replaced Fabio Capello, in 2012. The Euro 2016 qualification process has been so tame, however, that a final decision on his contract may even be shelved until after the finals as England bid to improve on their World Cup flop, when they failed to win a game. 'Without being disrespectful, this group isn't the toughest,' said centre-half Phil Jagielka. 'Time will tell in the tournament. There is a bit of pressure on and that is when the judgment will be clearer. Wayne Rooney (centre) leads his England team-mates on a lap as they continue their preparations for Friday . 'We need to have a good tournament in France to back him if Roy is going to stay on, but the boys are desperate to do that. He's a likeable person and a good man-manager. 'We want to play well and get as far as we can. We will be looking, and should be looking, to go and win the tournament. We want to keep progressing. We have a good, youthful and talented squad. Hopefully we can keep knocking out the wins.' Tottenham striker Harry Kane gets down to business with the rest of Hodgson's

Summary: Roy Hodgson succeeded Fabio Capello as England manager in May 2012 . England endued a poor World Cup campaign in Brazil . But Hodgson's contract was honoured through to Euro 2016 . England have begun their qualifier campaign with four straight wins . Hodgson's side face Lithuania at Wembley on Friday night .


Snuggled up together and almost holding hands in their sleep, this is the heart-warming moment twin baby girls were reunited after spending their first six weeks apart as they battled for life. Darcey and Eden Mold, who were born six weeks premature and with holes in their hearts, were immediately placed in separate incubators. Weighing just 4lb 13oz each, they were wired up to a tangle of bleeping monitors, tubes and drips. After weeks of complications and treatments in hospital, the twins were finally well enough to go home and have their first cuddle in a Moses basket, dressed in matching pink sleep suits. Katy Mold, 31, gave birth to twin girls Darcey and Eden (pictured) after going into labour at the 34-week stage of her pregnancy and both girls were born with holes in their hearts - known as congenital heart defects . Parents Katy (pictured left with the twin girls) and David Mold (right), from Sway, Hampshire, have been in and out of Southampton General Hospital after both girls fell unwell after the birth and needed urgent care . Their mother Katy, 31, said yesterday: 'They're both little fighters. They really are both little miracles.' The twins were born just one minute apart in an emergency Caesarean on November 25, after Mrs Mold's waters broke 34 weeks into pregnancy when she choked on a crisp. Eden, who was born second, was immediately whisked away for checks and medication as she had large holes in her heart. Mrs Mold, who was wheeled in her hospital bed to visit the pair in intensive care nine hours after their birth, said: 'Just seeing them so small and so helpless, it was very hard. I couldn't hold them. Mrs Mold gave birth after her waters broke when she choked on a crisp. The girls weighed just 4lbs and 13oz when they were born (pictured) and while Darcey was allowed home straight away, Eden was kept in hospital . As well as being born with large holes in her heart, baby Eden (pictured in hospital) also had a condition which meant she had a narrowing of the aorta and had no septum between the two ventricles of the heart . 'Sitting around watching them in a box was the hardest thing.' But this was only the start of an emotional roller coaster for Mrs Mold, a college secretary, and her husband David, 47, who runs an event management business. When Eden was eight days old, she had to have a six-hour operation to repair narrowing of her aorta, the large blood vessel in the heart, and to have her pulmonary artery 'banded' to reduce blood flow to her lungs. The operation was a success but days later Darcey, who had been allowed to go home because her heart condition was not life-threatening, turned blue and was rushed back to Southampton General Hospital where her sister was recovering. While baby Darcey (pictured) was originally allowed home after birth, she was taken into intensive care just weeks later after being struck down with a severe case of

Summary: Mother Katy Mold, 31, went into labour at 34-week stage of her pregnancy . Twin girls Darcey and Eden born prematurely and with holes in their hearts . Eden born with narrowing of the aorta and with ventricular septal defect . She had immediate surgery while Darcey deemed well enough to go home . While Eden was recovering in hospital, Darcey fell ill with chest infection . She was taken into intensive care and girls spent about six weeks apart . Both have now returned to Hampshire home and are recovering with family .


British tennis found itself with a ready made second top 100 player on when Aljaz Bedene, the world No 83, announced that he is now a UK citizen. The 25-year-old is originally from Slovenia but since 2008 has lived in Welwyn Garden City with his girlfriend Kimalie, a pop star in her native land who is a protegee of renowned record producer Jeff Wayne. Bedene attended a citizenship ceremony in Hatfield on Tuesday and posted pictures of the occasion. He will formally receive his passport within the next two weeks and start entering tournaments as a British player. Aljaz Bedene is pictured at his British citizenship ceremony in Hatfield on Tuesday morning . Bedene poses for a picture with friends and family outside the petty sessional court building in Hatfield . Aljaz Bedene was born in the Slovenian capital of Ljublana in 1989 but has made the UK his home since 2008. The 25-year-old lives in Hertfordshire and trains at Gosling Sports Park in Welwyn Garden City with British coach James Davidson and fitness trainer Martin Skinner. Bedene's career-high ranking was No 71 in February 2013 and he reached his first ATP tour final earlier this year when he finished runner-up at the Chennai Open in January. However, whether he can play Davis Cup for GB is a different matter, as he has three times been in the Slovenian squad, albeit never having played a 'live' rubber. He is appealing a new rule banning players from representing two nations on the basis that his citizenship application was being processed at the time. 'Today is one of the most special days of my life,' said Bedene. 'This has been a long process and to gain citizenship almost seven years to the day after arriving is just overwhelming. 'This is something I have wanted since the moment I stepped foot in this beautiful country and I feel honoured to be able to compete under the Union Jack on the ATP Tour. Davis Cup is another dream and one I will have to fight for with everything I have.' Bedene is the most significant British tennis import since Greg Rusedski. A quick and agile baseliner, he has already been ranked No 71 in the world and after being held back by injuries last year ought to be heading into the top 50 before too long. He has long been managed by Stevenage-based firm Global Tennis Connections and has a British coach in James Davidson. He has actually represented Hertfordshire in the County Cup, the team being captained by tennis nut Wayne, famous for his War of the Worlds production. Bedene in action against Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open in Melbourne earlier this year . Bedene (right) with girlfriend Kimalie, who is a pop singer in her native land of Slovenia . Bedene will now slot in as British No 2 although it must be highly unlikely he could play in the Davis Cup quarter-final after Wimbledon against France, especially after James Ward's heroics against the USA in the first round. The likes of Ward,

Summary: Aljaz Bedene officially became a British citizen at a ceremony on Tuesday . The Slovenian born 25-year-old is currently ranked No 83 in the world . Andy Murray has welcomed Bedene's switch in citizenship .


Fit-again Ulster lock Dan Tuohy has been called into a 36-man wider training squad for Ireland's drive towards the RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam. The 29-year-old has missed Ireland's entire Six Nations campaign so far after damaging thumb ligaments in January. The nine-cap second row has not featured in Test action since February 2014, his Six Nations cut short and autumn internationals wiped out after twice breaking his arm. Dan Tuohy has been called into the training squad for Ireland's drive towards the Six Nations Grand Slam . Ireland's head coach Joe Schmidt shouts instructions to his players during a training session . Ireland were hugely impressive as they beat England 19-9 in their previous Six Nations encounter . Tuohy trudged out of Ireland's 26-3 Six Nations victory over Wales in Dublin last year, suffering his first arm fracture just nine minutes after joining the second-half fray. The former Gloucester and Exeter tight-five forward missed out as Ireland clinched the 2014 Six Nations title, before being ruled out of the autumn Tests after suffering another broken arm. The luckless lock is back fit and firing again however, and will be keen to make an impression as Ireland gear up to face Wales in Cardiff on Saturday. Tuohy will find it tough going to break the match day 23 for the Millennium Stadium clash, with captain Paul O'Connell and Devin Toner inked in to start, with Iain Henderson impressing from the bench. Forwards: . M Bent (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), S Cronin, T Furlong, C Healy, J Heaslip (all Leinster), I Henderson (Ulster), M McCarthy, J McGrath, M Moore, J Murphy, S O'Brien (all Leinster), P O'Connell, T O'Donnell, P O'Mahony (all Munster), M Ross, D Ryan, R Strauss, D Toner (all Leinster), D Tuohy (Ulster). Backs: . I Boss (Leinster), T Bowe, D Cave (both Ulster), K Earls (Munster), L Fitzgerald (Leinster), R Henshaw (Connacht), F Jones (Munster), D Kearney, R Kearney (both Leinster), I Keatley (Munster), I Madigan (Leinster), C Murray (Munster), J Payne (Ulster), E Reddan (Leinster), J Sexton (Racing Metro), S Zebo (Munster).

Summary: Ireland face Wales then Scotland in the RBS 6 Nations . Ulster lock Dan Tuohy has been called into their training squad . Tuohy has been out since January with damaged thumb ligaments . The second row hasn't featured in Test action since February 2014 .


Mike Brown is set to return for England against Scotland on Saturday after taking a full part in training for the first time since suffering concussion against Italy three weeks ago. England’s first-choice full back was knocked unconscious in the early stages of his side’s 47-17 victory over the Azzurri and missed last Sunday’s 19-9 loss by Ireland in Dublin, where Saracens’ Alex Goode stood in. Brown suffered a setback in his recovery last week when he experienced headache-like symptoms after beginning return-to-play protocols. Mike Brown has been suffering from concussion and missed England's defeat in Ireland last week . Brown was knocked out while tackling Italy's Andrea Masi at Twickenham last month . But he has since completed the six-day programme and participated in controlled contact training against Hartpury College at England’s Surrey base on Friday. ‘Mike took a full part in training and will be available for selection,’ an England spokesman confirmed. Brown's return for his 36th cap would provide a significant boost for Stuart Lancaster, whose team were out-thought and outmuscled against Joe Schmidt’s championship favourites last week. Lancaster will also be able to call on Northampton lock Courtney Lawes after he completed his second game for Saints following the ankle surgery which saw him miss England’s opening three Six Nations fixtures. Lawes looks certain to win his 37th cap at Twickenham on Saturday, meaning George Kruis or Dave Attwood will drop to the bench, leaving Nick Easter’s position under threat. Brown has returned to training in a much-needed boost to England boss Stuart Lancaster . Alex Goode in line to replace Luther Burrell if his calf problem persists . Brad Barritt starts in the centre for Saracens when they take on Wasps at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday, where Goode starts at fly-half, and he could make his first start of the championship if Luther Burrell’s calf problem persists. The Northampton centre has started the first three games of England’s campaign at No 12 alongside Jonathan Joseph but suffered the leg injury in Dublin and has been severely restricted in training. Billy Twelvetrees played 80 minutes for Gloucester in their Aviva Premiership draw with Northampton but he has endured an up-and-down season and struggled badly off the bench against Ireland, leaving the ever-reliable Barritt in line for a place among the replacements at least. Northampton flanker Tom Wood could also return to the international fold after proving his fitness from the ankle injury he sustained in January, although James Haskell is likely to be retained at blindside, putting Tom Croft’s place on the bench in danger. Out-of-favour scrum-half Danny Care scored a try for Harlequins as they beat London Irish yesterday but is not expected to return as Richard Wigglesworth and Ben Youngs fill the No 9 slots, while Danny Cipriani will have to settle for a place on the bench again after being one of only two unused replacements in Dublin. Loosehead prop Alex Corbisero played 60 minutes for Saints yesterday but Joe Marler and Mako Vunipola are favourites to retain their places when Lancaster names his

Summary: Mike Brown has returned to training after recovering from concussion . Full-back missed England's Six Nations defeat in Ireland last week . Brown was concussed in early stages of victory over Italy last month .


Trekking through the dunes of the Sahara in 40 degree heat can be thirsty work even for camels. And one for one of the animals taking a long swig from a beer bottle was just what they needed to refresh themselves. The herd of camels were on a trek across the Erg Chebbi dunes in Morocco, where one of the group was snapped having a refreshing drink. A camel takes a swig from a beer bottle on a short refreshment stop while trekking across the Sahara desert . Tour guides filled the beer bottles with water for the camels to drink as temperatures reached as high as 40 degrees . But rather than swigging down beer the bottles had actually been filled with water by the guides for the camels to drink. Photographer Joao Victor Bolan, who captured the image, said: 'The picture where a camel drinks from a bottle, it was obviously just for fun. It was just water. 'They don't usually drink too often and while we were there, I hadn't seen any camel drinking. 'We only made a short stop - I would say not more than 15 minutes - but judging by how fast they drank it, I guess they were thirsty.' Mr Bolan travelled over 370 miles across the High Atlas mountain range from the Moroccan city of Marrakech to reach the sand dunes. The pictures were snapped by photographer Joao Bolan, who spent time trekking across the Erg Chebbi dunes in Morocco . The 26-year-old travelled with a guide and a friend and when they reached the dunes, they hired a total of six camels to help them explore the area. And while there, they experienced extreme temperatures ranging from soaring heat during the day to freezing temperatures around minus five late at night. Mr Bolan, from Sao Paulo, Brazil added: 'I was photographing the route from Marrakech to Erg Chebbi through the High Atlas region. The group experienced extreme temperatures on their trek ranging from soaring hear during the day to freezing temperatures at night . 'We stopped at a base camp for the dunes where we spent the night. 'Like any other desert, it was incredibly hot during the day and cold at night. 'Riding the camels was a little uncomfortable to be honest. 'After two hours, your back really starts to hurt but I would say that was a nice experience because it's a huge animal that goes on a paced rhythm in a majestic environment.'

Summary: A herd of camels was trekking through the Sahara with a group of tourists . The group made a quick stop to allow the animals a chance to get a drink . One of the camels was snapped taking a long swig from a beer bottle . But rather than drinking beer the bottle was actually filled with just water .


Academy graduate Lloyd Isgrove has signed a two-year contract extension at Southampton. Having joined Saints aged nine, the midfielder has this season gone onto make four first-team appearances for the club. Isgrove, now 22, has seen such progress rewarded by a contract extension until 2017, having previously penned successive one-year deals at St Mary's. Lloyd Isgrove has signed a two-year contract extension with Southampton after his first-team breakthrough . A bandaged Isgrove fires in a shot during Southampton's FA Cup tie against Ipswich Town this season . 'It's a bit of security,' the Welsh midfielder told Southampton's official YouTube channel. 'I'm 22 now so obviously this takes me to 24. 'It won't stop me working hard and pushing in training. That's a good age to be playing at a high level. 'It shows that they believe in my abilities. They want me on a two-year instead of doing the one-years that I've previously done before, which is only positive for me. 'It's probably the biggest two years of my career so far. If I can get a run of games and stuff, I can really push on and really establish myself as a professional player.' Isgrove's new deal takes him up to the age of 24 and he hopes he can establish himself as a professional .

Summary: Lloyd Isgrove has signed a two-year contract extension with Southampton . Isgrove joined the south coast club aged nine and has played four times . Welsh midfielder had previously only penned one year contracts at Saints . CLICK HERE for all the latest Southampton news .


Motorists in Essex have been left bemused by 'Britain's most pointless lane' - a bizarre road layout which is not even long enough for the buses it was built for. Residents in North Stifford, Essex, say the 'pointless' bus lane on High Road - which at 50ft long is not big enough for a double-decker - should never have been built. The quirk in the road means cars and vans are forced off a stretch of straight road and onto a narrow 'chicane-like' bend in order to avoid breaking the law. Residents in North Stifford, Essex, are asking why the 'pointless' bus lane on High Road (pictured) which is just 50ft long and is not long enough for a double-decker bus, was built. They claim it is a 'hazard' Every week thousands of drivers have to make the awkward manoeuvre despite only a handful of buses being timetabled to come along the route each day. Following a series of accidents, the lane has now been branded a 'hazard' with motorists questioning what its purpose is. Emma Taylor, 24, a hairdresser from nearby Grays, spotted the strange road layout when she was driving at the weekend. She said: 'It really is bizarre. I drove through it on the way to my mum's house. 'I found it so strange that I actually had to turn back and have another look to make sure I was not seeing things. The quirk in the road means cars are forced onto a narrow 'chicane-like' bend in order to avoid the lane . 'The bus lane is so short that it is pointless and I nearly bashed the alloys on my Audi when I went around the traffic islands.' People living near to road say there have been a series of accidents which they believe have been caused by cars struggling to get through the narrow layout as they avoid the bus lane. Miss Taylor added: 'I understand why we need bus lanes and I think they are a good idea normally but this has to be the most pointless one in the country. Following a series of accidents the lane has been branded a 'hazard' by motorists who use it every day . 'I have shown pictures of it to my friends and they were all laughing and wondering what on earth its there for.' Another driver, who asked not to be named, said: 'There is no obvious reason why it is here. 'It's very narrow so I assume the highways bosses think it is slowing cars down but it's on a 30mph stretch of road here so it's not as if motorists are driving fast along here. 'I think it's more likely to cause accidents rather than prevent them. 'The bus drivers must find it very amusing as well.' A Thurrock Council spokesman said: 'At the time the bus lane was put in – in 2007 – the North Stifford village was suffering from HGVs using High Road as a short cut to and from the nearby A13 and especially when the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge

Summary: Bizarre short bus lane in North Stifford, Essex, is just 50ft long . Drivers have branded the small stretch of road 'pointless' and a 'hazard' They claim it causes accidents as it forces drivers to manoeuvre awkwardly . But local council say they have not had any complaints from villagers .


A Muslim fanatic has been arrested after he allegedly threatened to behead a rabbi during a rant outside a Florida synagogue. Diego Chaar screamed 'Allah Akbar' at least twice and shouted 'we will cut your heads off' at the rabbi and another man outside the Ohev Shalom Congregation in Miami Beach, police said. Rabbi Phineas Webberman called 911 after fearing for his life. Muslim fanatic Diego Chaar (left) has been arrested after allegedly threatening to behead rabbi Phineas Webberman (right) outside a synagogue in Florida . He told CBS Miami: 'That's called assault. Threatening to kill. 'His attitude was that this is his religious responsibility of carrying out killing infidels.' Chaar, 24, admitted shouting 'Alluha Akbar' but denied threatening to behead the men in an interview with Local 10 after he was released from custody on bond. He said: 'This is not a hate crime. Police said Chaar screamed 'Allah Akbar' at least twice and shouted 'we will cut your heads off' at the rabbi and another man outside the Ohev Shalom Congregation in Miami Beach (above) 'This has nothing to do with them being Jewish. I just want to help them find peace within themselves. 'I don't want them to burn in eternal hell forever.' He said he converted to Islam three years ago while in prison on drug charges. He faces charges of assault with religious prejudice and stalking. Extra security has been put in place at the synagogue to protect members.

Summary: Diego Chaar faces charges of assault with religious prejudice and stalking . Chaar, who converted to Islam three years ago, denies threatening to behead the men . He said: 'This is not a hate crime. I don't want them to burn in eternal hell'


Agony: Roy Parker, 67, waited almost an hour-and-a-half for an ambulance to arrive after he broke his shoulder and wrist . A pensioner seriously injured falling from a ladder waited nearly 90 minutes for an ambulance because the paramedics were on a lunch break. As Roy Parker, 67, lay in agony after breaking his shoulder and wrist at around 11.30am, his neighbour dialled 999. But paramedics did not arrive at his home in Solihull, West Midlands, until shortly before 1pm. West Midlands Ambulance Service has written to Mr Parker’s MP, Caroline Spelman, apologising for its ‘error’ last month. It admitted an ambulance should have gone but its crew was sent back for a meal break. Mr Parker’s wife, Dorothy, 69, said: ‘I arrived home about half an hour after his fall. 'My neighbour was with him. She thought he was going into shock.’ Paramedics had phoned to say they would be there as soon as possible but arrived one and a half hours after the 999 call. 'The paramedics were fantastic. They could see how bad the injuries were, but it is deeply concerning that my husband was left in this state for so long ,; Mrs Parker said. In the letter to Ms Spelman, West Midlands Ambulance Service said: 'In summary we did have a vehicle to send but it was sent back for a meal break. 'Caroline, we can only apologise for this error and I know the chief has offered to write to the patient to apologise for our mistake. 'Clearly there was an error in handling the call and I am sorry for the distress this has caused. I hope you are reassured that a review is taking place into what happened.' Meal break: It has since transpired Roy, 67, pictured with wife Dot, waited while the crew had their lunch . A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance added: ‘The initial call suggested he had fallen about 4ft and had hurt his arm and shoulder. 'We were dealing with a 25 per cent increase in 999 calls, many of which were of a more serious nature. ‘As well as being the law, it is right and proper that we give our crews a break. If we didn’t... they would work throughout their 12-hour shift which would put lives at risk – both patients and staff.’

Summary: 999 was called after Roy Parker broke his shoulder and wrist at 11.30am . But 67-year-old had to wait until just before 1pm for paramedics to arrive . Ambulance service admitted it was because crew were having a meal break . Also dealing with 25 per cent increase in calls at the time, spokesman said .


DIY giant B&Q announced today it is to shut one in six of its least profitable stores after its annual profits fell £75million last year. The home improvement chain is to close as many as 60 of its 360 stores over the next two years as part of a restructuring of its UK and Ireland business. Shares in Kingfisher, which trades as B&Q and Screwfix in the UK, jumped up 16p each - a five per cent rise - when the London Stock Exchange opened this morning. Changes: B&Q is to close as many as 60 of its 360 stores over the next two years as part of a restructuring of its UK and Ireland business . Parent company Kingfisher, which also owns Screwfix, plans to axe about 15 per cent of surplus space as a result of the review of its 360-strong B&Q estate. The move was announced as it posted a 7.5 per cent drop in annual profits to £675million after sales fell by 1.4 per cent to £11billion in the year to January 31. This is down from 744million in the 2013-14 year. The planned store closures form part of a plan by new Chief Executive Veronique Laury to shake-up the 360-store B&Q business. Kingfisher, which trades as B&Q and Screwfix in Britain and Castorama and Brico Depot in France, made a pre-tax profit of 675 million pounds in the year to January 31.The results are the first to be presented by Laury, who succeeded Ian Cheshire in December. Veronique Laury said the closure plan was one of a number of 'sharp' decisions being taken by the FTSE 100 company. She added: 'Home improvement is a great market with huge potential and Kingfisher has a strong position within it with further scope to grow in a sustainable way. However, it is clear to me that we need to organise ourselves very differently to unlock our potential.' Other plans include cutting back on some of the 393,000 products sold across the company, particularly as only 7,000 - amounting to 7 per cent of sales - are currently sold in at least two of Kingfisher's operating companies. The company will also look to optimise vacant store space and is in discussions with several retailers about sub-letting opportunities. Kingfisher said the impact on jobs from the B&Q store closure plan will be broadly neutral as it is opening about 60 outlets under the Screwfix brand, while it will also look to redeploy positions to other parts of the business. Ms Laury denied that the UK DIY market was in decline and said the store closure plan reflected a desire to reinvigorate the company's UK offer. She added that it had long been clear that B&Q had too many stores in its estate. B&Q UK & Ireland's total sales were up 1.9 per cent to £3.7 billion in the financial year, with sales of outdoor seasonal and building products up 4 per cent. Profits were 16 per cent higher at £276million. In contrast, profits in France were 12 per cent lower at £349

Summary: B&Q will shut one in six of its least profitable stores in next two years . Its annual profits were down £75m to £675m to the end of January . DIY giant will also reduce number of products and sub-let parts of stores .


Ashley Judd is vowing to press charges against anyone who used vulgar and threatening language to harass her on Twitter last Sunday during the Southeastern Conference basketball championship. The 46-year-old Insurgent actress and longtime University of Kentucky fan received violent threats on social media after she posted a tweet saying that she thought the University of Arkansas was 'playing dirty' while watching the team play her alma mater. 'I am pressing charges,' she told MSNBC's Thomas Roberts on Monday. Scroll down for video . Taking a stand: Ashley Judd told MSNBC's Thomas Roberts that she plans on pressing charges against those who harassed her on Twitter during the Southeastern Conference basketball championship . Online trolls: Ashley explained that after she tweeted that she thought the University of Arkansas was 'playing dirty' during the game, she received hateful comments that were extremely explicit and offensive . Ashley explained that if she was in a 'more calm state of mind' she would have perhaps phrased her initial tweet about Arkansas differently but noted that people should not be aggressively harassing one another on social media . She responded to the graphic and hateful comments she received that day reposting them on Twitter. 'When I express a stout opinion during #MarchMadness I am called a w****, c***, threatened with sexual violence. Not okay,' she tweeted. She added: 'I am sorry to retweet but this is a typical example. “@Leeroy_MAX: @AshleyJudd Go s*** on Cal's two inch d*** ye B**** w****.”' Shameful messages: Before the premiere of her new film Insurgent, the 46-year-old also sat down with NBC's Craig Melvin to discuss the amount of gender violence directed toward her on social media . 'Everyone needs to take personal responsibility for what they write and not allowing this misinterpretation and shaming culture on social media to exist,' she said on MSNBC, before insisting that she was going to file legal complaints against every Twitter user who sent her violent or abusive messages. Ashley also spoke to NBC national correspondent Craig Melvin before last night's premiere of her upcoming movie Insurgent. 'The amount of gender violence that I experience is absolutely extraordinary,' she said. 'And a significant part of my day today will be spent filing police reports at home about gender violence that's directed at me in social media.' Outrage: Ashley took to Twitter to speak out against the violent threats that she received during and after the game . Hitting back: The star wanted to highlight the sort of abuse that she received and shine a spotlight on those who think it is acceptable to use such violent language on Twitter . Super fan: Ashley can be seen cheering on the University of Kentucky during the SEC tournament final last Sunday . 'That many people?' Craig asked her. 'That many people. That explicit. That overt,' she replied. Since speaking out about the abuse, Ashley has received an outpouring of support from her fans on the social media site, many of whom have praised her for having the courage to pursue action against her abusers. 'Great

Summary: The 46-year-old received hateful messages after she tweeted that she thought Arkansas was was 'playing dirty' during Southeastern Conference . She responded to the vulgar comments by reposting them on her Twitter account . She told MSNBC's Thomas Roberts that society should not allow the 'shaming culture on social media to exist'


Troubled former England footballer Paul Gascoigne has been pictured appearing to carry a bag with a bottle of gin inside just days after insisting he was healthy. The 47-year-old, who was briefly sectioned for his own safety in October, has had a lengthy battle with alcohol and drugs. But just last week while appearing on BT Sport's Matchday Live With Fletch and Sav show, he insisted that he hadn't fallen off the wagon and wasn't drinking again. Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne, who has been pictured near his home in Poole, Dorset, carrying a bag with what appears to be a bottle of gin inside . The midfielder, who retired from football in 2004, was wearing a coat, but no shirt, and also appeared to have sores around his mouth . Gascoigne was also pictured going into an Oddbins off licence and posing for a photograph with a member of staff and a bottle of lemonade . However, a week on from his successful TV appearance, new pictures have emerged showing Gascoigne walking close to his home in Poole, Dorset, clutching a bag containing what looks like a bottle of gin. The midfielder, who retired from football in 2004, was wearing a coat, but no shirt underneath, and appeared to have sores around his mouth. He was also pictured going into a local Oddbins off-licence and posed for a photograph with a member of staff and a bottle of lemonade. The new pictures come as the former Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United star recently joked about his addiction problems saying: 'I've been on a whiskey diet – I lost three days!' The star, put his recent stint in hospital following an apparent alcohol binge down to 'just to a little blip' The 47-year-old, who was briefly sectioned for his own safety in October, has had a lengthy battle with alcohol and drugs . The star, who put his recent stint in hospital following an apparent alcohol binge down to 'just to a little blip', insisted other photos of him shopping in a off-licence last month didn't mean he had resorted to his old habits. He told TV presenters Robbie Savage and Darren Fletcher on the BT Sport show: 'I was only buying cigarettes.' As well as making light of his dark times, the footballer also touched on the struggles of being in the spotlight. Just last week, Gascoigne appeared in good spirits on BT Sport's Fletch and Sav show and joked about his alcohol problems . Gascoigne, who retired from football in 2004, was joined by fellow guest Russell Brand on the show and opened up about his struggles with alcoholism . He told fellow guests Jimmy Greaves and Russell Brand how his fundamental aim on a football pitch was to 'entertain the fans, win them over', but admitted that sometimes it all became too intense for him. He also admitted that even today 'it's sometimes hard to go to games' because he ends up 'analysing myself.' He added: 'I drive myself nuts. What would I have done there?' In December last

Summary: New pictures have emerged of Paul Gascoigne walking near his home . The former England footballer appears to be carrying a bottle of gin . 47-year-old visited an off licence wearing a coat with no shirt underneath . Comes just a week after he insisted he had not fallen off the wagon . Gascoigne has had a lengthy and well documented battle with alcohol and drugs .


A WWII veteran died a hero after pushing his wife of 68 years out of the way from an oncoming car. Clark and Betty Biddle, both 88, were high school sweethearts in Ohio. She had waited for him while he served in the army. They had two children, a dog and a vegetable garden. But their love story took a tragic turn last Thursday as the couple walked across a shopping center to meet high school friends for their monthly lunch reunion. WWII veteran Clark Biddle died a hero after pushing Betty, his wife of 68 years, out of the way from an oncoming car. They were high school sweethearts in Columbus, Ohio . Betty had broken her hip two years ago, and was relying on her husband and a walker to help her move that day. When Clark saw that she was in danger as a car began backing out of a parking space, he didn't hesitate. Betty was bruised, but Clark had been struck. He fell and hit his head, suffering massive brain trauma. He passed away two days later. 'I don't know if I'm going to make it without him,' Betty told the Columbus Dispatch. Betty said she misses Clark 'every minute', and kisses the picture that she carries around of the two of them, sitting at the kitchen table together, 'a number of times a day'. She said she will never get over the sight of seeing her husband on the ground. Betty said she misses Clark 'every minute', and kisses the picture that she carries around of the two of them, sitting at the kitchen table together, 'a number of times a day' Betty said she will never get over the sight of seeing her husband on the ground and that sometimes she wishes she was with him . 'Sometimes I wish I was with him, I really do,' she said. Gary Biddle, the couple's son, said his father was acting on instinct when he saved Betty. He had been her primary caregiver ever since her injury two years ago. 'This is dad, he would sacrifice himself for others and always cared for them, more than thinking about himself,' he told the Columbus Dispatch. Clark was a pilot. He also opened and owned a drive-in restaurant bearing his name for 25 years, and played the saxophone and clarinet for dance bands. He was a well-known member of his community, unable to go to the grocery store without running into people he knew, according to his son-in-law Dan Cress. Clark was also a friendly neighbor. Laura Jones told the Columbus Dispatch that he would let her dog out every day while she was at work after her husband died six years ago. And, without fail, there was always a note and two cookies waiting for her when she got home. Columbus police said the driver of the car is currently under investigation.

Summary: Clark and Betty Biddle, both 88, had been married for 68 years . The high school sweethearts were on their way to monthly reunion lunch with old classmates in Columbus, Ohio . Were walking across a parking lot when Clark saw parked car backing out . He was struck and fell after pushing Betty to safety and died two days later .


For Burnley, a famous victory. For champions Manchester City, plenty of soul-searching required. After failing to stop George Boyd, not many will fancy their chances of coping with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at the Nou Camp on Wednesday. It was a famous night at Turf Moor, their first win over City since 1974 ranking alongside their 2009 victory against Manchester United in their first season in the Premier League when Robbie Blake scored the winner. City deserved what they got — absolutely nothing. Their manager, Manuel Pellegrini, looked pale and drawn by the final whistle as well he might. City dominated possession but not energy, commitment or even goal chances. George Boyd scored Burnley's winner with a sweetly struck shot into the bottom corner . Vincent Kompany's clearance fell straight to Boyd who caught it sweetly with his left foot . Boyd celebrates his 61st minute strike at Turf Moor on Saturday night . Burnley (4-4-2): Heaton 6.5, Trippier 6.5, Duff 6.5, Shackell 7, Mee 6, Boyd 8, Arfield 7, Jones 7, Barnes 6, Vokes 6.5 (Ward 87), Ings 7 (Reid 90). Subs Not Used: Wallace, Kightly, Jutkiewicz, Gilks, Keane. Booked: Mee, Duff. Goals: Boyd 61. Man City (4-4-2): Hart 6, Zabaleta 6.5, Kompany 6, Demichelis 5, Clichy, Jesus Navas 5, Toure 6 (Lampard 81), Fernandinho 5, Silva 5 (Jovetic 74), Dzeko 4.5 (Bony 63), Aguero 5.5. Subs Not Used: Sagna, Nasri, Caballero, Mangala. Booked: Demichelis. Att: 21,216 . Ref: Andre Marriner 5 (W Midlands). Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure spent most of the game in his own half. CLICK HERE to see more from Sportsmail's MATCH ZONE . They are still five points behind leaders Chelsea, having played two games more, and the immediate reaction from TV pundit Jamie Redknapp was that this was the type of performance by City players that gets managers the sack. It was City, not the underdogs of Burnley, who used illegitimate strongarm tactics. Sergio Aguero was lucky that referee Andre Marriner did not spot his studs-up challenge that caught Michael Duff on the ankle. Martin Demichelis crudely targeted Clarets dangerman Danny Ings and caught him in the leg, chin and back of the head on at least three occasions. The Argentine was very fortunate not to sent off on the totting-up procedure. Everywhere you looked there was a City horror story. David Silva gave one of his worst performances in a City shirt and was hooked after missing their best chance from Aguero’s pass. Skipper Vincent Kompany was partly culpable for Burnley’s winner after being recalled to the side. Pablo Zabaleta claimed a late penalty when he was challenged Mee. Nothing was given, correctly. Burnley are still third from bottom but only one point behind Sunderland in the Premier League safety zone. And their winning goal after 61 minutes was excellent. Kieran Tripper’s delivery from a free-kick was fantastic, Kompany rose to head away from goal but only to Boyd, lurking on the edge of the box. The celebrations were akin to another famous Burnley goal, Robbie Blake's winner against Manchester United . Manchester

Summary: Burnley enhanced their survival hopes by further ravaging Manchester City's fading title quest . George Boyd scored with a brilliant low strike from the edge of the area after 61 minutes . Defeat leaves City still trailing Chelsea by five points at the top, but now having played two games more . It will also increase the heat on City manager Manuel Pellegrini, whose side have fallen away badly recently .


This is the heartbreaking moment a four-year-old Syrian girl 'surrendered' to a photographer when she mistook the man's camera for a gun. Taken at the Atmen refugee camp on Syria's border with Turkey last December, the image shows the young girl frozen in fear with her arms raised and her lips tightly pursed. The child has been identified as Adi Hudea, whose father died in the 2012 Hama massacre and who has been living with her traumatised mother and three siblings at Camp Atmen ever since. Scroll down for video . Harrowing: Taken at the Atmen refugee camp on Syria's border with Turkey, the image shows four-year-old Adi Hudea frozen in fear with her arms raised and her lips tightly pursed . Shocking: Palestine-based photojournalist Nadia Abu Shaban tweeted the image along with the caption: 'Thought he has a weapon not a camera so she gave up' The image was taken by Turkish photojournalist Osman Sagirli but went viral earlier this week when it was shared on social media. Palestine-based photojournalist Nadia Abu Shaban tweeted the image along with the caption: 'Thought he has a weapon not a camera so she gave up'. Turkish media researching the origins of the photograph later suggested Adi Hudea was a four-year-old boy, not a girl, and revealed he was a resident of the Atmen refugee in Syria. But BBC Trending have subsequently spoken to Sagirli himself who confirmed the image shows a little girl. Ms Shaban's tweet has since been reposted more than 14,000 times and prompted emotional responses from social media users. One wrote: 'I'm actually weeping seeing this. We've made this planet a horrible place, haven't we?', as another said: 'We are failing the younger generations and those still to come. SHAME ON US.' Horrified: The image has prompted emotional responses from social media users, especially on Twitter . One Twitter user wrote: 'I'm actually weeping seeing this. We've made this planet a horrible place, haven't we?', while another said: 'We are failing the younger generations and those still to come. SHAME ON US.' Carnage: Damaged buildings and vehicles are seen after Syrian army forces attacked the Hilal Hospital belonging to the Syrian Red Crescent in the city of Idlib earlier this week . Terror: A man walks with his children past the site of a Syrian government barrel bomb attack in Aleppo's Dahret Awwad neighbourhood . The five-year-old Syrian Civil War has so far claimed more than 220,000 lives, including an estimated 10,000 children. Millions of people have been displaced by the conflict, with more than 12 million people - including five million children - still in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. The image emerged as the Syrian government announced plans to import 150,000 tonnes of wheat for its starving population - just weeks after saying it had no need to do so. Despite millions of Syrians fleeing the fighting to neighbouring countries, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government is grappling with ensuring there is enough grain for all. Trade sources say Damascus faced challenges importing sufficient stocks as payment problems and fighting

Summary: Young refugee girl mistook Osman Sagirli's camera for a deadly weapon . Four-year-old froze in obvious terror and then raised her hands in the air . Child has been identified as Adi Hudea, whose father was killed in 2012 . Image has since gone viral, being shared on Twitter thousands of times .


Three men who smuggled more than 230lbs of cocaine hidden inside plastic bananas have been jailed for a total of 59 years. Leonel Hernandez-Gonzalez, 37, Oscar Alberto Grisales-Cuervo, 46, and Daniel Valdes Jaramillo, 24, worked with Colombian drug lords to bring in cocaine worth £25million in a consignment of bananas, hiding the drugs among the real fruit. The three men, from London, were arrested after meeting at a Brixton cafe to exchange a 'treasure map' detailing where drugs were hidden in a warehouse in Kent. Drug smugglers: Daniel Valdes Jaramillo, 24, and Leonel Hernandez-Gonzalez, 37, have been found guilty of smuggling £25millions worth of cocaine into the UK hidden in plastic bananas . Had their scheme worked, the country could have been flooded with the illegal deadly drug, Southwark Crown Court was told. Prosecutor Ken Millett said: 'On 10 July last year following a lengthy, proactive investigation by officers from the Specialist Crime directorate at New Scotland Yard, officer found 100kg of high-grade cocaine at a banana warehouse ripening plant just off the A2 in Kent. 'Those bananas had been found in a pallet of a consignment of genuine bananas that had been sent on or about 21 June from Colombia.' More than 30 pallets of bananas were delivered to an industrial estate in Hartlip, near Sittingbourne, where father-of-one Jaramillo worked and received the drugs delivery. 'Police officers had been keeping Mr Jaramillo and others under observation and he was under observation. Jailed: Former butcher Oscar Grisales-Cuervo, of London, was jailed for 22 years . 'He had been seen meeting up with Mr Grisales Cuervo and Mr Hernandez Gonzalez,' said Mr Millett. Officers were watching as the bananas and drugs were dropped off at the warehouse and placed within the ripening room. Mr Millett continued: 'The drugs could not be recovered until a map of the location of the drugs could be obtained from the first two defendants [Grisales Cuervo and Hernandez Gonzalez. 'That treasure map was later sent from Colombia to Mr Grisales Cuervo and after he consignment had been delivered they met up with Mr Jaramillo at a cafe in Brixton where the details of where the drugs were to be found were handed over. 'As the men left the cafe on 10 July they were arrested by police officers, each were found in possession of a large quantity of mobile phones, including encrypted telephones. 'Later that night the officers found the consignment of drugs at until four hidden within the centre of a pallet which had specific identity markings on it,' he said. 'This consignment was part of a wider conspiracy to import large shipments of drugs into the United Kingdom using this and other methods of secretion.' The high-grade cocaine was 91 per cent pure and was to be cut with other substances before it reached street level where the purity can be as low as one to 15 per cent. The drugs had a wholesale value of up to £8m and a street value of £24.5m. 'The bananas were wrapped in a particular cling film and had

Summary: Men jailed after smuggling more than 230lbs of cocaine into the UK . Hid £25million worth of cocaine in plastic bananas among real fruit . Arrested after meeting to exchange 'treasure map' to the cocaine .


A student high on miaow miaow stabbed his mother 11 times before cutting off his own penis at an 'exceptional' attack in their home. Charles Mann launched the frenzied attack on his mother, Emma, in December 2013 after bingeing on the party drug and copious amounts of alcohol. After stabbing his mother repeatedly the 21-year-old turned the knife on himself to cut off his genitalia and was heard shouting: 'I love you but this is the prophecy' near their home in Haywards Heath, West Sussex. Charles Mann, 21, stabbed his mother Emma 11 times and cut off his own penis after taking a cocktail of miaow miaow, cannabis and alcohol . He was jailed for 16 months today after admitting Grievous Bodily Harm. As her son entered the dock at Hove Crown Court, Ms Mann was seen mouthing 'I love you' in his direction. She required surgery for multiple punctures to one of her lungs and was wounded on her arms, head and neck following the attack. The court heard how she made a frantic 999 call at 6.20am on December 29, telling operators: 'My son's just attacked me and stabbed me and he's going mental downstairs with the knives.' Ms Mann was woken when her son returned home and began 'trashing' his room. The court heard how he followed her into the kitchen where he stabbed her 11 times. The 21-year-old, who received treatment at a psychiatric facility before being transferred to Lewes Prison, was so high during the attack he was 'not responding to pain'. 'He was not reacting to pain and was described as manic and deranged,' said prosecuting counsel Amy Packham. When police arrived at the family home, he is said to have told officers: "I have stabbed her multiple times, I have killed her. The 21-year-old was sentenced to 16 months behind bars after pleading guilty to Grievous Bodily Harm. His mother, right leaving court, was seen mouthing 'I love you' during the hearing . "I have stabbed my mum and I need to be punished for what I have done." 'He said he had taken miaow miaow, loads of lines of it, and a lot of alcohol. He appeared manic and deranged at the time. He was said to have described himself as a 'paedophile' to police officers and begged: 'I do not want to live. 'Take me to the light, I can see the vampires.' After pleading guilty to Grievous Bodily Harm at an earlier hearing the 21-year-old was jailed for 16 month, reduced to eight. He will only serve another four weeks owing to the time already spent in custody. Sentencing, judge David Rennie described the family's case as 'wholly exceptional'. Earlier Ms Mann spoke at the difficulty of seeing her son's fate 'already sealed'. 'This case has a number of features which make it if not unique wholly exceptional. The lack of total awareness and capacity to form intent was the direct result of drug induced psychosis,' said Judge Rennie. 'I further recognise that in your psychotic state you inflicted life altering injuries

Summary: Charles Mann stabbed his mother Emma 11 times in a frenzied attack . The 21-year-old then cut off his own penis in drug-induced fit of violence . Hove Crown Court heard how he had taken cocktail of drugs and alcohol . Launched the assault on mother at West Sussex home in December 2013 . Mann was sentenced to 16 months behind bars for Grievous Bodily Harm . He has been receiving psychiatric treatment since 'exceptional' incident .


A children's spider-man fancy dress outfit has been recalled by Asda due to safety fears after a parent complained the battery pack blew up and flew across his living room. The £12.50 light-up costume has been taken off shelves across the country after an investigation by the supermarket chain discovered a fault with the battery. The investigation was sparked after a complaint from Steve Slaughter, who bought the outfit for his son Stephen to wear on World Book Day. Steve Slaughter, who bought the outfit for his four-year-old son Stephen to wear on World Book Day. Pictured Steve Slaughter with son Stephen, wife Gillian and daughter Eva . Mr Slaughter, from Middlesbrough, complained to Asda earlier this month after the detachable chest piece - containing a battery pack - appeared to blow up and flew across the living room. Fortunately it was not being worn at the time by four-year-old Stephen. 'I'm not a scientist and I don't know much about batteries but this thing is potentially lethal,' the 57-year-old reportedly told the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette. 'The box literally flew across the floor with a huge force and landed at my feet. 'When I looked to see what happened I found the bottom part of the batteries had been blown away.' A spokeswoman for Asda said: 'Asda George has issued a recall of its Spider-man light-up dress-up costume. 'The wrong batteries have been included inside the costume's removable light-up unit resulting in a potential safety issue. The £12.50 Spiderman costume that has been recalled by Asda due to safety concerns . Asda said that the 'wrong batteries' had been included with the light-up fancy dress costume resulting in a 'potential safety issue' 'The care and safety of our customers is our number one priority, which is why we have taken the precautionary decision to recall the product based on the outcome of our investigation.' Customers who have already purchased the costume have been advised to return it and claim a full refund.

Summary: Asda recalls £12.50 Spider-Man fancy dress outfit due to safety fears . Supermarket investigation discovers fault with the costumes battery pack . Comes after a complaint from Steve Slaughter complained to store . The battery pack on his four-year-old son's outfit appeared to blow-up . Customers who bought the costume are being advised to return it .


Former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez was seen 'messing with' the security camera in his basement the day after the Odin Lloyd was killed one of his maids testified in court on Tuesday. He also exchanged text messages with the man he is charged with murdering in the hours before the killing took place according to cell phone records shown in court on Tuesday. Raymond MacDonald, a T-Mobile employee, testified that the messages from Hernandez were on the cell phone of Lloyd, whose bullet-ridden body was found in an industrial park near Hernandez's home in North Attleborough, Massachusetts, on June 17, 2013. The texts appear to have been deleted from Hernandez's phone some time after they were sent to Lloyd. Scroll down for video . A T-Mobile employee testified on Tuesday in the Aaron Hernandez trial (above) that Hernandez and the victim exchanged text messages the night he was killed . Glaucia Santos said Tuesday that she was cleaning a bathroom when she heard Hernandez enter, at which point she saw him touching the camera . Meanwhile, Glaucia Santos said Tuesday that she was cleaning a bathroom when she heard Hernandez enter, at which point she saw him touching the camera, which is located on the basement's family room ceiling. Bristol County Assistant District Attorney Patrick Bomberg showed Lloyd's phone in Massachusetts Superior Court in Fall River, Massachusetts, and asked MacDonald to read text messages sent from a number identified as Hernandez's. On the night of June 16, Hernandez texted Lloyd; 'imma hit u when i'm dat way like Las time.' After midnight on June 17, Loyd texted back: 'We still on.' A few hours later, prosecutors say, Hernandez and two friends, Ernest Wallace and Carlos Ortiz, picked up Lloyd at his Boston home and drove him to the industrial park where he was later shot dead. The records also showed calls to Lloyd's phone from Wallace's number, and do not show any further calls or texts from Lloyd's phone after 3:23am on June 17. Hernandez, 25, had a $41 million contract with the New England Patriots when he was arrested for Lloyd's murder in June 2013, but was dropped him from the team hours after his arrest. Wallace and Ortiz will be tried separately. All three men have pleaded not guilty. During the testimony, Hernandez leaned over to speak with his attorney at one point . Lloyd, 27, was a semi-professional football player who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee. The sister testified earlier that the men were in the early stages of a friendship and smoked marijuana together, but were not close. Defense attorneys have argued Hernandez and Lloyd were good friends, and that Hernandez would never have shot him. Defense attorneys, meanwhile, filed a motion to prevent jurors from hearing about a civil suit filed by a former friend of Hernandez, Alexander Bradley, who claimed Hernandez shot him in the face after an argument in Florida in 2013. Prosecutors want Associate Justice Susan Garsh to allow the jury to hear about that case, arguing it refutes the

Summary: A T-Mobile employee testified on Tuesday in the Aaron Hernandez trial that Hernandez and the victim exchanged text messages the night he was killed . Hernandez allegedly deleted the texts after sending them, though they were still on the phone of the murder victim, Odin Lloyd . Hernandez texted Lloyd just hours before he was killed that he would see him when he was 'up that way' Lloyd texted Hernandez shortly after midnight asking if they were still on . There were no calls or texts made from Lloyd's phone after 3am, which is the time prosecutors allege Hernandez murdered him .


The 2015 Turf Flat season begins with Sunday’s Lincoln Handicap card at Doncaster. Racemail answers some intriguing questions. Can Godolphin finally regain the ‘fear factor’? Only one European Group One winner in 2014 — Charming Thought in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket — was an unacceptably thin return for Sheik Mohammed’s lavishly-funded Godolphin operation. Ol’ Man River among seven of Aidan O’Brien's horses in the first nine in the ante-post betting for Derby . Charming Thought’s trainer Charlie Appleby was fully aware of the need to do better when he said in October: ‘Ten years ago, we were at the top of the table and everyone was frightened of us. That’s where we will hopefully be again in a year or two.’ The organisation, badly tarnished by the 2013 Mahmood Al Zarooni drug scandal, has seen significant changes, with horses now spread beyond the Appleby-Saeed Bin Suroor twin Newmarket operation. Horses will race in the Godolphin colours from the stables of Jim Bolger and Michael Halford in Ireland, Andre Fabre in France and John Gosden in Britain while they have acquired Richard Hannon’s 2014 2,000 Guineas winner Night of Thunder and a share in Roger Varian’s Dewhurst Stakes scorer Belardo. Top jockeys William Buick and James Doyle have been recruited and the Sheik spent another fortune on yearling talent. Appleby has cleaned up on this winter’s all-weather circuit but, given his ammunition, at times that has seemed like pitting Mitchell Johnson against a third XI batsman. The serious stuff is ahead for an organisation that has not punched its weight. Top jockey William Buick has been recruited by Godolphin . Is the Qatari juggernaut unstoppable? They may lag behind the horse numbers of Dubai’s Maktoum family but Sheik Fahad Al Thani’s Pearl and Qatar Racing now have almost 250 horses while Sheik Joaan Al Thani, who retains Frankie Dettori, has doubled his European string to 150, half of them based here. With the likes of Racing Post Trophy winner Elm Park and £800,000 buy Moheet, who scooted home on his Salisbury debut in October, in their team, a first British Classic win could arrive this summer. Expensive new sponsorships will also be rolled out for the first time at Newbury and Glorious Goodwood as the Qatari influence spreads. Is Aidan O’Brien nailed on for a fourth Derby? When Australia followed up the Epsom successes of Ruler Of The World and Camelot last June it was a historic Derby hat-trick for Ireland’s dominant trainer and a fourth successive victory looks highly likely. He already has a vice-like grip on this year’s race with favourites JF Kennedy and Ol’ Man River among seven of his horses in the first nine in the ante-post betting and Ladbrokes make it even money that an O’Brien horse wins the Derby. Jockeys title race likely to be the shootout between Ryan Moore and Richard Hughes (right) Will Jockeys Championship changes mean a new winner? Despite the marketing vandalism of shortening the title race from 2,000 Guineas day at Newmarket on May 2 to Champions Day at Ascot

Summary: Aidan O'Brien has seven horses in first nine of ante-post betting for Derby . Jockeys William Buick and James Doyle have been recruited by Godolphin . Ryan Moore and Richard Hughes set for Jockeys Championship battle .


NHS chief executive Simon Stevens today revealed a £200 million scheme aimed at providing better care for the most vulnerable patients . Elderly and vulnerable patients will be offered longer GP appointments – including at weekends – in an attempt to reduce the chances of them ending up in hospital. They will have 30-minute in-depth appointments with a family doctor in the hope that any underlying problems will be picked up before they require emergency admission. As part of a £200million scheme aimed at providing better care for the most vulnerable, some patients will also undergo consultations with A&E nurses via webcams to establish whether it is really necessary for them to go to casualty. Simon Stevens, the NHS’s chief executive, yesterday announced the pilot scheme, which will be rolled out in 29 areas covering a total of five million patients. It is hoped the scheme will gradually expand across England with the aim of treating more patients at home, or at their GP surgery, rather than in hospital. The idea is to bring together hospitals, GPs, community services and care homes to provide more joined-up care. Mr Stevens said the set-up of the NHS is too ‘fragmented’, meaning patients are passed ‘from pillar to post’. Specialist doctors, GPs, nurses and physiotherapists do not work closely together nor spend enough time on preventative care, trying to avoid patients’ conditions deteriorating. The present system also means that patients with several long-term conditions may have to go to a different hospital outpatient clinic 20 or so miles away, several times a month. In an interview for BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme, he said: ‘In England we’ve got a growing population and an ageing population and one of the big tests is can we provide compassionate, high-quality care for older people who have several different health problems at once. ‘Too many parts of the service are quite fragmented. Increasingly that’s a problem. People aren’t getting preventative care they need. Often people are being passed from pillar to post, or ending up in accident and emergency departments when they could have avoided it.’ Eventually, Mr Stevens wants many of the complex procedures provided by hospitals to be routinely available at GP surgeries a few miles from patients’ homes. Each area involved in this first phase of the scheme offers slightly different services depending on the needs of the population. In Airedale, West Yorkshire, patients in care homes will be offered consultations via webcams with nurses in A&E units at any time of the day and night. If they suffer a fall, rather than calling an ambulance, staff at the care home will set up the internet consultation with a nurse at the hospital. The nurse will then liaise with a senior doctor and decide if the patient needs to come to A&E immediately or can wait for a GP home visit. In Northamptonshire, the 7 per cent of patients deemed to be the most vulnerable will be offered 30-minute appointments with their GP rather than the standard ten minutes. In West Yorkshire, patients in

Summary: Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, announced £200 million scheme . Aimed at providing better care for the most vulnerable patients . Hope it will stop patients unnecessarily ending up in hospital A&E units . Complex procedures will be carried out at GP surgeries instead of hospital . Care home patients will be able to have web cam consultations with A&E . Most vulnerable will be given 30 minutes instead of 10 with their GPs .


Ultra-conservative MP Fred Nile has lashed out at Sydney's Mardi Gras celebration, saying parenting, 'not promiscuity' should be celebrated. The Christian Democratic Party NSW MP made his comments on his official Facebook page just as the party was getting underway across Sydney and came as a television advertisement was aired during the parade, which claimed same-sex marriage would disadvantage children. A spokeswoman for Mr Nile, who spent the day campaigning in Coffs Harbour, said the post was designed to remind people of the importance of traditional relationships. Scroll down for video . Ultra-conservative politician Fred Nile has lashed out at Sydney's Mardi Gras celebration, saying parenting not promiscuity should be celebrated. Mr Nile posted this image to his official Facebook account on Saturday, just as Mardi Gras Parade celebrations were getting underway. Marriage equality advocates have slammed an advertisement that aired during Sydney's Mardi Gras celebrations on Saturday night claiming children from same-sex couples are disadvantaged. 'With so much coverage and celebration of Mardi Gras, it's important to also be thankful for natural relationships - for the mum and the dad,' the spokeswoman said. 'Without that traditional relationship, natural reproduction wouldn't be possible. It's very important to celebrate natural couples and those values.' His controversial comments came as an advertisement claiming same-sex marriage disadvantaged children aired on TV on Saturday night. It was organised and paid for by the Australian Marriage Forum, a group 'disappointed with the one-sided debate' surrounding the issue. The 40-second spot starts with a mother at a park saying: 'We hear a lot about marriage equality, but what about equality for kids?' Dr David Gend, president of the Australian Marriage Forum and a family doctor based in Toowoomba, Queensland, says in the commercial that 'so-called marriage equality forces a child to miss out on a mother or a father'. The Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby accused the commercial of not only missing the point on marriage equality, but of also attempting to fight a losing battle. 'That's not equality; that's not marriage,' Dr Gend says. It also asks for supporters to donate money to the group. Marriage equality advocates have slammed the ad, and said the campaign is trying to mislead people on the issue. 'The first point for us is that marriage equality and same-sex couples having children are two different equations,' GLRL Co-Convenor Justin Koonin told Daily Mail Australia. 'Same-sex couples already can and do have children - marriage equality is not going to change that. 'If the people behind this video were really thinking of the children, they would support marriage equality so that all kids, including those with same-sex parents, could say their parents are married.' Mr Koonin also said most Australians could see through claims that marriage equality disadvantages children, and that most had 'moved on' from that discussion. 'They definitely aren't fooling anyone,' he said. 'If they want to make that claim, have some evidence to support it. 'The majority of evidence shows there is no disadvantage to children with same-sex parents, and in fact most are slightly better off than average.'

Summary: Image Fred Nile posted reads 'parenting, not promiscuity worth celebrating' Nile's post came as an anti-marriage equality commercial airs in Sydney . The commercial sponsored by Australian Marriage Forum group . Dr David Gend says marriage equality 'forces inequality' on children . Gay and Lesbian Right Lobby says Australians 'won't be fooled' by claims . 'If they were thinking of kids, they'd support us' lobby group says . Commercial slammed online, with more than 1200 disliking it on YouTube .


The co-pilot blamed for deliberately crashing a passenger jet with 150 people on board into the Alps used post-9/11 safety mechanisms to carry out his plan. Andreas Guenter Lubitz, 28, waited for his captain, Patrick Sondenheimer to leave the flight deck and go to the toilet before commanding the Airbus A-320 to descend. Once out of the cockpit, the door locked automatically. Ironically, this auto-lock feature, which led to Lubitz having sole control of the plane, was introduced as a way of improving flight safety in the wake of 9/11. Scroll down for video . The Airbus A-320 is fitted with a safety system, pictured, to prevent unauthorised access to the flight deck . Lubitz was sitting in this cockpit, pictured, when he commanded the jet to crash into the Alps at 400mph . Andreas Lubitz, pictured, locked his captain out of the cockpit and crashed the jet into the side of a mountain . The Airbus A320 is fitted with a locking mechanism to prevent unauthorised access to the flight deck while the aircraft is in flight. The door was also specially strengthened, to prevent someone from being able to barge their way through. The safety systems were improved in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks where hijackers were able to gain access to the cockpit and take over the aircraft. Access to the cockpit door on the Germanwings Airbus A320 (like the one above) can be disabled from inside the flight deck to prevent hijacking . In normal flight, the door to the flight is closed and locked. Cabin crew can use a code and gain access to the flight deck. Entry is controlled by the flight crew, in case of a possible hijack attempt. The Cockpit Door Locking System (CDLS) according to the flight manual 'provides a means of electrically locking and unlocking the cockpit door'. The CDLS is located in the central pedestal between both pilots and has a toggle switch which controls the door. They also have a CCTV camera so they can see who is seeking access, and if they are under any form of duress. Pilots can restrict access to the flight deck although cabin crew can gain entry in an emergency. However, this emergency access can be over-ridden by the pilot for between five to 20 minutes. The limited time to keep the door closed is itself a safety feature, in case the flight crew become incapacitated. After the predetermined time, the keypad on the outside of the cockpit door will become operational again, unless the pilot actively restricts access again. Also the cockpit door has several other safety features in case of a sudden decompression which will cause the door to open. According to the flight manual there are 'routine' and 'emergency' access requests. The door locking mechanism is on the centre console, pictured, so it can be operated by either pilot . The pilot has to flick one simple switch, pictured, to lock the cabin door for between five and 20 minutes . 'The toggle switch enables the flight crew to

Summary: Since 9/11 all passenger jets are required to lock the cockpit door in flight . Cabin crew can gain access using a special code - but pilots can stop this . However, the lock is on a timer in case the pilots are incapacitated . Lubitz paused his pilot training after suffering 'burnout' and depression . Locking or unlocking the door latches, upon flight crew action . Unlocking the door i, in case of cockpit decompression (the door then opens towards the cockpit under differential pressure) Indicating system failures of electrical latches and pressure sensors . Activating the access request buzzer and turning on the keypad LEDs . Unlock: This position is used to enable the cabin crew member to open the door. The switch must be pulled and maintained in the unlocked position until the door is pushed open. Normal: All latches are locked, and EMERGENCY access is possible for the cabin crew . Lock: Once the button has been moved to this position, the door is locked; emergency access, the buzzer, and the keypayd are inhibited for a preselected time (5 to 20 min)


The stampede by rugby’s dinosaurs to defend that monstrous Courtney Lawes tackle against France as perfectly legal has been as alarming as the potentially back-breaking hit itself. The stamp by Steven Gerrard against Manchester United was no more than a petulant irritant which threatened no real damage but he was rightly sent off and roundly castigated by football at large. The rugby snobs are fond of saying that that football is a game for gentlemen played by thugs. Not so when seen in the context of Mr Gerrard’s words of contrition for a rare blood-rush late in his honourable career. England lock Courtney Lawes made a bonecrunching hit on France fly-half Jules Plisson . Lawes crumples Plisson in the aftermath of his monstrous tackle on the French fly half . Steven Gerrard stamped on Ander Herrera's right leg shortly after coming on at the start of the second half . Gerrard walks off the Anfield pitch in what was his last appearance against Man United in a Liverpool shirt . Jeff Powell’s piece has provoked much debate, including the above tweet from Lawes himself... They also like to say that rugby is a game for thugs played by gentlemen. Not with the malevolent Mr Lawes around. Gerrard sought forgiveness from his team-mates and fans for how his stupidity left it impossible for Liverpool to avoid Sunday’s critical Premier League defeat. There has been no apology from Lawes for a violent act 24 hours earlier which cast a pall over an otherwise heroic England victory, which came close to snatching an improbable Six Nations Championship. The general reaction at Anfield was concern that an idol may have dented his legacy a little in one of his last big matches in this country. At Twickenham even the low-swinging charioteers gasped in horror as Lawes came close to cutting in two French fly half Jules Plisson. Lawes has talked in the past about the beneficial impact for his teams of ‘the big hit.’ That offers a disturbing insight into his view of sport and the spirit in which it should be played. Perhaps he feels no need to explain himself this week because so many others were only too eager to do it for him. Referee Nigel Owens and his video-reviewing assistant agreed that the Lawes’ tackle was within the regulations. A livid Yoann Maestri pushed Lawes in the face and grapples with the England man following his challenge . Lawes and Maestri continue their disagreement on their feet as matters threaten to boil over . The majority of the rugby fraternity gave vent to their customary splutterings about this being ‘a man’s game.’ Not when you blind-side an opponent after he has passed the ball. The officials and the executives who are responsible for rugby were of a consensus that Lawes was already committed to the tackle so therefore he was not late enough to justify a red card. But did he really have to go through with it at such ferocious velocity? Was it vindictive or mere happenstance? Lawes is not telling us

Summary: Lawes blind-sided the French fly half when the ball was gone . Referee Nigel Owens and his video-reviewing assistant agreed that the Lawes’ tackle was within the regulations . If it had happened in a street outside the stadium police may well have been called to investigate if there were grounds for an assault charge . Steven Gerrard stamped on Ander Herrera and was sent off. He subsequently apologised to his team-mates and fans . There has been no apology from Lawes for a violent act which cast a pall over an otherwise heroic England victory .


Gary Cahill insists Harry Kane is ready to start for England against Lithuania in their Euro 2016 qualifier on Friday. The absence of Daniel Sturridge, withdrawn from the squad with a hip injury, has boosted the Tottenham striker’s chances of being included in the first eleven. Cahill has faced Kane three times playing for Chelsea this season and was given a torrid time by the forward when he scored twice in Spurs’ 5-3 win on New Years' Day. Harry Kane could cap his first England squad call-up with a starting place against Lithuania on Friday night . England defender Gary Cahill (right) believes Kane would be ready to start for the Three Lions if selected . Kane trained with the England senior squad for the first time at St George's Park on Tuesday morning . Asked how Kane was fitting into training after getting his first call-up to the national squad, Cahill replied: ‘Really good. He’s been a real handful every time I’ve played against him. He’s a fantastic talent, not just holding the ball up but running in behind defenders. For me he’s got all the attributes a striker needs. ‘He scored a hat-trick just before his first meet-up with the England team is ideal so his confidence will be sky high. He’s still a young boy and it’s his first time in the squad. It’s always a bit daunting.’ Kane, still only 21, scored a treble against Leicester at the weekend to take his tally to 29 in all competitions, joint-top Premier League scorer with Diego Costa on 19 goals. Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck are both available, but Cahill is confident Kane will be ready if England manager Roy Hodgson decides to throw him in. ‘That’s down to the manager,’ he added. ‘We’ve got top strikers here. They’re all chomping at the bit to play, all good enough to play from the start, and Harry’s in that bracket. ‘He’s in top form in the league. To score a hat-trick leading up to your first senior call up is fantastic. I’m sure he feels he’s ready to play. It’s down to the manager, whatever he decides.’ Kane has scored 29 goals in all competitions for club side Tottenham Hotspur this term . Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick echoed Cahill’s sentiment and has also backed Kane to have a bright future in the England senior team. He said: 'I think the progress he has made has been sensational from the start of the season to the level that he is at now. He has gone up two or three levels and the thing that has impressed me most about him is that as the spotlight has grown and expectations have grown he has grown and his performances have improved and improved and that is a really good sign. It by no means looks like this is a one off season. He looks like the real deal. I am sure he has a big big future ahead of him. ’The options are frightening, whoever plays whether it’s Sturridge, Welbeck, Wayne, Raheem Sterling,

Summary: Daniel Sturridge withdrew from the England squad on Monday night . Harry Kane has scored 29 goals in all competitions for Tottenham this term . England host Lithuania in their Euro 2016 qualifier on Friday .


The ostentatious hats, risqué dresses and outrageous behaviour on Ladies' Day has become as traditional at Aintree as its horse racing. But bosses at the Grand National course have a plan to preserve their visitors' dignity. Photographers at the world's greatest steeplechase meeting will be banned from taking pictures of badly dressed women. Scroll down for video . Race-goers from Swansea in hats and heels at Ladies' Day at the Grand National race meeting in Aintree racecourse, Liverpool . Two ladies enjoy themselves, taking a swig from a bottle of bubbly at Aintree, Liverpool . John Baker, managing director of the racecourse,hoped the ban would put an end to what he claimed was unfair coverage of customers getting drunk or flashing too much flesh at the event. He said: 'We want to overwhelm the negativity, to push the positivity to the front. 'Our event is full of character, it's fun, and that's generated by the personality of the Liverpool people.' Bosses have a plan to preserve their visitors' dignity and will ban any photographer taking unflattering photographs . Last year at Ladies' Day at Aintree racecourse, in Liverpool, where one racegoer takes a glug of pink champagne . He warned that any photographer taking unflattering pictures would lose their accreditation. 'We have to absolutely protect that because it's at the core of what we are, and we have a responsibility to our customers to project the correct image,' he told the Liverpool Echo. 'We have talked about trying to monitor those photographers, so if we see any element clearly looking for a negative shot and we can identify that, we will take their accreditation off them and we'll kick them off the site. 'That's not easily manageable, but that's what we'll endeavour to do.' A racegoer rests on her friend amongst the rubbish at Ladies' Day, Aintree . The managing director of the racecourse is hoping the ban will put an end to what he claims is unfair coverage . Two Ladies' Day visitors to the racecourse, both in big hats and heels, one wearing a bright red fur cape while another wears black . A racegoer in a bridal-style dress for Ladies' Day is helped up by her friend, in a very short pink dress, after she appeared to have fallen over . Ladies' Day, a firm fixture on the North West social calendar, frequented by celebrity WAGs such as Colleen Rooney and Alex Curran. Tens of thousands of racegoers attend each year and the Grand National is seen as the world's most famous horse race, generating TV viewing figures in the hundreds of millions from across the globe. But recently, Ladies' Day has reportedly failed to sell out with suggestions regular race-goers have been put off by media coverage of some women taking advantage of the 'lax' dress code, banned at other racecourses. Aintree, which runs a style contest for the best-dressed ladies on the day, will also now issue their own images on their website, Facebook and Twitter to counter other outlets who may want to put a 'negative

Summary: Ladies' Day at Grand National is seen as the day for visitors to dress up . Aintree event is often frequented by celebrity WAGs like Colleen Rooney . But parade of risque dresses, fake tans and huge hats have led to ridicule . Now bosses at the event are set to put a ban on unflattering photographs .


Manuel Pellegrini has told James Milner to meet Manchester City halfway as their contract negotiations continue to drag on. The England midfielder, who joined the club from Aston Villa for £26million in 2010, is stalling over a new deal with the Premier League champions and his future at the Etihad appears to be increasingly uncertain. Milner, 29, is reluctant to commit to what could be the last big contract of his career while he still has concerns over his first-team opportunities at City. He will be a free agent in the summer and has been linked with Arsenal and Liverpool, as well as a number of clubs in Italy and Spain. James Milner is a versatile and popular member of City's squad but talks of a new deal have hit the rocks . Pellegrini had been hopeful that Milner’s situation would be resolved by now but seemed less optimistic when asked about it on Friday. The City boss indicated that the ball is in Milner’s court and the club are unlikely to improve their offer. ‘I don’t have any news about James Milner,’ he said. ‘To decide to sign a contract you need both parties to agree it. We will see what happens from now until the end of the season. Manuel Pellegrini has asked Milner to meet the club in the middle after the factions have reached an impasse . ‘Maybe City have already offered all that the club can offer. Maybe it’s not about more money, maybe there are different things to sign a new contract. ‘You must ask James what is happening with him. I hope he will find an arrangement, but you cannot talk about City only.’

Summary: Milner is stalling over a new deal and will be a free agent in summer . Arsenal, Liverpool and clubs in Italy and Spain are interested . The England international joined in a £26m deal from Aston Villa in 2010 .


Should Rangers win promotion to the Premiership this season they will have to pay Newcastle United £500,000 as part of the loan deal struck with the St James' Park club for five players. The details emerged this morning as Rangers released financial results which showed the club had made losses after tax of £2.89m for the six-month period to 31 December 2014. Interim chairman Paul Murray described the accounts as 'disappointing'. Haris Vuckic celebrates after scoring in Rangers' 4-1 victory against Cowdenbeath on Saturday . This arrangement with Newcastle was part of a deal struck by the previous board for five fringe players - Gael Bigirimana, Haris Vuckic, Kevin Mbabu, Remie Streete and Shane Ferguson. Only Vuckic has made any sort of impact for the Ibrox club so far. Indeed three of the five players who signed the loan agreements have yet to kick a ball for Rangers, who are currently second in the Championship and can only now be promoted through the play-offs. The prize money for finishing as runners-up in the second tier is £342,000. Despite promotion to the Championship, revenue fell £100,000 to £13.1m, though the club earned £1.3m from hosting the Commonwealth Games rugby sevens. Sponsorship revenue also dropped, falling by £0.3m to £0.4m. Loan signings Vuckic (centre), Gael Bigirimana (left) and Remie Streete are unveiled at Murray Park last month . Murray, who along with Dave King and John Gilligan, ousted the previous board, said: 'The new directors have been in place only a matter of weeks but have already started to repair the damage caused through recent years of neglect and disrespect for this club, its people and its history. 'The mismanagement of the club in recent years has been simply staggering. 'As the Interim Accounts prove, the new board has inherited major problems but while campaigning for change we all knew the club would be in need of major restructuring and repair on all fronts. Paul Murray (left) and Dave King are pictured back at Ibrox after the EGM earlier this month . 'We can and we will return this club to a strong and profitable footing through strategic planning, investment and re-engagement with all of our stakeholders. 'Too many of them have been lost or disenfranchised because of successive failings by a series of directors over the last four years in particular. But they are gone now and this is a new era for this great and special club which must be regenerated, not only for its own good but for the greater good of Scottish football.'

Summary: Rangers will owe Newcastle United £500,000 if they win promotion . It is part of the loan deal struck with the St James' Park club for five players . The Ibrox club made losses after tax of £2.89m for the second half of 2014 .


A doctor at a border hospital in Reyhanli, Turkey, holds up a prosthetic hand being made for a baby who has fled the conflict in neighbouring Syria along with its family. The hospital is caring for some of the 1.6million Syrian refugees who are estimated to have crossed the border since the start of the armed conflict in 2011. Turkey has one of the largest populations of Syrian refugees, and resources in border towns such as Reyhanli are being stretched near its limits. Heartbreaking: A doctor holds a prosthetic hand being made for a Syrian baby in a temporary border hospital in Reyhanli, Turkey . Recreating life: Abdulaziz Bastin, a prosthetics technician from Belgium, works on a new prosthetic leg for a young Syrian man in his mobile clinic at the Reyhanli border hospital . Help: Omar Hawt lost his left leg in a barrel bomb attack on Aleppo in Syria, and is one of thousands who have arrived in Reyhanli . Syria's conflict has left more than 210,000 people dead and 11.4 million displaced since it began in March 2011 with peaceful anti-government protests, eventually escalating into a full-blown civil war after the regime brutally cracked down on the demonstrations. More than 12.2 million people in the war-torn country need life-saving aid and 3.9 million of those displaced have become refugees in neighbouring countries and further afield. Last week, the The United Nations children's fund said Thursday that 14 million children are paying the price for warfare in Syria and neighbouring Iraq, with violence and hardship shaping their future. 'With the conflict in Syria now entering its fifth year, the situation of more than 5.6 million children inside the country remains the most desperate,' UNICEF said in a statement. Rebuilding: Abdulaziz Bastin checks the fit of the new leg he has made for Syrian refugee Omar Hawt . Turkey has one of the largest populations of Syrian refugees fleeing the ongoing civil war with official estimates currently at 1.6 million, and border towns such as Reyhanli have received a large number of refugees though other refugees have settled as far afield as Istanbul . Emergency aid: A surgeon talks to two Syrian women in the temporary border hospital in Reyhanli, Turkey . The agency said up to two million children were living in areas of Syria largely cut off from humanitarian aid, and around 2.6 million children were out of school. Almost two million Syrian children are living as refugees in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and other countries, 'in addition to the 3.6 million children from vulnerable communities' in the host countries, UNICEF said. 'For the youngest children, this crisis is all they have ever known. For adolescents entering their formative years, violence and suffering have not only scarred their past; they are shaping their futures,' said UNICEF chief Anthony Lake. UNICEF said conflict in Iraq has also forced more than 2.8 million children from their homes. At least 13 people were killed and 30 wounded as rebel and government forces exchanged fire in Syria's second city Aleppo earlier today. The Syrian

Summary: Nearly four million Syrians have fled to neighbouring countries, 1.6 million are in Turkey . Almost two million Syrian children are living as refugees in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and other countries .


It has long been seen as a mythical and powerful city, lost for more than 2,000 years beneath the sea. Explorers have traveled to Crete, Malta, Sicily and Santorini in search of the the mysterious metropolis of Atlantis - described in detai by Greek philosopher Plato. But a computer expert has challenged these theories after he claimed the lost city did not sink at all, and said he had tracked down the site - to an area on land in Morocco. Scroll down for video . A German computer expert claimed remains of the lost city of Atlantis may not lie beneath the sea, but instead on the coast of Morocco after the ancient metropolis was overwhelmed by a large wave 2,000 years ago . Michael Hubner used clues given in Plato's descriptions to calculate coordinates of the lost city of Atlantis . Michael Hubner claimed Atlantis was overwhelmed by a tsunami, which then receded leaving the remains undiscovered, near the coast of Marrakesh. The German computer expert formed his theory using mathematics to calculate the precise GPS coordinates of the lost city. He meticulously gathered every detail he could from Plato's 'Timaeus' and 'Critias' which describes Atlantis in detail and gives in total 51 clues about the mysterious city. These 'clues' include that Atlantis was near the sea and had a ring-like structure surrounding its centre. Crucially, it was also said to be 3,100 miles from Athens. This area includes Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Other clues were that Atlantis was not in ancient Europe or Asia and had very high and big mountains, with Morocco having the Atlas mountains. It was also said to lay west of Egypt and Tyrrhenia. Using these details Hubner put the measurements into a computer programme and used a map which divided the area into 400 squares. The site pinpointed by Hubner had many of the 51 clues, including being surrounded by concentric circles . Hubner's theory challenges previous ideas about Atlantis, that it lies somewhere beneath the sea . Hubner marked the areas where more characteristics were present and came out with one region which had the most clues - the Souss Massa plain in Morocco, about 100 miles south of Marrakesh. He then took the GPS coordinates and went to have a look himself. What he found appeared to have many of the attributes of Atlantis described 2,600 years ago by Plato, regarded as one of the greatest Western thinkers. This map of Atlantis - oriented with south at the top - was drawn by 17th century scholar Athanasius Kircher, who pinpointed the mythical continent as being in the mid-Atlantic before it was lost to the sea . The site was in a desert basin just seven miles from the sea and in the centre was a small mound, similar to the raised area at the heart of the ancient city described by Plato. Surrounding it were circular dry riverbeds, matching Plato's description of the city being surrounded by concentric circles, which alternated between land and sea. Hubner concluded it was highly

Summary: For centuries experts have believed Atlantis is a lost city under the sea . But Michael Hubner claimed remains of city were actually on land . He said a tsunami had overwhelmed Atlantis, flattening the ancient city . Waters had then receded, leaving remnants of city near coast of Morocco . Hubner used 'clues' given in Plato's description of Atlantis to pinpoint site . Identified 51 details and used them to calculate coordinates of Atlantis . Clues were that Atlantis surrounded by circles and 3,100 miles from Athens .