9am Briefing: Five in hospital after horror crash

THREE women were thrown from a car after it crashed 30 metres into a field.

The accident happened shortly after 11.20pm last night off Gilmerton Station Road, sparking a major rescue operation by the emergency services involving specialist road accident crews from Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

All five casualties were rushed to the hospital – three suffering from serious spinal injuries, two with other serious injuries. None are thought to be life threatening.

37 dead after Moscow subway bomb attacks

TWO female suicide bombers blew themselves up on subway trains during the morning rush-hour in Moscow today, killing at least 37 people and injuring more than 26.

The first blast just before 8am local time tore through the second carriage of a train as it stood at the Lubyanka metro station in central Moscow killing at least 23 people.

Another blast about 40 minutes later wrecked the second carriage of a train waiting at the Park Kultury metro station, killing 14 more people.

No group immediately took responsibility.

Salmond backing England in World Cup

ALEX Salmond says he will be supporting England in the World Cup - but only one in five Scots will follow his lead.

A YouGov poll found 21 per cent of Scots said they would back England while 30 per cent said they would back another team, it was reported today.

Asked if Mr Salmond would be backing England, a spokesman said: "Yes he will."

Tributes to soldier killed in Afghanistan

TRIBUTES have been paid to a "model" soldier killed in a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan.

Rifleman Daniel Holkham, from city-based 3rd Battalion The Rifles, serving with 3 Rifles Battle Group, was killed on Saturday in an explosion near the Sangin Bazaar, in Helmand Province, the Ministry of Defence said.

His family said: "The loss of our son Danny has left a huge hole in our lives and that of his brothers and friends that can never again be filled. He served his country faithfully and with great pride."

Darling almost left Government

CHANCELLOR Alistair Darling admitted he threatened to walk out of the Government last year when Gordon Brown was thinking of demoting him.

In an interview for GQ magazine with talk show host Piers Morgan, the Chancellor insisted there had been "no ill feeling" but acknowledged that he refused to be moved.

In the reshuffle last summer, however, Mr Darling looked likely to be replaced at the Treasury by Ed Balls, the Schools Secretary.