Russian troops storm Crimea airbase

Russian troops have smashed their way into a Ukrainian airbase in Crimea with armoured vehicles, automatic fire and stun grenades, while Ukrainian forces abandoned a naval base after attacks by pro-Russian protesters.

The facilities at Belbek and Novofedorovka had been among the last still under Ukrainian control after Moscow’s armed takeover and subsequent annexation of Crimea, which has a majority ethnic Russian population and harbours one of Russia’s biggest naval bases

Armoured vehicles smashed through the walls of a compound at the Belbek airbase and bursts of gunfire and grenades rang out, Reuters news agency reported, making Saturday’s takeover one of the more dramatic of Russia’s largely bloodless occupation of Crimea.

Russian forces had already seized Belbek’s airstrip and warplanes at the start of the crisis. The compound contained barracks, arms depots and a command building.

Colonel Yuliy Mamchur, the commander of the base, said a Ukrainian serviceman had been injured and that he himself he was being taken away by the Russians for talks at an unspecified location.

After the Russians entered by force, Mamchur told his troops he would inform the high command that they had stood their ground. The soldiers applauded, chanting “Long live Ukraine!”.

Many stood to take pictures of each other in front of the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag, which continued to fly over the base.

Asked if he thought he would return safely, Mamchur said: “That remains to be seen. For now we are placing all our weapons in the base’s storage.”

Earlier, an unidentified Russian officer with no rank insignia had gone to the fence to try to negotiate a surrender, but had been rebuffed by a Ukrainian officer with the words: “We have no documents from the Ukrainian president stating that this is Russian soil. Bring me such a document and we will leave.”

‘Warship entered’

In a separate development, the Ukrainian warship Slavutych was raided by Russian troops in Sevastopol, Crimea residents told Al Jazeera, citing relatives of the crew.

Russians already boarded the ship at around 15:00 GMT, but the Ukrainian crew was refusing to leave the ship, locking themselves in cabins.

At about 1800GMT the crew was forced to leave the ship, a source told Al Jazeera.

A mother of one of the Ukrainian sailors told Al Jazeera that Russians have been trying to board the ship for 40 hours and when they did they started smashing up doors and windows.

Ukraine’s naval base at Novofedorovka, near Sevastopol, was vacated after unarmed pro-Russian protesters attempted to force their way in, Ukrainian military spokesman Vladislav Seleznyov said in a Facebook post.

He said the Ukrainians had first repelled the protesters with smoke bombs, but then left of their own volition.

He quoted a sailor at the base as saying the Ukrainians had walked out singing their national anthem and waving the Ukrainian flag.

Seleznyov also said Ukraine’s only submarine, the Zaporizhya, had been taken to Sevastopol’s Yuzhnaya Bay by Russian forces on Friday.

“The Ukrainian commander left the submarine, refusing to raise the Russian flag. It has been seized,” he said.

Russian flag raised

There have been few casualties since Russian forces started seizing control of military facilities in Crimea, though one Ukrainian serviceman was killed and two others wounded in a shooting in Simferopol earlier this week.

Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said on Friday that Crimea’s bases were still formally under Ukrainian control, but most are now occupied by Russian troops and fly Russia’s tricolour flag.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered the Russian Black Sea Fleet commander to ensure Ukrainian servicemen who wanted to leave Crimea the possibility for organised moving to mainland Ukraine, the Russian defence ministry told Itar-Tass news agency.

According to the ministry, as of March 21, out of more than 18,000 Ukrainian servicemen in Crimea, fewer than 2,000 had expressed the wish to leave for Ukraine.

Russian state flags were raised over 147 military units and organisations of Ukrainian armed forces deployed on the peninsula, the ministry said.

Source: Al Jazeera

Egypt is set to hold the largest trial in its history by prosecuting more than 1,200

Egypt is set to hold the largest trial in its history by prosecuting more than 1,200 supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi on charges of violence during a police crackdown in 2013, judicial sources say.

The trial will be held in the city of Minya in the south of the capital Cairo within hours, the sources said on Friday.

Muslim Brotherhood supreme leader Mohamed Badie will also be among the defendants in the trial.

The violence on individuals and public property is said to have taken place in southern Egypt in August 2013, after the country’s security forces broke up two Cairo protest camps set up by Morsi’s supporters demanding his reinstatement.

According to rights group Amnesty International, at least 1,400 people were killed in those clashes and in violence since then, while thousands of others have been detained.

Egypt has been experiencing unrelenting violence since Morsi, the country’s first democratically-elected president, was ousted on July 3, 2013. Hundreds have lost their lives in the ensuing violence across the country.

Since then, Egypt’s military-backed government has launched a bloody crackdown on Morsi’s supporters and arrested thousands of Muslim Brotherhood members, including the party’s senior leaders.

NT/MHB/MAM

UN official censures Israel for ‘ethnic cleansing’

A UN official has accused the Israeli regime of “ethnic cleansing” by forcing Palestinian citizens of East al-Quds (Jerusalem) out of their city.

Richard Falk, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, made the remarks at a news conference in the Swiss city of Geneva on Friday.

Falk said Tel Aviv’s policies bore “unacceptable characteristics of colonialism, apartheid and ethnic cleansing.”

More than 11,000 Palestinians have lost their right to live in East al-Quds since 1996 due to laws favoring Jews and revoking Palestinian residence permits, Falk noted.

“The 11,000 is just the tip of the iceberg because many more are faced with possible challenges to their residency rights,” Falk added.

The UN official slammed Israel’s construction of illegal settlements, saying, “Every increment of enlarging the settlements or every incident of house demolition is a way of worsening the situation confronting the Palestinian people and reducing what prospects they might have as the outcome of supposed peace negotiations.”

Palestinians seek to create an independent state on the territories of the occupied West Bank, East al-Quds, and the besieged Gaza Strip and are demanding that Israel withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories.

The presence and continued expansion of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine has created a major obstacle for the efforts to establish peace in the Middle East.

More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds in 1967.

The UN and most countries regard the Israeli settlements as illegal because the territories were captured by Israel in a war in 1967 and are hence subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.

NT/MHB/MAM

Match report: Boro 1 Queens Park Rangers 3

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Boro pressed the self destruct button in stoppage time and crashed to a 3-1 home defeat to QPR.

Boro had lead through George Friend and Yossi Benayoun pegged it back and the game was fizzling out into a draw.

Then Boro keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos completely misjudged a back-pass leaving Bobby Zamora free to stroll in and score then Ravel Morrison wrapped it up.

Boro made three changes as Kei Kamara came in on the left for injured Mustapha Carayol, Dean Whitehead came in as skipper for suspended Grant Leadbitter and Jacob Butterfield replaced Lee Tomlin.

QPR went close twice after just 90 seconds. A corner was played back to the edge of the box and when Barton drilled in a stinging waist-high shot keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos first palmed it away then did well to block Carroll's close range stabbed effort from the rebound.

Boro then pressed as Kamara got down the left and crossed in to the box for Danny Graham but Hill nipped in to clear the danger before it dropped then on five minutes Jacob Butterfield fired over on the turn from 20 yards.

Then on eight minutes a surging run down the left by George Friend won a free-kick just outside the box and when Butterfield curled it to the far-post Kamara bundled it wide.

Rangers probed on 12 minutes as Keane chased a ball into the box but Friend tracked him all the way and prevented him shooting then shepherded him away.

Down at the other end Boro passed and probed along the edge of the Rangers box but failed to find a shot.

Boro went close on 14 minutes as Butterfield drilled in a waist-high 25 yard shot that keeper Green parried and the loose ball bounced just past Graham as he arrived.

Then Kamara climbed highest but just failed to connect at the back stick with a Friend cross.

But Boro stumbled through to score a scruffy opener on 18 from GEORGE FRIEND.

The left-back cut in from the flank and wriggled through three defenders, stumbled and poked a ball forward that came back generously off a defender back to his feet.

When Friend stabbed in his low eight yard shot shot keeper Green went full length but it squirmed through his hands and went spinning over the line.

On 23 minutes Carroll was booked for a foul on Kamara,

Rangers almost broke through on 26 minutes as Keane sent Krancjar into the box but as he shaped to shoot Varga arrived with a superb sliding tackle.

Boro responded with a good move as Friend got down the left to drill a ball across the face of goal but it was turned away by Hill before it could reach Adomah.

Then on the half-hour a Friend stinging shot was deflected over after a good ball in from Butterfield.

On 34 minutes Kranjcar was booked for a foul on Adomah.

Boro threatened on 40 minutes as a quick break out of defence found Butterfield who twisted and turned on the edge of the box to find space for the shot but when he finally unleashed it was blocked by Hughes.

Rangers made a foray forward on 43 minutes but Morrison's 20 yard shot was tipped over by Konstantopoulos.

But they grabbed a leveller in stoppage time as the Boro defence was pulled out of shape.

Morrison crossed for Kranjcar and when his shot was charged down it deflected kindly for YOSSI BENAYOUN to rifle in from close range.

HALF-TIME: BORO 1 QPR 1

Boro had a let off on 49 minutes as quick break down the left sent full-back Young to the byline to square into the box but it evaded three Rangers players and was hacked away.

Then on 53 minutes a good diagonal ball from Barton almost picked out Keane in the box but alert Varga stretched to cut out and clear the danger.

And on 57 minutes Rangers full-back Hughes got down the right to whip a ball in to the near post post Keane just failed to connect with it.

Boro looked laboured in their build-ups with a string of balls going astray in the middle and quick balls forward played a fraction too early with players drifting offside.

On 60 minutes Rangers put on Hoilett for Kranjcar.

Boro almost broke though on 61 minutes as Chalobah touched through to Butterfield but with options either side he blasted a shot straight at defender Hill.

On 63 minutes Boro brought on Lee Tomlin for Butterfield and Rangers replaced Keane with Zamora.

Boro threatened on 68 minutes as Tomlin burst down the right chasing a ball from Friend and although defender Hughes handled the ref waved play on.

And a minute later Tomlin again surged forward on a diagonal run from left to right across the edge of the box before his shot was charged down.

On 72 minutes Friend was booked for a foul on Benayoun.

There was a flare-up on 75 minutes as Kamara refused to give the ball back for a free-kick and there was a 10 man melee after which the Boro man plus Morrison and Barton from Rangers.

On 76 minutes Rangers put on former Boro man Gary O'Neil for Benayoun.

Boro were forced to defend in a scrappy spell but broke out and went close on 83 minutes as Adomah brought down a ball to the edge of the box neatly then skipped past his marker to fire in a low shot that was straight at Green.

Straight up the other end Rangers responded as Hoilett streaked forward to slam a low 25 yard shot straight at Konstantopoulos.

On 88 minutes Emmanuel Ledesma came on for Kamara.

Morrison sent a long range effort flying a yard wide in the first minute of stoppage time.

O'Neil was booked for a foul on Ledesma soon after and the free-kick almost squeezed to the back post before being scrambled away.

Boro almost snatched victory as a Tomlin ball was nodded back for Friend to hammer a shot just wide from 15 yards.

But Boro hit the self destruct button as they leaked two late goals.

On 94 minutes a routine ball was played back towards Konstantopoulos and the keeper came out and took a swing at an attempted clearance and missed completely leaving BOBBY ZAMORA free to stroll through and tap home.

And then on 96 minutes RAVAL MORRISON ran behind the defence to collect a diagonal cross and slammed home and angled 15 yard drive.

BORO: Konstantopoulos, Varga, Omeruo, Gibson, Friend Chalobah, Whitehead, Adomah, Kamara (Ledesma 88), Butterfield (Tomlin 63), Graham. Subs: Steele, L Williams, Main, Morris, Atkinson.

QPR: Green, Morrison, Hill (c), Carroll, Yun, Onuoha, Barton, Hughes, Kranjcar (Hoilett 60), Benayoun (O'Neil 76), Keane (Zamora 63) Subs: Murphy, Simpson, Donaldson, Petrasso

Ref: Keith Hill (Hertfordshire)

Att: 15,075 (533 away fans)

Muslim leaders condemn attempt of Mumbai Police at muzzling press freedom; demand probe in threats to Advocate Pracha

Source: Twocircles.net

New Delhi: Leaders of major Indian Muslim organisations held a press conference here at the central office the All-India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat, the umbrella body of Indian Muslim organisations and condemned the repeated threats to life received during the last few days by Mr Mahmood Paracha, Senior Advocate, who is fighting around 70 terror cases across the country.

The threats, purportedly made by members of the mafia gang led by Ravi Pujari, using mobile phone calls and SMSs, have threatened to kill the senior advocate who has repeatedly exposed how police and ATS officers fabricate cases and implicate innocent Muslim youth while allowing the real terrorists to go scot free and continue their criminal activities.

The threats started when Adv. Paracha said in a press statement recently that police officers who fabricated cases against youth, who have now been acquitted after years of incarceration, should be tried and sent to jails. These threats became public when, on 5 March, beyondheadlines.in and twocircles.net published a story along with 17 mobile numbers used to send the threats.

Till date, Police or Union and state home ministries have failed to take notice of this grave development let alone provide security to the brave advocate who has taken on forces which have destroyed lives of thousands of innocent Muslim youth in the name of fighting terror. Hundreds ot these youth have now been honorably acquitted by courts after spending long years behind bars but no action has been taken against any police or IB officer who fabricated cases and destroyed their lives.

“We hold these threats very seriously because criminals at the behest of rogue security agencies have already killed three advocates defending terror-implicated youths, viz. Adv. Shahid Azmi, Adv. Akbar Patel and Adv. Naushad Qasimji, and have assaulted over a dozen advocates defending such cases across India,” they said.

The Muslim community will hold the Union and Maharashtra state home ministers and the Mumbai Police Commissioner personally responsible if anything untoward happened to the brave advocate who is fighting to uphold the rule of law and defend the spirit of the Constitution of India while the criminal police officers want to negate the rule of law and subvert the Constitution of India, they pointed out.

When asked about the attempt of Mumbai Police at ‘muzzling’ press freedom by sending notice to TwoCircles.net for publishing story based on the interview of Advocate Pracha, Dr Zafarul Islam Khan, President of AIMMM said that it is clear attempt of shooting the messenger

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UN official warns of ‘deteriorating’ situation in Palestine

A UN official has warned of the deteriorating situation for Palestinians under Israel’s apartheid occupation of the Palestinian territories, Press TV reports.

Richard Falk, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, said that the situation “on the ground as far as the Palestinians are concerned has actually gotten worse.”

Falk also stated that al-Quds (Jerusalem) has turned into “more of a Jewish city.”

There are more Israeli settlers and there is more settlement, he said.

The UN official added that the besieged Gaza Strip is also in “bad shape.” The situation has actually deteriorated, Falk stated.

The UN official stressed that the Palestinians are facing discrimination in the occupied territories, saying they are subject to military suppression with no rights of their own while extremist Israeli settlers have been given rights.

Falk made the comments in his final report that will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council soon.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority said on Thursday that talks between Palestinians and Israelis had reached an “impasse” because of Tel Aviv’s “settlement activity.”

The Israeli regime is reportedly pushing ahead with plans for more than 2,000 new illegal settler units in six settlements in the occupied West Bank.

SAB/HSN/HMV

John makes Hay while the sun shines on the NYSD Open

John Hay won the NYSD Open on the last day of the river season, with a catch of five Tees chub. The match was fished in ideal conditions at Over-Dinsdale where 10 fished

COARSE CATCHES

John Hay won the NYSD Open on the last day of the river season, with a catch of five Tees chub.

The match was fished in ideal conditions at Over-Dinsdale where 10 fished.

Hay, of Durham, weighed in 24lb 4oz, and was off to a flier from peg No 17 just above the “wire netting.”

His first cast across with bread on the bomb resulted in a 5lb beauty. Three others followed at half hour intervals, after which he switched to fishing double red maggot by waggler float down the middle of the river to connect with two more chub plus three grayling.

Stockton’s Paul Stainsby continued his excellent run by netting four chub from peg 27 above the Green Field for 9lb 4oz and runner-up spot.

Three of the chub accepted meat legered across the far side while the fourth chub fell for lobworm.

Darlington’s Eric Willens came third from peg 31 with a 3lb 2oz chub caught on meat legered to the far side. Thornaby’s Ian Walton was the only other angler to weigh in. He caught five small grayling for 6 ounces!

Unlucky Bobby Preston of Billingham lost two barbel from peg 30. The first fish set off at pace and slipped the hook. Although the second fish also made a quick dash downstream he gradually coaxed it to the net.

However, the fish was so big that getting it into the net was such a problem that when his rod got stuck in overhead branches the fish broke loose, leaving him without a fish to weigh in.

THE Middlesbrough Open for the Gordon Brown Trophy, fished on the River Swale between Gatenby and Skipton Bridge, attracted 30 anglers, and was won by Shildon’s Harry Grocott.

He caught six chub from peg 104 on Holme Bottom. Presenting double red maggot by stickfloat down the middle swim and feeding maggot and caster heavily, he connected with the fish at half hour intervals, to amass 23lb 3oz.

Billingham Stars bid to shine brightly before play-off campaign

Billingham Stars travel to Manchester Minotaurs for their final KD Flavell & Sons-sponsored Northern Cup tie at Altrincham Ice Bowl this afternoon with the end-of-season play-offs looming on the horizon

Billingham Stars travel to Manchester Minotaurs for their final KD Flavell & Sons-sponsored Northern Cup tie at Altrincham Ice Bowl this afternoon with the end-of-season play-offs looming on the horizon.

The Ultimate Windows sponsored Stars will have one eye on the play-offs as they make the journey over the Pennines.

Aside from a couple of possible challenge games, the match will be the last competitive fixture before the end-of-season showpiece and a semi-final against Blackburn.

The Stars will have to do without the unavailable Stephen Wallace, Scott Ward, Garry Dowd and their under-18 contingent as the juniors have a fixture against Sheffield Under-18s to fulfil.

Injury also keeps out Andy Munroe and James Flavell, meaning a certain start between the pipes for Mark Watson.

The absence of Wallace should see much-improved Jack Davies moved up to the first line to partner Michael Bowman and Paul Windridge.

The fixture is the final outing for Manchester of the current campaign. Bottom of the cup group and having finished the league a distant seventh, the Minotaurs showed some early season promise.

But just six wins tells its own story and Manchester will look to rebuild this summer in the hope of mounting a serious challenge.

Their one success story has been the form of Czech import Lukas Zeman, who has remained consistently in the top three league points scorers all season.

A dislocated shoulder will keep out talented defenceman Max Drakeley from the tie.

Billingham director of coaching Terry Ward is looking for a confidence-boosting performance as play-off crunch time approaches.

He said: “We’ll be going hard for the win – there’s no such thing as an easy game in hockey.

“We need some momentum going into the play-offs next month. This is another good chance for some of our returning and fringe players to get ice time and compete hard for their play-off place.

“Manchester will be a tough challenge - their import Zeman has been a real find and has proven himself to be a handful for defences.

“They have quality in goal too. Unfortunately for the Minotaurs it looks like Drakeley will be missing with a shoulder problem, which is good for us as I really rate him.

“Hopefully we will have some challenge games sorted out very soon to keep us fit and focused ahead of the play-offs - we owe Blackburn a proper game after they hammered us while we were very short-benched.

“The lads are already up for the game and looking forward to confining those last two Hawks results to the history books.”

With the Minotaurs and Billingham both out of the running for the Cup, the real action will be up in Scotland where Solway Sharks are taking on Blackburn Hawks for the right to play Sutton Sting in the final in two weeks’ time.

Sutton secured their place with a 6-4 win at Manchester last weekend, leaving Solway and Blackburn – level on 10 points each – to battle it out in a winner-takes-all fixture in Dumfries, starting at 7pm.

Stars’ clash with Manchester Minotaurs this evening gets underway at 5pm. Billingham are in negotiations for a challenge game series ahead of the play-offs and fans are advised to keep their eyes open for details once they have been confirmed.

Showjumping: Thornaby sisters Millie and Pippa take a step up the European ladder

Showjumping Thornaby sisters Millie and Pippa Allen have continued their rise up the European equestrian rankings after leaping to a string of top drawer results at the Spanish CSI2 International Show

Showjumping Thornaby sisters Millie and Pippa Allen have continued their rise up the European equestrian rankings after leaping to a string of top drawer results at the Spanish CSI2 International Show.

The Stainsby Grange siblings both starred in Oliva Nova, with Millie particularly impressive.

The 16-year-old Millie, pictured right, headed the line-up after a thrilling jump off in the Bronze Tour Grand Prix.

Riding the eight-year-old gelding Brooklyn 28 owned by HS Sportpferde GMBH, she produced one of the only four double clears in the competition in a time of 47.97 seconds.

That secured her the title in her own right and relegated Danny McGlynn with Atletico van d’Abelendreef, a 14 year-old chestnut gelding owned by Team Harmony Management into second place.

Millie’s older sister Pippa, 21, had several placings in the ranking classes and young horse classes in the highly regarded event, which featured an increased number of high-profile riders and top-class horses this year.

It ran for three weeks and was the second leg of the 2014 Mediterranean Equestrian Tour.

Hemlington mum hands over cash to hospital as a thank you for helping son

Sarah Maloney handed over money to be shared between Neo-Natal and Cleveland Units at James Cook Hospital

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Hayden Maloney with family at James Cook University Hospital

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The mum of a boy who defied the odds - and medics - to overcome severe health problems as a baby has handed over cash raised to thank the hospital units which helped him.

Hayden Maloney, now eight, was born with a blood clot in his shoulder and later suffered two seizures due to a further clot in his brain. He also developed neonatal gangrene and even fought off MRSA.

His mum Sarah was warned by doctors that he was likely to be severely disabled - but now a happy pupil at Normanby Primary School, Hayden is going from strength to strength after battling everything life has thrown at him.

Sarah presented £5,500 to be split between the neonatal unit and the Cleveland Unit at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough - funds she vowed to raise after the two units did so much to help her son overcome his illnesses and build his confidence.

Sarah, of Hemlington, said: “Hayden is doing really well. He is loving school and they are really happy with him. He’s got lots of friends, and he enjoys PE because he can express himself in games.

“We have been raising money for the units because they helped him so much. He was in the neonatal unit for six weeks, and without the doctors and nurses there I don’t know if he would have survived.

“The Cleveland Unit, who provided therapy and teaching, have also been a massive help to us. Hayden might not have been able to make it to a mainstream school without them. The work they do is fantastic.

“Originally, I had set a target of £4,000, so to make £5,500 is fantastic. I want to thank all my friends and family who have helped raise the money, and say thank you from all of us to everyone who has been there for Hayden.”

Little Hayden’s problems started immediately after he was born, weighing 8lbs 9oz.

He had no circulation to his hands and he ended up in theatre for six hours after doctors found a clot in his shoulder which had cut off the circulation.

The problems didn’t stop there - in the early hours of the next day he took a turn for the worse, suffering two seizures and another big clot in his brain

Due to Hayden’s illnesses, Sarah, who is also mum to daughter Faith, six, was not even allowed to hold her son until 12 days after his birth.

Hayden, who was voted a Gazette Community Champion Child of Courage in 2012, still needs to visit hospital.

He still has problems in his arm, which has not grown at the same rate as the rest of his body as a result of his problems at birth.

Sarah said: “He loves being at school with his friends. He can sometimes get a bit frustrated in lessons when he is writing, and he can sometimes struggle with his speech, but everyone at Normanby Primary is fantastic with him and they make him really happy.

“Like most other lads his age, he loves his XBox and Playstation, and loves going horse riding at Borrowby.”

Friends held a 12-hour ju-jitsu grappling marathon, organised by Middlesbrough Fight Academy and Akurei Fitness Centre, as well as auctions and other fundraisers.

Hundreds of children in Redcar school choir festival

The sound of music reverberated across Redcar's Tuned In! arts and media centre when 13 school choirs dropped by

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Tuned In! Choirs Festival

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The sound of music reverberated across Redcar's Tuned In! arts and media centre when 13 school choirs dropped by.

In the first Tuned In! Choirs Festival, 493 students signed up to sing a variety of songs in the purpose-built young people’s centre.

Choirs from Wheatlands, St Paulinus, Belmont, Galley Hill, St Gabriel’s, Brambles, Bankfields, St Mary’s, Pennyman, Ings Farm, Normanby, Skelton and Dormanstown schools all performed in the cafe for members of the public, and to adjudicators in the performance suite.

Schools then took part in workshops using a range of technology.

A variety of music - from hymns to hip-hop - was performed. Students from many secondary schools and colleges also supported the event by working with the young people.

Yesterday’s festival was organised by music teacher Chris Nixon, who has arranged several high profile music events across the borough over the years.

The Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, Councillor Vic Jeffries, said he felt “privileged” to attend.

Date announced for opening of Redcar's new leisure centre

The £31m Redcar and Cleveland Leisure and Community Heart is to open on Saturday, April 26, at 9.30am - marking the end of months of construction work and ending 17 years of the town having no swimming pool

Redcar will open its heart next month.

The £31m Redcar and Cleveland Leisure and Community Heart is to open on Saturday, April 26, at 9.30am - marking the end of months of construction work and ending 17 years of the town having no swimming pool.

And it will start life with a bang, with organisers promising Olympic stars, European title holders and British champions on a day all activities will be free of charge.

The old Redcar Baths were controversially closed in 1997 after a big public outcry and even a “Save Redcar Baths” streak at Wembley by comedian Chris McGlade.

The new building, as well as having swimming pools and a wave simulator, will include a register office, fitness suites and conference facilities.

The Ridley Street complex will also be home to the borough’s new council chamber, which will double up as a multi-purpose space that can be used for community activities, the mayor’s parlour, accommodation for small and medium sized businesses and retail space.

Councillor Mark Hannon, the council’s Cabinet member for economic development, said: “As an integral part of the regeneration of the borough, I have really enjoyed watching this development take shape.

“As well as supporting local industry, the construction of this multi million pound scheme has had a massive impact on the economy, exceeding its targets for spending and employing locally. This impact is set to continue once the new facility opens by creating and safeguarding over 260 jobs in day to day operations.”

Cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, Councillor Olwyn Peters, called it a lasting legacy to the 2012 London Olympic Games.

She added: “There aren’t many places where you can get fit, have fun, learn to flow ride, grab a coffee, do business and even get married and that’s what so unique about this impressive complex.”

Martyn Miles, contract manager for building operator Everyone Active, said: “The facilities will be second to none in the area.”

Wolviston Primary School hailed as outstanding by Ofsted

Wolviston Primary School in Billingham received the highest rating possible following its latest inspection by education watchdog Ofsted

Children and staff from a village school are celebrating being ranked as outstanding by assessors.

Wolviston Primary School in Billingham received the highest rating possible following its latest inspection by education watchdog Ofsted.

The report praised its “rich and vibrant” curriculum, teaching and leadership. The school improved on its previous inspection in 2009 when it was rated good.

Headteacher Maria Carlton said: “We are all absolutely delighted with our outstanding judgment from Ofsted. We are a small village school who pride ourselves on our family ethos and everyone has played their part: staff, children, parents and governors.”

Inspectors found the quality of teaching, achievement and behaviour of pupils and its leadership and management were all of the highest standard.

The report states: “Teachers use their excellent knowledge to plan work that stretches all pupils, including the most able. Lessons are interesting and capture the imagination of pupils and ignite their love of learning. Pupils’ attitudes and work ethic are exemplary and they make rapid progress as a result.”

Reading standards are also well above average.

“Teachers are not afraid to try out new ideas, but at the same time there are extremely secure routines and excellent planning that make sure all pupils achieve the highest possible standards, particularly in English and mathematics,” the report states.

Virtually all of the parents said they would recommend the school to another parent.

Ofsted says the pupils are proud ambassadors and show a high level of care for each other.

They have a good understanding of different forms of bullying and older pupils act as playground friends.

Mrs Carlton said the school will continue to strive for the best standards adding: “Things never stop in education.”

Boro v Burnley set for later kick-off to honour Hillsborough victims

Boro's Championship clash with Burnley on Saturday, April 12, will kick-off at 3.07pm as part of a nationwide tribute marking the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster

Boro's Championship clash with Burnley on Saturday, April 12, will kick-off at 3.07pm as part of a nationwide tribute marking the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

All English professional matches over the weekend of April 11-14 will kick off seven minutes later than originally scheduled.

The tribute will take place in all games in the Premier League, Football League, Football Conference and FA Cup and there will be a minute’s silence before each match.

It has been organised as “a mark of respect and remembrance” for the 96 people who lost their lives in the disaster on April 15, 1989. That FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest was ended six minutes after kick-off, at 3.06pm.

Meanwhile, the Riverside will stage Boro’s Under-21 Premier League fixture against Spurs on Monday (ko 7pm).

The West Stand Lower will be open and tickets will be sold on the night from the West Stand Ticket Office, priced £3 with no concessions. Car parking is available costing £2.

Boro have no plans to recall Adam Reach despite Muzzy's injury

Bradford City boss Phil Parkinson has been impressed with Reach’s contribution and hopes Aitor Karanka rubber stamps the deal

Boro aren’t planning to recall Adam Reach as cover for the injured Mustapha Carayol.

The talented young winger is set to extend his loan stay with Bradford City into a third, and final, month.

Bantams boss Phil Parkinson has been impressed with Reach’s contribution and hopes Aitor Karanka rubber stamps the deal.

He said: “Adam would like to stay and we’d like to keep him. Hopefully we can but we’re just waiting on clarification from their manager.”

Carayol’s injury means Boro now just have two out-and-out wingers currently available for selection - Albert Adomah and Emmanuel Ledesma - though Kei Kamara and Luke Williams could be pressed into action down the flanks.

Ironically, 21-year-old Reach is poised to start for Bradford today against Shrewsbury, the club with which he spent most of the first half of the season.

He joined League One City on January 23 and has been a regular member of the first team, scoring once in 10 successive starts.

Another 21-year-old player with Boro links, Matthew Dolan, is aiming to lay down a marker at Bradford for next season.

The midfielder joined City on a 93-day emergency loan in February.

His Boro deal lapses in the summer but he will pen a long-term contract with the Bantams at the end of the current season.

Prior to that, he wants to impress Parkinson on the pitch.

“I want to enjoy my run-in to the end of the season and hopefully play plenty of football,” he told the Bradford Telegraph and Argus.

“My aim is to try and keep my place, get a couple of goals and create a bit of excitement.

“I want to show everyone what I can do and come back next season fit and strong.”

Dolan was on loan at League Two Hartlepool before Christmas and manager Colin Cooper wanted to sign him on a long-term contract.

However, in January, Boro opted to recall him and Pools’ hopes of getting their man ended in disappointment after Bradford made their move.

“I don’t want to massively go into things at Middlesbrough,” explained Hartlepool-born Dolan.

“I got promoted with Yeovil last year and went out and played at Hartlepool this season.

“Obviously it’s frustrating not to be given your chance but what better place to put some roots down than in front of 13,000 fans every week.

“That’s my objective as a young footballer coming through in the game.

“The most important thing is getting your name out there and building up experience and this is a great platform for me.

“I’ve spoken to the gaffer and the only way for this club is forward from now on.

“I want to play a key part in doing that.

“If you believe in your own ability, you don’t really worry about contracts but it’s always good to have that security there.”

Modi coming to Varanasi to wash sin of Godhra: Lalu

Attacking BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, RJD chief Lalu Prasad said he was contesting from Varanasi in an attempt to wash away “the sin” of Godhra and the Gujarat riots but it would be to no avail.

“Modi is coming to Varanasi to wash his sin of Godhra and Gujarat but it is not possible. Modi’s sins cannot be forgiven and forgetten by people of the country,” he told media persons after a day-long hectic campaign in three districts.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal leader said that what happened in Godhra and Gujarat were a black spot on the country’s image of unity in diversity and secular character.

He asserted that there is no Modi wave in Bihar, particularly in rural areas, as per the rumours being spread by some vested interests.

Lalu’s RJD is contesting polls in alliance with Congress. The RJD has fielded its candidates from 27 of the state’s 40 Lok Sabha seats, Congress from 12 and the Nationalist Congress Party NCP from one.

–IANS

Jordan condemns allowing Zionist extremists to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque

On Thursday, Jordan’s Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Dr Hayel Abdul Hafeez condemned the Israeli occupation forces for allowing Zionist extremists, led by the deputy chairman of the Knesset, to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque and insult and provoke the Muslim worshippers there. He also denounced the Israeli police’s unacceptable behaviour, including assaulting the mosque’s guards.

Dr Abdul Hafeez condemned the recent escalations carried out by the Israeli occupation authorities, stressing the need to respect the dignity of the worshippers, as well as the guards stationed at the mosque, who are members of the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf. He added that, “the occupation authorities must realise that they are crossing redlines by committing these shameful practices.”

In a statement published in Jordanian newspapers on Friday, the minister refused the occupation authorities’ actions of allowing soldiers and those newly recruited to enter the mosque and spread out in groups across the site, as it means that the occupation is imposing a new and rejected fait accompli in the mosque, and as such acts violates international and human rights laws

Movie review: Yves Saint Laurent (15)

Paris, 1957. 21 year old Yves is catapulted to international stardom as the successor to Christian Dior who has recently died

After Meryl Streep’s The Devil Wears Prada (2006) and Audrey Tautou’s Coco Before Chanel (2009), here’s a quick change... to a fashion house drama led by men.

Director Jalil Lespert’s biopoc covers two decades from 1957, when the 21-year-old, sketch-loving French Algeria-born Yves Saint Laurent (Pierre Niney) is suddenly promoted after the shock death of his 52-year-old boss, Christian Dior (Patrice Thibaud).

Together with lover and business partner Pierre Berge (Guillaume Gallienne) he takes over the brand, only to be later fired when falling sales and controversial conscription to the French Army re the Algerian War of Independence combine to blitz his creativity.

Based on Laurence Benaim’s biography, the beautifully-cut film is visually stunning.

Like the perfect gown, everything flows, whether the scenes are domestic, catwalk or landscape (Paris looks so timeless that the terrace view of the Arc De Triomphe is beyond tantalising).

Niney has a strong, yet fragile presence, as if he’s in a Woody Allen film being directed by the ghost of Anthony Minghella.

The score and soundtrack are eclectic, switching from classical piano to a substance-fuelled nightclub groove that will appeal to fans of The Doors, all very interesting after the death of Mick Jagger’s fashion designer girlfriend L’Wren Scott only this week.

Anyone keen to learn more about the last 30 years of Laurent’s life or answers to questions like ‘how do you intend to tighten the waist without taking it in’ will be left holding their breath.

Especially as some observations are limited to ‘we do not know where taste and instinct comes from... we are born with it’ and ‘beware of shy people... they rule the world’.

So, we can listen and read the subtitles, but if you want to be the next YSL, it will have to come from within.

One killed, several injured in Egypt protests

Egyptian security forces have attacked anti-government protests in several cities across the country, killing at least one protester and injuring several others.

Government forces used tear gas and birdshot to break up Friday protests in the cities of Cairo and Fayoum as well as the northern province of Sharqiya.

Egyptian security forces also arrested a number of protesters.

Earlier on Thursday, at least six protesters were killed, dozens wounded and over seventy others arrested during clashes between the police and protesters who were rallying against the military overthrow of former president, Mohamed Morsi, back in July 2013.

Latest figures show Egypt’s military-backed government has jailed nearly 16,000 people since July 2013.

The United Nations Human Rights Council recently expressed concern over the Egyptian security forces’ heavy-handed crackdown and the killing of peaceful anti-government protesters.

Rights groups say at least 1,400 people have been killed in the political violence since the ouster of Morsi, “most of them due to excessive force used by security forces.”

Anti-government demonstrators have been holding rallies almost on a daily basis since the army toppled Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically-elected president. The demonstrators demand that Morsi be reinstated.

ASH/SS

Jane Clare: Mother's Day is around the corner, will you be buying any special wines?

Latest news and reviews for wine-lovers

Some people can’t stand Mother’s Day. I mean they love their mum, but they can’t stand leaving the house for the so-called “treat”. Over-booked restaurants, under-cooked food and poor old mum trying to pretend it’s the best time she‘s had since the grand final of The X Factor.

The alternative is staying in – cook a lovely lunch and break out a really nice bottle of wine.

Research for the Big Day next week led to several wines, with mixed results. The Exquisite Collection South Australia Shiraz 2012 which Aldi, ever cost-conscious, is selling at just £5.99.

Now Shiraz can be confrontational; the sort of wine that sits there and says “I’m big and I’m gutsy so don’t come near unless a gulp of aggression is what you’re prepared for”.

I found it resin-y, oily, and tannins overpowered “ripe black plum fruits, blackberries and succulent black cherries” the label proclaimed.

However, saying that, this wine won three awards last year. A silver at the Decanter World Wine Awards; commended at the International wine Challenge. It also won a What Food What Wine challenge as a match for lamb rogan josh. To be fair, a day after opening, and poured alongside a Thai supper with a spicy punch worthy of Tony The Bomber Bellew, the wine was a worthy opponent.

Morrisons Signature Chablis (RRP £9.99 at Morrisons stores, http://ift.tt/12PYHoU). How does that joke go. “I don’t like chardonnay but I love Chablis.” If you didn’t know, Chablis is 100% chardonnay. The label declares this has crisp green apples and soft banana flavours. I definitely got the apples, but the bananas were off my radar. Taut sharp green apples on the nose, but to taste it wasn’t as crisp and linear as I’d like.

The Society’s Celebration Crémant de Loire (www.thewine society.com, £11.50, or £9.50 equivalent if you buy six up to March 30). Loire producer Gratien & Meyer this year celebrates its 150th anniversary and it is the society’s longest continuous supplier – since 1906 in fact. The blend is exclusive to the society, with chardonnay, chenin, cabernet franc and pinot noir. On the nose, bright fresh apple after an April shower; squeezy fresh to taste with a huzzah of apple bite freshness and lemon.

Rosé Royal Pinot Noir Spumante, Giacomo Montresor (£9.45, http://ift.tt/1bPz265). Lovely bottle, makes me feel all special. It is a pale pink sparkling wine from pinot noir grapes. The wine is kept on the lees for four months, adding complexity. Fresh bread aromas mingle with dried strawberries and cherries. There’s a nose-tickling sparkle with cherries to taste.

Canard-Duchêne Authentic Réserve Brut (RRP£26.99, Waitrose and www.waitrose direct.com). Now don’t be shocked. I had this Champagne with a curry takeaway and it was bloomin’ perfect. Of course I professionally “tasted” it first for your benefit. But then for my benefit I shared an aubergine side dish, melting Bombay potatoes and a lamb dupiaza. With Champagne? It was heavenly. Aged for three years, it has intensity to counteract spice; freshness to liven the palate; dried apples and stone fruits bring a livening lift.

A big cheer to... the winners of the McGuigan Wines competition. Ken Owen, Gillian Massey, Carolyn Thelwell and Maureen O’Gorman each win six bottles of McGuigan Reserve wines.

Don’t forget, McGuigan is giving wine-loving couples the chance to win a trip to Australia, including lunch cooked by John Torode in one of their Hunter Valley vineyards. Go to http://mcguiganwines competition.com for details.

Contact me at jane.clare@trinitymirror.com

US tech executives meet Obama on NSA spying

Executives of a number of large US Internet companies were invited to the White House on Friday to discuss over the issues of privacy and the US government’s spying activities.

The meeting was scheduled to take place in the Oval Office and US President Barack Obama was expected to host tech giant executives including Google chairman Eric Schmidt and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

The meeting comes a few days after Zuckerberg called Obama to express his displeasure with the recent revelations about the National Security Agency’s spying programs.

“The US government should be the champion for the internet, not a threat,” Zuckerberg wrote in a Facebook post last week, disclosing he had called Obama personally. “They need to be much more transparent about what they’re doing, or otherwise people will believe the worst.”

According to Reuters, other attendees of the White House meeting were Reed Hastings, chief executive officer of Netflix Inc, an online video streaming service, Aaron Levie and Drew Houston, chief executive officers of two online storage and file-sharing companies Box and Dropbox, and Alex Karp, chief executive officer of Palantir Technologies, a data-mining company which is partly supported by the CIA.

Revelations by American whistleblower Edward Snowden that exposed the scope and scale of Washington’s spying activities across the globe altered the US government’s relationship with its own citizens and the rest of the world.

Snowden’s leaks showed, among other things, how the NSA collects phone records of all American citizens and tracks the online activities of all people around the world.

On January 17, Obama delivered a much-anticipated speech at the Department of Justice, introducing some changes to US intelligence-gathering practices. As part of his proposed reforms, Obama suggested that the NSA’s database of phone records should be moved out of government hands and be kept by private phone companies.

However, privacy rights advocates, like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, and tech firms immediately criticized Obama’s proposed reforms, saying they are just half-measures that would leave the spying programs virtually untouched.

ISH/ISH

‘Maut ka saudagar’ is apt description of Modi

March 21:

Congress today resurrected the “maut ka saudagar” barb against Narendra Modi, blaming him for the Godhra incident and the subsequent communal riots in Gujarat, and said the description fitted the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate.

BJP had lost three bye-elections after Modi became Chief Minister but after that he “allowed” the Godhra train tragedy and the riots. “If you don’t call him maut ka saudagar (merchant of death), how else can you describe him,” party spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil told reporters.

His remarks came in a response to a question on whether Congress still thinks that Modi is ‘maut ka saudagar’.

The comments of Gohil, a former CLP leader of Gujarat and known detractor of Modi, is bound to kick up a row as Sonia Gandhi’s same barb during the campaign in Gujarat assembly elections in 2007 had sparked a huge political controversy.

After the crushing defeat of the party, Congress had refrained from making such remarks fearing a communal polarisation as Modi had used it to the hilt to his advantage.

The Congress spokesperson’s comments came even as Rahul Gandhi has in last many interactions with party leaders asked them to refrain from personal attacks.

However, it is also true that Congress has stepped up attack on Modi in the last few days as campaigning for Lok Sabha election picks up