Erdogan addresses largest crowd in Turkey’s history

Approximately 1.2 million supporters attended the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan’s rally in Istanbul Sunday.

In his speech, Erdogan urged politicians to work harder for the success of their parties. If the leaders of the two main opposition parties remain in their positions, he said, the ruling AK Party will most likely be reelected.

“The government of AK Party is committed to providing for all citizens irrespective of their religious and racial differences. We do not discriminate between Turks, Kurds, Arabs, or Albanians living in Turkey. And although the majority of Turkish citizens are Muslims, we do not discriminate against non-Muslims.”

“When the nationalist party handed over the country’s leadership to the AK Party, Turkey was indebted to its civil servants with 13.5 billion Turkish Liras,” Erdogan told the crowd, described by media outlets as the largest in Turkish history. Today, however, Turkish treasury includes USD 128 billion in foreign reserves, he added.

Erdogan added that the government intends to embark on a number of projects, including the “third international airport” in Istanbul, a project that would cost USD 46 billion, “the Istanbul Canal” which would connect the Black Sea with Marmara Sea, and the “Sultan Selim Bridge” which would be established by the end of 2015. Turkey has also fulfilled its dream to connect the European and Asian sides of Istanbul through the underwater railway project “Marmaray Tunnel”.

Moreover, Erdogan slammed the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is accused by the Turkish government of systematic infiltration of government agencies, particularly the security apparatus and the Judiciary. Erdogan accused Gulen’s group of setting up a “parallel entity”, and of holding daily night prayers against his government.

Erdogan claimed that Gulen fled Turkey to the US using a fake passport, and that he lives in self-imposed solitude in Pennsylvania instead of his hometown in Turkey, or Mecca.

Regarding the controversial Twitter ban, Erdogan said that the social networking website started to shut down a number of accounts which the Turkish government requested it to suspend following court orders. The suspended Twitter accounts allegedly publicized defamatory content and fabricated recordings.

The day's news in pictures: March 24 2014

The day’s biggest stories from the UK and around the world in pictures

Relatives of MH370’s passengers and crew have been told the flight ended in the middle of the southern Indian Ocean far from any landing sites.

Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur that a new analysis by the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch and tracking firm Inmarsat had revealed that MH370’s last position was in the ocean west of Perth.

“This is a remote location, far from any possible landing sites,” he said. “It is therefore with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that according to this new data Flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean.”

The trade union movement paid tribute to RMT leader Bob Crow today as thousands turned out at his funeral.

Trade unionists lined the route from near the 52-year-old’s house in Woodford, east London, to the City of London Cemetary in Manor Park.

Mr Crow’s coffin was carried in a horse-drawn carriage, in traditional East End style.

The four horses were dressed in blue and white plumage, the colours of Mr Crow’s beloved Millwall Football Club.

View gallery

The day's news in pictures: March 24 2014

View gallery

Grove Hill man jailed after driving car into garden where tot had just been playing

Colin Readshaw drove his Peugeot after a 16-year-old boy, smashed through gates into his garden where his toddler sister had been playing

A motorist is in prison today after he drove into a garden where a tot had just been playing.

Colin Readshaw, 22, drove his Peugeot at a 16-year-old boy on a field in Middlesbrough.

There had been a background of trouble between the two with an incident the previous day, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was in the field with friends when Readshaw arrived in his car.

The boy threw a brick at the car, thinking it would be driven at him, at about 12.30pm on September 28 last year.

Readshaw then drove the car at the boy, “clearly aiming the vehicle at him”, said prosecutor Martin Towers today.

The teenager ran to his home, where children were playing into the front yard, including his toddler sister.

The boy picked her up and quickly took her into the house as the car came towards them.

It smashed through the gates, knocking them off their hinges as it came right up towards the house, said Mr Towers.

He repeatedly reversed the vehicle down the drive then back to the house again, spinning his wheels.

He drove at the boy’s father at one point, and hit a bicycle propped against a wall.

The bike was still enmeshed in the Peugeot as Readshaw finally drove away, throwing bricks at the house.

No one was injured. There was damage to the gates, bike and house brickwork.

Readshaw, of Brough Court, Grove Hill , Middlesbrough, was arrested three days later.

He denied being at the scene, but he was identified several times as the driver.

He admitted attempted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving and affray.

He had 62 previous convictions including assaults, public disorder, burglary, vehicle taking and Asbo breaches.

Yvonne Taylor, defending, said: “He’s a troubled young man. He’s only 22. He has an awful lot of growing up to do.”

She said he was extremely emotional when he owned up, and did regret his actions.

She added: “He feels sorry for the upset he must have caused. He understands he would have created fear or distress.

“He does not want the victims or the community to continue to feel this.”

She said there was a background between him and the 16-year-old boy, and the incident brought matters to a head.

Readshaw hoped his prison term would put a stop to it, had a five-year-old son and had “immense support” from his family.

Judge George Moorhouse jailed Readshaw for two years, below the three to five years suggested by the defence.

He said Readshaw was provoked by the brick thrown at the car, showed remorse and there was no premeditation.

A 17-year-old girl from Middlesbrough, who cannot be named, was a passenger in the car.

She admitted a public order offence after she went into the house’s garden swearing.

The judge said her involvement was “minimal” and gave her a six-month referral order.

Northern League: Norton in seven heaven as Gary Mitchell clocks up 150 goals

Norton got back in the groove with a 7-0 Division Two annihilation of Esh Winning

Gary Mitchell scored his 150th and 151st Northern League goals as Norton got back in the groove with a 7-0 Division Two annihilation of Esh Winning.

Mitchell had gone 13 games without scoring since he netted in a 3-1 December defeat at Jarrow Roofing, with the 150-goal milestone weighing on his mind.

But neither he or Norton looked back after Karl Charlton scored the opener on his way to a hat-trick, and Mitchell and Nicky Martin both struck twice.

Martin’s brace took him to 149 career goals and he has a fantastic chance to emulate Mitchell’s achievement before the end of the season.

Norton have three games left which are all at Station Road.

Mitchell has played for six different Northern League clubs, including two spells with Norton and Northallerton and a stint at Thornaby.

The 31-year-old said: “I’m very proud of scoring 150 Northern League goals.

“I’d been thinking about it too much and snatching at shots, but I kept my concentration to score my first one and it was a relief to see it finally go in.

“The manager and the lads have been very supportive, even though there has been plenty of banter flying around.

“My 11-year-old son Gary has scored 67 goals for Darlington in the TJFA this season and had been giving me some stick as well.

“But now I’ve got over the 150 line I can enjoy my football and hopefully keep on scoring.”

Stokesley should stay up with only one team going down from the second tier this season.

Monty Alexander’s side were seven minutes away from victory at home to North Shields, but the manager was left frustrated as the leaders rescued a point with a late penalty in a 3-3 draw.

Stokesley had led 2-0 and 3-1 with goals from Drew Lambert, Matthew Robinson and Kristian Kamara.

Alexander said: “It was a terrific performance, but I thought we were robbed at the end with the penalty. It was given for a high foot but the incident was outside the box.”

Thornaby made amends for their 4-0 defeat at Whickham as they won 2-0 at bottom club Ryton, skipper Lee Bythway and striker Ged Livingstone scoring in the first half.

In the first division, fourth-placed Guisborough rebounded from their League Cup exit at Marske as they beat struggling Sunderland RCA 2-1 at the KGV.

Mikey Roberts gave them the lead from the penalty spot with his 40th goal of the season, and Luke Bythway got a show-stopping second from 25 yards.

RCA pulled a goal back through Jim Wilson, whose former side Billingham Synthonia lost 1-0 at Crook.

Synners created plenty of chances and David Abel saw his header pushed onto a post, but Robbie Bird scored the winner with the visiting defence appealing for offside.

Marske’s three-match winning run came to an end as they never got going in a heavy 4-0 defeat at Newcastle Benfield.

The Seasiders were without Lev Yalcin ,Chris McGill and the injured Josh Myers, and striker Jamie Clarke had to leave the game at half time.

Marske also had to play with 10 men for the last 20 minutes as Josh MacDonald went off with a calf injury and they had already made all of their substitutions.

Relegated Billingham Town have now conceded 18 goals in their last two games against title-contending Spennymoor and Shildon. The Railwaymen were runaway 8-0 winners at Bedford Terrace, with former Synners winger Chris Emms scoring twice.

Reeva Steenkamp 'scared of Oscar Pistorius', court hears

Athlete complained about his short temper and jealousy weeks before he killed her, trial is told

Oscar Pistorius’s girlfriend told the athlete she was sometimes scared of him and complained about what she described as his short temper and jealousy in the weeks before he killed her, according to phone messages revealed at the Olympian’s murder trial.

“I can’t be attacked by outsiders for dating u AND be attacked by you, the one person I deserve protection from,” Reeva Steenkamp wrote to Pistorius.

In another message read out loud by police captain Francois Moller, Ms Steenkamp said she was sometimes afraid of the athlete: “I’m scared of you sometimes and how you snap at me and how you act at me.”

Mr Moller extracted information from Ms Steenkamp’s phone and said he obtained more than 1,000 exchanges between her and Pistorius on WhatsApp and other phone messaging applications. Mr Moller said he was given two BlackBerry phones, two iPhones, two iPads and a Mac computer the day after the shooting death of Ms Steenkamp.

Mr Moller said the data on her phone would print to more than 35,000 pages. Of the fraction of exchanges between the couple, Mr Moller said that about 90% were what he called normal and “loving” exchanges.

In earlier testimony a neighbour testified that she heard gunshots as well as screams from both a man and a woman on the night that the double amputee runner fatally shot Ms Steenkamp.

Anette Stipp’s testimony matched some of the evidence given by other witnesses earlier in the trial who said they also heard a woman screaming around the time that Pistorius killed Ms Steenkamp before dawn on February 14, 2013. According to Pistorius’s version of events, he thought Ms Steenkamp was in bed when he fired his pistol. He did not describe any woman screaming.

The defence has countered that the neighbours were actually hearing Pistorius screaming in a high-pitched voice after he shot Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model. Pistorius has said he shot his girlfriend by mistake through a locked toilet door, thinking that she was an intruder in his home.

Mrs Stipp said under cross-examination that she heard gunshots while lying awake at around 3am on the night of the shooting, and then heard the “terrified, terrified” screams of a woman. Her bedroom is situated across a grassy area about 70 metres (230 feet) from Pistorius’s home, and the windows of the athlete’s bathroom are visible from her window.

“The screaming at that stage just continued,” said Mrs Stipp, who recalled looking out from a balcony at two houses with lights on in the gated estate where her family and Pistorius lived.

She said she told her husband Johan, who previously testified, that the screaming sounded as though a “family murder” had taken place.

“There was definitely a female screaming for quite a period,” Mrs Stipp said. “You could definitely hear two different voices.”

She said she then heard a second set of shots, and the screaming stopped.

The defence has said that Pistorius fired into the door and then battered the door with a cricket bat to get to Ms Steenkamp after realising she was inside the toilet cubicle. It insists that some neighbours who testified mistook the sound of the cricket bat striking the door for gunshots.

Pistorius’s camp also maintains that Pistorius fired with quick bursts that gave Ms Steenkamp no time to scream, and so Pistorius did not realise he was shooting at Ms Steenkamp. A South African police ballistics expert, however, has testified that the first of three bullets that struck Ms Steenkamp hit her in the right hip, giving her time to scream before she was hit in the arm and head.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel has said he will wrap up his case against Pistorius this week after calling four or five more witnesses to support his contention that the Olympian intentionally killed Ms Steenkamp after an argument. The defence will then present its case.

Judicial officials say the trial will continue until May 16, with a recess in April.

Watch: Aitor Karanka reveals QPR bobble was caused by bottle top on the pitch

Boro boss says the unfortunate bobble which led to QPR's second goal in injury time was caused by a bottle top on the pitch :: View the incident here

Boro head coach Aitor Karanka has confirmed that the bobble that led to QPR's second goal on Saturday was caused by a bottle top on the pitch.

In the 4th minute of of injury time, QPR goalkeeper Robert Green booted the goal-kick down field - much to the annoyance of his own bench, who wanted him to ‘kill the game’ - and Jozsef Varga headed it back to Kenneth Omeruo.

Omeruo passed back to Boro keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos who, attempting to hit a first-time long clearance forward, missed the ball, which bounced off the bottle top, and allowed sub Bobby Zamora to nip in and walk the ball into the vacant net.

Click here if you can't see the video above

QPR rubbed salt in the hosts’ wounds by grabbing a third when Zamora headed a high ball into Morrison, who drove across the edge of the box before lashing a stunning shot past Konstantopoulos.

Boro defender George Friend described the incident as " a total freak ".

Thornburn strikes first as Middlesbrough RC stretch winning run

Middlesbrough stormed to their third successive win to climb further away from the North One East relegation zone

Middlesbrough stormed to their third successive win to climb further away from the North One East relegation zone.

And Saturday’s 22-9 success over fourth-placed Rochdale at Acklam Park was probably the best win of the lot, as Middlesbrough responded well after being forced on to the back foot early in the game.

Dale dominated for the first 20 minutes, but Middlesbrough defended well with good organisation and strong tackling. Dale struck two penalties, but couldn’t break through for a try.

But Middlesbrough did on 25 minutes when Mike Thornburn picked up a pass 35 metres out and powered over in the corner. Eight minutes later Richard Metcalfe burst through to score and put Middlesbrough in front, and although both Matthew Todd and Simon O’Farrell were wayward with their kicking it didn’t prove costly.

On the stroke of half time, following a fine tackle by skipper Rob Bellerby, Rhys Kilbride scored Middlesbrough’s third try.

Dale’s cause was not helped by a yellow card in each half, though they pulled back three points with a second half penalty.

However O’Farrell had the last word, completing the scoring 15 minutes from time. His try gave Middlesbrough a bonus point, and he converted.

Middlesbrough are now six points above third from bottom Morpeth with three games remaining.

In the Division above, National Three North Billingham’s position is precarious following a 38-15 home defeat to high fliers Sale

Sale scored an early penalty, but by the 12th minute Billingham were ahead when Danny Dixon touched down and Peter Evans converted.

An Evans penalty on the stroke of half time levelled at 10-10, but the visitors had the better of the second half, with Dixon’s second try at the end of the game being no more than a consolation, for Billingham who are a single point above the relegation zone.

In Durham and North One Guisborough took another step towards a play-off place with 31-23 win at bottom club Bishop Auckland, though Guisborough still have work to do.

However they have appealed to the RFU to replay their game at leaders Horden, which they lost. Guisborough were unable to complete a front row because of an injury and a player being sin-binned.

On Saturday Guisborough were not at their best but won with tries from James Clark (later red-carded), Phil Shields, Mike Southers, Liam Corcoran and Owen Edwards. Clark kicked three conversions.

Stockton lost 26-22 at home to Hartlepool Rovers, but at least picked up a bonus points. Stockton were able to field their best side for some time.

Jeremy Good struck an early penalty for Stockton, then converted Dan Phinn’s try. Skipper Steve Taylor and full back Dan Wilson added second half tries, Good converting one of them, but it was not quite enough, and Stockton are too close for comfort to the bottom three.

No such problems for Redcar in Division Two. They won 104-5 at home to bottom club Prudhoe, with 16 tries and 12 conversion, all kicked by Richie Young, who also scored four tries.

The visitors turned up with just 15 players and were soon down to 14. Charlie Templeman scored four tries, with others coming from James Allison (2), Ben Durrans (2), Danny McIlvenny, Andy Little, Craig Newlands, on his debut, and Greg Unthank.

In Yorkshire One Acklam lost 60-24 at Selby.

Concern for Darlington as they draw a blank again at Prescot Cables

Darlington still have work to do to ensure they finish in a play-off place in the Evo-Stik League Division One North

Darlington had to settle for a 0-0 draw at Prescot Cables and still have work to do to ensure they finish in a play-off place in the Evo-Stik League Division One North.

Quakers applied almost incessant pressure, but couldn’t break through, a rarity this season when the goals have flowed.

But they have now gone three games without a win and back to back games without scoring, so their shooting boots have deserted them, at the wrong time.

QUAKERS: Bell, Harrison (Johnson 78), Tait, White, Galbraith, A Mitchell, Brown, Davis (Hopson 71), Thompson, Fisher (Dowson 64), Purewal. Subs: Jameson, Wing.

Colin Cooper upset as Hartlepool fail Oxford exam

Colin Cooper labelled Hartlepool United's 1-0 reverse at promotion-chasing Oxford United a 'missed opportunity'

Manager Colin Cooper labelled his side’s 1-0 reverse at promotion-chasing Oxford United a “missed opportunity” as Hartlepool failed to close in on the League Two play-off places.

Jack Barmby had two good chances to score for Cooper’s side at the start and end of the first half, but well-travelled striker David Connolly headed the winner two minutes after Pools midfielder Simon Walton was sent off for a second bookable offence.

The defeat leaves Pools six points off a play-off place in League Two with eight games to go.

“I’m very disappointed,” former Boro defender Cooper told the club website. “We didn’t get up to a brilliant tempo.

“The sending off is frustrating. When it’s not your night, one thing you have to do is to try and keep 11 on the pitch.

I said to the players every game presents you with an opportunity. It was a missed opportunity.”

Boro players call in to celebrate Family Club recognition with Generation Red fans

Rhys Williams and Jayson Leutwiler called in to visit supporters before QPR game after Boro were named Family Club Of The Year

View gallery

Gallery: Football League Family Club Of The Year

View gallery

Celebrations were under way before Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship match between Boro and Queens Park Rangers at the Riverside.

For there was fun and games in the Generation Red Family Zone (GRFZ) before kick off to celebrate Middlesbrough FC being crowned this year's Football League Family Club of the Year.

The GRFZ has allowed young fans to meet the players every matchday for autographs and take photos with their favourite stars.

There are also regular appearances from friendly mascots Roary the Lion and Bee Active.

The East Stand area also has a range of activities for kids with games and interactive computer consoles available.

A GRFZ adult ticket costs £19, over-65s are £13, and under-18s £8.

Any combination is available with a child in the group, with a maximum of four U18 tickets per Adult or Over-65.

Call 0844 499 1234 or visit the Riverside Stadium Ticket Office to book tickets.

Berwick Hills razor thief dumped £255 worth of blades in the sea after being cornered by police

Paul Thornton, of Rothbury Road, led police and security guards on a chase along Whitby's seafront before they trapped him

A serial razor thief swiped hundreds of pounds worth of blades - before hurling them into the North Sea after police cornered him.

Paul Thornton was spotted on CCTV pinching £255 worth of blades from Whitby’s Boots store, before fleeing.

With his loot concealed in a bag, Thornton, of Rothbury Road in Berwick Hills, Middlesbrough, led police and security guards on a chase along Whitby’s seafront before they trapped him.

Desperate to evade capture and with nowhere to run, he flung the bag into the sea.

However, police managed to fish the razors out of the water, and Thornton appeared at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court - where even his own solicitor admitted the theft was “incompetently” carried out.

At that hearing, the court heard how Thornton had fallen on hard times in Middlesbrough, and had been staying on a friend’s sofa in Whitby.

The 35-year-old, who has previous convictions for stealing razors and dummy razors, had been trying to keep out of trouble.

But his solicitor Shaun Greenan admitted that on February 27, Thornton, who also had a conviction for stealing a tube of Pringle socks, “succumbed to temptation”.

In mitigation, Mr Greenan said that his client had recently been given £1,500 in backdated Employment and Support Allowance that had helped him clear some debts, and had been making progress with help for mental health problems.

And he added: “He’s extremely grateful for the help he’s been given and for the first time in many years his future is looking positive.”

Thornton was ordered to pay £60 compensation and slapped with a curfew between 5pm and noon.

Former US pres. Carter: Obama govt. may be spying on me

Former US president Jimmy Carter has said that he does not use email when he wants to communicate with world leaders because the government of President Barack Obama is “probably” spying on him.


“I have felt that my own communications are probably monitored,” said Carter, a vocal critic of the spying activities of the US National Security Agency, on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday.

“When I want to communicate with a foreign leader privately, I type or write the letter myself, put it in the Post Office and mail it, because I believe if I send an email, it will be monitored,” he explained during the interview.

The 89-year-old former commander-in-chief of the US also voiced his unhappiness about Obama’s refusal to take advice from him or his Carter Center after the host asked him whether Obama ever does so on domestic and international issues .

“Unfortunately, the answer is no,” he replied, adding “President Obama doesn’t, but previous Presidents have called on me and the Carter Center to take action.”

The 39th US president further speculated that the reason behind Obama administration’s refusal to consult with him is their differing views over the Middle East.

“I think the problem was that in dealing with the issue of peace between Israel and Egypt, the Carter Center has taken a very strong position of equal treatment … and I think this was a sensitive area in which the President didn’t want to be involved,” added Carter, president from 1977 to 1981.

DT/DT

Teesville soldier who protected millions of pounds worth of military stock in Afghanistan awarded QCVS

Sapper Adam Oxley earned his Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service for tirelessly delivering vital force protection

A soldier who protected millions of pounds worth of military stock in Afghanistan has been awarded a Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service.

Sapper Adam Oxley, of Teesville, earned his QCVS for tirelessly delivering vital force protection during his tour of Afghanistan.

Adam, of 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault), worked as the Resources Yard Commander within Task Force Helmand.

A role usually fulfilled by a more senior soldier, the 24-year-old was in charge of stock worth millions of pounds and his ability to deliver force protection measures, especially to forward patrol bases, was crucial.

On one occasion, an attack by insurgents on a patrol base destroyed a 60m section of perimeter wall, but Sapper Oxley worked through the night to organise the preparation and dispatch of material and equipment so the wall could be quickly repaired and reinforced.

He was also responsible for reconditioning and upgrading sangars - temporary fortified positions - for use in other parts of the country. This was vital work that saved both time and money, as new sangars would have had to be shipped from the UK at considerable cost.

He said: “This award means a lot to me but it is totally unexpected as I don’t think I did anything extraordinary on tour. I was covering a sergeant’s job for a long period, but I had experience and confidence from my first Afghan tour and the support of a hard-working team.

“When the wall was breached, it was a real rush job to sort out what was needed to repair it and fly it forward as quickly as possible. I was working in the relative safety of Camp Bastion and you feel obliged to put the extra effort in to make sure soldiers out in more dangerous places are protected.”

Adam’s citation notes his “relentless drive” and adds: “He has demonstrated a maturity and capacity well beyond his rank which has allowed him to develop engineer logistics and broker vital links between TFH and the Joint Force Support (Afghanistan).”

Spr Oxley went to Gillbrook Academy and has been on two tours of Afghanistan since joining the Army in 2009. His brother, Private Paul Oxley, is also in the Army, serving with 1st Military Working Dog Regiment at Sennelager in Germany.

The QCVS recognises meritorious service during, or in support of, operations. His award was among 117 made principally for actions during the period March to September 2013 during Operation Herrick 18.

SK Chilled Foods: Up to 60 new jobs on the menu at South Bank manufacturing facility

Jeremy Faulkner, managing director of SK Chilled Foods, said: 'This move marks the next stage of our expansion plans'

A food production company has unveiled plans to create up to 60 jobs by ramping up production on Teesside.

SK Chilled Foods wants to use a vacant industrial unit near its South Bank manufacturing facility to make extra ingredients for its snack foods and ready meals.

The move will help the firm develop two new products for major UK retailers, with production expected to start this summer.

The company, which employs more than 600 people across sites at Wynyard, South Bank and Riverside Park Industrial Estate, said its new facility was part of plans to increase its £50m turnover by 25% over the next three years.

Jeremy Faulkner, managing director of SK Chilled Foods, said: “This move marks the next stage of our expansion plans.

“It will move us into a new product area and help us to create 50-60 jobs over the next 18 months.

“We can’t say too much about the products as they’re currently under development - but they are being developed for two major retailers.”

Mr Faulkner said the company, which is owned by The Entrepreneurial Food Group in California, had no plans to position itself for a sale or stock market flotation.

“We’re a privately owned business in Teesside and that’s the way we’ll stay,” he said. “The owners are very happy with us.

“In the eyes of our customers, a big strength of the company is the fact that we’re based in Teesside. That means we’re able to do things proactively and very quickly.”

SK Chilled Foods has expanded rapidly since it was established in 1987 with 10 staff at a small production facility in Skelton.

Twelve years later the company was bought by The Entrepreneurial Food Group - a move which led to the launch of two manufacturing sites at Riverside Park and South Bank.

The company has doubled turnover in the last four-and-a-half years and now supplies own-brand chilled snack foods and ready meals to some of the UK’s biggest retailers, including Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda.

The South Bank facility produces Tex Mex-style specialities including onion rings, breaded mushrooms, potato wedges, potato skins, fajitas and nachos, as well as a range of Indian food such as Bhajis.

Its Riverside Park site makes spring rolls, wontons, prawn toast and samosas while its main warehousing and distribution centre is based at Wynyard.

Stockton-based Steel River Consultants in ambitious expansion plans

Surging confidence in the strength of the UK’s economic recovery has led to the firm's ambitious expansion plans

Surging confidence in the strength of the UK’s economic recovery has led to a Teesside consultancy’s ambitious expansion plans.

Stockton-based Steel River Consultants (SRC) is opening a satellite office in the Midlands to help manage a growing list of blue chip clients.

It’s the first of a series of expansions at “strategic locations within the UK” over the next three years, bosses say.

The consultancy, based at Preston Farm Industrial Estate, already provides health and safety management services and construction and design management (CDM) co-ordination to some of the biggest companies in the world.

Managing director Graham Tyerman said: “The country is out of recession and the economy is growing strongly.

“Confidence is returning and we need to be ready to meet future growth opportunities. To do that, we need to grow our expertise.”

The new office in Shardlow will be run by Chris Lawson, who has more than three decades of experience in the design management and construction industry.

Chris, 54, started his career as an engineer working in Middlesbrough, not far from SRC’s Teesside headquarters, before moving into architecture.

Among other roles, he has worked as an associate director working in a variety of sectors including the automotive, commercial and renewable industries.

Chris has also published a number of papers on health and safety culture in the offshore industry.

He said: “I couldn’t be joining SRC at a better time. It’s great to be part of such a talented and ambitious team.”

Among the projects he will be working on for SRC are a new quayside development near Aberdeen and a UK based offshore wind farm. He will also be assisting with SRC’s renewables portfolio.

The new satellite operation will service clients in the Midlands and the South.

In the past three years, the company has grown from one to a team of ten and, despite the challenges posed by the recession, it has built an international reputation for excellence within the renewables sector.

Graham added: “Further expansion on Teesside was limited by resources and the need to attract people with specialist skills. Opening a second office in a different part of the country gives us added flexibility to deliver for clients beyond Teesside. We will be looking for further expansion opportunities at strategic locations within the UK.”

The expansion will also enable SRC to extend its service portfolio beyond renewables to include other sectors including the automotive industry, commercial property, ports and harbours and housing.

Chris’ expertise will also enhance SRC’s training and hazard analysis programmes and could be used to help shape new Health and Safety Executive frameworks.

'What happened with the bobble was a total freak': Nobody blaming Dimi Konstantopoulos, says George Friend

George Friend believes Boro more than matched big-spending QPR and hopes fans can see beyond the result and to appreciate the display

No-one in the Boro squad is pointing the finger at Dimi Konstantopoulos insists George Friend.

Keeper Konstantopoulos was the victim of a cruel stoppage-time bobble that swung the game decisively in favour of QPR who ran out 3-1 winners.

But devastated defender Friend - who had fired inches wide just seconds before the fateful bobble - said the squad was united in support for the shot-stopper.

“No one is blaming Dimi for what happened,” said the lively left-back who lashed home Boro’s first half opener.

“He played really well and made some good saves but it can be a very cruel game.

“What happened with the bobble was a total freak and that’s putting it politely. It was horrible.

“It’s the moments like that that make football so cruel for the players, the manager and the fans.

“It really hurts when you have played well and you deserve something and then something like that happens,” he said.

“Hopefully we will get one of them soon that wins us the game and it turns round again.”

View gallery

In pictures: Boro 1 Queens Park Rangers 3

View gallery

The team were quick to rally around the distraught keeper explained Friend.

“Dimi was gutted and we all feel for him,” he said.

“Personally I went straight in and spoke to Dimi, gave him a high five and a pat on the back.

“He will be hurting right now but he’ll get over it.”

Friend believes Boro more than matched big-spending QPR and hopes fans can see beyond the result and to appreciate the display.

“We were the better side and I don’t think even QPR would argue that,” he said.

“I thought the first half was as good as we’ve played all season. To come away with nothing was gutting.

“I was devastated my shot at the end didn’t go in because that would have been 2-1 to us and that would have been a far fairer reflection of the game.

“Hopefully people will look beyond the score-line and read the match reports and realise that we played well.

“We can’t let it get us down, We have to take confidence from how we played and go to Huddersfield tomorrow and make amends.

“We have to go there and give it our all.”

Obama aide: US sanctions hurting Russian economy

White House Deputy National Security Adviser Tony Blinken claims the United States’ sanctions are effectively hurting Russia’s economy.


“What we’re seeing every single day is seeing Russia getting more and more isolated and its economy taking a bigger and bigger hit,” Blinken said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Russia’s stock market has taken a hit, the ruble has approached an all-time low, and people are second-guessing investing in Russia, he added.

President Obama announced additional sanctions last week that target individuals in Putin’s inner circle and Bank Rossiya.

“This is having an impact on Russia. This has to get Putin to think twice,” Blinken said.

On Saturday, however, Russia overtook another Ukrainian military base in Crimea. Russian troops have also remained along its border with Ukraine.

“It’s deeply concerning to see the Russian troop buildup along the border,” Blinken said.

“It’s likely they’re doing it to intimidate the Ukrainians. It’s possible they’re preparing to move in.”

During his trip to Europe this week, Blinken said Obama will meet with other leaders of the G-7 — Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Japan — in an effort to further strengthen the West’s response to Putin and support Ukraine.

Asked if the US is considering providing military aid to Ukraine, Blinken reiterated that the Obama administration is reviewing every request.

For now, he said the White House wants Congress to pass the $1 billion in loan guarantees to Ukraine. The Senate is slated to vote on its package when it returns on Monday. The Hill

GJH/DT

Israeli troops use journalists as human shields

A Palestinian journalist says Israeli troops have used him and his two colleagues as human shields during a demonstration in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, Press TV reports.

Palestinian journalist Moussa al-Shaer said Israeli soldiers held them for hours to protect themselves during clashes following their invasion of the Aida refugee camp on Saturday.

Shaer said Israeli forces also took their press cards and prevented them from covering the clashes that broke out during the pro-Palestinian protest in the city.

The incident is the latest in Israeli aggressions against Palestinian journalists, which have been on the rise in the past months.

Palestinian journalist Naser al-Shuyukhi, who has been frequently attacked by Israeli troops, said the rising violence against journalists is aimed at preventing the coverage of the facts on the ground in the occupied Palestinian territories.

They are well aware that the way to keep a media blackout on the ongoing developments in the occupied territories is preventing journalists from doing their job, he noted.

According to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, the Israeli aggressions against pro-Palestinian journalists have increased since 2013.

“There has been a large number of attacks against Palestinian journalists, who are often the main targets of the Israeli army,” said Fares Sarafundi of the syndicate.

“This is clear against international law and prevents journalists from doing their job and portraying the true story and events,” he added.

The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms has also warned against Israeli attacks against female Palestinian journalists in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

MRS/MAM/AS

Live: Chinese plane spots "white object" in hunt for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370

Chris was appointed editor of the Evening Gazette in January 2012. He is also a former Gazette news editor. Chris has more than 20 years experience as a journalist and has previously worked in senior positions in Newcastle, Exeter and Nottingham.

Schoolboy, 15, tells of terror after being chased down Stockton road by man wielding machete-type knife

Brandon Gibben from Billingham was on his way to school when he he said the man threatened him and chased him down Norton Road

View gallery

Brandon Gibben

View gallery

A teenager said he feared for his life when he was chased down a busy road by a man wielding a machete-type knife.

Brandon Gibben was on his way to school in Stockton when he said the man threatened him and chased him down Norton Road.

The 15-year-old managed to run to his school - North Shore Academy on Talbot Street - and the police were called.

Brandon, from Billingham, said: “I thought he was going to stab me. All I could do was run. I was so scared.

“There were quite a lot of people around.

“I remember one girl shouting ‘leave him alone he’s just a kid’. I was so relieved when I made it to school.”

Brandon had been in the Best Buy store on Norton Road when he was asked to leave the shop.

He said: “I go in there every morning before school - my mum drops me off there and gives me some money.”

He said that as he was leaving the shop, he was verbally abused by a customer, who he said slammed the door in his face and swore at him.

Brandon said: “I asked him what he meant and then I said ‘are you going to hit me?’

“He told me to wait where I was. He went into an alley where his bike was and came back with a machete. It was huge.”

The incident happened on Friday at about 8am.

Brandon’s mother Michelle McGloin, 37, said she is now anxious about her son going to school.

She said: “I am a nervous wreck. He has been really upset about it. It has really affected him. I just keep thinking about what could have happened. It’s a good job he is a good runner.

“The police still haven’t come to get a statement from us, which I’m not happy about.

“They went to the school after it happened and said they would come again later to get a statement, but as yet they haven’t come.

“I am very anxious about him going to school this week. What if this lad comes back? The police need to find him.”

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: “We received a report of a boy being chased by a man with a knife in Norton Road, Stockton.

“We are requesting to view CCTV footage from the shop. We are investigating and inquiries are ongoing.”

Young Stockon friends hailed as heroes after discovering flames engulfing property and raising alarm

The quick-thinking response of the friends meant a couple, who were asleep at the time, could escape from the blaze on Edwards Street

View gallery

Jason Groves and Innocent Muusha

View gallery

Three friends have been hailed heroes after they discovered flames engulfing a property and raised the alarm.

The quick-thinking response of Stockon lad Jason Groves and his two friends Innocent Muusha and Prince Maziboko, meant a couple, who were asleep at the time, could escape from the blaze on Edwards Street, Stockton, which happened in the early hours of Saturday morning.

“We were just walking to the 24-hour shop from my house on Bowesfield Lane, when I noticed flames roaring up the side of the house,” said 22-year-old Jason.

“We were quite far away from the house at this point, so we all started running towards it, and I quickly dialled 999.

“I’ve never seen a fire spread so quickly. I could see flames bellowing out of the air vent so we just started banging on the front door and windows.

“Thinking about it now it is all a blur, it all happened really quickly. After about five minutes the couple came to the window and realised there was a fire. It was a relief to see them get out safely. I dread to think what would have happened if they hadn’t heard us.”

A wheelie bin outside the property had been set on fire, which was spreading up the side of the house.

Door supervisor Jason, who recently completed a health and safety course, asked the couple to stand across the street until the emergency services arrived.

“I was worried in case there was any gas pipes in the wall, so I asked everyone to move away,” Jason said.

Since the incident, hundreds of Facebook members have praised the trio for their bravery.

“I wouldn’t exactly call us heroes, but it’s nice to be recognised for doing something to help others,” Jason added. “I think we all just acted on instinct to be honest, and we did what I hope anyone else would do in that situation.”

Two fire engines from Stockton fire station and one from Thornaby attended the scene and the fire was out within 15 minutes.

Morning news headlines for March 24, 2014

Everything you need to stay up to date around the globe

CHINESE JET SEARCH CREW SPOT OBJECT

A Chinese plane crew spotted a white, square-shaped object in an area identified by satellite imagery as containing possible debris from the missing Malaysian airliner.

The development came as the United States prepared to m

ove a specialised device that can locate black boxes into the region.

The crew aboard an IL-76 plane sighted the object in the southern Indian Ocean search area today.

FRESH UKRAINE INCURSION FEARS

Fears are growing of a fresh Russian incursion into Ukraine as world leaders prepare to discuss the crisis at a summit.

With G7 leaders due to meet in The Hague today, Nato’s supreme commander in Europe warned that the force on the border was “very, very sizeable and very, very ready”.

US General Philip Breedlove raised the prospect that the Kremlim could even seek to take control of a Russian-speaking section of nearby Moldova.

PENSIONS REFORM ’TO HELP 400,000’

Up to 400,000 people will benefit immediately from the Coalition’s radical pensions shake-up, David Cameron has said.

The Prime Minister, who will attempt to capitalise on the positive reception for the changes today by meeting Saga members in Brighton, said they represented core Tory values.

Meanwhile, London Mayor Boris Johnson has hailed the policy as “Thatcherite” - but risked fuelling concerns about a housing market boom by saying “huge numbers” of people would now sink their retirement savings into property.

UK DEFENCE ’NEEDS NEW DIRECTION’

UK defence is at a crossroads and decisions must be taken about what Britain’s forces can and should do around the world, the shadow defence secretary will warn today.

Vernon Coaker will urge a more practical focus at the forthcoming Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) rather than allowing the Treasury to run a rule over all the measures.

Withdrawal from Afghanistan and Germany opens the possibility of far-reaching debate, the Labour spokesman said.

STRESS ’CAN MAKE WOMEN INFERTILE’

Too much stress can lead to infertility in women, a study has shown for the first time.

High levels of pre-conception stress more than double the chances of a woman failing to get pregnant after 12 months of trying, scientists found.

A year of not conceiving despite regular unprotected intercourse is the clinical definition of infertility.

£40,000 PLEDGED OVER TRAGIC CYCLIST

Donations are still pouring in for a father-of-three who was killed in a car accident during a 24-hour charity cycle ride.

More than £40,000 has so far been pledged in memory of Christian Smith, from Boughton Aulph in Kent, who died following the crash at about 4am on Saturday.

The fundraiser was attempting to circumnavigate the counties of Kent and Sussex in aid of the mental health charity Mind when he was in collision with a blue Peugeot 206 car on the A2990, near Chestfield, Kent.

NZ PLANE CRASH KILLS BRITISH MAN

A British man who was due to take a pilot’s test in New Zealand has died during a training flight in the country.

Christopher Howell, 46, died along with his local instructor, Christopher Rawlings, when they crashed into a riverbed near the North Island town of Hastings yesterday.

The 46-year-old was already a qualified pilot in the UK but planned to validate his licence in New Zealand by taking a test this week.

BANNERS TO LINE CROW FUNERAL ROUTE

Trade unionists from across the country will attend the funeral of rail union leader Bob Crow today.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said Mr Crow’s family have asked for the funeral service at the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium to be private.

But trade unionists, friends and colleagues of Mr Crow, will be invited to line the route of the funeral procession.

Erdogan defends Turkey’s ban on Twitter

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has defended his government’s decision to ban Twitter, saying he was “obliged” to take whatever measure to protect national security.

Erdogan made the remarks at a campaign rally on Sunday ahead of the key local elections on March 30.

“I cannot understand how sensible people still defend Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. They run all kinds of lies. I am obliged to take measures in the face of any attack threatening my country’s security, even if the world stands up against us,” the Turkish Premier said.

Erdogan also said that the ban was in place as the network disobeyed Turkey’s laws.

On March 20, Twitter was blocked in Turkey after Erdogan warned to “rip out the roots” of the website over “illegally acquired” or “fake and fabricated” records of wiretapping, which were circulated online.

The leaked phone conversations allegedly revealed Erdogan asking his son Bilal to turn millions of euros in cash stashed at several houses into “zero”.

Bilal at one point can be heard saying, “There is 30 million euros ($41 million) more.”

The phone conversations, whose authenticity has not been verified, were said to date back to December 17, 2013.

Erdogan has also threatened to ban other popular websites such as YouTube and Facebook in an attempt to fight the graft scandal that has gripped his government.

President Abdullah Gul has voiced his opposition to the ban, saying on his Twitter account that a “complete ban on social media platforms cannot be approved.”

The country’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), also said that it will file a lawsuit against the government’s decision.

SAB/HRB

Berwick Hills arson: House damaged and car torched as man seen 'shouting and throwing petrol around'

Police called following reports of a male causing a disturbance on Ampleforth Road, where a man was seen pouring fuel over a parked car and setting it alight

A house was damaged and a car was torched in a suspected arson attack in Middlesbrough.

The blaze on Ampleforth Road, in Berwick Hills, was discovered at around 6.45am on Saturday, after police were called to reports of a male causing a disturbance on the street.

An eyewitness to the incident said he was woken by a man “shouting and throwing petrol around” before pouring the fuel over a parked car and setting it alight.

He then witnessed the man getting into a blue van and speeding off down the street.

Fire crews from Marine fire sation, in Middlesbrough, attended the scene and said the blue Fiat Stilo car was well alight on arrival.

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “Police were called to a report of damage to a house on Ampleforth Road in Middlesbrough at around 6.45am on Saturday, March 22.

“Police are also investigating a fire to a car, which was outside the address at the time, and believe both incidents are connected.”

Police later recovered the van in which the male drove off, and further inquiries are being made to locate the suspect. No injuries were sustained during the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on the non-emergency number 101.

Aitor Karanka says Boro have to move on from QPR defeat

Karanka said: 'It was another game we should have won. It's difficult to take but we need to forget as soon as possible'

Boro's downbeat players can’t afford to dwell on Saturday’s last gasp defeat to QPR, insists Aitor Karanka.

With Huddersfield awaiting at the John Smith’s Stadium tomorrow night, the Spaniard knows he has to lift the spirit in the squad.

Boro looked to have earned a point against Rangers at the weekend before Bobby Zamora took advantage of Dimi Konstantopoulos’s stoppage time mistake to put the visitors ahead. Then Ravel Morrison made it 3-1.

View gallery

In pictures: Boro 1 Queens Park Rangers 3

View gallery

The shattering defeat means Karanka’s men have won only one of their last 11 league fixtures.

“It was another game we should have won,” said the Boro boss. “It’s difficult to take but we need to forget as soon as possible.”

Karanka refused to blame Konstantopoulos for Boro’s defeat.

“We are a team and we win together and we lose together,” he said.

“It was a mistake but I don’t want to say Dimi made a mistake.

“Dimi made a lot of saves in the game and made a lot of saves in the other games he played so I am happy with him.”

Amidst protest, road blockade, Delhi police release two youth detained

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

New Delhi: The two boys, Ammar Yasir,and Aabdul Wajid who were detained by the special sell sleuths at 7 am on Sunday were released late night, amidst angry protest in the capital.

Earlier, hundreds of angry protesters blocked the arterial highway near Shaheen Bagh locality of the national capital all through the day, till late night calling for the immediate release of two Muslim youth detained by the Delhi Police.

Two youth were picked by the Delhi police in the early hours of Sunday morning in connection to an alleged conspiracy to carry out terror attacks during the upcoming general elections. According to the gathered protesters and representatives of the youth’s family, Delhi police detained Ammar Yasir and Muhammad Wajid, both final year engineering students at Jaipur, Rajasthan’s Global Technology Institute from Abul Fazal Enclave in Shaheen Bagh, where they had come on Saturday.

The detention followed the arrest of four alleged Indian Mujahideen operatives from Rajasthan, including a Pakistani national, who were purportedly planning to carry out terror attacks during the upcoming general elections. One of them allegedly knew the persons arrested in Jaipur, as they were students in same college.

The men were identified as Waqas alias Zia-ur-Rehman of Pakistan, Waqar Azhar, Mohammad Mahroof and Saquib Ansari, Delhi Police Special Commissioner S.N. Srivastava said here.

According to police, Waqas was arrested at the Ajmer railway station while coming from Mumbai. He disclosed the hideout of his other associates.

The Delhi Police Special Cell and Rajasthan Police’s Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested the three men named by Waqas from Jaipur and Jodhpur Saturday.

According to police, one of the alleged operatives escaped. TCN sources claimed that the parents and relatives of this boy has have been ‘illegally’ detained by police, although this could not be confirmed.

According to our sources, besides the arrest of four persons in Rajasthan and detention of two in Delhi, two more persons have been detained in Rajasthan itself, although police has not spoken about them.

Both youths were in the national capital, as one of them was apparently preparing to leave for Saudi Arabia for his pilgrimage (Umrah). Angry protesters claimed that the students had no connection to any anti-national outfits, and are clearly angry against the police action.

Among the protesters gathered was Aam Admi Party’s Amanathullah, who speaking to TCN said that the youth were detained based on an FIR filed in 2011. Mr. Amanathullah alleged that there is no GD entry against the detention filed by the police, and he further argued that, if the detention is based on a 2011 FIR, then how was the youth able to obtain the passport, and a visa to Saudi Arabia, and how come the police did not detain them in 2011.

He said that the allegation against them, about their links to terror outfits and the alleged conspiracy to assassinate the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, is a “farce,” and is an attempt by the intelligence agencies of the country to recreate the tainted image of Modi, who is also BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate in the forthcoming elections. To prove his point Mr. Amanathullah said that the 2011 FIR which is 56/11, does not mentions the conspiracy to assassinate Narendra Modi, then how come the media is not questioning the police in this regard.

Very few representatives of the mainstream media was present, besides Urdu press and some Muslim news portals and the angry residents were evidently enraged by this insensitivity shown towards this case by the media. One of the youth, even hauled one of our reporters who was on field reporting the story.

Delhi police had earlier promised family members of the youth, and their representatives that the detained students will be released in two after questioning, however that promise has not been kept, they alleged.

For More:

http://ift.tt/NIZ2pn

Live: Breaking news, traffic and travel across Teesside

The Evening Gazette's live breaking news blog brings you regular updates, pictures, video, tweets and comments covering the latest Teesside and North Yorkshire traffic, travel, weather, crime and council news for today, Monday 24 March, 2014.

You can contribute to the live blog by posting your comment below, and you can also tweet us @EveningGazette to share breaking news stories, pictures and opinions.

Our Teesside breaking news live blog begins at 07:00am every weekday and is updated throughout the day and into the evening.