Syrian regime attacks Homs with lethal gas several times during this week

Syrian activists have accused the regime of dropping lethal explosive barrels on the most condensed residential areas in the northern countryside of Hama.

More than 100 cases were reported of people suffering from lethal chlorine gas, which erupted from an explosive barrel dropped by Al-Assad’s regime aeroplanes.

The director of the Health Care Department in the Governorate of Hama, Hassam al-Araj, told Al-Jazeera.net that Hama was targeted by such attacks six times during the last week.

Witnesses in the devastated area said that the remains of the lethal explosive barrels showed that they were made in Egypt. That made them very angry with the Egyptian coup regime.

Meanwhile, the regime forces have been increasing their attacks against the besieged city of Homs for several days. This now city tops the list of the most devastated Syrian cities; the largest number of deaths, injuries, rape victims and displaced have come from Homs.

The regime forces have broken the ceasefire and tightened the siege, which deteriorated all sides of life in the city. The continuous attacks of the regime have caused massive number of casualties and destruction.

Media reports said that more than 15 people were killed when a car exploded in front of a mosque on Friday resulting in a large number of wounded. The witnesses said that the car exploded while worshippers were leaving the mosque.

Meanwhile, spokeswoman of the US Department of State Jen Psaki said on Friday that her country was “deeply concerned” by the “brutal” attacks of the Syrian regime against civilians.

“The regime’s bombardment and encirclement of the city is a despicable example of its starve-and-surrender battlefield approach,” she said

Egypt interim president rejects calls to pardon activists

Egypt’s interim President Adly Mahmoud Mansour has ruled out clemency for three prominent anti-regime activists serving jail terms.

Local media said Mansour turned down calls for pardon by National Council for Human Rights, saying he did not want to interfere in the judiciary’s affairs.

In December 2013, a court sentenced Ahmed Maher, Mohamed Adel and Ahmed Douma to three years in prison on charges of organizing illegal protests and alleged attacks on police officers.

Earlier this month, an appeals court upheld the jail term for the trio, drawing local and international condemnation.

The three are iconic figures of Egypt’s popular revolution in 2011 that led to the ouster of longtime dictator, Hosni Mubarak.

Post-revolution Egypt plunged into relentless violence in July 2013, after the army removed the country’s first democratically-elected president, Mohamed Morsi, after one year in office.

The military immediately declared Mansour, who was then the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court, as interim president.

Egypt’s army-backed interim government soon launched a brutal crackdown on protesters, including supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been leading calls for the reinstatement of Morsi.

Several international rights groups and the UN Human Rights Council have expressed concern over the Egyptian security forces’ heavy-handed crackdown and the killing of peaceful anti-government protesters.

According to Amnesty International, nearly 1,400 people have been killed in the political violence since last July, “most of them due to excessive force used by security forces.”

MRS/AB/SS

Israel must end Gaza blockade: UNRWA

A UN official has renewed calls on Israel to lift its seven-year blockade on the Gaza Strip, saying the regime must stop the “collective punishment” of the Palestinians residing in the enclave.

In his first trip to Gaza on Thursday, the new Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees in the Near East Pierre Krahenbuhl said the Israeli blockade on the Palestinian land “amounts to an illegal collective punishment.”

“The first thing, of course, you see of Gaza is the fence around it; a reminder of the blockade which…has lasted as long as some of the most infamous sieges of contemporary history,” added the UNRWA official.

Krahenbuhl further voiced alarm over the deteriorating living conditions in Gaza, saying the UN agency currently provides humanitarian aid to some 800,000 refugees in the Israeli-besieged sliver.

In similar comments on March 25, former UNRWA commissioner-general for Palestinian refugees Filippo Grandi urged Israel to end the crippling blockade of the Palestinian territory, saying Gazans are grappling with poverty due to the obstruction of exports and imports.

Tel Aviv imposed an all-out land, aerial, and naval blockade on Gaza in June 2007, a situation that has caused a decline in the standards of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting poverty.

The siege has turned the densely-populated coastal sliver, home to some 1.7 million Palestinians, into the largest open-air prison in the world.

The Israeli military frequently targets Palestinians along the border with Gaza, which has remained literally cut off from the outside world because of the crippling Israeli blockade.

MKA/HMV

Egypt police clash with protesters in Cairo, Suez

Egyptian riot police backed by military troops have attacked massive rallies of anti-government protesters in the capital Cairo and the city of Suez.

Police backed by army units attacked al-Azhar University students protesting in Cairo’s Nasr City on Friday.

Security forces fired tear gas and birdshot to disperse anti-regime demonstrators.

Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood in the city of Suez also came under a similar crackdown.

Reports say several people were arrested and injured in both cities.

Protests against the army and the military-backed authorities usually break out every week after Friday prayers.

Opponents of the former defense minister, Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, who is running for president, are right now holding rallies in many other Egyptian cities including Alexandria, Giza and Sharqiyah.

The latest developments come after Sisi officially submitted his bid to run for president.

Sisi led the overthrow of former President Mohamed Morsi, suspended the constitution and dissolved the parliament in July last year. He is also accused of leading a severe crackdown against the supporters of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood.

Egyptian military-installed interim officials have mounted a heavy-handed crackdown on Morsi supporters and members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Figures show Egypt’s military-backed government has jailed nearly 16,000 people over the past few months.

Despite Cairo’s crackdown, the Brotherhood says the group remains committed to peaceful resistance against the interim government.

Several international bodies and the United Nations Human Rights Council have expressed concern over the Egyptian security forces’ crackdown and the killing of peaceful anti-government protesters.

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

JR/MHB/MAM

Boro 1 Millwall 2: Match report from the Riverside Stadium

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Boro's faint play-off hopes were extinguished with a disappointing display and a deserved 2-1 defeat to basement battlers Millwall.

Some poor defending twice allowed Millwall to score in the first half as Lions' striker Stefan Meierhofer was allowed free-headers at the far post.

Boro perked up after the break and pulled one back with an Emmanuel Ledesma free-kick but it was too little, too late.

Aitor Karanka opted to stick with the 352 shape from last week's 1-0 win away at Burnley with the only change at the back, Kenneth Ormeruo returning from a ban to slot in for suspended Daniel Ayala.

Millwall included former Boro man Nicky Bailey in midfield while ex-striker Scott McDonald was on the bench.

Boro played some neat, patient passing football in the opening spell as they tried to pick their way through the Millwall defence without finding a way through.

But Boro almost broke the deadline in the sixth minute as a poor touch by Bailey was seized on by Grant Leadbitter, who flicked inside to Danny Graham who nodded it back then burst towards the box and when Leadbitter slotted it into his feet the striker rifled in a low shot that sent keeper Forde full length to tip onto the far post and away.

But Millwall respond with a decent chance on 10 minutes as they won a corner on the left and when Martin curled it to the far post skipper Dunne arrived to put a free header just wide.

Then a minute later when another corner was scrambled away Martin scooped it back in towards lofty Maierhofer beyond the far post but he headed into the side netting.

And after another Martin ball into the Boro box was scrambled away Malone drilled in a 25 yard shot that was bravely headed clear by Chalobah.

And the visitors pressure told on 16 minutes as lively Martin curled in another cross from the left for STEFAN MAIERHOFER to power home a close range header.

A minute later a good Bailey ball sent Martin racing clear to send a 20 yard shot screaming over.

Boro went close on 19 minutes when a quick touch by Graham sent Jacob Butterfield into the box but his shot was blocked by keeper Forde then hooked away then Omeruo slammed the rebound low through a crowd and a foot wide of the far post.

Then on 23 minutes a lovely move saw Tomlin and Butterfield combine to carve down the right. Butterfield got to the byline inside the box then chipped back for Graham to direct a glancing downward header towards the near post but Forde dived to save.

Millwall threatened on 27 minutes as Malone over-lapped onto a Martin touch to cross to the far post where Maierhofer had arrived but alert Ledesma nipped in to thump it clear.

And Millwall got a second on 30 minutes with a carbon copy goal, Martin wriggling down the left to cross to the far post where unmarked STEFAN MEIERHOFER stooped to put a downward header inside the post.

Millwall could have had a third on 35 minutes as Malone crossed into the box for Woolford but as he turned to shoot Ledesma arrived to block and it deflected behind for a corner which was cleared.

Boro had a half-chance on 37 minutes as Tomlin brought down a Leadbitter flick on 30 yards out then turned and fired a hopeful low effort well wide of the far post.

And a minute later Tomlin skipped through two tackles to get within shooting distance but as he unleashed he was rattled by a Bailey challenge and the ball squirted weakly towards the keeper.

On 39 minutes Dean Whitehead was booked for a foul on Woolford.

Boro almost pulled one back on 42 minutes as Tomlin touche don to send Graham into the box then darted forward onto the return but had to stretch into his 12 yard shot and it screwed wide.

And just before the break Boro threatened again as Tomlin weaved from left to right across the edge of the box then pushed it wide for Butterfield to send a waist-high shot fizzing just wide.

HALF-TIME: BORO 0 MILLWALL 2

Boro attacked from the off as Ledesma tricked his way into the box from the left then squared for Tomlin to lay it back for Butterfield who touched inside for Leadbitter whose low shot got lost in a forest of legs before being hacked clear.

Then Tomlin won a free-kick wide on the left and Leadbitter's ball into the crowd almost dropped for Chalobah but a defender stretched to just poke it away.

Then on 53 minutes Ledesma curled in a cross from wide on the left that looked like it may dip in at the far post but it landed on the roof of the net.

And soon after Tomlin shrugged off his marker to find space on the edge of the box but his low shot was straight at the keeper.

On 58 minutes Tomlin was booked for a foul on keeper Forde.

On 61 minutes Millwall put on Morison for Williams.

Boro threatened on 64 minutes as Tomlin turned well onto a touch by Williams then flicked just beyond the far post from the edge of the box.

Boro won a free-kick 25 yards out to the left of the box on 69 minutes but Ledesma blasted it straight into the wall.

On 71 minutes they won a free-kick on the other side after Malone was booked for pulling back Adomah but Ledesma's curling ball was nodded behind for a corner.

On 72 minutes Millwall put on Abdou for Meierhofer and Boro put on Curtis Main for Leadbitter.

Millwall had a golden chance to seal it with a third on 72 minutes as Dunne knocked a long ball forward out of defence to send Morison storming forward with defenders in pursuit buthis low shot from 20 yards was easily saved by Konstantopoulos.

And they went closer still a minute later as Dunne sent Morison surging down the right and when he cut it back into the box Woolford stabbed it goalwards but Konstantopoulos went full length to push it away at the far post.

Boro won a free kick in the D on 79 minutes after Beevers bundled home Graham and the keeper ws booked for protesting.

And from the kick Boro clawed a goal back as EMMANUEL LEDESMA chipped over the wall and dipped it under the bar.

On 84 minutes Millwall put on McDonald for Malone and Boro put on Friend for Whitehead.

Millwall almost had a third in stoppage time as McDonald drilled in a low 20 yard shot that Konstantopoulos blocked and Martin – who had darted behind the defence - poked home the rebound but luckily the offside flag was up.

BORO (352): Konstantopoulos, Omeruo,Chalobah, Woodgate, Whitehead (Friend 84), Leadbitter (Main 72), Adomah, Butterfield (L Williams 58), Ledesma, Tomlin, Graham, Subs: Steele, Varga, Hines, Morris

MILLWALL (433): Forde; Edwards, Dunne, Beavers, Malone (McDonald 84); Bailey, Williams (Morison 61), Martin; Garvan, Woolford Maierhofer (Abdou 72).. Subs: Bywater, Robinson, Easter, Jackson

Ref: Darren Bond (Lancashire)

Att: 15,342 (335)

30 killed in S Sudan attack on UN base

At least 30 people have been killed and 70 others wounded when armed assailants stormed a United Nations Mission (UNMISS) base in Jonglei state capital of Bor.

The armed attack took place Thursday when the armed youth approached the UN compound where thousands of people displaced by the current violence in the African country are sheltered and forced their way into mission.

Health workers were cited in local press reports as saying that the armed youth then opened fire and indiscriminately shot at people in the UN base, before being confronted by an Indian contingent of UN peacekeepers stationed at the compound.

Women and children are reported to be among the casualties.

Nearly 5,000 civilians are sheltering inside the UNMISS compound in Bor, one of the most bitterly contested regions in the four-month-long conflict splitting the country.

UNMISS said its forces returned fire – first firing warning shots and then taking part in a ferocious gun battle – before the assailants retreated.

The gunmen had initially approached the camp under the guise of peaceful demonstrators intending to present a petition to the UN, before opening fire and breaching the compound.

The sheltered civilians at the compound had fled into the base weeks ago amid brutal ethnic massacres in the world’s newest nation.

MFB/NN/HMV

UK plans to sell people’s personal information

The British government plans to sell the personal financial information of millions of its taxpayers to private firms in exchange for money.

The plan allows HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), a non-ministerial department of the UK government, to release anonymized tax data to third parties, including companies, researchers and public bodies.

Official documents show that HMRC is examining charging options for companies to access the data.

The controversial move has already raised questions among privacy campaigners and lawmakers over civil liberties and confidentiality.

A senior Conservative MP has branded the move as “dangerous” and “borderline insane”.

David Davis said the officials who drew up the plan, clearly had no idea of the risks attached to it.

Meanwhile, Ross Anderson, a professor of security engineering at Cambridge University, warned about the consequences of the measure.

“This is going to be a big battleground,” Anderson said, adding, “If they were to make HMRC information more available, there’s an awful lot of people who would like to get their hands on it. Anonymization is something about which they lied to us over medical data… If the same thing is about to be done by HMRC, there should be a much greater public debate about this.”

“We are concerned that even the strictest safeguards and deterrents may not prevent misuse of the data, or identification of the underlying taxpayer,” he stated.

MSM/MHB/MAM

Holding Palestinians in Israel jails, war crime

The Palestinian Authority (PA) says the ratification of its applications to join the Geneva Conventions makes the Israeli regime liable for “war crimes” over keeping Palestinian inmates behind bars.

According to a report by Israel’s Jerusalem Post, Wasel Abu Yusef, a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee, called for “pressure” on Tel Aviv over its failure to release Palestinian prisoners after the Palestinian Authority signed the four Geneva Conventions earlier this month.

The Palestinian official further said following the ratifications, there is a “legal, humanitarian and moral duty to exert real pressure to stop aggression against the prisoners and to stop Israel from committing more war crimes.”

“According to international law, these prisoners are fighting for the freedom of their people,” added Abu Yusef.

The Israeli-PA talks reached a new deadlock when the Tel Aviv regime refused to free the last tranche of 104 Palestinian prisoners in late March according to a deal for the resumption of US-sponsored negotiations.

The move prompted acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas to respond by signing letters of accession to 15 international conventions on April 1. Thirteen of the letters were deposited at the UN, one in Geneva and one in the Netherlands.

On April 11, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon accepted the PA’s request to join 13 international conventions.

In a report released on April 16, the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees and Ex-detainees Affairs said 5,000 Palestinian inmates remain in Israeli prisons.

On April 17, more than 3,000 Palestinians marked the Prisoners Day, rallying in streets of the occupied West Bank and the besieged Gaza Strip to express solidarity with Palestinian inmates held in Israeli jails.

MKA/HMV

Table tennis: Five-star Josh sweeps the board in dominant style

Josh Harland became the youngest player for many years to dominate the Middlesbrough League Championships

By Alan Ransome

Teenager Josh Harland became the youngest player for many years to dominate the Middlesbrough League Championships, which took place at the Ormesby Club.

The 14-year-old was in scintillating form, winning a total of five titles.

And after storming to both the senior and junior titles, Harland, who plays for Ormesby and lives in Redcar, is being tipped as a top player for the future.

The main event, the Open Singles, was won after Harland defeated the holder Martin Rutter, 3-1 in the semi-final and another Ormesby player, Dave Ashwell, in straight games in the final.

Harland scored his second victory over Rutter in the Division One Singles. This time the match went to five sets.

Rutter led 2-1 after winning the third 11-9. The teenager took command in the final two games to win 11-8 and 11-7.

He then teamed up with Rutter to win the doubles, winning a four set final against Peter Wilkinson and Michael Young.

His other two victories came in the Junior (Under-18) Singles, beating Calum White in straight games in the final, and the Cadet (Under-15) Singles, defeating Michael Jones in three straight games.

A hard-fought Veteran Singles (Over-40) event was won by Peter Wilkinson.

He defeated Michael Young and David Ashewell in the final group.

Young came into his own in the Handicap Singles, notching a narrow 21-19 victory over Ryan Nassau in the third and deciding game.

Bruce Lowther, of Travel Hub, beat Michael Jones in three straight games in the final to become the Division Two winner.

There was excitement in the Under-12s as Kieran Wardell beat Ormesby team mate James Dale.

Wardell won the first two games, but Dale bounced back to win the following two, ensuring a tense deciding game, which Wardell won 15-13.

The Wheelchair Singles was won by Brian Hollaway who beat Noel Thomas in the final, while the Hardbat Singles competition, played with bats that were popular in decades past, was won by Young who had a very narrow victory over Rutter by 31-30.

RESULTS

Open Singles: Josh Harland (Ormesby) beat Dave Ashwell (Ormesby) 12-10, 11-5, 11-8

Cadet Singles: Josh Harland (Ormesby) beat Michael Jones (Ormesby) 11-8, 11-7, 11-6

Veteran Singles: Peter Wilkinson (Ormesby) beat Dave Ashwell (Ormesby) 10-12, 11-4, 11-8, 13-11

Junior Singles: Josh Harland (Ormesby) beat Calum White (Ormesby) 11-1, 11-4, 13-11

Under-12s: Kieran Wardell (Ormesby) beat James Dale (Ormesby), 11-9, 11-6, 6-11, 9-11, 15-13

Handicap Singles: Michael Young (Ormesby) beat Ryan Nassau (Ormesby) 21-17, 20-21, 21-19

Wheelchair Singles: Brian Hollaway (Ormesby) beat Noel Thomas (Ormesby) 11-6, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9

Division One Singles: Josh Harland (Ormesby) beat Martin Rutter (Ormesby) 10-12, 11-1, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7

Division Two Singles: Bruce Lowther (Travel Hub) beat Michael Jones (Ormesby) 11-8, 11-3, 11-9

Open Doubles: Martin Rutter and Josh Harland (both of Ormesby) beat Peter Wilkinson and Michael Young (both of Ormesby) 11-5, 12-10, 4-11, 11-7

Hardbat: Michael Young (Ormesby) beat Martin Rutter (Ormesby) 31-30

Sea scene: Flatfish make up weights on seas

Flatfish are making up weights for seas anglers, which is to be expected at this time of year, and there are some good sized individual fish

Flatfish are making up weights for seas anglers, which is to be expected at this time of year.

And there are some good sized individual fish.

Terry Dalton was among those to demonstrate that as he caught a flounder of 1lb 1.5oz on his way to winning the St Mary’s rover.

He caught six flounder from up river at Whitby to total 4lb 9.5oz, to win with plenty to spare.

Stan Preston fished Hartlepool and was rewarded with a flounder and three sand dabs for 1lb 6oz and second place.

Dale Miller, from the river at Whitby, came third with two flounder for 15.5oz.

The match was fished by 20 with seven weighing in a total of 12 flounder, five sand dabs and two rockling.

The match was made very difficult due to strong swirling winds, with most anglers having to move venues to get out of the wind which was blowing rod rests over.

Tomorrow’s match is also a full rover fished from Hartlepool to Whitby between 5 and 9pm.

Booking in starts at 3.45pm at the Boys’ Club.

Trout topics: Lockwood Beck is proving a smash hit with the youngsters

Young anglers are making the most of the trout fishing at the region’s reservoirs

Lockwood Beck is attracting more young anglers, and is forming a junior section.

And 16-year-old Will Freeman has set the standard with a fine 10lb 8oz rainbow from the overflow end of the dam on an Orange Zonker.

Thomas Ayton, 14, who regularly catches good numbers of Lockwood trout, had another lively session, catching 13 rainbows to 5lb on a size 14 Black Spider.

Among senior anglers to shine have been Mike Ayton, who caught 27 rainbows to 4lb from the top of the moor side and top of the wood side.

He caught 11 of his fish on Foam Beetles and Shuttlecocks, and the rest on a small Cat’s Whisker fished under an indicator. John McGarrell caught 13 to 6lb in a morning session.

He caught on small Cat’s Whisker, Olive Lure and Diawl Bach from the jetty, high bank and moor side.

Five of his fish were between 4lb and 6lb.

The bright weather has made it tough going at times, though Les Wheatley caught ten rainbows to 3lb from the high bank on small black wets.

Lockwood held a junior introduction day this week, and keen youngsters had a good time. Junior club membership costs £20 a season, and includes free tuition, half price day tickets and discounts on tackle.

Contact fishery manager Gordon Byers on 01287 660501 or 07973779527.

A couple of places remain on the adult novice fly-fishing course on Monday week, April 28.

MORE youngsters have enjoyed lively sport at SCALING DAM and the Easter weekend is the ideal time to get on the banks.

Geoff Smith and Mac Porter from Darlington brought their families along, and both groups had a good day, fishing with worm and PowerBait from the west end of the dam. They caught eight fish limits.

Alistair Dowd and son Jonathan from Guisborough enjoyed their best ever day’s fishing.

They also opted for the west end of the dam with maggot and Chartreuse PowerBait.

Jonathan led the way catching twice as many fish as his dad. The youngster caught 12 fish from two permits.

The best of the week from the reservoir, an over-wintered rainbow weighing 3lb 8oz was caught by Amy Hurst from Brotton.

Over the week 83 anglers caught 291 trout.

Top baits were: Worm and PowerBait cocktail, maggot, White and Orange Gulp Eggs, Sunshine Yellow and Orange Glitter Paste.

Fly anglers had some success on Dawson’s Olive, Kate McLaren, Bibio, and Orange Fritz.

MIDDLESBROUGH anglers have fared well at SHARPLEY SPRINGS.

Ian Smith caught three big doubles in a fine session.

He finished with rainbows of 18lb, and two of 14lb, on a Spider Sedge and Bibio.

Paul Runec, also from Middlesbrough, caught a 16lb 4oz rainbow on an Olive Worm.

NORTHUMBRIAN WATER RETURNS:

GRASSHOLME: 216 anglers caught 816 trout to 4lb. Bait: Yellow and Pink PowerBait Eggs with worm and Magic Dust mixed with Red Krill ground bait liquid attractant in a swimfeeder, Mepps spinners. Patterns: Dawson’s Olive, Black Fritz, Cat’s Whisker, Kate McLaren. 800 stocked.

HURY: 38 anglers caught 204 trout to 4lb. Patterns: Dawson’s Olive, Kate McLaren, Cat’s Whiskers, Black Fritz, Hot Tailed Dawson’s, and Hares Ear Nymph. 200 stocked.

DERWENT: 258 anglers caught 1090 trout to 8lb 8oz. Bait: Chartreuse PowerBait Eggs and Magic Dust. Patterns: Cat’s Whisker, Black Fritz, Orange Fritz, Dawson’s Olive. 1000 stocked.

FONTBURN: 199 anglers caught 613 trout to 8lb 9oz. Bait: Ledgered Orange or Chartreuse PowerBait Eggs. Patterns: Dawson’s Olive, Cat’s Whisker, Black Fritz. 450 stocked.

KIELDER: 86 anglers caught 302 trout to 3lb 2oz. Bait: worm, orange PowerBait. Patterns: Clan Chief, Orange Blob. 700 stocked.

River Review: Jim's jolly as big brown earns him the trophy at Croft

Trout to 1lb 8oz were caught in the last of Thornaby AC’s three matches held during the coarse fishing close season

Trout to 1lb 8oz were caught in the last of Thornaby AC’s three matches held during the coarse fishing close season.

Darlington’s Jim Johnson’s big brown trout earned him the Alex Butler Memorial Trophy in the match fished by 15 anglers on the Tees from Croft to Hurworth.

Worm and fly were the only baits allowed, and the winner opted for stickfloat and worm from peg three just below the Croft Bridge pool run-off.

From his swim along the island at peg 31, Darlington’s young Michael Grainger managed to locate three smaller trout, using the same method, for a total weight of 1lb 7oz, and losing a fourth trout at the net cost him the match.

Darlington’s popular veteran Kenny Close (pictured), admired by everyone for his many victories in an illustrious career spanning over half a century, landed a single trout of 1lb 6oz from peg eight, just above the railway bridge, to complete the frame.

WHILE regular anglers with the Teesside based clubs are law abiding, buy rod licences and stick to the rules, the Environment Agency is stepping up efforts to catch anyone fishing unlawfully.

Two County Durham poachers have this week been banned, had equipment forfeited, and had to pay over £250 in costs.

The Environment Agency is having a close season clampdown, with a further 11 people in the last month caught breaking the law.

The EA’s 24-hour incident hotline number is 0800 807060. Or anyone seeing illegal fishing can contact crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

ON the stillwaters carp have fed well at times, though with bright weather some matchweights have been a little lower than in the previous week.

At the Oaks Rob Minikin of Sonubaits, won the Saturday match with 96lb 10oz, the top match weight of the week.

But at Woodlands weights topped the 150lb mark, Danny Scott of Garbolino Elton winning on Saturday with 164lb of carp on pellet from Partridge peg 15.

Algeria’s Bouteflika wins landslide victory

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has won a fourth term in office with more than 81 percent of the vote.

On Friday, Interior Minister Tayeb Belaiz announced the result and said that Bouteflika’s main rival Ali Benflis received just over 12 percent of the ballot.

“The people have chosen freely, in a climate that was transparent and neutral,” media outlets quoted Belaiz as saying.

Official figures for turnout were about 52 percent, down from 75 percent for Bouteflika’s last win in 2009.

Benflis vowed to contest the results and criticized the election as marked by “fraud on a massive scale” after polls closed on Thursday.

Thursday’s voting was conducted largely peacefully. However, in two villages east of the capital Algiers, security forces fired tear gas and clashed with youths who tried to disrupt voting, local officials said.

Several ballot boxes were also burned in the area, which is a stronghold of an opposition party boycotting the election and a mostly ethnic Berber-speaking region that has been the scene of sporadic unrest.

Also on Wednesday, police broke up a protest rally by an anti-government movement called “Barakat,” which is demanding peaceful change.

Since suffering from a stroke last year, there have been concerns about Bouteflika’s ability to run the country.

The 77-year-old incumbent president had to vote from a wheelchair due to his poor health.

Since a stroke that put him in a Paris hospital for three months, Bouteflika has appeared only a few times in public, usually when speaking with visiting dignitaries. He did not campaign, though allies say he is well enough to govern.

JR/MHB/MAM

Mastermind of CIA torture program describes it a ‘success’

The mastermind of the US Central Intelligence Agency’s torture program has hit the headlines after seven years to defend the spy agency’s torture techniques.

In an interview with the Guardian published on Friday, James Elmer Mitchell has described the CIA’s “enhanced interrogation” program as a “success”.

Mitchell also said that he is skeptical about a Senate Intelligence Committee report on the controversial program.

The 6,300-page report prepared by the committee provides details of torture techniques, including water-boarding, sleep deprivations for several days, confining the suspects in a box and hitting them against walls, used by the CIA under the administration of George W. Bush.

The report says the “enhanced interrogation” methods, which were devised by Mitchell, were far more brutal than what was previously known.

But Mitchell, who was reported to have personally water-boarded one al-Qaeda suspect, remains unapologetic. “The people on the ground did the best they could with the way they understood the law at the time,” he said. “You can’t ask someone to put their life on the line and think and make a decision without the benefit of hindsight and then eviscerate them in the press 10 years later.”

Mitchell was hired by the CIA back in 2002 to develop the so-called enhanced interrogation techniques.

“I’m skeptical about the Senate report, because I do not believe that every analyst whose jobs and promotions depended upon it, who were professional intelligence experts, all them lied to protect a program? All of them were wrong? All of these [CIA] directors were wrong? All of the people who were using the intel to go get people were wrong? And 10 years later a Senate staffer was able to put it together and finally there’s clarity? I am just highly skeptical that that’s the truth,” Mitchell said about the report, which cost $40 million and took nearly four years to compose.

The report is still secret, but a summary of its 20 conclusions and findings, has been published by McClatchy News.

The Senate panel reviewed more than six million pages of CIA documents and other records on the agency’s controversial program in order to compose the report.

The CIA has not accepted some of the report’s conclusions and has resisted the push from some of the Senate panel’s members, like Senator Mark Udall (D-Colorado), for the release of the report.

In a letter to President Barack Obama on March 4, Udall complained about the CIA’s efforts to block the de-classification of the report and its “unprecedented action against the committee,” referring to the agency’s alleged spying on the Senate panel.

“It is essential that the Committee be able to do its oversight work — consistent with our constitutional principles of separation of powers — without the CIA posing impediments or obstacles as it is today,” he wrote.

GJH/GJ

Craig Hignett: Boro have two united teams - one on the pitch and one off it

Boro assistant head coach Craig Hignett: 'When we win, we win together and when we lose, we take it badly together'

Craig Hignett insists Boro have two united teams - one on the pitch and one off it.

The ex-Hartlepool assistant boss says he has quickly forged a productive partnership with the club’s continental coaches.

Steve Gibson searched exhaustively for a British assistant to work alongside head coach Aitor Karanka before appointing Hignett on March 3.

Ironically the former Boro midfielder had cut his coaching teeth at Boro as an Academy coach at Rockliffe before leaving for Pools with Colin Cooper.

It seems to have been a wise choice because the Englishman has hit it off straight away with Boro’s Spanish boss, Uruguayan goalkeeping coach Leo Percovich, Portuguese fitness specialist Carlos Cachada and Spanish analyst Javier Egido.

“I found that from the very first time I met him I enjoyed Aitor’s company and got on really well with him,” said Hignett.

“But it’s not just Aitor, it’s Carlos, it’s Leo, it’s Javier, they are all very easy to get along with and they have made me feel really welcome.

“We socialise together as well so from my point of view, they’ve made it really easy for me to settle in.

“When we win, we win together and when we lose, we take it badly together.”

Hignett says he’s learning a lot from working with Karanka but insists he has an important input of his own.

“The methods and how they go about things – to me it’s great because I can see different things and learn from it,” he added.

“At the same time, I’ve got a some knowledge about the league and about certain players they might not have so, from the off, we’ve been a real team, a proper team. Not just me and Aitor, all of us, we are a real team.”

Hignett arrived at Boro with most of the season gone so he can be forgiven for looking forward to this summer, when he will be intimately involved in the preparation for the 2014/15 campaign.

However, he thinks it would be wrong to look too far ahead.

“We’ve got some big games between now and the end of the season so I’ll leave those thoughts until the summer,” he said. “We want to finish this year strongly as possible.

“I know it’s a cliché but we will be taking it game by game. At the end of that we will see where we are.”

EU calls on Israel to reverse expansionist plans

The European Union has called on the Israeli regime to reverse expansionist plans in the occupied West Bank.

On Friday, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton expressed “great concern” over Tel Aviv’s plans to grab more land near the Gush Etzion settlement, south of Bethlehem, and plans to build new illegal settlements in the southern city of al-Khalil (Hebron).

“The EU calls on the Israeli authorities to reverse these decisions,” Ashton said, adding that such events are “not conducive to the climate of trust and cooperation needed for the current peace negotiations to succeed.”

She also called for “utmost restraint and responsibility in order not to jeopardize the current negotiation process.”

On March 20, acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas said the US-mediated talks had reached an “impasse” because of Tel Aviv’s “settlement activity”.

The last round of Israeli-Palestinian talks broke down in 2010 after the Tel Aviv regime refused to halt its settlement construction.

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 United Nations 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

New Middlesbrough 20mph zones reduce road casualties and traffic speeds

Review revealed areas covered by the £140,000 scheme had a third of the number of accidents compared with others in the town

New 20mph zones across Middlesbrough have reduced road casualties and traffic speeds.

A review revealed areas covered by the £140,000 scheme had a third of the number of accidents compared with others in the town.

Alan Crawford, scrutiny support officer, said in a report to Middlesbrough Council overview and scrutiny board: “Although road casualty rates have been continuously reduced across the whole of Teesside for the last 10 years, there are still over 300 casualties per year in Middlesbrough.

“Evidence to date indicates that the introduction of a 20mph speed limit across residential areas of Middlesbrough has been of benefit and will contribute to reducing the figure further.”

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Middlesbrough 20mph zones

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He said the severity of injuries as a result of road accidents could also be reduced when traffic travels more slowly.

The zones were installed over two phases, The first included 678 streets between March and June 2012 with a further 687 added between March and June last year.

The scheme, funded by the Department of Transport, involved 20mph signs, road markings and speed limit repeater signs but no additional calming measures.

Speaking as the second phase was introduced Nicky Walker, Executive councillor for environment, said: “Having 20mph speed limits on almost all residential roads will help make all road users safer.”

A review has now looked at crashes on the roads in the 14 months before phase one of the scheme and the 14 months afterwards.

It revealed from July 2012 to August 2013 there were 28 accidents in 20mph speed limits and 285 across the rest of the town. This was equal to two per 10km of road in the 20mph areas compared with six per 10km of road elsewhere.

Mr Crawford said: “The figures confirm that phase one’s roads are amongst the safest in the town.”

Members of the committee agreed for long-term monitoring of the effectiveness of the zones to be carried out. They said if there were persistent problems of speeding in the 20mph areas, other traffic calming measures could be considered.

Cleveland’s Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger was to asked to clarify the police role in enforcing the speed limits.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “20mph zones should be engineered for compliance by road users and where compliance is not being achieved alternative road designs should be looked at.

“Speed enforcement should be the last resort in order to educate drivers about the speeding issues.

“We are aware of the request for information from the Transport Scrutiny Committee and will be providing a more detailed response for the next meeting.”

Stockton celebrates its first gay wedding following this year's historic change to law

Wendy Stobbart and Lyndsay Dixon became the first same sex couple to get married at Stockton Council's register office at Nightingale House

Stockton has celebrated its first gay wedding following this year’s historic change to the law.

Wendy Stobbart, 21, and Lyndsay Dixon, 22, both from Stockton town centre, became the first same sex couple to get married at Stockton Council’s register office at Nightingale House, Stockton.

Since new legislation became law on March 29, 2014, marriage is available to everyone, regardless of sexuality or gender.

Welcoming the chance to show her love and commitment to Lyndsay, Wendy said: “We wanted to make our relationship official because we know we are right for each other – we are soul mates.

“When we rang the council’s registration services we were really pleasantly surprised to learn that we could actually get married rather than just have a civil partnership.

“We didn’t know this and we are delighted that we were able to have a marriage ceremony.”

Stockton Council’s registration services team is available to help couples wishing to celebrate their love for each other by planning a marriage ceremony.

Councillor David Coleman, Stockton Council’s cabinet member for access and communities, said: “Marriage is a very special occasion and signifies a couple’s commitment to each other as well as uniting family and friends to share in the couple’s happiness.

“Until recently we have only been able to offer same sex couples a civil partnership.

“But we are now pleased to be able to offer same sex couples the opportunity to marry.

“Staff at the register office were proud to help Wendy and Lyndsay create a special day they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Despite the change to the law, couples already in a civil partnership cannot currently convert the civil partnership to a marriage.

This would require additional legislation for which further Government announcements are anticipated later in 2014.

If you would like to plan a marriage or civil partnership in Stockton Borough and would like more information contact the register office on 01642 527720, email registrars@stockton.gov.uk or visit <a href = 'www.stockton.gov.uk'>http://ift.tt/1qYfHnP;

Black money in liquor trade in Gujarat is Rs.30,000 crore

New Delhi: The Congress Friday attacked BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi over the “illicit liquor trade” in Gujarat, saying it was one of the prime sources of black money.

Law Minister Kapil Sibal also attacked yoga guru Ramdev on the issue of black money, saying he was quiet about matters concerning the western state.

Sibal told reporters at the Congress party office here that Hindutva does not sell as much as liquor in Gujarat.

“Liquor sells more than Hindutva in Gujarat. There is no other product, which sells so fast and without any advertisement in Gujarat other than liquor. Modi knows about it and so do his colleagues,” he said.

He said that black money was generated through land, minerals and liquor and Gujarat is perhaps not endowed with minerals “but land and liquor generate huge sums of black money”.

“Gujarat government itself estimates excise loss of Rs.3,000 a year. If you calculate excise duty @10 percent, the parallel black money in liquor trade in Gujarat is Rs.30,000 crore and Modi administration benefits from it,” Sibal alleged.

The minister asked the Gujarat chief minister whether he would set up a special fast-track court to investigate the generation of black money.

Sibal also alleged that land had been given to industrialist Gautam Adani in the state at throwaway prices.

Quoting a weekly news magazine, Sibal said land was allotted to the Adani group for the Mundra port and a special economic zone at a price ranging from Re.1 to Rs.32 per square metre.

Citing another magazine, he said Adani got a 30-year renewable land lease at the value of 60 paise to Rs.27 per square metre at today’s exchange rate and it was sublet to other companies at a rate of Rs.663 per square metre.

“Isn’t this coruption,” he asked.

The Congress also showed a video clip of Ramdev in conversation with the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate in Alwar, Mahant Chandnath.

In the video apparently recorded just before a press conference, Chandnath is heard telling the yoga guru about difficulty in raising money and Ramdev is heard admonishing him as the cameras are on.

Sibal said BJP’s Modi and L.K. Advani talk big about unearthing black money.

“Will the BJP withdraw the ticket of the party candidate from Alwar and seek action against him as well as against Ramdev? The double face is now being exposed,” Sibal maintained.