Erdogan urges Islamic unity against ‘modern Lawrences’

ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called on Muslim states to speak with one voice against terrorism and racism, positioning himself once again as a key leader of the Islamic world.

Addressing a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, Erdogan said Islamic states had to defeat the successors of the iconic British officer Lawrence of Arabia who were seeking to disrupt the Middle East.

His comments came ahead of a tour of Ethiopia, Somalia and Djibouti scheduled to begin Wednesday. He said acts of terrorism “never bind the Muslims nor Islamic countries” and called on the Muslim world to engage in “self-criticism” to define a united route in order to address the challenges.

“When the Muslim world remains silent and every sect stands behind their own sympathizers, others are stepping in: Terrorists and modern Lawrences,” he said. British officer T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, helped Arab leaders fight a guerrilla insurgency against the forces of the Ottoman Empire in the desert during World War I. Modern Turkey was built on the ruins of the empire

Erdogan has in the past raised up the ghost of Lawrence as a symbol of Western meddling in the Middle East.

“We may be speaking different languages, we may be coming from different geographies, and we may have different ethnic roots,” he said. “(But) we must put aside all differences among us in the face of terrorism and racism,” he said.

Erdogan lashed out at the Islamic State (IS) which has captured large swathes of Iraq and Syria right up to the Turkish border which he said was “killing Muslims on the pretext of Islam.”

“We must first check and question ourselves. Foreigners are coming, bombing and killing. Why are we leaving problems to others to deal with instead of solving them among ourselves?”

Erdogan also criticized the UN Security Council for making decisions on issues that concern the Muslim world, without having a Muslim member among its permanent members.

“Is there any single Muslim country among the five” (permanent members of the UN Security Council)? Is the entire world surrendered to the five members? Can justice be there?” he asked.

“We are 56 countries. Won’t we question what our function is? Islamic countries make up almost one third of the United Nations,” he told the OIC

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, Thursday 22nd January 2015.

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

Teesside 'must not miss out' on rail electrification says council leaders

Teesside’s council leaders have renewed calls for the electrification of the North-east’s rail network, as a meeting of a key government taskforce gets underway today.

Local enterprise partnership TVU is leading the call to action for a ‘comprehensive’ electricification of the region’s network - which civic leaders say is currently a barrier to economic prosperity.

They’re keen to ensure the Tees Valley does not ‘miss out’ on any improvements - and any benefits they would bring, including housing and jobs growth.

Their wishlist includes the scrapping of the unpopular ‘pacer’ trains, some of which are the oldest in the UK, and the electrification of the section between the East Coast Mainline and Middlesbrough and Teesport. This upgrade alone, they claim, would not only provide ‘significant’ benefits immediately, it would also pave the way for further electrification of the Durham Coast and Tyne Valley lines in the next 15 years.

A change in timetables to meet the changes in land use patterns, the needs of businesses and people’s changing lifestyles is also being proposed.

The MP-led Electrification Task Force, which includes Redcar Lib Dem MP Ian Swales, was set up to advise government on which areas in the North should be next up for electrification. It’s supported by experts from Network Rail, Rail North and the Department for Transport and is due to report to the Secretary of State next month, outlining how schemes can be speeded up.

Sandy Anderson, chair of TVU said: “Effective and efficient transport networks are crucial to the Tees Valley economy, which is why TVU, with the support of our partners and stakeholders, is pushing for improvements to the area’s rail infrastructure. In particular, we believe that the implementation of a comprehensive line electrification programme for the North-east is vital to our efforts to improve the area’s economic prospects.”

Councillor Bill Dixon, Leader of Darlington Borough Council and TVU Vice Chairman, said: “Our case is based on hard economics as modern and efficient rail infrastructure is crucial because of the housing and business developments that are taking shape throughout Tees Valley.”

Councillor Robbie Payne, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Regeneration Services Committee, added: “Connectivity sits at the heart of growth and the establishment of thriving 21st Century economies and we are determined that Tees Valley’s rail tracks, rolling stock and stations are enhanced for the benefit of local industry and residents.”

Ray Mallon, Middlesbrough Mayor, said: “We are setting out rail improvement priorities, including quicker and more frequent connections, which are imperative to help unlock the future economic potential of Tees Valley.”

Councillor George Dunning, Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said: “The highest quality rail infrastructure plays a vital role in supporting additional housing and job growth throughout Tees Valley as well as improving connectivity with other parts of the country.”

Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton Borough Council, said: “Historically, railways have made a significant contribution to building strong and successful economies across Tees Valley. We must ensure that Tees Valley does not miss out as improvements, such as line electrification, are rolled out across the rail network.”

Islamic State Prime Time

ISIS began the 2015 season by releasing a new prime time series of scripted reality shows available on the internet with free previews appearing on most major media outlets. Writers at Al-Furqaan and Al Hayat Media Productions, media arms of the Islamic State that are known for their slick productions, must have decided that people were getting bored with the same old series and reruns that insult America and Britain by beheading their citizens. The writers have been working on different scripts for the new season to peak the media’s interest, earn rave reviews from their fans and increase their viewing audience.

The premiere episode aired on January 12, 2015 titled “Uncovering an enemy within”, introducing a new actor, a child star, a 10-year-old boy who executes two alleged Russian spies by walking behind them and shooting them repeatedly in the head. Part horror film part drama, the show opens with the two being interrogated in Russian about their alleged attempt to infiltrate ISIS. After both men confess to infiltrating ISIS to gather information for the Russian intelligence agency FSB, the video skips to an outdoor scene where the alleged spies are kneeling in a field before a Jihadi Fighter and the new child star who is armed with a pistol.

The dramatic confessions lead to the unforgettable main lines in the film where the Jihadi fighter says, “Allah has gifted the Islamic State’s security agency with the apprehension of these two spies,”… “By Allah’s grace, they are now in the custody of the lion cubs of the Caliphate.” The jihadist then nudges the child forward. The 10-year-old calmly carries out the killings, with two close range shots to the men’s heads, followed by another two taps, representing the best and the well-trained of the boy scouts of the caliphate. This film is not as much about vengeance against the spies of the Islamic State but more of a coming-of-age story, a tale of growing-up-jihadi. This film sets the tone for the entire new season, introducing new characters, ratcheting up the violence and leaving fans anticipating future shows wondering how it can get any better than this.

The second episode of the new season was released on January 20, 2015. This film is a take on scripted reality hostage shows from the previous season, it had a similar plot, costumes and scenery, however it contains a new twist starring Japanese nationals Kenji Goto Jogo and Haruna Yukawa playing the leading roles deviating from Western victims. Goto, a freelance journalist, and Yukawa, a self proclaimed military operator, are the latest civilians to get their asses caught in the middle of a war, resulting in putting Japan in a bind. This episode in the new ISIS reality series is called “A Message to the Government and People of Japan”.

The storyline is a sequel to last years season where the enemies of ISIS were America and Britain and the messages were directed to President Obama, Prime Minister Cameron and America. A British national continues to play the infamous main character Jihadi John, who is rumored to be up for an Emmy Award for the for Best Performance by a Leading Jihadist in the category for evading capture and drone strikes.

The January 20th episode is addressed to the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Jihadi John threatens to kill both men within 72 hours unless a $200 million ransom is paid in full. The storyline makes it clear that the ransom amount is compensation for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offering non-military aid in the same amount to countries affected by the Islamic State on his tour of the Middle East. This drama poses an interesting dilemma since both Japan and the Islamic State are shame/honor societies in which saving face is more important than saving life. For this reason, this author predicts that Japan is not going to pay the ransom. It is not the cost but rather the disgrace that will prevent them from giving into the hostages demands.

Japan did not comply with hostages demands to withdraw its forces from Iraq in 2004 when Japanese citizen, 24 year old Shosei Koda was kidnapped by Al-Qaeda in Iraq, the predecessor group of the Islamic State. On October 29, 2004 jihadists videotaped the beheading of Koda cutting off his head while he was held down on an American flag. His decapitated body was found wrapped in the flag prior to being returned to Japan.

This Japanese hostage episode has many people talking. Interestingly many comments regarding hostage taking seem to indicate that ISIS has disrespected the wrong country. That is the attitude people used to have about America prior to this administration’s decision to negotiate with jihadists by exchanging five top Taliban commanders for a traitor and not sufficiently responding to Americans being publicly beheaded. As usual the media production companies of the Islamic State leave us tense and anxious waiting to see what will happen next.

We will not know how this hostage episode turns out until the next film airs later this week. My prediction is that Jihadi John will kill both men. In fact the beheading scene may have already been filmed. Japan is about to become a member country of the ISIS beheading club. What this season requires is the revival of a classic American genre. It’s time to play cowboys and jihadists.

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55 illegal wiretapping operations carried on Erdogan’s phones

‘Investigations conducted by the Turkish authorities found that 31 encrypted phones which belong to senior state officials were illegally wiretapped 363 times

The telephones belonged to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan when he was prime minister, and the current Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, when he was a foreign minister.

Prosecutor Aaron Gilan began investigations into illegal wiretapping, which affected encrypted and regular phones. The investigations indicated that the wiretapping operations intensified in the period between 17-25 December, 2013.

The Turkish authorities began, on Tuesday morning, a security operation, on the background of wiretapping on encrypted and unencrypted phones, where the public prosecutor, in Gul Bashih in Ankara, issued orders to arrest 28 suspects including 22 employees of the Turkish Telecommunications Directorate (TİB), and six employees of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK)

Cleveland Police in further merger with Durham as dog units form collaboration

Cleveland Police’s dog unit is to merge with Durham’s in a move that will further “rub out the boundary line” between the two areas.

Police say it does not mean the two forces are set to become one although briefings have gone to staff over the past week to inform them of the new collaboration between the dog sections, to come into force from March 31.

Super intendant Mark Thornton, head of the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit (CDSOU), said that while a “small number” of staff will be redeployed to other units within Cleveland, no redundancies will be made as a result of the collaboration.

Supt Thornton said Cleveland and Durham forces have collaborated going back to 2003, beginning with its Tactical Training Centre, where firearms training takes place.

He said: “Both forces have felt comfortable with that as it’s gone along over the years, and back to 2010, we took the next step in terms of collaboration and that was to bring our roads policing units together.

“2010 rolled into 2012 and there was further collaboration very much around the roads policing element; motorbikes and collision investigation units.

“And 2015 sees us taking the next iteration of that collaboration, and that is to bring our dog support units together.”

He said that while “austerity exists” and savings to the public are needed, the move is about making it easier to cross-border deploy.

He said: “Yes, austerity exists. I’ve given a background of an appetite for collaboration, and yes, as a consequence of this some small numbers will be returned to areas of vacancy within their respective home forces, and they are small numbers. The return of officers still means that the officers are policing in the home force that they’ve come from and also serving the public. It’s not a loss to the public purse.

“I really had the drive to rub out the boundary line between the two force areas. That boundary line doesn’t exist in the criminal’s mind, and certainly the way I articulate it to staff is I want you to feel comfortable to venture into a force area that you possibly wouldn’t have ventured into without blessing and permission by a supervisor in the past.”

The dog support unit will move from its current base near Ormesby Hall to Wynyard.

Asked whether the merger will have an impact on the operational ability of the unit, Supt Thornton said: “For the last 12 months we’ve held a number of vacancies whilst we looked at whether the efficiency and effectiveness of this can take place, and we’ve maximised our efficiencies running with the staff numbers that are there today, so if you delete out the vacancies that we’ve had imposed, it’s not as if we’re actually getting rid of an awful lot of officers out of this particular piece of environment and taking them back into other areas of business.

“My staff will, in the main, find not a great deal of change. A small number will.

“The mantra that I’m asking my staff to be thinking about in all of their daily depolyments are that they are there to keep people safe, tackle criminality and maintain public confidence across the two force areas.”

Normanby ex-cop Peter Howe, 73 records a 12-track CD for cancer charities

A musical pipe dream has become reality for a former policeman who has raised thousands of pounds for cancer charities.

Inspired by his lifelong love of music, Peter Howe, of Normanby, has just recorded his first CD - at the age of 73.

And inspiring Peter all the way is his granddaughter Laura, 27, whose successful battle against leukaemia continues to fire his determination to support young people’s cancer charities.

Proceeds from the 12-track CD, Pipedreamer, will go towards leukaemia and cancer charities, including a cause children’s nurse Laura has backed for years, the Newcastle-based Toma Fund. And helping such good causes, says Peter, continues to be a driving force in his life, with Laura last year celebrating 10 years of being cancer-free.

For the past 23 years, keen cyclist Peter - who once battled kidney cancer - has travelled the world on two wheels, sometimes with wife Barbara and often performing music gigs along the way.

He’s been to all corners, including the USA, Vietnam, Mexico, Isarel, Jordan and large chunks of Europe. And on his return, he regularly gives talks about his exploits to groups across Teesside and beyond.

His talks usually feature music, with Peter performing self-penned songs and cover versions while playing his guitar. And now, having recorded Pipedreamer with help from Redcar musician Bob Fortune, he hopes to raise even more charity cash.

He said: “Being invited to give talks, tell stories and perform music gigs over the past 23 years, I’ve been able to share the stories of the motivational and inspirational folk I’ve met on my cycle challenges.

“This will hopefully continue to provide me with audiences who, I hope, will be interested in purchasing Pipedreamer.”

But ask Peter the main motivation behind his fundraising talks - he does around 85 a year - and you get a one word answer. “Laura,” he says. “When she came along, everything meant a great deal more. Now, if I can help what she does, that will do for me. She’ll call me up, say ‘grandad’ and I’ll know she has something up her sleeve! But she knows that whatever it is I might be doing, some of my funds will go in that direction.”

* Pipedreamer costs £10, available at Peter’s talks or from peter.howe315@ntlworld.com

Social club fined £2k after committee members illegally carried out asbestos removal

A social club has been fined more than £2,000 after its members removed asbestos insulation boards from the club’s store room ceiling.

Teesside Magistrates’ Court heard how committee members at Elm Tree Social Club in Stockton removed a number of asbestos insulation boards themselves rather than using a licensed asbestos removal company.

The Bishopton Road West club pleaded guilty to four offences under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Environmental Health officers from Stockton Council visited the premises on November 29, 2013 to investigate an anonymous complaint that the work had been carried out incorrectly.

An officer found asbestos material still attached to the ceiling and instructed Elm Tree Social Club to arrange a full clean of the area by a licensed company and to get air clearance tests done to ensure no material or fibres remained.

In mitigation, representatives of Elm Tree Social Club said the club believed appropriate guidance was being followed when carrying out the work.

The club was fined £1,200 and ordered to pay £800 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Councillor Steve Nelson, Stockton Council’s cabinet member for housing and community safety, said: “Asbestos is a dangerous material which, in certain situations, can cause long-term health problems if it is not removed and disposed of correctly by licensed professionals.

“In this case Elm Tree Social Club failed to ensure the health and safety of their employees.

"They also failed to document a risk assessment, a written plan of work and did not notify the enforcing authority, which in this case was the council.

“Unlicensed individuals can put themselves and others at risk if they attempt to remove asbestos themselves.

"As this case demonstrates, we will deal robustly with anyone who does not take their responsibility seriously and will take appropriate action if that is the case.

"Of course we are also happy to provide advice about safe asbestos removal.”

David Cameron plays down Iraq report delay

Delays to the publication of a major report into Britain's role in the Iraq war do not appear to be down to senior politicians trying to "dodge" criticism, David Cameron said amid demands for an explanation.

The Prime Minister insisted there was "no mystery" behind the confirmation by Iraq Inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot that his panel's findings would not be revealed before May's general election.

Sir John Chilcot told the PM in a letter that "very substantial progress" had been made towards completing his six-year probe and agreement reached on what details from notes and conversations between former PM Tony Blair and US president George Bush will be published.

But he conceded that there was "no realistic prospect" of this being done before the May 7 poll "whilst being fair to all those involved".

The hold-up provoked widespread condemnation, with the chair of the Commons foreign affairs select committee saying there could be "no justification whatsoever" and revealing Sir John had been summoned to explain the delays in public.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg called the hold-up "incomprehensible", Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was "increasingly unacceptable" and Ukip leader Nigel Farage said it "smacks of an establishment cover-up, and one which I suggest the British public will see right through".

Mr Cameron, who had previously expressed his own frustration at the slow progress, said he accepted Sir John's decisions but wanted to see the report published as quickly as possible after May.

But the Prime Minister played down speculation that the process was being deliberately hampered by senior figures who could face criticism over their roles - something repeatedly denied by Mr Blair.

"My understanding is that there is no mystery in why this is taking so long," Mr Cameron said.

"It is a very thorough report and you have to give the people who are criticised in a report the opportunity to respond to all those criticisms.

"That is what is happening at the moment. I don't believe, from what I understand, that anyone is trying to dodge this report or put off this report..

"We all want to see it but you do have to go through the proper processes."

He was responding to a warning from Labour MP Diane Abbott that any cover-up could further knock confidence in other inquiries, notably into allegations of historic child sex abuse by establishment figures including senior politicians.

"The public will not understand if powerful people who may be made in that report would be able to delay publication year after year as seems to have happened with Chilcot," she told him.

The inquiry was set up by then prime minister Gordon Brown in 2009 and took public evidence from its last witness in 2011, but publication has been held up by wrangling over the release of the confidential messages and the so-called "Maxwellisation" process by which people who are criticised in the report are given the chance to respond.

Ed Miliband said he too hoped it would be published "as soon as possible" but the Labour leader was accused by the PM of contributing to the delays by voting against Tory attempts to have an inquiry set up before 2009.

A Labour spokesman insisted it had been necessary to wait until British soldiers were no longer engaged on the ground in Iraq.

Mr Cameron indicated that he believed Sir John should appear before the committee to give a public explanation.

"My view is that when people are asked to appear in front of a select committee, when they are public servants, they should try to meet that obligation," he told its chair Sir Richard Ottaway.

In a letter to Sir John, Mr Clegg warned that if the report is not published swiftly, the public might assume that it is being "sexed down" by key individuals expected to face criticism.

"Neither administrative processes nor a constant back and forth between the inquiry and witnesses criticised should frustrate an independent report so important to the country's future from being published as soon as possible," he said.

SNP leader Ms Sturgeon told Sir John she was "deeply disappointed by your statement".

"The Iraq War resulted in the deaths of 179 UK service personnel and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians. In 2014 the Royal United Services Institute estimated that the net additional cost of UK military operations in Iraq was around £9.6 billion," she wrote to him

"It is increasingly difficult for the public to escape the conclusion that the process is being dragged out to delay publication until after the general election.

"I would therefore urge you in the interests of transparency, accountability and democracy, to reconsider this matter and impose an early deadline that will ensure publication ahead of the general election."

Both the Liberal Democrats and Ukip have urged voters to sign a petition urging publication before the election.

Middlesbrough College: Federation chief executive Mike Hopkins made redundant

The chief executive of a federation including Middlesbrough College has been made redundant.

Mike Hopkins became chief executive of the newly-created federation between Middlesbrough College and Gateshead College in 2013.

Zoe Lewis replaced Mr Hopkins as chief executive of the Dock Street college at the same time.

In a joint statement Robin Mackie, chairman of Gateshead College, and Bob Brady, chairman of Middlesbrough College, said: “We can confirm that following the decision to dissolve the Federation, the position of chief executive is now redundant and Mike Hopkins has been released from his contract.

“We recognise Mike’s contribution in developing and launching the Federation and wish him every success in the future.”

Mr Hopkins, a former teacher, joined the college as principal in 2010.

The board of the federation agreed to disband the organisation last year with Mr Mackie and Cllr Brady releasing this joint statement in November: “We formed a federation 12 months ago to explore collaborative approaches which could benefit both colleges and our local communities.

“During that time we have worked together on a number of projects which have enabled us to secure funding for a joint technology initiative, share best practice and offer combined student projects.

“Having undertaken a review we are in agreement that whilst we have seen some benefits, we do not feel that this arrangement offers additional value to learners at either college at this time.

“The two colleges remain firmly committed to the principles of working in partnership where it has clear benefits for our students, staff and stakeholders.”

The Gazette has contacted Mr Hopkins but he was not available for comment.

Brits Google ‘depression’ 27 times a minute

A new research has recently revealed that Brits Google “depression” 27 times a minute, which means that someone Googles “depression” every two seconds.

New research by the Priory Group has found that word “stress” was searched for 22 times a minute and “anxiety” was typed into the search engine 21 times a minute, the Daily Express reported.

These findings offer an insight into the mental health of the nation, following Office for National Statistics’ figures which show that more than 15 million working days per year are lost in sickness absence to stress, depression and anxiety.

An average 1,171,770 searches are made in the UK every month around “depression,” 939,820 around “stress” and 907,620 around “anxiety.”

In an average month during 2014, 49,500 searches were made by people wanting to take a test to see whether they were depressed.

Dr Jeanette Downie, deputy medical director and consultant psychiatrist at Priory Hospital, Glasgow said the number of people searching for mental health diagnoses online highlighted, in part, the stigma around mental health, which leads people to turn to the internet rather than seek confidential, personalised face-to-face help from an expert. (ANI)

Violent partner jailed for stamping on girlfriend during 'volcanic loss of temper' after vodka and cocktails binge

A violent boyfriend who beat and stamped on his ex-partner after a vodka and cocktails binge is behind bars today.

Liam Robert Murray, 22, went on a heavy drinking session before his “volcanic loss of temper” in the early hours of the morning.

He and his ex, who have a child, had split in June last year because of his violence towards her, Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday.

He assaulted her after taking her out in Redcar town centre for a birthday meal on September 20.

They drank half a bottle of vodka before they went out, cocktails and other drinks in a High Street pub, then carried on drinking vodka at a friend’s home in Brotton.

They were asked to leave the home after Murray became aggressive, hit his ex-girlfriend on the nose and picked a fight with the householder.

He then tried to pick a fight with a man walking his dog on Day Street just before 2am. He wanted to come home with his ex to Loftus and put down the bag containing the remaining drinks as they walked towards High Street.

Prosecutor Sue Jacobs said: “The next thing she recalled was he was throwing punches at her face.

“She closed her eyes, trying to grab his arms to stop him from hitting her.

“She cannot recall how many times he punched her or where, the attack was so violent. She was on the floor. He was kicking and stamping on her. There was a clear footprint on her shoulder.”

The scared, blood-covered victim managed to get away, banged on doors and sought help in a house.

She was treated at A&E for a cut above her right eye, bruising and swelling.

Murray, of Whitby Avenue, Guisborough, admitted unlawful wounding.

He had numerous previous convictions stretching back to his teens for assault and breaching anti-social behaviour orders.

Duncan McReddie, defending, said Murray been in a “revolving door” in and out of prison in recent years.

Before the assault he had made progress and positive changes to his life, partly due to his then girlfriend’s “stabilising influence”.

Mr McReddie said: “For his part, he acknowledges that drunkenness is no mitigation but perhaps serves to explain the volcanic loss of temper.”

He said there was hope for the future as Murray showed remorse and insight and realised he could not go on drinking.

He asked the judge to consider a suspended sentence.

Jailing Murray for two-and-a-half years, Judge Peter Bowers told him: “I’m sorry Mr Murray but the problem really is this was a sustained attack.

“It’s the use of the boot which really is unforgivable. I suspect drink is at the root of what is in fact a very bad record for violence and anti-social behaviour.

“I’m afraid I can’t suspend it.”

Tour De Yorkshire route reveals major bike race will come to North York Moors

The first Tour de Yorkshire bike race will visit the North York Moors, organisers confirmed today.

Routes of the three stages making up the event this May have been announced.

The first stage, which runs from Bridlington to Scarborough, is the section which comes closest to Teesside.

It runs through the North York Moors, including Westerdale, Castleton, Danby, Egton, and before moving on to Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay. It then finishes in Scarborough.

The first stage, which lasts 174km, takes place on May 1.

Stage two runs from Selby to York on May 2 while stage three a day later starts in Wakefield and finishes in Leeds.

The race has been organised after Yorkshire successfully hosted the The Grand Depart of the Tour De France last summer.

The event is expected to attract a world-class field after it received backing from cycling’s world governing body the UCI.

A Tour spokesman said: "The races will start around midday each day; we will be issuing more detailed timings shortly, and you can watch anywhere along the route for free.

“It will also be shown live on television in the UK and across Europe and a huge television audience is expected, once again shining a spotlight on Yorkshire.”

Get further details here.

Paris to sue Fox News for reports on Muslim ‘no-go zones’

Paris , January 20:

The city of Paris today said it plans to sue US chain Fox News for reports that there were “no-go zones” in the French capital that police and non-Muslims avoid.

The reports in the wake of the Islamist attacks in Paris two weeks ago have been widely derided and prompted Fox to issue an on-air apology for suggesting parts of Paris and the English city of Birmingham were run under Islamic Shariah law.

“A complaint will be filed in the coming days,” despite the apology, said a source at Paris city hall.

The news channel broadcast a map outlining the so-called no-go zones, which an expert, Nolan Peterson said felt like Afghanistan or Iraq.

On Saturday a Fox news anchor apologised for “some regrettable errors on air regarding the Muslim population in Europe, particularly with regard to England and France.

“Now this applies especially to discussions of so-called no-go zones, areas where non-Muslims allegedly are not allowed in and police supposedly won’t go,” the anchor said.

The Fox reports spawned much derision online and saw local news show Le Petit Journal send fake correspondents Mike and John to report on these so-called dangerous areas.

“Oh my God it’s an Islamist, he has a beard,” one of the jittery reporters cries as a taxi pulls up

See inside the most expensive property currently on sale on Teesside

Swimming pools, gyms and tennis courts are all par for the course in mansions of the wealthy.

But a private assault course and lawn suitable for helicopter landings is pretty extraordinary we reckon...

And if you have a cool £2.95m then it could all be yours!

The palatial pile in Wynyard - set within 42 acres - is a sight to behold with its five bedrooms, seven reception rooms and five bathrooms.

“With one of the region’s most beautiful stately homes as a neighbour, The Paddock presents an opportunity to purchase a manageable country house set within the most private and desirable of locations,” says the Strutt & Parker sales blurb.

“Formerly the Wynyard estate manager’s house at the time of Lord Londonderry’s ownership, the property has been substantially extended to create a unique home with indoor swimming pool set in 42 acres of land and grounds.

“The house offers a true escape to the country combined with being close to village life and amenities and with excellent communications to the rest of the region and beyond. The property is also well suited for an equestrian buyer."

Other property highlights include a gym with changing room, balcony, dressing room and games room incorporating a fully equipped bar.

To the outside is mature woodland with assault course and walking trail, tennis courts, picnic area, a kitchenette “for making drinks and light refreshments” and even a gardener’s loo.

To top it all off there is a large barn with 23 stables.

We believe The Paddock is the most expensive property currently on sale on the Teesside market - but do you know of one that's even more pricey? Email mieka.smiles@trinitymirror.com

Don't forget, you can keep up with all our latest Dream Homes here

Murder trial: Jury retires to consider verdict in fatal fire trial

A jury has retired to consider its verdict in the trial of a man accusing of murdering a mum in her North Ormesby home on her 50th birthday.

Heroin addict David McCabe is accused of starting the fatal blaze in Teresa Ryan’s North Ormesby home just moments after he had burgled it in July last year.

The 32-year-old admits entering the mum-of-two’s house and stealing items the day before and the day of her death, but denies murder.

McCabe, of Barrington Crescent, Thorntree, Middlesbrough, claims the fire must have started accidentally after he left her property on Warton Street.

During the trial at Teesside Crown Court, jurors heard that Ms Ryan, who died as a result of smoke inhalation, was a “vulnerable” woman due to Huntington’s disease.

Wish: Loftus Cricket and Athletic Club in plea to help club improve its equipment

Loftus Cricket and Athletic Club is keen to get people involved in sport.

It has taken part in the Gazette Wish campaign for a number of years and has used the money raised to help encourage new people into the sports it offers.

This has included using the cash raised to help hold an open fun day to attract people.

It recently completed a major redevelopment of its tennis court into a floodlit multi use games area with an astro-turf surface.

And now the non-profit sports club, which also plays football, bowls and badminton, is hoping to buy more equipment with the help of the Gazette Wish campaign.

Every year, The Gazette’s Wish campaign gives away thousands of pounds to not-for-profit groups and organisations benefiting the Teesside community.

Each registered group will be guaranteed a share of our £40,000 fund.

The more tokens a group collects, the bigger its share of the prize pot.

The last tokens, including bonus tokens, appear in tonight’s Gazette but there is still time to help by sending your tokens to your chosen group which must submit its tokens by 5pm on February 27.

To help Loftus Cricket and Athletic Club send your tokens to: Loftus Cricket and Athletic Club, Whitby Road, Loftus TS13 4LG.

Smart phones a double-edged sword: Experts

Smart phones have now become a necessity, with statistics showing that over 80 percent of young men in the country manage their affairs through their mobile phones and the Internet. Many social practical and commercial issues are carried out through smart phones, after they became a multipurpose tool.

In a 2013 report about the use of smart phones, Statista, a company specialized in research, showed that Saudi Arabia ranked third in world, with 73.8 percent of the Kingdom’s population using mobile devices for everyday affairs. Other studies revealed that 85 percent of Saudis use these networks to know what their friends think about a certain restaurant and 73 percent use it to find places such as commercial stores.

Recommendations play an important part in clients’ choice, with 87 percent of Saudis trusting their friends’ recommendations of products and 79 percent trusting a stranger’s opinion. Majed Al-Saqqaf, a social media expert, confirmed that 90 percent of young men in the country use social media websites, with 95 percent using the WhatsApp application. He added that Saudis spend every year around SR300 to SR500 million on mobile phones.

“I spent most of my time on social media websites, because I get to meet lots of people from various parts of the world and I can polish my talents in addition to spending my free time,” Ammar Omar, a regular user of social networking sites, told Arab News.

According to Mohammad Bafeel, a teacher, social media websites are a way to entertain and build social relations and friendships in various parts of the world, in addition to easy communication with relatives and friends.

However, psychologist Maha Hariri, contends that too much exposure to social media may cause depression, anxiety, isolation and social shame in addition to fear.

“These websites are called indirect communication, and Allah created human beings to communicate directly with one another,” the psychologist said. Fathiya Al-Qurashi, a professor at the King Abdul Aziz University, argued that smart phones are a double-edged sword, depending on how it is used.

When used wrongly, certain people can resort to fulfilling an emotional void through these websites, prompting feelings of anxiety. However, if a person uses the website in a positive manner, he will have more chances of expanding his or her knowledge and build more relations with other people.

But, Al-Qurashi warned, too much usage causes laziness and users tend to only focus on their phones instead of spending quality time with the family

Crash involving two cars closes lane on A19 as firefighters clean up oil spill

An oil spill after a two-car accident caused long delays on the A19 this morning.

The slip road from the Portrack roundabout onto the A19 northbound, and one lane of traffic were closed, after the collision at around 8.40am this morning.

Firefighters worked to clear an spillage of oil from the crash, which involved a silver Vauxhall Corsa and a blue Ford Ka.

An ambulance stopped at the scene, while police were also in attendance.

No serious injuries have been reported to the police.

Long tailbacks are reported northbound on the A19 heading towards Norton, and traffic was also slow on the A19 southbound.

Fans get a knockout selfie with Sylvester Stallone

A group of Rocky fans who ran up the famous steps in Philadelphia got a knockout photo at the top. The lucky lads spotted Sylvester Stallone and managed to get a selfie with him.

Peter Rowe said he and two friends had just finished racing up the staircase at the Philadelphia Museum of Art when they saw Sylvester Stallone.

"He said to us, 'Man, you guys are fast. You're making me look bad!'," Rowe said.

Stallone then posed for a selfie with the trio, putting up one fist.

"Look tough, guys!" he said, according to Rowe.

Stallone made the art museum's steps famous in his first turn as fictional boxer Rocky Balboa, who used them as part of his training regimen.

Thousands of people visit the steps each year to recreate the run and take pictures with a Rocky statue, which was originally a prop in Rocky III.

Mr Rowe's friends, Jacob Kerstan and Andrew Wright, were visiting him from Azusa Pacific University in greater Los Angeles. Mr Rowe had recently graduated from the university and moved to the Philadelphia area.

Yet in all their time spent in LA, Mr Rowe said, they never saw a famous person.

"What are the chances of meeting him, that celebrity, right there?" he said of the Stallone encounter, calling it "an unreal experience".

Stallone was in Philadelphia for the shooting of Creed, the latest instalment in the Rocky series. It stars Michael B Jordan, who appeared in Fruitvale Station, as the grandson of early Rocky foe Apollo Creed.

Four charged over attacks in Paris

Francois Molins said four men with ties to one of the gunmen responsible for three days of terror in Paris are the first to be charged in connection with the attacks that left 20 people dead, including three attackers, the chief Paris prosecutor has said.

The four men were handed preliminary charges overnight of association with terrorism.

They are suspected of providing logistical support to gunman Amedy Coulibaly, who killed a policewoman on the outskirts of Paris and then four hostages at a kosher supermarket. The four were placed in custody while investigations continue.

The attacks started with the January 7 massacre at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

Three of the four charged men have criminal records and at least one met Coulibaly in prison, Mr Molins said.

He added that authorities in France are working with other countries to search for other possible accomplices.

Investigators are trying to uncover who was responsible for a posthumous video of Coulibaly, which was edited and released days after he and the Charlie Hebdo gunmen, Said and Cherif Kouachi, were killed by police.

In the video, Coulibaly pledges allegiance to the Islamic State group and details how the attacks were co-ordinated by the three men.

Houthis control entry points of Yemen Presidency HQ

Houthi militants on Tuesday took control of the entry points of Yemen’s presidential palace in capital Sanaa, a presidential source has said.

“Houthi militants have taken control of security checkpoints surrounding the presidential palace,” the source, who requested anonymity, told reporters.

“There are presidential instructions not to clash with Houthi militants,” the source said.

A Houthi-linked news service said that “militants of the group are guarding the presidential palace from potential looting, not occupying it.”

Sanaa has been rocked by deadly clashes for the second consecutive day on Tuesday between Houthi militants and presidential guards, which left at least nine people dead.

Yemen has been suffering lawlessness since a popular uprising that erupted in 2011 ended the autocracy of President Ali Abdullah Saleh a year later.

The Houthis seized control of Sanaa in September of 2014 and have since then moved to extend their control to other provinces