Boro striker Jelle Vossen set for Blackpool revenge

Jelle Vossen says Boro are gunning for revenge at Blackpool.

The rock bottom Tangerines nicked a point in a 1-1 draw back in September after Boro had bossed the game - and that still smarts.

“We are looking for revenge because we didn’t win the home game,” said the Belgian, who netted in the 3-1 win over Charlton.

“We dominated but did not get all three points and we must put that right this time. That is the big motivation for us.

“The closer to the end of the season, the bigger the motivation in every game now.”

But he warns Boro must be wary of a side battling for survival.

“Some of the guys have warned me for the bad pitch but that can’t be an excuse,” he said. “This is a crazy division so it doesn’t matter they are bottom of the rankings, we still need to go there and dominate.

“We are expected to win so that is a mental test for us to keep our feet on the ground and stay concentrated.

“But the manager keeps everybody focussed and you know if you don’t play well there is somebody waiting to take your place.”

Aitor Karanka: 'Blackpool's pitch is awful but if we lose the game it won't be to blame'

Aitor Karanka would not welcome the introduction of artificial pitches into English professional football.

Boro will tonight try to overcome Blackpool and their notorious pitch at Bloomfield Road.

Last year, Football League chairmen came close to allowing clubs in League One and Two to install 3G (third generation) ‘plastic’ pitches with a vote on the issue ending in a tie.

Despite the far from ideal conditions awaiting his team at Blackpool, however, Karanka isn’t keen on the idea of playing on artificial surfaces.

“I wouldn’t want that,” he said, “I prefer to play on grass, especially when you don’t have problems with the water (rainfall).

“I don’t like artificial pitches. I played on them in Madrid because in the early rounds of the Copa del Rey, we played against Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

“I also played on those kind of the pitches in the USA, and it is different.

“It was different for me, but maybe the players are growing up now with that kind of surface. But for me, I prefer to play on normal grass.”

Karanka is well aware that Blackpool’s pitch could prove problematic, but won’t use it as an excuse if Boro fail to win tonight.

“I have been analysing Blackpool’s games and the pitch is awful,” he admitted. “That is not an excuse, and if we lose the game, I will not be saying that we lost because the pitch was bad.

“My main concern is that we could get some injuries, and that will be a worry for every team in the league that plays there. It is a difficult situation, but I think that every team should take care with their pitches.

“We might have to change a few things in terms of the way we play, but the players know exactly what they are going to be dealing with.”

The Anti-Zionist Guide to Burning Synagogues

Wuppertal’s synagogues had been destroyed on Kristallnacht. By the time the war was over, the 3,000 Jews living in this German city had been reduced to a community of 60. 75 years after Kristallnacht, the Bergische Synagogue began to burn after three Muslim men had thrown six Molotov cocktails at it.

The Jews of Wuppertal however have nothing to worry about. Judge Jörg Sturm found that the attack was not anti-Semitic, but had only been a way of bringing “attention to the Gaza conflict”.

It wasn’t anti-Semitism, but anti-Zionism.

The three Muslim men, two named Mohammed and one named Ismail, received suspended sentences and 200 hours of community service. In their defense, they claimed that they wanted to “send a signal”, but had not intended to set a synagogue on fire when they threw firebombs at it.

The men claimed that “they weren’t aware that by throwing them they could burn the synagogue or injure other people.”

Inside the synagogue, a blandly anonymous brick building whose only sign that it is a synagogue is a small line of Hebrew letters over the doors containing Isaiah’s prophetic message, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples”, there are security cameras, bulletproof glass and a security guard behind glass. The building is squat with tall narrow windows. Its fort-like construction is a far cry from the baroque onion domes of the Barmen synagogue destroyed on Kristallnacht that it was meant to replace. The only element that has remained the same is the prophecy of Isaiah over the doors.

But the three Muslim men did not come to pray there. They came to burn it. And by the fall, Muslims were marching around the city wearing vests reading “Sharia Police”.

There’s a thin line between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. The name of the line is plausible deniability. Students for Justice in Palestine and the Muslim Students Association hate groups have in the past asserted that their disruption of Holocaust memorial events was anti-Zionist, not anti-Semitic.

Anti-Semitic attacks in Europe have been put down to Anti-Zionism, and not just by the Europeans.

Ambassador Howard Gutman got his posting to Belgium after raising $500,000 for Obama. There he claimed that Muslim violence against Jews wasn’t anti-Semitism, but “tension” to be blamed on Israel. Gutman, who would later be accused of pedophilia by a whistleblower, was arguing that attacks on Jews by Europeans were anti-Semitic while attacks by Muslims on Jews were anti-Zionist.

When Nazis burn a synagogue, it’s anti-Semitism. When Muslims do it, it’s anti-Zionism.

The state of the synagogue remains the same either way, but the perpetrators get off with a slap on the wrist. And the Jews are blamed for the violence carried out by Muslims against them.

While it appears historically apt for Germany to be the first country in Europe where a judge justified an attack on a synagogue, the media had already been doing it long before.

A decade ago, CNN’s Matthew Chance justified the Muslim destruction of a synagogue in Israel by describing it as “very controversial” and synagogues as “hated symbols of the Israeli occupation”. The Los Angeles Times wrote of a synagogue as a “hulking Star of David-shaped building” destroyed by Muslims venting “their fury over the occupation by laying waste to the synagogues”.

The London Telegraph lyrically described a poetic scene of synagogue burning. “The skies were yet to be lit by the rising sun when the first flames from burning synagogues could be seen, set alight by Palestinians incensed by years when the Israeli army ruthlessly defended the settlements.”

“Anti-Zionist” synagogue burnings don’t just stay in Israel. Once torching a synagogue is justified, then it can and will happen anywhere.

In 2000, four Muslim men tried to torch a New York synagogue before Yom Kippur. Like his current counterpart in Germany, Mazin Assi claimed that he had intended to “make a statement” about Israel. Assi was represented by terror lawyers Lynne Stewart, who would later be sent to jail for conspiring with the Terror Sheikh linked to the original World Trade Center bombing, and Stanley Cohen, a Hamas supporter recently sentenced to jail for tax evasion.

Stewart described her defense of a man who tried to burn a synagogue as “an underdog fighting against great odds.” It was unclear whether she meant the odds of fighting buildings or Jews.

“I want my client tried by a jury of people who understand the difference between anger and hate, a people who understand the legitimacy of fighting back,” Stanley Cohen told the Village Voice.

He accused the D.A. of courting “the synagogue or pro-Zionist lobby in the Bronx”.

The pro-Zionist lobby was now anyone who didn’t want to see synagogues burn.

The terror lawyer made the same argument that his client had not intended to “cause fire-related damage”, but to send a message. “The prosecutors keep wanting you to think this had something to do with Jews,” he claimed of the attempted synagogue arson, when it was really about Israel.

The New York Times even wondered whether the whole thing wasn’t “a misguided message critical of Israeli policies against Palestinians”. But after September 11, no jury could be found that would support the “legitimacy” of fighting back by firebombing synagogues.

Stanley claimed, “These are ugly times… I believe the jury was swept by 9/11.”

But even the most twisted arguments sooner or later find root somewhere. That was the lesson of what happened to the old Barmen synagogue on Kristallnacht and what happened now to the Muslim terrorists who threw Molotov cocktails at the Bergische Synagogue in Judge Sturm’s courtroom.

Judge George Bathurst-Norman in the UK had paved the way by clearing anti-Israel activists of an attack on a factory. But Judge Strum went one step further, ratifying a mini-Kristallnacht as a political protest.

If trying to torch a synagogue is just good clean anti-Zionism, then there is no anti-Semitism. Or rather they are the same thing. Burn a synagogue, beat a Jew and send a message about the Middle East. And the kindly judge will let you off with a little community service.

Since the left insists that Zionism is racism, anti-Semitism becomes the ultimate in anti-Racism. Beating Jews and burning synagogues is the best way to be racially tolerant. Take it from Germany.

The story is a familiar one. Hitler and Goebbels had orchestrated Kristallnacht as a “venting” of popular anger over Jewish crimes. It’s the same defense Lynne Stewart and Stanley Cohen used. Goebbels wrote, “Driving to the hotel, windows are being smashed. Bravo, bravo. The synagogues burn like big old huts.” The Nazi Minister of Propaganda sounded a good deal like CNN or the Telegraph.

Evil ideas don’t go away. They rise again under new names. Anti-Semitism is now Anti-Zionism. Synagogues become “very controversial”. Burning them isn’t a crime, it’s a statement. A message.

The new Nazis are diverse. They’re multicultural. They’re not the Reich, they’re a Caliphate. And when they burn synagogues, it’s not reactionary. Their synagogue burnings are as progressive as it gets.

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‘ISIS Is Here’: Islamic State Graffiti in America

On February 4, 2015 the head of the FBI’s counterterrorism division, Michael Steinbach said that the FBI has seen children as young as 15 recruited by the Islamic State aka ISIS, ISIL. Two days later FBI Director James Comey said there are open cases looking into individuals who may be connected to ISIS in every state in the Union except Alaska. Evidence of the Islamic State’s successful recruiting efforts in America is literally written on the walls. Islamic State graffiti has appeared in Minneapolis, MN, Houston, TX, La Vegas, Nevada, Phoenix, AZ, Bakersfield, Ca, Washington, DC , Brooklyn, NY, and in many cities around the world. Followers of the U.S. designated terrorist group are showing their support in every form of graffiti from full color pieces to the graffiti genre of stickers; aka labels or slaps.

On October 2, 2014 in the Lyndale neighborhood of Minneapolis, graffiti was reported via neighborhood watch mobile app. The graffiti depicted the words ISIS in bubble letters with the phrase ‘will remain’ underneath, next to an accurate line drawing of the black ISIS flag with Arabic writing and the Prophets seal. The phrase ‘ISIS will remain’ is a reference to the terrorist groups motto ‘Remaining and Expanding’. The level of detailed knowledge of the Islamic States symbolism in this graffiti is clearly indicative of an ISIS sympathizer. This should not be surprising since at least a dozen young American Muslims from Minneapolis and St. Paul have left their homes to join and fight alongside ISIS in Syria. Two U.S. citizens from Minnesota were killed in Syria fighting beside ISIS.

In September 2014 in Bakersfield, CA a full color graffiti piece of the word ISIS! appeared on Ridgeview High School. A concerned neighbor contacted local eyewitness news who reported the story and interviewed a Police Sgt. who said “I don’t know if there is anything to do with the conflict in the Middle East,” “or just a tagger that’s seen this on the news and thought that’d be a cool moniker.” Unfortunately due to the administrations politically correct policies that purged anti-terrorism training materials that are deemed offensive to Muslims, officers are not trained to accurately access the threat. The fact that the neighborhood has a large number of Muslims was also mentioned in the article. The neighbor who reported the incident seemed to be more concerned that it may be someone trying to make Muslims look bad as opposed to evidence of ISIS sympathizers in the area. This attitude is the result of messaging from the mainstream media that emphasizes Muslim victimhood instead of potential terrorist threats.

The large full color bubble letters spelling out ISIS! With the image of an eye in the dot over the first letter is iconographically indicative of more common gang graffiti. However that should not rule out any connections to the Islamic State, on the contrary proximity to the anniversary of 9/11 should be part of the threat assessment. The fact that ISIS is actively recruiting American teens through social media and tweeting out images of ISIS graffiti around the world should be factored into the assessment. This could be a local teen who is dabbling in ISIS ideology. Similar to teen wannabe gang bangers who mimic Crips and Bloods symbolism, this graffiti could signify a wannabe ISIS fighter, the largest baddest gang in the world. ISIS graffiti in other countries has also appeared on schools. In October 2014 ‘ISIS R Coming’ and ‘ISIS Beheads’was written on East Hills Boys High School in Sydney, Australia. In October 2014 pro-ISIS graffiti was written on a girl’s elementary school in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The graffiti which was written in Arabic read “The Islamic State will remain perpetual in our hearts”. High schools are notorious breeding grounds for gang and terrorist recruitment.

On September 18, 2014 ISIS graffiti appeared on a house in Brooklyn, New York. The graffiti which appeared in three separate writings near each other read ‘ISIS is here’, ‘28 days’, and ‘9/11 is an inside job’. As reported in Home Reporter, A runner in Shore Road Park who saw the graffiti on the park house at 79^th street said

“I was obviously upset,” .. adding, “I’m sure it was some stupid punks in the neighborhood.” “Local restaurateur Roger Desmond, who was out walking with his wife, agreed. “It sent a chill down our spine,”….. “You watch it on the six o’clock news, then you see it in Bay Ridge. It’s the reality today. You can’t ignore it anymore. It’s probably stupid kids. I’ve got my fingers crossed. It’s all you can do. “According to a police source, “We highly believe that a bunch of kids did it.” The source also said that the graffiti had been “deemed not a bias incident.”

According to the report both the police and the public relegated the graffiti to stupid kids. This is the dangerous result of the administrations propaganda that perpetuates the denial of the threat that the Islamic State poses to the homeland. New York Graffiti that references ISIS one week after 9/11 is disregarded as child’s play. Perhaps these are the same kids that FBI Director James Comey described as, “troubled souls that might look to find meaning in this sick, misguided way. The challenge that we face in law enforcement is that they may be getting exposed to that poison and that training in their basement,” Comey said. “They’re sitting there consuming and may emerge from the basement to kill people of any sort, which is the call of ISIL, just kill somebody.” They may first emerge from their basement to vandalize houses with ISIS graffiti and then like other gang members escalate to violent activity.

There is no misinterpreting the graffiti stickers of the black ISIS flag that are being plastered all over the Southwest including Texas, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico. A Houston man Adam Abdulrahman aka Abdul-Rahman Baghdadi or Houston Baghdadi has placed ISIS flag stickers on memorials, city vehicles, buses, trucks, highway signs and other places across the southwest. His twitter handle is a homage to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State. He has shared photos of his black flag graffiti stickers on Twitter and YouTube and tweets his support of the terrorist group. His YouTube moniker, AbdulRahman IS America, has Islamic State initials in the middle. On 9-21-14 he posted a video pledging allegiance to the Islamic State in front of a police officer while being escorted away from a mosque. These graffiti stickers cannot be attributed to stupid kids. Instead this type of behavior is often written off as mental illness or a person who is seeking attention. Violence committed in the name of the Islamic State and mental illnesses are not necessarily mutually exclusive which is precisely why this type of graffiti should be taken seriously. Adam Abdulrahman profiles exactly like Man Haron Monis, the Australian who took and killed hostages in a 17 hour siege at the Lindt Chocolate Café in Sydney, in December 2014. Monis like Houston Bagdadi had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, had a history of flamboyant activism, was known to the police and was described as unstable and mentally ill.

In September 2014 ISIS graffiti appeared in prominent areas throughout Northwest Washington, D.C. The most frequently displayed message read “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is Greatest) in Arabic, and underneath in English Letters ISIS. This was described as nonthreatening in the Daily Intelligencer “Will McCants, director of the Brookings Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World, has seen the graffiti in D.C., too. “I’ll bet it’s just someone goofing off,” he says. “Why write Allah Akbar in Arabic and then switch to the Latin alphabet for ISIS?” Because ISIS is the signature of the Islamic State and Allahu Akbar signifies Islamic supremacism and is the jihadist battle cry. ISIS written in Latin letters have appeared in Islamic State graffiti in Kosovo, Indonesia, Pakistan, Balochistan and other non-English language countries.

Will McCants’ presumption that ISIS graffiti in Washington D.C. is just someone goofing off is an example of the fundamental misinterpretation of Islamic State symbolism. Graffiti has to be understood in the language of the streets not just as a semiotic, hermeneutic or theological exegesis. ISIS in Latin letters is a common gang tag of the Islamic State, the black flag with the prophets seal is their primary gang identifier. ISIS tags and flag graffiti are photographed and tweeted out to communicate affiliation among members and recruit Westerners.

Islamic State graffiti should be interpreted in the same manner as any other gang graffiti. Significantly graffiti is often the first indication that street gangs are active in your community. It is used to glorify the gang, mark territory, demonstrate the gangs power and status, create a sense of intimidation and fear, and for individual gang members to show association and allegiance. When gang units document Bloods, Crips, MS13, Latin Kings and other gang graffiti they do not attribute it to stupid kids, they understand that it reflects gang activity and the inherent violence associated with it. When graffiti in Brooklyn, New York reads ‘ISIS is here’ we better believe it.

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Why Democrats Won’t Boycott Netanyahu

The rumor that some Democrats might boycott Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress is nothing more than a cheap scare tactic.

How do we know?

For starters, not a single Democrat member of Congress has said that he or she will boycott it. At worst, over the weekend, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was non-committal. All the rumors of a Democratic boycott are the product of pundits and political activists who want the speech to be canceled.

Yes, a February 5 Times of Israel article claimed to see evidence of “growing pressure” on Netanyahu to cancel the speech in a remark by a Democratic congressman that “Israel should never be used as a political football.”

But how does that remark constitute “pressure”? Republicans and Democrats alike agree that Israel should not be turned into a political football. Why should addressing Congress, which has both Republican and Democrat members, make it a political football? Did Netanyahu’s address to Congress in 2011, when the Democrats controlled the Senate, make Israel a political football?

Note that the “political football” remark was made by Congressman Steve Israel, a New York Democrat. His district covers Great Neck and other heavily-Jewish areas of Long Island. Congressman Israel knows that many of his constituents would be furious if he boycotted a speech by the prime minister of Israel.

It’s not just Steve Israel. No prominent Democrat is interested in having a major public fight with Israel and American Jewry in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election. Yes, many Jewish voters and donors might spurn the Democrats if the Democrat Party is perceived as turning against Israel. Every ethnic group uses its votes and donations to advance its particular concerns. It’s a legitimate and longstanding part of American political culture.

But the most important reason why no Democrats will boycott Netanyahu comes from last year’s Gallup World Affairs survey. As it does every year, Gallup asked Americans whether they view various countries favorably or unfavorably. Fully 72 percent of Americans have a “very favorable” or “mostly favorable” view of Israel.

Now compare that to the number who told Gallup that they have a favorable view of the other countries in Israel’s neighborhood: Egypt: 45%; Saudi Arabia: 35%; Libya: 19%; Palestinian Authority: 19%; Iraq: 16%; Syria: 13%; Iran: 12%.

Think about that. Nearly three-fourths of Americans remain favorable towards Israel while fewer than one-fifth think favorably of the Palestinian Authority–despite decades of critical news media coverage of Israel, despite the Obama Administration’s frequent statements of sympathy for the Palestinian Arabs, and despite the torrent of anti-Israel resolutions by the United Nations, by radical academics, and by certain churches.

And that makes sense.

Most Americans recognize that Israel is a lot like the United States–and the Arab countries are not. Israel is a democracy; the Arab regimes are dictatorships, theocracies, and kingdoms. Israelis have the same freedoms that Americans enjoy–a free press, religious tolerance, political rights. The Arab world falls woefully short in those areas. Israel embraces Western culture and considers itself part and parcel of the Western world. By contrast, many in the Arab and Muslim countries regard the West as their enemy.

When it comes to the rights of women and minorities, too, Israel shines. In Israel, women have full equality. In much of the Arab world, women are treated as little better than men’s property–even to the point of being targeted for “honor killings” if they do not follow fundamentalist moral dictates. Arab citizens of Israel have the same rights as Jewish citizens. Arabs serve in Israel’s parliament, on the Supreme Court, and as Israeli emissaries abroad. As for Jewish citizens in Arab countries–there are almost none left because nearly all 800,000 of them were driven out, decades ago, with just the clothes on their backs.

In Israel, citizens with dark skin (such as immigrants from Ethiopia or some Arab countries) are treated the same as those with light skin; in Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, enslavement of blacks was commonplace as late as the 1960s; it was practiced in Sudan until it was eclipsed by the Darfur genocide; and it is still practiced in Arab Mauritania.

Which is why no Democrats will boycott Israel’s prime minister. Because they know that it’s not just millions of American Jews who care about Israel. It’s tens and tens of millions of American Christians who likewise strongly support Israel. Pro-Israel sentiment among the American public in general is strong, widespread, and deeply rooted. And that translates into a lot of votes.

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The Amit Shah Files Even before the trial is concluded, a CBI court finds reason to discharge a powerful man

The Trail…

• Despite SC order that the same trial judge who starts hearing the case should conclude it, Sohrabuddin case has seen three judges

• One year after being assigned the trial in the CBI special court, J.T. Utpat was transferred in June 2014

• Utpat’s successor Brijmohan Loya died at a government guesthouse in Nagpur on November 30, 2014

• Loya’s successor M.B. Gosavi heard Amit Shah’s discharge petition from December 15-17, and delivered a 75-page order on December 30, 2014

• Dropping of charges against Shah has led to a flurry of discharge petitions being filed by other accused

***

The tantalising phrase “somewhat opposed to common sense” is likely to ring in the ears of BJP national president Amit Anilchandra Shah for a long time to come. The five words were uttered on the penultimate day of 2014 by a trial judge in a CBI special court in Mumbai to let Shah, 50, off the hook in the infamous Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.

Dasrath Patel and Raman Patel, two builders from Ahmedabad produced as star witnesses against Shah by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), had told investigators that police officers close to Shah extorted money from them and had dispatched Sohrabuddin’s henchmen to issue threats. The officers, notably Abhay Chudasama and D.G. Vanzara—both now on bail, Chudasama reinstated by the Gujarat government—would not only drop Shah’s name but even make extortion targets speak to the all-powerful minister of state (home) on phone. Shah, they claimed, had also directed them to be discreet while giving statements on Sohrabuddin Sheikh to the CBI after the central agency was ordered by the Supreme Court in 2010 to investigate the case.

The builders had video-recorded one of the conversations they had with Shah’s officers. They gave three statements to the CBI, two under Section 161 of the CrPC and the other under Section 164. (Statements under Section 161 are given to the police and are not accepted as evidence; statements under Section 164 are recorded before a judge and are adm­issible evidence.)

The CBI special court of M.B. Gosavi, however, refused to accept the builders’ statement, recorded in court. The duo, noted Gosavi in his order on December 30, 2014, had not deviated even gramm­atically in the three statements, each of which were recorded after gaps of weeks and months. This he found “somewhat opposed to common sense” as he threw out their testimony. Many lawyers say such exact reproductions of statements often dog trials, forcing judges to disregard them as evidence as they seem tutored. This is what seems to have happened here and shows the prosecution may have failed to build the case. Gosavi, however, contradicts him­self in the same order by claiming the builders had made ‘improvements’ in the statements. To accept both arguments, quipped a prom­inent Supreme Court law­yer, would be ‘somewhat opposed to common sense’ indeed.

Gosavi also found no merit in the CBI producing Call Detail Records to show that, on the days Sohrabuddin Sheikh and his wife Kauserbi were abducted and subsequently killed in 2005, Shah was in regular touch with the police officers who were executing the deed. The CBI came up with details of the outgoing and incoming calls including the duration in seconds (see graphic) to suggest Shah knew what was happening on the ground. While a home minister is expected to give directions to the dgp and home secretary, CBI argued, there was no occasion for him to be in touch with SPs and DySPs. But the CBI court chose to accept Shah’s plea that phone calls proved nothing. He was a proactive, hands-on minister and liked to be in direct touch with field officers, the court was told by his counsel. The trial judge found merit in the submission and held that while the CBI was at liberty to think a powerful minister directly calling field officers was unusual and strange, actually there was no reason to question such conduct when terrorism stalked the world

The argument can cut both ways tho­ugh, because, if one accepts that Shah was an effective minister in constant touch with field officers and who kept his eyes and ears open all the time, surely he would have been aware of fake encounters taking place right under his nose. For, had not Gujarat police conducted its own investigation and found the officers guilty of killing Sohrabuddin Sheikh, his wife Kauserbi and prominent eyewitness Tulsiram Prajapati in fake encounters? In two separate chargesheets, filed in 2007 and 2008, Gujarat police claimed the trio was killed because the officers wanted “name, fame and promotion”. The SC, which had directed the state police to conduct the investigation, remained unconvinced. Pointing out discrepancies in reports submitted to the SC and the chargesheets, the apex court ordered a CBI inquiry in 2010 and directed the agency to probe the “larger conspiracy” and the involvement of ‘high officials of the state of Gujarat’.

Trashing the voluminous chargesheet (22,000 pages, including statements from 710 prosecution witnesses) against 38 accused, including Shah, Gosavi, in his discharge order, held the case was foisted on Shah for ‘political reasons’. Since then, he has discharged two other accused top cops, P.C. Pande and Rajkumar Pandyan, from the case, raising questions about the role of the CBI as well as the judiciary.

One For Sorrow, Three For Joy

Brijmohan H. Loya (52) looked forward to a relaxed weekend as he boarded a train at Mumbai for Nagpur. He had taken charge of the Sohrabuddin fake encounter trial as a judge in July; subsequent months were stressful. He looked forward to attending a wedding at Nagpur the next day, November 30, 2014, a Sunday. He planned to stay overnight at the state government guesthouse, Ravi Bhavan, and return to the court on Tuesday. But he did not wake up on Monday morning, having succumbed apparently to a massive cardiac arrest. The news of his sudden death shocked and saddened lawyers and judges in Mumbai; the Indian Express (Dec 2, 2014) reported that “sources close to him (Loya) said he had sound medical history”. Advocate Vijay Hiremath remembered him as an exceptionally cheerful judge who had looked fit and fine.

As the judge was cremated in his native Latur, in faraway New Delhi a group of MPs demonstrated outside Parliament against his “mysterious death” and demanded a CBI probe. The event only found cursory mention on the inside pages of newspapers. The day after, on December 4, in a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of India from Ujjain, Sohra­buddin Sheikh’s brother Rubabuddin (see box) wrote: “I am disturbed by the incident and am in a deep state of shock. I am writing the present letter on suspicion that the unti­mely death of a sitting judge of a sessions court may be part of a larger conspiracy, possibly made with intention to threaten the coming judge….”

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Government rejects bid for millions needed to rebuild rundown Stockton Schools

A bid for millions of pounds to rebuild eight ageing Stockton schools has been rejected by the Government.

But in Redcar and Cleveland, the Eston Centre EOTAS (Education Other Than At School) and Pathways Special School, Grangetown, have been successful in getting a share of £2bn.

Stockton Council had applied for cash from the second phase of the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP2). The authority wanted to invest in new buildings for Egglescliffe School, Bishopsgarth School, Billingham South Community Primary School, Pentland Primary School, Oxbridge Lane Primary School, Tilery Primary School, Roseberry Primary School and Harrow Gate Primary School.

Of the eight schools, the council says, the Egglescliffe School buildings are the most in need of investment.

But when the Secretary of State for Education, Nicky Morgan MP, and the Minister of State for Schools, David Laws MP, today announced that 277 schools had been successful in their applications, including the two in Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton had missed out.

Ian Swales, Lib Dem MP for Redcar, tweeted: “The news is now out about rebuilds of Pathways Grangetown and Eston PRU. Lid Dems helping everyone to get on in life #OnTrack.”

But Stockton was told by the Education Funding Agency: “We regret to inform you that, following the careful consideration of applications, the list of successful projects does not include (the eight Stockton schools).”

Council leader, Councillor Bob Cook, said: “We believe our children and young people are entitled to the very best educational facilities so we are extremely disappointed that the Government has rejected our bid to rebuild eight schools under the Priority School Building Programme.

“It is sad but unsurprising that southern areas like Kent, Hertfordshire and Surrey have had long lists of projects accepted while many of our schools will be left to soldier on in buildings that are in need of significant maintenance. We will of course, continue to make best use of the funding we have for the upkeep of our schools.

“Meanwhile, the Government continues to fritter away millions on failing and half full Free Schools while successful, well-run local authority maintained schools are crumbling.”

Ian Ramsey C of E School in Stockton was successful in winning cash in the first round of PSBP.

Stockton Council also heard that its school maintenance budget for the next three years would be £1.65m for maintained schools plus £600k for Voluntary Aided schools.

Stockton South Conservative MP James Wharton wants to see some of the cash spent on expanding Egglescliffe School to tackle over-subscription. On Friday, Mr Wharton spoke with Education Minister David Laws about the proposal and he confirmed the maintenance funding could be used to fund this kind of small expansion.

Mr Wharton: “A small fraction of this money could allow Egglescliffe to take a few more pupils, meaning the oversubscription issue would be solved.”

But Egglescliffe’s head teacher Simon White said any expansion plans would not be considered until after the ongoing public consultation into proposed changes to local school admission zones.

“I’m keen to work with the council and parents so a resolution can be found,” he said. “The whole point of the consultation is to listen to the views of mums and dads, then if there is a decision to expand that would be prudent. But that has got to come at the end of the consultation.”

Licence transferred at troubled Stockton nightspot

A troubled town centre nightspot has had its licence transferred after police asked for a review.

The premises licence for the Funky Lime pub on Stockton high street, which is currently closed, was transferred to the owner of the property Cable Properties & Investments Ltd, ahead of a meeting of the Stockton Council’s licensing sub-committee.

At a behind-closed-doors meeting, councillors then decided to remove the pub’s manager from the licence.

The action comes after Cleveland Police raised concerns over “a number of incidents” at the bar, although the force has not publicly gone into detail about the nature of the problems.

Cllr Steve Nelson, Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety, said: “We want to make the town centre a safe and welcoming place for families to enjoy and we will not tolerate premises that do not meet their responsibilities.

“Our licensing aims are clear and include preventing crime and disorder, and securing public safety.

“The application for a review of this licence was made by Cleveland Police following a number of incidents at this premises.

“After considering all of the evidence our licensing sub-committee has acted decisively to protect the public and make clear our view that public houses must be operated by reputable management teams which care about their customers, strive to protect them and sell alcohol in a responsible way.”

Funky Lime is licensed to sell alcohol from 10am until 12.30am Monday to Tuesday, until 1.30am Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and until 2.30am on Friday to Saturday.

Last week, the former manager of the Royal George pub in Thornaby failed in his bid to be issued a new licence by Stockton Council’s licensing committee.

Councillors agreed with Cleveland Police, who objected to the application after pointing out “numerous incidents of violence and anti-social behaviour as well as after-hours drinking”.

That pub has been shut since last November, after the previous landlord of the Grade II-listed building on Thornaby Road surrendered the licence ahead of a review hearing.

Cleveland Police was contacted for comment over its decision to call for a review of the Funky Lime licence but has so far made no statement.

Hollywood glamour for a good cause at King's Academy, Coulby Newham

The glamorous awards season may be in full swing in Hollywood but Teesside students have taken to the catwalk in a charity fashion show that celebrated the golden era of the 1950s.

The annual extravaganza staged at The King’s Academy, in Coulby Newham, raised more than £1,200 for charity and gave design students the chance to display their work.

The two-hour show featured the latest prom fashions for men and women supplied by local retailers including Destiny, Skopes and Quiz, in Middlesbrough, Joanne Kay, of Stokesley, and Euphoria, of Yarm.

GCSE design technology students exhibited their eco-wears and A Level fashion students showed off their creations, the culmination of months of hard work.

Event host assistant vice principal Carey Brownless also introduced students modelling hand-painted hessian and canvas bags created by King’s Pins, the academy’s own design house.

Proceeds will go to the school’s three chosen charities - Butterwick Children’s Hospice, The Great North Air Ambulance and Uhuru Ministries, a Christian foundation that helps orphans in Kenya.

Principal Chris Drew said: “The fashion show was another stunning spectacular that reflected an incredible amount of hard work on the part of students, staff, parents and local businesses. It’s especially rewarding for our students who get to see their own designs on the catwalk.

“It is established as a firm favourite in the academy’s calendar and is much enjoyed by the community who help raise invaluable funds for our three important charities.”

Wartime diaries bring Stockton POW Robert Bayne's brutal 'Long March' back to life

VIEW GALLERY

The harrowing account of a Teesside POW’s gruelling forced march across Germany near the end of the Second World War can today be retold in his own words.

For the 70th anniversary of the infamous ‘Long March’ in the winter of 1945, the family of Robert Paton Bayne have given the Gazette the opportunity to publish extracts from his fascinating wartime diary.

Robert, from Stockton, was among 80,000 allied POWs forced to march westward across Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Germany in extreme winter conditions, over about four months between January and April 1945.

With the Soviet Army advancing, the German High Command ordered the evacuation of POW camps in the East to delay liberation of the prisoners.

Due to below freezing temperatures, unsanitary conditions and a near starvation diet, hundreds of prisoners died of disease along the way and many more were seriously ill.

Robert was one of the lucky survivors but, forced to scavenge for food along the way, he staggered into his new prison camp in Fallingbostel, North West Germany, weighing a skeletal six-and-a-half stone.

His son Allan, said the only thing that kept his dad going through his horrendous ordeal was the thought of seeing his beloved wife Julia again.

Robert’s diary, which he had to hide from his German captors, shows clearly how the POWs became obsessed with food, or the lack of it, on the march.

Wartime diary of POW Robert Bayne

On Saturday, February 17, he wrote: “We received rations for three days. Half a loaf per man, one tin of meat to three men.

“Total distance for the day 23 kilos (kilometres). The Jerries have supplied no drinks yet. We stole a few turnips and sugar beet to chew on the road.”

His diary entry for Monday, March 12, recounts how Robert was forced to sell his watch “for 6 kilo of bread and 2 kilo of jam”.

He goes on: “There are Russians, French and all nationalities here and there is no organisation at all. I got no soup as I was not able to struggle in the mob.”

After a month and a half on the road, Robert and his fellow POWs finally arrived at their destination Stalag XIb in Fallingbostel. There he was diagnosed with “bad malnutrition” and moved to the convalescing hut.

By the time his POW camp was liberated by British troops on April 16, 1945, Robert, a sergeant in the Royal Engineers, had been a prisoner of war for more than two years.

Originally from Scotland and a foreman joiner by trade, Robert met Thornaby girl Julia while he was stationed locally.

Robert Bayne

Just two weeks after he married his sweetheart he was captured in Tunisia at The Battle of Kasserine Pass on February 21, 1943.

From there he was shipped to Naples, Italy. But after the Allied armies invaded and pushed through Italy he was moved further and further north until he ended up at Stalag VIIIa in Görlitz, Poland, from where his Long March would later set off.

Following his liberation, Robert returned to Teesside and his wife and the couple raised two children, John and Allan, at their home on Londonderry Road.

Robert died in 2005, aged 89, and rarely spoke about his wartime experiences including the brutal Long March.

But his memories will live on through his two diaries which have been passed down to Allan’s daughter, Lisa, who now lives in Australia.

Allan, a retired engineer who lives in Fairfield, Stockton, told the Gazette: “We have known about the diaries since we were kids. He gave me them to take into school to show my class.

“But he never talked much about the war.

“He did tell us he liked the Eastern Europeans, but he didn’t like the Italians or the Americans. Despite his experiences he didn’t feel too bad towards the Germans!”

Allan said the plan was to keep his dad’s diaries in the family for generations to come, so his suffering on the Long March is never forgotten.

“The physical challenge, the equivalent journey is London to Edinburgh, along with starvation and -20 degree temperatures was immense and demonstrates the mental strength and endurance that these men had,” he said.

“I’m sure that the love he had for his beautiful wife Julia was the reason he was able to survive. I’m proud to have some of those genes.”

This is the route POW Robert Bayne was marched through Poland and Germany during the infamous 'Long March' in February 1945

Towards the closing stages of the Second World War Soviet forces edged into Germany - provoking some of the most incredible, but largely unknown stories of courage and stamina.

The Long March refers to a series of forced marches over about four months between January and April 1945.

From a total of 257,000 western Allied prisoners of war held in German military prison camps, over 80,000 POWs were forced to march westward across Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Germany in extreme winter conditions.

As well as the Long March, the series of events is also known as ‘The Great March West’, ‘The Long Walk’, ‘The Long Trek’, ‘The Black March’, ‘The Bread March’, and ‘Death March Across Germany’, but most survivors just called it ‘The March’.

Forced to tramp hundreds of miles in wretched conditions with little food, water or accommodation, prisoners were subjected to a horrendous ordeal.

Hundreds died of starvation or disease, scores collapsed through malnutrition and exhaustion.

In 2010, more than 100 RAF and Air Training Corps personnel commemorated the 65th Anniversary of The Long March. They marched the exact route taken by POWs from Zagan to Spremberg, Poland to Germany during 1945 accompanied by five RAF veterans.

Dominic Shaw: If Lee Tomlin adds consistency to his class he'll be one of Boro's pivotal players in the promotion run-in

It wasn't the first time Boro had attempted a set-piece straight from the training ground this season.

The others haven't quite come off but the well-rehearsed play in the last minute against Charlton was a pat on the back for persistence.

And it was sublime. Clayton went looking for the short corner that he was never interested in, taking two defenders with him and leaving man of the moment Lee Tomlin lurking dangerously on the edge.

One perfectly weighted cross, one perfectly timed swing of the right boot. Tomlin's superb volley was exactly what January's Championship player of the month deserved after 45 minutes of terrorising Charlton's sorry back-line.

Manager of the Month curse, they say.

Well concerns about that were banished and Boro's No.10 certainly showed no signs of being weighed down by the gong he was deservedly awarded last week.

Lee Tomlin strikes a sublime volley to put Boro 3-1 up against Charlton

His audacious last minute goal at the Riverside on Saturday shouldn't have come as a surprise. The gorgeous spin-and-shot movement that Vincent Kompany was helpless to prevent showed Tomlin isn't afraid of trying something out of the ordinary.

And if his busy night of battering the keypad on Deadline Day wasn't enough of an indication as to Tomlin's confidence levels at the minute then that second half performance against the Addicks certainly was.

The 26-year-old twisted and turned his way past Charlton's baffled defenders, slid in more than one through ball that would have slipped easily through the eye of a needle and got the goal to cap off his performance - his fourth strike in the last four league games.

That goal and his assist for Jelle Vossen was the icing on the cake but only told half the story.

Fifty-seven passes, 81% of which were accurate. Five chances created and more than 70% of his duels won.

How Charlton's players would have hoped to see the fourth official hold up the number 10 when AK introduced Adam Forshaw and Adam Reach in the 72nd minute.

Tomlin has almost certainly etched himself into the team-sheet for the trip to the Emirates next week. Impressive considering the forward appeared to find himself ever so briefly out of favour at the end of December and start of January, starting just one of four league games.

But now Tomlin needs to build on a sparkling month. He needs to prove it's no flash in the pan.

The former Peterborough schemer has demonstrated over the past year that he possesses the ability to play in the Premier League. But he's not the only Championship player who could step up a level on his day.

What separates many who look a cut above in the second tier but fail to cut it at the top level is consistency.

Fleeting glances of magic here and there but the inability to maintain that level week in, week out.

That's not to say Tomlin would be an addition to that category. Judging by his performances - particularly in the second half - against both Manchester City and Charlton, Tomlin is capable of causing any team problems at any level.

But he's a notable absentee from the list of players with the most assists in the Championship and those who've created the most chances.

Action Images

Lee Tomlin celebrates scoring against Charlton

Skipper Grant Leadbitter is fourth on both lists boasting seven assists and having created a hugely impressive 70 chances. For the record, Jacob Butterfield has 73 to his name.

The 1,540 passes Boro's esteemed on-the-pitch leader has made is also up there with the league's best.

Stats can often be misleading and Tomlin has proved over the past few weeks that on his day he would stroll into any team in the league.

Indeed, if he performs like he did against Charlton for the rest of February then his January player of the month gong could well be shuffled down the mantelpiece to make way for another one.

Tomlin scored four goals in his first 25 appearances this season. He's added four more in his last four league games.

© CameraSport

Lee Tomlin in action for Boro at Man City

If Tomlin lacked any belief before he should have it in abundance now.

"I told Lee one year ago that he is a very good player," said Karanka after the forward was named player of the month.

"He's shown everyone what he is capable of.

"When he has the ball something can happen. He is an important player for us."

If Tomlin adds consistency to his class and recent contribution he'll undoubtedly prove to be one of Boro's pivotal performers in the promotion run-in.

Tinder diaries II: The nine types of internet dater according to a Teesside singleton

:: Read Karen's original Tinder column here

Back in the ancient mists of time, there were other ways to meet a partner.

The days where singletons would pop to the shops and the date of their dreams would be standing behind them in a queue.

Their eyes would meet, and, before they knew it, they were magically in love.

Well those days are gone.

It’s 2015 and it’s the age of internet dating. And it’s awful.

Imagine a real-time dating version of The Hunger Games and you’re not far off what it is like.

Perhaps it’s the lack of personal encounter and the freedom of anonymity, that makes surfing these shark-infested sites such a savage forum?

VIEW GALLERY

Whatever the reason, being online has changed the dating game forever.

If you are single and you’ve tried it for yourself, you will have no doubt already found your POF (Plenty of Fish), Tinder and Match.com inbox - to name a few popular sites - engulfed with illiterate inappropriateness.

But having weighed up all your options (and made the decision that you are not ready for a house filled with cats) and you are STILL considering internet dating this Valentine’s Day, then be aware of the stereotypes you are sure to find...

1. The Cyber-Player

This is the bloke who never gives up. He is online most of the day, evening and night.

His message will be short and sweet.

It is usually signed off with more than one 'x'.

Occasionally it will contain lyrics from his favourite boy-band.

His profile picture will show a gym-obsessed torso with or without a ‘deep V’ T-shirt.

2. The Constant Messenger

He will mail through messages like he is conversing with his best mate from school who he hasn’t spoken to in years…except he isn’t and it’s a one way conversation with himself. In your inbox.

Messages will appear in no particular order and will usually sign off with a question, that he will then continue to answer in your next unrequested message.

He lives in a cyber dreamworld where one day you might be so worn down by his dedication that you become desperate enough to consider his bizarre, relentless behaviour as endearing.

3. The Down Right Rude

He will send an insult.

It hits you from nowhere and you’re pretty sure no one could be that uncouth without reason. Wrong.

The Down Right Rude don’t usually have a profile photo - but still...they grab your attention for all the wrong reasons.

4. The Old Pal

You vaguely know him.

He might have once been at a party you attended in the late 1990s.

This vague encounter apparently gives The Old Pal a rite of passage to fill your inbox with creepy, over-familiar messages.

Typically The Old Pal only needs a blunt reply to stop his pursuit.

5. The Perfect Stranger

He comes across as perfect in every way.

He doesn’t respond regularly (which adds to his mystery) but when he does, you feel your heart go all aflutter.

It is possibly best to just block The Perfect Stranger without reason.

He will undoubtedly break your heart.

6. The Honest Try-Hard

He is a hopeless romantic.

He will send you a paragraph of hard-line sell on why you should date him.

The Honest Try-Hard thinks that you are perfect.

He will send many odd messages and will suggest a grand scale event for a potential first dates, based on the likes/dislikes section of your profile.

There is also a very real possibility that he might drop to one knee and propose on that same first date.

7. The Dodger

He sends you messages like there is no tomorrow. And then suddenly, for no apparent reason, one day he stops. The end.

Don’t read too much into it. His wife/girlfriend probably just found his account.

8. The Self-Esteem Booster

He will send you messages telling you that you’re gorgeous.

He thinks you’re hot and that’s the boost you needed to get you through your bleak Monday morning (although in the back of your mind, you know he merely used ‘cut and paste’ because he has sent that exact same message many times before).

9. The Quirky Cheekster

He starts off inoffensive, but rapidly becomes cheekier and less suitable as his messages continue.

Eventually you have to explain that you don’t feel comfortable with the content.

The newly-formed relationship hits critical. You go your separate ways. No-one formally ends it, but it’s over and you’re relieved you don’t have to read anything else he has to say.

:: Read more about Karen's online dating experiences here.

Lee Clark: 'We're a different animal at home - and Boro clash is our Champions League final'

Blackpool manager Lee Clark has described tomorrow’s clash with Boro as the club’s “Champions League final”.

The Tangerines have endured a season to forget and are rooted to the bottom of the Championship, nine points from safety.

Saturday saw Clark’s side battered 4-0 at Norwich, but it’s back to Bloomfield Road tomorrow as in-form Boro look to put another nail in Blackpool’s coffin.

Blackpool have become a tighter unit since Clark’s arrival in October, especially at home where they have lost only one of their last six matches on home soil - a 6-1 humbling by leaders Bournemouth.

Ahead of consecutive home matches against Boro and Nottingham Forest, Clark has stressed the importance for his men to clinch two positive results.

“We are two different teams home and away,” Clark told the club’s website.

Aitor Karanka and Lee Clark

“We’ve kept two clean sheets on the bounce in our last two home games and conceded 11 goals in our last two away games, so that tells you.

“We’ve taken 11 points in five games at home, unbeaten, so we’re a different animal at home.

“I said at the start when we turned the corner into January with 20 games to go that they were cup finals. These two home games are our Champions League final and World Cup final.

“By 5pm on Saturday we could have a good idea of what we have to do and where we are for the closing stages of the season.

“They’re crucial games for us. But as I said, we’re a different animal at home, we understand the pitch and understand what’s needed on that. It’s not ideal, we don’t want that, but that’s what we’ve got and we’ve got to handle it.”

Indian adventure for two former Middlesbrough FC academy graduates

From the Riverside to Bangalore, two former Middlesbrough footballers are helping to boost football’s profile in one of the world’s most populous countries.

Josh Walker and John Johnson, former Boro academy graduates, have chosen to leave behind the English game to play in India’s professional I-League.

“India was never somewhere I thought to go on holiday, never mind to play football,” Josh, 25, told BBC One’s Inside Out (NE & Cumbria), which airs tonight at 7.30pm.

Tom Banks

Josh Walker leads his team out in 2006

The former England youth captain has left his family, including two-year-old daughter Marnie, behind in the North-east to become the ‘marquee’ signing for Bangalore’s Bengaluru FC.

He said: “Things I was being offered to stay in the UK, I thought it is time to try something new.

“It is a difficult to know that I am not going to see her (Marnie) for a couple of months.

“I am going there to work and provide for her really, and it is a great opportunity I think.

“Obviously it is incredibly hard at times missing your daughter. But I have to work and this is my job. My career was going nowhere back home.

“This is an opportunity and I am going to grab it with both hands.”

Newcastle-born Josh made his Boro debut in an end-of-the-season encounter against Fulham in 2006, aged 17, and made eight appearances for the club.

Former Boro manager Gareth Southgate told the show Josh was “a really good professional from a very young age, with a great attitude to the game.”

Josh Walker, left, in action for Gateshead last season

He played for nine clubs in the next eight years, lastly playing for Gateshead before his move to India last year.

He continued: “I was always wanting to play week in week out in the Premier League and I would find myself knocking on the manager’s door at 17, 18 asking why I was not playing.

“I look back and to be honest, I cringe at myself.”

Ashley Westwood, the manager at Bengaluru, said if Josh “realised his potential” he would be a “real asset to the club”.

Football is the second largest sport in India - yet still a distant second to cricket.

But Josh says he has no regrets after his move, with interest in the sport growing all the time and his club securing the 2015 Indian Federation Cup in January.

“The fans are that fanatical it makes you more professional because you are like an idol to them,” he said.

“It is nice to have that interaction with the fans, and is something that in England does not really happen.”

John Johnson in 2009

Middlesbrough-born defender John Johnson made his one Boro appearance in a 5-0 home defeat to Chelsea in October 2008, the season that the club were relegated to the Championship.

He went on to play for Tranmere Rovers and Northampton Town, but thinks that an increasing number of English players would look abroad for contracts.

He said: “I think it is becoming more of a thing for players to look abroad now, because it is tough back home.

“When people take their step and move abroad and people can see it is exciting, it is different it is a new challenge.

“It is definitely a thing that will get more popular with English players I think.”

• BBC One Inside Out (NE &Cumbria) on Monday February 9 at 7.30pm follows former England Youth Captain and Middlesbrough academy graduate Josh Walker as he journeys to India to find football fame.

World’s first robot-staffed hotel to open in Japan

A robot-staffed hotel, said to be the world’s first, is set to open in Japan in July where guests checking into the futuristic facility will be greeted and served by remarkably human-like robots.

Huis Ten Bosch, a theme park in typical Dutch style in terms of its architecture in Nagasaki Prefecture has unveiled plans to open the modern hotel with robot staff and other advanced technologies to significantly reduce operating costs.

The hotel will be called Henn-na Hotel, which translates as Strange Hotel.

The hotel will be partially staffed by what are termed ‘actroid’ androids – remarkably human-like robots who will be able to greet, carry luggage to rooms, make cups of coffee – and even smile.

The robots will be able to speak Japanese, Chinese, Korean and English.

According to the park, the first phrase of the two-story hotel will open on July 17 with 72 rooms. The second phrase will be completed in 2016 with an additional 72 rooms.

The hotel will have three robots that will act as receptionists apart from four service and porter robots, and others engaged in menial tasks such as cleaning.

“We’ll make the most efficient hotel in the world,” boasts Huis Ten Bosch president Hideo Sawada.

Sawada says he hopes robots will eventually run 90 per cent of the property.

“In the future, we’re hoping to build 1,000 similar hotels around the world,” says Sawada, CNN quoted Japan’s Nikkei News as saying.

Other features will help make Henn-na the most futuristic low-cost hotel in the industry, according to the company.

Guestroom doors will be accessed by facial-recognition technology.

Amenities provided in rooms will be kept minimal. Guests can request items through a tablet when needed.

Instead of air-conditioning, a radiation panel will detect body heat in rooms and adjust the temperature.

Solar power and other energy-saving features will be used to reduce operating costs.

Room rates will vary depending on demand. Instead of being presented with a fixed price, guests will bid for rooms during peak season. The highest bidders will secure rooms, though there will be a price cap on bidding.

The hotel says room fees at opening will be from 7,000 Yen (USD 60) for a single room to 18,000 Yen (USD 153), the highest possible price after bidding, for a triple room.

–PTI

Teenager airlifted to hospital after road accident involving lorry close to Greatham

A teenager was airlifted to hospital after being hit by a lorry near Greatham this afternoon.

The youth, believed to be about 15, was hit by a lorry on the westbound A689 near to Greatham, near Hartlepool, at about 3.30pm.

The road was closed at about 3.50pm for the Great North Air Ambulance to land and it transported the injured youngster to James Cook University Hospital.

A spokesperson for Cleveland Police said his injuries are unknown at present but said he was conscious at the scene.

Three year plan to spend millions on Middlesbrough's roads, paths and verges gets green light

A three year project to spend millions improving Middlesbrough’s highways has been given the green light.

A programme of works has been drawn up which will see an initial £3.8m invested in the town’s roads, paths and verges in the first year - 2015/16 - followed by £4.1m in 2016/17 and £3.3m in 2017/18.

And after considering the programme, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for regeneration, Councillor Charlie Rooney, today approved the works.

Included in the first phase will be resurfacing of sections of the A66, Ladgate Lane and Stockton Road and works to remove two rush hour “bottlenecks”. This would be achieved by widening and remodelling works at the Cranmore Road and Cargo Fleet Lane junction in Pallister Park and by upgrading the traffic light signals at the Longlands Road/Cargo Fleet junction to allow greater flexibility of traffic control.

Other important works will be for a walking and cycling between Ormesby Beck and Cargo Fleet lane, providing enhanced access to the new Middlesbrough Sports Village and a new route in the Church Lane area of Acklam.

The £3.8m capital funding for the works in 2015/16 is made up of £2.9m from the Local Transport Plan grant and £900,000 from the council’s capital programme.

Cllr Rooney said: “This increased investment will go some way to improving the quality of the town’s roads, footways and verges and the individual projects that make up this programme of works will be greatly appreciated once complete.

“It is very pleasing to be able to both make improvements to ease traffic congestion and to enhance road surfaces which will please motorists, as well as introduce new walking and cycling routes to the town which can be enjoyed by all.”

The report on which Cllr Rooney based his decision had argued: “Strategic investment in the highway network using the principles of ‘prevention is better than cure’ provides many advantages over the piecemeal reactive ‘pothole filling’ sticking plaster approach.”

Here are the roads which have been planned in for repairs in the first phase of the scheme - with work due to take place in 2015/16.

Road Name	Location Detail	Treatment	Cost	Cumulative Cost
A66	A66	Resurface	£55,000	£55,000
A66 HARTINGTON INTERCHANGE	A66 Middlesbrough Bypass - Elevated Sections of Entry & Exit Slip Roads to Hartington Interchange	Resurface	£112,000	£167,000
A66 MARTON ROAD INTERCHANGE	A66 Middlesbrough Bypass - Entry & Exit Slip Roads to Marton Road Interchange	Resurface	£65,000	£232,000
ADMIRALS AVENUE	Admirals Avenue - Rear Area to 263-275 Cargo Fleet Shops	Cleanout & Reseal Road Joints & Cracks	£1,344	£233,344
BAILEY GROVE	Bailey Grove - at Junction with Ormesby Road	Resurface & Overlay Surface	£3,478	£236,822
BALMORAL ROAD	Balmoral Road - Norfolk Crescent to Pritchett Road	Overlay Surface	£11,209	£248,031
BIRKHALL ROAD	Birkhall Road - Outside Number 36 Patch 5.2m x 3.5m	Patch Concrete Road	£680	£248,711
BOURTON COURT	Bourton Court	Overlay Surface	£14,464	£263,175
BRAMWITH AVENUE	Bramwith Avenue	Overlay Surface	£7,207	£270,382
BRIGHAM ROAD	Main Carriageway 15m Outside Number 6 and small area at Junc Brogden Green, & Kerbline Along Open Grassland	Reconstruct Concrete, & Reconstruct Kerbline & Install Tarmacadam Strip to Edge of Kerb	£19,656	£290,038
CARGO FLEET LANE	Cargo Fleet Lane - From Longlands Road to The Greenway	Road Joint Treatment	£50,000	£340,038
CARGO FLEET LANE INTERCHANGE	Cargo Fleet Lane - Nrth & Sth Lanes CFL Interchange to Mini RB Junc South Bank Rd	Overlay Surface	£40,033	£380,071
COLLEGE ROAD	College Road 75-81	Deep Resurface & Part Reconstruct Small Section	£18,000	£398,071
COLMORE AVENUE	Colmore Avenue concrete bay o/s numbers 3-5	Reconstruct Part of Concrete Road	£9,114	£407,185
CORNFORTH AVENUE	Cornforth Avenue	Overlay Resurface	£7,027	£414,212
DOCKSIDE ROAD	Dockside Road - Works Rd Roundabout to Council Boundary	Overlay Resurface	£122,706	£536,918
DOWNHAM AVENUE	Downham Avenue	Resurface	£12,158	£549,076
DUNMOW AVENUE	Dunmow Avenue	Overlay Resurface	£3,128	£552,204
ELLERBY GREEN	Ellerby Green - Slab at Side of 8 Bransdale Rd to Number 2 Ellerby	Patch Small Section	£1,104	£553,308
EVESHAM ROAD	Evesham Road - Ormesby Road (north) to Ettington Avenue	Resurface	£37,371	£590,679
FULBECK ROAD REAR ACCESS AREAS	Rear Access Areas Between 113 - 115, 127 -129, & 191 - 193 (Accessed Off Main Road)	Resurface	£44,335	£635,014
FULBECK ROAD MAIN CARRIAGEWAY	Fulbeck Road Phase 1 - Pennyman Primary School Crossing to Number 113 Junction	Resurface	£54,244	£689,258
GEDNEY AVENUE	Gedney Avenue	Resurface	£6,727	£695,985
HENRY STREET	Henry St	Resurface	£20,178	£716,163
KEXHAM GREEN/ MARHAM CLOSE	Hexham Green/ Marham Close - Part Turning Head Rear 1 Hexham Grn, & Rear 13 to 25 Hexham Grn	Patch Road & Repair Road Joints	£4,613	£720,776
HOVINGHAM STREET	Hovingham Street	Resurface	£10,059	£730,835
HUNLEY CLOSE/ PENISTONE ROAD	Huntley Close/ Penistone Rd - Off Main CW From 130 Peniston to Huntley Close (side of Park End Pub)	Resurface	£7,012	£737,847
JUBILEE STREET NORTH	Jubilee Street (North)	Deep Resurface	£19,133	£756,980
KELFIELD AVENUE	Kelfield Avenue - Junction With Kimberley Drive Only	Overlay Surface at Junction	£1,000	£757,980
KINDERSLEY STREET	Kindersley Street	Resurface	£13,918	£771,898
LADGTE LANE	Ladgate Lane - Ormesby Hall Entrance to Ormesby High Street	Resurface	£150,000	£921,898
METZ BRIDGE ROAD	Metz Bridge Road - Works Yard Entrance (is adopted)	Reconstruct	£16,170	£938,068
NETHERBY GREEN	Netherby Green - at Junction with Penistone Road	Resurface Junction	£2,633	£940,701
NETLEY GROVE	Netley Grove - Side of Number 7 to Side of Number 8	Patch Concrete Road	£1,938	£942,639
NORCLIFFE STREET	Norcliffe Street - Deacon St to Road End Numbers 1 to 61	Resurface	£18,533	£961,172
OAKFIELD ROAD	Oakfield Road - Westbourne Grove to Road End	Resurface All of Road & Improve Drainage to Part	£29,472	£990,644
ORPINGTON ROAD	Orpington Road - O/S 19-21 8m Patch	Patch Small Section	£1,815	£992,459
PARK AVENUE NORTH	Park Avenue North - Junction with Cargo Fleet Lane Only	Resurface	£2,800	£995,259
PENISTONE ROAD	Penistone Road - Access Road to Rear of Park End Pub & Pastoral Centre	Resurface	£14,443	£1,009,702
PENRITH ROAD	Main Road Surface From Langley Court to Ladgate Grange, & Speed Humps & Table From Ladgate Grange to Crossfell Road	Resurface & Renew Traffic Calming	£41,852	£1,051,554
RICHMOND STREET	Richmond St Snowdon Rd to dead end	Resurface	£32,233	£1,083,787
RIVERSIDE PARK ACCESS PHASE 1	Riverside Park Access Phase 1 - Metz Bridge Junction & Metz Bridge Rd to Romaldkirk Junction	Resurface	£58,362	£1,142,149
RIVERSIDE PARK ROAD	Riverside Park Road Holwick Road to new RAB	Overlay Surface	£7,736	£1,149,885
RIVERSIDE PARK TRAVELLER SITE	Riverside Park Rd - Traveller Site Adopted Entrance	Resurface	£2,609	£1,152,494
ROUNTON GREEN	Rounton Green - Turning Head	Reconstruct Concrete Road at Turning Head	£11,943	£1,164,437
SADBERGE STREET	Sadberge Street	Resurface	£11,520	£1,175,957
SAWTRY ROAD/ REVESBY ROAD	Sawtry Road/ Revesby Road	Overlay Surface	£14,465	£1,190,422
SNOWDON ROAD	Snowdon Road - Richmond Street to West Street	Resurface	£30,218	£1,220,640
SOTHERBY ROAD	Sotherby Road - HRA access to HSS Hire Company	Resurface	£1,456	£1,222,096
SOUTH BANK ROAD	South Bank Road - Telford Road to Cargo Fleet Lane	Resurface	£117,037	£1,339,133
SOUTH VIEW TERRACE	South View Terrace - Tunstall St to Norcliffe St	Resurface	£9,061	£1,348,194
STOCKTON ROAD	From Boundary with Stockton on Tees to West Lane	Resurface	£267,588	£1,615,782
STOCKWITH CLOSE	Stockwith Close - Side & Rear of Number 1 to Rear Access & Parking Area	Overlay Surface	£3,938	£1,619,720
THORNTON STREET ALLEY	Thornton Street Rear Alley of 33 to 67	Overlay Surface and Reconstruct One Small Area	£15,488	£1,635,208
WOBURN GROVE	Woburn Grove	Resurface	£10,016	£1,645,224
WORKS ROAD	Works Road - A66 Interchange to Dockside Road	Deep Resurface	£86,678	£1,731,902

Redcar and Cleveland Council deputy mayor is latest to resign from Labour party

The deputy mayor of Redcar and Cleveland Council is the latest to resign from the Labour party after a week of turmoil at the authority.

Ten Labour councillors resigned their membership last week after council leader George Dunning, deputy Sheelagh Clarke and members of the authority’s cabinet were told by Labour that they had not been selected to stand again for their party in May’s elections.

Now Doreen Rudland, who represents the Brotton ward, has confirmed she is the 11th current councillor to leave the party.

She said: “I think it is disgraceful what has happened to those councillors who were deselected by the party.

“Ten councillors resigned last week - and I am supporting them.”

Cllr Rudland, 77, is the authority’s deputy mayor and was elected at a by-election in Brotton more than four years ago.

She confirmed to The Gazette that she was not planning on standing in the May elections.

“I had already taken that decision, I did not want to stand because of my age.

“I have enjoyed being a councillor, and I have particularly enjoyed my time as deputy mayor.”

On Sunday, the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Constituency Labour Party selected its candidates to stand in May’s election.

Current Labour cabinet members Joan Guy and Helen McLuckie were selected to stand again in their Saltburn and Skelton wards, the local party confirmed.

The ten councillors who resigned from the party at a protest outside Milbank Terrace office of Labour candidate for Redcar Anna Turley last week were: George Dunning (Teesville), Sheelagh Clarke (Teesville) Steve Goldswain (Eston), Olwyn Peters (Eston), Norman Pickthall (Teesville), Mark Hannon (Kirkleatham), Vic Jeffries (Marske), Brian Briggs (Skelton), Carole Simms (Normanby) and Wendy Wall (Normanby).

The resignations leave Labour with 18 councillors on the authority.

A vote of no confidence in leader George Dunning has been tabled by the council’s Liberal Democrat group for Thursday’s meeting of the full council.

In the wake of the row, Councillors Steve Goldswain and Olwyn Peters spoke out about alleged bullying in the local party, while the chairman of the Redcar constituency party Neil Bendelow confirmed to The Gazette that Cllr Vic Jeffries had made a formal complaint about bullying.

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Cllr Dunning said that the resignations came after a long-running internal dispute in the Labour Party between council leadership, and the offices of Ms Turley and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Tom Blenkinsop.

After Councillors Dunning, Clarke, Hannon and Jeffries joined Steve Goldswain, Brian Briggs and Norman Pickthall in being deselcted by the party, Mr Blenkinsop told The Gazette that “he wasn’t part of the selection process”.

Ms Turley said in a statement: “I am sad that the councillors and members who didn’t get selected don’t feel they can continue to be part of the Labour movement without being paid councillors, but the party cannot be held to ransom.

“There were simply other candidates who won their elections and they deserve their opportunity to serve their local communities.”

In response to Mrs Rudland’s announcement, Labour repeated its statement made in the wake of the other resignations that it was “disappointing but unsurprising”.

Man pleads guilty to receiving stolen flowers meant for funeral of Andrew Corfield

A man has pleaded guilty to receiving stolen flowers meant for the funeral of hugely popular dad Andrew Corfield.

Jonathan George Gregory appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court today after the “Pops” arrangement was discovered in his North Ormesby home.

The court heard that the flowers - an arrangement from Mr Corfield’s granddaughter - had been taken from outside Middlesbrough’s Alstro’s Florists on November 30 last year, just hours before the 39-year-old’s funeral.

Alan Davison, prosecuting, said Gregory and his friend had spotted the flowers but that he had told his acquaintance not to touch them.

But the 39-year-old claims he later found them inside his Jubilee Street home and handed them back - adding his head was all over the place at the time.

However the florist, Darren Hunter, had already started making inquiries in the area and was directed to the defendants address where he spotted them through a window.

Peter Harris, defending, said his client “made some admissions in interview” and “is a gentleman who has had a number of issues.”

“The flowers were only out of the owners hands for a short period of time,” he added. “It didn’t cause any issues for the funeral.”

Mr Corfield died just seconds after leaving his Hemlington home on October 28.

He and his 17-year-old daughter Alice, who is still fighting for her life, were travelling in a car when they were involved in a crash at the junction of Fordyce Road and Cass House Road.

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His untimely death has left his loved ones and many friends heartbroken - with hundreds of mourners turning out to bid him an emotional farewell.

Speaking to the Gazette previously, Darren Hunter, said he was “disgusted” at what had happened at his Kings Road, North Ormesby, shop.

“I just can’t believe someone would do it,” said Darren, 48, who had to repair some damage on the arrangement before the funeral.

“I didn’t tell the family what had happened until after the funeral because I didn’t want to cause even more upset,” he added.

“They were disgusted and rightly so.

“People can’t go about doing this kind of thing.”

Gregory, who pleaded guilty to receiving stolen goods, breaching a community order and failing to answer bail, will be sentenced on Thursday, February 19, to allow for a report to be prepared by the probation service.

Elaine Whitehead, chairwoman of the bench, at today’s hearing said she was “not happy” to deal with the case then and there.

Teenager Jake McCabe was jailed for seven-and-a-half years in December for causing the crash which killed Andrew Corfield.

McCabe, 18, pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, handling stolen goods and driving while not licensed or insured.