Breaking News: Communal tension grips Madhool in Adilabad

Communal tension gripped Madhool area of Adilabad last evening, when miscreants thrown a pig head near a Mosque during Fajr prayer. The report of this incident spread like fire and sparked tension in the region.

According to police sources here, the warring communities indulged in heavy stone pelting. Around 400 to 500 Muslims gathered near Police Station, started demonstration and demanded to bring Dog Squad.

When Dog Squad was pressed into investigation, they surprisingly directed to the Police Station and identified six of the miscreant who were already detained by the Police.

Sniffer Dog went straight away from Masjid to Srinu house and then to police station.

Srinu a habitual communal offender was arrested with 5 people.Srinu was involved in lot of cases previosly.Kishor Anjiah goud and chinnana were also arrested in this case.

A large number of security personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order, with senior police officers camping at the troubled spot.

Superintendent of Police reached the town and took control of the situation.By evening 5 o clock everthing is normal.

Details awaited

Source; Siasat.com

Assad bombs kill 20 in rebel-held Aleppo

BEIRUT: Renewed fighting broke a cease-fire in the embattled central Syrian city of Homs and halted a plan to evacuate civilians and bring supplies into rebel-held areas under siege, an official and activists said Saturday. The official said the fighting included a mortar that landed near UN personnel. An activist said combat began when government forces fired 11 rockets toward the rebel-held Hamidiyeh quarter.

Syrian forces loyal President Bashar Assad have prevented the entry of food and medical aid into rebel-held parts of the city for over a year, badly affecting hundreds of civilians holed up in the areas. An agreement had called for a three-day truce to allow the evacuation of some civilians and the entry of food shipments.

On Friday, 83 children, women and elderly people on wheelchairs were evacuated from Homs, the UN said. “UN teams have pre-positioned food, medical and other basic supplies for immediate delivery as soon as the first group of civilians are out and we hope to send this aid on Saturday morning,” said the UN humanitarian coordinator in Syria, Yacoub El Hillo. On Saturday, a coalition of exiled Syrian activists said they feared the agreement would be used as a “prelude to the regime destroying the city.”

“It has used similar deals to buy time to strengthen its positions on the ground and to kill more civilians,” said the Syrian Coalition in a statement issued Saturday. Also Saturday, military aircraft dropped barrels bombs on rebel-held areas in the northern city of Aleppo, killing at least 20. The bombings are part of a weeks-long campaign by Assad’s forces to wrest control of the city, parts of which were seized by rebels in mid-2012.

Other bombs fell on the Kalaseh district, the Aleppo Media Center reported. The activist collective, the Local Coordination Committees, also reported the bombings. Wissam said four people were killed in Masaken Hanano and another 11 were killed in Haidariyeh. Video footage of one incident started with a thundering explosion followed by a column of smoke billowing to the sky. Men rushed about a damaged building, pulling out smashed bodies.

They carried them on makeshift stretchers of cardboard and blankets, laying the dead on a sidewalk. One man placed a severed limb next to a sprawled body. Men rushed to an ambulance carrying a white sheet laden with body parts; they said they had collected four bodies.

Female prisoners tortured and sexually abused in Egypt’s jails

Egypt’s Women against the Coup movement has revealed that the authorities arrested 200 women in December and January and accused the interior ministry of torture and sexual abuse. “We registered the arrest of 200 women since the ratification of the Demonstration Act, which requires prior permission from the interior ministry for any demonstration and imposes severe retribution against dissidents,” said a report by the group.

According to Turkish news agency Anadolu, the women’s movement pointed out that female students from Al-Azhar University top the list of prisoners, which includes girls under 15 years old and elderly ladies of 60-plus.

The movement’s report noted that most arrests took place on the last Friday of December when 40 women were taken into custody. “Criminal sentences handed down in absentia started to appear in January,” the report said. “Six female students from Al-Azhar were sentenced to one year in prison and six from Nasser City were sentenced to five years.”

Women against the Coup said that violations against the women prisoners “started from the minute that they were arrested”; the report also uses the term “kidnapped”. “They were beaten by batons, their scarfs were removed and they were pulled by the hair; clothes were ripped off and they were sexually molested by officers who touched their private parts,” it alleged.

When the prisoners arrived at police stations they were obliged to strip off their clothes and, again, police officers touched their private parts and beat them before putting them in “inappropriate” cells. “After they were taken to Al-Qanater Prison,” claims the report, “the women faced virginity tests and were mixed with common criminals, who also attacked them.”

The UK-based Arab Organisation for Human Rights said that it had received complaints from the families of 12 students imprisoned in Egypt. “The complaints indicated that the ladies were beaten, insulted and sexually abused by soldiers or policemen when they were arrested.”

Egypt’s Deputy Interior Minister for Western Cairo, Brigadier Ali Damardash, denied the accusations. Speaking to Anadolu, he said: “I do not understand the violations it (AOHR) is speaking about. This is completely untrue… Egyptian prisons follow a system that respects international human rights… There is no basis for all the rumours about torture or violations in the Egyptian prisons.”

It is worth noting that many domestic and international human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have issued dozens of reports describing the serious violations taking place inside Egyptians prisons. Human rights activists are denied permission to visit the prisons or meet the prisoners

Israel’s demolition of WB homes hits 5-year high

International aid agencies say the Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes has hit a five-year high since the start of direct talks between the Palestinian Authority and Tel Aviv regime.

In a statement released on Friday, a coalition of 25 aid organizations said the demolitions hiked by almost 50 percent between July – when the US-sponsored talks began – and December 2013, compared to the same period in 2012.

The statement also said displacement of Palestinians has spiked by nearly 75 percent over the same period.

The coalition, which included Oxfam and Christian Aid, said 663 Palestinian homes have been demolished last year, the highest in five years.

Around 20 percent of those buildings were built with international donor aid.

“International and local aid organizations have faced increasingly severe restrictions in responding to the needs created by the unlawful demolition of civilian property, in violation of Israel’s obligation to facilitate the effective delivery of aid,” the groups added.

Meanwhile, the International Red Cross has suspended supplying tents to displaced Palestinians in the Jordan Valley in protest to the Israeli obstruction and confiscation of aid.

Rights groups say Tel Aviv’s demolitions are aimed at grabbing more land for construction of illegal settlements on Palestinian lands and launching military projects in the occupied territories.

Israel’s persistent settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank has created a major obstacle against efforts made to establish peace in the Middle East.

The Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.

MRS/AB/SS

Israeli soldiers injure five Gazans: Medics

Israeli forces have injured five Palestinians in the north of the besieged Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical sources say.

Gaza’s Health Ministry Spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said one of the five Gazans was in critical condition after being injured by Israeli gunfire on Friday.

The five were all in their early twenties, the Health Ministry spokesman said.

An Israeli military spokeswoman claimed the Israeli forces opened fire after “Palestinians hurled stones” at them.

Gaza has been blockaded since June 2007, a situation that has caused a decline in the standards of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment, and unrelenting poverty.

The apartheid regime of Israel denies about 1.7 million people in Gaza their basic rights, such as freedom of movement, jobs that pay proper wages, and adequate healthcare and education.

Over 160 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed and about 1,200 others injured in Israel’s eight-day offensive on the coastal enclave, which ended on November 21, 2012.

NT/MHB/MAM

Egypt police open fire on anti-coup protesters, 2 martyred

Egyptian security forces have fired live rounds at anti-government protesters marching in the northern province of Gharbia.

The incident took place during a protest ahead of Friday prayers in the Qotour area of the Nile Delta. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Egypt’s Anti-coup Alliance had called for mass rallies to condemn the interim government’s crackdown on such rallies.

Protesters also expressed outrage over reports that Egypt’s army chief, Field Marshal Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, plans to run for president.

Egypt has been experiencing unrelenting violence since last July when the army ousted the country’s first democratically-elected president, Mohamed Morsi, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the parliament. It also appointed the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court Adly Mahmoud Mansour as the new interim president.

Last December, Egypt’s military-backed interim government labeled the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization.

Thousands of members of the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters have been arrested and accused of inciting unrest in the North African country.

Amnesty International has criticized Egyptian authorities for using an “unprecedented scale” of violence against protesters and dealing “a series of damaging blows to human rights.”

According to the UK-based rights group, 1,400 people have been killed in the political violence since Morsi’s ouster, “most of them due to excessive force used by security forces.”

CAH/AB/SS

Boro 0 Blackburn Rovers 0: Match report from the Riverside Stadium

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BORO'S long goal drought was stretched to a frustrating seven hours and 15 minutes after agoalles draw with Blackburn.

But as double-blanks go, it was a relatively entertaining encounter with Blackburn Rovers keeper Paul Robinson making a string of excellent saves to keep dominant Boro at bay.

The former England shot-stopper made three good blocks in the firsthalf and another after the break.

But that will be little consolation for Boro who have now not scored for four games - although they added another clean sheet to their collection.

Danny Graham made his first start for Boro since May 2006 when Steve McClaren turned out an Academy dominated side with an average age below 20 four days before the UEFA Cup final.

Elsewhere in the team, Jozsef Varga and Jonathan Woodgate returned to defence in place of Kenneth Omeruo and injured Daniel Ayala while Ben Gibson started having come off the bench in last week's goalless draw at Doncaster.

Boro showed first in the second minute as Emmanuel Ledesma sent a low cross in from the left that evaded Graham at the near post then bounced to the back stick where defender Spurr put it out before Grant Leadbitter could arrive.

Then, on four minutes George Friend pushed a ball down the left for Mustapha Carayol to scoop up and weave into the box before drilling in an angled 10 yard effort the keeper did well to push behind for a corner.

Then when Ledesma's flag-kick curled to the near post on-loan Chelsea Nathaniel powered in a downward header keeper Robinson blocked one-handed before the rebound as hooked clear.

On 10 minutes a good move down the left sent Friend forward to push a ball towards the byline for Graham to chase and square across the face of goal but there was no-one arriving to profit.

Boro were dominating possession but were struggling to get the ball into the box and Graham looked isolated.

They threatened on 22 minutes as Carayol weaved in from the left and squared to Leadbitter 20 yards out and he rifled in a low shot that drifted wide.

And two minutes later Carayol latched onto a loose ball deep in the Boro half and streaked 50 yards before squaring into the box but the keeper was out quickly to collect before Graham could arrive,

Then in a good spell of pressure Friend over-lapped on 25 minutes and cut inside but his shot was charged down then the rebound wouldn't quite fall for Leadbitter near the penalty spot and the danger was scrambled clear.

Boro swept forward again a minute later as Leadbitter sent Friend into the box but his low effort clipped defender Hanley and screwed up over the bar.

Then Carayol again cut in from the left to slam in a sizzler that again Robinson did well to block at the near post.

And on 29 minutes Robinson spilled a Leadbitter ball in and as Ledesma tried to pounce he was bundled over by a defender then as Graham joined the scrum the keeper snaked out a hand to gather.

But Blackburn could have had the opener on 32 minutes as they won a corner and when Cairney's ball in was headed half-clear it dropped for Gestede on the edge of the box and he slammed wide.

Boro threatened again on 40 minutes as Varga carried the ball forward with the defence backing off but when he drilled in a shot from 20 yards it was charged down.

HALF-TIME: BORO 0 BLACKBURN 0

Rovers put Henley for Kane at the break.

Boro won a corner on 47 minutes and when Ledesma's ball curled to the far post Graham stooped to head but it hit a defender and went behind for another flag-kick which was again delivered to back stick but Carayol failed to connect.

From another corner Graham headed wide, then on 52 minutes Friend cut in from the left and fired a cross into the box that stretching defender Hanley tried to block but sent it screwing wildly and with Robinson back-pedalling furiously it dropped just beyond the far post.

Boro almost grabbed the opener on 55 minutes as a Rovers corner was cleared up to Graham and he slotted it forward for Carayol to streak forward and wriggle past Hanley to get clear into the box but as he shaped to shoot from 12 yards Robinson came sliding out to block.

On 56 minutes Rovers put on Conway for Dunn.

Rovers had a rare chance on 58 minutes as Cairney found space on the edge of the box to lash in a low shot that Shay Given saved with his feet.

Then two minutes later Given had to quickly to the edge of the box to punt clear from Rhodes as the Rovers man chased onto a weak back-header by Whitehead.

On 60 minutes Chalobah was booked for a foul on Gestede.

Boro were on the attack again on 62 minutes when Leadbitter got past Kilgallon to rifle in a low effort that was blocked by defender Lowe.

On 66 Carayol was booked for a foul on Taylor.

On 69 minutes Boro put on Albert Adomah for Ledesma.

The sub almost made the breakthrough for Boro on 72 minutes as he cut in from the right to the edge of the box then lashed in a powerful goalbound effort that Robinson, well off his line, did well to stretch and tip over.

On 75 minutes Kei Kamara came on for Carayol.

Rovers went close on 76 minutes as Lowe sent a 25 yard effort just over.

On 77 minutes Rovers put on Vardy for Gestede.

Boro had a half chance on 80 minutes as a superb diagonal ball by Chalobah found Adomah in the box but he had to stretch to bring it down and when he turned to shoot from 10 yards it was weak and straight at Robinson.

On 81 minutes Boro put on Curtis Main for Graham.

Boro had to weather some heavy pressure as Rovers won a disputed corner after Rhodes appeared to steer a Conway cross wide. That was scrambled away then when the bal l came back in there was another nervous melee.

But Boro broke out on 86 minutes as Adomah raced down the right to send a ball skidding across the face of goal that bounced past a defender then just beyond Main arriving in the box.

Boro continued to press in the final stages but it was increasingly scrappy and they could not carve out a clear chance.

BORO (4231): Given, Varga, Woodgate Gibson, Friend, Leadbitter, Chalobah, Whitehead, Ledesma (Adomah, 69), Carayol (Kamara 75), Graham (Main 81). Subs: Konstantopoulos, Butterfield, Hines, Omeruo.

BLACKBURN (442): Robinson, Kane (Henley 46), Hanley, Kilgallon, Spurr, Lowe, Taylor, Cairney, Dunn (Conway 56), Rhodes, Gestede (Varney 77). Subs: Eastwood, Henley, Williamson, Dabo, Evans, Conway.

Ref: Stuart Attwell (Nuneaton)

Att: 14,965 (691 awaty fans)

Sibal condemns Hindu Sena protest against Caravan magazine over Aseemanand’s interview

Minister of Communication and Information Technology Kapil Sibal on Friday criticized Hindu Sena workers for protesting outside the office of Caravan Magazine, for running the interview of Swami Aseemanand, in which he allegedly implicated Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat for his involvement in the 2007 terror attacks.

Sibal asserted that the mindset of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is anti-freedom of expression. “This is a violent attack on the freedom of expression, and the experience of the NDA should make you recognize and understand that this is something they did even during 1999-2004, when people from Tehelka were able to expose them. What did they do? They set up a commission to destroy them. Same thing is happening now,” he told media here today. “Caravan is not a Congress agent; it is a periodical which investigates thoroughly some issues.

They have investigated what Aseemanand has been saying. And they stand by their story. And now they are attacking them. The mindset of BJP is anti-freedom of expression. The mindset of BJP is to destroy whoever comes on their way,” he added. Earlier in the day, Hindu Sena workers staged a protest outside Caravan magazine’s office over the Aseemanand controversial interview. “If any Hindu leader or organization is accused of terror then it’s an accusation on all 100 crore Hindus. Caravan Magazine should be shut down or else Hindu Sena will shut it down,” a Hindu Sena worker Vishnu Gupta said. (ANI)

Boro v Blackburn Rovers: Match report from the Riverside Stadium

SCROLL DOWN TO RATE THE PLAYERS

CLICK STATS TAB ABOVE FOR MATCH OVERVIEW (desktop website only)

BORO'S long goal drought was stretched to a frustrating seven hours and 15 minutes after agoalles draw with Blackburn.

But as double-blanks go, it was a relatively entertaining encounter with Blackburn Rovers keeper Paul Robinson making a string of excellent saves to keep dominant Boro at bay.

The former England shot-stopper made three good blocks in the firsthalf and another after the break.

But that will be little consolation for Boro who have now not scored for four games - although they added another clean sheet to their collection.

Danny Graham made his first start for Boro since May 2006 when Steve McClaren turned out an Academy dominated side with an average age below 20 four days before the UEFA Cup final.

Elsewhere in the team, Jozsef Varga and Jonathan Woodgate returned to defence in place of Kenneth Omeruo and injured Daniel Ayala while Ben Gibson started having come off the bench in last week's goalless draw at Doncaster.

Boro showed first in the second minute as Emmanuel Ledesma sent a low cross in from the left that evaded Graham at the near post then bounced to the back stick where defender Spurr put it out before Grant Leadbitter could arrive.

Then, on four minutes George Friend pushed a ball down the left for Mustapha Carayol to scoop up and weave into the box before drilling in an angled 10 yard effort the keeper did well to push behind for a corner.

Then when Ledesma's flag-kick curled to the near post on-loan Chelsea Nathaniel powered in a downward header keeper Robinson blocked one-handed before the rebound as hooked clear.

On 10 minutes a good move down the left sent Friend forward to push a ball towards the byline for Graham to chase and square across the face of goal but there was no-one arriving to profit.

Boro were dominating possession but were struggling to get the ball into the box and Graham looked isolated.

They threatened on 22 minutes as Carayol weaved in from the left and squared to Leadbitter 20 yards out and he rifled in a low shot that drifted wide.

And two minutes later Carayol latched onto a loose ball deep in the Boro half and streaked 50 yards before squaring into the box but the keeper was out quickly to collect before Graham could arrive,

Then in a good spell of pressure Friend over-lapped on 25 minutes and cut inside but his shot was charged down then the rebound wouldn't quite fall for Leadbitter near the penalty spot and the danger was scrambled clear.

Boro swept forward again a minute later as Leadbitter sent Friend into the box but his low effort clipped defender Hanley and screwed up over the bar.

Then Carayol again cut in from the left to slam in a sizzler that again Robinson did well to block at the near post.

And on 29 minutes Robinson spilled a Leadbitter ball in and as Ledesma tried to pounce he was bundled over by a defender then as Graham joined the scrum the keeper snaked out a hand to gather.

But Blackburn could have had the opener on 32 minutes as they won a corner and when Cairney's ball in was headed half-clear it dropped for Gestede on the edge of the box and he slammed wide.

Boro threatened again on 40 minutes as Varga carried the ball forward with the defence backing off but when he drilled in a shot from 20 yards it was charged down.

HALF-TIME: BORO 0 BLACKBURN 0

Rovers put Henley for Kane at the break.

Boro won a corner on 47 minutes and when Ledesma's ball curled to the far post Graham stooped to head but it hit a defender and went behind for another flag-kick which was again delivered to back stick but Carayol failed to connect.

From another corner Graham headed wide, then on 52 minutes Friend cut in from the left and fired a cross into the box that stretching defender Hanley tried to block but sent it screwing wildly and with Robinson back-pedalling furiously it dropped just beyond the far post.

Boro almost grabbed the opener on 55 minutes as a Rovers corner was cleared up to Graham and he slotted it forward for Carayol to streak forward and wriggle past Hanley to get clear into the box but as he shaped to shoot from 12 yards Robinson came sliding out to block.

On 56 minutes Rovers put on Conway for Dunn.

Rovers had a rare chance on 58 minutes as Cairney found space on the edge of the box to lash in a low shot that Shay Given saved with his feet.

Then two minutes later Given had to quickly to the edge of the box to punt clear from Rhodes as the Rovers man chased onto a weak back-header by Whitehead.

On 60 minutes Chalobah was booked for a foul on Gestede.

Boro were on the attack again on 62 minutes when Leadbitter got past Kilgallon to rifle in a low effort that was blocked by defender Lowe.

On 66 Carayol was booked for a foul on Taylor.

On 69 minutes Boro put on Albert Adomah for Ledesma.

The sub almost made the breakthrough for Boro on 72 minutes as he cut in from the right to the edge of the box then lashed in a powerful goalbound effort that Robinson, well off his line, did well to stretch and tip over.

On 75 minutes Kei Kamara came on for Carayol.

Rovers went close on 76 minutes as Lowe sent a 25 yard effort just over.

On 77 minutes Rovers put on Vardy for Gestede.

Boro had a half chance on 80 minutes as a superb diagonal ball by Chalobah found Adomah in the box but he had to stretch to bring it down and when he turned to shoot from 10 yards it was weak and straight at Robinson.

On 81 minutes Boro put on Curtis Main for Graham.

Boro had to weather some heavy pressure as Rovers won a disputed corner after Rhodes appeared to steer a Conway cross wide. That was scrambled away then when the bal l came back in there was another nervous melee.

But Boro broke out on 86 minutes as Adomah raced down the right to send a ball skidding across the face of goal that bounced past a defender then just beyond Main arriving in the box.

Boro continued to press in the final stages but it was increasingly scrappy and they could not carve out a clear chance.

BORO (4231): Given, Varga, Woodgate Gibson, Friend, Leadbitter, Chalobah, Whitehead, Ledesma (Adomah, 69), Carayol (Kamara 75), Graham (Main 81). Subs: Konstantopoulos, Butterfield, Hines, Omeruo.

BLACKBURN (442): Robinson, Kane (Henley 46), Hanley, Kilgallon, Spurr, Lowe, Taylor, Cairney, Dunn (Conway 56), Rhodes, Gestede (Varney 77). Subs: Eastwood, Henley, Williamson, Dabo, Evans, Conway.

Ref: Stuart Attwell (Nuneaton)

Att: 14,965 (691 awaty fans)

ICC investigating war crimes in C African Republic

The International Criminal Court (ICC) says it has launched a preliminary investigation into war crimes in the Central African Republic (CAR).

The Hague-based tribunal made the announcement in a statement issued on Friday to investigate the unrest that has plagued the African nation of 4.6 million for over a year.

African leaders have recently strongly criticized the ICC, accusing it of “racism” in indicting only African leaders. Some African countries have also threatened to sever ties with the court.

“My office has reviewed many reports detailing acts of extreme brutality… and allegations of serious crimes being committed,” said Fatou Bensouda, the ICC chief prosecutor.

“I have therefore decided to open a preliminary investigation into this… situation,” she stated.

More than 1,000 people have been killed in the Central African Republic since Christian militias launched coordinated attacks against the mostly Muslim Seleka group, which toppled the government last March.

Amnesty International has warned of the potential of large-scale killing in the northwest of the country.

France invaded its former colony on December 5, 2013, after the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution giving the African Union and France the go-ahead to send troops to the country.

France has deployed 1,600 troops in the country, but the UN-backed intervention force, which includes about 4,000 African Union peacekeepers, is struggling to restore security in the African Republic.

Paris claims the aim of the mission is to create stability in the country in order to allow humanitarian aid to reach violence-hit areas.

There are many mineral resources, including gold and diamond, in the Central African Republic. However, the country is extremely poor and has faced a series of rebellions and coups since it gained independence in 1960.

GJH/MHB/MAM

The day we fight back against mass surveillance is coming

Two years ago, major websites like Google, Reddit and Wikipedia went dark for a day. They were protesting the then-pending “Stop Online Piracy Act,” federal legislation that would have done enormous damage to the open internet by creating system of censorship and deterring digital-media innovators. The 18 January 2012 blackout created an outpouring of opposition from average Americans who suddenly realized what was at stake, and Congress backed off a bill that almost certainly would have passed otherwise.

There won’t be a website blackout next Tuesday, 11 February, but there will be another virtual call to arms. In the US the primary goal this time is to help reverse America’s retreat from liberty by telling lawmakers we can’t abide a surveillance state – and by insisting they vote for a measure, called the USA Freedom Act, that would begin to restore the civil liberties we’ve lost in recent times. (For people outside the US the goal will be similar, to push authorities toward policies favoring liberty and privacy.)

Next week’s protest organizers are calling it “The Day We Fight Back Against Mass Surveillance”. They’ve lined up an array of backers of various political persuasions. You don’t often see the American Civil Liberties Union on the same side of an issue as the very conservative FreedomWorks, but they are this time.

The cynics will say, “Why bother?” They’ll note that the NSA and other security agencies in the US and abroad, urged on by a series of American presidents and other leaders, have ignored and broken laws with impunity. They’ll point out politicians’ epic hypocrisy; for example, members of Congress have supported the shredding of the Bill of Rights when presidents of their own party were in power, only protesting when the other party captured the White House. And they’ll assure us, even as public opinion turns against dragnet surveillance, that the next terrorist attack will swing the public mood back to the “keep me safe no matter what it takes” camp.

They’ll have a point. The relentlessness of the surveillance forces and their enablers in the technology industry, and the fecklessness of the politicians who are supposed to honor their oaths of office, make it hard to be optimistic. But realism doesn’t mean we should to give up.

The organizers of Fight Back are realistic. David Segal, a main organizer, is a former Rhode Island state representative and head of Demand Progress, an advocacy group founded by the late activist Aaron Swartz, who in turn was a key organizer of the fight against SOPA and, a year later, took his own life after being hounded by federal prosecutors on outrageously trumped-up charges. No one can doubt that Swartz would have been on the front lines of a day when we fight back, and it is dedicated in part to his memory.

Segal calls the 11 February event one step among many more we need to take – but an important one if it galvanizes enough people to do something at a key juncture.

“Right now we do think we have enough votes in the House to move the USA Freedom Act forward,” he told me this week. The main sponsor of the legislation, Jim Sensenbrenner, a Republican, is an author of the odious Bush-era Patriot Act that has been at the heart of the worst behavior by the NSA et al; he says it’s all gone too far, and more than 200 representatives have signed on.

At the Senate, it’s a different story. It’s controlled by Democrats who, for the most part, have been reluctant to challenge the Obama administration or who – like California’s Dianne Feinstein – have been ardent advocates for civil liberties abuses by administrations of both parties. So the Fight Back organizers are hoping Americans will call and write their senators first. Calls and letters from Americans whose senators are on the Judiciary Committee, which will decide whether the legislation gets a genuine hearing, will be especially vital.

Even passage of this bill would be just a start. Another upcoming milestone will arrive next year when the Patriot Act is up for reauthorization, and the coalition that is gathering for the Fight Back effort will be essential then as well.

By the time you read this, you’ll be able to find some interactive images on the homepage of the Fight Back website – and code that you can use to embed them on your own website to help this campaign. It will be on my site. How about yours?

Fighting back will be a long, difficult process, and will take more than contacting members of Congress. But this is one useful activity, among many others we’ll need to try. Let’s not allow realism to turn to despair, meanwhile. The stakes are too high.

AGB/AGB

Jordanians hold demonstration against US

People have staged a protest in Jordan against the United States ahead of an upcoming visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry.

On Friday, thousands of protesters took to the streets of the Jordanian capital Amman as they chanted anti-US slogans.

The demonstrators, who came from Arab nationalist groups and Jordanian tribes, expressed anger at the so-called peace talks between the Israeli regime and the Palestinian Authority (PA).

The protesters chanted “Our people will never surrender,” and “We will liberate you Palestine.”

They also called on Palestinian groups to reject the talks, which are backed by Washington.

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

Last Palestinian-Israeli talks had broken down in September 2010 after Tel Aviv refused to freeze its settlement activities in the occupied West Bank.

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

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

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

NT/MHB/MAM

Show your hunger to win, coach tells faltering Billingham Stars

8 Feb 2014 11:36

Billingham Stars need to “show some hunger” when they make the trip to Ice Sheffield tomorrow afternoon to take on Sutton Sting in a third versus fourth place NIHL One league battle

Mike Elder is back in action for Billingham Stars as they aim to end their two-match losing streak against Sutton Sting

Billingham Stars need to “show some hunger” when they make the trip to Ice Sheffield tomorrow afternoon to take on Sutton Sting in a third versus fourth place NIHL One league battle.

That is the message from the club’s director of coaching Terry Ward as they look to stop their recent slide and get back to winning ways following two consecutive defeats as the push for the top four play-off slots starts to intensify.

Now that the Ultimate Windows-sponsored Stars only have five league games left to play, the race for a top four slot is between Solway, Blackburn, Billingham, Sutton, Whitley and Sheffield.

With two out of four league games played this season between the Stars and Sting neither side hold an advantage, both having won on home ice.

Stars welcome back Mikey Elder up front, and at the back, the blue line will receive a boost from the returns of Dave Thomas and Jamie Pattison.

And Ward needs his players to put last weekend’s heavy 5-1 defeat at Whitley Warriors behind them.

The derby drubbing followed a 6-2 home defeat to tomorrow’s South Yorkshire-based opponents.

“We need to bounce back from last week’s loss at Whitley and rediscover our winning ways,” he said.

“I need to see some hunger and passion from the lads at Ice Sheffield tomorrow.

“I think we went to Whitley with the wrong attitude, we had beaten the Warriors in Billingham 6-2 and I think we were complacent in the way we underestimated their desire to win.

“If we do that again with any team this season, it could be very costly.

“The guys know what is expected of them tomorrow night.

“People look at the table and they see that Sutton have games in hand to us, but those games count for nothing if we take the points.”

Ward admitted the Stars’ last performance against Sutton was a bit of a mixed bag.

“In the last game against Sutton two weeks ago, we started with some big physical hits,” he said.

“We put them off their game and disrupted their rhythm.

“We stayed within one goal of them for 40 minutes until they stung us with two quick goals, and after that we couldn’t find a way back into the game.”

But he is pleased to see the squad back to almost full strength and praised youngster Jack Davies for playing well while he deputised in Elder’s absence.

“We are only short of Andy Finn through injury, and it’s great to have Mike Elder back,” he added.

“While Mike was injured Jack did a good job on that line, and it’s done his confidence a lot of good.”

Stars are next in home ice action next on February 16 when they take on league leaders Solway Sharks at the Billingham Ice Arena (face-off 6.30pm).

Recognise him? Man police want to trace in razors theft probe

8 Feb 2014 11:35

Stokesley police have released CCTV images of a man they need to trace after several hundreds of pounds worth of razors and razor blades were taken

Stokesley police released this CCTV image of a man they want to speak to after an incident of shoplifting in the town when it is thought razors and razor blades worth hundreds of pounds were taken

Do you know this man?

Stokesley police have released CCTV images of a man they need to trace after several hundreds of pounds worth of razors and razor blades were taken.

It is believed that the man entered Boots the Chemists in the town on Thursday, January 16 and Friday, January 17.

The suspect approached a display in the shop, when it is thought razors and razor blades worth several hundreds of pounds were taken.

PC Blair Taylor, of Stokesley Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “If anyone recognises the man caught on camera I urge them to contact the police straight away.

“If you are the man in the images and you are not responsible for this theft, please come forward so I can eliminate you from my inquiries.”

Anyone who can assist officers to progress this investigation should contact Stokesley police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Blair Taylor. Alternatively, information can be emailed to blair.taylor@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk, or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, quoting reference number 12140011522.

Anger as plan for housing across the Park End Estate is given the go-ahead

8 Feb 2014 11:32

An opposed bid to build homes on two Middlesbrough green sites has been given the green light – but a third was thrown out

Park End children who were protesting about the plans to build houses in green areas on the estate

An opposed bid to build homes on two Middlesbrough green sites has been given the green light – but a third was thrown out.

Efforts to build 24 low-cost homes across the Park End Estate drew objections from at least 65 residents. But Middlesbrough Council’s planning committee approved plans at yesterday’s meeting.

Residents claimed people in the the homes would be made to live “like battery hens” and that there are better sites available for the affordable homes.

But councillors voted unanimously to approve the application from Middlesbrough-based Erimus Housing, which plans to start the work later this month.

The company has been told they can build 16 homes on Corsham Walk and eight on Penrith Road. A third application to build eight properties on Royston Avenue was refused permission.

Residents believe the new developments will leave children with nowhere to play.

Campaigner Donna Jones, 44, of Barnford Walk, which lies opposite Corsham Walk, attended the meeting and said she was sickened by the lack of thought that has gone into the planning.

She said: “We have been fighting this for almost two years now and it just feels like a kick in the teeth.

“If this wasn’t sprung on us just this week, I am sure we could of been better prepared and residents could have attended the meeting yesterday.

“I plan to challenge the schools regarding allocated space for new pupils.

“I was told the schools in the area are already fit to burst and that’s before we get new residents in. We are just forgotton about.”

A petition signed by 39 residents strongly opposed plans to build houses on Royston Avenue with residents stating children would be deprived of a safe place to play.

Existing access to parking was also a major concern.

Speaking at the meeting, councillor Francis McIntyre said: “I am happy to support both Corsham Walk and Penrith Road applications.

“But looking at the site on Royston Avenue I can say that the site is just not big enough to build the houses on. Also, the space in terms of roads and parking access, there was not enough room, it was far too small and cramped. It is for that reason I feel I could not support the third application.”

Protester and Middlesbrough Park End councillor Kevin Morby, who has lived in Park End for 57 years, said he is disappointed with the “lack of interest” from residents in the fight against houses being built on their doorstep.

He said: “We have been told the building work will go ahead due to the lack of protest from residents and unsatisfactory reasons.It just goes to show the lack of community spirit around the town, and I allege every other ward in the town are suffering the same.”

Erimus was unavailable for comment last night.

Egypt’s press downgraded from ‘partly free’ to ‘not free’

“Journalists are never supposed to become the story,” wrote Al-Jazeera correspondent Peter Greste, in a letter smuggled out of Cairo’s Tora Prison. Yet that is just what has happened to the award-winning Australian journalist, who was arrested along with two Egyptian colleagues, Mohamed Famy and Baher Mohamed, on 29 December.

The journalists have been detained for allegedly holding illegal meetings with the Muslim Brotherhood. The Islamist group, which until July’s military coup was the majority in the country’s democratically elected government, has been labelled a terrorist organisation by Egypt’s interim government.

Greste’s incarceration has made worldwide headlines, with even Barack Obama weighing in to call for his release. But it represents just the tip of the iceberg. Last week, Egyptian prosecutors said that they would be bringing criminal charges against 20 people working for the Al-Jazeera network. The journalists are charged with conspiring with a terrorist group and spreading false images, after they covered last year’s clashes in Tahrir Square. “We make no apologies for telling all sides of the story, and we stand by our journalism,” the broadcaster has said.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, there are currently at least 10 journalists imprisoned in Egypt with the real figure likely to be closer to 20 or 25. Such an unprecedented crackdown on Al-Jazeera, an international media organisation, does not bode well for the treatment of local journalists.

The clampdown on press freedom under the military-backed interim government has led some observers to draw unfavourable comparisons to the dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted in 2011.

The current regime’s clampdown began immediately after Mohammed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood president, was forced out of office on 3 July. That night, five television stations went off air: the Muslim Brotherhood-run Misr25, as well as four pro-Morsi Islamist stations. Police handcuffed around 200 employees and confiscated equipment and phones. Employees were interrogated, and 22 journalists imprisoned overnight on accusations of conspiring to overthrow the regime.

While this censorship was initially tightly focused on elements of the media that support the Brotherhood, there are signs – not least, the targeting of Al-Jazeera – that media across the political spectrum is under threat. The transitional government has spoken about introducing a journalistic code of ethics, which would in all likelihood enshrine intervention and oversight by the authorities.

At times, the clampdown on the media has bordered on the farcical. In early January, an advertisement for Vodafone Egypt featuring a popular puppet, Abla Fahita, triggered an investigation after allegations that the puppet was transmitting secret messages to Muslim Brotherhood supporters about a bomb attack. A Facebook page supporting the Egyptian security apparatus and calling for the puppet masters to be arrested quickly gained 600,000 followers. But despite the absurdity, this gives some indication of how polarized a setting Egypt has become. This intense antagonism between pro- and anti-government forces plays its own part in undermining unbiased reporting of events. International journalists reporting on events in Cairo have spoken of the risk of mob violence from angry crowds accusing them of an affiliation with Al-Jazeera or with terrorism.

Freedom House has downgraded Egypt’s ranking from “partly free” to “not free”. It said that this was “due to officially tolerated campaigns to intimidate journalists, increased efforts to prosecute reporters and commentators for insulting the political leadership or defaming religion, and intensified polarization of the pro- and anti-Muslim Brotherhood press, which reduced the availability of balanced coverage.”

While the situation has escalated under the transitional government, press freedom was already on the slide under Morsi. His government issued a decree in August banning the pretrial detention of journalists, but it also repeatedly pursued critics on defamation charges. According to the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, at least 24 criminal cases were filed for insulting the president during the six months after Morsi’s election. That is significantly more than under Egypt’s previous presidents. This no doubt contributed to the increasingly antagonistic and polarized atmosphere that prevails today.

Responding to growing international criticism, the Egyptian foreign minister said that the government was committed to “all peaceful ways of expression under the constitution and law”. He added that all media – including the international media – were “welcome”, but he stuck to the government’s defence of the crackdown by sayig that “it is no secret that Egypt faces a terrorist threat”.

In the letter sneaked out of Tora prison, Greste spoke of a change in his perspective. “I have sought, until now, to make the authorities understand that this is all a terrible mistake, that I’ve been caught in the middle of a political struggle that is not my own,” he wrote. “But after two weeks in prison it is now clear that this is a dangerous decision. It validates an attack not just on me and my two colleagues but on freedom of speech across Egypt.

“The prisons are overflowing with anyone who opposes or challenges the government. So our arrest is not a mistake, and as a journalist this IS my battle.”

19-year-old man dies in crash on Brotton bypass in East Cleveland

8 Feb 2014 10:26

A 19-year-old man has died following a three car smash on the bypass between Skelton and Brotton

Scene of accident at Brotton Bypass

Police are appealing for information after a 19-year-old man died in a three car smash in East Cleveland.

A man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving following the fatal crash on the A174 Brotton Bypass at 5pm yesterday (Friday).

Three cars were involved in the collision, a black Vauxhall Corsa, a grey Audi estate and a white Volkswagen Scirocco.

Tragically, one of the passengers in the Corsa, a 19-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another passenger in the Corsa, an 18-year-old woman, was taken to hospital, where she is in a stable condition.

The driver of the Corsa, a 19-year-old man, was taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries. He was later discharged.

Cleveland Police say a 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He will be questioned by police.

A man driving the Audi and a woman driving the Scirocco received minor injuries during the collision.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen the collision or who may have information to contact them on the non-emergency number 101.

Boro may consider terraces area to allow fans to stand at Riverside

Boro could consider the possibility of introducing a terraced area to allow fans to stand to watch games at The Riverside – with fans’ groups supporting the idea.

The club has been opposed to the idea in the past, but is likely to look at the implications of a move by the Football League to ask the government to allow “safe standing areas” at Championship grounds.

The Government has agreed to discuss the matter, with a spokesman for the department of culture, media and sport confirming it will talk to the league’s representatives.

A Boro spokesman told the Gazette: “The safety and security of spectators has been and will continue to be a priority for the club.

“The re-introduction of standing accommodation in the Riverside will only be considered if MFC are satisfied that it can be achieved without any deterioration in the standards of safety and security within the stadium, is viewed positively by the majority of fans and can be done cost effectively.

“However, safety and security of spectators are not the only considerations that need to be taken into account.

“Modifications to the stadium structure and new/additional barriers to meet revised standards will require significant expenditure.

“Until the exact design specifications are known, this cost cannot be defined and an assessment made about the overall financial case for the change.

“In addition, the club’s ambitions are to gain promotion and aspire to return to European competition.

“In order to avoid compliance issues with the Premier League, the English FA and UEFA, a harmonised approach to stadia regulations is essential.

“There remain significant barriers to achieving a common understanding across all of the relevant football authorities and therefore the club will struggle to introduce safe standing terraces that will be acceptable in all competitions.

“MFC will continue to contribute to the debate and engage with all relevant parties in order to establish a safe and secure solution that benefits the game of football and that is legally, socially and financially acceptable.”

Fans have backed the idea. John Donovan, of Boro supporters group The Twe12th Man, said: “Standing can make for a good atmosphere, because friends can get together on terraces even if they don’t buy their tickets at the same time.

“If you are your mates are spread out in seats, the atmosphere can be diluted.

“I’m not sure how it would work at the Riverside. There may be a lot of expense involved. My priority at Boro would not be to change the ground to suit a small section of the fans, but to spend on players to get us into the Premier League.

“But an answer would be to relax the rules to allow fans to stand in some seated areas. I don’t see the problem with that, apart from the occasional grazed shin on the seat in front.”

Red Faction member Stephen Fletcher has first-hand experience of safe standing having lived and gone to games in Germany. He would love to see it introduced at the Riverside Stadium – provided it was financially viable.

He said: “I know the issue of standing is still a very emotive subject with Hillsborough and Boro were the only Championship club to oppose it, but I’m a massive fan of safe standing,” he said.

“We are talking about a new, modern form of standing in modern stadiums, not at crumbling old grounds.

“I used to live in Northern Germany and went to games at places like Hannover, St Pauli and Bremen, so I experienced it first hand when I was over there.

“There is a rail in front and behind, so there is no chance of crushed, and you get an allocated seat so you can choose to stand if you want.

Fletcher is also one of several Boro fans who have experienced standing in the Borussia Dortmund’s infamous Yellow Wall.

He added: “There are a few Boro lads who go to Dortmund games and I was lucky enough to be part of a rocking Yellow Wall at the Dortmund-Schalke derby. A group of Dortmund fans came over here and got to see the Bolton game.”

Rob Nichols, editor of Boro fanzone Fly Me To The Moon, is pleased to see the subject of safe standing back on the political agenda and thinks it is about time it was introduced across the board in English football.

“I would love to see safe standing introduced, definitely – and it’s about time it was addressed again,” he said.

“A lot of people who only go to home games might not realise it, but 60 to 70 per cent of fans who go away stand up throughout the game.

“All due respect to Hillsborough and it is still in the news, but we are not talking about a return to 1989. Football stadiums have moved on a hell of a lot since then.”

Emergency? Not here, says Boro boss after ruling out loan deals

8 Feb 2014 10:15

Middlebrough boss Aitor Karanka has no plans to enter the loan market now that the ‘emergency’ window has opened

Middlesbrough's Manager Aitor Karanka

Aitor Karanka has no plans to enter the loan market now that the ‘emergency’ window has opened.

The Boro boss has declared himself satisfied with his first team squad as things stand.

The emergency loan window opens a week after the January deadline day and this year won’t close until March 28.

“I’m happy with the squad because the thing I wanted at the start of January was a better squad at the end of the month,” said Karanka. “I don’t want to say the players I have at the moment are better than the players that have left, but the squad as a whole is better.

“I wanted just 20 or 21 outfield players in the squad because we had too many people at training.

“The young players who have gone out on loan are better off because they are playing and gaining experience while Lukas Jutkiewicz has the chance to recover his confidence at Bolton and Marvin Emnes is playing in the Premier League with Swansea.

“So they are all happy and the players who have joined us will improve the squad and have a chance to help us over the remainder of the season.”

Boro may choose to take players on loan if they suffer a spate of injuries in one position and may opt to bring in another keeper when Shay Given returns to Aston Villa at the end of the month.

That’s not to say Jason Steele won’t be given a chance to stake a claim when he’s fully recovered from his ankle problem.

Karanka revealed that the young keeper could step up his fitness regime by playing for the under-21 team before too long.

He said: “Jason is training well, our medical staff say he’ll soon play an under-21 game and will be with us as soon as possible.”

South Bank grandmother 'coerced' into £50,000 benefit fraud

8 Feb 2014 10:10

Caroline Foster, who used some of the cash to pay for holidays, was bullied by her husband Teesside Crown Court heard

Teesside Crown Court

A 49-year-old grandmother was “coerced” into swindling more than £50,000 in benefits, a court was told.

Caroline Foster, who used some of the cash to pay for holidays, was bullied by her traveller husband, her defence argued.

The 49-year-old fraudulently claimed £34,244.31 in income support, £9,125.68 in housing benefit and £7,129.93 in council tax.

In total the grandmother falsely received £50,499.92, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Foster told the Department for Work and Pensions and Redcar and Cleveland Council that she was single, although her husband lived with her, the court was told yesterday.

Prosecutor John Gillette said: “There is extensive evidence to demonstrate that Mr Foster was living in the home address.”

Foster, of Keir Hardie Crescent, South Bank, pleaded guilty to three counts of making a dishonest representation to obtain benefits.

Umza Khan, defending, said her client was a “vulnerable individual”, of previously good character, who “fully accepts her offending behaviour and does not seek to minimise it”.

She added that Foster had married into the travelling community and had struggled to be accepted within it. Ms Khan said that her client had been “subjected to a great deal of violence” by Mr Foster who continued to have a “controlling hand” in her life.

She said: “I would argue that she was somewhat coerced into making decisions by Mr Foster.”

The court was told that Foster had begun repaying the money.

Recorder Hilary Manley said: “These benefits frauds were fraudulent from the outset over a significant period of time.

“There were multiple false claims and a significant amount of public money has been paid to you that should not have been.”

She added that an “aggravating feature” was that some money was used for holidays but said she took into consideration Foster’s relationship with her husband.

Foster was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years with a two-year supervision order.