Rights group slams Kenya over Somali refugees

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has strongly criticized Kenya’s mistreatment of Somalis in the country, saying Nairobi treats the refugees as scapegoats.

“Scapegoating and abusing Somalis for heinous attacks by unknown people is not going to protect Kenyans, Somalis, or anyone else against more attacks,” said HRW’s Gerry Simpson on Friday.

The comments come as Kenyan security forces have rounded up thousands of Somali refugees over the past week as part of an operation to fight what they call terrorists.

Kenya’s Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku has said close to 4,000 people have been detained in the operation, and 82 of them flown back to Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.

Hundreds of refugees are still being kept under poor conditions and preventing Somalis from seeking refuge in the country is a clear violation of international law, the human rights body said.

Human Rights Watch has also told Nairobi that mistreating and abusing Somalis over the deadly attacks on the Westgate shopping mall by unknown assailants last year will not protect Kenyans.

The al-Shabab fighter group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the raid was in retaliation for the Kenyan military’s invasion of southern Somalia in October 2011.

“Kenya’s deportation of Somalis to their conflict-ridden country without allowing them to seek asylum would be a flagrant breach of its legal obligations,” Simpson concluded.

GMA/AB/SS

Egyptian police kill two Muslim Brotherhood members

Egyptian security forces have killed at least two members of the Muslim Brotherhood in the northern governorate of al-Gharbia, a media report says.

The two men were killed in a police shootout in the city of Tanta on Friday, state news agency MENA reported.

Another person was wounded and others escaped, the agency added.

The killings occurred before the Friday prayers where mass anti-government rallies are scheduled every week.

Egypt has been hit by a spate of deadly violence since the forced overthrow of democratically-elected president, Mohamed Morsi, last summer.

The country’s military-backed government accuses Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood of attempting to destabilize the country.

Hundreds of people have lost their lives in the violence and thousands have been put behind bars.

Egyptian protesters have been demanding Morsi’s reinstatement and calling for the release of Brotherhood activists.

Amnesty International has recently criticized Egyptian authorities for using an “unprecedented scale” of violence against protesters.

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

GMA/AB/SS

Crime rate continues to fall across Stockton Borough according to figures

Stockton remains the safest place in the Tees Valley, according to crime figures

Stockton remains the safest place in the Tees Valley, according to figures.

In 2013/14 there were 10,004 publically reported crimes compared with 10,098 in 2012/13, showing a 0.9% reduction.

Safer Stockton Partnership chairman Geoff Lee said: “Stockton borough continues to enjoy the lowest rates of crime in Cleveland which is a huge achievement for the Safer Stockton Partnership in a year which saw further public sector budget reductions and a continuing growth in population.

“Crime across Stockton borough has reduced steadily over the last 10 years and recorded crime is consistently lower than the national average.”

The figures show Stockton borough still has the lowest publically reported crime rate at 51.9 crimes per 1,000 people.

Total crime, which includes public disorder and drugs offences, has also reduced by 1.8%, which is a reduction of 207 crimes in the last year.

Stockton Council’s Cabinet member for housing and community safety, Councillor Steve Nelson said: “We are delighted to see a further reduction in crime across Stockton borough which is testament to the partnership work of many services and organisations. It is particularly pleasing to see a further reduction in dwelling burglary - 96 fewer people were victims of this crime in 2013/14 compared to the previous year. What’s more, the number of dwelling house burglaries has reduced by more than 40% in the last five years.”

Chief Inspector Chris Downes said: “Key to these great results is intelligence from the local community as it helps to drive the direction that we go in order to reduce crime.

“Never has partnership working been so important and the police service doesn’t reduce crime without the assistance from other partner agencies. I’m pleased that the strong partnerships we have in Stockton continue to make the borough a safe place to live, work and socialise.”

To report a crime contact Cleveland Police on 101 (non-emergency) or 999 (emergency). You can also report crime anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Off the pitch transfer for Boro as council business could transfer

Middlesbrough Council to consider proposals to transfer training and conference business to club.

A council-run conference and training business could transfer into the hands of Middlesbrough Football Club if proposals are agreed.

A report recommending the transfer of Middlesbrough Teaching and Learning Centre (MTLC) business to MFC will be considered by Middlesbrough Council’s Executive member for regeneration and economic development on Thursday.

The change comes after the centre, on Cargo Fleet Lane, was earmarked for closure as part of £14.9m cuts to Middlesbrough Council’s budget, announced in March.

A report to the executive has now recommended that the authority transfer its external training and conference business to the Riverside Stadium home of the club, which could see two members of staff made redundant.

MFC’s chief operating officer Mark Ellis said: “We have been working with the Council to maintain the MTLC business and have made a proposal for the transfer of the business to the Riverside that will be considered by the council this week.

“We are confident that MFC can offer the same level of service to the MTLC clients and maintain this capability in the area.”

Other options included doing nothing and closing the MTLC building on June 30, which would risk the economic benefit of training and conference business being lost to the town.

Another option was to transfer both the external business and all internal council business to the club but the report concluded that this option would not deliver the identified budget savings needed, and would tie the council into guaranteeing MFC a level of business it would be unable to fund.

The MTLC currently has a turnover of around £408,000 of which £120,000 was internal council business.

MFC estimated they can accommodate £260,000 worth of existing business - £160,000 external and £100,000 council but are unable to host large conferences and already have an existing wedding and banqueting function.

The council employs two members of staff who deliver the training and conference business, and formal redundancy consultations have begun.

If agreed, the transfer of business would see the club buy relevant equipment for £11,355, and Middlesbrough Council receive access to training and conference facilities up to the value of £32,000.

Bobby Trees glides in to net Croft and Hurworth trout match victory

With the River Tees carrying a touch of extra water due to overnight rain, conditions were perfect for Thornaby AC’s Peter Johnson Memorial Trout match fished between Croft and Hurworth

With the River Tees carrying a touch of extra water due to overnight rain, conditions were perfect for Thornaby AC’s Peter Johnson Memorial Trout match fished between Croft and Hurworth.

Although there was a slight improvement in the number of trout caught compared to the previous match, despite the perfect conditions the match proved a dour affair with only three of the 13 competitors taking sizable trout to the scales.

Long-standing match secretary Bobby Trees, of Darlington, caught two trout from the glide on peg 62 above the salmon pool to win with a total weight of 2lb 12oz.

He fished stickfloat and worm for an hour without a bite, but then saw a trout surface upstream of his float. He cast towards the rise and the fish immediately took his worm.

After a short tussle the 1lb 15oz trout was safely in the net.

He also caught a smaller trout just before the end of the match to finish well clear of second placed Jim Johnson of Darlington, who took two trout for 1lb using similar tactics from peg 35, at the bottom of the long island.

Middlesbrough’s Dave Alderson, runner up in last week’s match on the same venue, caught a 13oz trout from just above the railway bridge to clinch third spot.

At The Oaks, Luke Hawksworth, of Daiwa Cleveland Angling, has been on form with a first and second place in the last week.

Chris Watson, of the Oaks, won the Saturday match fished by 39, with 106lb 7oz of carp to 8lb on pellet, to finish just ahead of Hawksworth who caught 106lb 1oz.

The following day Hawksworth topped a field of 33, with 121lb 9oz of carp to 2lb, on pellet at 13m from Sycamore peg 26.

Billingham Stars aiming to shine in bid to lift play-off crown

Billingham Stars head to Dumfries for the biggest weekend of the season as they attempt to win the National Ice Hockey League (North) Conference Play-offs

Billingham Stars head to Dumfries for the biggest weekend of the season as they attempt to win the National Ice Hockey League (North) Conference Play-offs.

Blackburn Hawks, Solway Sharks and Whitley Warriors join the Ultimate Windows-sponsored Stars in Scotland for the right to call themselves this season’s play-off champions.

In a change of format to the usual home-and-away competition, this weekend sees the entire play-off series hosted at Dumfries Ice Bowl, with two semi-finals today and the final tomorrow afternoon.

Billingham’s director of coaching Terry Ward has only one thing on his agenda and that is winning the play-off crown.

He said: “We’re as fit and ready as we can be. Make no mistake, we are not going to Dumfries to make up the numbers, we are going with every intention of winning that trophy.

“We’ve had the chance to give our long-term injured guys some ice time ahead of the weekend, and everyone is prepared to lay their bodies on the line if that’s what it takes.

“The lads are really fired up for this one. We know what a good team Blackburn are but we also know that on our day we are a match for anybody.

“We owe the Hawks for two heavy defeats this season, and there’s no better time or place to get our revenge.”

The first semi-final at 1pm today pits fourth-placed Whitley Warriors against league champions Solway Sharks. Solway are the favourites to add the play-off crown to their league and cup double.

They finished 15 points ahead of Whitley over the course of the regular season, and with home ice advantage the Warriors will need to pull something special out of the bag to stand any chance against the Scots.”

“We will have one eye on the other semi-final,” added Ward. “It would be fantastic for the North-east if both ourselves and Whitley could make the final.

“But we will only worry about that once we have taken care of the Hawks. We know we will have a large number of fans from Billingham cheering us on and we want to make sure it’s a great weekend for everybody travelling.”

The Stars general manager Allen Flavell is looking forward to the weekend and its new format, adding: “It is sure to be a brilliant advert for ice hockey and our league in particular.

“We’re expecting a full house up in Dumfries; a noisy atmosphere and three fantastic games of hockey to look forward to.

“We know our fans will be cheering us on loud and proud and it will give the lads a massive boost.

“We campaigned for the play-offs to be held over a weekend and now it is here we’re sure our fans will take their part in making it a great success.”

Today’s second semi-final (4.30pm) promises to be a hard-fought affair, with Billingham taking on Blackburn Hawks in the play-offs for the third time in as many years.

The previous two meetings have been in the final, the Stars coming out on top in 2012, and Blackburn getting their revenge to claim their only trophy in their 24-year history in 2013.

Just three points separated the two sides in the league, however the Hawks hold the psychological advantage with comprehensive wins over the Teessiders in the last two outings.

After a dismal second half to the season plagued by injuries, Billingham will head to Dumfries with a full bench. Only Dave Thomas, Will Robson (both ineligible) and Jamie Pattison will be missing from the Stars line-up, meaning Billingham will have the chance to face the Hawks at full strength for the first time in four attempts.

The final takes place at 2pm tomorrow and tickets for the weekend can be purchased via <a href = 'www.ticketweb.co.uk'>http://ift.tt/1glU3q7;

Top end riders are piling on the heat for Redcar Bears

Top end power plus a potent reserve is the key to Redcar Bears’ early season success according to team manager Jitendra Duffilll

Top end power plus a potent reserve is the key to Redcar Bears’ early season success according to team manager Jitendra Duffilll.

The Ecco Finishing Bears will go into next week’s back-to-back home and away matches against Sheffield favourites to qualify after strengthening their position at the top of the Northern Group with a commanding 55-35 victory over local rivals Newcastle on Thursday.

And it’s difficult to argue with Duffill’s analysis after heat-leader trio Richard Lawson, Aaron Summers and Hugh Skidmore dropped just one point to an opponent between them and reserve Jan Graversen piled in with a third successive double-figured pay packet.

Lawson stormed to an immaculate 15-point maximum – his second in a week – having now won 16 of his last 17 races in in Redcar colours.

The former Workington ace’s thrilling last to first blast around everyone in heat 10 proved that it wasn’t even imperative that he made the gate and was as good as anything witnessed on Teesside this season.

Skipper Summers claimed a four-ride paid maximum through two wins and twice closely following his team-mates home.

Skidmore – the year’s big improver so far – dropped his only point to veteran former Middlesbrough Bears favourite Stuart Robson in heat 3 – one of just two race advantages that Newcastle savoured all night – while Graversen celebrated his 27th birthday with paid 11 from five rides, including a vital pass of the Diamonds’ Lewis Kerr for the odd point in heat 7, at a time when the match was still in the balance.

Newcastle tied the score at 24-all in the following race but it was all Redcar from then on in.

Four maximum heat wins and a brace of 4-2s in the last seven races saw the rampant Bears make a more than useful Diamonds septet look very ordinary.

And with Carl Wilkinson beset by mechanical problems and a fall, local youngster Luke Crang more than justifying his place by winning heat 4 for the second successive week and Polish newcomer Rafal Konopka showing real signs of good things to come, Duffill has plenty of reasons for optimism.

He said: “Having a strong top end is a position we haven’t been in for a long time but Richard Lawson’s riding so well at the moment and I think that his good form is bringing the best out of Aaron (Summers) too.

“Hugh (Skidmore) has been terrific although sometimes needs a bit of reassuring about his own abilities but, after his first four rides he went out in heat 15 (the top scorers race) saying: I can win this.”

“Jan’s form at reserve is very important as I was able to use him twice as a replacement at important stages of the match.”

The vital victory – Redcar’s third in eight days – was made even more significant by Scunthorpe bouncing back from three straight defeats in the group with a shock 53-41 win away at second placed Sheffield which leaves the Bears four points clear at the summit.

BEARS: Richard Lawson 15, Hugh Skidmore 13+1, Aaron Summers 10+2, Jan Graversen 9+2, Luke Crang 4+1, Carl Wilkinson 3, Rafal Konopka 1.

DIAMONDS: Christian Henry 8+1, Stuart Robson 7, Chris Schramm 7, Lewis Kerr 4, Lewis Rose 3+2, Ludvig Lindgren 3+1, Anton Rosen 3+1.