The Conversation We Won’t Have About Raising Men

On Thursday night, the Baltimore Ravens took on the Pittsburgh Steelers. The event carried national significance thanks to the Ravens’ public-induced decision to cut running back Ray Rice after tape emerged of Rice clocking his then-fiancee in the head, knocking her out cold. CBS sportscaster James Brown utilized his pregame show to draw attention to the problem of domestic violence — and suggest widespread culpability for domestic violence. “Our language is important,” Brown suggested. “For instance, when a guy says, ‘You throw the ball like a girl’ or ‘You’re a little sissy,’ it reflects an attitude that devalues women, and attitudes will eventually manifest in some fashion.”

Brown wasn’t the only commentator to blame “The Sandlot” for Ray Rice’s horrifying Mike Tyson-esque blow to his future wife’s head. ESPN commentator Kate Fagan explained, “This is behavior that is happening at the grassroots level that is born through years of our culture like raising men to want to not be like women and using language like ‘sissy’ and ‘you throw like a girl’ that demean women. … [We need to focus on] really reprogramming how we raise men.”

Naturally, this talking point was celebrated far and wide by a mainstream press more interested in perpetuating the tenets of political correctness than in actually fighting domestic abuse. The real solution to domestic abuse is twofold: punishing it to the greatest possible extent, and yes, raising young men differently. But to state that the greatest risk factor for future domestic violence is insulting other boys as “throwing like girls” is pure idiocy. No man has ever hit a woman because she “throws like a girl.” But plenty of young men have hit women because they had no moral compass and did not believe in basic concepts of virtue — and plenty of young men lack such a moral compass and belief in virtue thanks to lack of male role models.

Teaching respect for women begins with ensuring that solid male influences models fill the lives of young men — men who respect women, cherish them, treasure them, and believe in protecting them. This is an unpopular stance, because it suggests that boys require men to raise them. Which they do. But that truth doesn’t fit the logic of the left, which seems to think that lack of fathers counts less than rhetorically bothersome phrases.

For leftists, the answer to domestic violence isn’t to deal with any of the issues that could lead boys to become abusing men. The answer, instead, is to lecture Americans about the use of the word “sissy” — not because that solves the problem, but because it makes those on the left feel warm and fuzzy inside. Similarly, the left will tell Americans that the name of the Washington Redskins matters far more to Native-Americans than the nearly half of Native-American youths who drop out of high school; they will explain that “microaggressions” are the true problem faced by blacks in America, not lack of education, poverty or unwed motherhood.

We extol the language police even as we castigate moral authorities. And so our problems grow worse. But at least we feel better about them.

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Why Nice Guys Finish Last in Politics

To order David Horowitz’s new book, Take No Prisoners, click here.

Reprinted from Washington Times.

Republicans are going to dominate the midterm elections, but it would be a foolish gamble to count on them to win the 2016 presidential contest. Why is that? Democrats are now a party of the left (no more John Kennedys, no more Joe Liebermans). That means they are driven by ideology and not the pragmatic outlook that used to be the two-party norm.

Ideology soon disconnects you from reality, which is why Democrats will lose in November — that’s the downswing. During the upswing, though, ideological passion provides a sense of mission and hope that can win over gullible majorities.

In 2008, when Barack Obama promised to turn back the tides and fundamentally transform America, he took enough of the American people with him to become the 44th president of the United States. It was a baseless, deceptive, empty-headed hope that made him seem the answer to so many unfounded prayers. Mr. Obama was a lifelong anti-American radical and a world-class liar. He was not going to lead Americans into a post-racial bipartisan future as he promised. It has taken years for a majority of the American people to realize that.

Republicans will win the midterms because six years of radical policies have brought this country low — the worst economic recovery since the Great Depression; the worst unemployment and greatest expansion of people on the dole; an ongoing disaster to the health care system; the destruction of America’s borders; and a global power vacuum deliberately created by a leftist commander in chief, which has been filled by the greatest threat to American security since the onset of the Cold War.

Accordingly, in this election cycle the American people are fed up, and they’re going to turn out the party responsible. That is just this round, though, and there are two years until the next one — a lifetime, politically speaking. Mr. Obama is not an aberration, but a culmination of what has been happening to the Democratic Party during the last four decades. If Mr. Obama is prepared to lie to conceal his real agenda, so is the leadership of the Democratic Party. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a longtime advocate for America’s retreat, has suddenly emerged as a hawk on the Islamic State, as has Hillary Clinton, who presided over America’s catastrophic retreat. While Mr. Obama struggles to make the two sides of his mouth look like one, both Ms. Warren and Mrs. Clinton rush to disassociate themselves from his cowardly retreats. You can expect the Democrats to reposition themselves on many other fronts as well.

Going into the 2016 election, you can count on Republicans to stay “positive,” to emphasize policy, and above all, not to hit the Democrats where it hurts. You can also count on Democrats to do just the opposite. Because they always do.

Mike Tyson once said, “Everyone has a game plan until you punch them in the mouth.” Democrats have a massive punch in the mouth for Republicans, and it’s always the same punch. Republicans are painted as racists, sexists, homophobes, anti-poor people, selfish and uncaring. Note that this is a moral indictment. It defames the character of Republicans like the corporate predator and dog-abuser Mitt Romney.

The only answer to an attack like this is to attack Democrats with an equally potent indictment of their moral character. For example, Democrats are actually the party of racists — supporters of the lynch mob in Ferguson, Mo.; controllers of America’s inner cities; enemies of poor black and Hispanic children trapped in the public schools they control; and so forth. No Republican to my knowledge has ever called Democrats racists, yet the latter send their own kids to private schools while denying children who are poor, black and Hispanic the right to do so. How racist is that? Al Sharpton is the president’s chief adviser on race. Republicans will never lay a glove on him for these obscenities.

I have just published a book, “Take No Prisoners: The Battle Plan for Defeating the Left,” using these principles. I’m not holding my breath that any Republicans will listen, though. They are too intent on telling positive “stories,” proposing workable policies and pretending that people will give them a fair hearing despite the fact that their opposition is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to portray them as racists, women haters and enemies of the poor. How difficult is it to understand this: If you are perceived by voters as racist or even just selfish and uncaring, they are not going to have the same interest in your policy advice, as Mr. Romney found out in 2012.

Here is what Republicans need to understand to win: Politics is a street war, and there are no referees to maintain the rules — and the ones that infrequently pop up (such as CNN’s Candy Crowley during one of the last presidential debates) are there to bury you. Attack your opponents before they attack you. Attack them with a moral indictment; if well-executed, it will win the day.

And remember that even if you fail to do this to them, they will certainly do it to you. You can count on that.

*

Don’t miss David Horowitz discussing The Black Book of the American Left in The Glazov Gang’s two-part video series below:

Part I:

Part II:

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China raids Qur’an schools in East Turkestan

World Bulletin / News Desk

Chinese authorities in the autonomous region of Xinjiang have conducted a number of raids on Qur’an schools in the regional capital Urumqi, arresting a total of 35 people.

According to Chinese media sources, 190 children were ‘rescued’ from 26 ‘secret’ Qur’an schools set up by and for the native Muslim Uighur community.

The raids come as China continues to crackdown on ‘radical and separatist’ groups in the region, which seemingly targets Uighurs who consider their homeland, which they call East Turkestan, to be under Chinese occupation.

Xinjiang has been troubled with increasing violence between ethnic Uighurs, who are a Turkic-speaking people, and Han Chinese settlers.

Uighur groups have blamed increasing tensions on the Chinese communist government, which has suppressed Uighur culture and religion in the region.

In the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, the local authorities outlawed fasting and forced Muslims to eat and drink during the day.

Religious education and public display of religion is also outlawed by the communist regime

Linking meat exports and terrorism, Maneka glosses over a few facts: By Anil Sasi

Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi’s pointed reference to milking animals being “slaughtered and illegally traded” seems to have overlooked a couple of significant facts — that India’s cattle herd outnumbers that of the US, Europe and China put together, and per capita beef consumption at less than 2 kg a year is the lowest in the world.

Moreover, meat export is one of the most tightly-controlled trades. There are just 53 registered meat abattoirs and 39 meat processing plants across the country that qualify to export consignments. Meat exports have almost doubled in rupee-terms over the past two years, up from Rs 14,000 crore in FY12 to over Rs 27,000 crore in FY14. And the biggest buyers are southeast Asian countries.

While India, as the minister pointed out, is the biggest beef exporter, having overtaken Brazil in 2012, what she did not mention is that India is home to the world’s largest cattle herd with 327 million head, followed by Brazil (197 million head), China (104m), the US (90.8m), the European Union (86.5m), Argentina (49.3m), Colombia (30.9m) and Australia (29.6m), according to the US Department of Agriculture data.

Also, India’s aversion to beef has translated into meagre 2.1 million tonnes consumption domestically a year compared with 11.5 million tonnes a year in the United States, which has just a quarter of India’s population. A 2012 UN Food and Agriculture Organisation report places India at the bottom of the list of 177 countries on meat consumption, with Luxembourg at the top consuming 136.5 kg per person per year.

Data from APEDA — an autonomous body under the Department of Commerce — reveals that bulk of exports is buffalo meat, debunking allegations of cattle (cow, calves and bulls) slaughter. Moreover, buffalo, goat and sheep meat exports are incentivised. In other words, this acts as a disincentive for exports of cow meat and, hence, there are no significant contraband meat consignments. The fiscal incentives include duty credit scripts equivalent to 5 per cent of FOB (free on board) value of exports. In the case of meat and meat products, this was made available from April 2008 to compensate for high transport costs.

What is interesting is that the surge in exports of meat products over the past three years is despite the financial assistance extended by APEDA to meat exporters coming down steadily during the time period: from Rs 20.48 crore (FY12) to Rs 18.86 crore (FY13) and then to Rs 14.61 crore last fiscal. According to APEDA estimates, of the 17.85 lakh tonnes of meat shipments from India in FY12, over 60 per cent (11.08 lakh tonnes) was meat from buffaloes.

Under the Centre’s Meat Export Policy, the export of beef — meat of cow, ox and calf — is prohibited and only buffalo that “are not fit for milch and breeding purposes are allowed to be slaughtered for exports”. Controls on the trade include the condition that each export consignment is accompanied by a certificate that the meat has been derived from buffaloes unfit for

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Texas Sheriff Claims ‘Quran Books’ Found At Mexican Border May Mean ISIS Infiltration

Federal officials say there is no credible information that known terrorists are crossing the southern border of the United States. But that hasn’t stopped one local Texas official from linking “Quran books” reportedly found on the border to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group. Gary Painter, sheriff of Midland County, Texas, described as a “born leader of men,” said to Fox News recently if ISIS members are poised to infiltrate the border, that “we’ll send them to hell.”

“I received an intelligence report that said that there were ISIS cells that were active in Juarez [Mexico] and that there was some activity for the sheriffs along the border to be on alert,” Painter said when the Fox and Friends’ host Elisabeth Hasselbeck asked if ISIS was ready to attack on U.S. soil. “I’m saying the border is wide open. We have found copies, or people along the border, have found Muslim clothing, they have found Quran books that are laying on the side of the trail. So we know that there are Muslims that have come across, have been smuggled in the United States.”

“If they show their ugly head in our area, we’ll send them to hell,” Painter continued. “I think the United States needs to get busy and they need to bomb them. They need to take them out. I would like for them to hit them so hard and so often that every time they hear a propeller on a plane or a jet aircraft engine that they urinate down both legs.”

Painter made similar comments in other media outlets where he said that ISIS has operations in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, which borders El Paso, Texas. That claim was first published on the conservative Judicial Watch, but a federal law enforcement told an ABC affiliate that it is “unverified and unlikely” that ISIS is in Juarez.

Last week, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials dismissed claims at a Senate hearing that ISIS members could sneak into the country by land. DHS undersecretary for intelligence Francis Taylor told Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) that he was “satisfied we have the intelligence and capability on the border that would prevent that activity.” At the same time, Jennifer Lasley, a DHS official told the House Homeland Security border security subcommittee, “We don’t have any credible information, that we are aware of, of known or suspected terrorists coming across the border.”

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Israeli forces set up ‘surveillance room’ at Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron

HEBRON (Ma’an) — Israeli forces set up on Monday a new surveillance room at the main entrance of the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron.

Director of Hebron endowment Taysir Abu Sneineh condemned the setup as meant to pressure worshipers and mosque visitors, and to “complicate security procedures in the area.”

Abu Sneineh said Israeli forces were continuing alleged procedures to turn the Ibrahimi mosque into a synagogue, and “violating all laws of freedom of worship and humanitarian laws.”

He added the directorate of endowment filed a notice to Israel and demanded it remove the room and all barriers against freedom of worship and to reaching religious sites safely.

“Using their arms the Israeli authorities are controlling the Ibarhimi mosque, and we reject and condemn these racist acts,” Abu Sneineh said

Recap: Cardiff v Boro at the Cardiff City Stadium

Boro will look to make it two away wins in a row as they take on Cardiff at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Cardiff were in the Premier League last season but have not had the start they were hoping for in the Championship.

They currently sit below Boro in 15th place in the table and lost 4-2 at home to Norwich on Saturday.

Boro will look to build on Saturday's confidence boosting last-minute 2-1 victory at Huddersfield.

Genocide had already taken place in Iraq, starting with the US war in 1990-91: By Ramzy Baroud

A few months ago, not many Americans, in fact Europeans as well, knew that a Yezidi community in fact existed in northwest Iraq. Even in the Middle East itself, the Yezidis and their way of life have been an enigma, shrouded by mystery and mostly grasped through stereotypes and fictitious evidence. Yet in no time, the fate of the Yezidis became a rally cry for another US-led Iraq military campaign.

It was not a surprise that the small Iraqi minority found itself a target for fanatical Islamic State (IS) militants, who had reportedly carried out unspeakable crimes against Yezidis, driving them to Dohuk, Irbil and other northern Iraqi regions. According to UN and other groups, 40,000 Yezidis had been stranded on Mount Sinjar, awaiting imminent “genocide” if the US and other powers didn’t take action to save them.

The rest of the story was spun from that point on. The logic for intervention that preceded the latest US bombing campaign of IS targets, which started in the middle of June, is similar to what took place in Libya over three years ago. Early 2011, imminent “genocide” awaiting Libya’s eastern city of Benghazi at the hands of Muammar Gaddafi was the rally cry that mobilized western powers to a war that wrought wanton killings and destruction in Libya. Since NATO’s intervention in Libya, which killed and wounded tens of thousands, the country has fallen prey to an endless and ruthless fight involving numerous militias. Libya is now ruled by two governments, two Parliaments, and a thousand militias.

When US Special Forces arrived to the top of Mount Sinjar, they realized that the Yezidis had either been rescued by Kurdish militias, or were already living there. They found less than 5,000 Yezidis there, half of them refugees. The mountain is revered in local legend, as the final resting place of Noah’s ark. It was also the final resting place for the Yezidi genocide story. The finding hardly received much coverage in the media, which used the original claim to create fervor in anticipation for a western intervention in Iraq.

We all know how the first intervention worked out. Not that IS’ brutal tactics in eastern, northern and central Iraq should be tolerated. But a true act of genocide had already taken place in Iraq, starting with the US war in 1990-91, a decade-long embargo and a most destructive war and occupation starting in 2003. Not once did a major newspaper editorial in the US bestow the term “genocide” on the killing and maiming of millions of Iraqis. In fact, the IS campaign is actually part of a larger Sunni rebellion in Iraq, in response to the US war and Shiite-led government oppression over the course of years. That context is hardly relevant in the selective reporting on the current violence in Iraq.

It goes without saying US policymakers care little for the Yezidis, for they don’t serve US interests in any way. However, experience has taught that such groups only become relevant in a specially tailored narrative, in a specific point in time, to be exploited for political and strategic objectives. They will cease to exist the moment the objective is met. Consider for example, the fact that IS has been committing horrific war crimes in western and northern Syria for years, as did forces loyal to President Bashar Assad and militants belonging to various opposition groups there. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have been killed and wounded. Various minority groups there faced and continue to face genocide. Yet, somehow, the horrifying bloodshed there was not only tolerated but in fact also encouraged.

For over three years, little effort was put forward to find or impose a fair political solution to the Syria civil war. The Syrians were killing each other and thousands of foreigners, thanks to a purposely porous Turkish borders were allowed to join in, in a perpetual “Guernica” that, with time, grew to become another Middle Eastern status quo.

Weren’t the massacres of Aleppo in fact genocide? The siege of Yarmouk? The wiping out of entire villages, the beheading and dismembering of people for belonging to the wrong sect or religion?

Even if they were, it definitely was not the kind of genocide that would propel action, specifically western-led action. In recent days, as it was becoming clear that the US was up to its old interventionist games, countries were being lined up to fight IS. US Secretary of State John Kerry was shuttling the globe once more and still going. “We believe we can take on ISIL (previous name for IS) in the current coalition that we have,” he said. But why now?

In his speech on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Obama declared war on IS. Obama’s tangled foreign policy agenda became even more confused in his 13-minute speech from the White House. He promised to “hunt down” IS fighters “wherever they are” until the US ultimately destroys the group, as supposedly, it has down with Al-Qaeda. IS, of course, is a splinter Al-Qaeda group, which began as an idea, and thanks to the US global “war on terror,” has morphed into an army of many branches. The US never destroyed Al-Qaeda; but it inadvertently allowed the creation of IS.

“That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq. This is a core principle of my presidency: If you threaten America, you will find no safe haven,” Obama said. Of course, he needed to say that, as his Republican rivals have accused him of lack of decisiveness and his presidency of being weak. His party could possibly lose control over the Senate come the November elections. His fight against IS is meant to help rebrand the president as resolute and decisive, and perhaps create some distraction from economic woes at home.

That same media has also cleverly devalued and branded conflicts, and acts of genocide in ways consistent with US foreign policy agendas. While the Yezidis were purportedly stranded on mount Sinjar, Israel was carrying out genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Over 2,150 were killed, mostly civilians, hundreds of them children, and over 11,000 wounded, the vast majority of whom were civilians. Not an alleged 40,000 but a confirmed 520,000 were on the run, and along with the rest of Gaza’s 1.8 million, were entrapped in an open-air prison with no escape. But that was not an act of genocide either, as far as the US and other western governments and media were concerned. Worse, they actively defended, and, especially in the case of the US, the UK, France and Italy, armed and funded the Israeli aggression.

Experience has taught us that not all “acts of genocide” are created equal: Some are fabricated, and others are exaggerated. Some are useful to start wars, and others, no matter how atrocious, are not worth mentioning. Some acts of genocide are branded as wars to liberate, free and democratize. Other acts of genocide are to be encouraged, defended and financed.

But as far as the US involvement in the Middle East is concerned, the only real genocide is the one that serves the interests of the West, by offering an opportunity for military intervention, followed by political and strategic meddling to re-arrange the region.

The US experience in Iraq also taught us that its effort would only succeed in exacerbating an already difficult situation, yielding yet more disenfranchised groups, political despair and greater violence.

—

Ramzy Baroud (www.ramzybaroud.net) is an internationally-syndicated columnist and the editor of PalestineChronicle.com

Email: ramzybaroud@hotmail.com

Kitchen fitter admits frauds over work worth £60,000 at Teesside homes

A kitchen fitter has admitted a string of frauds over work valued at £60,000 in homes on Teesside.

Michael Henry Tolliday admitted 11 counts of fraud at Teesside Crown Court today in relation to jobs carried out in Stockton.

The 44-year-old denied intentionally ripping people off, saying he took on work to make money, complete other contracts and keep his business going.

He fell foul of the law mostly over claims that he would fit kitchens for thousands of pounds, as much as £8,998 in one case.

In eight of the charges, it was said he was dishonest about providing, fitting, delivering or installing kitchens.

In other offences, he said he would remove and replace wardrobes, install a bathroom and bedroom furniture, and provide a piece of kitchen worktop.

Some victims were to pay deposits of up to £3,000, with more cash to be paid on completion.

Tolliday also pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in an unfair commercial practice.

A logo on invoices to one customer falsely claimed his practices had been approved or authorised.

And he admitted making a “misleading omission” by failing to give a customer written notice of his right to cancel in seven days.

The 14 charges named 16 people as victims of the offences between October 2012 and November last year.

Fraud carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, with a potential range of two to five years for Tolliday’s offences.

Duncan McReddie, defending, said Tolliday accepted he was incompetent but did his best to finish the work.

He said Tolliday did not go into contracts with a fraudulent or dishonest intent, and started them hoping to generate revenue to fulfil other contracts.

“That’s the state of mind he was in, trying to keep the business going, trying to get the revenue through the business to fulfil the contracts he took on earlier,” added Mr McReddie.

“What went wrong on one job had a dramatic effect on the other jobs.

“There came a point when he couldn’t do it and he carried on.”

“It is the case that all complainants have had a considerable amount of work done.

“Some of them were actually completed, but he acknowledges not to the standard or specifications he’d been given.

“He would say at least two, perhaps even three of the people have fully completed kitchens.

“They’ve also had a very significant amount of money returned to them.”

Prosecutor Rebecca Brown said: “The value of the work equates to about £60,000.”

With money paid back and work done, she said: “Compensation would be set at about £30,000.”

She said the Crown did not agree with the basis of Tolliday’s pleas.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, said Tolliday had a “history of persistent failure” over a 13-month period.

He said Tolliday must have known he had failed to complete contracts and had admitted as such.

Whether Tolliday set out to be fraudulent or was “utterly utterly reckless” may not make a difference to his sentence, added the judge.

He bailed the defendant until sentencing on October 14.

He warned Tolliday, of Pendle Close, Peterlee, not to think “anything other than a custodial sentence is likely if not inevitable in your case”.

Live: Cardiff v Boro at the Cardiff City Stadium

Boro will look to make it two away wins in a row as they take on Cardiff at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Cardiff were in the Premier League last season but have not had the start they were hoping for in the Championship.

They currently sit below Boro in 15th place in the table and lost 4-2 at home to Norwich on Saturday.

Boro will look to build on Saturday's confidence boosting last-minute 2-1 victory at Huddersfield.

Crashed helicopter did not take off from Teesside - or land in the area

A helicopter which crashed into the sea in East Yorkshire did not set off from Teesside - and did not land in the area.

The helicopter was seen crashing off the coast near Flamborough at 1.40pm today, Humberside Police said.

There were reports from other news sources and social media that the aircraft had flown from Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTVA).

But they have now been dismissed by a spokesman for the terminal.

He said: “Reports that the helicopter involved in the incident at Flamborough this afternoon originated from Durham Tees Valley Airport are incorrect.

“Air traffic control at Durham Tees Valley did handle the flight, which it is believed originated in Scotland, whilst in local airspace. Subsequently the pilot of the aircraft contacted air traffic control to state that he had landed at a private site and was then proceeding to Humberside Airport.”

The spokesperson confirmed that the private site the helicopter had landed at was not in Teesside.Reports had earlier said that the helicopter was flying back to Humberside Airport in North Lincolnshire when it got into difficulties.

Scene where helicopter crashed off Flamborough Head in East Yorkshire

Police, coastguard and the air ambulance service were reported to be at the scene.

A Humberside Police spokesperson said the incident did not involve a police helicopter.

A statement released by police said: “Police received a call from a concerned member of public reporting a helicopter having crashed into the sea off the coast near Flamborough at around 1.40pm today.

“Police, coastguard and ambulance service attended the area right away and a search was carried out which resulted in the helicopter being located in the sea off the coast of Flamborough near the lighthouse.

“An area has been cordoned off while the emergency services and coast guard continue their work.

“Initial inquiries are being made in order to try and establish the circumstances which led to the helicopter coming down.”

Members of the public have been asked to stay away from the site of the crash due to dangerous cliff edges and aviation fuel in the water.

A spokeswoman for Yorkshire Air Ambulance confirmed they also sent a crew at the scene.

The RNLI said two lifeboats had been launched - from Flamborough and Bridlington - and were searching in the area.

Golfers at Flamborough Head Golf Club said they thought the small helicopter, believed to be returning to Humberside Airport, had been trying to land near the club’s 17th green.

Witness Chris Palmer said he heard a loud “crack” and then the helicopter disappeared out of sight behind the cliffs.

He told the BBC: “We heard the helicopter. It was like a white, private helicopter going along the coast.

“We all heard this really loud crack and looked up again.

“The helicopter started to descend, almost like a plane when it lands. It then went behind the cliff and that’s when I called the emergency services.”

Wish Sport: Winners announced of final £2,500 online bonus day

The results are in following the final Wish Sport bonus day.

In addition to the £25,000 being given away via tokens printed in The Gazette, the Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation donated an extra £2,500 to be allocated online.

On Friday, we ran a vote with the five Wish Sport groups which secured the highest number of votes receiving a cut of the cash.

The money will be divided as follows:

First (£1,000) Middlesbrough Lionesses FC

Second (£700) Lakes United FC

Third (£450) Middlesbrough Powerchair Football Club

Fourth (£200) Teesside Steelers Women's American Football

Fifth (£150) Swift-Tees

Middlesbrough Lionesses also came out on top in the first online bonus day .

Man fighting for his life after falling down the stairs at Stockton flat

A man fighting for his life in hospital after falling down the stairs in a flat in Stockton

Three people were arrested in connection with the incident, which happened in King Street on Saturday.

The 36-year-old man was taken to Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital with serious head injuries.

And a spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said he remains in a “critical but stable” condition today.

A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of wounding. He has been released on bail pending further investigation.

A woman, 35, and a 27-year-old man were also arrested on suspicion of wounding.

They have been released with no further police action.

Teenager asks to be remanded in custody after admitting robbing Norton Convenience Store

A teenager was locked up - at his own request - after he admitted a robbery at a local shop.

Jake Mack pleaded guilty to robbing the Norton Convenience Store of money, alcohol, cigarettes and scratch cards.

The 18-year-old committed the robbery at the Norton Road shop on August 31.

Mack, of Runfold Close, in Roseworth, Stockton, was making his first appearance at Teesside Crown Court when he entered his plea.

He came to the short preliminary hearing on bail but asked to be remanded in custody.

Judge Howard Crowson granted his wish until sentencing on September 29.

Magistrates previously gave Mack, a ground worker, conditional bail with a 6pm to 6am curfew.

He was told not to speak to named prosecution witnesses and given a map of streets to avoid - including the shop he robbed.

Police were originally called to the Norton Convenience Store after reports that cash and alcohol had been stolen.

Ice Hockey: Billingham Stars make perfect start with brace of weekend wins

Billingham Stars made the perfect start to their National Ice Hockey League (North) Moralee Division One campaign with two weekend wins.

The Billingham-based side began with a 7-5 win at Sheffield Spartans and followed up with a 10-1 blitz of Manchester Minotaurs at Billingham Forum.

Ultimate Windows-sponsored Stars were fast out of the blocks in Sheffield – Canadian Thomas Stuart-Dant opened the scoring after just 33 seconds, before Cal Davies doubled their advantage in the third minute.

The line of Stuart-Dant, Davies and Michael Elder looked threatening and it was no surprise when Stuart-Dant bagged his second late in the first session.

The teams traded goals early in the second period, Ollie Barron pulling one back for the home side before Stuart-Dant netted his hat-trick goal to restore the Stars’ advantage.

Cal Davies then slotted home on the power play, but Sheffield weren’t in the mood to give up and Scott Morris made it 2-5 in the 32nd minute.

The home side fought back to within one goal early in the final session as first David Pyatt then Will Barron netted with Billingham looking sluggish.

Chris Sykes gave the visitors some breathing space when he pounced on a Michael Bowman rebound, and Andy Finn made the game safe for the Stars in the 50th minute.

There was a late scare when Ollie Barron scored his second with two minutes left, but it was not enough to rattle Billingham and the points went back to Teesside.

Returning to Billingham Forum on Sunday evening, the Stars faced a very different challenge as they played host to a short-benched Manchester Minotaurs.

Travelling with just nine skaters and two netminders, the writing was on the wall with a little over a minute gone when Finn fired home the opener.

The first period was almost all one-way traffic as Stuart-Dant maintained his weekend scoring streak with goal number two, followed by a brace from Elder and goals from James Moss and Jack Davies.

A late consolation from John Murray saw the sides go into the dressing rooms with Billingham in a commanding 6-1 lead.

The Teessiders took their foot off the gas in the middle session and gave valuable ice time to some of their younger players.

A solitary marker from Matthew Campbell increased the home side’s lead as the period reached its end for 7-1.

The Stars picked up the pace again in the third.

Captain Paul Windridge set up Bowman for the eighth, then two goals in 20 seconds in the 54th minute took Billingham into double figures through Callum Davies and Garry Dowd.

Billingham’s director of coaching, Terry Ward, expressed his satisfaction with a weekend job well done after the game.

“We set our stall out for a four-point weekend and the lads have worked hard to achieve that,” Ward said.

Billingham are in both league and cup action this weekend.

They travel to Altrincham for the reverse league fixture against Manchester Minotaurs on Saturday (5pm face-off), then host Telford Tigers in the cup on Sunday (6.30pm).

Tees Valley Business Growth Investment Scheme: Use it or lose it, warn managers

Use it or lose it - that’s the message to Teesside firms from the managers of a £2m pot to boost capital projects and employment.

Companies can unlock cash from the Tees Valley Business Growth Investment Scheme for capital and R&D projects that promote new jobs - and it can even be used for staff salaries.

But any unused money will go back into Government coffers after the March 2015 deadline - and fund managers are urging companies to take advantage before it’s too late.

Mike Baker, of BE Group, which is managing the fund, said: “If the money doesn’t get taken up, it goes to Central Government and gets lost.

“It would be a real shame if this wasn’t used for the benefit of the Tees Valley area.

“We have had an upturn in the last six to eight weeks, including two large applications; for a precision engineering company and food manufacturer.

“But there’s still money in the pot - we’ve got this opportunity, and we want to get the funds fully committed.

“We don’t want to see it go back to BIS.”

Funds can be granted for projects of £25,000 upwards that can be complete by the end of March next year.

Teesside business leaders, including Neil Stephenson from Stockton-based Onyx, make up the panel that will assess the applications.

Other organisations represented on the panel include car parts manufacturer Nifco UK, Fujifilm, ElringKlinger and Teesside University.

The fund will be most attractive to manufacturing and service sector businesses that are looking to invest in capital equipment or premises, claims Mike, although the scheme has attracted a mix of companies so far.

An initial expression of interest is all that’s needed to kickstart the application process, but a detailed level of information will be required beyond that.

BE Group is managing the fund on behalf of Local Enterprise Partnership, Tees Valley Unlimited, and the five Teesside local authorities.

It can be used to improve or expand premises, invest in research and development or to invest in new plant, equipment and machinery.

The grant could also help cover the cost of new staff whose jobs have been created as a result of a capital funded project.

Mike added: “The last date for any eligible expenditure is March 2015. It’s a short timescale for a capital project, it’s very close in real terms.

“Decision to progress application rests with the panel.”

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Israel is making desperate people’s lives truly miserable

They are “a cancer in our body”, and “a threat to the social fabric of society … national security [and the] identity and existence [of the] Jewish and democratic state”. As “infiltrators”, they should be “encourage[d] … to leave” and “lock[ed] … up to make their lives miserable”.

Is this an off-the-record rant of some junior Israeli official? Not quite. These are the words of Israeli Parliamentarian Miri Regev, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and of the current and former Israeli Interior Ministers Eli Yishai and Gideon Saar. And they are not talking about some threat posed by extremists sneaking into Israel to install a caliphate.

Instead, the target of these public diatribes – described by the UN refugee agency as “xenophobic statements made by … public officials who … stigmatise asylum seekers” – is about 51,000 Eritreans and Sudanese. These people fled widespread abuses in their home countries and sought protection in Israel before the Israeli authorities effectively sealed off the border with Egypt in late 2012.

Human rights concerns

The Israeli authorities know that they can’t deport Eritreans and Sudanese to their home countries because of serious human rights concerns in both countries, not to mention that Sudan’s relations with Israel are so bad that it considers people who flee there to be criminals.

Yet the authorities have done everything they can to make their lives so unbearable that they leave, despite great risk to their well-being. And it’s working. Since January 2013 – six months after Israel introduced an unlawful policy of indefinitely detaining as many “infiltrators” as possible to coerce them into leaving – almost 7,000 people, mostly Sudanese, have buckled under the pressure and returned home.

Another 44,000 Eritreans and Sudanese in Israel’s cities live in constant fear of receiving orders to report to a remote desert detention centre near the Egyptian border where, the authorities say, they will be confined until they also agree to leave the country.

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Boosbeck abattoir: Deadline set for slaughterhouse saga to be resolved

Talks will continue until the end of the month to try and get a controversial East Cleveland abattoir moved, councillors have agreed.

But if those talks fail, Redcar and Cleveland Council will consider serving a discontinuance notice and pursuing a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to ensure Banaras Halal Meats Ltd (BHM) moves its slaughterhouse from Boosbeck.

Redcar and Cleveland Council’s Cabinet met today to discuss the way forward in the long-running saga.

And with up to 50 villagers looking on, the cabinet agreed an officers’ recommendation to continue talks with BHM “for a mutually acceptable solution: including relocation, if that is an option which the owners wish to pursue.”

BHM’s legal advisers had earlier confirmed the company had “committed to working with the council” and was “willing to commit to a timescale of two months for negotiations to take place, ending on September 30.”

But if those discussions produce no agreement, the cabinet is recommending to the full council - which next meets on October 9 - the serving of a Section 102 discontinuance notice, requiring the “cessation of the use of the land and buildings for the purposes of an abattoir”, and pursuing a CPO “to secure a more suitable future use of the site.”

Councillor Norman Pickthall, Cabinet member for corporate resources, told today’s meeting: “It’s clear to me the cessation of the operations needs to be as soon as possible.

"The owners have confirmed their willingness to reach a negotiated solution and have committed to try and do so before the end of this month.”

Council leader, Councillor George Dunning, stressed he had always opposed the abattoir at Boosebeck, or in any village, and felt it should be on an industrial estate, but said the council had been legally forced to allow it.

“As a former magistrate, I can say the law can sometimes be a bit of an ass,” he said.

Villager Marlene Brown read a list of often gruesome complaints about the abattoir’s operation from villagers unable to attend the meeting.

Her husband Neville then passed around photos taken by residents in Brookside, showing trailers and bins in the slaughterhouse grounds full of animal parts.

He also played recordings made in his daughter’s bedroom of the sound of loud fans and bleating animals which, he said, came from the abattoir.

He added: “How much longer are we going to have to put up with this? It’s wrong on every level.”

Farmer Kim Walton said on one day, he saw wagons capable of bringing in about 1,800 sheep to the abattoir.

“This is not small scale - it is an industrual operation,” he said. And Gaynor Sullivan, who says she moved from Boosbeck because of the abattoir, said she knew of a property which had plunged in value from £135,000 to £66,000.

Councillor Mary Lanigan, leader of the council’s independent group, questioned whether the issue needed to be referred back to the full council, saying: “If there is no success by the end of the month, can cabinet not go straight to a CPO? Let’s not have a day’s delay.”

And Conservative group leader Councillor Valerie Halton said it was a pressing moral issue, given the council’s commitment to provide “great places to live” and improve residents’ health.

Cllr Pickthall told villagers no definitive timescale could yet be given because “it depends on the route we take.” But he added: “We will endeavour to solve your issues as soon as possible.”

Man arrested during National Crime Agency drugs and money laundering raids in Stockton

A man has been arrested as part of an ongoing drug and money laundering investigation on Teesside.

National Crime Agency officers carried out a series of raids today in Stockton and Middlesbrough.

A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to supply class A drugs and money laundering offences at a business address in Haverton Hill Road, Stockton, and is now being questioned.

As part of the operation, documents and computers were seized following searches of residential and business premises in Stockton, Middlesbrough and Darlington and are now being examined.

Two cars were also taken away from a residential property in Stockton for further forensic examination.

National Crime Agency branch commander David Norris said: “The execution of these warrants is the latest phase of an investigation which has already seen the seizure of substantial quantities of class A drugs and cash.

"That investigation will continue with the evidence we have seized today.”

South Yorkshire's police chief Shaun Wright quits over Rotherham sex abuse scandal

South Yorkshire's police and crime commissioner has quit his post following weeks of pressure over the Rotherham sexual abuse scandal.

Shaun Wright has until now resisted mounting calls to resign from the likes of the Prime Minister, Home Secretary Theresa May and his former party Labour, as well as alleged abuse victims and their families.

But Mr Wright, who was the councillor responsible for children's services in Rotherham between 2005 and 2010, finally handed in his notice, claiming he was doing so "for the sake of those victims".

The Office of South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner said Mr Wright would not receive a severance payment, but can still access Local Government pension benefits from age 55.

The Home Secretary said she was pleased Mr Wright had heeded calls to step down, while Greater Manchester PCC Tony Lloyd said the move highlighted the urgent need for powers to remove commissioners between elections.

But a mother of one of the alleged victims said his late decision showed "how arrogant and indifferent he is".

The mother, whose 17-year-old daughter claims she was abused by men who groomed her using social media and raped her in Rotherham, Sheffield and Doncaster, said: "I'm glad he's done it and I hope he's the first in a long line. We need to get the rest of them out and then we'll know that children in Rotherham are safe."

She added: "He was quite an easy target, he was first in line. There are a lot more people below him that have covered up and all decided not to say anything. They've all colluded and I think it's disgusting."

"I think it just shows how arrogant and indifferent he is," she said.

Mr Wright has come under increased fire since the publication of Professor Alexis Jay's report into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, which revealed around 1,400 children were sexually exploited in the borough over a 16-year period.

Mr Wright faced angry scenes last week as he appeared in public before the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel (PCP), which oversees his work, as alleged victims of abuse shouted at him from the public gallery.

At times the meeting had to be stopped for appeals to be made for people to calm down as screams of derision were directed at the commissioner as he explained himself in Rotherham's council chamber.

The commissioner did not stick around at the end of the meeting to hear the Panel pass another vote of no confidence in him and endorse calls for a change in the law to enable him to be sacked.

Announcing his resignation, Mr Wright said: "My role as South Yorkshire police and crime commissioner has clearly become prominent in terms of public opinion and media coverage following the publication of Professor Alexis Jay's report.

"This is detracting from the important issue, which should be everybody's focus - the 1,400 victims outlined in the report - and in providing support to victims and bringing to justice the criminals responsible for the atrocious crimes committed against them.

"With this in mind, I feel that it is now right to step down from the position of police and crime commissioner for South Yorkshire, for the sake of those victims, for the sake of the public of South Yorkshire and to ensure that the important issues outlined in the report about tackling child sexual exploitation can be discussed and considered in full and without distraction."

Professor Jay's report hit out at "blatant" collective failures by the council's leadership and revealed examples of "children who had been doused in petrol and threatened with being set alight, threatened with guns, made to witness brutally-violent rapes and threatened they would be next if they told anyone".

The Greater Manchester PCC said: "It was clear that Shaun Wright's position was untenable and he has finally done the right thing by standing down.

"This ridiculous situation, where he was able to cling on to his position for so long when it was clearly untenable, highlights the urgent need for stronger checks and balances in the system to ensure the power is there to remove police and crime commissioners between elections.

Last week, the Home Secretary acknowledged there was a "debate to be had" about introducing recall powers for PCCs.

Reacting to his decision to step down, she said: "I am pleased that Shaun Wright has heeded the calls from his local community for him to resign.

"It is right that where people failed in their duty they should take responsibility.

"The police and local council failed the victims of these awful crimes and failed the people of Rotherham.

"Police and Crime Commissioners are accountable to their local electorate.

"It is now for the people of South Yorkshire to elect someone who can provide local leadership, ensure the lessons of these dreadful cases are applied, and make sure the victims get the justice they deserve."

Mr Wright's resignation will trigger a by-election, the date of which is yet to be determined.

Former Labour home secretary David Blunkett immediately shot down calls for him to run for the role, despite his intention to step down as Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough MP next year.

Mr Blunkett said: "I am personally very sad for Shaun Wright's family who did not deserve to be in the spotlight, which is why it is a great pity for him and for all concerned that he did not step down immediately."

South Yorkshire Police chief constable, David Crompton, said: "The force acknowledges the PCC's resignation today. This represents an opportunity for the force, and the county, to move forward in light of Professor Jay's report about child sexual exploitation."

Neil Bowles, chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation, said it was becoming "increasingly difficult" to work with Mr Wright in the wake of the report's publication.

Mr Bowles said: "It would have been difficult to see how we could work with him considering he had such little credibility in the political world.

"It will be interesting to see what the turn out for the by-election will be. The PCC is now definitely on the map. People will have heard of the office."

UN peacekeepers take over CAR mission

The United Nations has formally taken over a regional African peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic, nine months after sectarian violence erupted which left at least 5,000 people dead and forced tens of thousands of Muslims to flee to neighbouring countries.

As the UN took over on Monday, about 1,800 additional peacekeepers and police joined the African Union’s peacekeeping mission of 6,200 troops already in the country.

Two-thousand French troops, deployed last December, will work alongside the new UN force.

Human rights groups say that the new force, when combined with the existing African troops, is still only about 65 percent of what was authorised by the UN Security Council in April.

They called for the full deployment of a nearly 12,000-strong force, which diplomats said would not take place until early 2015, the Associated Press news agency reported.

‘Cosmetic change’

“The switch from AU to UN peacekeepers must be more than a cosmetic change: the swapping green berets for blue helmets. Instead it must serve as a fresh start for the peacekeeping operation in CAR,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s campaigns deputy regional director for West and Central Africa.

The peacekeepers face the enormous task of bringing peace to one of the least developed countries on the African continent, with around 4.6 million people. In nearly two decades, 13 peacekeeping missions have been deployed to CAR, but none of them brought lasting stability.

The new reinforcements have come from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Morocco and Bangladesh to join peacekeepers from other countries in Central Africa.

The UN has “worked tirelessly” since the April resolution was passed, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, who emphasised that CAR is “an extremely, extremely complicated logistical situation” because it is land-locked with dilapidated roads that date back to independence from France in 1960.

“I think the last thing we have been doing is sitting on our hands, but we’ve been meeting logistical challenges… mobilising troops for a peacekeeping mission takes time,” he said last week.

“We have to go knock on doors for troops, for equipment, helicopters and in the meantime I think we’ve been working very actively in the CAR, both on the political end and, of course, on the humanitarian end.”

Civilians killed at ‘alarming rate’

Mainly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in March last year, which birthed a counter-offensive by Christian militias. Both sides deliberately targeted each other’s civilian communities.

At least 5,204 people have been killed since the sectarian violence erupted last December, according to a tally compiled by AP. That figure is based on a count of bodies and numbers gathered from survivors, priests, imams and aid workers in more than 50 of the hardest-hit communities.

Civilians are still being killed “at an alarming rate,” said Lewis Mudge, Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch who conducted a field mission this month on the ground.

“There is no time to lose,” he said. “The new UN mission urgently needs to get more troops into eastern and central areas and take bold steps to protect civilians from these brutal attacks.”

Meanwhile, the US announced that it would reopen its embassy in the capital city of Bangui. The US had suspended operations in Central African Republic and urged Americans to leave the country in December 2012 when violence erupted.

Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement on Monday progress had been made at putting the nation on “a path toward peace and stability”.

Source: AP

Police recover drugs with street value of £5k after early morning raid on home

Two men have been arrested following an early morning drugs raid in Stockton.

Officers from Cleveland Police's community drug enforcement team (CDET) executed a warrant at an address in Oxbridge at 7.30am today.

A quantity of cannabis with a street value of about £5,000 was recovered at the property in Hampton Road.

Two men, aged 36 and 28, were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class B drugs and are currently in police custody.

A neighbour from the street said she was woken up by the sound of police outside.

“It woke me up this morning," she said. “The police knocked a door down at about 7.25am. They’d left by about 8.45am.

“It looked like two lads were arrested.

“The police searched two cars down the road as well.”

Officers are urging residents who believe drug activity is taking place in their area to contact the CDET team on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Boro fans may have to wait to see Jelle Vossen as a regular starter

Boro fans will have to be patient before they see some of the club's recent signings in the starting XI.

Jelle Vossen, Patrick Bamford, and Yanic Wildschut were among those who came in during a late spree at the end of last month's transfer window.

Bamford came on as a substitute against Reading and Huddersfield while Vossen also came off the bench in Yorkshire.

Wildschutt has yet to feature in a competitive game.

“All the new players are feeling every single minute they watch,” Boro head coach Aitor Karanka told the club's website.

“I have to be calm with the players.

"Everyone is expecting Vossen is going to play as soon as possible, but he played one game in pre-season and he doesn’t know the league.

“Patrick knows the league, but he’s a young lad, and Wildschut doesn’t know the league. It’s my job to pick the right team.”

Click here to read all the injury and availability news in our full match preview ahead of tonight's game.

You can also follow the match through our live blog from 7pm.

Motor Sport: Matthew Tyson wins in his class in his first outing since last year

Tees sprint star Matthew Tyson showed no signs of racetrack rustiness as he won his class in his first outing since last year.

And in doing so the Marton driver ensured he took top honours in his local round of the Toyota Sprint Series at Croft Circuit for the fourth year in succession.

Tyson was competing in class D, for street cars rather than out and out track racers, up to 1600cc in the fifth round of the championship.

The event attracted one of the largest overall entries of the season across all classes due to the popularity of the circuit, situated near Darlington, with the drivers.

Class D pulled entries from across the country but Tyson got the better of them all.

“All my opponents were in lightweight Toyota Yarises,” he said, “and I’d anticipated a real fight as I’m at least 250kg heavier, in a slightly larger Corolla.

“This was my first outing since fitting a new suspension set-up from last year, and I was still getting used to the feel and balance of the car, which added to my nerves on the day against the others in my class who had raced all season.

“Early on it was clear that of the four others in class D, only one was going to be trouble, and we both traded quick times in the first few sprint runs.

“As the day went on, I was gaining confidence in the car’s abilities on the new set-up, so I was able to press harder each run.

“After the break for lunch, I managed to keep up the quick runs, beating my competitors in class D, posting a fastest time of the day of 1.51.54 which was just over three seconds faster than the nearest rival in class.

“I was really pleased with the car, and the result - especially as I was so apprehensive going into the day, not having been able to test the car beforehand.

“I also managed to beat several higher-powered cars from the classes above, which is a great boost and something I’m always keen to do if I can.”

Tyson’s victory extended his 100% winning run at all venues and he’s looking forward to keeping it going.

“It’s not proving easy but I’m determined to do my best and to keep winning,” he said.

Marske confident ahead of FA Cup replay at Dunston

Marske travel to Dunston for an FA Cup first qualifying round replay tonight with a near full strength squad and the belief that they can claim the victory which eluded them on Saturday.

The Seasiders were held to a 2-2 draw by the former Northern League leaders at the weekend despite ramping up the pressure after Dunston defender Dan Halliday was sent off.

Back-up Marske keeper Dan Molyneux is on stand-by as first choice Robert Dean woke up with a swollen elbow yesterday, but former captain Adam Wheatley is still unavailable.

Tonight’s winners will book an eye-catching home fixture against Spennymoor on September 27.

“I would like to think we can finish what we started against Dunston and beat them at the second time of asking tonight,” said Marske boss Carl Jarrett.

“We created more chances than them, and how we didn’t win it at the end I don’t know.

“They are strong and well-organised, but we are still unbeaten for a reason.”

Talking about a potential clash against Spennymoor, Jarrett added: “The first thing I thought when I saw the draw was what a tough task that is.

“They beat us 6-2 at their place in the Cleator Moor Cup at the start of the season.

“No disrespect to the competition, but the game was more like a friendly and we have made a couple of signings since then and play a different style.

“It would be a great home tie if we get through, but we’ve got to get past Dunston first.”

Thornaby will try to find their shooting boots at Whickham in the Northern League second division after missing a stack of chances in their 1-1 draw at Tow Law.

Motor Sport: David Botterill could secure trophy as season reaches its climax

Christopher.M.Perks. 2014

David Botterill can secure the Evening Gazette Trophy when the Northern Saloon and Sports Car Championship season reaches its climax this weekend.

The trophy is awarded annually to the highest-finishing Teesside driver in the popular Darlington and District MC-organised series.

And Porsche 944 Turbo driver Botterill from Ingleby Barwick is currently in pole position for the crown.

He goes into the final races on Saturday and Sunday sixth in the overall table on 228 points.

He’s also second in a tight race for class A1 honours, just eight points behind Paul Brydon (BMW M3).

The next best-placed Teessider is Steve Kell (Sierra XR4x4) in 12th on 173 points in his first season back after taking a year’s break.

Kell is also third in the class B standings and looking set to collect a trophy for finishing in the top three.

Andrew Morrison (Seat Cupra) currently leads the championship on 260 points ahead of former champ Mike Cutt (BMW M3) on 246.

Northallerton-based class E2 leader Simon Mayne (Fisher Fury) is third on 240 points.

Darlington’s Paul Moss (Citroen Saxo) has 222 points after storming up the table following a disastrous early season weekend at Croft and looks set to clinch the class D title.

This weekend’s meeting - organised by BARC - features four NSSCC races.

There’s one for cars in classes A and E and one for those in classes B, C, D and H on Saturday, then the same again on Sunday.

There’s also Formula Renault, Renault Clio Series, Mini Se7en, Kumho BMW, Mini Miglia and Junior Saloons action on a busy weekend.

Qualifying begins at 9.30am on Saturday with the first race at 2.20pm, then it’s straight down to business with the first race of the day at noon on Sunday.

Tickets are available on the gate, priced £13. Accompanied children aged 15 and under are admitted free.

Cleveland Meat Company appeals against conviction for hygiene offences

A slaughterhouse has won part of its appeal against its conviction for breaches of hygiene regulations.

The Cleveland Meat Company Ltd saw £10,000 in fines quashed, with convictions for 10 charges overturned.

The firm withdrew its appeal against three other charges at Teesside Crown Court.

It was originally fined £12,900 and ordered to pay £14,991.69 costs by Teesside magistrates.

The abattoir on Yarm Road, Stockton was found guilty of 12 charges and pleaded guilty to one.

The company, which sells slaughtered cows and sheep wholesale to customers around the UK and Europe, stood trial after charges were brought by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

At a short hearing today, the abattoir’s appeal was not heard as lawyers agreed its outcome.

The company did not pursue its appeal on three of the 13 charges.

The FSA did not oppose the company’s appeal on the remaining 10 charges.

Judge George Moorhouse ordered that the convictions on those 10 charges - and the sentence of £10,000 in fines resulting from them - would be quashed.

The company remains convicted of a charge relating to the failure to remove the spinal cord from a sheep carcass as required by regulations.

During the two-day trial last December, magistrates heard how FSA vet Eve Leppets discovered the cord during an inspection in January.

She said the cord represented Specified Risk Material (SRM) for human consumption, which the carcass “should have been free of”.

The other charges related to the storage and staining with dye of specified risk material under regulations.

The company admitted one charge of possessing specified risk material for sale or supply.

Simon Caterill, defending, told magistrates last year that the company, which employs between 50 and 60 people, had no previous convictions.

He added: “It has been an unhappy experience for the company, one from which they will learn.”

District Judge Adrian Lower said he acknowledged that the abattoir was not a “rogue company” and it had worked to comply with the FSA.

Cleveland Meat Company has been operating for more than 35 years, selling British beef and lamb to customers throughout the UK, including London’s Smithfield Market and Europe. It also provides a halal slaughtering facility.

Hartlepool could house UK's biggest wind turbines

Teesside could soon become home to the UK’s largest wind turbines.

Three separate applications have been submitted for single turbines at Graythorp Industrial Estate, Brenda Road West Industrial Estate and Tofts Road West, all in Hartlepool. And with each turbine measuring more than 200m (655ft) high, the Department of Energy and Climate Change believes the turbines, which would be visible for miles around, would be the highest in England and Wales.

Dan Grierson is planning director at The Energy Workshop, which has submitted the three applications on behalf of Hartlepool-based renewable energy company Seneca Global Energy Ltd. He said: “The consultation period is up and it has had a lot of support, so hopefully it will get the go-ahead.

“In my 14 year career, this is the wind turbine scheme which has received the biggest backing and I believe it is because of where they would be.

“We usually get a lot of objections but each application has received over 200 responses showing support and only about 25 objections.

“We have had support from both local businesses and the public.”

Each turbine will generate three times the amount of energy of existing County Durham mechanisms, providing enough power for at least 4,500 households.

Mr Grierson also believes the local community will benefit from the scheme, as the council would receive business rates and the turbines could become a tourist attraction due to their size and stature.

Job opportunities could also be created for the maintenance of each turbine, he added.

If the planning process goes straightforwardly, it is hoped all three turbines could be up and running within the next two years.

Live: Breaking news, traffic and travel across Teesside

The Evening Gazette's live breaking news blog brings you regular updates, pictures, video, tweets and comments covering the latest Teesside and North Yorkshire traffic, travel, weather, crime and council news for today, Tuesday 16th September, 2014.

You can contribute to the live blog by posting your comment below, and you can also tweet us @EveningGazette to share breaking news stories, pictures and opinions.

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