Not Naming the Enemy — on The Glazov Gang

[Subscribe to The Glazov Gang and LIKE it on Facebook.]

This week’s Glazov Gang was joined by Dawn Perlmutter, the Director of the Symbol Intelligence Group and one of the leading subject matter experts (SME) in symbols, symbolic methodologies, unfamiliar customs and ritualistic crimes. She designed and developed Jihad-ID, a symbolic database of the signs, symbols and identifiers of global jihad.

Ms. Perlmutter came on the show to discuss Not Naming the Enemy, explaining how we surrender by not calling Islam by its name. The discussion occurred within the context of Why ISIS Beheads, in which Ms. Perlmutter took us into the dark world of Jihad’s key tactic and signature. She also focused on “How Beheading Raises Islamic State Street Cred,” “Beheading Videos as a Propaganda Tool,” and much, much more:

Don’t miss this week’s second episode with Dr. David Wood, host of the Trinity Channel’s live talk show, “Jesus or Muhammad?” He has been in more than 40 public debates with Muslims and he runs the website AnsweringMuslims.com.

He came on the program to discuss: The Top Ten Qur’an Verses to Understand ISIS:

To watch previous Glazov Gang episodes, Click Here .

LIKE Jamie Glazov’s Fan Page on Facebook.

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, Wednesday 15th October, 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.

Rallycross stars battle for Grand Prix crown at Croft Circuit

Following the success of the event in recent years, Croft Circuit stages the final round of the Shannon MSA British Rallycross Championship and Procters Coaches MSA British Rallycross Grand Prix next weekend.

More than 70 cars will do battle at the track, near Darlington, with the domestic title race coming to a climax on Saturday and the GP taking place on Sunday.

The Grand Prix is running to the same format as last year, using the traditional GP knockout format where the fastest drivers in the mixed heats will eventually progress to a 10-car final.

Kevin Procter from nearby Leeming won it in 2013 and is back to challenge in a new Ford Fiesta Supercar, last seen at the World Rallycross Championship in France.

Multiple British SuperNational champ Dave Bellerby from Northallerton is returning in a Lotus Exige and will be up against daughter Paige in a similar car.

Keeping it in the family is 16-year-old Drew who will be battling with another Northallerton driver, Charlie Bean, for championship honours in the Suzuki Swift Junior class at the penultimate round.

Other SuperNational drivers to watch out for are Stuart Emery (Peugeot 206) and Gary Dixon (Vauxhall Astra) who will be battling for championship honours.

Mathematically Dixon can win but he’d need Emery to not make the finals, such is the scoring system.

Most of the other British Championships have been wrapped up but all of the regular contenders, as well as a few additional drivers will do battle including a dozen Supercars, and also some overseas drivers in readiness for the following day’s action, including Jef Mertens, Kris Fruru and Eric Wilkinson.

There’s a three-way battle in the Suzuki Swift Sport Championship between Graham Rodemark, Tristan Ovenden and Chris Mullen and although there is one further round to go after Croft, it’s vital that all drivers score well.

Guest drivers in the Suzuki Swift series include ex-BTCC, WTCC and NSSCC driver Harry Vaulkhard as well as Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher who has raced at Croft already this season in the Porsche Supercup.

Barnard Castle hotelier ‘Mad’ Mark Watson returns after nearly a full season’s absence after rebuilding his Citroen Xsara and Pat Doran is hoping to have his RS200 ready after it was all but destroyed in a fire at Lydden earlier in the season.

The Ripla Retro Rallycross Challenge has a strong entry and the final round will be on Sunday, although not part of the GP. Bill Watson is hoping to have his brand new RS200 ready and line up against James Harrold in his 500bhp VW Beetle and Rob Gibson’s MG Metro 6R4 among others.

The Star Radio roadshow will be at Croft with bouncy castles, go-karts and quad bikes for kids. Adult admission is £10 on Saturday and £15 on Sunday with a weekend ticket costing £18. Accompanied under 16s are free, as is paddock entrance and car parking.

Packed pitlane denies Addisons their first podium finish

The Addison family team from Yarm were left cursing the weather after being denied their first podium finish in the Fun Cup endurance series.

Dad Bill teamed up with sons Martin and Rob this year for a new challenge after winning back-to-back Northern Saloon and Sports Car Championship titles.

They made it clear this season would be a learning curve in the championship for VW/Audi-powered Beetle silhouette cars, but they’ve nonetheless made good progress.

The curtain came down on their inaugural season in the series with a ninth place finish in a four-hour race at Oulton Park.

But Bill believes it could have been a far better finish.

“To be honest we were hoping for better,” he said.

“The grid positions are pulled out of a hat so we started 22nd but Martin was up to second and the car was on the pace and going well.

“Unfortunately because of the weather the safety car was out quite a lot.

“You have to make five pit stops anyway, so when the safety car is out, everyone dives into the pits at the same time.

“So we had 25 cars in the pits at the same time and we got blocked in - we just couldn’t get out!

“We lost a lot of places because of that and I think we’d definitely have got a podium finish if it had stayed dry.

“Hopefully we’ll manage it next year.”

A Bowla Ebola Idiocy

On Monday, The Daily Mail reported that NBC’s chief medical correspondent, Nancy Snyderman, had a hankering for a bowl of soup from Peasant Grill in Hopewell Boro, New Jersey. So she hopped in her car with one of her crewmembers and headed over to the Grill. When she got to the restaurant, she had her crewmember run inside, grab the soup, and run back out.

There was only one problem: Both Snyderman and her crewmember were under mandatory quarantine for 21 days. That quarantine was a result of their journey to Liberia to cover the Ebola outbreak, a journey during which cameraman Ashoka Mukpo contracted the disease. The authorities made the quarantine mandatory after another of the crewmembers violated a voluntary quarantine last week.

It’s one thing for Liberian citizen Thomas Eric Duncan to carry around an Ebola-ridden woman, get on an airplane to Dallas, walk into a hospital with symptoms, and then walk out again. Such behavior can be attributed, at least in part, to ignorance. It’s another thing entirely for a highly educated medical professional to endanger those around her for some miso.

But that’s the world of the media, where the proper response to the possibility of contracting Ebola is, “Don’t you know who I am?” Double standards abound here; media members lather Americans into a frenzy over the threat of a disease that has, to date, claimed a grand total of one life in the United States. Then they go out for lunch in public after being told that they could be carrying the virus.

The Snyderman story is truly part of a broader egocentrism in the media. The media didn’t give one whit about the Internal Revenue Service targeting conservative non-profit applicants — but they went absolutely batty over the Department of Justice targeting reporters.

The media don’t seem to care very much about demands for transparency from the Obama administration by the American public — but they’re fighting mad about the Obama administration’s refusal to let them photograph him golfing. After all, it’s one thing for normal Americans to get stiffed, and quite another for our betters to feel the effects of government’s heavy hand.

The gap between the media elite and the general population has a deleterious impact on America’s political future. Media members seem to have no problem with incompetent government overreach so long as they prosper, which is why so few media members worry over Democratic proposals to limit First Amendment press freedoms to government-designated “journalists.”

The American people suffer thanks to this elitism. The days of the adversarial media are ending — most investigative journalism now falls to the blogosphere or the foreign press. The corrupt relationship between media and government means that Americans don’t find out about overreach and incompetence until far too late for them to do anything about it.

And so the gap grows. No wonder Snyderman went for soup while under quarantine. After all, it’s not like all those other customers work for NBC, or anything.

Freedom Center pamphlets now available on Kindle: Click here .

Subscribe to Frontpage’s TV show, The Glazov Gang, and LIKE it on Facebook.

Redcar recluse appalled at himself after downloading 1,120 child abuse images

A recluse downloaded more than 1,000 child abuse images, including banned “cartoons”, to his computer.

Terence McArthur developed an unhealthy interest in pictures of children as he accessed illegal photos over a two-and-a-half-year period.

Police searched the home where he lived alone on Geneva Drive, Redcar and seized two laptops and other storage media.

McArthur, 57, explained to officers: “I’ve looked at sites that just came up and tried not to go back to them. Sites that I shouldn’t have had.”

He had 1,120 indecent images of children, prosecutor Jenny Haigh told Teesside Crown Court today.

She said 833 of the pictures were in the least serious category in law, with 287 in more severe categories.

McArthur, of previous good character, admitted making these indecent still photographs by downloading them between September 2010 and January 2013.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing nine prohibited “cartoon” images of children, and possessing two “extreme pornographic images” not involving children.

His internet address came under the police’s spotlight following intelligence to Gloucestershire Police about “a large number of people accessing indecent images via a compromised website”.

Sara-Lise Howe, defending, said: “He cannot explain how it was he ended up regarding these images.”

She said McArthur had a traumatic childhood, suffered depression and was given counselling after a breakdown in 2005.

He had proper, appropriate and fulfilling relationships, but lost the love of his life and was made redundant in 2010.

“He found his world completely shattered and became somewhat reclusive,” said Ms Howe.

“Amongst other things, he found himself using the internet.”

She said he looked at adult pornography at first but was shocked and disgusted with himself when he started looking at pictures of children.

She said the number of photos was far less than in other cases. He did not file them to look at again, he hid nothing, used an email address under his own name, and was open, frank and cooperative with police.

She added: “He was appalled with himself and he put himself on a programme.”

Judge Peter Armstrong accepted that McArthur did not seek out the extreme adult pornography, but clearly had an interest in indecent pictures of children for sexual satisfaction.

“That sort of distorted thinking, starting as it seems to have done fairly late in your life, needs to be addressed,” said the judge.

Given McArthur’s lack of previous convictions and early pleas, he passed an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years with supervision and a sex offender treatment programme.

McArthur was given a five-year sexual offences prevention order governing his internet use

Delays to Newport Bridge repaint 'significantly damaging' Teesside economy, claims MP

The local economy is being “significantly damaged” due to the major delays in finishing the repainting of the Newport Bridge, claimed a Teesside MP today.

Andy McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough, was among many who have expressed their disappointment at the news the repair project will now run into next spring.

But others have spoken of their relief that the vital arterial road over the bridge could be reopened by the end of the month.

VIEW GALLERY

As reported exclusively by the Gazette, the cost of the much-delayed project has spiralled from £1.6m to a staggering £4.1m - owing to the unforeseen damage on the 80-year-old Grade II structure.

But Stockton Council is hoping to alleviate the major strain on local roads, including the A19, by creating a tunnel-style scaffolding that will allow the A1032 to fully reopen.

Labour MP Mr McDonald said of the latest delay: “This is really disappointing as Newport Bridge being out causes immense inconvenience and delay to thousands of people every day.

“Not only is it a nuisance, it causes significant damage to our local economy.

“Motorists know that maintenance work has to be carried out and that inevitably causes disruption. It’s simply unavoidable, but this has gone on for much longer than first anticipated.

“I am only grateful that at least the bridge will re-open to traffic by the end of the month. I am sure that will be a great relief to everyone who has been caught up in the congestion. The sooner we get back to normal the better.”

His Labour colleague Alex Cunningham, whose Stockton North constituency the Newport Bridge runs into, said it was sad the bridge didn’t reopen as planned, but he understand the need to carry out the repair work to the structure.

“There is no doubt that motorists have been extremely frustrated by the bridge closure and the resultant road congestion,” he said.

“So they will very much welcome the council’s decision to re-open it and tackle the repair work in a different way - though doubtless would have liked this to have happened much quicker.”

Conservative MP for Stockton South, James Wharton, said: “This has caused a huge amount of inconvenience and I know many people will welcome it being re opened to traffic as soon as possible.

“The work was necessary to ensure safety but has certainly caused a lot of frustration.”

When the bridge facelift was put into action by Stockton Council in July, the road across the bridge was originally due to reopen after six to seven weeks and the finishing touches of paint were due to be made by November 7.

But the work has been plagued by delays after a deep clean of more than 50,000sqm of metal increasingly revealed areas of corrosion and damage in need of additional extensive repairs.

Thornaby independent councillor Steve Walmsley hit out: “Must have been a really poor pre-painting inspection – if indeed such a comprehensive inspection ever took place.

“So the disruption which has dogged the area since July goes on at even greater cost and this is described as ‘acting decisively!’

“As for the scaffold tunnel, perhaps it would have been cheaper and less disruptive to build a tunnel under the river!”

But Louise Baldock, Labour parliamentary candidate for Stockton South, was grateful “efforts are being made to save” what she called “a special bridge, admired widely”.

She added: “Hopefully these new arrangements will solve our terrible congestion problems and allow people to go about their business more easily.”

Meanwhile readers posted their own reactions to the news of further delays on The Gazette Facebook page, and many did not hold back.

Christopher Hackworth posted: “Did they not bother checking this before they closed the bridge on July 28, for what they said would be six weeks? I live up near Peterlee and work in Boro town centre, the commute during non school time was approx. 60 minutes, it’s about 90 minutes a day now.”

Chris Quincey blasted: “Pathetic. Takes me between on average 90 minutes each way to travel 17 miles to Trimdon. Lost so much time at work and wasted gallons of fuel. You arrive at work late, irate and frustrated.”

Chris Klincke, added: “Been taking me 40mins to do 6 miles from Billingham to Middlesbrough.”

And Jamie Parker posted: “Absolute joke 45 minutes to do a ten minute journey from Billingham to Acklam every morning...get your act together.”

Stockton Council is footing the £4.1m bill for the repair work from “contingency reserves”. Middlesbrough Council is not sharing the cost of the work, as reported elsewhere.

1st Hartburn Sea Scouts Group hoping this year's Wish will support new roof

A Teesside sea scouts group is hoping that this year’s Wish campaign will help them to fund a replacement roof.

Founded in 1921 by Captain Thomas Graham Mellanby, the 1st Hartburn Sea Scouts Group provides fun and adventure for children aged six upwards.

Members start at the age of six in Beavers, they are eight when they join Cubs and 10 and a half when they are in Scouts. There is no upper age limit on being a scout either, meaning nobody is ever too old.

The sea scouts group, which is based on Greens Grove in Stockton, provides water-based activities such as sailing and canoeing. The group is also based around the general scouting activities such as crafts, games, cooking, camping climbing and day trips.

Last year, the group put the money they received from The Gazette’s Wish campaign towards a hope stove which provides heating. The stove is also used to boil a kettle as well as cooking during cold winter camps.

Lesley Lambert, of the group said: “Any money we receive from this year’s Wish campaign will go towards our fundraising to replace our roof.”

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

Every registered group will be guaranteed a share of our £40,000 fund. There are no losers in the Wish campaign but the aim is to collect as many tokens as possible.

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

Registration for this year’s Wish campaign has now closed and tokens are now appearing in The Gazette. The last token will appear on January 21.

Submissions for tokens will close at 5pm on Monday, February 23.

To help the 1st Hartburn Sea Scouts Group, send your tokens to: 66 Wensleydale Gardens, Thornaby, TS17 9BP.

Woman receives hospital treatment after suffering head injuries in pizza shop brawl

A woman received hospital treatment after sustaining head and facial injuries in a fight in a pizza shop.

The brawl, involving a number of men and one woman, took place in Malones Pizza Shop on Wilson Street in Middlesbrough town centre.

The 20-year-old woman suffered head and facial injuries and was taken to James Cook University Hospital.

She was later released following treatment.

Two men, aged 21 and 25, have since been arrested on suspicion of affray and another 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and affray.

All have been bailed pending further inquiries.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident at about 4am on Sunday, October 5, is asked to contact PC Shaun Townsend on the non-emergency number 101.

Redcar man Anthony Smith found safe

A missing Redcar man has been found safe.

Anthony Smith, 56, had not been seen since 12.30pm Monday.

Mr Smith was found in Redcar and police would like to thank the public for their help.

Teesside entrepreneur Chris Musgrave spearheading £1 billion scheme in Kent

Teesside entrepreneur Chris Musgrave is spearheading a £1 billion scheme to re-develop a former airport site in Kent.

The businessman, who is behind the successful Wynyard Park, teamed up with regeneration specialist Trevor Cartner to purchase the former Manston airport development in Thanet from Stagecoach bus tycoon Ann Gloag.

The new owners are planning a £1 billion redevelopment of the 800-acre site into a mixed-use scheme with businesses, homes, shops, schools and community facilities - a move that could create an estimated 4,000-plus jobs.

Mr Musgrave and Mr Cartner met recently with Stagecoach co-founder Ann Gloag and swiftly reached agreement to acquire a majority interest in the site.

Mr Musgrave said: “Whilst it is too early to be specific about our plans, we will be looking to comprehensively redevelop the whole site to create a mixed-use community. This is in light of the fact that the airport has closed, the equipment has been sold and it will not reopen.

“We are aware that there were a number of job losses when the airport closed and a far greater number will replace these, and that the benefits will reach the whole of east Kent. We will assemble a first-class team to produce and deliver high quality plans for the site.”

The development plans are likely to include production and warehousing space, which will meet a current shortage of space in Thanet for companies to grow and expand. It will also complement the Discovery Park scheme in Kent where occupancy is already more than 50% after only two years and recent demand for large production and warehousing requirements has fallen due to lack of suitable accommodation.

Mr Musgrave and Mr Cartner have a proven track record in delivering commercial development projects. They own the 700-acre Wynyard Park as well as Discovery Park, a 220-acre science and technology scheme in Sandwich, Kent.

The Wynyard Park masterplan first began almost ten years ago after electronics giant Samsung vacated the site. It is now 100% occupied, employs 2,000 people in 60 companies and has attracted £250 million of private investment. Phase two of the development will include 2,500 new homes, a school, hospital and retail operations. Last month marked the start of preliminary work that will pave the way for the construction of new homes on the site.

JDR Cables win significant North Sea contract

Subsea cable specialist JDR Cables has won a significant North Sea contract.

The company, which employs 160 people at its Hartlepool facility, will design and make an 18km-long hybrid-power steel cable on behalf of energy company Wintershall Noordzee BV.

The cable - called an umbilical - will be bound for the Ravn field development in the North Sea.

It’s the latest in a string of contract wins for the company, which is a leading provider of technology connecting the global offshore energy industry.

The umbilical will provide power and control; connecting a new platform to an existing one for long-term well testing off the Danish coast.

JDR will include hydraulic hoses, super duplex steel tubes, MV power cores and fibre optic cables. The company will also provide the subsea hardware as well as life-cycle support, through its Global Service division.

The finished umbilical will be manufactured and loaded out at JDR’s deep-water quayside facility in Hartlepool and will be delivered to the Ravn field. Delivery is scheduled for the third quarter of 2015.

Carl Pilmer, EMEA Umbilical Sales Director for JDR, said: “We are extremely proud to be working with Wintershall on this Ravn project.

“We have a long history of umbilical and cable delivery to North Sea developments. This project is yet another testament to JDR’s design and manufacture expertise.”

The company’s products and services ‘enable vital control and power delivery to offshore oil, gas and renewable energy systems’.

A company spokesperson added: “The world’s major energy companies and subsea service providers depend on high performance subsea control umbilicals and subsea power cables that operate in the world’s harshest offshore environments.

“JDR invests in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, technology and people to deliver these world-class subsea products.”

In the last few months, JDR has also announced a renewables contract to supply 95 kilometres of cable for the Statoil/Statkraft Dudgeon offshore wind farm, off Norfolk’s coast, on behalf of Dutch cabling specialist VBMS, formerly VSMC.

It also secured a deal to supply Germany’s largest windfarm cluster - Nordsee One - with more than 70 kilometres of cable, accessories and post-delivery offshore services on behalf of Siem Off-shore Contractors GmbH, in a move that will strengthen its presence in the growing German offshore wind market.

Graham Robb: The North-east is punching above its weight in the economic recovery

When we hear about delegations from the North-east heading to London the common assumption is that they are going cap in hand, but, more often than not, it is actually to help decision makers and investors set their sights firmly on the region and its many opportunities.

On Wednesday and Thursday a collaboration of local authorities and private sector businesses from the region are doing just that, under the banner of Invest North East England, showcasing the North East and its investment opportunities at major property event, MIPIM UK.

Attracting more than 4,000 delegates, this inaugural UK event is based on the established global MIPIM exhibition, held in Cannes, bringing together professionals from across the British property market including investors, developers, local authorities and occupiers.

It is part of the delegation’s aim to highlight the investment and long-term growth opportunities that exist in the North East and how the region is not only well-prepared, but actively supports ambitious north-shoring employers.

This event represents critical mass in terms of influencers and investors and will allow the North East delegation to prove that this region has opportunities for growth for years to come.

This region certainly has a lot to offer and, in comparison with some larger parts of the country with higher populations, the North East is definitely punching above its weight in the economic recovery.

The Office of National Statistics’ latest Regional Economic Indicators study revealed that the Gross Value Added economic output of the North East has grown by a greater percentage than other areas including the East and West Midlands and Scotland.

When you consider that only 4% of the UK population live in the North East compared with nearly 9% in the West Midlands and 7% in the East Midlands, this is an impressive accomplishment.

The most recent Lloyds Bank Regional Purchasing Managers’ Index lists the North East as the third strongest performing region for August 2014.

I would also suggest that it is this region’s entrepreneurial talent that makes it an attractive and supportive place to do business.

As part of my number crunching for this column, I also came across some figures from the Start Up Loans Company, which, since it launched, has backed 20,000 businesses and lent £100,000,000. Five percent of that money was loaned to start-ups in the North East, which demonstrates that, again based on percentage of population, more entrepreneurial businesses are setting up in this region than in other parts of the country.

So our small, but incredibly innovative and productive region, is performing well and is doing all the right things to prove to companies that north-shoring their operations to the North East is a more than viable option. One of the delegation partners, property consultants Sanderson Weatherall, will showcase to attendees some of the fantastic places to do business in the region.

This week’s MIPIM UK exhibition also provides the North East with the opportunity to demonstrate the close collaborations and innovative partnerships between local authorities and private sector firms.

The progress made by the region’s two Local Enterprise Partnerships proves that publicly-funded organisations can make a real difference to the economic prosperity of a region.

The delegation at MIPIM UK includes the North East LEP which, along with the North East Combined Authority, made up of the seven councils from County Durham northwards, is working alongside 12 private sector partners representing a genuine display of solidarity between the public sector and business.

Across this region developments are creating employment and offering direct and indirect economic benefits to the North East as a result of productive relationships between the public and private sector. In Durham City and Sunderland, for example, Carillion is working with each of the local authorities to deliver programmes of investment and growth.

Its project at Freeman’s Reach, delivered with North East property business Arlington Real Estate, will help retain around 1,350 jobs in Durham while in Sunderland, alongside its partner Igloo Regeneration, Carillion will breathe new life and investment opportunities into three strategic sites.

These developments, and others, substantiate the message being delivered at MIPIM UK that North East local authorities are keen to engage with innovative companies that can make positive strides in delivering inward investment for this region.

Josh Brookes re-signs for Guisborough-based Milwaukee Yamaha

Boss Shaun Muir has expressed his delight that Josh Brookes would be returning to the Guisborough-based Milwaukee Yamaha team for the 2015 British Superbike season.

The Aussie ace switched to Yamaha for 2014 campaign and confirmed his place in the Showdown for the fifth consecutive season.

He currently holds third place in the overall standings ahead of this weekend’s final three races at Brands Hatch.

So far this year he has claimed four victories, including a double win at Thruxton in August, and a further seven podium finishes.

“I’m delighted that we have Josh on board with us for a second year because retaining him in BSB was always our prime focus,” said Muir.

“There are lots of positives coming from Yamaha and the future is very exciting. Josh understands this and also recognises that Yamaha YME and YMUK have made every effort to give him a longer-term future and are especially keen to see him progress within the Yamaha ranks.

“Deliver the results and we will both reward that success.

“I’m certain we will see a stronger and more polished racer with a second year on the R1.”

Brookes added: “I would feel like a quitter if I left the championship now without winning the BSB title and I believe it has just been circumstances that have prevented that happening at times.

“I know there was talk of me leaving BSB, but with potentially a new bike and high expectations I want to win this championship before moving on.

“Naturally the second consecutive season with a team is always better than the first because you have experiences to build on, so hopefully next year we can reach our potential of winning the championship. We need to come back next year and we need to crack it.”

Muir added that the team’s second rider for MCE BSB in 2015 will be announced very soon.

Missing 75-year-old man may be in a 'distressed state', according to police

Have you seen this man?

Police are looking for missing 75-year-old Bryn Lewis.

He was last seen at 9.15am today in Liverton Mines but he might now be in the Skinningrove area.

Mr Lewis is described as white, with grey hair and of slim build.

He was last seen wearing a blue baseball cap and blue jacket and police fear he may be in a distressed state.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Mr Lewis or with information should contact 101.

Woodburn stove causes Marton house fire

Heat from a woodburn stove caused a fire at a family house in Middlesbrough.

One crew each from Coulby Newham and Thornaby attended the fire on Gypsy Lane, Marton at 7.30pm last night .

It took firefighters 50 minutes to put out the fire, which left the chimney breast badly damaged.

The rest of the house was slightly damaged by smoke and nobody was hurt in the incident.

Man arrested following Grangetown armed police swoop is bailed pending further inquiries

VIEW GALLERY

A suspected gunman has been bailed following an incident in Grangetown at the weekend.

The 21-year-old local man was arrested on Sunday evening, on suspicion of threats to kill and possession of a firearm.

He was still being questioned by police yesterday but a spokeswoman for Cleveland Police has now confirmed that he has been bailed pending further inquiries.

Armed police were called to an address on Wilton Way, on Sunday afternoon, after reports of a suspected gunman.

The road was closed off for nearly three hours as armed officers and police dogs searched a number of addresses in connection with the incident.

No-one was injured during the search, which included a property on Grisedale Crescent.

The investigation is still ongoing and anyone who has information should ring 101.

Watch: Milos Veljkovic in action for Spurs under-21s in win over Arsenal

Here's Boro target Milos Veljkovic in action for Spurs' under-21 side in the North London derby against Arsenal.

As revealed on GazetteLive today, Boro have agreed a deal in principle to bring the Serbian youth international, 19, to the Riverside until January.

Among them was this appearance in his side's victory over Arsenal in February last year which he was substituted in the 46th minute.

He also featured against Arsenal at White Hart Lane the following April.

Spurs blogger Chris Miller wrote that he had a relatively quiet match as Arsenal rarely threatened.

Veljkovic's role was "mostly to give the ball to his more creative team-mates and do the necessary dirty work to stop any counter-attacks", he added.

Oscar Pistorius: Latest updates as athlete back in court for second day of sentencing

Join us on social media.

For the latest local news straight to your Twitter, Facebook feed or e-mail inbox.

Facebook

The Gazette

Gazette People

Newsletters

Sign up to our daily newsletter

Twitter

@EveningGazette

@GazetteBoro

@GazetteCourt

@Gazettepeople

@Gazettebusiness

The Editor

Chris Styles

Editor, The Gazette

Email

chris.styles@trinitymirror.com

Twitter

@chrisstyles16

Chris was appointed editor of the Gazette in January 2012. He is also a former Gazette news editor. Chris has more than 20 years experience as a journalist and has previously worked in senior positions in Newcastle, Exeter and Nottingham.

Milos Veljkovic: Boro close in on loan deal for Spurs starlet

Boro are closing in on the loan signing of Spurs starlet Milos Veljkovic.

The club have agreed a deal in principle to bring the Serbian youth international, 19, to the Riverside until January with an option of extending the deal until the end of the season if both sides are happy.

Velkovic is currently with the Serbian Under-19 squad for a game against Spain but Boro hope he will arrive in the next few days.

The Swiss-born talent can play in central defence or as a holding midfielder so could fill a few gaps in the squad.

The impressive teenager joined Spurs from the FC Basel youth set-up in 2011 and has established himself in the Academy side at White Hart Lane where he played alongside on loan right-back Ryan Fredericks.

He played for the Serbian side that won the UEFA Under-19 European Championships last summer and has been tipped to step up to the senior side soon.

“I’m leaving on a three-month loan,” he told the Serbian press.

“Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka called me to talk about the possibility. He was previously an assistant Jose Mourinho.

“I am happy to get the chance. In January a loan could be extended to the end of the season,” he explained.

Veljkovic made his first team debut at Spurs last season in the Premier League when he came off the bench in a 5-1 win over Sunderland and also featured against Aston Villa.

He has been part of the senior squad this season and has played in the Europa League against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, who Boro beat in the UEFA Cup in November 2005, and also against Benfica but has struggled to get pitch time in the league.

The Top 10 Qur’an Verses to Understand ISIS — on The Glazov Gang

[Subscribe to The Glazov Gang and LIKE it on Facebook.]

This week’s Glazov Gang was joined by Dr. David Wood, host of the Trinity Channel’s live talk show, “Jesus or Muhammad?” He has been in more than 40 public debates with Muslims and he runs the website AnsweringMuslims.com.

He came on the program to discuss: The Top Ten Qur’an Verses to Understand ISIS:

Don’t miss this week’s second episode with Dawn Perlmutter, the Director of the Symbol Intelligence Group and one of the leading subject matter experts (SME) in symbols, symbolic methodologies, unfamiliar customs and ritualistic crimes. She designed and developed Jihad-ID, a symbolic database of the signs, symbols and identifiers of global jihad.

Ms. Perlmutter came on the show to discuss Why ISIS Beheads, taking us into the dark world of Jihad’s key tactic and signature. She also discussed “How Beheading Raises Islamic State Street Cred,” “The Fear of Naming the Enemy,” “Beheading Videos as a Propaganda Tool,” and much, much more:

To watch previous Glazov Gang episodes, Click Here .

LIKE Jamie Glazov’s Fan Page on Facebook.

French polisher who turned to life of crime back behind bars after raiding student house

A French polisher who turned to a life of crime is back behind bars again after raiding a student house.

Steven Matthewson, 41, went to the back of the building in central Middlesbrough and he reached over a high wall and pulled back the latch on the gate.

He wandered around the yard and he looked in through a window cupping his hand to get the best view.

He checked the rest of the outside before wiping down the gate to remove his fingerprints as he left.

But he was not aware that he had demonstrated it all for the watching cameras of a neighbour’s CCTV system, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Prosecutor Sue Jacobs said that police showed him the footage when they arrested him days later because he was recognised as a well known burglar.

He had been released from prison only weeks before the June 29 attempted burglary at 9.30PM.

Miss Jacobs said that he had 27 convictions for 63 offences including burglary, attempted burglary and theft and his arrest led to his re-call for breaching his release on licence on April 9 from a 42 months sentence.

One of the students said later that Matthewson’s marauding left them feeling very vulnerable because he had entered under the cover of the walled yard.

Pedter Wishlade, defending, said that Matthewson was a craftsman French polisher whose life had been totally blighted by drugs and his addiction to heroin.

He first went to prison when he was 26 and he had been sentenced to a total of 15 years in jail.

Mr Wishlade added: “This particular offence is impossible to explain.

“He has been in custody since the Fourth of July, and a suspended sentence would give him a chance.”

The judge said that Matthewson was a prolific burglar who was attempting to fund his drug lifestyle.

Judge Howard Crowson told him : “You have such a bad record that had you completed the offence it would have attracted a sentence of three years.

“You even wiped down the gate as you left so that there would be no traces, but it’s fortunate that there was a CCTV system in place.”

The judge added: “The idea now that you can come before the court and say that if you should be given some structure you might not re-offend is I’m afraid not good enough for me.”

Matthewson, of Letitia Street, Middlesbrough, was jailed for two years after he pleaded guilty to attempted burglary.

Majuba Road in Redcar closed as heavy wind causes sand obstructions

The wind caused havoc for drivers in the Redcar beach area on Tuesday morning.

Large sand deposits were blown onto the road between High Street West, Bridge Road and Newcomen Terrace.

As a result of the sand invasion, Majuba Road, was closed to the public in both directions.

The incident happened at peak travel time and a JCB was needed to clear away the obstruction,

The road was not opened again until all the sand was cleared.

Linthorpe cannabis farm: Raid on drugs factory yet to result in any arrests

A raid on a major cannabis farm worth “tens of thousands” has yet to be followed up with any arrests.

Cleveland Police executed a search warrant at an address on Beech Grove Road in Linthorpe on Saturday morning.

They discovered 150 cannabis plants inside the Middlesbrough property.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said they could be valued at “somewhere in the tens of thousands.”

The presence of the officers and discovery of the drugs farm shocked residents.

One man, who has lived on the street for more than 13 years with his wife and their two teenage children said he was “gob-smacked” to see the raid taking place.

“The house has been rented out for a number of years and has really gone down hill," he added.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone who may have further information is asked to contact the Community Drug Enforcement Team confidentially on 0800 0929 702 or 01642 302181.

Morning news headlines: Ebola screening to start today, Cantlie's sister in IS talks plea

EBOLA SCREENING TO START TODAY

Enhanced screening for Ebola will begin at Britain's biggest airport today after the Health Secretary revealed the deadly virus is expected to reach the UK.

Jeremy Hunt said checks would begin at Heathrow's Terminal 1 before they are expanded to cover Gatwick Airport and Eurostar rail terminals by the end of next week, as the death toll in West Africa reached more than 4,000 people.

He told MPs it was "likely" that Ebola will be seen in the UK and a "handful" of cases could be confirmed in the next three months.

CANTLIE'S SISTER IN IS TALKS PLEA

The sister of British journalist John Cantlie, who is being held hostage by the Islamic State (IS), has urged the terror group to "restart dialogue" with his family.

Mr Cantlie, a photojournalist who has worked for newspapers including the Sunday Times, has featured in several propaganda videos released by the Islamic extremists in recent weeks and apparently had an article published in the group's Dabiq magazine.

But in a statement, his sister, Jessica Cantlie, said it was "frustrating" that contact with her family has stopped.

THREE ARRESTED IN TERROR PROBE

Three men have been arrested in central London on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

The suspects, aged 21, 24 and 25, are currently in custody, Scotland Yard said.

Two of the five men who were arrested under the Terrorism Act last week have been released from custody, a police spokesman added.

PENSION REFORMS TO BE PUBLISHED

Over-55s will have the flexibility to draw down their pension pots in chunks, under legislation being published by the Government.

Chancellor George Osborne said people should be "free to choose what they do with their money".

Details of the flagship reforms unveiled in the Budget are being set out in the Pension Tax Bill.

INFLATION SET FOR NEW FIVE-YEAR LOW

Inflation is set for a new five-year low when official figures are published today, showing the effect of the supermarket price war.

Falling petrol prices may also have helped drag the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of inflation for September down from 1.5% to 1.4%.

The data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will show CPI below the Bank of England's 2% target for the ninth month in a row.

RULING DUE ON DUGGAN VERDICT APPEAL

The mother of Mark Duggan, whose death sparked nationwide riots after he was shot by a police marksman, learns today whether she has won a High Court bid to overturn a finding that her son was "lawfully killed".

Pamela Duggan, and other family members and supporters, reacted with shock and anger after the inquest jury returned their majority verdict in January on 29-year-old Mr Duggan.

Michael Mansfield QC, appearing for the family, asked three judges at a hearing in July to declare that coroner Judge Keith Cutler misdirected the jury and, in doing so, violated human rights laws.

KIM SEEN FOR FIRST TIME IN 40 DAYS

North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un has made his first public appearance in five weeks, the country's official news agency reported.

It ended an absence that fuelled global speculation that something was amiss with the country's most powerful person.

Resuming what had been a regular practice before he stopped showing up in media reports for 40 days, Kim "gave field guidance" at the newly built Wisong scientists residential district, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

GPs 'STRUGGLE TO SPOT LUNG CANCER'

One in three lung cancer sufferers die within 90 days of diagnosis, research has found, suggesting GPs are struggling to spot early signs of the disease.

Respiratory physician Dr Emma O'Dowd who carried out the research at Nottingham University, said family doctors needed more help in recognising patients at a high risk of lung cancer.

The research found that of those who die within three months of discovering the cancer, one in 10 die within a month while one in 20 are not diagnosed until they have died.

BOKO HARAM GROUP 'MUST BE STOPPED'

More needs to be done to stop the militant Islamist group responsible for kidnapping more than 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria exactly six months ago, a letter signed by British politicians and former military leaders has urged.

Boko Haram, the group that abducted the pupils from a school in Chibok in the northern state of Borno in April, are now said to be backed by fellow terror group Islamic State (IS), according to the letter published in the Independent newspaper.

Among those calling for an international inquiry into the financing of the terrorists, and military assistance for the Nigerian security forces in their attempts to defeat them, are former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown and former Army chief General Sir David Richards.

PITT GOT FIRST GUN WHILE AT NURSERY

Hollywood star Brad Pitt had told how he was given his first gun while he was still at nursery.

The 50-year-old US actor plays a soldier in his new movie, Fury.

He told Radio Times magazine: "There's a rite of passage where I grew up of inheriting your ancestors' weapons.

Knifepoint robbery of ice-cream man continues to be investigated by detectives

A knifepoint robbery in Berwick Hills continues to be investigated by police.

Two men threatened an ice-cream man with a knife, getting away with money and cigarettes.

The 41-year-old was in his van at the junction of Evesham Road and Overdale Road in the Berwick Hills area about 8.15pm on Friday, October 3, when the two men approached.

No arrests have been made and police are appealing to anyone who may have seen anything or used the ice cream van that evening to come forward.

Anyone with information should call Detective Constable Paul Whitehouse on 101.

Irish dance school Scoil Rince i Muir is wishing for token success

An Irish dance school in Teesside is hoping to continue representing the region internationally with the help of this year’s Wish campaign.

Formed in 2004, Scoil Rince i Muir holds classes in Coulby Newham and Thornaby for children from the age of four upwards.

Now celebrating its tenth successful year, the dancers have competed in and been very successful at many national and international competitions across the UK, Ireland and the USA.

After entering The Gazette’s Wish campaign last year, the dance school used the money they received to help with competition costs. The money went towards the cost of the dancers competing at the World Championships in London at Easter.

Veronica Muir, who formed the school said: “Last year, nine dancers travelled to the capital to compete which may not have been possible if it wasn’t for the Wish campaign.

“Any money we receive from this year’s Wish campaign will again contribute to the costs of the dancers to travel to the various national and international competitions they compete in.

“This allows local dancers to represent the region across the globe.”

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

Every registered group will be guaranteed a share of our £40,000 fund. There are no losers in the Wish campaign but the aim is to collect as many tokens as possible.

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

Registration for this year’s Wish campaign has now closed and tokens are now appearing in The Gazette. The last token will appear on January 21.

Submissions for tokens will close at 5pm on Monday, February 23.

To help Scoil Rince i Muir, send your tokens to: 92 Coniston Grove, Acklam, Middlesbrough, TS5 7DG.

Billingham Stars restore pride and confidence in double Manchester defeat

Billingham Stars director of coaching Terry Ward said his players restored pride and confidence in two expected but competitive British Challenge Cup defeats to Manchester Phoenix.

The Ultimate-Windows Stars were always going to find it hard against the English Premier League side given the difference in levels.

But they battled hard in both their 6-2 away defeat and 6-1 home reverse to put the previous week’s 10-2 cup crushing at Blackburn Hawks firmly behind them.

Ward said: “I don’t think the scorelines reflected the games really.

“We came up against a very good Manchester side and if you make mistakes you get punished.

“James Flavell had a great weekend – it’s great to see him back from injury and back on form, but the team as a whole worked their socks off.

“We got a bit tired trying to keep up with a professional team but I can’t ask for any more than they gave.”

The Stars went into Saturday’s game in Altrincham boosted by the return of netminder James Flavell.

The Teessiders conceded a very early goal, Bobby Chamberlain hitting the back of the net with less than a minute played.

Fears of a collapse were quickly dispelled as Callum Davies brought the teams level in the third minute.

Stars man-of-the-match Flavell could do nothing about the home side’s second, Shaun Thompson left alone to score an easy chance in the 11th minute.

Just two minutes later it was 3-1, Thompson again the man over to put away a simple opportunity.

Billingham refused to give in, and Chris Sykes tapped in at the near post in the 16th minute to bring the Stars back within one.

The Phoenix moved further ahead in controversial fashion in the 23rd minute.

A missed icing call Billingham put under pressure in their own zone, and Jack Watkins eventually put the puck away.

Thomas Stuart-Dant almost pulled one back in the 26th minute, but Adam Walker finished a fast breakout to make it 5-2 to the top flight hosts when it could so easily have been 4-3.

A defensive lapse allowed Walker to backhand unmarked into an open goal to widen the gap to 6-2 in the 34th minute.

Both sides tightened up in the final session with chances falling for Callum Davies and Paul Windridge in the final five minutes, and although the Stars were beaten they were far from disgraced.

Billingham started Sunday’s reverse fixture at the Forum with their tails up thanks to their efforts in Altrincham.

They were unfortunate to go a goal down with four minutes gone when Shaun Thompson fired home after James Flavell had made a double save.

Manchester doubled their lead through Adam Walker’s wraparound effort before Billingham’s Jack Emerson scored when he pounced on a rebound.

The joy was short-lived as Michal Psurny cracked home on the power play, Psurny scored again and Chamberlain and Ben Wood completed the Phoenix scoring.

Middlesbrough to lead regional migration and asylum seeker project

Middlesbrough is to lead a regional project to promote understanding of migration and to support local asylum seeker and refugee networks.

It comes after the town was shown to have the highest proportion of asylum seekers in England - becoming the only place in the country to breach national guidelines, as reported last week by The Gazette.

Discussions between Middlesbrough Council and the Home Office has led to an offer of Government funding for the North East Strategic Migration Partnership.

The decision means Middlesbrough can access £67,000 of Government funding to take the partnership forward until the end of March 2015, but further funding is likely to be made available on an annual basis.

The Government says no local authority area should need to accommodate more than one asylum seeker per 200 of population.

But a Middlesbrough Council report has revealed almost 1,000 asylum seekers are currently being housed in the town - almost one-and-a-half times the Government limit.

Cllr Brenda Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive member for supporting communities, welcomed the decision saying Middlesbrough will lead the way to give support to asylum seeker and refugee networks.

Police continue to search for missing Redcar man Anthony Smith

Police are still looking for a missing Redcar man.

Anthony Smith was last seen on foot at 12.30pm yesterday, in the Trent Road area.

The 56-year-old was wearing a black hooded Superdry coat with an orange logo, navy Adidas tracksuit bottoms with white stripes and black Adidas Samba trainers.

Mr Smith is described as white, of slim build, 5ft 5ins, with blue eyes and wearing glasses.

He is also described as bald and has tattoos of Chinese writing inside both his left and right forearms.

Anyone who may have seen Mr Smith or who may have information should ring 101.