Wednesday, May 4, 2011

UK Forecast: Cloudier, rain in west - Dry to east, May 04 - 16:09

Thursday Cloudier skies for all parts of the country this morning. There will be a few spots of rain across more central parts of England and Wales. More persistent rain affects western Scotland and the west of Ireland. More eastern parts of Scotland and England should be dry, although more cloud than recent days. This afternoon sees Ireland and western Scotland being rather wet. A few showers breaking out over Wales, the Midlands and northern England. Eastern parts of England stay dry, and there could be some bright or sunny spells breaking through over East Anglia and southeast England. Highs at 14C in northern Scotland, 20C in any sunshine across southeast England.

Thursday Night Periods of rain this evening over more northern and western parts of the country, some moderate bursts of rain for western Scotland and northwest England. These should fade through the night, and then much of England and eastern Wales should become dry. More persistent rain affecting western Scotland, Northern Ireland, western Wales and southwest England. Lows at 6 to 11C.

Friday Fronts affecting the west of the country on Friday will be bringing a few showery outbreaks of rain to the hills of southwest England and Wales, with some more persistent but light rain across northern England and Scotland. Scattered showers over Ireland. Into the afternoon there is a risk of some heavier showers forming through central and northern parts of England as well as southern Scotland. Southeastern and southern parts of England should be brighter with some sunny spells throughout. A very warm day at 22C in the sunshine through southern England, 16C in Ireland and western Scotland.

Saturday A more unsettled day over most of the country on Saturday. Thundery outbreaks of rain affecting the west and north, with some heavy bursts of rain over the hills of western England, Wales and par5ts of Ireland and southern Scotland too. More eastern areas of the country start the day with drier conditions, but here thundery periods of rain will be spreading eastwards later. Highs at 23C in sunshine over eastern England, cooler at 15C in Ireland.


Source: http://feeds.weatheronline.co.uk/~r/weatheronline/~3/ZF-SKiYsESo/reports

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Beatles tribute band will support Quo at Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza

Revellers will be doing the hippy hippy shake as well as rocking all over the world later this year.

Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza organiser Michael Eavis – who is also responsible for the pop festival at neighbouring Pilton – has announced that the Bootleg Beatles will be supporting Status Quo for the event on August 6.

Performing the greatest hits of The Beatles, the Bootleg Beatles have been together since 1980.

Hailed as the world's first 'tribute' band they became the first western rock group ever to tour the Soviet Union back in 1982 and have performed at the Glastonbury Festival in 1994 which caught the eye of a certain Noel and Liam Gallagher. The following year the Bootlegs were the support act for Oasis on their tour.

Over their 30 year history the Bootleg Beatles have performed in front of many thousands of celebrities, including such notable luminaries as Sir Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Sir George Martin and her Majesty, the Queen.

A spokesman for the Extravaganza said they were delighted to welcome the Bootleg Beatles.

"It will be another fabulous good fun night – similar to the sell-out concert in 2009 when Quo were supported by Bjorn Again," he said.

"The Extravaganza will once again comprise two fantastic nights of outdoor concerts set in the beautiful and historic Glastonbury Abbey ruins.

"It is a fantastic family event – you can picnic, listen to world class entertainment and enjoy the fabulous fireworks finale.

"On Sunday August 7, Michael introduces to Extravaganza supporters, for the first time, the stunning Katherine Jenkins, accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra and special guests."

Tickets are sold at the Glastonbury Festival Office and Abbey Shop. Call 01458 834596 or buy online – www.glastonburyextr avaganza.co.uk.

Adult tickets are �32.50 per person per night. Children aged 6 – 16, are �17.50 while under 6's are free.

Source: http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/glastonburyfestival/Beatles-tribute-band-support-Quo-extravaganza/article-3465650-detail/article.html

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Fatah armed wing: Bin Laden killing 'treacherous'

The military wing of Fatah has denounced the killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden as treacherous, a catastrophe and the work of heretics.

In a statement obtained by research institute Palestinian Media Watch, Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades said that if bin Laden had died it was as a martyr on "the path of victory".

They said: "The military wings of the Jihad fighters in Palestine and outside of it, who have in the past lost many of their commanders and their men, will not stop. This has only strengthened their determination, their resolve."

They also vowed revenge on "the American and Israeli occupier" for bin Laden's death.

They said: "The [Islamic] nation which produced leaders who changed the course of history through their Jihad and their endurance, is a nation that is capable of supplying an abundance of new blood into the arteries of the resistance"

The condemnation follows similar statements by several extremist groups, including Hamas, although a spokesman for the Palestinian Authority, dominated by the Fatah movement, said yesterday that "getting rid of bin Laden [was] good for the cause of peace worldwide."

Source: http://www.thejc.com/news/world-news/48421/fatah-armed-wing-bin-laden-killing-treacherous

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Fatah armed wing: Bin Laden killing 'treacherous'

The military wing of Fatah has denounced the killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden as treacherous, a catastrophe and the work of heretics.

In a statement obtained by research institute Palestinian Media Watch, Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades said that if bin Laden had died it was as a martyr on "the path of victory".

They said: "The military wings of the Jihad fighters in Palestine and outside of it, who have in the past lost many of their commanders and their men, will not stop. This has only strengthened their determination, their resolve."

They also vowed revenge on "the American and Israeli occupier" for bin Laden's death.

They said: "The [Islamic] nation which produced leaders who changed the course of history through their Jihad and their endurance, is a nation that is capable of supplying an abundance of new blood into the arteries of the resistance"

The condemnation follows similar statements by several extremist groups, including Hamas, although a spokesman for the Palestinian Authority, dominated by the Fatah movement, said yesterday that "getting rid of bin Laden [was] good for the cause of peace worldwide."

Source: http://www.thejc.com/news/world-news/48421/fatah-armed-wing-bin-laden-killing-treacherous

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Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Cleveland Indians lose Josh Rodriguez and Jose Flores in Rule 5 draft

The Indians supply the first two picks in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft as Josh Rodriguez goes to Pittsburgh and Jose Flores goes to Seattle.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Indians didn't take a player in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft, but they lost two Thursday at the winter meetings. In fact, they provided the first two picks in the draft.

Pittsburgh took infielder Josh Rodriguez, 25, from the Class AAA Columbus roster with the first pick in the draft. Seattle took right-hander Jose Flores with the second pick from the Columbus roster.

Rodriguez, a second round pick by the Indians in 2006, had a breakout year. He hit .317 (20-for-63) at Class AA Akron and really emerged at Columbus where he hit .293 (93-for-317) with 12 doubles and 46 RBI. He had a .858 OPS -- .372 on base percentage and .486 slugging percentage.

"Looking at the free agent middle infielders available, he's a good fit for us," said Pirates GM Neal Huntington. "He can play second, short and third and we like the bat. He absolutely has a shot of sticking with us."  

Flores, 21, pitched at Class A Lake County. He went 1-1 with a 2.14 ERA and six saves in seven chances in 28 games. He struck out 51, walked seven and allowed 35 hits in 42 innings. The opposition hit .224 against him.

He was signed as a free agent in 2008 in Venezuela.

"It's unusual to take a guy from (low) A ball," said Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik. "But again, when you look at it, the key to the thing is that he's a strike thrower. He's aggressive and has size and arm. We'll see what happens."

Zdurencik said the Mariners scouted Flores, 6-3, 185 pounds, last season and checked with their Venezuelan scouts to see how he pitched as an amateur. 

The Indians will receive $50,000 each for Rodriguez and Flores. The Pirates and Mariners must keep them in the big leagues all season or offer them back to the Indians along with $25,000.

Ross Atkins, Indians director of minor league operations, said he'd definitely take both players back if they don't make the Pirates and Mariners big-league clubs coming out of spring training.

"It's a great opportunity for them, but selfishly we'd absolutely take them back," said Atkins.

The Indians considered creating space on the 40 roster to take a player in the draft, but decided against it. 

"We feel good about the roster we held," said Atkins.

The Indians have a lot of players at second base including Jason Donald, Luis Valbuena, Jayson Nix and prospects Jason Kipnis and Cord Phelps. Atkins said that was one of the decisions that went into leaving Rodriguez unprotected.

Atkins said it was "unusual' for a player to get pick from low A ball as Flores was, but he understood the attraction.

"He's a good pitcher," said Atkins. 

The Indians left former No.1 pick Adam Miller unprotected and he was not draft. Miller has had a series of operations on the middle finger of his right hand that have threatened his career. But he ended last season healthy and will attempt a comeback in spring training.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2010/12/cleveland_indians_lose_josh_ro.html

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PM: Brooks dinner 'not a problem'

Prime minister denies it was inappropriate to dine with News Corp bosses while government was considering BSkyB deal

The prime minister, David Cameron, has denied that it was inappropriate for him to have dinner at the home of senior News Corporation executive Rebekah Brooks while the government was considering the company's takeover bid for BSkyB.

Cameron said Brooks, the chief executive of News Corp's UK newspaper publisher News International, was "married to a very old friend of mine" ? a reference to her husband, Charlie Brooks, the racehorse trainer and writer. Both attended Eton.

He added that party leaders and prime ministers "have lunches and dinners with editors, journalists and proprietors all of the time" and he did not think "there's a problem at all" with him attending the dinner.

Cameron was quizzed about the dinner at the Oxfordshire home of the Brooks over the Christmas period on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday by presenter John Humphrys.

The dinner was also attended by James Murdoch, the News Corp chairman and chief executive for Europe and Asia, and took place while the culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, was considering whether to refer the company's bid to acquire the 61% of Sky it did not already own to the Competition Commission on public interest grounds.

It took place a few days after Cameron had stripped the business secretary, Vince Cable, of responsibility for media takeovers and given the powers to Hunt. Cable had been secretly taped by Daily Telegraph journalists saying that he was "at war" with Rupert Murdoch, the News Corp chairman and chief executive.

Humphrys said a lot of people thought attending the dinner was inappropriate and asked Cameron if he wished he had not done it.

"No. I've had absolutely nothing to do with the merger proposals that were put forward," Cameron replied. "I deliberately excluded myself from any part of that decision-making process. The first I knew of [Hunt's decision] was when the results were announced on the BBC.

"Jeremy Hunt had a quasi-judicial role to carry out, which he carried out in my view entirely properly, and it's quite right that he didn't consult the prime minister over that. He looked at the evidence and he made the decision and so I don't think there's a problem at all.

"Party leaders and prime ministers have lunches and dinners with editors, journalists proprietors all of the time."

Pressed further by Humphrys, he said: "The person in question is married to a very old friend of mine. I even occasionally meet people who work for the Guardian, or the Independent, or the BBC, or whatever."

Cameron was also asked about his comments last month that parliament and not the courts should decide where the right to privacy begins, in response to the rash of celebrities taking out injunctions to prevent media coverage of their private lives.

The prime minister said "we should have a discussion and a debate" about the issue, but shied away from backing a new privacy law, suggesting that more could be done through the newspaper industry's self-regulatory body, the Press Complaints Commission.

"I think we should discuss what is the right way forward. I sense that there's still more to be done to recognise that actually the Press Complaints Commission has come on a lot in recent years and we should be working with that organisation to make sure that people get the sort of protection they need, while still having a free and vibrant press," Cameron added.

"We don't want statutory regulation of the press. By all means let's debate it," he said. "But I think there's still more to be done through the Press Complaints Commission."

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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/may/03/rebekah-brooks-dinner-david-cameron

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Cleveland Indians set their minor league coaching staffs for 2011

Ruben Neibla will be the new pitching coach at Class AAA Columbus. Chris Tremie will be the new manager at Class AA Akron and Travis Fryman is the Tribe's new roving fielding coordinator.

fryman-mahvly-08-jg.jpgView full sizeAfter three years as manager of the Indians' Mahoning Valley short-season team, Travis Fryman will work throughout the Indians' farm system as fielding coordinator.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- It is a good thing to be a coaching assistant on the Indians' big-league staff.

Ruben Niebla and Dave Wallace opened last season as assistants to manager Manny Acta. Monday, the Indians announced that Niebla will replace departed Charles Nagy as the pitching coach at Class AAA Columbus, while Wallace will manage short-season Mahoning Valley and serve as the organization's roving minor-league catching coordinator.

In two other moves, Chris Tremie replaces Joel Skinner as the manager at Class AA Akron and Travis Fryman becomes the minor-league fielding coordinator. Fryman spent the last three years managing Mahoning Valley.

Nagy left to be Arizona's big-league pitching coach. Oakland hired Skinner to be its bench coach.

Here a look at the minor-league staff:

Class AAA Columbus: Mike Sarbaugh, manager. Niebla, pitching coach. Lee May Jr. coach. Michael Salazar, athletic trainer.

Class AA Akron: Chris Tremie, manager, Dave Arnold, pitching coach, Rouglas Odor, coach. Chad Wolfe, athletic trainer.

Class A Kinston: Aaron Holbert, manager. Mickey Callaway, pitching coach. Phil Clark, coach. Jeremy Miller, athletic trainer.

Class A Lake County: Ted Kubiak, manager. Jeff Harris, pitching coach. Jim Rickon, coach. Athletic trainer to be determined.

Class A Mahoning Valley: Dave Wallace, manager. Gregg Hibbard, pitching coach. Bobby Ruiz, athletic trainer.

Class A Arizona Rookie League: Anthony Mendrano, manager. Dennis Malave, pitching coach. Junior Betances, coach. Teddy Blackwell, athletic trainer.

Minor league coordinators: Dave Hudgens (field coordinator), Dave Miller (pitching coordinator), Gary Thurman (outfield/base-running coordinator), Minnie Mendoza(advisor, Latin American operations), Johnny Goryl (advisor, player development), Jake Beiting (strength and conditioning coordinator), Julio Rangel (mental skills coordinator), Lino Diaz (cultural development) and Fryman (field coordinator) and Ken Rowe, advisor.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2010/12/cleveland_indians_sets_their_m.html

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