Branson keen on Honda - F1 boss

Tycoon Richard Branson would "love" to take over the Honda Formula One team, Bernie Ecclestone has said.
Honda have confirmed Branson's Virgin Group is one of several potential buyers of their F1 outfit.
The British-based team was put up for sale in December after Honda announced they would quit the sport as both a constructor and engine supplier.
"I've spoken to Richard's people about it. He would love to do it," said F1 supremo Ecclestone.
The Japanese carmakers hope a deal can be done in time for the start of the 2009 season in Australia on 29 March.
It is thought the team are up for sale for £1 - although any buyer would need to find a budget in the region of £40m to run the outfit for the new campaign.
Honda have said they are negotiating with several buyers and hope a deal can be done in time for the start of the new season on 29 March.
Speaking about the prospect of Virgin being involved with F1, Ecclestone said: "I'd like it very much. It would be super. We're working to try to make it happen."
The team are very short on time to put a deal together to enable them to compete this season.
They are planning to use Mercedes engines, but the German company has set a deadline by which the team have to prove they have the finances in place to pay for the power-plants.
BBC Sport understands that deadline expires in a matter of days.
Honda announced they were pulling out of F1 because of the effects of the global economic crisis.
Since then the leading contender was rumoured to be a planned management buyout led by the team's current chief executive Nick Fry, principal Ross Brawn and three other senior Honda Racing executives.
Honda are prepared to provide some funding to go towards a racing budget for 2009 as this would be cheaper than paying off the contracts of the team's 700 employees.
Branson has been involved with F1 in a minor capacity - his Virgin Mobile company sponsored the Jordan team in 2002.
Virgin Atlantic Japan have also been personal sponsors of Honda-backed Japanese driver Takuma Sato for the past four years.
But a source close to Branson told BBC Sport that the entrepreneur had in the past been reluctant to get involved with F1, because he saw the sport as a "big black hole for money".
Should a buyout be put together, it would be a major boost for the career of English driver Jenson Button as well as the jobs of the team's 700 employees.
Button has no other options for a place in F1 this coming season.
Honda first competed in F1 in 1964 and has clocked up three Grand Prix wins as a full works team.Its engines have also been behind dozens of victories by stars such as world champions Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost

Oram ton ensures Lord’s draw

LONDON: Jacob Oram’s 101 secured a draw for New Zealand on the fifth and final day of the first Test against England at Lord’s here on Monday.
Oram’s fifth Test hundred, and first against England, was the centrepiece of New Zealand’s second innings 269 for six - 227 ahead. When Oram came to the crease, after wicket-keeper and leading batsman Brendon McCullum had retired hurt on 11, New Zealand were only 78 runs ahead at 120 for four. But by the time he was out, New Zealand had made the game ahead of the start of the second Test of this three-match series at Old Trafford on Friday. Oram, 55 not out at tea, sped through the 90s with three boundaries after England had taken the new ball with the tall left-hander on 89. He cut the first delivery with the new ball, from Ryan Sidebottom for four to go to 93, drove the left-arm quick down the ground to reach 97 and reached his hundred with a forcing shot through the offside against the same bowler.
But one ball after completing a 120-ball hundred with two sixes and 15 fours that got him onto the Lord’s honours board, he was bowled having dominated a stand of 132 with Daniel Flynn in which the Test debutant made just 22. There was still time for McCullum, who made a run-a-ball 97 in the first innings, to resume before he was caught behind for 24. Flynn finished on 29 not out with New Zealand captain, man-of-the-match for his first innings five for 69, unbeaten on nought. New Zealand resumed after lunch on 113 for three, just 71 runs ahead. And 16 balls later that became 115 for four when Jamie How, trying to turn fast bowler Stuart Broad legside, was well caught for 68 by Alastair Cook at third slip. Opener How, celebrating his 27th birthday on Monday, batted for over three hours facing 131 balls with nine fours for his second Test fifty. McCullum then had to retire hurt after a short ball from Broad hit his unprotected left forearm.
Fortunately for New Zealand an X-ray subsequently revealed McCullum had not suffered a break. Oram then pulled left-arm spinner Monty Panesar for the first six of the match before a square-cut boundary off fast bowler James Anderson saw the tall him to a 67-ball fifty. New Zealand started on Monday on 40 without loss, a deficit of two, with How unbeaten on 26 and Aaron Redmond, who’d avoided a pair on his Test debut, 14 not out. But only seven runs had been added when Redmond, pushing forward with an angled bat, edged Anderson straight to Andrew Strauss at first slip. And they were only 10 in front when, 17 balls later, James Marshall was lbw for nought to an inswinging delivery from Sidebottom, who’d taken four for 77 in New Zealand’s first innings 277. How, on 46, drove loosely at the last delivery of Broad’s first over on Monday only for Strauss to drop the head-high slip chance as the ball burst through his hands.
Vaughan’s decision to bring Monty Panesar into the attack was soon rewarded when, with his sixth ball on Monday, the left-arm spinner had Ross Taylor lbw to effectively leave New Zealand 57 for three. England, who were well placed at 148 for one after a first century opening stand between Strauss and Cook, had to settle for a modest first-innings lead of 42 after being bowled out for 319. Vaughan top-scored with 106, his 18th Test century also equalling the Lord’s Test record of six held by former England captain Graham Gooch. Although the pitch offered little turn, left-arm spinner Vettori took five or more wickets in a Test innings for the 14th time in his career. And when Vettori dismissed Vaughan to end the innings, he become only the second New Zealand cricketer after Sir Richard Hadlee to take 250 Test wickets. afp

Intensive Course: ICC Arbitration

Prof. Pierre Tercier Chairman of the ICC International Court of Arbitration; Professor at the University of Fribourg.
8-9 April 2009
The International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris is one of the most important and best known institutions of arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. Its unique set of procedures have been applied to more than 15’000 disputes since their adoption in 1922. Against the background of the general system of international commercial arbitration presented in the general courses, students taking ICC Arbitration are offered a concrete review of the ICC arbitration process and its specificities, such as the Terms of References and the scrutiny of the award by the arbitration institution. Students are also confronted with the writing of some documents related to a procedure before the ICC. It is a rare privilege that we offer our students to be taught the ICC Rules and practice by the person in charge of running the ICC International Court of Arbitration.

West Indies v England 3rd Test

Captain Andrew Strauss has defended his decision to not declare earlier as England failed to beat West Indies in an exciting finish to the third Test.
The visitors had looked set to level the series at 1-1 but the home side held out for a draw in fading light.
Strauss declared on 221-8 in the second innings, setting West Indies an improbable 503 for victory, but England fell agonisingly short by one wicket.
"We had over 130 overs to bowl the West Indies," said the Middlesex batsman.
"On most fifth-day wickets that is more than enough overs."
After their shocking defeat in the opening match of the series, England were on top for much of the match in Antigua but Ramnaresh Sarwan (106) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (55) led a determined survival effort by the home side.But although Andrew Flintoff was not firing on all cylinders because of a hip problem, Stuart Broad weighed in with 3-51, Graeme Swann also took three wickets to go with his 5-57 in the first innings and James Anderson picked up two.
Questions will be asked about his decision not to enforce the follow-on after the West Indies first innings, and the timing of his declaration on the fourth day, but Strauss said: "We needed to bat again, particularly with Freddie being injured.
"When you get so close there are always things you think about. But there are many positives to come out of this Test match. We will take those positives and continue to get better."
He added: "I don't regret it because Steve Harmison was very ill - we didn't know if we would get any overs out of him and Fred had this injury so we weren't sure how many overs we would get out of him.
"So, it was very important we gave our other bowlers a rest so they could come with their fuel tanks as full as possible for the final innings, so I don't regret that.
"There are always things that you think, 'I might have done this slightly differently or that differently' but generally the effort the guys put in was outstanding. "
Flintoff, who faces a scan in the next two days, still managed to contribute 14 overs on the final day and almost wrapped up the win with a couple of inswinging yorkers.
"We tried to bowl him today as little as possible but we probably bowled him more than we wanted to," Strauss added.
"His last spell was incredible considering his fitness. We'll get a scan done in Barbados - he may be fit [for the next Test], he may not be."
Despite the disappointment, with Strauss admitting a draw "almost feels like a defeat", he is confident England can still win the series.
"It's tough to take. I thought we did enough but it wasn't to be," he said."Right through this match we played exceptional cricket and if we can continue in similar fashion we will come out on top."

Jonathan Agnew column

Had Andrew Flintoff been fully fit, England would probably have won this thrilling Test match. Now they face an anxious wait to see if his hip will recover in time for the next Test which starts in Barbados next Thursday.
But having said that, Chris Gayle's men thoroughly deserved their draw, showing a steely determination and discipline not associated with West Indian teams in the recent past.
Everyone contributed, not least the last pair, Daren Powell and Fidel Edwards who clung on in the fast fading light for 10 overs.
The draw was set up by the partnership of 148 between Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul which lasted long into the final day.
They both fell to Stuart Broad who was given the second new ball and responded magnificently.
With a five-wicket haul in Jamaica, and now this bowling performance, this series might very well be the moment he truly comes of age.
As far as England's tactics go, I am not sure there was much more Andrew Strauss could have done.
The follow-on will be talked about, but if you have two of your bowlers, Steve Harmison (ill) and Flintoff (injured), unable to give of their best and needing time to recuperate, it makes it very difficult to take to the field immediately again.
He set good fields, with an extra man in the leg side to encourage the bowlers to bowl straight - which they did not do often enough - and his decision to give Owais Shah a bowl almost worked.
All in all, this will be remembered as a fabulous Test match - and given the chaotic background to the game, that is more than anyone expected.
Quite how the pitch lasted five days is beyond everyone - perhaps it was a timely reminder to the Antiguan cricket authorities that the Recreation Ground is a cricket ground, first and foremost, and one that has a unique character and a real soul. Let's hope that this hastily rescheduled Test is not the last to be played here.
So to Barbados, where England can expect overwhelming support as they try - again - to level the series.

COLLONGES ALL GOLD AT LEOPARDSTOWN

Neptune Collonges dominated the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown to provide Ruby Walsh with his first victory in the prestigious Irish race.
He will now join Denman and Kauto Star in trainer Paul Nicholls' attempt at repeating his one-two-three in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.
Despite his bright grey colour, Neptune Collonges does not enjoy as high a public profile as his stablemates in Britain but is familiar to Irish racegoers and he was collecting a third Grade One win in the country following two Punchestown Gold Cups.
With Cheltenham title holder Denman not impressing on his belated return at Kempton recently, Neptune Collonges was trimmed to the same price (5-1 with the sponsors) to go two places better than his third in 2008. Nicholls' 2007 champion Kauto Star - the probable mount of Walsh - is the 7-4 favourite.
While talk of Cheltenham served to whet the appetite, this was a prize not to be sniffed at even if it was not the strongest of renewals on paper.
Neptune Collonges' only previous start this season had been at the Dublin course over Christmas when he fell at the penultimate fence of the Lexus Chase.
There were to be no such mistakes this time around and he tracked his fellow West Country raider and last year's hero The Listener.
The two greys, both fitted with nosebands and carrying yellow colours, looked pretty similar from afar but there was only one likely to win as Neptune Collonges seized the lead at the third-last.
Having negotiated the next obstacle without any trouble, the only problem came from the stubborn Welsh National winner Notre Pere.
His jockey had been pushing him along some way from home but he never quite looked like eating into the 8-13 favourite's advantage and was held by five lengths.
"We've done a lot of work with him since last time as he got very lazy," said Nicholls.
"It's come together well and he will improve for the run so we're very happy with him. I'm really looking forward to the Gold Cup now.
"It took the horse a week to regain his confidence after his fall here the last day.
"He took a good old blow today, he has been giving the young horses a lead over the baby hurdles to get his confidence back.
"That's the best he's jumped for a while and we put a sheepskin noseband on him to help him concentrate.
"If we got this ground in Cheltenham it would be ideal. We will probably go to Punchestown after Cheltenham."
While not in Walsh's league, Nicholls was an accomplished horseman himself and he recalled: "I won this race as a jockey 21 years ago aboard a horse called Playschool."
Jockey Andrew Lynch said of the Jim Dreaper-trained runner-up: "He ran super and jumped super. The other horse was just a bit pacier.
"The ground was a bit dead but they weren't going into it and I was always going a stride too quick.
"He's a real natural over fences and he's improved a fair bit from his last run. It is up to the trainer and owner but I see no reason why not (run in the Gold Cup)."
The Listener dropped away tamely and finished last of the six runners while Chelsea Harbour ran a scorcher of a trial for the Grand National, coming from a long way off the pace to be third.

Ghana Face Rwanada in World Cup Qualifie

Ghana has been drawn to face Rwanda in the opening fixture of the 2010 International Cricket Council (ICC) U-19 World Cup preliminary qualifiers in Mozambique.
The qualifiers run from February 27-March 5 and are expected to attract the likes of Sierra Leone, Gambia, Swaziland, Rwanda and Mozambique.
Like all the other teams, Ghana is expected to touch down in Mozambique on February 27 before taking on Rwandathe following day.
Rwanda is well aware that the odds are against them as they have never beaten Ghana in an international game.
The two sides have met twice; in the 2004 and 2008 ICC/ACA World Cricket League Div 3 tournaments in South Africa.
In 2008, the sides met at the semi-finals and Rwanda were beaten hands down. Not used to playing swing bowlers, Rwanda crumbled to a paltry score of 23, her lowest ever score in an ICC game.
However, Rwanda's U-19 coach Martin Ondeko is optimistic his charges will give Ghana a run for their money.
Ondeko is currently taking a provisional squad of 18 youngsters through drills at Kicukiro.
"I have a couple of talented guys in the team but on a whole, I'm impressed with the team's fielding and bowling," said Ondeko who also happens to be one of Uganda's celebrated cricketers.
The winner in Mozambique will proceed to Zambia to contest with Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia for the lone 2010 U-19 World Cup slot at stake.
The 2010 World Cup will be hosted in Kenya.
ICC WC qualifier
Format- Round Robin, 50-over Matches
Rwanda's fixtures
Feb 28: vs Ghana
March 1: vs Mozambique
March 2: vs Gambia
March 3: vs Sierra Leone
March 4: vs Swaziland