UK court: British lawyer can be extradited to US

LONDON (AP) — Britain's High Court says a U.K. lawyer can be extradited to the United States to face allegations that he helped a former Halliburton Co. subsidiary bribe Nigerian officials.

Federal prosecutors in Houston, Texas, accuse 62-year-old Jeffrey Tesler of facilitating payments from Kellogg, Brown & Root LLC to officials of the Nigerian government to win more than $6 billion in construction contracts.

Tesler's lawyer had argued that he should not be extradited because the alleged crimes did not have a substantial link to the U.S. and that the passage of time might prevent a fair trial.

Two High Court judges on Thursday kicked out the appeal, and said there were no grounds to block his extradition.

Tesler, a dual British and Israeli citizen, was arrested in Feb. 2009.

Italy makes 4 changes in bid for 1st win in Six Nations against Wales

Coach Nick Mallett will make four changes to his starting lineup as Italy seeks its first win in the rugby Six Nations against Wales on Saturday.

Andrea Marcato will start at fullback replacing the injured David Bortolussi and Alberto Sgarbi will be at right wing, the Italian Rugby Federation said Wednesday.

Both Marcato and Sgarbi will make their debut as starters.

The other changes for Italy, which has already lost to Ireland and England, are Simon Picone at scrum half and Salvatore Perugini at loosehead prop.

After Saturday's game at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, the Azzurri travel to Paris to play France on March 9 and then host Scotland in Rome on March 15.

Lock and former captain Marco Bortolami, who missed the first two games of the tournament because of an eye injury, will start on the bench.

Bortolami suffered a fracture near his left eye while playing for his club Gloucester last month.

In their 14 previous meetings, Wales has won 11 times to Italy's two, with one draw.

___

Italy team:

Andrea Marcato, Alberto Sgarbi, Gonzalo Canale, Mirco Bergamasco, Ezio Galon, Andrea Masi, Simon Picone, Sergio Parisse, Mauro Bergamasco, Josh Sole, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Santiago Dellape, Martin Castrogiovanni, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Salvatore Perugini.

Replacements: Carlo Festuccia, Andrea Lo Cicero, Marco Bortolami, Alessandro Zanni, Pietro Travagli, Paolo Buso, Enrico Patrizio.

Gates: Obstructed efforts in Myanmar cost lives

Defense Secretary Robert Gates condemned Myanmar's military government Saturday for being "deaf and dumb" to global offers of aid to its thousands of cyclone victims, but said the U.S. will not force assistance on the country.

Speaking at an international security conference, Gates also assured leaders the next White House administration would maintain a strong commitment to Asia and the rest of the world, no matter what political party wins the fall election.

While his speech focused most heavily on Asia relations _ including subtle calls for China to work more amiably and fairly with other Pacific nations, Gates displayed the most emotion when talking about the loss of life in Myanmar.

"We have reached out, frankly, to Myanmar multiple times during this crisis in very direct ways," Gates told an international audience. "It's not been us that have been deaf and dumb in response to the pleas of the international community, but the government of Myanmar. We have reached out, they have kept their hands in their pockets."

He said the military junta's obstruction of international efforts to help cyclone victims cost "tens of thousands of lives," he said.

With U.S., British and French Navy ships off the coast of Myanmar poised to leave because they have been blocked from delivering assistance to the ravaged country, Gates said the U.S. will not forcefully bring in supplies without permission of the government, and will continue to "respect the sovereignty" of Myanmar.

The growing displeasure with the Myanmar government has permeated this week's conference on international security, coming up in nearly all conversations between leaders from around the world. Officials have indicated that they are about to withdraw the U.S. Navy ships within days, since it does not appear that the Myanmar government will change its mind and allow the vessels to unload their supplies.

Gates met with his top Pacific commander Saturday to discuss the pullout, but a final decision has not yet been made.

In a wide-ranging speech, Gates looked ahead to the next White House administration, saying the new U.S. president will inherit the worrisome issue of North Korea's nuclear ambitions but will continue America's enduring commitment to Asia.

While he said he could not make specific policy predictions for the next administration, Gates told the annual Shangri-la conference that there will be "no change in our drive to temper North Korea's ambitions, a policy not possible without China's valued cooperation."

Despite the often divergent views of the Republican and Democratic candidates, Gates said he is confident that the strong U.S. ties to Asia will continue "no matter which political party occupies the White House next year."

When a questioner suggested that the U.S. may not have the time, the money or the energy to maintain interest in Asia, he quoted former President Gerald Ford, saying, "we ought to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time."

The U.S., he said, has the resources and desire to deal with all parts of the world at the same time.

Gates speech sounded two distinct tones on China _ at times extending a friendly hand and at others offering a subtle but somber warning.

Gates first noted that relations with the communist giant have improved, and that leaders have begun a series of discussions on issues to "help us understand one another better, and to avoid possible misunderstanding."

A long-sought direct telephone link between the U.S. and China has finally been established, and Gates said he used it recently to speak with the defense minister.

On the other hand, Gates took unmistakable jabs at China without mentioning its name, calling, for example, for greater openness about military modernization in Asia.

In recent annual reports the Pentagon has criticized China for its massive military buildup, saying its motives and spending are unclear.

"We desire to work with every country in Asia to deepen our understanding of their military and defense finances, and to do so on a reciprocal basis," Gates said.

Lack of such clarity, Gates said, can lead to outright suspicion.

In response, the top ranking Chinese official at the forum took aim at U.S. missile defense policies _ which include plans for anti-missile defenses with Japan, as well as the deployment of missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Lt. Gen. Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the General Staff for the People's Liberation Army, said developing such an offensive _ rather than purely defensive _ system could tip the balance of power and threaten peace.

"We do not support either side to take the initiative to break the balance," he said. He also said dismissed claims that China's military is dramatically expanding. China's spending on defense, he said, is low.

Gates has consistently sounded a more conciliatory tone toward China, which he visited late last year for high-level meetings with the country's leaders. However, relations have been strained by revelations in March that the U.S. military mistakenly delivered fuses for long-range missiles to Taiwan, triggering a strong protest from Beijing.

In another veiled reference to China, he said the U.S. presence in the region has opened doors and protected "common spaces on the high seas, in space and, more and more, in the cyber world."

U.S. officials have suspected the Chinese of trying to hack into U.S. government computers. In one instance, a number of Pentagon computers had to be taken off line for several days _ but officials never openly blamed China.

Gates is scheduled to leave Singapore on Sunday and then visit defense leaders in Thailand and South Korea.

___

On the Net:

Defense Department: http://www.defenselink.mil

Around the world with Bob and Christine Harper: At the setting of the son.(Features)

We live in a floating village of people that moves around the world and of course we visit our neighbours.

Tonight was R Phurst's turn. A few nights ago they were on board Breakaway for a bit of Irish fun and a bowl of stew. This evening in a strong wind we went across the anchorage to join Bruce and Jean on their catamaran for a sundowner, or what Americans normally call cocktails.

They had left home after their son of 17 had died of muscular dystrophy. In many ways they are living the adventures for a boy who never had a chance, in the same way that Mark Twain wrote Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn for his son who died at an early age, relating the adventures and dreams his child would never experience.

The wind was gusting through the anchorage up to gale force strength today and continuing to freshen. Walkabout is out on the ocean tonight along with the South African family on La Rouche who have to be in New Zealand for July to qualify for residency.

The winds are blowing hard out of the south with a big sea running and neither yacht can lay a course for Tonga, the desired destination. They are taking waves into the cockpit and are cold and wet. Walkabout's mainsail is in disarray again , but Ian will muddle through.

The one thing that never ceases to amaze me on this voyage is the close friends we make, all the yachts showing concern for each other. There are about 250 small boats circumnavigating at any one time. They are spread over the oceans of the world. It is a understandable, I suppose, that when you meet another travelling yacht in an anchorage there is a get together to recount tales of gales, the high cost of living in French Polynesia and where the next best place to stock up is.

Our present anchorage in Captain's Cook's Bay, Moorea, is hard to beat.

The jagged mountains seem to continually change shape, from early morning when the first light from the east hits them, to the evening we the bay darkens and the sun slips out of sight, leaving the boat cool after the heat of the day. It's great to sleep covered with a blanket again.

Olle P, our Dutch friends, just pulled out today to go back across to Papeete, Tahiti. Hans' wife Marianne has flown back to Holland for a few weeks and his daughter Astrid has joined him for a holiday. They hired a car, inviting us to explore the island with them. Astrid especially wanted to see some of the famous Polynesian waterfalls.

The Fiat Panda is a good little car but not bought for its off-road capabilities. We negotiated our way up a lonely lane until Italian engineering could go no further, so we abandoned the car for Shank's pony. Hans cut walking sticks to help us on our way and we set off in the forest in search of the waterfall, the track all but invisible as the jungle encroached.

From one of the clearings we could see the falls and Hans led us on. Now the Dutch have done this with the Irish before, causing all sorts of problems. Still, we followed him. Half an hour later the heavens opened. It was time to retreat to the car. The path we had climbed was itself a waterfall of mud and slime as we made our way down. Hans was the first one to go onto his back as his feet left him. Christine was next, followed by Astrid and myself as we slipped and slithered down what was a 6in deep river of mud, mainly using our backsides to support us.

When we came to the gentle stream we had forded on the ascent, we now faced a raging torrent. Covered in mud we didn't care any more, plunging into it and carrying onwards. As we arrived back at the car the deluge had stopped, steam was rising from the jungle and us. We continued the journey, sticking to the roads for the rest of the day.

The houses on the island are beautiful, wooden pre-fabricated bungalows with roofs covered in palm fronds. The gardens are well kept. Everything in keeping with the surroundings. The majority of the islanders live on the small first area around the coast with the reef protecting them from the Pacific. The dogs bark furiously as you go by, running out to protect their properties. When you get close they wag their tails, turn around and go home again.

I am slightly wary of dogs even though we always kept them at home. I met a man with a dog once and asked him did his dog bite? He said no and his dog immediately bit me. As I fought him off I berated him. "I thought you said you're dog didn't bite.'' "That's not my dog," he replied. It pays to be cautious.

At the bottom of each garden are a few graves, well cared for, complete with headstones. It seems out here you can get buried at home. Now this of course has certain advantages, mainly the cost. Think of the saving in funeral cars. It also means you don't get involved in a long carry around the town on a bad day, disrupting commerce and traffic. The down side is tripping over your relations on the way to work every morning never mind the problems that would arise if you ever wanted to move house. Do you swop great grannies with the new owners or do you take them with you? It doesn't bear thinking about.

The Pacific hasn't been an easy ocean for us to cross because of El Nino, but things are now starting to settle down. I have just talked to Walkabout and La Rouche on the radio. The winds have eased, the seas are settled and the boats will be in Tonga in a couple of days.

Yours aye, Bob. Captain Cook's Bay, Moorea

Christine's Bits . . .

Bob is not feeling the best today. His ear problem is back again.

Usually every time he's been swimming or snorkelling a little vinegar goes into his ears and that seems to keep them right. The routine has lapsed and he is suffering as a consequence.

Kees (Pronounced Case), another Dutchman, our hippy friend from Happy Island, sailed in yesterday. He had the perfect cure for earache. Parboil a large sliced, round section of onion, wrap in some soft material and lay it on the ear while it is still warm. Very powerful things onions - says Kees - look how they make you cry.

Bob is feeling a little better. Whether it was the prescription ear drops, the pain killers or the onion cured him, or a combination of all three we may never know, but one thing is for sure, I'll have the vinegar ready next time he comes out of the water.

Regards, Christine.

Around the world with Bob and Christine Harper: At the setting of the son.(Features)

We live in a floating village of people that moves around the world and of course we visit our neighbours.

Tonight was R Phurst's turn. A few nights ago they were on board Breakaway for a bit of Irish fun and a bowl of stew. This evening in a strong wind we went across the anchorage to join Bruce and Jean on their catamaran for a sundowner, or what Americans normally call cocktails.

They had left home after their son of 17 had died of muscular dystrophy. In many ways they are living the adventures for a boy who never had a chance, in the same way that Mark Twain wrote Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn for his son who died at an early age, relating the adventures and dreams his child would never experience.

The wind was gusting through the anchorage up to gale force strength today and continuing to freshen. Walkabout is out on the ocean tonight along with the South African family on La Rouche who have to be in New Zealand for July to qualify for residency.

The winds are blowing hard out of the south with a big sea running and neither yacht can lay a course for Tonga, the desired destination. They are taking waves into the cockpit and are cold and wet. Walkabout's mainsail is in disarray again , but Ian will muddle through.

The one thing that never ceases to amaze me on this voyage is the close friends we make, all the yachts showing concern for each other. There are about 250 small boats circumnavigating at any one time. They are spread over the oceans of the world. It is a understandable, I suppose, that when you meet another travelling yacht in an anchorage there is a get together to recount tales of gales, the high cost of living in French Polynesia and where the next best place to stock up is.

Our present anchorage in Captain's Cook's Bay, Moorea, is hard to beat.

The jagged mountains seem to continually change shape, from early morning when the first light from the east hits them, to the evening we the bay darkens and the sun slips out of sight, leaving the boat cool after the heat of the day. It's great to sleep covered with a blanket again.

Olle P, our Dutch friends, just pulled out today to go back across to Papeete, Tahiti. Hans' wife Marianne has flown back to Holland for a few weeks and his daughter Astrid has joined him for a holiday. They hired a car, inviting us to explore the island with them. Astrid especially wanted to see some of the famous Polynesian waterfalls.

The Fiat Panda is a good little car but not bought for its off-road capabilities. We negotiated our way up a lonely lane until Italian engineering could go no further, so we abandoned the car for Shank's pony. Hans cut walking sticks to help us on our way and we set off in the forest in search of the waterfall, the track all but invisible as the jungle encroached.

From one of the clearings we could see the falls and Hans led us on. Now the Dutch have done this with the Irish before, causing all sorts of problems. Still, we followed him. Half an hour later the heavens opened. It was time to retreat to the car. The path we had climbed was itself a waterfall of mud and slime as we made our way down. Hans was the first one to go onto his back as his feet left him. Christine was next, followed by Astrid and myself as we slipped and slithered down what was a 6in deep river of mud, mainly using our backsides to support us.

When we came to the gentle stream we had forded on the ascent, we now faced a raging torrent. Covered in mud we didn't care any more, plunging into it and carrying onwards. As we arrived back at the car the deluge had stopped, steam was rising from the jungle and us. We continued the journey, sticking to the roads for the rest of the day.

The houses on the island are beautiful, wooden pre-fabricated bungalows with roofs covered in palm fronds. The gardens are well kept. Everything in keeping with the surroundings. The majority of the islanders live on the small first area around the coast with the reef protecting them from the Pacific. The dogs bark furiously as you go by, running out to protect their properties. When you get close they wag their tails, turn around and go home again.

I am slightly wary of dogs even though we always kept them at home. I met a man with a dog once and asked him did his dog bite? He said no and his dog immediately bit me. As I fought him off I berated him. "I thought you said you're dog didn't bite.'' "That's not my dog," he replied. It pays to be cautious.

At the bottom of each garden are a few graves, well cared for, complete with headstones. It seems out here you can get buried at home. Now this of course has certain advantages, mainly the cost. Think of the saving in funeral cars. It also means you don't get involved in a long carry around the town on a bad day, disrupting commerce and traffic. The down side is tripping over your relations on the way to work every morning never mind the problems that would arise if you ever wanted to move house. Do you swop great grannies with the new owners or do you take them with you? It doesn't bear thinking about.

The Pacific hasn't been an easy ocean for us to cross because of El Nino, but things are now starting to settle down. I have just talked to Walkabout and La Rouche on the radio. The winds have eased, the seas are settled and the boats will be in Tonga in a couple of days.

Yours aye, Bob. Captain Cook's Bay, Moorea

Christine's Bits . . .

Bob is not feeling the best today. His ear problem is back again.

Usually every time he's been swimming or snorkelling a little vinegar goes into his ears and that seems to keep them right. The routine has lapsed and he is suffering as a consequence.

Kees (Pronounced Case), another Dutchman, our hippy friend from Happy Island, sailed in yesterday. He had the perfect cure for earache. Parboil a large sliced, round section of onion, wrap in some soft material and lay it on the ear while it is still warm. Very powerful things onions - says Kees - look how they make you cry.

Bob is feeling a little better. Whether it was the prescription ear drops, the pain killers or the onion cured him, or a combination of all three we may never know, but one thing is for sure, I'll have the vinegar ready next time he comes out of the water.

Regards, Christine.

Around the world with Bob and Christine Harper: At the setting of the son.(Features)

We live in a floating village of people that moves around the world and of course we visit our neighbours.

Tonight was R Phurst's turn. A few nights ago they were on board Breakaway for a bit of Irish fun and a bowl of stew. This evening in a strong wind we went across the anchorage to join Bruce and Jean on their catamaran for a sundowner, or what Americans normally call cocktails.

They had left home after their son of 17 had died of muscular dystrophy. In many ways they are living the adventures for a boy who never had a chance, in the same way that Mark Twain wrote Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn for his son who died at an early age, relating the adventures and dreams his child would never experience.

The wind was gusting through the anchorage up to gale force strength today and continuing to freshen. Walkabout is out on the ocean tonight along with the South African family on La Rouche who have to be in New Zealand for July to qualify for residency.

The winds are blowing hard out of the south with a big sea running and neither yacht can lay a course for Tonga, the desired destination. They are taking waves into the cockpit and are cold and wet. Walkabout's mainsail is in disarray again , but Ian will muddle through.

The one thing that never ceases to amaze me on this voyage is the close friends we make, all the yachts showing concern for each other. There are about 250 small boats circumnavigating at any one time. They are spread over the oceans of the world. It is a understandable, I suppose, that when you meet another travelling yacht in an anchorage there is a get together to recount tales of gales, the high cost of living in French Polynesia and where the next best place to stock up is.

Our present anchorage in Captain's Cook's Bay, Moorea, is hard to beat.

The jagged mountains seem to continually change shape, from early morning when the first light from the east hits them, to the evening we the bay darkens and the sun slips out of sight, leaving the boat cool after the heat of the day. It's great to sleep covered with a blanket again.

Olle P, our Dutch friends, just pulled out today to go back across to Papeete, Tahiti. Hans' wife Marianne has flown back to Holland for a few weeks and his daughter Astrid has joined him for a holiday. They hired a car, inviting us to explore the island with them. Astrid especially wanted to see some of the famous Polynesian waterfalls.

The Fiat Panda is a good little car but not bought for its off-road capabilities. We negotiated our way up a lonely lane until Italian engineering could go no further, so we abandoned the car for Shank's pony. Hans cut walking sticks to help us on our way and we set off in the forest in search of the waterfall, the track all but invisible as the jungle encroached.

From one of the clearings we could see the falls and Hans led us on. Now the Dutch have done this with the Irish before, causing all sorts of problems. Still, we followed him. Half an hour later the heavens opened. It was time to retreat to the car. The path we had climbed was itself a waterfall of mud and slime as we made our way down. Hans was the first one to go onto his back as his feet left him. Christine was next, followed by Astrid and myself as we slipped and slithered down what was a 6in deep river of mud, mainly using our backsides to support us.

When we came to the gentle stream we had forded on the ascent, we now faced a raging torrent. Covered in mud we didn't care any more, plunging into it and carrying onwards. As we arrived back at the car the deluge had stopped, steam was rising from the jungle and us. We continued the journey, sticking to the roads for the rest of the day.

The houses on the island are beautiful, wooden pre-fabricated bungalows with roofs covered in palm fronds. The gardens are well kept. Everything in keeping with the surroundings. The majority of the islanders live on the small first area around the coast with the reef protecting them from the Pacific. The dogs bark furiously as you go by, running out to protect their properties. When you get close they wag their tails, turn around and go home again.

I am slightly wary of dogs even though we always kept them at home. I met a man with a dog once and asked him did his dog bite? He said no and his dog immediately bit me. As I fought him off I berated him. "I thought you said you're dog didn't bite.'' "That's not my dog," he replied. It pays to be cautious.

At the bottom of each garden are a few graves, well cared for, complete with headstones. It seems out here you can get buried at home. Now this of course has certain advantages, mainly the cost. Think of the saving in funeral cars. It also means you don't get involved in a long carry around the town on a bad day, disrupting commerce and traffic. The down side is tripping over your relations on the way to work every morning never mind the problems that would arise if you ever wanted to move house. Do you swop great grannies with the new owners or do you take them with you? It doesn't bear thinking about.

The Pacific hasn't been an easy ocean for us to cross because of El Nino, but things are now starting to settle down. I have just talked to Walkabout and La Rouche on the radio. The winds have eased, the seas are settled and the boats will be in Tonga in a couple of days.

Yours aye, Bob. Captain Cook's Bay, Moorea

Christine's Bits . . .

Bob is not feeling the best today. His ear problem is back again.

Usually every time he's been swimming or snorkelling a little vinegar goes into his ears and that seems to keep them right. The routine has lapsed and he is suffering as a consequence.

Kees (Pronounced Case), another Dutchman, our hippy friend from Happy Island, sailed in yesterday. He had the perfect cure for earache. Parboil a large sliced, round section of onion, wrap in some soft material and lay it on the ear while it is still warm. Very powerful things onions - says Kees - look how they make you cry.

Bob is feeling a little better. Whether it was the prescription ear drops, the pain killers or the onion cured him, or a combination of all three we may never know, but one thing is for sure, I'll have the vinegar ready next time he comes out of the water.

Regards, Christine.

Awake at the wheel: DeSoto brought its dream to life in 1956 with the head-turning Adventurer

The limited-production DeSoto Adventurer from the old ChryslerCorp. was a true auto child of the late 1950s, with heroic tailfins,flashy paint with gold trim and a powerful Hemi V-8.

The 1955 Chrysler 300 -- America's first mass-produced 300-horsepower car -- showed Chrysler that there was a good market forbig, sporty, prestigious autos.

DeSoto was a high-line Chrysler division, so the Adventurer wasintroduced for 1956, along with Chrysler's Dodge D-500 and PlymouthFury upscale hot rods.

The Adventurer was introduced as part of DeSoto's Fireflite linejust in time for the 1956 spring selling season. All of the 996Adventurers produced were sold within six …

Enbridge and EnviroCentre warming up Ottawa homes.(NEWS / NOUVELLES)(Brief article)

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

In a project supported by the Ontario provincial government, Enbridge and EnviroCentre will be joining forces to retrofit 150 homes owned by Ottawa Community Housing.

The project is expected to save approximately 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas per house, and cut total carbon dioxide emissions by 300 tonnes each year.

"This good news is just the beginning and not the end of this story. I hope there will be more initiatives like this, not only in my constituency but in every other community across Ontario," said the Hon. Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community and Social Services.

The …

IN THE HILLS, STARVATION STALKS REFUGEES.(MAIN)

Byline: PATRICK McDOWELL Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Starving in East Timor's sun-scorched hills or menaced in hostile refugee camps, hundreds of thousands of people chased from their homes by Indonesian troops and pro-Indonesian militias are staring death in the face.

Many have no food, water or money. Reports filtering out by cellular phone calls to relatives or friends say some people are foraging for bananas and roots, under constant threat of attack.

Conflicting reports reached Jakarta that troops had attacked 30,000 people huddled in the seminary town of Dare, six miles from Dili, the burned and looted capital of East Timor, either …