Iran has admitted the existence of a second uranium enrichment plant in a letter sent to the International Atomic Energy Agency, a spokesman for the nuclear watchdog agency said Friday.
“I can confirm that on 21 September, Iran informed the IAEA in a letter that a new pilot fuel enrichment plant is under construction in the country,” said IAEA spokesman Marc Vidricaire.
He said the letter stated that Iran’s enrichment level would be up to 5 percent. The IAEA has requested that Iran provide specific information and access to the nuclear facility as soon as possible.Several diplomatic sources told CNN they were aware of the letter.The second nuclear facility, located on a military base near the holy city of Qom, is thought to be capable of housing 3,000 centrifuges, not enough to produce nuclear fuel to power a reactor, but sufficient to manufacture bomb-making material, a U.S. diplomatic source who read the letter told CNN.
U.S. and French intelligence officials have known about the facility for several months, the source said. When Iran discovered that Western nations had knowledge of the facility, it sent the letter to the IAEA.Iran claims its nuclear enrichment program is intended for peaceful purposes, but the international community accuses it of continuing to try to develop nuclear weapons capability. Until the new letter, it had acknowledged only a uranium enrichment plant in Natanz, which nuclear inspectors visited recently. United Nations Security Council has implemented sanctions against Iran for refusing to freeze enrichment.White House sources said Friday that President Barack Obama will make an announcement regarding the second Iranian facility at a news conference Friday morning before the opening of the G-20 economic summit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.The New York Times reported that Obama, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy plan to accuse Iran of hiding its nuclear facilities from IAEA inspectors.The three leaders are expected to demand that Iran allow the IAEA to conduct an immediate inspection of the facility in Qom, the New York Times said.Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinijad did not mention the plant during his visit to New York this week for U.N. General Assembly sessions. He reiterated earlier claims that Iran has fully cooperated with nuclear inspectors.Obama has already said that “serious sanctions” are a possibility if Iran fails to adequately address the nuclear issue.Middle East analyst Meir Javendafar said it was “very significant” that Iran had come clean.“When pressured the regime does show some sign of flexibility,” said Javendafar, author of a book called “The Nuclear Sphinx of Tehran: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the State of Iran.” He said ultimately, Iran is fearful of international isolation.
–CNN’s Matthew Chance in Moscow, Reza Sayah in Islamabad, Kevin Flower in Jerusalem and John Roberts in New York contributed to this report
Source: CNN.COM
Magical Malik destroys India
ICC Champions Trophy - Group A
Centurion
Pakistan 302-9 (Shoaib Malik 128, Mohammad Yousuf 87, A Nehra 4-55) v India 248 (R Dravid 76, G Gambhir 57)
Pakistan beat India by 54 runs
Centurion
Pakistan 302-9 (Shoaib Malik 128, Mohammad Yousuf 87, A Nehra 4-55) v India 248 (R Dravid 76, G Gambhir 57)
Pakistan beat India by 54 runs
Shoaib Malik's seventh one-day century helped Pakistan get the better of arch-rivals India in the ICC Champions Trophy on Saturday night.
Malik (128) and Mohammad Yousuf (87) combined decisively for a stand of 206 for the fourth wicket to rescue Pakistan from a precarious position of 65-3 after electing to bat first.
Younus Khan's side went on to finish on 302-9 from their 50 overs, which was an imposing total at a venue that had never seen such a high run chase completed successfully.
Gautam Gambhir (57), Rahul Dravid (76) and Suresh Raina (46) top scored for India in the chase, but in the end they were all out for 248 runs and with 31 balls of their innings remaining.
Malik (128) and Mohammad Yousuf (87) combined decisively for a stand of 206 for the fourth wicket to rescue Pakistan from a precarious position of 65-3 after electing to bat first.
Younus Khan's side went on to finish on 302-9 from their 50 overs, which was an imposing total at a venue that had never seen such a high run chase completed successfully.
Gautam Gambhir (57), Rahul Dravid (76) and Suresh Raina (46) top scored for India in the chase, but in the end they were all out for 248 runs and with 31 balls of their innings remaining.
Difference
Imran Nazir and Kamran Akmal set the tone at the top of the order for Pakistan before being pegged back by Ashish Nehra.
The left arm seamer removed both openers to halt Pakistan's explosive opening, which saw them reach 53-2 at the end of the ninth over.
Younus Khan and Malik set about rebuilding, but it proved a struggle and it was no surprise to see the captain edge RP Singh behind to Mahendra singh Dhoni when trying to force the pace.
That wicket brought Yousuf to the crease, however, and, without the threat of Yuvraj Singh or Amit Mishra in the Indian arsenal, he and Malik were able to plunder runs with ease.
Their magnificent partnership eventually came to an end in the 46th over when Yusuf was bowled by Nehra, but by that stage all the hard work had been done.
Malik even went on to make 128 from 126 balls and lasted right up to the penultimate over as Pakistan put on an imposing total of 302-9 batting first.
The left arm seamer removed both openers to halt Pakistan's explosive opening, which saw them reach 53-2 at the end of the ninth over.
Younus Khan and Malik set about rebuilding, but it proved a struggle and it was no surprise to see the captain edge RP Singh behind to Mahendra singh Dhoni when trying to force the pace.
That wicket brought Yousuf to the crease, however, and, without the threat of Yuvraj Singh or Amit Mishra in the Indian arsenal, he and Malik were able to plunder runs with ease.
Their magnificent partnership eventually came to an end in the 46th over when Yusuf was bowled by Nehra, but by that stage all the hard work had been done.
Malik even went on to make 128 from 126 balls and lasted right up to the penultimate over as Pakistan put on an imposing total of 302-9 batting first.
Capitulation
Ghambir did get India off to a solid start in the reply - despite the early loss of Sachin Tendulkar - with a 46-ball 57 before being carelessly run out.
And when Dravid and Raina, who blasted 46 in a hurry, were together the game seemed set to go down to the wire, particularly with the batting powerplay still to come.
But from 205-4 India collapsed to 248 all out, as the impressive Mohammad Aamer, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi all took wickets apiece.
As a result, India will now need to beat Australia on Monday to keep alive their hopes of reaching the last four. In contrast, Pakistan are now two-from-two in Group A and are well on their way to the semi-finals.
And when Dravid and Raina, who blasted 46 in a hurry, were together the game seemed set to go down to the wire, particularly with the batting powerplay still to come.
But from 205-4 India collapsed to 248 all out, as the impressive Mohammad Aamer, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi all took wickets apiece.
As a result, India will now need to beat Australia on Monday to keep alive their hopes of reaching the last four. In contrast, Pakistan are now two-from-two in Group A and are well on their way to the semi-finals.
Source: skysports.com
Iran 'to submit nuclear package'
Iran is preparing to give a new set of proposals to the global powers involved in talks over its nuclear programme, Iranian media has reported.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told Fars new agency the package had been updated in the light of recent developments in the world.
Mr Mottaki said a new round of talks could be possible as a result.
Iran is facing pressure to halt nuclear enrichment, a move which it has repeatedly rejected to date.
Mr Mottaki said the new proposals would be presented to the six global powers involved in the negotiations, known as "P5+1", on Wednesday.
The P5+1 consists of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the US - plus Germany.
Mr Mottaki said the package had been "updated in light of developments in the world and different events that have taken place".
"We have created a new opportunity for discussions with a view to mutual co-operation," he said.
"We hope that, in the framework of this package, we will be able to launch a new round of talks."
The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, is currently holding a week-long meeting in Vienna.
On Monday, IAEA head Mohamed Baradei said talks had reached "stalemate".
"It is essential that Iran substantively re-engage with the agency to clarify and bring to closure all outstanding issues," he said.
Iran, which is already subject to a package of sanctions imposed by the UN over its nuclear work, denies allegations that it has secretly studied ways to make nuclear bombs.
On Monday, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his country had an "undeniable" right to produce nuclear energy but would engage in talks about its peaceful use.
Source: news.bbc.co.uk
Obama's school speech - a child's view
US President Barack Obama has delivered a speech to American schoolchildren, broadcast live to classrooms across the country.
The BBC News website asked one audience member - 11-year-old Claire O'Donnell - to write about the speech.
I was sitting in my fifth period class when I saw President Obama come on the screen.As soon as we saw him the class started clapping. Not everyone, but almost everyone.
He started off smiling, which I think is the best way to start anything. I noticed that all eyes were glued to the screen and everyone was listening.
I liked it when he said: "Everyone has something they are good at." That is true. If it is math, art or sports - everyone has something they can do well.
He also talked about how you need an education to get a good job. I agree with him on that. When I grow up, I want to be a conservationist. To be a conservationist I have to be good at science and math. How do I get good at that? By working hard at school and getting a good education.
I liked the way he talked about previous generations and how our generation will affect the future.
When he concluded his speech we all clapped again, but this time it was louder. The few kids that had not clapped at the beginning were clapping.
Afterwards I talked to my friends. One of them thought that he was a bit too demanding in saying that you "had" to get an education and "had" to remain in school.
However, another friend appreciated that President Obama was directing this speech towards kids. I thought that he could have directed it even more towards kids. At times it seemed like a normal speech directed towards adults.
Overall, I think that it is great that the president of the United States wanted to talk to us. It shows that America depends on the young generation. He asked us how we would change the world.
At some point each of us will all answer that question. America believes in us and I'm not letting her down.
Bank of Australia robbery
The Bank of Australia robbery was the first bank robbery in Australia and apparently the largest. On 14 September 1828 a gang of five robbers - William Blackstone (bank robber), George Farrell (bank robber), James Dingle, John Wilford alias Creighton and Valentine Rourke - tunnelled through a sewage drain into the vault of the Bank of Australia and stole some £14,000 in promissory notes and coins. The crime was discovered the following day. Although suspicions immediately fell on Blackstone, Farrell and Dingle, they escaped an indictment until Blackstone turned informer two years later. By then Creighton was dead and Rourke had left the country. Only Dingle and Farrell faced the Supreme Court of New South Wales on 10 June 1831. Both were found guilty but escaped the gallows because of convict attaint: that is, legal concerns as to whether Blackstone's evidence was admissible because of a previous death sentence.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Obama Praises Muslims at Ramadan Dinner
President Barack Obama on Tuesday praised American Muslims for enriching the nation's culture at a dinner to celebrate the Islamic holy month of Ramadan."The contribution of Muslims to the United States are too long to catalog because Muslims are so interwoven into the fabric of our communities and our country," Mr. Obama said at the iftar, the dinner that breaks the holiday's daily fast.
The president joined Cabinet secretaries, members of the diplomatic corps and lawmakers to pay tribute to what he called "a great religion and its commitment to justice and progress."
Attendees included Congress' two Muslim members - Reps. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., and Andre Carson, D-Ind., as well as ambassadors from Islamic nations and Israel's ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren.
Mr. Obama shared the story of Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, another invited guest, who broke a state record for most career points as a Massachusetts high school basketball player.
"As an honor student, as an athlete on her way to Memphis, Bilqis is an inspiration not simply to Muslim girls - she's an inspiration to all of us," he said.
Mr. Obama also noted the contributions of Muhammad Ali, who was not in attendance, though the president borrowed a quote from famous boxer, explaining religion.
"A few years ago," Mr. Obama said, "he explained this view - and this is part of why he's The Greatest - saying, 'Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams - they all have different names, but they all contain water. Just as religions do - they all contain truths."'
Ramadan, a monthlong period of prayer, reflection and sunrise-to-sunset fasts, began Aug. 22 in most of the Islamic world. It is believed that God began revealing the Quran to Muhammad during Ramadan, and the faithful are supposed to spend the month in religious reflection, prayer and remembrance of the poor.
White House dinners marking the holy month are nothing new. Former President George W. Bush held iftars during his eight years in office.
Mr. Obama has made a special effort since taking office to repair U.S. relations with the world's Muslims, including visits to Turkey and Cairo. In a June speech at the Egyptian capital, as well as in one to another important Muslim audience, in Turkey, Mr. Obama said: "America is not - and never will be - at war with Islam."
Mr. Obama also released a video message to Muslims before the start to Ramadan. In the video, he said Ramadan's rituals are a reminder of the principles Muslims and Christians have in common, including advancing justice, progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.
Source: cbsnews.com
