Iran warned over nuclear

Iran warned over nuclear 'dead end' by UN's El Baradei

Investigations into Iran's nuclear programme will reach a "dead end" unless Tehran starts to co-operate, the UN nuclear chief has warned.

Mohamed El Baradei told governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that there had been no movement on issues that needed to be clarified.

He said he was "disappointed" with Iran's rejection of a deal that would see its uranium processed overseas.

He spoke ahead of an IAEA vote on a resolution critical of Iran.

In September Iran was revealed to have a second uranium enrichment facility, deepening Western fears about the nature of its nuclear ambitions.

Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful energy purposes, but the US and other nations say its is seeking nuclear weapons.


Iran begins air defence war games







'Outstanding issues'

Addressing IAEA governors in Vienna, Mr El Baradei said his inspectors had made no progress on areas which needed to be clarified in order to verify the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme.

"It is now well over a year since the agency was last able to engage Iran in discussions about these outstanding issues," he said.

"We have effectively reached a dead end, unless Iran engages fully with us."

Tehran's late declaration of a second nuclear fuel enrichment facility had, he said, reduced "confidence in the absence of other nuclear facilities under construction in Iran which have not been declared".

And he called Iran's failure to agree to a US-backed plan under which its low-enriched uranium would be shipped overseas for processing into fuel disappointing.

The plan is seen as a way for Iran to get the fuel it needs, while giving guarantees to the West that it will not be used for nuclear weapons.

The BBC's John Leyne says that after years of taking a conciliatory tone, Mr El Baradei appears to have lost patience with the Iranians.



The IAEA chief, who steps down next month, spoke ahead of the vote on a resolution calling on Iran to halt construction of the recently-declared enrichment plant.

According to Reuters news agency, it also calls on Iran to comply with Security Council resolutions demanding a halt to uranium enrichment activity and allow IAEA inspectors access to its facilities.

If approved, it would be the first IAEA action against Iran in almost four years. The vote is expected either later in the day or on Friday.

India's Mumbai attacks remembered - 26 Nov 09

Ceremonies are being held in Mumbai (Bombay) to mark the first anniversary of a series of devastating attacks on the Indian city by militants.



Police have paraded in the city, a memorial has been inaugurated and a candle-lit prayer service held.

The attacks, which began on 26 November 2008 and lasted nearly three days, left 174 people dead, including nine gunmen.

The only surviving attacker, Pakistani Mohammad Ajmal Qasab, is currently on trial in India.

On Wednesday, a court in Pakistan charged seven people in connection with the attacks, including alleged mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi - head of the banned militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The Mumbai gunmen staged co-ordinated attacks at a number of sites, including the CST railway station, two luxury hotels and the Nariman House Jewish community centre.



India's Mumbai attacks remembered

Security forces criticised

On Thursday, a candle-lit prayer service was held at the Gateway of India monument, near the Taj Mahal Hotel.

Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram unveiled a new memorial, which he dedicated to the memories of "those who laid down their lives to save Mumbai... and the idea of India as a secular, plural, tolerant, democratic republic".




MUMBAI ATTACKS
Locals look at a fire as it burns at Taj Mahal Palace
Gunmen targeted several high profile sites in south Mumbai
Total death toll of 174, including nine gunmen
India says attacks planned in Pakistan by Lashkar-e-Taiba
Single surviving attacker currently on trial in Mumbai

British survivors reflect

He said he hoped India could be at peace with all its neighbours.

A police band played as several officers and the families of their dead colleagues gathered around, reports the BBC's Prachi Pinglay in the city.

Earlier on Thursday, Mumbai's policemen and commandos marched in a parade and displayed the force's newly acquired equipment, including amphibious patrol boats and "rapid intervention" vehicles.

The equipment has been purchased under a $26m (£16m) modernisation plan to strengthen resources.

The security forces were criticised for their handling of the attacks, and have been using the anniversary to demonstrate their improvements - including the launch of an anti-terrorism commando unit.

Memorial services were also held at other sites of attacks, including the CST railway station and Nariman House.

People have also been lighting candles in front of the Oberoi-Trident hotel and a popular cafe, both of which were targeted during the attack.

"We just wanted to show our support and show that we care," said Subir Kumar Singh, who left a written message outside the Leopold Cafe.

How the deadly Mumbai attacks unfolded - 29 Nov 08

Six people were killed in the attack on the Jewish Chabad Lubavitch community centre, including its rabbi, Gavriel Holtzberg, and his pregnant wife, Rivki.

Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz, head of a relief fund for the victims at the centre, spoke of the community's resolve.

"We will turn the horrific memories of a year ago into thousands of points of light and we will continue with faith in God that he will protect us," he said.

Dozens of people painted slogans on a wall in southern Mumbai, where the attacks were concentrated.

One read: "We want to make sure 26/11 is not just forgotten."

On Wednesday, a small group of people who were gathered for a vigil outside the Taj Mahal Hotel - one of the attackers' targets - called for more police reform.

The attacks led India to suspend peace talks with Pakistan. In July Indian PM Manmohan Singh said talks would not restart until the Mumbai attacks suspects had been brought to justice.

Following Pakistan's announcement on Wednesday of charges, he said he welcomed "every step" by Pakistan to rein in militants.

Aerosmith: Steven Tyler Back on Drugs?

The relationships between Aerosmith's five members are playing out like a soap opera, and guitarist Brad Whitford has a theory as to why: singer Steven Tyler is back on drugs.
"This guy has a tremendous history of drug abuse, and you have to be suspicious that this is something that is probably going on with him," Whitford told Rock Radio. "I think that that's got to be a part of this irrational behavior." (Tyler has denied any recent drug use.)

Irrational, indeed. Since Tyler's fall from the stage in South Dakota in August forced the band to cancel their U.S. tour, the frontman has been estranged from the band, and even said he plans to leave the Boston fivesome to focus on "something Steven Tyler: working on the brand of myself -- Brand Tyler." Guitarist Joe Perry soon Tweeted that "Aerosmith is positively looking for a new singer to work with," only to be surprised just days later when Tyler arrived unannounced at Perry's solo gig in New York to perform "Walk This Way," and tell the crowd that "I'm not leaving Aerosmith."

While it seemed all the hubbub was a big misunderstanding, that certainly wasn't the end of Aerosmith's dramarama.
After the gig, Perry claimed the band's issues were far from over, as Tyler still planned to take two years off to pursue solo endeavors. Whitford, mirroring Perry, said the band are still considering moving forward with a new singer.

"We all know that there's really no way to replace Steven, but we want to continue touring together," Whitford said. "We even have a 40-year anniversary coming up and it's a milestone. We want to be able to celebrate it together and there's millions of fans out there that are dedicated to us."

Elaborating on Tyler's potential slip back into drug abuse, Whitford added: "Historically or statistically, the majority of people in that situation don't make it. I have a feeling we might be looking at, you know, someone who's just really struggling very badly with this."

Can Aerosmith continue with a new singer? Tell us what you think in the comment section, and then read SPIN's suggestions to replace Tyler.

http://www.spin.com

Why China Isn't Willing to Get Too Tough on Iran

From left: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao


China's government, as President Barack Obama by now no doubt knows, loves to talk about climate change. But it's an issue that exists for Beijing at 30,000 ft., far from earthly, everyday concerns. So President Hu Jintao can play the responsible global citizen by making vague commitments, as he did at the U.N. this fall, to reduce his country's carbon gas emissions by a "notable amount" at some point in the future without actually doing anything that might disrupt China's economy. But he doesn't have the same luxury of deferring action on the increasingly urgent global concerns over nuclear developments in Iran and North Korea.

Obama's sense of urgency over Iran is pretty apparent. Before arriving in Beijing, he conferred on the issue with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev at the APEC summit in Singapore and warned that "time is running out" for Iran to accept a deal to send its uranium to Russia for reprocessing into reactor fuel. The implicit message was clear: unless Iran accepts the plan, the U.S. will press for further sanctions against Tehran, this time possibly seeking restrictions on investment in Iran's vital energy sector.

http://www.time.com

Obama admits delay on Guantanamo

US President Barack Obama has for the first time admitted that the US will miss the January 2010 deadline he set for closing the Guantanamo Bay prison

Mr Obama made the admission in interviews with US TV networks during his tour of Asia.

He said he was "not disappointed" that the deadline had slipped, saying he "knew this was going to be hard".

Officials are trying to determine what to do with some 215 detainees still held at the US prison in Cuba.

Mr Obama's announcement follows considerable speculation that the deadline would slip, as the administration wrestles with how to deal with those inmates who cannot either be freed or tried in US courts.

January 2009: Obama orders Guantanamo closure

He did not set a specific new deadline for closing the camp, but said it would probably be later in 2010.

"We had a specific deadline that was missed," he told NBC.

And he told Fox News: "It's hard not only because of the politics. People, I think understandably, are fearful after a lot of years where they were told that Guantanamo was critical to keep terrorists out."

Closing the facility was "also just technically hard", he added, and depended on co-operation from Congress.

Domestic opposition

Moving to close Guantanamo was one of Mr Obama's first acts in office.

On 22 January 2009, just two days after inauguration, he set a deadline of a year for closing the heavily-criticised prison.

His administration says it will try some detainees in US courts and repatriate or resettle others not perceived as a threat.

Last week, Attorney General Eric Holder announced the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and four other defendants would be transferred from Guantanamo to face trial in a New York federal court.

Some lawmakers and relatives of 9/11 victims reacted angrily, arguing that the move put Americans at risk.

Asked about domestic opposition, Mr Obama told NBC that the anger over Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's civilian trial would disappear "when he's convicted and when the death penalty is applied to him".

And in separate comments to CNN, he said that the notion that "terrorists possess some special powers that prevent us from presenting evidence against them, locking them up and exacting swift justice" was a "fundamental mistake".

In terms of other detainees, five have been ordered to face military commission trials in the US and a number of others, including several Chinese Muslim Uighurs, have been cleared by investigators for release and resettled overseas.

But the issue of detainees assessed as dangerous but who for legal reasons could not be successfully prosecuted in US courts remains unresolved.

The BBC's Jonathan Beale, who is at Guantanamo Bay, says the announcement of the delay to the deadline has come as no surprise.

The question of where to put those detainees who cannot be freed or tried remains a huge political obstacle, he says.

http://news.bbc.co.uk

World Cup win not impossible for African team

Africa has emerged as major source of talent, with players such as Liberian-born Weah, Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o playing for some of Europe’s leading clubs.

And while an African team had never advanced beyond the quarter-finals of a World Cup, Weah said the 2010 tournament could change that.

“We hope for that, it’s not impossible. It’s a difficult task but it’s not impossible,” Weah told reporters. “Ghana just won a junior world cup. Why not?”

Ghana won the under-20 World Cup last month.

Speaking to reporters after a news conference, Weah, who won European and World player of the year in 1995, said discipline and hard work were the keys to success.

“Years ago, we couldn’t partake in the best player of Europe and the world. It happened. There is a high possibility that an African team can win a World Cup if it can prepare well.”

Weah hoped that the new stadiums being built for the World Cup and the African Cup of Nations in Angola next year would lay the foundations for stronger African soccer.

“I’m sure all of the infrastructure they leave here will give people jobs, allow children to play in stadiums that are being built,” he said.

Amanda Peet: ‘I’ll Sag no Matter What’

AMANDA Peet says she tries to keep her sexy body in check — but she often wonders why she bothers.



The 37-year-old actress — who stars opposite John Cusack in the brilliant new movie 2012 — admits she realizes she can’t stop her body from aging.

“It’s not really working,” Peet told Parade magazine. “I have an inner conflict. I’ll be at the gym and I’ll start thinking, ‘What am I doing? I’m going to sag no matter what I do.’

“I’ve certainly taken my clothes off on camera, but you have body make-up and special lighting.

“I mean, someone with a figure like Jennifer Aniston has a trainer, a cook spinning out some version of the latest diet, and probably a stop at the tanning salon. Then teenage girls go, ‘God, I wish I could look like that.’ Maybe they wouldn’t if they knew what it took.’”

Peet — who has a daughter, Frances Pen, with her screenwriter husband David Benioff — then opened up about returning to New York after living in Los Angeles.

“I feel very vulnerable even though I grew up here,” she said. “I mean, it’s a huge crowded city where 9/11 happened. Sometimes if they raise the alert level or something I walk down the subway steps and wonder if I’m going to be in danger.

“I guess I think about it most when I’m on the subway. But I always say to myself, ‘Just get on the train and don’t give in to this sh**.’”

The actress also revealed that she’d like to do a romantic comedy with Cusack.

“2012 is our third film together and at least we sort of got to be lovers more than we ever have been before. John has this kind of vulnerability, this kind of Tom Hanks everyman quality, but he’s a little more edgy with this great dry sense of humor. I just think he’s wonderful.”

Slammers win Coast Soccer League

The Newport Beach-based Slammers boys’ U-19 Premier team captured the Coast Soccer League title with a 4-1 victory against South Coast Black.

The Slammers finished with a 6-1-4 record in the 12-team league, which is considered the most competitive club soccer league in the country.

The team is coached by Walid Khoury, a Costa Mesa resident, and managed by Des Levin, a Newport Beach resident.

Local boys on the team include Newport Beach residents Ben Capaldi (Sage Hill School), Brian Ford (Corona del Mar High), Jay Levin, Chase Nugent (Newport Harbor) and Costa Mesa resident Kevin Kiser.

This weekend at UC Irvine, the Slammers and the other Cal South representative, Real So Cal, will play two Nor Cal teams, Bay Oaks and Mustang Ajax, for the state championship.

— From staff reports

Kew leads NAC wins

Rory Kew of the Newport Aquatic Center’s won the boys’ junior single at the Newport Autumn Rowing Festival earlier this month.

The NAC boys’ junior eight finished second behind Marin. The NAC boys won three out of their four events.

The NAC lightweight eight took first place in its open division and again, the boys’ varsity four remained undefeated after its big win at the Head of the Charles race.

The boys are in action again this weekend in Foster City at the Head of the Lagoon Race.

— From staff reports

Holiday Cup coming

Corona del Mar High will play host to the 10th annual Holiday Cup, a women’s water polo tournament featuring five of the top-10 ranked national teams, Dec. 9-13.

In addition to Team USA, the reigning world champion of women’s water polo, Canada, the silver-medal winner at worlds, and Russia, the bronze-medal winner, will join defending Olympic champion the Netherlands. Italy, the 2004 Olympic champion, and Australia, the 2000 Olympic champ, will also be competing.

A rematch of the protested gold-medal match between the U.S. and Canada highlights five days of water polo action.

Three matches per day begin on Dec. 9 with an international skills competition serving as a tourney appetizer on Dec. 8.

There will be three games followed by a fundraising dinner at the Hyatt Regency in Newport Beach Dec. 12. Lisa Leslie, a four-time Olympian and three-time WNBA MVP, will be the featured guest.

For more information about the Holiday Cup, visit www.waterpolo.org.

— From staff reports

Toshiba tickets offered

The 2010 Toshiba Classic is offering a special holiday promotion of two for the price of one clubhouse badges to the golf tournament.

The cost per badge is $100. There is a $4.50 one-time transaction fee. Badges must be purchased by Dec. 23 to receive the promotion. All proceeds go to Hoag Hospital.

To order, call (949) 660-1001.

— From staff reports

Dailey earns honor

Yale senior outside hitter Cat Dailey, a former Sage Hill School standout, has been selected to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District First Team.

Dailey, the 2008 Ivy League Player of the Year, leads the Ivy League in kills.

She recorded 12 kills and 11 digs to lead the Bulldogs to sweep against Columbia. She helped guide Yale to a 19-4 overall record, 9-3 in the Ivy League.

She earned Most Valuable Player honors at both the Yale Invitational and Seton Hall Invitational this season, and also claimed Ivy League Player of the Week and CVU.com Top Performer distinctions for her performance at the Yale Invitational.

Nominees for the Academic All-District distinction must earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.30 and excel athletically as a starter or key reserve. Dailey, who holds a 3.41 grade point average as a History major, is the lone Ivy League representative on the First Team. All-District First Team members will appear on the Academic All-America ballot later this month.