Kamis, Desember 03, 2009
Iran Religious Leader: Tehran to Enrich Own High-Grade Uranium if No Deal
Ahmad Khatami - a senior Iranian cleric says Iran will produce its own uranium fuel if there is no deal with the United Nations Atomic Energy Agency. The cleric's comments came in reaction to an IAEA resolution adopted on Friday demanding that Iran halt construction of a new uranium enrichment facility. Iran's top nuclear negotiator is also insisting that Tehran will not stop enriching uranium.
Amid loud acclamations of approval, top hardline Iranian cleric, Hojatoleslam Ahmad Khatami warned the West that Tehran will produce its own high-grade uranium for a medical research reactor, if the UN International Atomic Energy Agency refuses to provide the fuel.
Khatami insisted that the IAEA is required to supply the fuel, despite reservations by the West.
Hojatoleslam says IAEA regulations stipulate that the agency provide the fuel for Iran's medical reactor in Tehran. He says if the agency gives Iran the fuel, the matter is settled. Otherwise, he warns, the great Iranian nation which has developed its own nuclear technology will produce the fuel by using its own know-how.
The Iranian cleric said the IAEA resolution passed Friday is a "political, rather than a technical" move.
Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh, said Tehran would not stop enriching uranium, but it would still cooperate to some extent with the IAEA.
"The answer to this [IAEA] resolution is definitely no," he said. "We are not going to suspend our enrichment activities. We are not going to suspend the completion of the Fordoo nuclear enrichment activities. But, at the same time, we are continuing cooperating with the agency, and all these activities will be under the IAEA safeguard, but only within the framework of the NPT."
Soltanieh also argued that Tehran would refrain from what he described as Iran's voluntary cooperation gestures towards the IAEA after Friday's resolution.
"They have been discouraged by this resolution Iran to take voluntary steps that we have taken in many occasions in the past, particularly the recent ones, when the [IAEA] director general [Mohammed al-Baradei] was in Iran," he said. "In fact, we took voluntary steps informing them about these new sites. (Iran's new nuclear enrichment site at) Fordoo was among these volunteer natures, because we should not have informed at this juncture. In fact, we have 18 months ahead of what we are obliged to. Therefore, we would not be committed to any of this."
A hardline Iranian member of parliament, Mohammed Karamirad, warned Saturday that Tehran could pull out of negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency or stop it from inspecting Iran's nuclear facilities.
Uranium enrichment is the process used to make fuel for nuclear power plants, but when extended it can also produce fissile material for an atomic bomb.
Friday's IAEA resolution criticized Tehran for building the secret nuclear enrichment plant at Fordoo, which it disclosed in September, and demanded that it cease construction on the plant immediately. Tehran was also summoned to disclose any other secret nuclear activities.
The IAEA resolution, which garnered the approval of 25 of the agency's 35 governing board members, including China and Russia, was the first taken against Iran since 2006. (Voa-news)
Amid loud acclamations of approval, top hardline Iranian cleric, Hojatoleslam Ahmad Khatami warned the West that Tehran will produce its own high-grade uranium for a medical research reactor, if the UN International Atomic Energy Agency refuses to provide the fuel.
Khatami insisted that the IAEA is required to supply the fuel, despite reservations by the West.
Hojatoleslam says IAEA regulations stipulate that the agency provide the fuel for Iran's medical reactor in Tehran. He says if the agency gives Iran the fuel, the matter is settled. Otherwise, he warns, the great Iranian nation which has developed its own nuclear technology will produce the fuel by using its own know-how.
The Iranian cleric said the IAEA resolution passed Friday is a "political, rather than a technical" move.
Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh, said Tehran would not stop enriching uranium, but it would still cooperate to some extent with the IAEA.
"The answer to this [IAEA] resolution is definitely no," he said. "We are not going to suspend our enrichment activities. We are not going to suspend the completion of the Fordoo nuclear enrichment activities. But, at the same time, we are continuing cooperating with the agency, and all these activities will be under the IAEA safeguard, but only within the framework of the NPT."
Soltanieh also argued that Tehran would refrain from what he described as Iran's voluntary cooperation gestures towards the IAEA after Friday's resolution.
"They have been discouraged by this resolution Iran to take voluntary steps that we have taken in many occasions in the past, particularly the recent ones, when the [IAEA] director general [Mohammed al-Baradei] was in Iran," he said. "In fact, we took voluntary steps informing them about these new sites. (Iran's new nuclear enrichment site at) Fordoo was among these volunteer natures, because we should not have informed at this juncture. In fact, we have 18 months ahead of what we are obliged to. Therefore, we would not be committed to any of this."
A hardline Iranian member of parliament, Mohammed Karamirad, warned Saturday that Tehran could pull out of negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency or stop it from inspecting Iran's nuclear facilities.
Uranium enrichment is the process used to make fuel for nuclear power plants, but when extended it can also produce fissile material for an atomic bomb.
Friday's IAEA resolution criticized Tehran for building the secret nuclear enrichment plant at Fordoo, which it disclosed in September, and demanded that it cease construction on the plant immediately. Tehran was also summoned to disclose any other secret nuclear activities.
The IAEA resolution, which garnered the approval of 25 of the agency's 35 governing board members, including China and Russia, was the first taken against Iran since 2006. (Voa-news)
European Union Treaty to Make EU More Powerful
The European Union's Lisbon Treaty has come into force with the aim of streamlining EU decision-making. The first EU president also took office along with the bloc's new foreign policy chief.
The European Union welcomed the Lisbon Treaty with a ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal where the text was first signed. Getting all 27 EU states to ratify it however, was a long and arduous process that was only completed last month.
The new treaty lays out a series of fundamental changes within the European Union, including creating the bloc's first permanent president. That job has gone to former Belgian prime minister Herman Van Rompuy. Britain's former EU trade commissioner, Catherine Ashton, is the new EU foreign policy chief. Both are relatively little known figures in Europe and overseas.
Mr. Van Rompuy does not officially begin his duties until January. Speaking in Denmark on Monday, he limited his remarks to the press.
"I am in an interim period. I make only a short statement. Questions - ask them starting January 1. And I have 2 1/2 years to answer all your questions. But today, I am rather reluctant and I only limit myself to a brief statement," he said.
But Mr. Van Rompuy called for the world community to reach a strong climate change agreement at a summit in Copenhagen that begins next Monday.
"The European Union has been at the forefront of efforts to fight climate change. It is determined to play a leading, constructive role at the Copenhagen conference and to contribute to reaching a global, ambitious and comprehensive agreement," he added.
The bloc's executive body, the European Commission, will also see new commissioners next year. French diplomat Michel Barnier won the key job of internal markets commissioner, which covers the banking and financial sectors. Germany secured the energy post. Berlin has good relations with Russia, which provides a large share of Europe's natural gas. (Lisa Bryant-Voa)
The European Union welcomed the Lisbon Treaty with a ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal where the text was first signed. Getting all 27 EU states to ratify it however, was a long and arduous process that was only completed last month.
The new treaty lays out a series of fundamental changes within the European Union, including creating the bloc's first permanent president. That job has gone to former Belgian prime minister Herman Van Rompuy. Britain's former EU trade commissioner, Catherine Ashton, is the new EU foreign policy chief. Both are relatively little known figures in Europe and overseas.
Mr. Van Rompuy does not officially begin his duties until January. Speaking in Denmark on Monday, he limited his remarks to the press.
"I am in an interim period. I make only a short statement. Questions - ask them starting January 1. And I have 2 1/2 years to answer all your questions. But today, I am rather reluctant and I only limit myself to a brief statement," he said.
But Mr. Van Rompuy called for the world community to reach a strong climate change agreement at a summit in Copenhagen that begins next Monday.
"The European Union has been at the forefront of efforts to fight climate change. It is determined to play a leading, constructive role at the Copenhagen conference and to contribute to reaching a global, ambitious and comprehensive agreement," he added.
The bloc's executive body, the European Commission, will also see new commissioners next year. French diplomat Michel Barnier won the key job of internal markets commissioner, which covers the banking and financial sectors. Germany secured the energy post. Berlin has good relations with Russia, which provides a large share of Europe's natural gas. (Lisa Bryant-Voa)
Obama: 30,000 More US Troops To Afghanistan By Mid-2010
U.S. President Barack Obama is sending 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan by the summer of 2010, and plans to start withdrawing American forces a year later. The president laid out his strategy for winning the war in Afghanistan.
After several months of deliberation, President Obama has announced his plan for deploying additional troops to Afghanistan. He unveiled his strategy before an audience of cadets at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, late Tuesday and a nation watching on television.
"The 30,000 additional troops that I am announcing tonight will deploy in the first part of 2010 - the fastest pace possible - so that they can target the insurgency and secure key population centers," said President Obama.
The added troops will join an estimated 68,000 U.S. service members already in Afghanistan, and tens of thousands of allied forces.
The president spoke as Americans' support for the war continues to erode. A new survey by the Gallup organization shows only 35 percent of Americans surveyed approve of Mr. Obama's handling of the war - 55 percent disapprove.
At West Point, Mr. Obama said Afghanistan is not lost, but has been moving backwards for several years. He said al-Qaida is planning new acts of terror from its safe havens along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, with the support of the Taliban.
"We must deny al-Qaida a safe haven," said Mr. Obama. " We must reverse the Taliban's momentum and deny it the ability to overthrow the government. And we must strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan's security forces and government, so that they can take lead responsibility for Afghanistan's future."
The president appealed to America's allies to contribute more troops to the fight in Afghanistan, and said he is confident that they will.
"Our friends have fought and bled and died alongside us in Afghanistan," said President Obama. "Now, we must come together to end this war successfully. For what's at stake is not simply a test of NATO's credibility - what's at stake is the security of our Allies, and the common security of the world."
Mr. Obama said his strategy will allow U.S. troops to begin returning home by the middle of 2011, depending on the conditions on the ground.
"Taken together, these additional American and international troops will allow us to accelerate handing over responsibility to Afghan forces, and allow us to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011," said Mr. Obama.
The top Senate Republican, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, said after the speech he supports the president's plan, as long as the withdrawal does not begin until conditions in Afghanistan permit it.
"The president was absolutely right to call for building a sufficient Afghan capacity that will allow our troops to come home, rather than setting a hard withdrawal date that is not based on conditions on the ground or the advice of our generals," said Mitch McConnell.
A large part of the troops' mission will be to train Afghan forces to take over the fight against the Taliban and defend their country's security.
With most of the Taliban now in Pakistan, the president emphasized the need for a continued partnership with the government in Islamabad.
Civilian initiatives will be a large part of the U.S. strategy, especially in developing the region's agriculture, education and economy. Mr. Obama also said the U.S. will require improved performance from the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"We will work with our partners, the UN and the Afghan people to pursue a more effective civilian strategy, so that the government can take advantage of improved security," said President Obama. "This effort must be based on performance. The days of providing a blank check are over."
The president acknowledged that his new approach in Afghanistan is likely to cost the U.S. $30 billion in the coming year, and he said he will work closely with Congress to address that cost, while trying to revive the recession-battered economy.
Over the past few months, Mr. Obama has held about a dozen meetings with his top military and foreign policy advisers, including commanders on the ground in Afghanistan. (Voa-news)
After several months of deliberation, President Obama has announced his plan for deploying additional troops to Afghanistan. He unveiled his strategy before an audience of cadets at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, late Tuesday and a nation watching on television.
"The 30,000 additional troops that I am announcing tonight will deploy in the first part of 2010 - the fastest pace possible - so that they can target the insurgency and secure key population centers," said President Obama.
The added troops will join an estimated 68,000 U.S. service members already in Afghanistan, and tens of thousands of allied forces.
The president spoke as Americans' support for the war continues to erode. A new survey by the Gallup organization shows only 35 percent of Americans surveyed approve of Mr. Obama's handling of the war - 55 percent disapprove.
At West Point, Mr. Obama said Afghanistan is not lost, but has been moving backwards for several years. He said al-Qaida is planning new acts of terror from its safe havens along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, with the support of the Taliban.
"We must deny al-Qaida a safe haven," said Mr. Obama. " We must reverse the Taliban's momentum and deny it the ability to overthrow the government. And we must strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan's security forces and government, so that they can take lead responsibility for Afghanistan's future."
The president appealed to America's allies to contribute more troops to the fight in Afghanistan, and said he is confident that they will.
"Our friends have fought and bled and died alongside us in Afghanistan," said President Obama. "Now, we must come together to end this war successfully. For what's at stake is not simply a test of NATO's credibility - what's at stake is the security of our Allies, and the common security of the world."
Mr. Obama said his strategy will allow U.S. troops to begin returning home by the middle of 2011, depending on the conditions on the ground.
"Taken together, these additional American and international troops will allow us to accelerate handing over responsibility to Afghan forces, and allow us to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011," said Mr. Obama.
The top Senate Republican, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, said after the speech he supports the president's plan, as long as the withdrawal does not begin until conditions in Afghanistan permit it.
"The president was absolutely right to call for building a sufficient Afghan capacity that will allow our troops to come home, rather than setting a hard withdrawal date that is not based on conditions on the ground or the advice of our generals," said Mitch McConnell.
A large part of the troops' mission will be to train Afghan forces to take over the fight against the Taliban and defend their country's security.
With most of the Taliban now in Pakistan, the president emphasized the need for a continued partnership with the government in Islamabad.
Civilian initiatives will be a large part of the U.S. strategy, especially in developing the region's agriculture, education and economy. Mr. Obama also said the U.S. will require improved performance from the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"We will work with our partners, the UN and the Afghan people to pursue a more effective civilian strategy, so that the government can take advantage of improved security," said President Obama. "This effort must be based on performance. The days of providing a blank check are over."
The president acknowledged that his new approach in Afghanistan is likely to cost the U.S. $30 billion in the coming year, and he said he will work closely with Congress to address that cost, while trying to revive the recession-battered economy.
Over the past few months, Mr. Obama has held about a dozen meetings with his top military and foreign policy advisers, including commanders on the ground in Afghanistan. (Voa-news)
Michael Jackson Geser Britney Spears
Kematian Michael Jackson malah mendorong penyanyi itu ke puncak pencarian yahoo.com Internet, sehingga mengakhiri empat tahun dominasi Britney Spears dan membantu menjatuhkan Presiden Barack Obama dari daftar 10 teratas.
Meskipun tahun ini didominasi oleh resesi, kebanyakan pengunjung masih tertuju kepada apa yang menarik peselancar jejaring. NASCAR, aktris Megan Fox, bintang realita Kim Kardashian, dan film Twilight menggantikan empat aktris yang tahun lalu menempati posisi atas.
Sampai Juni, ketika Jackson meninggal akibat kelebihan dosis obat, pelantikan Obama mengumpulkan sebagian besar peselancar jejaring, kata Vera Chan, pengulas kecenderungan jejaring di Yahoo Inc.
"Ketika berita mengenai kematian Michael Jackson muncul, lalu lintas luar biasa banyaknya, dan melampaui itu," katanya.
Kematian tersebut memiliki semua unsur intrik dan tragedi. kejadian itu mendadak, mengejutkan dan secara menakutkan akrab, kata Chan.
"Kemudian kasusnya diputuskan sebagai pembunuhan. Jadi itu adalah penyelidikan kejahatan yang sedang berlangsung. Kematiannya tak terselesaikan," tambahnya.
Berita hangat kian menarik pencarian tahun ini. Meskipun Obama merosot dari posisi ketiga pada 2008 jadi ke-44 pada 2009, pusat perhatian politik beralih dari kampanye pemilihan ke kebijakan khusus. Rencana pemberian perangsang berada pada posisi keempat dan pembaruan perawatan kesehatan di posisi keenam di antara pencarian yang berkaitan dengan Obama.
Di antara pencarian yang berkaitan dengan keuangan, kata-kata kupon dan pengangguran menempati posisi teratas yang meliputi Sistem Pemberian Tunjangan Mobil yang ditaja pemerintah, tunjangan pelajar, penyitaan, dan pekerjaan di pemerintah.
Ekonomi "tentu saja berbeda dari tahun-tahun sebelumnya, berapa banyak orang memantau situasi ekonomi", kata Chan.
Secara keseluruhan daftar 10 peringkat teratas "seringkali hanya sekilas perhatian kita, kegembiraan kita dan berita hangat", katanya.
Britney, penyanyi yang kemerosotan pribadinya menjadi berita utama selama beberapa tahun belakangan, anjlok ke posisi kelima di dalam daftar tersebut, hanya satu jenjang setelah Megan Fox, lambang seks di dalam film Jennifer's Body, dan di atas kartun Jepang, Naruto.
"Britney menempati posisi No.1 selama empat tahun, dan semua tahun itu tak menyenangkan buat dia," kata Chan. "Buat kesejahteraannya, dan buat kesejahteraan kami, saya kira kami bahagia bahwa kami tak perlu memeriksa dia."
Twilight menempati posisi kedua di dalam daftar, diikut oleh WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), Fox dan Britney. Naruto menempati posisi keenam.
Yahoo meraih 18 persen pencarian Internet di AS pada Oktober, sementara Google Inc mengantungi 65,4 persen, demikian pernyataan perusahan comScore. Data pencarian Yahoo hanya berasal dari laman dot-com perusahaan itu. (Warta-Kota)Rabu, Desember 02, 2009
Kamis, November 26, 2009
Jumat, November 20, 2009
Selasa, Oktober 13, 2009
Cathy Sharon Doyan Berondong Ganteng
Cathy Sharon tengah dekat dengan pria yang jauh lebih muda darinya. Namun menurut pengakuan Cathy, ia tak masalah pacari berondong, asal wajahnya ganteng.
Cathy tengah dekat dengan pria berumur 16 tahun. Namun kedekatan mantan VJ MTV itu hanya sekedar hubungan kerja. Patrick si pria 16 tahun adalah penyanyi baru yang meminta Cathy menjadi model video klipnya.
Kedekatan Cathy dan Patrick menimbulkan iu adanya hubungan spesial antara keduanya. namun baik cathy maupun Patrick berujar bahwa kedekatan mereka sudah selayaknya keluarga.
"Enjoy saja digosipin doyan berondong lagi. Saya juga nggak ngerasa canggung atau gimana-gimana kali. Dia (Patrick) dah kaya keluarga banget," ujar Cathy yang ditemui di Kawasan Bintaro, Jakarta Selatan, Minggu (11/10/2009) malam.
Bukan hanya kali ini saja kakak aktris Julie Estelle itu digosipkan dekat dengan pria yang lebih muda, Sebelumnya ia juga di kabarkan berpacaran dengan Ridho Irama, anak pedangdut Rhoma Irama. Lalu apakah Cathy tidak kapok?
"Nggak keganggu sih ama gosip aku suka sama berondong. Kalau emang cakep kenapa nggak?" ujarnya seraya tertawa. (DetikHot)
Cathy tengah dekat dengan pria berumur 16 tahun. Namun kedekatan mantan VJ MTV itu hanya sekedar hubungan kerja. Patrick si pria 16 tahun adalah penyanyi baru yang meminta Cathy menjadi model video klipnya.
Kedekatan Cathy dan Patrick menimbulkan iu adanya hubungan spesial antara keduanya. namun baik cathy maupun Patrick berujar bahwa kedekatan mereka sudah selayaknya keluarga.
"Enjoy saja digosipin doyan berondong lagi. Saya juga nggak ngerasa canggung atau gimana-gimana kali. Dia (Patrick) dah kaya keluarga banget," ujar Cathy yang ditemui di Kawasan Bintaro, Jakarta Selatan, Minggu (11/10/2009) malam.
Bukan hanya kali ini saja kakak aktris Julie Estelle itu digosipkan dekat dengan pria yang lebih muda, Sebelumnya ia juga di kabarkan berpacaran dengan Ridho Irama, anak pedangdut Rhoma Irama. Lalu apakah Cathy tidak kapok?
"Nggak keganggu sih ama gosip aku suka sama berondong. Kalau emang cakep kenapa nggak?" ujarnya seraya tertawa. (DetikHot)
Stephen Gately (Boyzone) Meninggal Di Usia 33 Tahun
Stephen Gately, satu dari empat personil Boyzone, Sabtu kemarin (10/10/2009) meninggal di usia 33 tahun. Sejauh ini penyebab kematian vokalis ini masih belum diketahui karena menurut orang dekat penyanyi kelahiran Irlandia ini, ia terlihat sehat-sehat saja beberapa jam sebelumnya.
"Sepertinya ia sempat keluar untuk minum-minum lalu pulang, tertidur dan tak pernah bangun lagi," ungkap seorang sumber seperti dikutip dari ContactMusic. Stephen ditemukan tidak bernyawa di kamar hotel yang ia tempati di Mallorca, Spanyol.
Louis Walsh, manajer Stephen Gately, mengatakan bahwa ia sempat terkejut karena sebelumnya Stephen terlihat baik-baik saja. Louis mengatakan bahwa ia terakhir bertemu Stephen Senin lalu saat menghadiri sebuah acara.
Louis dan tiga personil lain dari Boyzone berencana terbang ke Majorca secepat mungkin untuk menghormati sahabat dan rekan mereka ini. Sejauh ini pihak berwenang juga belum melepas pernyataan apa pun terkait meninggalnya pria yang terang-terangan mengaku bahwa ia gay di tahun 1999 lalu ini.Senin, Oktober 12, 2009
Obama Pledges to Let Homosexuals Serve Openly in US Military
U.S. President Barack Obama has pledged to a gay rights group that he will repeal the law that keeps homosexuals from serving openly in the U.S. military. The president admits that he has not made promised policy changes as quickly as advocates would like.
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| US President Barack Obama, delivers his remarks at the Human Rights Campaign national dinner, in Washington, 10 Oct 2009 |
President Obama says that is about to change.
"I will end "don't ask, don't tell." That is my commitment to you.
Mr. Obama spoke late Saturday to thousands of people at a fundraising dinner for the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay rights organization.
The president did not say how long it will take to repeal the law. But he said the U.S. cannot afford to exclude from military service people whose skills are needed.
"We should not be punishing patriotic Americans who have stepped forward to serve this country," said President Obama. "We should be celebrating their willingness to show such courage and selflessness on behalf of their fellow citizens, especially when we are fighting two wars."
Estimates say about 13,000 people have been discharged from the military for violating the policy since it was enacted in 1993.
Congress passed "don't ask, don't tell" as a compromise, after then-President Bill Clinton proposed ending the ban on open homosexuals serving in the armed forces.
Some high-ranking military officers have said the law should not be repealed, because allowing openly gay troops to serve would diminish discipline and morale.
Mr. Obama also told the Human Rights Campaign he plans to overturn the ban on entry to the U.S. based on HIV status. The U.S. forbids people infected with HIV from entering the country, saying they present a public health risk.
The president called on Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, under which the U.S. government defines marriage as being between one man and one woman.
Mr. Obama also said lawmakers will soon pass, and he will sign, a bill defining violence against gays and lesbians as federal hate crimes.
The president acknowledged that many of his promises have not yet been fulfilled, and that many in the audience are losing patience with him.
"It is not for me to tell you to be patient, any more than it was for others to counsel patience to African-American petitioning for equal rights, half a century ago. But I will say this: We have made progress, and we will make more."
The dinner came on the evening before thousands of gays and lesbians are expected to march to the U.S. Capitol, demanding more government action for gay rights.
Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese introduced Mr. Obama, saying the gay and lesbian community has never had a stronger ally in the White House.
Washington
11 October 2009
VoaNews)
Clinton: World Will Not Wait for Iran
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| Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband, left, looks on as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton gestures ahead of their meeting at 1 Carlton Gardens in London, Sunday, 11 Oct. 2009 |
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton began the British leg of her trip with a meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
Afterwards, the two held a joint news conference.
On Iran, Miliband said the time was right for the country to move in a new direction.
"Iran will never have a better opportunity to establish normal relations with the international community and it will never have a better opportunity than to show that the peaceful intent that marks its words about its nuclear program is matched by its deeds," Miliband said.
Later this month, U.N. inspectors expect to see the recently disclosed uranium enrichment facility near the city of Qom and more talks are planned for Geneva.
Secretary of State Clinton said the United States and others are willing to listen to Iran, but she warned that patience will not last forever and she urged the Iranians to make constructive inroads soon.
"We are speaking with a single voice and delivering a clear message to Iran," Clinton said. "The international community will not wait indefinitely for evidence that Iran is prepared to live up to its international obligations."
On Afghanistan, Miliband said Britain was closely watching the strategy review the U.S. administration is currently going through and how that might impact upon the British effort there.
"There are big decisions ahead, above all for the new Afghan government which will be formed in the next few weeks, but there are also decisions for the whole of the coalition led by the United States," Miliband said.
Clinton said whatever path was taken out of the strategic review, the United States would be there to support Afghanistan.
"We are committed to Afghanistan," Clinton said. "We are very clear that the conjunction of al-Qaida and elements of the Taliban and other extremists pose a direct threat to our two countries and really to the world."
Asked about the attack and the hostage drama that unfolded over the weekend at a Pakistani military complex near the capital, Clinton responded it was a difficult time for the country but she stressed that the authorities there were firmly in control.
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| British PM Gordon Brown greets US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, 11 Oct 2009 |
The Secretary of State then met with Prime Minister Gordon Brown before flying off for further discussions in Dublin and Belfast.
London
11 October 2009)
Sabtu, Oktober 10, 2009
Ambon Jazz Plus Festival (AJPF)
Sedikitnya 15 orang penyanyi dan musisi legendaris di tanah air akan memperoleh penghargaan yang diberikan para pencinta musik di ajang Ambon Jazz Plus Festival (AJPF), yang akan digelar pada 9 sampai 11 Oktober mendatang.
Pimpinan Voorale Multimedia Corporation sebagai panitia Penyelenggara AJPF, Andy Erick Manuhuttu, di Ambon, Kamis (24/9), mengatakan, penghargaan itu diberikan sebagai ungkapan terima kasih atas karya, prestasi dan dedikasi mereka memajukan belantika musik nasional.
Para penerima penghargaan sebagian besar adalah penyanyi dan musisi jazz legendaris berdarah Ambon, di antaranya Benny Likumahua, almarhum Perry Pattiselano yang meninggal di Yordania, Margie Siegers, yang hingga kini masih tercatat sebagai penyanyi jazz wanita terbaik Indonesia, Rien Jamain, dan Bubi Chen.
Selain itu, sejumlah musisi dan penyanyi beraliran lain juga akan memperoleh penghargaan atas dedikasi mereka memajukan dunia musik tanah air maupun di Maluku yakni Bing Leiwakabessy, Enteng Tanamal, Bob Tutupoli, John Reny Rehatta, Christ Manusama dan Zeth Lekatompessy.
"Musisi dan penyanyi legendaris ini banyak berjasa memajukan nama bangsa dan negara di blantika musik dunia, sehingga patut diberi apresiasi atas karya dan dedikasinya," ujar panitia penyelenggara, Andy Erick Manuhuttu.
Dia mengatakan, kendati tidak terlalu bernilai, penghargaan yang diberikan setidaknya merupakan sebuah pengakuan dari 160-an artis dalam dan luar negeri, yang hadir dan tampil di pentas Ambon Jazz Plus Festival.
Pemberian penghargaan diharapkan dapat mendorong dan memotivasi penyanyi dan musisi lainnya untuk tetap konsisten dan menunjukkan dedikasi demi memajukan dunia musik tanah air.
"Ini penghargaan bagi para legendaris yang telah berjasa di dunia musik, sekaligus menjadi motivasi bagi generasi muda di Maluku untuk bangkit mencintai dan mengembalikan lagi kejayaan musik tanah air dari daerah ini," lanjutnya.
Direncanakan menjadi acara tahunan, AJPF juga akan menjadi konser jazz terbesar di Indonesia bagian timur. Konser raksasa ini nantinya juga menghadirkan kelompok musik dengan berbagai genre, yakni jazz, R&B, hip-hop, soul, world beat, dan gospel. (KapanLagi.com)Warga Tolak Pemakaman Teroris
Rencana keluarga menguburkan jasad tersangka teroris Syaefuddin Zuhri dan kakaknya, M Syahrir di tempat pemakaman keluarga tempat kelahiran ayahnya, Jaelani, di Desa Sampiran Dusun Benjaran, Kecamatan Talun, Kabupaten Cirebon, mendapat penolakan dari warga setempat.
Warga beralasan predikat gembong teroris yang melekat pada dua anak Jaelani yang tewas di sebuah kamar kost di kawasan Ciputat, Tanggerang Jumat (9/10) dalam penyergapan oleh jajaran Densus 88 telah mencemarkan nama baik desanya.
"Keputusan tersebut merupakan hasil dari pertemuan antara tokoh masyarakat dan perwakilan dari keluarga Jaelani, yaitu Jaduli adik kandung pak Jaelani di kantor kuwu (Desa:Red)," kata Makid, Kepala Dusun Benjaran saat ditemui di kantor Kuwu, Sabtu (10/10).
Pertemuan yang berlangsung hingga pukul 3.00 WIB dini hari tersebut, kata Makid membahas tentang keberatan warga jika dua kakak beradik teroris tersebut dimakamkan di desanya karena dianggap sebagai pengkhianat bangsa juga karena keduanya bukan warga setempat.
"Kalau yang warga asli sini hanya bapaknya, Jaelani. Sedangkan Syaefuddin Zuhri dan M Syahrir yang kami tahu lahir dan besar di Jakarta. Jadi kami menolak jika desa kami hanya dijadikan kuburan untuk mereka," lanjut Makid.
Dalam pertemuan tersebut juga, menurut Makid, adik kandung Jaelani yang masih tinggal di desa tersebut, Jaduli menyatakan menolak pemakaman dua teroris tersebut di desanya.
Warga Desa Sampiran lain yang menolak pemakaman Zuhri dan Syahrir adalah Herman. Herman mengaku selama ini tidak mengenal siapa Syaefuddin Zuhri dan M Syahrir selain sebagai teroris, itu pun diketahuinya melalui pemberitaan di televisi dan koran saja.
"Dengan pemberitaan tentang dua gembong teroris tersebut dikaitkan dengan desa kami saja sudah memberatkan kami, apalagi jika akhirnya keduanya dikuburkan di sini, kami lebih keberatan," katanya. "Kami takut dampaknya terhadap anak cucu kami nanti," tegas Herman.
Seperti diucapan Sucihani, kakak kandung Syaefuddin Zuhri, jika ternyata rencana keluarga menguburkan Zuhri dan Syahrir di Desa Sampiran mendapat penolakan dari warganya, maka pihak keluarga terpaksa mengambil alternatif terakhir yaitu menguburkan keduanya disamping Ibrohim, yang beberapa waktu lalu tewas oleh Densus 88 dalam penggerebekan di Temanggung, di TPU Pondok Rangon, Jakarta.
"Jika ditolak lagi terpaksa kami akan menguburkan keduanya di samping makam Bang Boim (Ibrohim. RED) di TPU Pondok Rangon," ujar Sucihani di rumahnya di Desa Sampra, Kecamatan Cilimus, Kabupaten Kuningan Jumat (9/10) (Warta-Kota)Jumat, Oktober 09, 2009
Biografi Dave Weckl (Musisi Besar)
Selama lebih dari 20 tahun, Dave Weckl telah berhasil membangun dan mempertahankan reputasi yang baik dari fans, sesama drummer dan juga pengakuan sebagai salah satu drummer terbaik yang pernah ada dari masyarakat musik internasional. Untuk hal ini, dia berhasil meraih sejumlah penghargaan dan pengakuan; Dave Weckl bahkan telah dilantik untuk masuk dalam Hall of fame versi “Modern Drummer” dan menggelari dia sebagai salah satu dari 25 drummer terbaik sepanjang masa.
Penghargaan dan pengakuan tersebut menjadi pelengkap dari penganugerahan masyarakat musik selama ini atas komitmen Dave untuk terus berkarya membuat komposisi yang luar biasa. Permainan drum Weckl yang dynamik dan beragam membuat banyaknya musisi dunia yang terinspirasi karenanya. Hal ini didasarkan dari fondasi pengetahuan yang kuat yang mengakibatkan musisi-musisi tersebut respek akan karya-karyanya.
Lahir di St. Louis Missouri, 8 January 1960, dari seorang ibu yang sangat mencintai musik dan ayah yang hobi bermain piano, Weckl mulai bermain drum di usia 8.
Selama masa SMAnya, Weckl menerima banyak penghargaan dari NAJE (National Association od Jazz Educators) untuk performanya yang memukau dalam perlombaan band yang dimenangi oleh bandnya. Dalam usia mudanya, Weckl kecil sudah bergabung dengan banyak band lokal sembari belajar di daerah St Louis bersama gurunya Bob Matheny dan Joe Buerger.
Di usia ke 16, Weckl memulai karir profesionalnya dengan beragam band lokal yang beraliran pop maupun jazz. Di tahun 1979, Weckl pindah ke daerah Pantai Timur untuk belajar musik di University of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Dalam usianya yang ke 19, Weckl mulai mendapat pengakuan akan permainannya.
Pujian pun mulai berdatangan. Beberapa musisi studio seperti Steve Kahn, Michael Brecker, dan yang terutama seorang drummer hebat Peter Erskine memuji permainannya. Mereka melihat permainan Weckl ketika ia bermain di Club di Kota New York bersama bandnya yang bernama Nite Sprite. Peter Erskinelah yang kemudian merekomendasikan Weckl untuk gig besarnya yang pertama bersama French Toast, yang mempelopori Michael Camilo Band yang sudah cukup rutin rekaman dalam beberapa tahun.
Dari grup ini, Anthony Jackson (seorang Bassist legendaries) merekomendasikan Weckl untuk bermain dalam event yang bergengsi yaitu Tour reuni Simon and Garfunkel pada tahun 1983. Tidak lama berselang, Weckl menerima panggilan untuk bermain secara reguler mengisi di radio, jingle televisi, sesi sound track, dan rekaman dengan artis terkemuka semisal George Benson, Peabo Bryson, Diana Ross, dan Robert Plant, dll.
Di tahun 1985, Brecker merekomendasikan Weckl kepada Chick Corea yang pada saat itu sedang mencari drummer untuk band barunya, Elektric Band. Ini merupakan awal dari hubungan selama 7 tahun yang terjalin dengan band akustik dan elektrik Chick Corea, selama waktu tersebut telah diproduksi 9 rekaman dan 3 video, termasuk diantaranya penghargaan Grammy untuk album pertama Akustik Band bersama Chick Corea.
Permainan Weckl di Chick Corea Elektric Band yang inovatif dan mengundang decak kagum dalam penggunaan drum elektronik, maupun akustik membawanya kepada pengakuan dunia. Walaupun band ini sempat vakum di awal tahun 90an tetapi band ini kemudian melakukan tour kembali dari waktu ke waktu. Band ini juga mengeluarkan album konseptual yang berjudul “To The Stars” di pertengahan tahun 2004.
Sebagai Artis Solois, Weckl sudah merekam dan memproduseri sembilan album, termasuk di antaranya Masterplan, Heads Up, dan Hardwired. Di tahun 1998, Weckl menyadari sasarannya adalah untuk membentuk sebuah band yang akan berkeliling dunia, maka terbentuklah Dave Weckl Band. Sejauh ini sudah 5 album rekaman berhasil ditelurkan, diantaranya: Rhythm of The Soul, Synergy, Transition, Perpetual Motion, and Multiplicity. Band ini juga merilis album live, dan kompilasi dari Dave Weckl Band, dan juga sebuah video instruksional yang berjudul The Zone.
Walaupun sibuk dengan Dave Weckl Band, tetapi Weckl masih menyempatkan diri untuk menikmati pekerjaannya sebagai session drummer. Weckl bermain secara reguler bersama gitaris (Mike Stern), dan juga yang lainnya. Ketika sedang tidak menjalani tour, Weckl disibukkan sebagai seorang session player dan memproduksi karya musik di studio rumahnya di Los Angeles. Weckl juga menerima murid dalam jumlah terbatas, selain aktif mengeluarkan banyak video dan DVD instruksional.
“Merupakan tujuan saya untuk menginspirasi sebanyak mungkin orang yang ingin bermain musik, baik itu bermain drum maupun instrumen lainnya. Terlepas dari segala hal negatif di dunia ini, saya rasa inilah kontribusi saya untuk memperoleh kebahagiaan spiritual.(Yang dapat kita peroleh dari musik). Pesan saya bagi orang tua, jika anak anda mempunyai talenta di bidang musik, berilah mereka kesempatan untuk mengembangkan bakat tersebut!”
Dave Weckl (The Great Musician)
Genres: Jazz
Styles: Crossover Jazz, Post-Bop, Fusion
Instruments: Drums
Dave Weckl is one of fusion's most acclaimed drummers, making his name during a six-year stint with Chick Corea. Weckl was born in St. Louis (January 8, 1960) and grew up listening to soul and jazz; he received his first drum set at age eight and developed his playing by listening to drummers like Buddy Rich, as well as R&B grooves. He majored in jazz at the University of Bridgeport, but left after two years to become involved in the New York jazz scene, also touring Europe with various bands. Weckl joined a fusion group called Nitesprite, where he attracted the attention of drummer Peter Erskine; Erskine helped him get a gig with French Toast, a band also featuring pianist Michel Camilo and bassist Anthony Jackson.
From French Toast, Weckl branched out into session work, playing on numerous early-'80s sessions with the likes of Bill Connors (Return to Forever), the Brecker Brothers, Tania Maria, Paquito D'Rivera, Eliane Elias, and George Benson, as well as pop and soul albums for Diana Ross, Madonna, and Robert Plant. In 1986, Chick Corea saw Weckl performing in New York with guitarist Connors and invited the drummer to join his new Elektric Band. Weckl spent a total of seven years with Corea, performing on numerous albums and also appearing with Corea's Akoustic Band; his skills received considerable esteem, and he augmented his work with Corea by continuing his session work and appearing often with the GRP All-Star Big Band. Weckl also released a series of instructional videotapes, and in 1990, he led his first solo date, Master Plan, for GRP. Heads Up followed in 1992, as well as Hard-Wired in 1994.
Upon leaving Corea, Weckl's primary focus was recording and touring with guitarist Mike Stern; he also continued his work as a sideman. In 1998, Weckl led the R&B-oriented date Rhythm of the Soul, a return to his other boyhood musical love. Synergy followed in 1999, and Transition in 2000.
He was also known as the "Triplet King."
Styles: Crossover Jazz, Post-Bop, Fusion
Instruments: Drums
Dave Weckl is one of fusion's most acclaimed drummers, making his name during a six-year stint with Chick Corea. Weckl was born in St. Louis (January 8, 1960) and grew up listening to soul and jazz; he received his first drum set at age eight and developed his playing by listening to drummers like Buddy Rich, as well as R&B grooves. He majored in jazz at the University of Bridgeport, but left after two years to become involved in the New York jazz scene, also touring Europe with various bands. Weckl joined a fusion group called Nitesprite, where he attracted the attention of drummer Peter Erskine; Erskine helped him get a gig with French Toast, a band also featuring pianist Michel Camilo and bassist Anthony Jackson.
From French Toast, Weckl branched out into session work, playing on numerous early-'80s sessions with the likes of Bill Connors (Return to Forever), the Brecker Brothers, Tania Maria, Paquito D'Rivera, Eliane Elias, and George Benson, as well as pop and soul albums for Diana Ross, Madonna, and Robert Plant. In 1986, Chick Corea saw Weckl performing in New York with guitarist Connors and invited the drummer to join his new Elektric Band. Weckl spent a total of seven years with Corea, performing on numerous albums and also appearing with Corea's Akoustic Band; his skills received considerable esteem, and he augmented his work with Corea by continuing his session work and appearing often with the GRP All-Star Big Band. Weckl also released a series of instructional videotapes, and in 1990, he led his first solo date, Master Plan, for GRP. Heads Up followed in 1992, as well as Hard-Wired in 1994.
Upon leaving Corea, Weckl's primary focus was recording and touring with guitarist Mike Stern; he also continued his work as a sideman. In 1998, Weckl led the R&B-oriented date Rhythm of the Soul, a return to his other boyhood musical love. Synergy followed in 1999, and Transition in 2000.
He was also known as the "Triplet King."
Kamis, Oktober 01, 2009
Gempa Susulan 5,1 SR di Sumatera Barat
Gempa susulan berkekuatan 5,1 skala Richter (SR) terjadi pada 82 kilometer Timur Laut Sipuramentawai Sumatra Barat (Sumbar), Kamis (1/10) pukul 10.34.
Informasi BMKG, menyebutkan gempa berada di 1,47 Lintang Selatan-99,73 Bujur Timur pada kedalaman 10 kilometer.
Pusat gempa itu juga berada pada 89 kilometer Barat Daya Padang, 94 kilometer Barat Daya Painan, 99 Kilometer Tenggara Siberutmentawai, dan 102 Barat Daya Pariaman, Sumbar.(Warta-Kota)
Padang Bak Kota Mati
Seusai gempa berkekuatan 7,6 SR yang mengguncang Sumatera Barat, kota Padang menjadi kota mati, Rabu (30/9).
Informasi yang diterima, arus listrik padam dan telepon terganggu, sementara banyak warga tertimpa reruntuhan bangunan. Pasar Raya dan sejumlah gedung di kota itu terbakar.
Wali Kota Padang Fauzi Bahar dan wakilnya Mahyeldi Ansharullah memantau kota sambil menenangkan warga melalui stasiun RRI.
Mereka secara bergantian memberikan informasi. Warga diminta mendatangi Kantor RRI untuk mencari informasi mengenai keluarganya. Kantor radio itu menjadi posko informasi dan siaga bencana. (Warta-Kota)
Informasi yang diterima, arus listrik padam dan telepon terganggu, sementara banyak warga tertimpa reruntuhan bangunan. Pasar Raya dan sejumlah gedung di kota itu terbakar.
Wali Kota Padang Fauzi Bahar dan wakilnya Mahyeldi Ansharullah memantau kota sambil menenangkan warga melalui stasiun RRI.
Mereka secara bergantian memberikan informasi. Warga diminta mendatangi Kantor RRI untuk mencari informasi mengenai keluarganya. Kantor radio itu menjadi posko informasi dan siaga bencana. (Warta-Kota)
Gempa 7,0 SR di Jambi
Setelah terjadi gempa 7,6 SR di Padang, kini terjadi lagi gempa 7,0 SR di Jambi.
Sebanyak 30 rumah warga di dua desa yakni Desa Lolo dan Sungai Hangat, Kecamatan Gunung Kerinci, Kabupaten Kerinci, Provinsi Jambi, berjarak 410 Km barat Kota Jambi, rusak akibat gempa bumi berkekuatan 7,0 Skala Richter yang mengguncang daerah itu Kamis (1/10) pukul 08.52.
Laporan yang disampaikan Kabag Humas Pemkab Kerinci, Amir Syam ketika dihubungi dari Jambi, mengatakan, gempa yang terjadi Kamis pagi sangat terasa dan kuat berbadasarkan laporan warga di sana banyak rumah yang rusak, namun belum diketahui korban jiwa akibat guncangan gempatersebut.
Selain dua desa tersebut juga diperkirakan masih ada beberapa desa lainnya di Kabupaten Kerinci yang mengalami kerusakan namun pihak pemerintah daerah sampai saat ini belum bisa memastikan kerusakan rumah tersebut apakah rusak parah atau ringan.
Berdasarkan laporan warga dan pihak kepolisian setempat, selain dua desa yang rumah warganya rusak, diperkirakan rumah warga yang ada di Kecamatan Mukai Tinggi, Siulak, Kayu Aro dan Gunung Kerinci juga mengalami rusak akibat gempa itu.
Bupati dan Wakil Bupati Kerinci kini sedang bersiap untuk turun langsung ke lokasi kejadian di Desa Lolo dan Sungai Hangat guna mengetahui pasti dan melihat langsung rumah warga yang rusak serta mendata bila ada korban yang luka atau meninggal dunia.
Pemerintah Kabupaten Kerinci kini juga sedang mempersiapkan tim Satuan Tugas Bencana Alam terdiri atas 50 tenaga sukarela baik medis dan lainnya serta dibantu kepolisian setempat untuk menuju ke lokasi.
Selain itu Bupati Kerinci, Murasman juga sudah meminta kepada pihak Rumah Sakit Mayjen M Taib untuk siaga dan telah membuka tenda di halaman rumah sakit untuk menanggulangi korban gempa.
Sementara itu, Informasi dari Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi dan Geofisika (BMKG), Jambi, gempa di Jambi itu berada pada koordinat 02.44 Lintang Selatan (LS) 101.59 Bujur Timur (BT), 46 kilometer tenggara Sungaipenuh dengan kedalaman 10 Km.
Guncangan gempa itu terasa cukup kuat di Bengkulu, sehingga karyawan kantor berhaburan ke luar ruangan.(Warta-Kota)
Rabu, September 30, 2009
Selasa, September 29, 2009
Brad Pitt Mau Bikin Bandara Pribadi
Takut anak-anaknya merasa terganggu oleh para fans dan fotografer yang kadang kelewatan pasangan Brad Pitt dan Angelina Jolie berencana membuat bandara pribadi di dekat rumah mereka yang di Perancis. Ditambah lagi dengan ijin menerbangkan pesawat yang segera dikantongi Angelina, ide privacy ini sepertinya memang pas.
Menurut ContactMusic, Brad dan Angelina lantas terpikir untuk membangun bandara pribadi di dekat rumah mereka agar mereka bisa bolak-balik Amerika - Perancis tanpa ketahuan siapa pun. "Ditambah izin menerbangkan pesawat yang akan segera dikantongi Angelina, bandara pribadi ini akan jadi privacy total buat mereka," ungkap seorang sumber seperti dikutip dari ContactMusic.
(KapanLagi.com)
Beberapa waktu yang lalu pasangan yang sering jadi sorotan media ini mengaku betah tinggal di Perancis karena mereka tak harus terlalu hati-hati karena jarang ada paparazzi di negeri ini. Namun kendala yang masih mereka hadapi adalah saat mereka baru datang atau akan kembali ke Amerika. Di bandara, mereka masih jadi incaran para juru foto dan fans dan ini membuat pasangan dengan enam anak ini merasa risih.
Menurut ContactMusic, Brad dan Angelina lantas terpikir untuk membangun bandara pribadi di dekat rumah mereka agar mereka bisa bolak-balik Amerika - Perancis tanpa ketahuan siapa pun. "Ditambah izin menerbangkan pesawat yang akan segera dikantongi Angelina, bandara pribadi ini akan jadi privacy total buat mereka," ungkap seorang sumber seperti dikutip dari ContactMusic.
(KapanLagi.com)
Sabtu, September 26, 2009
Worm "Koobface" Terbaru Serang Twitter
Sebuah varian baru dari worm Koobface yang pertama kali terdeteksi tahun lalu, ternyata masih berkeliaran di Internet. Versi baru Koobface ini merupakan versi baru dari worm yang menggunakan media penyebaran melalui situs micro-blogging Twitter, dengan mengirimkan tweet ke user dari komputer yang terinfeksi untuk mempromosikan sebuah link website. Link tersebut kemudian mengarahkan user ke halaman Facebook dimana user akan didorong untuk men-download update Flash yang mengandung virus.
Menurut Kaspersky Labs, Stefan Tanase, minggu ini sedang ramainya orang mencari cara untuk Twitter, untuk menggunakan API Google Safebrowsing guna memblokir tweet yang mengandung URL ‘jahat’. Tanase menambahkan bahwa worm Koobface varian terbaru tersebut telah dikirimkan dari 100 alamat IP individu untuk semakin memperluas korban pengguna Internet. Sementara Twitter menyebutkan bahwa pihaknya sudah mematikan account apapun yang digunakan untuk mengirim tweet penuh infeksi virus tersebut.
Twitter kini juga ikut bekerja sama dengan situs jejaring sosial lainnya, seperti Facebook, Myspace, Bebo, Tagged dan Netlog, untuk memerangi penyebaran worm Koobface tersebut. Data dari Kaspersky menunjukkan bahwa virus Koobface yang disebarkan ke berbagai situs jejaring social memiliki 10 kali lipat lebih beresiko dan berbahaya sejak tidak adanya element kepercayaan yang kuat antar user. Beberapa spekulasi menunjukkan bahwa varian Koobface terbaru itu berkaitan dengan serangan Twitter yang dilancarkan dari DDoS, namun belum ada bukti hingga sekarang.
Kamis, September 24, 2009
Asmirandah Lebaran Tanpa Sinetron
Karena tidak ada syuting sinetron seri yang harus dijalaninya dalam bulan Ramadan lalu dan Idul Fitri 1 Syawal 1430 Hijriah, yang jatuh pada Minggu (20/9), Asmirandah Zantman bisa menyiapkan dan merayakan Lebaran dengan leluasa bersama keluarga dan kerabatnya.
"Ramadan dan Lebaran tahun ini aku enggak menerima tawaran main sinetron. Aku ingin Lebaran bersama keluarga," ungkap pemain sinetron yang baru mencicipi industri musik rekaman ini. "Lebaran lalu aku syuting sinetron. Jadi, Lebaran sekarang khusus buat keluarga," sambungnya.
Menyiapkan perayaan Idul Fitri kali ini, seperti yang sudah-sudah, Asmirandah memasak kue sendiri.
"Aku buat kue sendiri dan mengosongkan waktu satu hari khusus buat kue. Kebetulan aku jago masak. Biasanya, kalau enggak bisa, aku nyontek resep makanan," cerita gadis yang belajar masak sejak kelas 4 SD ini.
Untuk bersilaturahim dengan para kerabat dekat mereka, Asmirandah dan keluarganya, yang tinggal di Depok (Jawa Barat), tidak perlu mudik jauh-jauh. Rumah nenek Asmirandah dan para kerabat dekat lainnya juga berkediaman di Depok.
"Aku enggak perlu mudik karena semua tinggal di Depok, jadi enggak perlu repot-repot untuk pulang kampung," tuturnya. "Cukup jalan kaki karena rumah semuanya di Depok dan saling berdekatan," tambahnya. (Warta-Kota)Sabtu, September 19, 2009
Nurdin M Top Akhirnya Mati Beneran
(18 September 2009 - Pukul 05:47)
Sepandai-pandainya tupai melompat, akhirnya jatuh juga. Pepatah ini mungkin tepat menggambarkan sepak terjang gembong teroris Noordin M Top (41).
Sepandai-pandainya tupai melompat, akhirnya jatuh juga. Pepatah ini mungkin tepat menggambarkan sepak terjang gembong teroris Noordin M Top (41).
Setelah sembilan tahun diburu, akhirnya Noordin berhasil ditumpas oleh Detasemen Khusus 88 Mabes Polri dalam sebuah penyergapan selama sembilan jam di Kampung Kepuh Sari RT 3 RW 11, Kelurahan Mojosongo, Kecamatan Jebres, Solo, Jawa Tengah.
Penyergapan berlangsung berlangsung sejak Rabu (16/9) tengah malam. Berikut ini adalah sepuluh fakta tentang gembong teroris paling dicari di Asia Tenggara ini:
1. Noordin, lahir 11 Agustus 1968, merupakan warga negara Malaysia yang menyelundup masuk ke Indonesia melalui Riau pada awal tahun 2002. Sebelum ke Indonesia, sejak tahun 1995 Noordin terlebih dahulu aktif di Pondok Pesantren Luqmanul Hakiem yang berafiliasi pada jaringan Jemaah Islamiyah. Di ponpes yang pada puncaknya pernah memiliki 350 santri tersebut, Noordin sempat dipercaya menjabat sebagai kepala sekolah.
2. Tidak saja dikenal sebagai ahli perakit bom, jebolan Universiti Teknologi Malaysia ini juga memiliki reputasi dalam merekrut "calon pengantin" atau pelaku bom bunuh diri.
3. Noordin dipercaya bertanggung jawab atas empat bom bunuh diri yang terjadi di Indonesia, seperti Bom JW Marriott pada tahun 2003, Bom Kedutaan Besar Australia pada tahun 2004, tiga restoran padat warga asing di Denpasar, Bali, pada tahun 2005, serta Bom Mega Kuningan pada tahun 2009. Atas tindakan tersebut, lebih 200 orang tewas. Angka ini terdiri dari korban lokal maupun warga asing.
4. Ketika hengkang dari Malaysia, Noordin meninggalkan seorang istri dan tiga orang anak. Selama buron di Indonesia, Noordin setidaknya telah menikahi dua warga Indonesia. Kedua orang tersebut adalah Munfiatun, dinikahinya pada bulan Mei 2004, dan Arina Rahmah, pada bulan September 2005.
5. Noordin dikenal sebagai gembong teroris yang licin bak belut. Pria kelahiran Johor ini setidaknya telah empat kali lolos dalam penyergapan oleh Densus 88. Pertama pada bulan November 2005 di Kota Batu, Jawa Timur. Pada penyergapan ini, Dr Azahari tewas tertembak. Kedua pada penyergapan di Wonosobo bulan April 2006. Ketiga pada penyergapan di Palembang bulan Juli 2008. Terakhir di Bekasi pada bulan Agustus 2009.
6. Noordin bersama kelompoknya diyakini pernah merencanakan penyerangan terhadap Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono pada pertengahan bulan Agustus 2009. Hal ini terungkap seiring ditemukannya sekitar setengah ton bahan peledak di Perumahan Puri Nusa Phala, Bekasi.
7. Kemampuan Noordin dalam merekrut dan merencanakan pengeboman diyakini telah terwariskan ke pengikutnya. Hal ini terbukti dengan keberadaan Ustadz Saifudin Zuhri bin Jaelani Irsyad. Saifudin Zuhri berhasil merekrut Ibrohim, penata bunga di Ritz-Carlton, dalam perencanaan peledakan bom Mega Kuningan. Mabes Polri sendiri mengungkapkan, Ibrohim memegang peranan dominan dalam perencanaan bom Mega Kuningan, di antaranya melakukan survei dan menyelundupkan bom ke dalam hotel melalui akses masuk karyawan.
8. Selama buron, Noordin lebih banyak menghabiskan waktunya di berbagai pelosok kota di Pulau Jawa, mulai dari Bandung, Cilacap, Solo, Surabaya, hingga Blitar. Pulau Jawa yang padat dan masyarakatnya yang cenderung permisif turut mendukung persembunyiannya. Noordin juga diyakini tidak pernah singgah di tempat yang pernah ditinggalinya.
9. Mabes Polri pernah "menghargai kepala" Noordin Rp 1 miliar.
10. Noordin tewas dalam penyergapan di Jebres, Solo, pada tanggal 16 September. Noordin tewas bersama dengan Susilo alias Adib, Bagus Budi Pranoto alias Urwah, dan Ario Sudarso alias Aji. Dua orang terakhir ini merupakan orang yang masuk ke dalam daftar pencarian orang Mabes Polri.
(Kompas)
Selasa, September 08, 2009
Jakarta May Be Largely Protected From Indonesia's Deadly Quakes
As the hunt for those killed in last week's Indonesian earthquake continues, residents of the capital, Jakarta, are wondering if their city could be at risk for bigger, more dangerous quakes. Despite the sharp, frightening shaking that the city experienced last week, experts say massive damage is unlikely.
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| Indonesian geologist stands near LCD screens displaying one of the aftershocks following a 7.2-magnitude quake, at Meteorology and Geophysics Agency in Jakarta (File) |
But for some the quake on September 2 was very different. The intensity of the quake, which rocked the city for more than a minute, caught many off guard.
At least 18 people were admitted to hospitals in Jakarta, some of them with injuries sustained as they evacuated buildings. Legs were broken and one person was severely injured during stampede as panicked shoppers and office workers surged out of buildings.
But the crowded city is more fortunate than much of the country, which sits atop tectonic plates that frequently slam together to cause massive earthquakes. Indonesia's 18,000 islands are part of the Pacific Rim of Fire, which stretches from the North and South American western coasts across the Pacific. It is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis.
Jakarta itself does not sit on a geological fault line. Geologists say that means it is likely the city will only ever feel the effects of earthquakes with epicenters more than 100 miles away.
Fauzi, who goes by one name, heads the earthquake and tsunami unit of Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics Agency. He says it is unlikely that quakes in the capital would be catastrophic.
"The center of the earthquake is not available in Jakarta," said Fauzi. "What we have is only receiving impact from the source of the earthquake somewhere south in parts of Java."
Fauzi says many people panicked unnecessarily last week and public education campaigns are needed to teach people how to respond to earthquakes.
Jakarta requires buildings over four stories to be able to withstand magnitude 7 quakes.
Adang Surahman, an earthquake engineering expert at Indonesia's Bandung Institute of Technology, says most of Jakarta's high-rises have been built to withstand what scientists refer to as the once in 500-year quake.
"Buildings in Jakarta are built to withstand horizontal acceleration of about 10 percent of gravity and this earthquake which just happened yesterday maybe about five percent of gravity," said Surahman.
Visions of soaring high-rises crumbling may grip the imagination but Surahman says it is the smaller one and two storey dwellings that are most vulnerable in places like Indonesia.
"Majority of buildings in Indonesia are non-engineered buildings, including maybe in Jakarta," added Surahman. "Let's say one-, maybe two-story buildings are not necessarily designed properly. That is my concern."
It is in these dwellings that most Indonesians live and, when large earthquakes strike, often die.
Most of those killed in last week's earthquake died when a landslide triggered by the quake swept boulders as big as trucks across a dozen homes in the village of Cikangkareng. More than 30 people remain missing there.
The government says as many as 88,000 people have been displaced by the disaster.(VoaNews)
British Court Convicts 3 in Liquid Explosives Plot
(07/09/2009) A London court has convicted three Britons of conspiring to murder thousands of civilians in a plot that involved using liquid explosives to blow up trans-Atlantic flights.
The court found ringleader Abdullah Ahmed Ali and co-defendants Assad Sarwar and Tanvir Hussain guilty Monday in the 2006 plot, which involved smuggling liquid explosives disguised as soft drinks on flights.
The jury acquitted four other men who had been linked to the plot, and failed to reach a verdict on the role of an eighth suspect, who had been convicted earlier on a conspiracy charge.
Prosecutors say the defendants intended to make a "violent and deadly statement" with the bombings, which would have involved flights bound to North America from London.
The foiled plot had huge ramifications for the airline industry and brought sharp new restrictions for passengers carrying liquids and gels on flights.
Many of those restrictions remain in effect today.
In an earlier trial, a jury convicted the men of a lesser charge of conspiring to murder using liquid explosives. However, the panel said it was not convinced the men intended to bring down planes. (VoaNews)
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| Undated frame grab taken from video described by British prosecutors as suicide video and provided by Metropolitan police, shows Abdullah Ahmed Ali |
The jury acquitted four other men who had been linked to the plot, and failed to reach a verdict on the role of an eighth suspect, who had been convicted earlier on a conspiracy charge.
Prosecutors say the defendants intended to make a "violent and deadly statement" with the bombings, which would have involved flights bound to North America from London.
The foiled plot had huge ramifications for the airline industry and brought sharp new restrictions for passengers carrying liquids and gels on flights.
Many of those restrictions remain in effect today.
In an earlier trial, a jury convicted the men of a lesser charge of conspiring to murder using liquid explosives. However, the panel said it was not convinced the men intended to bring down planes. (VoaNews)
Israel Defies Washington, Approves Settlement Expansion
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| Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak (file) |
Negotiations have been stalled for months, and analysts say the Israeli government's decision to expand a number of settlements appeared to be a major blow to efforts to revive them.
An Israeli Defense Ministry statement said Defense Minister Ehud Barak has authorized the construction of 455 housing units in settlement blocks. The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defends its policy saying the construction within existing settlements is necessary to accommodate natural growth.
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| A view of a construction site of a new housing development in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Maaleh Adumim, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, 06 Sep 2009 |
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' official spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, accused Israel of laying further obstacles to peace.
"We consider this a real violation for every single effort that has been exerted in the last several months," he said. "This policy is going to ruin everything. Nobody will be ready to move this issue. This is completely unacceptable."
Palestinian officials say they are looking forward to a visit in the coming days by the U.S. special envoy for the Middle East, George Mitchell. The Palestinians say they are hoping for an announcement that Washington will step up the pressure on Israel to halt construction in the settlements.
Some analysts say announcement by Israel comes as disappointment grows among both Israelis and Palestinians over Washington's approach to the conflict.
"The Israeli peace camp, as well as the Arab peace camp, is losing trust in the United States and in President Obama and what looked like a very positive and promising momentum that was started back in June in Cairo has been already lost," said Akiva Eldar, a senior political columnist at Tel Aviv's Haaretz newspaper. "Something quite dramatic has to happen in order to give people again some hope that it is not business as usual."
In his landmark speech from Cairo in June, President Obama said there can be no progress toward peace without a halt to settlement construction. Israel at the time said it hoped the speech would lead to a new era of reconciliation between Arabs and Israelis.
Nearly 300,000 Israelis live in the West Bank settlements, which are on lands captured by Israel in the 1967 Arab Israeli war.
The West Bank has never been formally annexed by the Jewish State.
Israeli proponents of the settlements say the existence of the communities is necessary for the survival of the Jewish State. They say Israeli disengagement from the area would make it easier for Palestinian militants to attack Israel like those in Gaza have been doing since Jewish settlers evacuated the Strip in 2005. (VoaNews)
Senin, September 07, 2009
Skype VoIP diincar Trojan
Kejahatan dan pencurian data atau informasi di internet semakin bervariasi metodenya. Yang terbaru adalah program jahat yang membidik sasaran pengguna layanan telepon lewat internet (VoIP), khususnya pengguna aplikasi populer, Skype.
“Peneliti Symantec telah mengobservasi adanya trojan yang mengincar pengguna Skype VoIP (Voice over IP),” kata Ronnie Ng, manager, Systems Engineering, Indonesia & Singapore, Symantec, pada keterangan pers yang VIVAnews kutip 7 September 2009.
“Trojan ini memiliki kemampuan untuk merekam telepon Skype dan mengirim pembicaraan telepon pengguna ke penyerang via file MP3,” ucap Ronnie. “Trojan bertindak sebagai penyadap telepon dan mencuri informasi dari komunikasi telepon Skype,” ucapnya.
Trojan tersebut dideteksi oleh Symantec sebagai Trojan.Peskyspy dan dapat didownload ke komputer dengan cara menipu pengguna melalui email scam atau taktik rekayasa sosial lainnya. Saat mesin telah disusupi oleh ancaman ini, Trojan ini akan menggunakan aplikasi yang menangani pemprosesan audio dalam komputer dan menyimpan data pembicaraan telepon sebagai file MP3.
File MP3 tersebtu kemudian dikirim melalui internet ke server yang telah ditentukan dan melalui server tersebut penyerang kemudian dapat mendengarkan rekaman pembicaraan.
Merekam pembicaraan telepon dalam format MP3 membuat ukuran file yang digunakan menjadi kecil, artinya data yang dikirim melalui jaringan menjadi lebih kecil. Hal ini mempercepat pengiriman dan menghindari deteksi.
“Saat ini, resiko ancaman ini sangat rendah dan Symantec tidak melihat bukti penyebaran tersebut,” ucap Ronnie. “Meskipun demikian, karena kode sumbernya saat ini yang tersedia secara luas, penulis malware dapat menambahkan fungsionalitas ini kedalam serangan yang mereka atur sendiri,” ucapnya.
Ronnie menyebutkan bahwa pengguna komputer diharapkan melakukan langkah-langkah pengamanan, meng-install dan terus meng-update software keamanan mereka, dan tidak meng-klik link pada email yang mencurigakan.
(VivaNews)
“Peneliti Symantec telah mengobservasi adanya trojan yang mengincar pengguna Skype VoIP (Voice over IP),” kata Ronnie Ng, manager, Systems Engineering, Indonesia & Singapore, Symantec, pada keterangan pers yang VIVAnews kutip 7 September 2009.
“Trojan ini memiliki kemampuan untuk merekam telepon Skype dan mengirim pembicaraan telepon pengguna ke penyerang via file MP3,” ucap Ronnie. “Trojan bertindak sebagai penyadap telepon dan mencuri informasi dari komunikasi telepon Skype,” ucapnya.
Trojan tersebut dideteksi oleh Symantec sebagai Trojan.Peskyspy dan dapat didownload ke komputer dengan cara menipu pengguna melalui email scam atau taktik rekayasa sosial lainnya. Saat mesin telah disusupi oleh ancaman ini, Trojan ini akan menggunakan aplikasi yang menangani pemprosesan audio dalam komputer dan menyimpan data pembicaraan telepon sebagai file MP3.
File MP3 tersebtu kemudian dikirim melalui internet ke server yang telah ditentukan dan melalui server tersebut penyerang kemudian dapat mendengarkan rekaman pembicaraan.
Merekam pembicaraan telepon dalam format MP3 membuat ukuran file yang digunakan menjadi kecil, artinya data yang dikirim melalui jaringan menjadi lebih kecil. Hal ini mempercepat pengiriman dan menghindari deteksi.
“Saat ini, resiko ancaman ini sangat rendah dan Symantec tidak melihat bukti penyebaran tersebut,” ucap Ronnie. “Meskipun demikian, karena kode sumbernya saat ini yang tersedia secara luas, penulis malware dapat menambahkan fungsionalitas ini kedalam serangan yang mereka atur sendiri,” ucapnya.
Ronnie menyebutkan bahwa pengguna komputer diharapkan melakukan langkah-langkah pengamanan, meng-install dan terus meng-update software keamanan mereka, dan tidak meng-klik link pada email yang mencurigakan.
(VivaNews)
Rabu, September 02, 2009
Gempa Bumi 7,3 SR terasa di Jabodetabek dan Jawa Barat
Sekitar pukul 14.57, 2/9/2009, telah terjadi gempa bumi sekitar 1 menit sangat terasa di daerah Jabodetabek dan Jawa Barat, bahkan terasa di Bali dan Bengkulu.
Gempa ini berkekuatan 7,3 Skala Richter, titik pusat gempa terletak pada 142 km barat daya Tasikmalaya, dengan kedalaman 60 km, dan berpotensi menimbulkan Tsunami. (Perkembangan berita: tidak terjadi tsunami yang besar)
Gempa ini merobohkan Mesjid Ar-Rahman di Tasikmalaya dan memecahkan kaca-kaca di Hotel Century, Senayan, Jakarta.
Gempa ini berkekuatan 7,3 Skala Richter, titik pusat gempa terletak pada 142 km barat daya Tasikmalaya, dengan kedalaman 60 km, dan berpotensi menimbulkan Tsunami. (Perkembangan berita: tidak terjadi tsunami yang besar)
Gempa ini merobohkan Mesjid Ar-Rahman di Tasikmalaya dan memecahkan kaca-kaca di Hotel Century, Senayan, Jakarta.
Ancaman Militer China Meningkat
Kekuatan militer di antara China dan Taiwan makin tidak imbang. China makin kuat, sementara Taiwan tak bisa berkutik tanpa bantuan AS. Meski hubungan China-Taiwan mulai mesra, ancaman akan serangan dari China masih tetap ada. Apalagi mengingat China menginvestasikan jutaan dollar AS khusus untuk memperkuat militernya.
Sejumlah pengamat mengaku China gencar membeli perlengkapan senjata dari Rusia. China juga mengembangkan pesawat tempur dan misil serta membangun militer berteknologi tinggi. Bahkan, China tengah mempertimbangkan membangun kapal induk yang bisa mengangkut pesawat tempur.
Sebaliknya, militer Taiwan justru kerap terjerat sistem yang sudah tua. Persenjataan pun tidak secanggih China karena tak ada yang mau menjual senjata ke Taiwan—kecuali AS—karena takut terhadap China. Bahkan, Taiwan juga mulai mengurangi jumlah personel pasukan.
Untuk menekan ketegangan kedua pihak, Presiden Taiwan Ma Ying-jeou menggalakkan sektor perdagangan dan pariwisata. Langkah Ma ini berbeda dibandingkan dengan pendahulunya, mantan Presiden Chen Shui-bian, yang membuat China marah karena mendukung kemerdekaan bagi Taiwan.
Pakar militer Asia di Akademi Studi Internasional S Rajaratnam di Singapura, Richard Bitzinger, memperkirakan akan ada resolusi atas kedaulatan Taiwan tanpa perlu serangan militer dari China mengingat superioritas militer China dan ketergantungan ekonomi Taiwan pada China. Belum lagi makin kencangnya isolasi diplomatik atas Taiwan. ”Kemungkinan, nantinya Taiwan harus menerima tawaran reunifikasi,” kata Bitzinger.
Meski akhir-akhir ini China melunak, China tak akan membiarkan Taiwan berdiri sendiri. ”Kami menentang perjuangan kemerdekaan Taiwan, menjaga kedaulatan dan integritas China,” kata Menteri Pertahanan China Liang Guanglie, Juli lalu.
Taiwan memperkirakan China memiliki 1.000-1.500 misil (peluru kendali) yang diarahkan ke Taiwan. China juga diduga tetap memperluas kekuatan senjatanya. ”Melihat kekuatan militer China, banyak orang yang ragu Taiwan akan bisa menang perang jika mengandalkan kekuatannya sendiri,” kata Sekretaris Jenderal partai berkuasa Taiwan, Partai Nasionalis (Kuomintang/KMT), Wu Den-yih.
Kelompok peneliti kebijakan di AS, RAND Corp, memperkirakan misil balistik jarak pendek China bisa dengan mudah menghancurkan kekuatan udara Taiwan dengan menyerang landasan pesawat terbang di setiap markas militer Taiwan.
Kondisi Angkatan Laut Taiwan justru lebih parah karena Taiwan hanya memiliki empat kapal selam, dua di antaranya dibuat pada zaman Perang Dunia II. Padahal China mempunyai lebih dari 50 kapal selam. Beberapa di antaranya diduga telah dipersenjatai dengan misil balistik dengan hulu ledak nuklir.
Jika terjadi serangan dari China, AS wajib melindungi Taiwan. Hanya saja pertanyaannya kini adalah seberapa cepat AS bisa datang dan menyelamatkan Taiwan? Apakah AS juga mempunyai keberanian melawan China? Pasalnya, China bisa dengan sangat mudah menyerang markas AS di Jepang dengan misil jarak jauhnya. (Kompas)US Would Consider A New Iranian Nuclear Proposal
(1/9/2009) The Obama administration said Tuesday it would review any new Iranian proposal on its nuclear program seriously and with mutual respect. Iran's nuclear negotiator said earlier Tehran has revised proposals and is ready to re-engage on the nuclear issue with major world powers.
The State Department says no new Iranian proposal has been conveyed to the United States or other countries that have been involved in nuclear talks with Tehran.
But U.S. officials are not dismissing the prospect of new talks with Tehran, and say a constructive Iranian response to a big-power nuclear offer earlier this year would be welcome.
Last April, the United States, along with other permanent U.N. Security Council member countries and Germany, the P5+1, offered Iran a revised package of economic and other incentives for Tehran to halt uranium enrichment and return to negotiations over its nuclear program.
The Obama administration, with backing from key European allies, has warned of tougher sanctions against Tehran if a negotiating impasse continued through end of this month.
Earlier Tuesday in Tehran, Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said Iran has developed a revised set of proposals on the nuclear issue and is ready to hold talks with world powers to ease common concern.
At a news briefing, State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly said no new Iranian ideas had yet been conveyed to the P5+1 but said they are ready to give any proposal serious consideration.
"We would review any proposal that they give us seriously and in the spirit of mutual respect. We would welcome the Iranian government's constructive response to the P5+1, to their April 2009 invitation to meet face-to-face," he said. "Moving forward, these discussions could begin to bring Iran into compliance with its international obligations and create confidence in the exclusively-peaceful nature of its nuclear program," said Kelly.
Iran says its massive enrichment program is solely to produce fuel for civilian power plants, but U.S. officials, among others, believe Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons.
The apparent Iranian overture for talks came as senior diplomats of the P5+1 prepared to meet Wednesday in Frankfurt on the nuclear issue. It is also expected to be a major topic on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly later this month in New York.
Under questioning here, spokesman Kelly said the conciliatory gesture from Tehran may well be just a maneuver by Tehran to try to diminish international support for tougher sanctions in advance of the Frankfurt meeting and New York discussions.
He said skepticism about Iranian motives was reinforced by a report last week by the International Atomic Energy Agency that Iran is continuing to expand its nuclear program and has refused to adequately account for past activity that appears weapons-related.
Kelly none the less said the P5+1 has offered Iran a path to becoming a full and respected member of the world community and said it remains to be seen if Tehran will choose that path.
On a related issue, Kelly said he has every reason to expect that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be granted a visa to attend the U.N. General Assembly meetings in keeping with the United States' legal obligations as the U.N. host country.
Mr. Ahmadinejad has addressed the U.N. in each of the last several years. But there have been calls from some members of U.S. Congress to bar him this year because of the Tehran government's crackdown on crowds protesting the Iranian leader's disputed re-election in June.
(Voa-news)
The State Department says no new Iranian proposal has been conveyed to the United States or other countries that have been involved in nuclear talks with Tehran.
But U.S. officials are not dismissing the prospect of new talks with Tehran, and say a constructive Iranian response to a big-power nuclear offer earlier this year would be welcome.
Last April, the United States, along with other permanent U.N. Security Council member countries and Germany, the P5+1, offered Iran a revised package of economic and other incentives for Tehran to halt uranium enrichment and return to negotiations over its nuclear program.
The Obama administration, with backing from key European allies, has warned of tougher sanctions against Tehran if a negotiating impasse continued through end of this month.
Earlier Tuesday in Tehran, Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said Iran has developed a revised set of proposals on the nuclear issue and is ready to hold talks with world powers to ease common concern.
At a news briefing, State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly said no new Iranian ideas had yet been conveyed to the P5+1 but said they are ready to give any proposal serious consideration.
 |
| US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly (File) |
Iran says its massive enrichment program is solely to produce fuel for civilian power plants, but U.S. officials, among others, believe Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons.
The apparent Iranian overture for talks came as senior diplomats of the P5+1 prepared to meet Wednesday in Frankfurt on the nuclear issue. It is also expected to be a major topic on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly later this month in New York.
Under questioning here, spokesman Kelly said the conciliatory gesture from Tehran may well be just a maneuver by Tehran to try to diminish international support for tougher sanctions in advance of the Frankfurt meeting and New York discussions.
He said skepticism about Iranian motives was reinforced by a report last week by the International Atomic Energy Agency that Iran is continuing to expand its nuclear program and has refused to adequately account for past activity that appears weapons-related.
Kelly none the less said the P5+1 has offered Iran a path to becoming a full and respected member of the world community and said it remains to be seen if Tehran will choose that path.
On a related issue, Kelly said he has every reason to expect that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be granted a visa to attend the U.N. General Assembly meetings in keeping with the United States' legal obligations as the U.N. host country.
Mr. Ahmadinejad has addressed the U.N. in each of the last several years. But there have been calls from some members of U.S. Congress to bar him this year because of the Tehran government's crackdown on crowds protesting the Iranian leader's disputed re-election in June.
(Voa-news)
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