Sunday, January 8, 2012
The breast implant scandal strips away the glossy euphemisms of cosmetic surgery
Say what you like about PIP, the disgraced French company at the heart of the implants scandal: they might have had a serious problem with their quality control, but no one could question their productivity. Their faulty little fillets, jammed with industrial-grade silicone, travelled everywhere: into 40,000 British women, including some who were having NHS breast reconstructions after mastectomies; over to a Dutch supplier, where they were rebranded as Rofil-M and sold in eastern Europe; and, according to a Paris newspaper, even into men for buttock and chest implants.
Jean-Claude Mas, the company’s elderly founder, reportedly told police last November that he had been concealing the material used in his implants since 1997. His PIP gel cost a fraction of the price of the officially approved Nusil gel, and he allegedly described it as “better”. The women who have received PIP implants, which many have come to regard as ticking time-bombs in their chests, are unlikely to agree.
If one tiny benefit has come out of this scandal – which will cause enormous distress and potential injury to so many – it has been the stripping away of glossy euphemism from the cosmetic surgery industry. Over the years, what was initially regarded as a bizarre lunacy, the stitching of a silicone bag into a healthy female breast, has become increasingly normalised, particularly among younger women.
We have got used to the sight of bullet-proof breasts that point skywards, and the cheery chat of “boob-jobs” and “double-Ds”. In the ubiquitous advertisements for cosmetic surgery clinics, and within their consulting rooms, the buzz-words are of “fullness”, “pertness” and “enhanced femininity”. (Which is clearly code for “big breasts” – except it doesn’t make sense. We can all admire a Marilyn Monroe, but no one could accuse the slenderer forms of Kate Moss, Vanessa Paradis, or Audrey Hepburn of lacking “femininity”.)
Somehow, the recent talk of PIP implants rupturing and leaking industrial-grade silicone into lymph nodes – and the sight of a removed, faulty implant spooling into viscous yellow strands like a nicotine-stained tramp’s beard – doesn’t sit well with the dream. And nor should it. For the truth is that post-operative problems are not confined to PIP implants: there is always a risk of rupture and leakage, although at least the official ones contain medical grade silicone, not the material for sofa stuffing.
Jean-Claude Mas, the company’s elderly founder, reportedly told police last November that he had been concealing the material used in his implants since 1997. His PIP gel cost a fraction of the price of the officially approved Nusil gel, and he allegedly described it as “better”. The women who have received PIP implants, which many have come to regard as ticking time-bombs in their chests, are unlikely to agree.
If one tiny benefit has come out of this scandal – which will cause enormous distress and potential injury to so many – it has been the stripping away of glossy euphemism from the cosmetic surgery industry. Over the years, what was initially regarded as a bizarre lunacy, the stitching of a silicone bag into a healthy female breast, has become increasingly normalised, particularly among younger women.
We have got used to the sight of bullet-proof breasts that point skywards, and the cheery chat of “boob-jobs” and “double-Ds”. In the ubiquitous advertisements for cosmetic surgery clinics, and within their consulting rooms, the buzz-words are of “fullness”, “pertness” and “enhanced femininity”. (Which is clearly code for “big breasts” – except it doesn’t make sense. We can all admire a Marilyn Monroe, but no one could accuse the slenderer forms of Kate Moss, Vanessa Paradis, or Audrey Hepburn of lacking “femininity”.)
Somehow, the recent talk of PIP implants rupturing and leaking industrial-grade silicone into lymph nodes – and the sight of a removed, faulty implant spooling into viscous yellow strands like a nicotine-stained tramp’s beard – doesn’t sit well with the dream. And nor should it. For the truth is that post-operative problems are not confined to PIP implants: there is always a risk of rupture and leakage, although at least the official ones contain medical grade silicone, not the material for sofa stuffing.
Prof Stephen Hawking's voice slows down as his face muscles weaken
The celebrated physicist has dramatically outlived the expectations of doctors who said he could have just a few years to live after diagnosing him with motor neurone disease at the age of 21.
He has used a voice synthesizer to communicate ever since he lost his speech in 1985, due to a tracheotomy after suffering a bout of pneumonia.
But the Cambridge University professor is now losing the use of the nerves in his cheek which enable him to speak with the help of a computer and an infrared sensor in his mouth.
Judith Croasdell, his personal assistant, said: "His speech has got slower and slower and on a bad day he can only manage about one word a minute.
"We think it may be because of the deterioration in his check muscle. We are looking to improve the situation and he needs to test out new technology."
He has used a voice synthesizer to communicate ever since he lost his speech in 1985, due to a tracheotomy after suffering a bout of pneumonia.
But the Cambridge University professor is now losing the use of the nerves in his cheek which enable him to speak with the help of a computer and an infrared sensor in his mouth.
Judith Croasdell, his personal assistant, said: "His speech has got slower and slower and on a bad day he can only manage about one word a minute.
"We think it may be because of the deterioration in his check muscle. We are looking to improve the situation and he needs to test out new technology."
Two more monks set themselves alight in China
(CNN) -- A former Tibetan monk has died and another is seriously injured after setting themselves on fire in southwest China's Sichuan province on Friday -- the 13th and 14th acts of self-immolation in the country since March.
A 22-year-old man set himself ablaze at a crossroad in Aba county in the Aba Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture before police put the fire out and sent him to a local hospital, the state-run Xinhua news agency said.
Another man, believed to be 18 years old, died later that day after setting himself alight in a hotel nearby, Xinhua reported local officials as saying.
However an Aba government spokesperson told CNN she was unaware of the incident.
Tibetan campaign groups say the men were protesting against Chinese rule.
We can only expect that such acts of protest will continue for as long as world leaders turn a blind eye to the desperate situation in Tibet.
Stephanie Brigden, Free Tibet
"These latest self-immolations confirm that what we are currently witnessing in Tibet is a sustained and profound rejection of the Chinese occupation," said Stephanie Brigden, director of London-based Free Tibet, which advocates Tibetan independence.
"It is a damning indictment of the international community that 14 people, in different parts of Tibet, have now chosen to set themselves on fire and the international community has failed to respond.
"We can only expect that such acts of protest will continue for as long as world leaders turn a blind eye to the desperate situation in Tibet."
Most of the suicide attempts occurred in Aba Prefecture and the Kirti monastery, also in Sichuan, which has become a focal point for ethnic Tibetans angry at the erosion of their culture.
But China rejects accusations of oppression of Tibetans, saying its rule has greatly improved living standards for the Tibetan people.
It has accused the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader in exile, of encouraging people to harm themselves in this way -- a charge he denies.
The Dalai Lama's representative signed an agreement with Beijing in 1951 to affirm China's sovereignty over Tibet but also grant autonomy to the area. A failed uprising against Beijing's rule in 1959 forced the Dalai Lama into exile.
The Dalai Lama denies seeking independence for Tibet, saying he wants genuine autonomy, under which Tibetans can make their own policies on key issues, such as religious practices.
In a 2008 uprising, violent unrest in Tibet and the subsequent military crackdown left at least 18 dead, and activists say tensions have remained high in many areas since then.
A 22-year-old man set himself ablaze at a crossroad in Aba county in the Aba Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture before police put the fire out and sent him to a local hospital, the state-run Xinhua news agency said.
Another man, believed to be 18 years old, died later that day after setting himself alight in a hotel nearby, Xinhua reported local officials as saying.
However an Aba government spokesperson told CNN she was unaware of the incident.
Tibetan campaign groups say the men were protesting against Chinese rule.
We can only expect that such acts of protest will continue for as long as world leaders turn a blind eye to the desperate situation in Tibet.
Stephanie Brigden, Free Tibet
"These latest self-immolations confirm that what we are currently witnessing in Tibet is a sustained and profound rejection of the Chinese occupation," said Stephanie Brigden, director of London-based Free Tibet, which advocates Tibetan independence.
"It is a damning indictment of the international community that 14 people, in different parts of Tibet, have now chosen to set themselves on fire and the international community has failed to respond.
"We can only expect that such acts of protest will continue for as long as world leaders turn a blind eye to the desperate situation in Tibet."
Most of the suicide attempts occurred in Aba Prefecture and the Kirti monastery, also in Sichuan, which has become a focal point for ethnic Tibetans angry at the erosion of their culture.
But China rejects accusations of oppression of Tibetans, saying its rule has greatly improved living standards for the Tibetan people.
It has accused the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader in exile, of encouraging people to harm themselves in this way -- a charge he denies.
The Dalai Lama's representative signed an agreement with Beijing in 1951 to affirm China's sovereignty over Tibet but also grant autonomy to the area. A failed uprising against Beijing's rule in 1959 forced the Dalai Lama into exile.
The Dalai Lama denies seeking independence for Tibet, saying he wants genuine autonomy, under which Tibetans can make their own policies on key issues, such as religious practices.
In a 2008 uprising, violent unrest in Tibet and the subsequent military crackdown left at least 18 dead, and activists say tensions have remained high in many areas since then.
U.S. Orders Expulsion Of Venezuelan Diplomat
U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration has ordered the expulsion from the United States of Venezuela’s consul-general in the Florida city of Miami.
Unconfirmed reports say the diplomat, Livia Acosta Noguera, has faced scrutiny over allegations she had discussed an alleged Iranian-backed plot to possibly launch cyber attacks on official U.S. targets.
The allegations were made in a documentary program aired on the Spanish-language television network Univision.
The U.S. State Department said on January 8 that it had declared Acosta persona non grata and given her until January 10 to leave the country, in line with standard diplomatic procedure. No reason for the expulsion was given.
There was no immediate reaction from the Venezuelan government of President Hugo Chavez, who has strained ties with Washington.
The news about the Venezuelan diplomat’s expulsion from the U.S. came shortly before Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad began a visit to Venezuela.
Unconfirmed reports say the diplomat, Livia Acosta Noguera, has faced scrutiny over allegations she had discussed an alleged Iranian-backed plot to possibly launch cyber attacks on official U.S. targets.
The allegations were made in a documentary program aired on the Spanish-language television network Univision.
The U.S. State Department said on January 8 that it had declared Acosta persona non grata and given her until January 10 to leave the country, in line with standard diplomatic procedure. No reason for the expulsion was given.
There was no immediate reaction from the Venezuelan government of President Hugo Chavez, who has strained ties with Washington.
The news about the Venezuelan diplomat’s expulsion from the U.S. came shortly before Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad began a visit to Venezuela.
Gingrich assails Romney in New Hampshire debate
Concord, N.H. -- With just hours until voters cast the first primary ballots of the 2012 election, a hungry pack of GOP presidential candidates ripped into Mitt Romney on Sunday during a debate in a last-ditch effort to raise questions about his conservative credentials and cut into his formidable lead in New Hampshire polls.
Romney, who has managed to sidestep face-to-face attacks from his fellow Republicans leading up to Tuesday's primary election, found himself the object of a full pile-on from the opening moments of Sunday's combative "Meet the Press" debate here, sponsored by Palo Alto-based Facebook, NBC and the New Hampshire Union Leader. The encounter took place just 12 hours after another debate Saturday night in nearby Manchester.
While there were no game changers - and no major gaffes - the debate marked a departure after months of the GOP presidential nomination battle, offering sustained attacks against the wealthy former Massachusetts governor who is increasingly seen as the man to beat.
The latest Suffolk University Poll shows Romney losing ground in the last week but still drawing 35 percent support in New Hampshire, followed by Texas Rep. Ron Paul with 20 percent. There's a scramble for third among former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman (11 percent), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (9 percent) and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum (8 percent). Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer, who has not been included in any GOP debates, trail far behind at 1 percent.
Santorum strikes first
Santorum - who nearly tied Romney in the Iowa caucuses last week - launched the first salvos Sunday, dismissing Romney as a quitter who bailed out of executive office after one term as Massachusetts governor, one who "wouldn't stand up for conservative issues" while he "ran from Ronald Reagan ... to the left of Ted Kennedy."
Huntsman delivered strong back-to-back debate performances as he highlighted his executive and foreign policy experience, repeatedly assailed the "trust deficit" in politics and attacked Romney as a career politician who represents "the blame game" of a partisan culture.
But it was the negative onslaught from Gingrich that bookmarked the debate - a strategy fueled by anger at the barrage of TV attacks leveled at him by pro-Romney super PACs that have eviscerated his once-robust poll numbers.
Gingrich challenged Romney's suggestion that he has never sought a career in politics and didn't run for re-election in Massachusetts because he wanted to return to private life.
"Could we drop a little bit of the pious baloney?" Gingrich said caustically. "You had a very bad re-election rating; you dropped out of office. ... You were running for president while you were governor; you were out of state consistently.
"Just level with the American people. You've been running (for political office) since the 1990s," he said.
Gingrich later launched the most hostile exchange of the debate when he assailed Romney on the attack ads, demanding an apology that never came.
Texans Paul and Perry also leveled barbs at Romney, but as part of their efforts to raise questions about the entire field of challengers, along with Democratic President Obama.
Perry in good form
Perry, whose campaign is on the ropes largely because of past poor debate performances, this time appeared energetic and in good humor, even offering a self-depreciating joke about his famous "oops" moment in an earlier debate when he couldn't recall the name of a Cabinet department he wanted to eliminate.
Trumpeting his credentials as a political "outsider," Perry repeatedly suggested his fellow candidates were part of a big-spending, moderate GOP that has contributed to the nation's soaring deficit. Asked if he had kind words for Obama, Perry dismissed him as a "socialist."
Paul, as he has in past debates, took down Santorum for supporting big spending and insisted that he alone was the candidate who would radically reduce the government and staunchly protect the Constitution.
Santorum struck back.
"He's never passed anything of ... any importance," Santorum said of Paul's legislative record. "He's been out there on the margins and has really been unsuccessful ... in working together with anybody to do anything."
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/08/MN9A1MMG17.DTL#ixzz1iwYUgO17
Romney, who has managed to sidestep face-to-face attacks from his fellow Republicans leading up to Tuesday's primary election, found himself the object of a full pile-on from the opening moments of Sunday's combative "Meet the Press" debate here, sponsored by Palo Alto-based Facebook, NBC and the New Hampshire Union Leader. The encounter took place just 12 hours after another debate Saturday night in nearby Manchester.
While there were no game changers - and no major gaffes - the debate marked a departure after months of the GOP presidential nomination battle, offering sustained attacks against the wealthy former Massachusetts governor who is increasingly seen as the man to beat.
The latest Suffolk University Poll shows Romney losing ground in the last week but still drawing 35 percent support in New Hampshire, followed by Texas Rep. Ron Paul with 20 percent. There's a scramble for third among former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman (11 percent), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (9 percent) and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum (8 percent). Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer, who has not been included in any GOP debates, trail far behind at 1 percent.
Santorum strikes first
Santorum - who nearly tied Romney in the Iowa caucuses last week - launched the first salvos Sunday, dismissing Romney as a quitter who bailed out of executive office after one term as Massachusetts governor, one who "wouldn't stand up for conservative issues" while he "ran from Ronald Reagan ... to the left of Ted Kennedy."
Huntsman delivered strong back-to-back debate performances as he highlighted his executive and foreign policy experience, repeatedly assailed the "trust deficit" in politics and attacked Romney as a career politician who represents "the blame game" of a partisan culture.
But it was the negative onslaught from Gingrich that bookmarked the debate - a strategy fueled by anger at the barrage of TV attacks leveled at him by pro-Romney super PACs that have eviscerated his once-robust poll numbers.
Gingrich challenged Romney's suggestion that he has never sought a career in politics and didn't run for re-election in Massachusetts because he wanted to return to private life.
"Could we drop a little bit of the pious baloney?" Gingrich said caustically. "You had a very bad re-election rating; you dropped out of office. ... You were running for president while you were governor; you were out of state consistently.
"Just level with the American people. You've been running (for political office) since the 1990s," he said.
Gingrich later launched the most hostile exchange of the debate when he assailed Romney on the attack ads, demanding an apology that never came.
Texans Paul and Perry also leveled barbs at Romney, but as part of their efforts to raise questions about the entire field of challengers, along with Democratic President Obama.
Perry in good form
Perry, whose campaign is on the ropes largely because of past poor debate performances, this time appeared energetic and in good humor, even offering a self-depreciating joke about his famous "oops" moment in an earlier debate when he couldn't recall the name of a Cabinet department he wanted to eliminate.
Trumpeting his credentials as a political "outsider," Perry repeatedly suggested his fellow candidates were part of a big-spending, moderate GOP that has contributed to the nation's soaring deficit. Asked if he had kind words for Obama, Perry dismissed him as a "socialist."
Paul, as he has in past debates, took down Santorum for supporting big spending and insisted that he alone was the candidate who would radically reduce the government and staunchly protect the Constitution.
Santorum struck back.
"He's never passed anything of ... any importance," Santorum said of Paul's legislative record. "He's been out there on the margins and has really been unsuccessful ... in working together with anybody to do anything."
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/08/MN9A1MMG17.DTL#ixzz1iwYUgO17
Arab League calls on Syria to halt violence
The Arab League has urged Syria to halt its violence against protesters, saying Damascus has only partly implemented pledges agreed in a peace plan.
Ministers meeting in Cairo vowed to pursue and reinforce the League’s much-criticised observer mission but UN experts won’t be asked to join in.
Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby stressed its monitors were part of the deal made with Syria.
“Our main demand is a political solution for the Syrian crisis,” he told a news conference. “This solution will never come about without the opposition and the Syrian government sitting down to discuss the future of Syria.”
But as Arab observers continued their visits on Sunday, opposition activists slammed the League for failing to take a tougher line against President Assad.
They have criticised monitors for failing to stop the crackdown on anti-government protesters, claiming their mission has been ‘manipulated’ by the regime.
Ministers meeting in Cairo vowed to pursue and reinforce the League’s much-criticised observer mission but UN experts won’t be asked to join in.
Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby stressed its monitors were part of the deal made with Syria.
“Our main demand is a political solution for the Syrian crisis,” he told a news conference. “This solution will never come about without the opposition and the Syrian government sitting down to discuss the future of Syria.”
But as Arab observers continued their visits on Sunday, opposition activists slammed the League for failing to take a tougher line against President Assad.
They have criticised monitors for failing to stop the crackdown on anti-government protesters, claiming their mission has been ‘manipulated’ by the regime.
Iran begins uranium enrichment at new site
TEHRAN, Iran
Iran has begun uranium enrichment at a new underground site well protected from possible airstrikes, a leading hardline newspaper reported Sunday in another show of defiance against Western pressure to rein in Tehran's nuclear program.
Another newspaper quoted a senior commander of the powerful Revolutionary Guard force as saying Tehran's leadership has decided to order the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic oil route, if the country's petroleum exports are blocked. Revolutionary Guard ground forces also staged war games in eastern Iran in an apparent display of resolve against U.S. forces just over the border in Afghanistan.
"The supreme authorities ... have insisted that if enemies block the export of our oil, we won't allow a drop of oil to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This is the strategy of the Islamic Republic in countering such threats," Revolutionary Guard deputy commander Ali Ashraf Nouri was quoted as saying by the Khorasan daily.
Iranian politicians have issued similar threats in the past, but this is the strongest statement yet by a top commander in the security establishment.
The latest statements are certain to fuel tensions with the U.S. and its allies, which are trying to turn up pressure on Iran with new sanctions to punish it over its disputed nuclear program. The West suspects Iran is trying to make nuclear weapons, but Iran denies this.
The United Nations has already sanctioned Iran for refusing to stop uranium enrichment -- which can produce both nuclear fuel and fissile warhead material. Tehran says its nuclear program is only for energy and medical research, and refuses to halt uranium enrichment.
Kayhan daily, which is close to Iran's ruling clerics, said Tehran has begun injecting uranium gas into sophisticated centrifuges at the Fordo facility near the holy city of Qom.
"Kayhan received reports yesterday that show Iran has begun uranium enrichment at the Fordo facility amid heightened foreign enemy threats," the paper said in a front-page report. Kayhan's manager is a representative of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final word on all important matters of state.
Iran's nuclear chief, Fereidoun Abbasi, said late Saturday that his country will "soon" begin enrichment at Fordo. It was impossible to immediately reconcile the two reports.
Iran has a major uranium enrichment facility in Natanz in central Iran, where nearly 8,000 centrifuges are operating. Tehran began enrichment at Natanz in April 2006.
The Fordo centrifuges, however, are reportedly more efficient. And the site better shielded from aerial attack.
Nouri said Iran's leadership has made a strategic decision to close the Strait of Hormuz, should the country's exports be blocked. One-sixth of the world's oil flows to market through the Strait of Hormuz, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf.
President Barack Obama approved new sanctions against Iran a week ago, targeting the central bank and its ability to sell petroleum abroad. The U.S. has delayed implementing the sanctions for at least six months, worried about sending the price of oil higher at a time when the global economy is already struggling. But the new sanctions nevertheless prompted a series of threats from Iranian officials about closing the Strait of Hormuz.
The newspaper paraphrased Nouri as saying that a 10-day naval war game which ended Tuesday was preparation for such a closure. The Guard, which is Iran's most powerful military force and which has its own naval arm, has planned more sea maneuvers for February.
"The exalted leader (Khamenei) determined a new strategy for the armed forces, by which any threat from enemies will be responded to with threats," Nouri said.
The U.S. and Israel have said that all options remain open, including military action, should Iran continue with its enrichment program.
Tehran says it needs the program to produce fuel for future nuclear reactors and medical radioisotopes needed for cancer patients.
The country has been enriching uranium to less than 5 percent for years, but it began to further enrich part of its uranium stockpile to nearly 20 percent as of February 2010, saying it needs the higher grade material to produce fuel for a Tehran reactor that makes medical radioisotopes needed for cancer patients. Weapons-grade uranium is usually about 90 percent enriched.
Iran says the higher enrichment activities -- to nearly 20 percent -- will be carried out at Fordo. These operations are of particular concern to the West because uranium at 20 percent enrichment can be converted into fissile material for a nuclear warhead much more quickly than that at 3.5 percent.
Built next to a military complex, Fordo was long kept secret and was only acknowledged by Iran after it was identified by Western intelligence agencies in September 2009.
Buried under 300 feet (90 meters) of rock, the facility is a hardened tunnel and is protected by air defense missile batteries and the Revolutionary Guard, Iran's most powerful military force. The site is located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Qom, the religious nerve center of Iran's ruling system.
"The Fordo facility, like Natanz, has been designed and built underground. The enemy doesn't have the ability to damage it," the semiofficial Mehr news agency quoted nuclear chief Abbasi as saying Sunday.
Iran has begun uranium enrichment at a new underground site well protected from possible airstrikes, a leading hardline newspaper reported Sunday in another show of defiance against Western pressure to rein in Tehran's nuclear program.
Another newspaper quoted a senior commander of the powerful Revolutionary Guard force as saying Tehran's leadership has decided to order the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic oil route, if the country's petroleum exports are blocked. Revolutionary Guard ground forces also staged war games in eastern Iran in an apparent display of resolve against U.S. forces just over the border in Afghanistan.
"The supreme authorities ... have insisted that if enemies block the export of our oil, we won't allow a drop of oil to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This is the strategy of the Islamic Republic in countering such threats," Revolutionary Guard deputy commander Ali Ashraf Nouri was quoted as saying by the Khorasan daily.
Iranian politicians have issued similar threats in the past, but this is the strongest statement yet by a top commander in the security establishment.
The latest statements are certain to fuel tensions with the U.S. and its allies, which are trying to turn up pressure on Iran with new sanctions to punish it over its disputed nuclear program. The West suspects Iran is trying to make nuclear weapons, but Iran denies this.
The United Nations has already sanctioned Iran for refusing to stop uranium enrichment -- which can produce both nuclear fuel and fissile warhead material. Tehran says its nuclear program is only for energy and medical research, and refuses to halt uranium enrichment.
Kayhan daily, which is close to Iran's ruling clerics, said Tehran has begun injecting uranium gas into sophisticated centrifuges at the Fordo facility near the holy city of Qom.
"Kayhan received reports yesterday that show Iran has begun uranium enrichment at the Fordo facility amid heightened foreign enemy threats," the paper said in a front-page report. Kayhan's manager is a representative of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final word on all important matters of state.
Iran's nuclear chief, Fereidoun Abbasi, said late Saturday that his country will "soon" begin enrichment at Fordo. It was impossible to immediately reconcile the two reports.
Iran has a major uranium enrichment facility in Natanz in central Iran, where nearly 8,000 centrifuges are operating. Tehran began enrichment at Natanz in April 2006.
The Fordo centrifuges, however, are reportedly more efficient. And the site better shielded from aerial attack.
Nouri said Iran's leadership has made a strategic decision to close the Strait of Hormuz, should the country's exports be blocked. One-sixth of the world's oil flows to market through the Strait of Hormuz, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf.
President Barack Obama approved new sanctions against Iran a week ago, targeting the central bank and its ability to sell petroleum abroad. The U.S. has delayed implementing the sanctions for at least six months, worried about sending the price of oil higher at a time when the global economy is already struggling. But the new sanctions nevertheless prompted a series of threats from Iranian officials about closing the Strait of Hormuz.
The newspaper paraphrased Nouri as saying that a 10-day naval war game which ended Tuesday was preparation for such a closure. The Guard, which is Iran's most powerful military force and which has its own naval arm, has planned more sea maneuvers for February.
"The exalted leader (Khamenei) determined a new strategy for the armed forces, by which any threat from enemies will be responded to with threats," Nouri said.
The U.S. and Israel have said that all options remain open, including military action, should Iran continue with its enrichment program.
Tehran says it needs the program to produce fuel for future nuclear reactors and medical radioisotopes needed for cancer patients.
The country has been enriching uranium to less than 5 percent for years, but it began to further enrich part of its uranium stockpile to nearly 20 percent as of February 2010, saying it needs the higher grade material to produce fuel for a Tehran reactor that makes medical radioisotopes needed for cancer patients. Weapons-grade uranium is usually about 90 percent enriched.
Iran says the higher enrichment activities -- to nearly 20 percent -- will be carried out at Fordo. These operations are of particular concern to the West because uranium at 20 percent enrichment can be converted into fissile material for a nuclear warhead much more quickly than that at 3.5 percent.
Built next to a military complex, Fordo was long kept secret and was only acknowledged by Iran after it was identified by Western intelligence agencies in September 2009.
Buried under 300 feet (90 meters) of rock, the facility is a hardened tunnel and is protected by air defense missile batteries and the Revolutionary Guard, Iran's most powerful military force. The site is located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Qom, the religious nerve center of Iran's ruling system.
"The Fordo facility, like Natanz, has been designed and built underground. The enemy doesn't have the ability to damage it," the semiofficial Mehr news agency quoted nuclear chief Abbasi as saying Sunday.
South Africans mark liberation milestone
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa -- Tens of thousands of chanting and dancing revelers waved the green and gold colors of the African National Congress as Africa's oldest liberation movement celebrated its 100th anniversary Sunday, though many South Africans say the party hasn't delivered on its promises since taking power in 1994.
African leaders, former heads of state, kings and chieftains attended a midnight ceremony where President Jacob Zuma lit a flame, expected to stay alight the entire year, at the red brick, tin-roofed Wesleyan church where black intellectuals and activists founded the party in 1912.
Absent because of his frailty was Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president, who is just six years younger than his movement. The icon was jailed for 27 years by the racist white government, and his organization once was declared a terrorist group by the U.S.
Joy at the ANC's leading role in ending white minority rule in 1994 was tinged with sadness over its failure to bring a better life for most South Africans and corruption scandals that embroiled its members.
"It means a lot to be alive when the ANC is celebrating 100 years of its existence," Mayor Tulani Sebego of Bergville said Sunday.
He said the party had gained strength along with challenges, "but it has managed to come through it to today ... and I want to believe it will reach 200 years."
The stadium at Bloemfontein, upgraded to a 45,000-seater for the 2010 soccer World Cup, overflowed Sunday with crowds that spilled outside, dancing and singing under a blazing sun.
"We need to ensure that our program of transforming our country is accelerated and taken to new steps," Zuma said in an afternoon address, next to an aide holding an umbrella.
He acknowledged the problems confronting the ANC, saying that it needs to take "urgent and practical steps to restore the core values, stamp out factionalism and promote political discipline."
Thousands of people left the stadium during Zuma's speech. It was unclear whether that was because of the heat, because people had to leave town because of lack of accommodation or because they were sending a message. One woman left saying she was bored.
Meanwhile, in the town of Clarens, protesters demanded that ANC municipal leaders be fired for failing to deliver basic services such as tap water, threw stones at vehicles and blocked the road to Bloemfontein, news media reported.
African leaders, former heads of state, kings and chieftains attended a midnight ceremony where President Jacob Zuma lit a flame, expected to stay alight the entire year, at the red brick, tin-roofed Wesleyan church where black intellectuals and activists founded the party in 1912.
Absent because of his frailty was Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president, who is just six years younger than his movement. The icon was jailed for 27 years by the racist white government, and his organization once was declared a terrorist group by the U.S.
Joy at the ANC's leading role in ending white minority rule in 1994 was tinged with sadness over its failure to bring a better life for most South Africans and corruption scandals that embroiled its members.
"It means a lot to be alive when the ANC is celebrating 100 years of its existence," Mayor Tulani Sebego of Bergville said Sunday.
He said the party had gained strength along with challenges, "but it has managed to come through it to today ... and I want to believe it will reach 200 years."
The stadium at Bloemfontein, upgraded to a 45,000-seater for the 2010 soccer World Cup, overflowed Sunday with crowds that spilled outside, dancing and singing under a blazing sun.
"We need to ensure that our program of transforming our country is accelerated and taken to new steps," Zuma said in an afternoon address, next to an aide holding an umbrella.
He acknowledged the problems confronting the ANC, saying that it needs to take "urgent and practical steps to restore the core values, stamp out factionalism and promote political discipline."
Thousands of people left the stadium during Zuma's speech. It was unclear whether that was because of the heat, because people had to leave town because of lack of accommodation or because they were sending a message. One woman left saying she was bored.
Meanwhile, in the town of Clarens, protesters demanded that ANC municipal leaders be fired for failing to deliver basic services such as tap water, threw stones at vehicles and blocked the road to Bloemfontein, news media reported.
Malaysia opposition's Anwar freed of sodomy charge
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim celebrated a surprising triumph over sodomy charges Monday, pledging to focus his energies on toppling the government in elections expected later this year.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court acquitted Anwar of sodomizing a male former aide, ruling that the prosecution's DNA evidence was unreliable in a verdict that upended Anwar's worst-case scenario of a 20-year prison sentence following a trial that polarized public opinion.
Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration described the judgment as a repudiation of Anwar's long-standing insistence that the government trumped up the sodomy charge and manipulated the judiciary to thwart his hopes to become Malaysia's next leader.
Anwar said he was "pleasantly shocked" by the verdict, but remained convinced the case was politically motivated. "To assume the judiciary is independent is a bit far-fetched," Anwar told The Associated Press.
Anwar was imprisoned for six years after being ousted as deputy prime minister in 1998 on charges of sodomizing his former family driver and abusing his power. Sodomy, even consensual, is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia, but the law against it is seldom enforced.
Anwar's earlier trials were criticized by foreign governments and rights groups that called Anwar's incarceration an attempt to extinguish his challenge to former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Anwar was freed after Malaysia's top
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court quashed the sodomy conviction.
He led a three-party opposition alliance to unprecedented gains in 2008 elections, but his future was thrown into jeopardy some months later when Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a 26-year-old former aide, accused Anwar of forcing him to have sex in an apartment.
Government supporters insisted throughout the trial that the allegations proved that Anwar was morally unfit to lead. But opposition activists called it a smear campaign masterminded by Malaysia's long-ruling coalition to cling to power.
The case hinged mainly on Saiful's testimony and semen samples found on his body that investigators said matched Anwar's DNA. The defense insisted Saiful's claims were full of inconsistencies and that the DNA samples were mishandled.
High Court Judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah said he "could not with 100 percent certainty exclude the possibility that the (DNA) sample is not compromised."
"The court is always reluctant to convict on sexual offenses without corroborative evidence," he said in an unexpectedly brief two-minute judgment.
More than 5,000 opposition supporters outside the court building cheered when they heard news of the verdict. Inside, Anwar's wife and children wept and hugged him, while his friends burst into shouts of "Allahu Akbar," or "God is great."
Chief prosecutor Yusof Zainal Abiden said he had not decided whether to appeal the acquittal.
Police said that after the verdict was delivered, three small blasts caused by homemade explosives wounded five people on roads nearby. Officials had no suspects.
Information Minister Rais Yatim said the acquittal "proves that the government does not hold sway over judges' decisions."
"Malaysia has an independent judiciary," Rais said. "The current wave of bold democratic reforms introduced by (Najib) will help extend this transparency to all areas of Malaysian life."
Phil Robertson, deputy director of New York-based Human Rights Watch's Asian division, said Anwar should never have been charged in the first place, adding that the case had been "politically motivated and plagued with irregularities."
Saiful did not attend the hearing, but wrote on Twitter after the verdict that he would "remain calm, continue praying and be patient."
Anwar was flying to India later Monday for a speaking engagement and would also head to Turkey before returning home this weekend for his alliance's national congress, in which the opposition is expected to plan its strategies for elections widely expected within months.
"I am confident, God willing, that we will win if the elections are free and fair," Anwar said.
The opposition now has more than one-third of Parliament's seats and hopes to win power by pledging to curb graft, racial discrimination and restrictions on civil liberties. Najib has announced high-profile measures recently to tackle those problems in a bid to ensure the political survival of his National Front coalition, which has governed since 1957.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court acquitted Anwar of sodomizing a male former aide, ruling that the prosecution's DNA evidence was unreliable in a verdict that upended Anwar's worst-case scenario of a 20-year prison sentence following a trial that polarized public opinion.
Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration described the judgment as a repudiation of Anwar's long-standing insistence that the government trumped up the sodomy charge and manipulated the judiciary to thwart his hopes to become Malaysia's next leader.
Anwar said he was "pleasantly shocked" by the verdict, but remained convinced the case was politically motivated. "To assume the judiciary is independent is a bit far-fetched," Anwar told The Associated Press.
Anwar was imprisoned for six years after being ousted as deputy prime minister in 1998 on charges of sodomizing his former family driver and abusing his power. Sodomy, even consensual, is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia, but the law against it is seldom enforced.
Anwar's earlier trials were criticized by foreign governments and rights groups that called Anwar's incarceration an attempt to extinguish his challenge to former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Anwar was freed after Malaysia's top
Advertisement
court quashed the sodomy conviction.
He led a three-party opposition alliance to unprecedented gains in 2008 elections, but his future was thrown into jeopardy some months later when Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a 26-year-old former aide, accused Anwar of forcing him to have sex in an apartment.
Government supporters insisted throughout the trial that the allegations proved that Anwar was morally unfit to lead. But opposition activists called it a smear campaign masterminded by Malaysia's long-ruling coalition to cling to power.
The case hinged mainly on Saiful's testimony and semen samples found on his body that investigators said matched Anwar's DNA. The defense insisted Saiful's claims were full of inconsistencies and that the DNA samples were mishandled.
High Court Judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah said he "could not with 100 percent certainty exclude the possibility that the (DNA) sample is not compromised."
"The court is always reluctant to convict on sexual offenses without corroborative evidence," he said in an unexpectedly brief two-minute judgment.
More than 5,000 opposition supporters outside the court building cheered when they heard news of the verdict. Inside, Anwar's wife and children wept and hugged him, while his friends burst into shouts of "Allahu Akbar," or "God is great."
Chief prosecutor Yusof Zainal Abiden said he had not decided whether to appeal the acquittal.
Police said that after the verdict was delivered, three small blasts caused by homemade explosives wounded five people on roads nearby. Officials had no suspects.
Information Minister Rais Yatim said the acquittal "proves that the government does not hold sway over judges' decisions."
"Malaysia has an independent judiciary," Rais said. "The current wave of bold democratic reforms introduced by (Najib) will help extend this transparency to all areas of Malaysian life."
Phil Robertson, deputy director of New York-based Human Rights Watch's Asian division, said Anwar should never have been charged in the first place, adding that the case had been "politically motivated and plagued with irregularities."
Saiful did not attend the hearing, but wrote on Twitter after the verdict that he would "remain calm, continue praying and be patient."
Anwar was flying to India later Monday for a speaking engagement and would also head to Turkey before returning home this weekend for his alliance's national congress, in which the opposition is expected to plan its strategies for elections widely expected within months.
"I am confident, God willing, that we will win if the elections are free and fair," Anwar said.
The opposition now has more than one-third of Parliament's seats and hopes to win power by pledging to curb graft, racial discrimination and restrictions on civil liberties. Najib has announced high-profile measures recently to tackle those problems in a bid to ensure the political survival of his National Front coalition, which has governed since 1957.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
ON THE SPOT
 | Journal Online - I am very uncomfortable at the way the prosecutors from the House of Representatives are going after Chief Justice Corona. I do not see much sense in their making public their evidence against the Chief Justice. |
 | GMA News - On the eve of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, stalls selling religious items sprouted in Manila's downtown Quiapo area Sunday. |
 | Ynetnews - Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has met in Damascus with members of the Turkish political party Saadet, said that "no one can influence" the ties between the two nations, the official Syrian Arab News Agency reported. |
 | Times of India - KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said on Sunday he was prepared to go to jail as he geared up for last-ditch rallies on the eve of a trial verdict that threatens his political career. |
 | Ottawa Citizen - Like many other Christian out-posts in the spiritual homeland of Nigeria's "Taliban," the Victory Baptist Church in the northern desert city of Maiduguri no longer relies solely on God for protection. |
 | GMA News - Malacañang on Sunday claimed Filipinos are “getting on board” with the new tourism slogan “It's More Fun in the Philippines,” even as it continued to fend off criticisms against the new catchphrase. |
 | ABS CBN News - GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines - Journalist Christopher Guarin received a death threat an hour before he was killed Thursday night in General Santos City, a media group said Friday. |
 | New Straits Times - By Masami Mustaza Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak waving at the crowd when arriving at a meeting with industrial sector employees at the Proton Centre of Excellence in Shah Alam, Selangor, yesterday. |
 | Malaysia Star - By Joceline Tan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's track record since his 2008 political comeback has been marked by missed opportunities. |
 | Malaysia Star - By Chua Lee Hoong It remains to be seen if the Singapore electorate will accept the ministerial pay review committee's reasoning. |
 | San Francisco Chronicle - JAFFREY, NH - JANUARY 06: Republican presidential candidate and former US Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) (C) tours Pelletier's Sports Shop January 6, 2012 in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. |
 | New Zealand Herald - By Hayley Hannan A private balloon trip with his son is the "marvellous" memory that stands out for the father of a pilot killed in a ballooning crash yesterday. |
 | ABC News - New footage on North Korean state TV shows young leader Kim Jong Un maneuvering a tank and observing firing exercises. State TV aired the footage Sunday on what is believed to be Kim Jong Un's birthday. |
 | Sudan Tribune - January 7, 2012 (JUBA/PANYAGOR) - Humanitarian agencies are mounting a major emergency operation in Jonglei State in South Sudan to help people affected by the recent wave of inter-communal violence according to UN press release. |
 | Hindustan Times - PTI One person was dead and the other injured after they set themselves on fire simultaneously in southwestern Sichuan province two days ago, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. |
 | ABS CBN News - Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Sunday said it will revise some of its flight schedules due to runway repairs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). |
 | GMA News - Google Inc. released this week the latest beta of its Chrome browser, which it said improves on speed and smarter on security. Software engineer Dominic Hamon said the security improvement is due to sites that convince users to install malware - such ... |
 | Jackson Clarion Ledger - Here I am again, and I'm no closer to Las Vegas than I was around this time last year when the International Consumer Electronics Show was about to kick off. |
 | BBC News - Israel has said it will respond to cyber-attacks in the same way it responds to violent "terrorist" acts after the credit card details of thousands of its citizens were published online. |
 | GMA News - Angel Guirado (right) of the Philippine Azkals keeps the ball away from an Inter de Madrid player in Saturday's charity benefit game at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. |
 | ABS CBN News - MANILA, Philippines -- The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Powerade Tigers battle for a 2-1 series lead in their best-of-seven semi-finals match-up of the PBA Philippine Cup Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum. |
 | San Antonio Express - By the numbers: Why the Spurs beat the Nuggets Floyd Mayweather Jr. won't have to begin serving his 90-day jail sentence for his guilty plea in a domestic violence case until June 1, paving the way for him to fight May 5 against an unnamed opponent. |
 | Inquirer.net - By Calvin Cordova Veteran forward Danny Ildefonso hit a pivotal basket in the closing seconds that helped Petron stymie Talk 'N Text's endgame comeback as the Boosters held off the defending champions Tropang Texters, 91-89, in Game 2 of their ... |
 | Easy Destination Blog (blog) - Philippines tourism is pinning hope on the latest edition of popular Hollywood movie franchise, Bourne Legacy. Philippines believe that famous Jason Bourne movie will increase interest of foreign tourists in the country. |
 | GMA News - The year 2012 is finally upon us, and December 21 looms on the yearend horizon. At the moment, doomsday believers are already counting down the roughly 350 days left in the Mayan Calendar. |
 | The Australian - Professor Stephen Hawking sits in his office at Cambridge University in a picture released to coincide with his 70th birthday. Picture: AP Source: AP PROFESSOR Stephen Hawking may have to use a new communication technology such as brain-wave scanning ... |
 | Telegraph.co.uk - Living the dream? Katie Price (aka Jordan) is a poster girl for 'enhanced femininity' Photo: GETTY By Jenny McCartney Say what you like about PIP, the disgraced French company at the heart of the implants scandal: they might have had a serious problem ... |
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