In brief: Atomic watchdog says Iran is frustrating its work

VIENNA, Austria – The International Atomic Energy Agency said Monday that Iran has complicated its work in the country by repeatedly vetoing certain nuclear inspectors.

It was only one example of the lack of cooperation the agency reported.

Agency Director General Yukiya Amano said in the report that Iran has continued to enrich uranium despite the U.N. Security Council’s orders to stop, and has made 2,803 kilograms of low-enriched uranium.

According to experts, this amounts to nearly enough material for three nuclear warheads, if it were processed further.

TANAH KARO, Indonesia – An Indonesian volcano shot black ash three miles into the air early today – its most powerful eruption since springing back to life after four centuries of dormancy.

The force of Mount Sinabung’s explosion could be felt five miles away.

“This one was really terrifying,” said Anissa Siregar, 30, as she and her two children arrived at an emergency shelter near the base, adding that the whole mountain shook violently for at least three minutes. “It just keeps getting worse.”

The volcano in North Sumatra province erupted last week for the first time since 1600, catching many scientists off guard.

Pleas could ease sentences

ADELAIDE, Australia – Criminals who plead guilty within six weeks of their arrest could get a 40 percent reduction in their prison sentence under a proposal aimed at reducing the backlog at courts in one Australian state.

South Australian Attorney-General John Rau said today that late guilty pleas were a major contributor to delays and inefficiencies in the trial process.

Rau said the proposal would not apply to the most serious of crimes, including violent assaults and sex crimes.