World report

From Wire Reports
Published Saturday, June 30, 2007

U.S., allies offer Iran nuclear 'time out'

VIENNA, Austria -- The U.S. and fellow permanent U.N. Security Council members have told Iran they will hold off on new sanctions if it stops expanding its uranium enrichment activities as they seek to restart talks over Tehran's nuclear program, diplomats said Friday.

They said the Iranian government had not yet responded to the proposal, which was made earlier this month by the six powers seeking to engage Tehran -- the five permanent council members and Germany.

The public stance by Washington and its key backers remains that Iran should cease all enrichment, but the offer reflects a readiness to accept Tehran's current program -- at least initially -- in hopes of reducing tensions and creating an atmosphere for negotiations.

Swedes turn smuggled alcohol into alternative fuel

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Smugglers trying to sneak alcohol into Sweden are unwittingly helping fuel the country's public transport system and reducing its greenhouse emissions.

Almost all of the 185,000 gallons of smuggled alcohol seized by the customs service last year was turned into alternative fuel and used to power buses, trucks and a biogas train, officials said Friday.

"We used to just pour it down the drain, but because of the increased volumes we had to look around for new solutions," customs spokeswoman Ingrid Jerlebrink said.

The beer, wine and liquor is taken to a plant in Linkoping, where it is heated and converted into biogas.