Iran’s supreme leader has hardened his stance on the nuclear negotiations with world powers, with the deadline for a comprehensive agreement only days away.
In a speech on Tuesday night, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei insisted Iran would only dismantle its nuclear infrastructure if economic sanctions were lifted first.
He also ruled out a freeze on research and development for 10 years, as well as inspections of military sites.
The demands appear to undercut a framework deal announced in April.
They could also limit the ability of Iran’s negotiating team to make key concessions as the self-imposed 30 June deadline approaches.
As supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei has final say on all state matters.
The so-called P5+1 – the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany – want Iran to scale back its sensitive nuclear activities permanently to ensure that it cannot build a nuclear weapon. Iran insists its nuclear work is peaceful.
Rental Property In The UK Most Expensive In Europe
UK rental costs are the highest in Europe but homeowners are benefiting from cheap mortgages, data suggests.
Tenants typically spend 39.1% of their income on rent compared with a European average of 28%, figures from the National Housing Federation suggest.
The federation, which represents housing associations, also said that renters were less secure in their homes, owing to short tenancies.
However, homeowners are benefitting from competition between lenders.
The British Bankers’ Association (BBA) said that there was “fierce competition” among lenders which meant that “great mortgage deals” were available.
Low interest rates, a trend of owners sticking with long-term tracker deals, and a lack of properties on the market are all contributing to lenders lowering the cost of home loans to try to tempt owners to their mortgage products.
The contrasting fortunes of renters and owners will be a concern for those who see little prospect of getting on the housing ladder in the short term.
Police Checkpoint In China Attacked Leaving 18 Dead
A US media report says at least 18 people have been killed in the Chinese region of Xinjiang during a clash at a police checkpoint.
According to US-based Radio Free Asia, ethnic Uighurs – part of China’s Muslim minority – attacked the police on the outskirts of Kashgar city on Monday.
The Chinese authorities have refused to comment on the incident.
Hospital workers in Kashgar told the BBC several injured police received medical treatment.
Radio Free Asia reports the attackers killed police officers using bombs and knives after speeding through the checkpoint at night.
One possible motive could be the tight restrictions placed on Muslim Uighurs during Ramadan.
Muslim party members, civil servants, students and teachers are stopped from observing the period when Muslims fast – one of the five pillars of Islam.
There is frequent unrest in Xinjiang between the Chinese authorities and the Uighurs, and hundreds have died in attacks over the past three years.
Uighurs say Beijing’s repression of their religious and cultural customs is provoking the violence.
But China insists the attacks are being carried out by what it calls Islamic terrorists supported by overseas groups.
Trial Of Woman Who Stabbed Alleged Paedophile Begins
A woman stabbed a suspected paedophile to death in east London before handing herself into police, a court has heard.
Sarah Sands, 32, killed her 77-year-old neighbour Michael Pleasted weeks after finding out he allegedly abused three boys, the Old Bailey was told.
She told police that Mr Pleasted, who had been charged with sexual assaults on two children aged under 13, had been “asking for trouble”.
He was killed in his Canning Town flat on 28 November. Ms Sands denies murder.
Familiar figure
The court heard how Ms Sands armed herself with a knife after drinking two bottles of wine and a bottle of brandy.
The case’s prosecutor Jonathan Ree said CCTV footage showed she was in his block of flats for 20 minutes.
Mr Pleasted, who was stabbed eight times, had been on bail awaiting trial. Police were also investigating an allegation he had abused a third boy.
Ms Sands had befriended the pensioner who was a familiar local figure and ran a bric-a-brac shop from a Mace convenience store, the court heard.
I Stabbed Him
She used to visit him at his flat and bring him meals before she became aware of the abuse allegations.
After the stabbing, Ms Sands went to the Isle of Dogs, putting the knife and clothes she had been wearing in a carrier bag.
Before deciding to hand herself in, she told a family friend: “I stabbed him”.
During a police interview, she said she had tried to help him, while all the while he was abusing young children.
She later said in a statement that she denied intending to kill Mr Pleasted or cause him serious bodily harm, claiming she went to confront him and took a knife for protection as she was scared.
The trial continues.
Tanks & Artillery Deployed By US In European Nations
The US is to deploy heavy weapons – including tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery – in a number of European nations, amid Nato concerns over Russia’s role in Ukraine.
US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said the equipment would be placed in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania.
Nato has vowed to boost defences in the east as ties with Russia have soured.
Russia has condemned the new Nato and US moves.
Responding earlier to reports of the planned deployment, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Nato of “coming to our borders”.
On a visit to the Estonian capital, Tallinn, Mr Carter said each set of equipment would be enough either for a military company, or about 150 soldiers, or a battalion – roughly 750 soldiers.
Much of the equipment was already in Europe, officials said.
In addition to the six nations, Germany will also take part in the expanded military effort, but already has the US materiel.
Mr Carter said the equipment would be moved around the region to help forces in Europe train better and be more mobile.
“We intend to move those equipment sets around as exercises move around,” he said. “They’re not static.”
According to a fact-sheet provided by the US military, the deployment would include 250 tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles and self-propelled howitzer artillery guns.
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