DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran marked the 47th anniversary of its 1979 Islamic Revolution on Wednesday as the country’s theocracy remains under pressure, both from U.S. President Donald Trump who suggested sending another aircraft carrier group to the Middle East and a public angrily denouncing Tehran’s bloody crackdown on nationwide protests.

The commemoration represented a spit-screen view of life in Iran, with state television showing hundreds of thousands of people across the country attending pro-government rallies, which included the burning of American flags and cries of “Death to America!”

Meanwhile, President Masoud Pezeshkian got on stage at Azadi Square in Tehran, the country’s capital, and insisted that Iran is willing to negotiate over its nuclear program as fledgling nuclear talks talks with America hang in the balance.

Whether the talks succeed remains an open question — and Mideast nations fear their collapse could plunge the region into another regional war. A top Iranian security official traveled Qatar on Wednesday after earlier visiting Oman, which has mediated this latest round of negotiations. Just before the official’s arrival, Qatar’s ruling emir received a phone call from Trump.

In his speech at the anniversary ceremony, Pezeshkian also insisted that his nation was “not seeking nuclear weapons. … and are ready for any kind of verification.” However, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog — the International Atomic Energy Agency — has been unable for months to inspect and verify Iran’s nuclear stockpile.

“The high wall of mistrust that the United States and Europe have created through their past statements and actions does not allow these talks to reach a conclusion,” Pezeshkian said.

Yet moments later, he added: “At the same time, we are engaging with full determination in dialogue aimed at peace and stability in the region alongside our neighboring countries.”

Commemoration overshadowed by crackdown

On Iranian state TV, authorities broadcast images of people taking to the streets across the country Wednesday to support the theocracy and its 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

But on Tuesday night, as government-sponsored fireworks lit the darkened sky, witnesses heard shouts from people’s homes in the Iranian capital, Tehran, of “Death to the dictator!”

In the streets Wednesday, people waved images of Khamenei and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, alongside Iranian and Palestinian flags. Some chanted “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!” Others criticized Iran’s exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, who had been calling for anti-government protests.

“I am here to say we don’t stop supporting our leader and our country as the Americans and Israelis are increasingly threatening” us, said Reza Jedi, a 43-year-old participant.

Among Iran’s 85 million people, there is a hard-line element of support for Iran’s theocracy, including members of the country’s powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which crucially put down the protests last month in a bloody suppression that killed thousands and saw tens of thousands detained, according to activists.

Also, many Iranians often take part in pro-theocracy demonstrations as they are government employees or turn up to enjoy the carnival atmosphere of a government-sponsored holiday. Iran has 2.5 million government employees, with a fifth in Tehran alone.

While not directly addressing the bloodshed by authorities, Pezeshkian acknowledged the crackdown that began in earnest on Jan. 8 had “caused great sorrow.”

“We are ashamed before the people, and we are obligated to assist all those who were harmed in these incidents,” he said. “We are not seeking confrontation with the people.”

However, he also criticized what he described as “Western propaganda” over the crackdown.

One man sadly watched the commemoration from a sidewalk in Tehran, not taking part.

“I regularly participated in the rally in past years,” said the man, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. “But how can I do that now as the streets’ asphalt were bloodied last month?”

A senior Iran official visits Qatar

As the commemoration took place, senior Iranian security official Ali Larijani left Oman for Qatar, a Mideast nation that hosts a major U.S. military installation and one that Iran attacked in June after the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear sites during the 12-day Iran-Israel war.

Qatar has also been a key negotiator in the past with Iran, with which it shares a massive offshore natural gas field in the Persian Gulf. Its state-run Qatar News Agency reported that ruling emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani spoke with Trump about “the current situation in the region and international efforts aimed at de-escalation and strengthening regional security and peace,” without elaborating.

Speaking to the Russian state channel RT, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran still does “not have full trust for the Americans.”

“Last time we negotiated, last June we were in the middle of negotiation then they decided to attack us and that was a very very bad experience for us,” Iran’s top diplomat said. “We need to make sure that that scenario is not repeated and this is mostly up to America.”

Despite that concern, Araghchi said it could be possible “to come to a better deal than Obama,” referencing the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers Iran reached when former U.S. President Barack Obama was in office. Trump in his first term unilaterally withdrew America from the accord.

Trump suggests sending another carrier to Mideast

The U.S. has moved the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, ships and warplanes to the Middle East to pressure Iran into an agreement and have the firepower necessary to strike the Islamic Republic should Trump choose to do so.

Already, U.S. forces have shot down a drone they said got too close to the Lincoln and came to the aid of a U.S.-flagged ship that Iranian forces tried to stop in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.

Trump told the news website Axios that he was considering sending a second carrier to the region, noting, “We have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going.”

It remains unclear what carrier could go. The USS George H.W. Bush has left Norfolk, Virginia, according to U.S. Navy Institute News. The USS Gerald R. Ford remains in the Caribbean after the U.S. military raid that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Roman’s Pink Spotty Heart Button Midi Dress costs £42 but shoppers can get 10% off with discount code GRAB10. The pretty spring dress pairs perfectly with trainers and a denim jacket

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Spring will arrive sooner than we think, and savvy fashion enthusiasts are already planning their transitional wardrobes. If you’re looking to update your style over the coming weeks and months, a new midi dress might be just what you need.

Midi dresses are ideal for spring weather as they work brilliantly with heavier layers during chilly days whilst looking effortlessly chic on their own when the sun makes an appearance. Spring collections are beginning to appear on the high street, and one particular dress at Roman has caught our eye.

The Pink Spotty Heart Button Midi Dress is set to be a favourite amongst shoppers, and it’s easy to understand why. Priced at £42, customers using the discount code GRAB10 can enjoy 10% off, reducing the price to £37.80 with complimentary express delivery included.

The pretty dress is available in three colour options and sizes 10 to 20, all currently available online. Customers can choose from a sophisticated dusty pink shade, khaki or a flattering black option.

The Pink Spotty Heart Button Midi Dress boasts a flattering sweetheart neckline that’s modest and short puff sleeves that provide upper arm coverage. It showcases a fun spotty heart pattern throughout, finished with delightful heart-shaped buttons running down the front placket, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The dress’s versatility makes it particularly appealing for styling. Right now, it works beautifully with boots and a cardigan layered on top, whilst in a few weeks’ time when temperatures start climbing, it can be paired with trainers and a denim jacket.

Roman’s Classic Cotton Denim Jacket, £35, would complement the dress perfectly. It’s available in indigo, dark blue, light blue, white and black, alongside six additional colour options.

For those who favour floral patterns over spotted hearts, White Stuff’s £69 Leah Short Sleeve Jersey Midi Dress is worth considering. Offered in sizes six to 24 across both petite and regular fits, this dress features a soft modal blend fabric and reaches a midi length.

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Meanwhile, Marks and Spencer’s £46 Pure Cotton Denim Midi Shirt Dress has earned ‘trending’ status and currently tops the retailer’s dress sales. Cut in a regular fit, it features a button-through design and an elasticated self-tie belt that can cinch the waist or hang loose for varied styling options.

Returning to Roman, the Pink Spotty Heart Button Midi Dress hasn’t yet garnered customer reviews. Whilst it’s likely to prove popular throughout spring and summer, there are some limitations.

The dress is only offered in one length, which may present challenges for shoppers who usually require petite or tall sizing. The garment is made entirely from viscose, a semi-synthetic material. Whilst it offers breathability and keeps you cool during warmer months, it needs careful laundering to avoid shrinkage, stretching or damage when damp.

Garden fences and the rules surrounding them can be a tricky topic of discussion, such as how tall they can be, who owns them, whether you can paint them, and more.

Some popular misconceptions have long created confusion in this area of property law, particularly about who owns which fence in a garden.

Here is what the experts say and how to find out what fence you own compared to a neighbour.

What side of the fence am I responsible for in the UK?

Despite many believing that they are responsible for the garden fence on their left-hand side in all cases, this is not true.

Goughs Solicitors rubbished this “myth”, saying: “There is no general rule about whether you own the fence on the left or the fence on the right of your property.

“The first place to look to see which boundaries you own and are responsible for maintaining is your title deeds.”

Compare the Market explained further, saying that an easy tell is by looking for a ‘T’ on the boundary. If this is on your side, you are responsible for the fence.

In some cases, residents may see an ‘H’, which is actually two T’s joined together, indicating that the responsibility for the fence is shared.

The insurance comparison site also suggested residents first check the deeds and title plan of their property, which set out legal ownership and the general position of boundaries on a map.

There are many laws you need to be aware of when it comes to garden fences in the UK (Image: Getty Images)

Another way of determining which fence you own is to see if the “good side” of the fence faces your garden.

If you still have no clear answer and no information is provided in the property’s paperwork, residents can contact the solicitors who carried out the conveyance work or contact the Land Registry or Registers of Scotland.

Can I paint or alter my side of the neighbour’s fence?

Citizens Advice warns that you cannot make changes to your side without your neighbour’s permission, such as painting it.

It adds that your neighbour doesn’t have to change a wall or fence just because you want them to, for example, making it higher for privacy.

On painting a fence, East Coast Fencing explains further, saying: “In many regions, the ownership and responsibility of fences are clearly defined.

“This means that although you may see one side of the fence panels from your property, you might not necessarily have the legal right to alter their appearance.

“It’s essential to understand who actually owns the fence before making any changes. Generally, the property deed or a land survey will indicate ownership.

“If the fence is on the boundary line, it is often considered a shared responsibility, complicating the issue further.”

The experts add: “Painting your side of the fencing without permission could potentially violate your neighbour’s right to quiet enjoyment, especially if they object to the colour or the fact that you painted it without consulting them first.

“Communication is key in these situations to prevent misunderstandings and potential legal disputes.”

Have you had any disputes over rules around garden fences? Let us know in the comments.

Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon says the Prime Minister’s resignation is inevitable and UK Cabinet colleagues will catch up with the Scottish Labour leader.

Viewed from Westminster, Anas Sarwar tried to take out the Prime Minister on Monday and failed miserably. The PM marshalled his Cabinet troops and made Sarwar’s call for him to quit look hollow.

The fact that so few Scottish Labour MPs have followed Sarwar into the trenches is another insult for the Glasgow MSP. He should have had senior colleagues at Westminster ready to back him once he went over the top.

But Scotland has its own political culture and the impact of Sarwar’s intervention may be felt differently on the doorsteps. The reason why the SNP continue to win elections is they possess the most effective tune to play to voters.

They are seen as the party that puts Scotland first and stands up to Westminster, which is associated with sleaze and chaos. Scottish Labour, derided by the SNP as a “branch office”, are an organisation that is viewed as putting their UK sister party first.

READ MORE: Scottish Labour MSP suspended over ties to serial paedophile Sean MortonREAD MORE: Keir Starmer spin doctor who backed Scots paedophile suspended by Labour

Monday’s events, while bruising for Sarwar, could be the first step towards tipping the chess board for Labour north of the border.

For the last nineteen months, Sarwar has bit his tongue when asked about the failings of the Starmer Government.

Scots could see him squirm on TV and hear the carefully phrased statements on policies he did not agree with.

By publicly calling out the Prime Minister and demanding his resignation, Sarwar has repositioned his party.

He no longer has to apologise for the sins of the UK Government or pull his punches to maintain a relationship with the Prime Minister.

Sarwar is now free to criticise both Governments without fear or favour and voters will notice the shift.

The short-term will be rough for him.

He will have to endure the indignity of being criticised by the UK media and mocked by political opponents who will claim he is powerless.

But the fundamentals remain the same and it is likely Starmer’s MPs and Cabinet colleagues will gradually catch up with Sarwar.

The PM has the worst poll ratings of any occupant of Downing Street in decades.

His Government is about to go through the anguish of releasing files on the appointment of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s friend Peter Mandelson.

Labour is set for a drubbing in the Gorton and Denton by-election this month, an outcome that will result in the sharks circling around Starmer again.

Starmer’s colleagues know he will not lead Labour into the next general election.

Scots have made up their minds on Starmer and the Scottish Labour leader has put himself on their side.

Dean Franklin was a father and just 37-years-old when he passed away

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A singer has passed away from stage four cancer which was reportedly misdiagnosed as heartburn. Dean Boroczky, also known as Dean Franklin, starred on The Voice UK and sadly died on Saturday (February 7) at just 37-years-old.

The crooner had performed around the world from busking in Plymouth and London, to paid performances across Europe. PlymouthLive reports the father-of-one from Plymouth was experiencing discomfort, and visited his doctor.

He was reportedly told he had heartburn, given some medication and sent away. It turns out however he had Stage Four oesophageal cancer.

Now Dean’s mum, Marie Boroczky, has sadly confirmed that the rising star died just eight weeks after his delayed diagnosis. Marie said: “He always had a passion for music.

“He won us holidays as a child, he’d performed at Music of the Night and we’d get to go along. My daughter and I were visiting him in Worthing one day and there was an open mic stage.

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“We pushed him into getting up and singing. When he used to sing he’d get really into it.

“He had his eyes closed and would be lost in the moment. When he opened his eyes, there was a huge crowd, the people who organised it were like, ‘wow’.

“From there, he got scouted to go on The Voice UK, that would have been about 2016. He got through, went through all the stages, and got two turns from Ricky Wilson and Paloma Faith.

“He was a huge fan of Paloma so went on her team. He got to the final eight.

“We were all so proud of him. It was an amazing experience, watching him and meeting all those people.

“Paloma had a bit of a soft spot for Dean. She kept in touch and even reached out after his diagnosis.”

Just weeks before his death Dean, who has a 17-year-old daughter, Mya, performed to hundreds of fans in London in a “highly emotional” open-air performance, in one last determined display of his love for singing.

Dean lived a healthy life until last year when he started to feel pain. He had visited his GP about the issue many times but Marie said he was repeatedly brushed off, with the doctor suggesting he had heartburn.

On December 9 the pain became so severe that he checked himself into A&E, believing he must have something more serious such as gallstones.

Marie continued: “They sent him down for an ultrasound and he asked if it was gallstones and the ultrasound person said, ‘we need to get another doctor’ as they’d found masses in the liver.

“The doctor came and told him they couldn’t confirm at that stage what it was and he would need an endoscopy the following day. On December 10, he had the endoscopy, and from that they took lots of biopsies and told him there and then, which was an error on their part.

“They gave him the pieces of paper with graphic images of his tumours and it said malignant oesophageal cancer metastasised Stage Four.”

She said Dean was given the shocking diagnosis with no support except for his sister Leanne who was with him, though his mum travelled up to London that same day. He faced an agonising wait to see an oncologist at St Bart’s Hospital on December 29.

Dean, Marie, and the rest of his family tried to enjoy Christmas as best they could but all the while Dean was experiencing more and more pain. Marie continued: “His sister and I accompanied him for the oncologist’s appointment, and they confirmed that he had Stage Four cancer that had metastasised to his liver and primary lymph nodes, and that they would be starting chemo.

“There was a chance he could have immunotherapy and a professor was doing clinical trials, so we discussed all those things. He knew there was no cure, we were told he could have 12 months if the chemo was successful.

“He was due to start that chemo on January 22, however, he started getting more symptoms. He was constantly in pain and the hospital arranged for him to have more medication, morphine and things like that, and while I was with him then, I noticed that he’d developed jaundice and said I think we need to contact someone.

“He was told that the jaundice was progressing quite rapidly due to liver failure. The professor got him in earlier for urgent chemotherapy. That started on January 7.

“He went in, and because it had progressed quite a lot, they could only give him 50 per cent of that chemotherapy because of the potential damage to his liver.”

Sadly, despite the prognosis of 12 months and the emergency chemotherapy, Dean passed away on Saturday (February 7) just eight weeks after his diagnosis. Marie added: “He took his diagnosis with courage and spirit and strength, and a real fight within him that he was going to beat this.

“When he was told he had 12 months if chemo was successful, he wanted to focus on that, but he wanted to get this message out – he had no symptoms prior. He kept getting diagnosed with heartburn.

“It’s such an underestimated disease, especially considering his age. He’d go to the doctor and they’d give him medicine for heartburn.

“He was getting pains in his stomach and they didn’t link it at all. It really wasn’t picked up.

“As the oncologist told us, because of his age, you’d usually present to the GP with difficulty swallowing. It’s very unrecognised in GPs to push forward for tests because of his age.

“He wanted to raise awareness, he felt that something wasn’t quite right, but he wasn’t listened to. The oncologist said that there was no genetic link to the cancer; the cancer was caused by acid reflux.

“It’s very unknown, until we travelled this path with Dean, we weren’t aware of it. It’s really opened our eyes.

“There’s very little awareness of how prominent it can be. The last few years he’d been going to the doctors with heartburn.

“If it had been picked up sooner, it could have gone differently. He could have been fast-tracked. It was just too late when he was diagnosed.

“As a family we will continue to try to raise awareness and I have been in contact with Heartburn Cancer UK. There was an error with the biopsies too, because it was the Christmas period.

“They were delayed, and the doctors kept saying they were chasing it. Later, they said an error had been made because it was Christmas, that’s why there was a delay.

“We didn’t feel like it was picked up on soon enough.”

Despite being on emergency chemotherapy and struggling with constant pain, Dean was determined to perform one last time, and he notified his fans that he would perform an impromptu open-air concert at Piccadilly Circus in London. While Dean only wanted to perform for the love of it, he was in for another surprise.

Marie continued: “He came out of hospital on January 10 and on January 11 went to Piccadilly Circus because he was adamant he was going to do it even if he had to be wheeled down in a wheelchair.

“There were hundreds of people there, he left a legacy that has gone far beyond the UK – literally around the world. He’s managed to do so much before all this, people travelled from Switzerland and Spain to be at that open-air performance, to watch him busk – he didn’t expect so many people.

“I’d say there were 2-300 people watching. He managed to do five different songs.

“He did Tom Odell’s Heal, which meant quite a lot to him. He did Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, Amy Winehouse’s Back to black, James Blunt’s Goodbye My Lover, and he sang Blower’s Daughter by Damien Rice for me.

“That was our song, from right in the early days when he started performing. It was highly emotional.

“The crowds were crying. He was surrounded by so much love.”

Dean’s funeral will take place in Plymouth once arrangements have been made and at a later date a celebration of his life will be arranged in London.

To donate to Dean’s GoFundMe, a portion of which will be donated to Heartburn Cancer UK, please click here.

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Ten people have died and dozens have been injured in a fatal shooting at a secondary school in Canada – with students instructed to close classroom doors as the building went into lockdown

A student has recalled the terrifying moment he barricaded himself inside a classroom during a fatal shooting that left 10 dead and dozens injured in a remote Canadian town.

Darian Quist, a Grade 12 student at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, said he got to class at around 1:30pm local time when an alarm began blaring through the hallways with instructions to close the doors as the school was plunged into lockdown. Darian said the doors were closed for a while before he and his classmates realised something was wrong.

At least 10 people were killed and 25 have been injured in the incident which saw a shelter-in-place alert issued describing the suspect as a “female in a dress with brown hair”.

Darian says he was receiving photos on his phone from the scene. “We got tables and barricaded the doors” for over two hours, he told CBC Radio West. Police later arrived to escort the students out of the building. Once outside, Darian met with his mother Shelley at a local community centre.

Shelley was at work when a colleague asked if she knew what was happening at the high school. From her office, she could see “RCMP everywhere, fire, ambulances”. The mum said colleagues had to stop her from running to the school herself. “There was an RCMP crouched down in our parking lot with his gun drawn,” she added.

Shelley immediately called Darian and could hear police “kicking” her son’s classroom door down. “That’s when I left home,” she said. “We live very close; a block away from the community centre. I literally almost ran over there.” The mum said she didn’t accept that her son was okay until she actually saw him.

Six of the victims were found dead inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, while a seventh person died on the way to hospital, police said. The suspect’s body was also found at the school with a self‑inflicted injury.

Two more people were found dead at a nearby home in an incident police believe is connected to the shootings, but “are not in a position to provide that definitively”. Authorities say they know the attacker’s identity but have not revealed their identity for privacy reasons and to protect integrity investigation.

School District 59, where Tumbler Ridge Secondary School is located, said the school will remain closed for the rest of the week.

“Due to the tragic events that unfolded in community of Tumbler Ridge today, Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and Tumbler Ridge Elementary School will be closed for the rest of the week,” a statement read.

“The district will make supports available and once we have the locations for where the supports will be we will put that information on social media.”

Following the tragedy, Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney offered his condolences in a post on X. “I am devastated by today’s horrific shootings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. My prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones to these horrific acts of violence,” he wrote.

“I join Canadians in grieving with those whose lives have been changed irreversibly today, and in gratitude for the courage and selflessness of the first responders who risked their lives to protect their fellow citizens. Our ability to come together in crisis is the best of our country — our empathy, our unity, and our compassion for each other.”

“I have connected with Premier Eby to express my condolences, and with the Minister of Public Safety, Gary Anandasangaree, who is coordinating the federal response.”

“Our officials are in close contact with their counterparts to ensure the community is fully supported as best we can. The Government of Canada stands with all British Columbians as they confront this horrible tragedy.”

Commuters face travel chaos this morning as routes leading into two major airports announced disruption.

Network Rail announced that disruption between London St Pancras International and Luton Airport Parkway is expected to last until 12pm.

There are also issues on lines leading into Stansted Airport, with delays possible until 10am.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.