DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran said Monday it had summoned all of the European Union ambassadors in the Islamic Republic to protest the bloc’s listing of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard as a terror group.
The move came as Turkey tried to organize a meeting between the U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian officials, seeking to jump-start talks to ease the threat of U.S. military action against the Islamic Republic, two Turkish officials said.
The American military has moved the USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers into the Mideast. It remains unclear whether President Donald Trump will decide to use force, though regional countries have engaged in diplomacy in an effort to halt a new Mideast war breaking out.
“Trump is trying to calibrate a response to Iran’s mass killing of protesters that punishes Iranian leaders without also embroiling the United States in a new, open-ended conflict in the region,” the New York-based Soufan Center think tank said Monday.
Advertisement
“Some Trump aides seek to exploit Tehran’s weakness to secure major concessions from the regime, but Trump has set conditions for a diplomatic resolution that Tehran cannot accept.”
Other countries, including the U.S. and Canada, have previously designated the Guard as a terrorist organization. While the move is largely symbolic, it does add to the economic pressure squeezing Iran, particularly has the Guard has a major influence on the country’s economy.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told journalists that the ambassadors had begun to be summoned on Sunday and that process went into Monday as well.
Advertisement
“A series of actions were reviewed, various options are being prepared and were sent to the related decision-making bodies,” Baghaei said. “We think that in coming days, a decision will be made about a reciprocal action by the Islamic Republic of Iran toward the illegal, unreasonable and very wrong move by the EU.”
The Guard emerged from Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution as a force meant to protect the Shiite cleric-overseen government and was later enshrined in its constitution. It operates in parallel with the country’s regular armed forces and has expanded into private enterprise, allowing it to thrive.
The Guard’s Basij force likely was key in putting down the demonstrations, starting in earnest from Jan. 8, when authorities cut off the internet and international telephone calls for the nation of 85 million people. Videos that have come out of Iran via Starlink satellite dishes and other means show men likely belonging to its forces shooting and beating protesters.
Advertisement
Turkey tries to organize Iran-U.S. talks
In Turkey, officials have been trying to organize talks with Iran and Witkoff there, two Turkish officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief journalists. One described the goal as trying to have Witkoff meet the Iranians by the end of the week, if possible.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Witkoff met multiple times last year in negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program in Rome and Oman, but never finalized a deal. On June 13, Israel launched a series of attacks on Iran that sparked a 12-day war between the countries, effectively halting those talks. The U.S. during the war bombed three Iranian nuclear sites.
Baghaei declined to give any specifics about the possibility of talks in Ankara.
“What is clear is that we are engaged with reviewing either principles and details related to this diplomatic process,” he said. “It is natural that regional countries have intensified their efforts.”
Advertisement
The U.S. did not immediately comment on the possible talks.
Axios first reported on the possible talks in Turkey.
Guard drill in Strait of Hormuz ‘ongoing’
Baghaei also said a drill by the Guard in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all oil traded passes, was “ongoing based on its timetable.” Iran warned ships last week that a drill would be carried out on Sunday and Monday, but prior to Baghaei’s comments had not acknowledged it taking place. The U.S. military’s Central Command issued a strong warning to Iran not to harass its warships and aircraft, or impede commercial vessels moving through the strait.
Satellite photos taken Sunday by Planet Labs PBC and analyzed by The Associated Press showed small vessels moving at speed in the strait between Iran’s Qeshm and Hengam islands, some distance away from the corridor commercial vessels take. The Guard relies on a fleet of small, fast-attack ships in the strait.
Advertisement
Asked about whether Iran could face a war, Baghaei told the public “don’t worry at all.” He declined, however, to discuss whether Trump set a deadline for Iran to respond to America’s demands.
Iran state TV host faces charges for mocking dead
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported on Monday that prosecutors in Tehran filed charges against the head of state television’s Ofogh channel, as well as producers and the host of a program who mocked those killed in the crackdown.
The program, which aired Saturday, saw the host reference allegations made abroad about Iran hiding bodies of the dead in freezers to bring out as victims if the U.S. attacks the country.
The host asked viewers a multiple-choice question about where Iran would hide the bodies, listing things like ice cream freezers and supermarket refrigerators.
Advertisement
The crackdown on the demonstrations killed at least 6,842 people, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in other rounds of unrest in Iran. It fears even more may be dead. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the death toll.
As of Jan. 21, Iran’s government put the death toll at a far lower 3,117, saying 2,427 were civilians and security forces, labeling the rest “terrorists.” In the past, Iran’s theocracy has undercounted or not reported fatalities from unrest. However, the country’s presidency published a list of names Sunday it said belonged to 2,986 of those killed, something it hasn’t done in past protests.
The Full-Day Heartbeat Locations Tour from York takes visitors into the North York Moors and along the coast to Whitby, following in the footsteps of the ITV drama that ran for 18 series.
The experience currently holds a 4.4-star rating on TripAdvisor, with reviewers highlighting its appeal for fans keen to see familiar locations brought to life.
Goathland (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The seven-hour tour includes stops in Goathland, known to viewers as the fictional village of Aidensfield, as well as Whitby and surrounding moorland scenery.
For many, the chance to visit Goathland is the standout moment, with the village’s streets, railway station and surrounding countryside all heavily featured in the series.
Advertisement
One visitor described the trip as “a must-do for all fans of the Heartbeat TV show”, adding: “Fabulous day out, got some great pictures of the show locations.”
Another reviewer said they were “very satisfied” with the experience, praising a guide who shared “lots of interesting facts and information about the filming of the series and the sites”.
Guides and drivers are a consistent theme in feedback, with several reviews highlighting their knowledge and professionalism.
Advertisement
One visitor said the guide was “friendly and knowledgeable”, while also praising the driver for navigating “difficult, narrow roads” across the moors.
Another described the tour as “excellent for a fan”, noting there was a “good time at each stop” and plenty of insight into the locations visited.
The scenery also plays a major role in the experience, with the North York Moors providing a dramatic backdrop that extends beyond the show itself.
Visitors are taken through rural villages and open countryside, offering a broader look at the landscape that helped define the series.
Advertisement
However, some reviewers noted that time at key locations can feel limited.
One visitor said that around an hour in Goathland “was too short”, while others suggested they would have liked more flexibility or additional time to explore filming spots in more detail.
Despite this, the overall reviews remain positive, particularly among dedicated fans of the programme.
With Heartbeat still holding a loyal following years after it ended, tours continue to offer fans the chance to step into the fictional world of Aidensfield.
Advertisement
As one reviewer summed it up: “A good day out seeing some of the Heartbeat locations, well worth going if you are a fan.”
What goes into your ultimate fry-up? (Picture: Getty Images)
There’s nothing quite like starting a weekend morning with a fry-up.
But for some reason, a Full English at home never tastes quite as good as the one from your favourite greasy spoon.
Rouz G. Jabibi, who runs More Munchies in Acton Vale, has more than two decades of experience running a cafe and knows all the cooking tricks for creating the ultimate breakfast.
And there are five top tips you need to know, if you want the perfect plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, beans and more.
Advertisement
More Munchies has been serving fry-ups for years (Picture: More Munchies)
How to make the perfect scrambled eggs
According to Rouz, the trick to whipping up delicious scrambled eggs has to do with the type of butter you use.
‘It has to be real butter, and it has to be unsalted,’ he told SumUp, a payment solutions provider for cafes. ‘Salt interferes with the cooking process, so we avoid salted butter entirely.’
The team at More Munchies mixes eggs with full-fat milk, then microwaves them briefly for around a minute and a half, before finishing off in a pan.
Rouz claims you can use either English or French butter for this, but he adds that the ‘two-stage process is key’.
It’s all about the type of butter you use (Picture: Getty Images)
The sponge method is the secret to tasty bacon
Bacon is a ‘core product’ at More Munchies; as such, Rouz says they take it very seriously.
Their method for cooking involves ‘sponging off’ every rasher to clean the surface of the meat, which sounds odd, but apparently makes a world of difference.
Advertisement
‘Most catering bacon, and some supermarket bacon, is frozen in brine, which is why it holds its shape so neatly. But when you cook it, that salt and water rise to the surface as a white residue. A lot of places ignore it. We don’t,’ explains the West London cafe owner.
Hey, foodies! Add us as a Preferred Source
At Metro Food, we’re here to bring you all the latest foodie news, delicious recipes, restaurant reviews, and cooking tips. As a loyal reader and a part of our vibrant community, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for stories
Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.
From the latest Walkers flavours to the secret McDonald’s menu, Metro Food has it all
More Munchies always ‘sponges off’ bacon before cooking (Picture: Getty Images)
‘We bake the bacon first, then sponge off every rasher individually, essentially cleaning the surface of the meat. Then we leave it to cool completely, which stops the edges curling and keeps each rasher long and flat.’
Someone comes in at 5:30 am each morning specifically to sponge off the bacon, preparing around 10 kilos before the place even opens.
When an order for a Full English comes in, the bacon is fried dry on both sides, as Rouz says no oil is needed as ‘the fat does the work’ to make it extra crispy.
Don’t just use Heinz Baked Beans
Rouz isn’t a fan of Heinz, and mixes two tins and tomato juice (Picture: In Pictures via Getty Images)
Controversially, Rouz isn’t a fan of Heinz beans, claiming they’re ‘watery and expensive’.
Instead of the classic, they use a mixture of three different tins – Bid Food, Branston and tinned tomato juice to give ‘a bit more depth’.
Advertisement
The ketchup mistake everyone makes
HP sauce pairs better with sausages, according to the cafe owner (Picture: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
If you’re putting ketchup on your sausages, Rouz says you’re making an error.
‘Brown sauce should go with sausages, because it complements their flavour,’ he says.
‘Our sausages have cumin and cinnamon; it’s a Cumberland sausage with some extra herbs, so ketchup would overwhelm the flavour.
‘Brown sauce, being fruitier, complements what’s already in the sausage. Ketchup is more suited to bacon and egg, while brown sauce belongs with hash browns, bubble and squeak, and sausage sandwiches.’
Stop over-complicating poached eggs
If you prefer poached eggs to scrambled, that’s all well and good, just stop making it so darn complicated, says Rouz. He claims you don’t need to be using vinegar, swirling your water, or faffing with egg poaching cups; instead, you can just ‘freestyle it’.
Advertisement
To do this, he recommends using room temperature eggs and bringing a pan of water to the boil. Simply drop the eggs straight into the water, and let it do the work for you.
‘It might take a couple of attempts to get the feel for it, but once you do, the result is soft in the middle, set on the outside, and perfect,’ he adds.
Police and army experts are set to begin an excavation on land near the property, which spans several acres, 50 years on from their mysterious disappearance. Specialists from the Royal Engineers were drafted in after ‘disturbed ground’ dating back to the time of Renee and three-year-old Andrew’s disappearance was revealed in a historic survey of the site, The Scottish Daily Mail reports.
Forensics have been given the go-ahead to commence with digs around MacDowell’s old property. Renee and Andrew’s relatives have been made aware of the latest developments.
Renee and Andrew disappeared on November 12, 1976. Renee’s BMW car was found ablaze in a lay-by near Dalmagarry Quarry, some 12 miles south of Inverness.
Advertisement
MacDowell, 81, took his secrets of the whereabouts of the mother’s and son’s bodies to his grave after he died in hospital five months after his conviction. He had eluded punishment for 45 years before finally being found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.
Police Scotland vowed to continue investigating until their remains have been discovered.
MacDowell, who was known as Bill rather than William, was living near Inverness at the time of the murders and worked as company secretary for a building firm. The company was owned by Renee’s estranged husband, Gordon, and married McDowell was sacked from his role at the company when their affair emerged.
At the time she vanished, Renee had believed she and McDowell would be meeting up for a weekend away before a planned move to Shetland. The devoted mum, who is survived by her eldest son Gordon, had been deeply in love with MacDowell.
Within a year of the affair starting, she had become pregnant with their child Andrew. MacDowell, a prisoner at HMP Glenochil in Alloa, died at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in February 2023, just one year into his sentence.
In March last year, there was a breakthrough in the case when items – believed to be a potty and a carpet – were found next to the A9.
They were found near to a lay-by close to Dalmagarry Quarry, south of Inverness. Renee’s car had been found on fire in the lay by on November 12, 1976, but there was no sign of her or her son.
Advertisement
Detective Superintendent Brian Geddes said: “Our investigation into the murders of Renee and Andrew MacRae remains ongoing and officers continue to examine all available lines of investigation.”
Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.
Igor Tudor’s Tottenham, though, come into the match on an upward trend. They battled to a deserved 1-1 draw at Anfield last weekend, and the Croatian secured the first win of his interim tenure last time out, pipping Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Forest were also in European action midweek, but required extra-time and penalties to knock Midtjylland out of the Europa League last 16.
Many people may qualify for the Disabled Band Reduction Scheme without realising it.
If eligible, your home is moved down one council tax band. If you are already in the lowest band, you could get a 17% discount instead.
You may qualify if your home has:
An extra room or bathroom needed for a disabled person
Space for wheelchair use
Missing this could mean overpaying year after year.
Some households could pay no council tax at all
There is also a separate discount for households where someone is classed as severely mentally impaired.
Advertisement
This can mean:
100% discount if you live alone or with others who qualify
50% discount in some cases
25% discount if you live with one qualifying person
Conditions can include dementia, Parkinson’s or severe learning difficulties, but a GP must confirm eligibility.
Money expert Martin Lewis explains: “A doctor must certify the person is ‘severely mentally impaired’ – a diagnosis alone isn’t enough.”
Warning over appealing your council tax band
With bills rising, some households are considering challenging their council tax band – but experts warn it can backfire.
While a successful appeal could save around £500 a year, there is also a risk your bill could increase.
Advertisement
Mel Whiting from Norton Finance said: “Appealing your council tax isn’t a free hit.”
“If your home is undervalued, your bill can go up substantially.”
In some cases, an unsuccessful appeal could move a property into a higher band permanently and even affect neighbouring homes.
How to check if you are overpaying your Council Tax
Before appealing, experts suggest:
Advertisement
Checking your council tax band online
Comparing with similar homes nearby
Looking at properties of similar size, type and age
If similar homes are in a lower band, you may have grounds to challenge.
What to consider before acting
You are more likely to successfully challenge your band if you have lived in the property for less than six months. However, appeals can take time and outcomes are not guaranteed.
Once a band is changed, it is likely to remain in place.
Appealing your band carries risk, and could leave you paying more if it goes the wrong way.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest.
In seasons gone by this would have been a fixture between two solid teams – but now both are battling for survival and this is a huge relegation six-pointer.
Follow all the build-up and action here.
Advertisement
Igor Tudor faces another huge test as Tottenham host Nottingham Forest (John Walton/PA Wire)
Dani Scott, 22, from Galashiels, began chatting to Jake, 24, from South Carolina, after he commented on one of her YouTube videos — and when he flew 4,000 miles to meet her for the first time, he proposed the very next day.
A British woman got engaged just 24 hours after meeting an American man who commented under one of her YouTube videos.
Advertisement
Dani Scott, 22, was engaged to another man but decided to call off the wedding weeks before it was supposed to go ahead, as the couple weren’t getting on.
Two months later, the waitress, from Galashiels, Scotland, began chatting to Jake, 24, from South Carolina, USA, after he commented under one of her YouTube videos about dumbphones. The pair started dating, without ever meeting face to face.
Jake, who works in retail travelled 4,000 miles to Scotland to visit Dani in February 2026, and got down on one knee just 24 hours after they met in person for the first time.
Waitress Dani was over the moon at the proposal and the couple plan to wed in summer 2027, before she relocates permanently across the Atlantic.
Advertisement
She said that some friends have shared concerns about how quickly she has got engaged again, after breaking up with her fianc just two months before they ‘met’ online, but hopes that they will come round to the idea, after seeing how happy she is.
Dani, who first told her story to Talk To The Press said: “I met Jake through YouTube, a month after splitting from my fiance , who I broke up with a few weeks before our wedding.
“We both made videos about dumbphones and started chatting.
Advertisement
“After a few phone calls we decided we liked each other, even though he’s in America, and I’m in Scotland.
“I like that he sees the world differently to other people.
“He’s very gentle, kind, and really into nature, we just instantly clicked.
“We started dating a week after our first call, even though we’d never met in person.
Advertisement
“He came to visit me for the first time in February 2026 and spent 12 days in Scotland with me.
“It was amazing, the best 12 days of my life, we just got on so well.
“The day after we met, Jake proposed, whilst we were on a walk.
Advertisement
“I knew it was going to happen, but it was still so exciting.
“Long distance is really difficult; it was much easier to cope before we’d met in person.
“My family have come round to the relationship now, but some friends think getting engaged again four months after breaking up with my ex-fianc is a bit soon.
“Some friends didn’t even know I’d broken up with Matthew, so they are quite confused.
Advertisement
“People’s judgement does upset me sometimes, but I think over time people will get more used to the idea, as they will see that I’m actually happy.”
Dani met her ex fianc at university in 2024, when they were both studying theology. The pair had a whirlwind romance, and within six months, he had popped the question.
The duo planned to get married in September 2025, around a year and a half after they first met. However, as their nuptials approached, the couple decided to postpone the wedding.
Advertisement
“He wasn’t happy and I wasn’t happy, so we decided to postpose the wedding”, she said.
The couple tried to make things work, but after struggling to see eye to eye, cancelled the wedding completely in October 2025.
“I was actually really relieved, as I was really unhappy”, she said.
As they cancelled everything so close to the wedding date, Dani said getting refunds was almost impossible, and ended up losing around £2,000.
Advertisement
Dani uses her YouTube channel to post videos about how she thinks dumbphones (mobile phones without internet access or apps) are better than smartphones.
Intrigued, Jake commented under one of her videos, telling her that she had inspired him to start his own channel.
Jake also began posting about dumbphones, and the pair became invested in each other’s channels.
Advertisement
Then, two months after Dani had split up with Matthew, in December 2025, Jake left a comment under her video, asking for her email address.
She agreed and the couple began emailing back and forth all day, before Jake asked to call her.
After a few calls, the couple decided to start dating, even though they had never met in person and live 4,000 miles apart.
Then in February 2026, Jake flew from South Carolina to Scotland, for a 12 day trip, to visit Dani for the first time.
Just 24 hours after Dani and Jake first met, he got down on one knee whilst they were on a walk in the local countryside.
“We’d decided we wanted to get married from the first moment we started talking”, she said.
Dani revealed that one of the reasons the couple wanted to get married so quickly, is so that she can apply for a visa to move to the US.
Advertisement
They think it could take over a year for her visa to get processed, so are planning to get wed in South Carolina in summer 2027.
Unfortunately, Dani’s family will not be able to attend the wedding due to costs, but the couple plan to have a celebration in Scotland before their big day, to celebrate with her relatives.
While Dani’s visa is being processed, she is unable to visit the US, meaning that the first time she goes to America will be for her wedding.
However, thankfully Jake is going to visit Dani in April, which will be the second time they meet in person, and will then travel to the UK every few months, until the wedding.
Dani’s family were initially hesitant about the relationship, but since meeting him during his visit, she says they have “come round”.
Advertisement
However, some friends are concerned that she has got engaged again too quickly after splitting from her ex.
Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE
It comes as dozens of eligible people, including students, queued up again around the county for the menB vaccine or antibiotics, although numbers in the lines have dropped considerably since the rollout began on Wednesday, with no queue outside the previously busy University of Kent Canterbury campus vaccination site as of 10am on Sunday.
BBC star Gethin Jones has piqued fans’ interest due to his personal life
Gethin Jones is one of the most beloved figures on British television. His personal and romantic life has also intrigued fans over the years.
Advertisement
The 48-year-old former Blue Peter star now presents Morning Live on the BBC alongside Michelle Ackerley and Helen Skelton, with whom Jones has been romantically linked.
The Cardiff-born star is a former Rugby player. He has also dipped his toe into charity work over the years with Rugby Aid and a 24-hour ‘Skate-a-thon’ for Comic Relief.
Stints on Strictly Come Dancing and his past engagement to an opera star have also seen his star rise. Wales Online takes a closer look at Jones, his private life and what he’s said on romance in recent times.
Advertisement
Split from famous fiancee
While competing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2007, Jones ended up meeting opera superstar Katherine Jenkins, who was a guest on the show. A romance quickly blossomed, and four years later, the pair were engaged.
However, they split up at the end of 2011. The pair admitted that, during their social media announcements, the decision left them both heartbroken.
During her tours, Jenkins admitted the break-up left her “in pieces” and feeling like a “total mess”. In an interview on the Mirror’s ‘Outdoor Minds’ podcast, Jones also conceded the split took its toll.
Advertisement
“I remember doing BBC Radio 5Live and going into the toilet at 5.30am, going, ‘All right. Come on. Just focus for the next three hours, and then you can go back to being sad again.’ I definitely had a bad bout of depression during that time,” he said. Jenkins later married American director Andrew Levitas and had two children.
Helen Skelton rumours
The much-loved TV and radio personality was romantically linked with Jones in 2024, with the pair reportedly enjoying dates in a luxury spa.
Skelton, 42, split from rugby player Richie Myler in 2022, who is the father of her children. Rumours were rife about a potential romance after the duo were pictured together at the Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards in 2024, leaning into one another on the red carpet.
However, Skelton, who recently moved back to her native Cumbria to live on her parents’ dairy farm, claimed there was no budding romance with Jones.
Advertisement
“We just work together, we are not together. No, no, no. We are just work friends,” she said. “They printed pictures of us at work and that we’re together because we are at work together.”
The pair have been friends for years and colleagues for just as long. Last year, they took part in Gethin and Helen’s Wheely Big Challenge – a 24-hour roller-skating challenge in aid of Comic Relief. Jones opened up on their deep friendship, saying: “What’s different this time is that we have each other. We’re best friends. We’re very honest with one another.”
Jones has publicly commented on his and Helen’s reported romance. The presenter was interviewing Christine McGuinness about her Situationships podcast.
Advertisement
When author Sophie Gravia and McGuiness discussed their own relationships and romances, one remarked about being single for a long time, with Gethin quickly stepping in to say “join the club”, seemingly confirming his single status.
Game will shut down its final three stores in April, marking the end of the business’s three-decade high-street presence.
The video-game retailer confirmed it would close its last three stores in Dudley, Lancaster, and Sutton in April 2026, following its entry into administration earlier this year.
Game once operated more than 300 stores across the UK but closed its stores over the last few years.
Game to leave the UK high street in the coming weeks
Although Game will be closing its last three stores, the business’s online presence will continue to operate.
Advertisement
Plus, it will have some physical presence, remaining in more than 200 Sports Direct and House of Fraser stores across the UK.
Over the last several years, Game closed sites as leases expired and closed its headquarters in Basingstoke in 2025.
Its move to shut its final three stores follows the appointment of administrators in January.
Although Game is moving away from standalone stores, bosses previously insisted that selling physical games remains central to the business.
Advertisement
Managing director Nick Arran has described gaming as the chain’s “core business” and argued that there is still a market for boxed titles, particularly collectors’ editions and gifts that people want to wrap rather than send as a download code.
Game will close its last stores soon. (Image: Getty Images)
In 2023, he claimed that the chain was a defender of physical media in an increasingly online market, saying: “Gaming is our core business, and we will be the last man standing selling physical video games.”
Following the announcement of the closure of its stores, GAME has said: “Gift cards and eVouchers are valid for two years after their purchase. Any remaining balance will be cancelled on the expiration date of the card.
“Gift cards and eVouchers cannot be used by customers outside of the United Kingdom.”
Advertisement
The exact date of the final closures has not yet been confirmed by Game.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login