When asked about the talks in an interview with Fox News, US Vice-President JD Vance said: “In some ways, it went well; they agreed to meet afterwards. But in other ways, it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through.”

Mark Coleman died three days after he was hit by an Audi A4 while he was riding his scooter on Riverside Park Road, in Middlesbrough, on November, 23, 2023.

Mustafaa Hussain was jailed for four years and ten months for causing his death by dangerous driving when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court.

The 27-year-old, of Finchlay Court, Middlesbrough, was also banned from driving for seven years and five months.

Mark Coleman (Image: Cleveland Police)

Following the court case, Mr Coleman’s family paid tribute to the much-loved grandad.

His family said: “The loss of Marky — a partner, father, son, brother, grandad and uncle — has completely shattered our family.

“No words can express the depth of our grief or the daily pain we live with. Our home feels empty without him, and the longing for him to walk back through the door never fades.

“Marky had a heart of gold. He was always smiling, always helping others, and he brought love, laughter and protection into all our lives. Losing him has left a hole that can never be filled.

“What makes this even harder is knowing that Marky’s life was taken because of the careless and impatient actions of another driver. In just one moment, their decisions destroyed our world and took away the man who meant everything to us.

“His partner has lost the person she was supposed to grow old with, the one she imagined sharing every milestone, every joy and every struggle with.

“His daughters have lost the dad they adored, their source of comfort, guidance and unconditional love.

“His parents have lost their son, a loss no parent should ever endure. Our entire family has been broken beyond repair.

“Marky will live on in our hearts forever. We will carry him with us every single day, but our lives will never be the same again.”

Mustafaa Hussain (Image: Cleveland Police)

Read more:

The court heard how Hussain overtook a vehicle but failed to make sure that the road was clear, hitting Mr Coleman head on, and leaving him with fatal injuries.

Detective Constable Aileen Ward, of the serious collision investigation Unit, said: “This incident was entirely avoidable. An ill‑judged and impatient decision in that moment resulted in the loss of Mark Coleman’s life.

“This serves as a powerful reminder to all road users: a single, impatient choice on the road can lead to catastrophic and irreversible consequences, changing the lives of everyone involved.”

Brits in 33 areas across the UK have been warned to prepare some emergency items in case they face disruption from snow which is forecast to hit the UK on Wednesday night and over Thursday

Two Met Office weather warnings for snow are due to come into effect tomorrow, covering a wide swathe of the UK with Brits warned to prepare a set of emergency items.

The first of the two warnings, issued at 10am on Tuesday (February 17) covers an area including all of Wales as well as Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and a large part of the West Midland.

This yellow warning for snow comes into effect at 4pm on Wednesday (February 18) and covers a period of 14 hours until 6am on Thursday (February 19).

Residents are warned that over this period people in the affected areas can expect disruption with travel delays and stranded vehicles and passengers. Delayed or cancelled rail and air travel is also a possibility.

Some rural areas could also be cut off as up to 15cm of snow is forecast to fall in some parts with the chance of power cuts hitting some residents too.

The Met Office said: “2-5 cm of snow could accumulate quite widely above 150-200 metres, with perhaps as much as 10-15 cm above 250-300 metres in mid and southeast Wales, as well as Herefordshire and Shropshire.

“Some small accumulations of snow, typically less than 2 cm, are possible to lower elevations, especially from later Wednesday evening into the early hours of Thursday morning.

“Strong east to northeasterly winds will accompany the wet weather, which could exacerbate impacts in places.”

Meanwhile a second warning, covering Northern Ireland was announced at 7:45pm on Tuesday (February 17) with the danger of rain and snow forecast to last from 4am on Wednesday (February 18) through to 8pm that evening.

Outbreaks of rain, hill snow and strong winds may bring some disruption to travel during Wednesday, the Met Office has warned, with roads and railways likely to be affected along with disruption to power supplies.

“Snowy, wintry weather can cause delays and make driving conditions dangerous, so to keep yourself and others safe: plan your route, checking for delays and road closures, amending your travel plans if necessary; if driving, leave more time to prepare and check your car before setting off; make sure you have essentials packed in your car in the event of any delays,” the Met Office warning said.

Drivers were recommended to collect warm clothing, food, water, a blanket, a torch, ice scraper/de-icer, a warning triangle, high visibility vest and an in-car phone charger in case of disruption caused by snowy conditions.

The forecaster added: “People cope better when they have prepared in advance for the risk of power cuts or being cut off from services and amenities due to the snow. It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.”

Meanwhile a third yellow warning for rain covers south west England and the whole of the south coast, from 6am on Wednesday to 8am on Thursday.

The areas covered by the first warning, for snow, from 4pm on Wednesday to 6am on Thursday are:

London & South East England

South West England

Wales

• Blaenau Gwent
• Bridgend
• Caerphilly
• Carmarthenshire
• Ceredigion
• Conwy
• Denbighshire
• Gwynedd
• Merthyr Tydfil
• Monmouthshire
• Neath Port Talbot
• Newport
• Pembrokeshire
• Powys
• Rhondda Cynon Taf
• Swansea
• Torfaen
• Wrexham

West Midlands

• Herefordshire
• Shropshire
• Staffordshire
• Telford and Wrekin
• Warwickshire
• West Midlands Conurbation
• Worcestershire

The areas covered by the second warning, for snow and rain, from 4am on Wednesday to 8pm are:

Northern Ireland

• County Antrim
• County Armagh
• County Down
• County Fermanagh
• County Londonderry
• County Tyrone

Often, it is simplicity of Iranian stews like this that make them so very good: the few ingredients all leave their impression rather than getting lost in a more complex festival of flavours. All you have to do is take time to do the few things well – don’t rush the onion, don’t cook the rhubarb too long: let the gently sour pomegranate molasses and rhubarb sing. By all means, eat this with rice or flatbreads instead of cauliflower if you prefer. And if there’s any left over, it makes a fine breakfast, on toast.

Recipe from Sour by Mark Diacono (Quadrille, £25). Order your copy from books.telegraph.co.uk

Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Benfica descended into chaos at the start of the second half following a heated verbal exchange involving an irate Vinicius Junior and Gianluca Prestianni.

Vinicius Junior brought tonight’s play-off first leg to life with a piece of individual brilliance to open the scoring five minutes after the restart at Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz.

The Brazilian celebrated the wonder strike by dancing directly in front of Benfica’s home fans behind the goal – a reaction which immediately drew the ire of Jose Mourinho’s players.

Referee Francois Letexier showed Vinicius Junior a yellow card for his part in antagonising Benfica’s supporters by the corner flag, many of whom responded by throwing missiles at the 25-year-old forward.

There was a delay of more than nine minutes as both sets of players clashed on the pitch.

However, what at first seemed innocuous soon turned sinister, with Vinicius Junior issuing a complaint to the officials about something Benfica winger Prestianni had allegedly said in the middle of the melee.

Replays of the incident showed Prestianni raising his shirt over his mouth during the fracas, but it was unclear what – if anything – the Argentina international had said to draw such an apoplectic reaction from Vinicius Junior.

There were whistles in the crowd as Prestianni appeared to profess his innocence, with former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg saying on Amazon Prime’s live commentary: ‘What’s gone on is there have been words said between the players.

‘Vinicius Junior is not happy with what’s been said. He’s informed the referee of what’s been said and the referee is now following the protocol of a racial comment that has been made.

‘He will now make sure that this has been reported.’

More to follow.

MORE: Man Utd tipped to sign ‘terrific’ Chelsea star and £52m Real Madrid wonderkid

MORE: Alan Pardew names team that could thwart Arsenal’s quadruple hopes after Wigan victory

MORE: Man Utd urged to hire Champions League manager to catch Arsenal and Man City

Addi Smith was found dead in a hotel room along with her mum Tawnia McGeehan, who was embroiled in a bitter custody dispute with her ex-husband at the time of their deaths

A stepmother issued a desperate plea for help before a young cheerleader was killed by her mum as she prepared for a competition.

McKennly Smith raised the alarm online after Addi Smith vanished, posting a missing persons poster on Facebook. She added: “My daughter Addi and her mom [are] missing please share post and call or text with any information thank you.”

The poster showed Addi Smith and her mum Tawnia McGeehan, 38, as they smiled into the camera. It listed their last known location as being the New York-New York Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, they had been due to attend a cheerleading competition but failed to turn up.

READ MORE: Tragedy as mum shoots daughter and then herself at Las Vegas hotelREAD MORE: Pawtucket shooting: Dad ‘shoots wife and three kids’ at ice hockey arena

Concerned members of the cheerleading team alerted police after the mum and daughter failed to appear for the cheer competition. Police visited a room in the Rio Hotel & Casino at about 10:45am that day, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Police said in a press release: “Patrol officers along with security personnel for the property attempted to contact the two. Officers knocked on the door and called into the room several times but did not get a response. Based on the details at the time, there was no belief that either was in danger and officers cleared.”

Family members continued to urge police and hotel officials to check the room after they got no response from Addi or her mum. Once hotel security entered the room, they found them both dead with gunshot wounds.

McGeehan was engaged in a bitter custody dispute with her ex-husband- and left behind an apparent suicide note, police said. Addi was a cheerleader for Xtreme Cheer, who later shared a tribute following her death.

“No words do the situation justice. She was so beyond loved, and she will always be a part of the UXC family,” it said.

People who follow Utah Xtreme Cheer, based in Salt Lake City, offered their thoughts to the family, who were said to be suffering “unimaginable” pain. A GoFundMe campaign has been organised to help the family during the difficult time.

“This heart-breaking event has left the family in deep shock and grief, struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss of Addi in such a way,” it said. “In the midst of this tragedy, we are reaching out to the community to help Brad and his family navigate the difficult days ahead.”

As of Tuesday evening, about $28,362 (£20,915) has been raised out of a $45,000 (£32,850) total.

For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.

Iran is not being subtle. 

In exercises in one of the world’s most strategic waterways, it left little doubt of its capabilities with missile strikes on dummy targets and simulated tanker seizures.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wasn’t mincing his words either.

“A warship is a dangerous device,” he said. “But more dangerous than that is a weapon that can send that warship deep under the sea.”

A fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran’s exercises have closed it, albeit temporarily, giving a clear sense of what could be to come if the US strikes Iran.

Just a few hundred miles east, a formidable array of US military forces is also amassing.

Read more: Iran and US agree ‘guiding principles’ after talks

The USS Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group has been conducting exercises of its own. The kind you only carry out if you are preparing for offensive action.

A stretch of water the world relies on for 20% of its oil is becoming cluttered with rival navies, both drilling for war. What could possibly go wrong?

So, what are the chances of diplomacy averting the chances of conflict?

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, emerged from talks sounding hopeful. He’s optimistic that the basis for future negotiations has been laid, but warned that an agreement could still be a long way off.

A seasoned diplomat and veteran of negotiations with the West, he cannot afford to look obstructive. The Iranians will want to play for time.

US President Donald Trump has said failure to do a deal could lead to strikes on Iran.

Read more:
Family forced to ‘pay for bullet that killed their son’
Thousands protest against Iran regime as talks held nearby

But the Iranians say a deal on the terms that Trump is currently proposing would be tantamount to surrender. Giving up its nuclear enrichment completely is a red line. Trump says it’s a prerequisite.

Squaring that, and many other circles, will be fiendishly difficult.

Without progress, the region is undoubtedly moving closer to war.

The bird was rescued by New Arc Wildlife Rescue but could not be saved due to being too weak to recover.

A puffin who washed up on an Aberdeenshire beach in stormy weather has died aged 34. The bird was discovered on January 29 on Balmedie Beach.

It was later taken to New Arc Wildlife Rescue, along with eight other birds. Rescuers discovered the bird was the oldest rescue they had ever came across.

This information came via data from a ring issued by the British Trust for Ornithology on the puffin’s feet. They found the bird was ringed on the Isle of May in 1995, when it was aged three.

A post from New Arc Wildlife Rescue confirmed that the bird sadly passed away after being too weak to recover. The organisation wrote: “Among the many puffins admitted into our care in recent weeks was this extraordinary individual. This puffin, found on Balmedie Beach, carried a leg ring issued by the BTO British Trust for Ornithology.

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“We notified the BTO of the recovery, enabling them to update their records. Such information is invaluable, helping scientists monitor movement, longevity, and population trends: data that underpins conservation efforts and informs future conservation strategies.

“Yesterday, we received this puffin’s ringing history…. and what a history it was. The bird had been originally ringed on the Isle of May, on the 11th May 1995.

“At the time of ringing the puffin was estimated to be at least 3 years old. This means that at the time of rescue, this remarkable puffin was over 34 years old, making them the oldest Atlantic puffin ever admitted into our care, and the oldest bird we have ever had a ring recovery for at New Arc Wildlife Rescue.

“Sadly, despite our best efforts, this resilient seabird, like so many others affected by the wreck, was too weak to recover and passed away in our care. While we could not return them to the sea, we are honoured to have cared for such an extraordinary individual in their final chapter. Over more than three decades, this puffin would have weathered countless storms, shifting oceans, and changing seas.”

They continued: “As many of you will know from following our page, a significant puffin wreck has been unfolding along our coastline. In recent weeks, dead and exhausted puffins have been washing ashore not only here, but along much of the UK’s coast and as far south as France, Spain, and Portugal.

“While official figures are still being compiled, it is likely that this event has had a serious impact on the European population of the Atlantic puffin. Prolonged severe weather is thought to be a major factor, creating turbulent seas that make hunting extremely difficult and driving fish stocks deeper beyond the birds’ reach. For a species already facing significant pressures, such events can be devastating.

“Their story is a powerful reminder that no bird is “just a bird.” Each one carries a lifetime of journeys we rarely see and stories we may never fully know. These remarkable creatures are true wonders of the natural world, and they deserve our respect, compassion, and continued commitment to their protection.”

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An 18-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday after he ran toward the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., armed with a loaded shotgun. Capitol Police intercepted the individual on the west side of the building.

Police Chief Michael Sullivan confirmed the man had parked a Mercedes SUV nearby before running “several hundred yards” toward the Capitol.

Officers quickly apprehended him and ordered him to the ground. Speaking at a press conference, Chief Sullivan stated the suspect was wearing a tactical vest and gloves. A Kevlar helmet and gas mask were also discovered in his vehicle, alongside additional ammunition.

During a press conference, Chief Sullivan revealed the man was wearing a tactical vest and gloves, with a Kevlar helmet and gas mask found in his vehicle.

The shotgun was loaded, and he carried extra ammunition. The motive remains under investigation, including whether members of Congress, who are currently not in session, were the intended target. While the department possesses video footage, Chief Sullivan appealed to the public for any additional recordings of the incident.

“Who knows what would have happened if we wouldn’t have officers standing here?” the chief said, adding that the department had run active shooter drills in almost the identical spot in recent months.

Sullivan said the young man was not known to authorities and described him as not being from the area. The chief said the vehicle was not registered to the suspect, who has multiple addresses.

As a thank you to families who have supported the Maya’s Law campaign, launched by Maya Chappell’s great aunts Gemma and Rachael, a pancake party was held in Consett on Sunday (February 16).

Defenceless Maya, two, died in Newcastle’s RVI days after being violently shaken by her mother’s new partner, Michael Daymond, at their home in Shotton Colliery in September 2022.

Gemma Chappell (left), Rachael Walls (centre) from the Maya’s Law campaign and Jemma Bushby from Creative Kitchen HQ (Image: RACHAEL WALLS/GEMMA CHAPPELL)

Daymond was later jailed for life, while Maya’s mother, Dana Carr, received a nine-year sentence for allowing her daughter’s death.

Gemma Chappell (left), Rachael Walls (right) from the Maya’s Law campaign and Jemma Bushby (centre) from Creative Kitchen HQ (Image: RACHAEL WALLS/GEMMA CHAPPELL)

The campaign is calling for the introduction of a Child Risk Disclosure Scheme (CRDS), alongside stronger multi-agency information sharing, to close gaps in the safeguarding system, and a petition hit 100,000 signatures last month.

The cooking event on Sunday at Creative Kitchen HQ was also about keeping conversations going around safeguarding, Gemma said.

Creative Kitchen HQ boss Jemma Bushby, who has supported the campaign from the outset, said she was keen to bring families together while creating a relaxed space to talk about the importance of protecting children.

Children cracked, mixed, poured and flipped their way through the session, each making their own pancake batter before cooking them.

Maya’s Law pancake event (Image: RACHAEL WALLS/GEMMA CHAPPELL)

They then decorated their creations with fruit and sweet treats, resulting in what organisers described as “lots of chocolate-covered smiles”.

Young attendees also had the chance to practise pancake flipping with mini pans and design their ultimate pancake creations.

Maya’s Law pancake event (Image: RACHAEL WALLS/GEMMA CHAPPELL)

Maya’s Law pancake event (Image: RACHAEL WALLS/GEMMA CHAPPELL)

The party was part-funded by Maya’s Law, helping to reduce costs for local families.

Maya’s Law pancake event (Image: RACHAEL WALLS/GEMMA CHAPPELL)

Maya’s Law pancake event (Image: RACHAEL WALLS/GEMMA CHAPPELL)

With a petition now surpassing 110,000 signatures and North East MPs backing calls for a parliamentary debate, organisers say community events like the Pancake Party are an important reminder of the people behind the campaign.

One organiser said: “This campaign is about giving Maya a voice.

“Days like this are about bringing families together, building life skills and reminding everyone why safeguarding matters.”