The lorry is blocking the fast lane

Drivers have been told to avoid a major road in Cambridgeshire after a lorry crash. Cambridgeshire Police were called to the A14 westbound at Spaldwick just before 3pm on Thursday (March 19) with reports of a crash involving a car and a lorry.

Emergency services attended. Motorists have been told to find alternative routes if travelling in the area.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “We received a report of a two-vehicle collision on the westbound A14 at Spaldwick shortly before 3pm. It involved an HGV and a car.

“There is debris in the slow lane, and the lorry is currently blocking the fast lane leading to delays. The A14 westbound (towards Northamptonshire) was briefly closed but it appears one lane is now open.

“Tailbacks are building on the A14 and we are approaching rush hour so maybe worth people seeking alternative routes.”

Traffic monitoring site Inrix said: “Severe delays and one lane closed due to accident on A14 Westbound after J18 (Spaldwick).”

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Shoppers looking to buy chocolate treats for Easter are being hit by a shrinkflation “double whammy” of rising prices and products getting smaller, Which? is warning.

The consumer group, which tracks around 25,000 products across major UK supermarkets to look at how grocery prices are changing, said that shoppers could find themselves paying more for less.

Which?’s supermarket food inflation tracker found that while overall food and drink inflation at the supermarket has slowed to 3.9% in the year to February, the cost of chocolate – which it said is driven by ongoing global supply issues – has surged by 9.7% annually.

Which? also found that the experience of products reducing in size but prices being maintained or increased “has become a prevalent trend in the seasonal aisle”.

The supermarket food inflation tracker also indicated that when looking at overall inflation across ranges of groceries, supermarket own-label premium products had the highest rates of inflation at 6.7% – a higher rate than budget own-brand items (4%) or branded items (2.8%).

Which? suggested that shoppers to look at the unit price (for example the price per 100g or 100ml) to find the most cost-effective deals.

Which? said its researchers also regularly find that discounters Aldi and Lidl can be good options for households looking to save money on groceries.

Reena Sewraz, Which? retail editor, said: “It’s disappointing to see Easter treats aren’t safe from shrinkflation, with some products going up in price significantly, even though they’re smaller than last year.

“Manufacturers are quietly giving shoppers less for more, so it’s no wonder people feel cheated when they get less bang for their buck.

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“To ensure you’re getting a fair deal, always check the ‘price per 100g’ on the shelf edge label rather than just the headline price.

“This is the only way to accurately compare different brands and sizes to ensure you are bagging a genuine bargain.”

Which? said chocolate has been rising in price sharply due to a severe global cocoa shortage caused by factors such as poor harvests. It said this, combined with high demand, increased energy and transportation costs, and climate-related challenges, has caused retail prices to surge.

Which? said it had approached supermarkets and manufacturers.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “We know Easter is a time many come together which is why we are focused on giving customers brilliant value with trusted quality.”

A spokesperson for Mars Wrigley – which owns the Galaxy, M&Ms and Maltesers brands – also told Which?: “We always aim to absorb rising costs wherever possible, however, ongoing pressures, including the well-documented rises in the cost of cocoa, mean we have had to make carefully considered changes to ensure shoppers can continue to enjoy their favourite Easter treats without any compromise on the quality or taste they expect from Mars.

“As with all our products, final pricing remains at the discretion of individual retailers.”

Rise & Rave, taking place at Circuit nightclub in Clifford Street on Sunday March 22, is a daytime dance event that blends uplifting music with powerful breathwork techniques to help people reconnect with their bodies, lift their mood and start the day feeling alive.

The idea came from co-founders Karen McMillan and Denny Davis, who found themselves missing the joy of clubbing but not the downsides that came with it.

Karen said: “We both just really missed dancing. That feeling of being in a club, hearing your favourite tracks on a big sound system. But we didn’t miss the early morning finishes, the crowds, or the hangovers.”

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Co-creator Denny Davis agreed: “We wanted to create a sober, safe space for people who still love dancing like we do, but don’t really have anywhere to go for that kind of experience. So we thought – why not create it ourselves?”

Working alongside them is DJ Queen of Spin, Caroline Joynson, who curates the feel-good 90s set list for the dancefloor.

Caroline said: “We all love the 90s. There’s something about that era, people light up when they hear those tracks. It creates such a joyful, shared energy.”

The result is a reimagined club experience: doors open at 9:30am, with the morning beginning with a guided breathwork session led by Denny Davis to help participants land and energise their system. Followed by a high-energy dancefloor filled with uplifting tracks and club classics.

Karen explained: “It’s not about being a ‘good dancer’ or feeling any kind of pressure to be or do anything. It’s about showing up as you are, feeling free to be yourself, and the invitation to feel joy and shift your mood a little. Or, a lot.”

The first Rise & Rave event, held earlier this year, was a huge success, with many participants reporting that they felt more energised, connected and lighter afterwards.

Denny said: “It was such a beautiful group of people. Some came on their own, some with friends, but everyone was there for the same reason – to feel good. And you could really feel that in the space.”

With growing interest in alcohol-free socialising and wellbeing-focused experiences, Rise & Rave taps into a wider cultural shift, offering an alternative way to connect, celebrate and unwind.

The next Rise & Rave takes place at Circuit nightclub, York, on Sunday March 22 from 10am–12:30pm (arrival from 9:30am).

Tickets: £30 with discount code RAVE05MAR
Book: https://dennydivine.as.me/riseandrave

In a social media post, Ms O’Neill said: “The proposed £35 payment per household by the British government, while some people’s bills have doubled, is completely tone-deaf to the severity of this crisis.”

The Government’s proposed energy price intervention is “completely tone-deaf”, Northern Ireland’s First Minister has said.

Michelle O’Neill said she supports a call from Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, for an “urgent meeting” with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer “on the need for action as energy costs spiral”.

Earlier this week, Sir Keir confirmed Northern Ireland will receive a £17 million share of a £53 million package in support of heating oil costs that have risen due to the war in the Middle East.

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Sinn Fein has said this would only equate to £35 per household using home heating oil in the region.

In a social media post, Ms O’Neill said: “The proposed £35 payment per household by the British government, while some people’s bills have doubled, is completely tone-deaf to the severity of this crisis.

“There must be immediate and meaningful action to support all workers and families.”

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Education Department is handing off a portion of its student loan portfolio to the Treasury Department, a first step toward shedding management of all student loans as Trump administration officials dismantle the federal education agency.

Under an agreement announced Thursday, the Treasury Department will take over management of student loans whose borrowers are in default, meaning they are months behind on payments. Those loans add up to about $180 billion, or 11% of the government’s $1.7 trillion student loan portfolio.

Eventually, the Treasury Department is to take responsibility for all student loans, according to the agreement. A second phase with no timeframe says Treasury will “assume operational responsibility” over non-defaulted loans, “to the extent practicable.”

Breaking off the student loan operation would mark the biggest step yet in closing the department, which President Donald Trump ordered to be dismantled almost exactly a year ago. Many Americans know the department mostly for its role doling out grants and loans for college, and those streams of funding are by far the agency’s largest.

Borrowers do not need to do anything as the change goes through, the administration says. They will continue to work with the same loan servicer and repay their loans the same way.

The 17-page agreement outlines a stunning realignment of the nation’s federal student loan programs, which have been overseen by the Education Department since it was created more than 40 years ago.

The agreement “marks an intentional and historic step toward breaking up the Federal education bureaucracy and dramatically improving the administration of Federal student aid programs,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement.

In justifying the change, Trump officials said the Education Department is “ill-equipped” to handle such a big loan portfolio. They blamed the Biden administration for focusing on efforts to cancel student loans rather then help borrowers get back on track with payments. Officials cited recent data showing that fewer than half of all borrowers are currently making payments on their loans, with almost a quarter in default.

Opponents raise concerns about borrower confusion

The agreement is likely to invite legal challenges. Some opponents note that federal law requires student loans to be overseen by the Education Department. Trump officials believe they’ve found a workaround by framing it as a partnership, with some components, including the policies underpinning student loans, remaining at the Education Department.

Student loan advocates condemned the move, saying it only adds to confusion as the Trump administration overhauls student loan programs.

“The Department of Education has issued a dizzying series of rule changes that make it harder for borrowers to figure out what their options are on their federal student loans,” said Kyra Taylor, an attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. She warned that any errors in loan collection would have “devastating effects on families.”

The move is part of Trump’s campaign to shutter the Education Department, an agency he says was overrun by liberal thinking. Only Congress has authority to close the department, but Trump officials are picking it apart through a series of inter-government agreements that relocate the department’s operations to other federal offices.

The future of the government’s enormous student loan portfolio has been one of the biggest unanswered questions. At her Senate confirmation hearing, Education Secretary Linda McMahon called Treasury a “natural” place for student loans. Trump later said they would be overseen by the Small Business Administration.

Conservatives have tried previously to move student loans

During Trump’s first term, his education chief talked about setting up a semi-private bank to manage student debt. The conservative Heritage Foundation promoted something similar in its Project 2025 plan, calling for a new “government corporation with professional governance and management.”

The Treasury Department often has been discussed as an option, yet student loans are seen as a particularly complex form of debt and some question whether the agency has the right technical expertise. In a 2015 pilot, Treasury tried to collect payments from a sample of thousands of borrowers in default. Its success rate was lower than that of the private collection agencies contracted by the Education Department.

Federal student loan borrowers are typically considered in default if they haven’t made a payment in more than 270 days. About 9.2 million Americans are in default on student loans, according to Education Department data released this month. Going into default can bring a heavy hit to credit scores, and the government can withhold pay and Social Security benefits.

The latest deal from the administration indicates a willingness to open up the hood of student loan operations at a perilous moment. About 12 million Americans are behind on federal student loan payments in some way, and the industry is bracing for a potentially historic surge in loan defaults as pandemic-era protections come to an end.

Earlier this year, Trump officials postponed their plans to restart involuntary collections on defaulted loans, which could have meant withheld earnings for millions of Americans. It’s seen as a politically volatile issue during a tough midterm year where affordability is already on voters’ minds.

___

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Newcastle United are ready to reject a bid from Manchester United for Bruno Guimaraes, according to reports.

The 28-year-old has been a pivotal figure for Newcastle since he moved to St James’ Park in a £40 million deal from Lyon in 2022.

Guimaraes is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury and Newcastle have won just two of their 16 Premier League matches without him in their side since he joined the club four years ago.

On Thursday, Reuters reported that United have made an approach to sign Guimaraes for the summer transfer window with a €80m (£69m) deal being discussed with Newcastle.

It was also reported that Casemiro had personally recommended the signing of Guimaraes to United’s hierarchy as his midfield replacement.

Casemiro is due to leave United at the end of the season when his contract expires.

However, talkSPORT reports that while Guimaraes may be on United’s shortlist, Newcastle have no intention of selling their captain.

The report adds that Newcastle are even looking to extend Guimaraes’ contract, which currently runs until 2028, in order to keep the Brazil international at the club.

Elsewhere, ESPN Brasil reports that Newcastle would be open to selling Guimaraes but United would need a bid of at least €80m (£69m).

The report also claims that Casemiro has been pushing Guimaraes’ signing behind the scenes at United but a deal with Newcastle ‘is not that advanced’.

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It has earned a great reputation through the years for its popular grill menu

A popular restaurant has announced it is closing its doors to to “mounting financial pressures.” Seagers at No.1 High Street, based in the Gorseinon area of Swansea, has been beloved for its grill menu for years in the city.

Run by the Seager family it has earned a great reputation with TripAavisor reviews commending its warm atmosphere, friendly service, and “outstanding food” with many describing its steak as “cooked to perfection”.

But those behind the business say they have now made a “heartbreaking decision”. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here.

Posting a statement to customers on its Facebook page the restaurant wrote: “Unfortunately, due to mounting financial pressures, we have made the heartbreaking decision to close our doors at present here at No1 High Street.

“We thank you all for your messages of support and will keep you informed.”

Customers shared their disappointment at the news. One wrote: “So sorry to hear this. Beautiful venue and food. Staff were always outstanding. It sure is difficult times financially for all at present.”

A second wrote: “This is so sad, every time we went in there we had the most loveliest of welcomes and the food was always 10/10. Will miss this place.”

And a third added: “The best restaurant. Always fabulous food & outstanding service. Hopefully you can re-open.”

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Well, the dream was fun while it lasted … all two-ish hours of it.

The bid for a perfect NCAA Tournament bracket disappeared for over 25 million people by mid-afternoon on Thursday, fueled by 12th-seeded High Point’s first-round stunner over fifth-seeded Wisconsin.

ESPN reported that just under 900,000 blemish-free brackets remained after the opening wave of games. That’s just over 3% of the total brackets entered.

TCU, a 9 seed, nicked some brackets in the first game of the tournament by edging eighth-seeded Ohio State. Nebraska, a 4 seed, picked up its first-ever March Madness victory by racing past Troy.

The results also took a toll over at Yahoo, where 83% of the entries included a win by Wisconsin in the first round.

The odds of going 67 for 67 (or 63 for 63 if you don’t pick the First Four) in the bracket are longer than one of those 3-pointers hoisted up by High Point’s Chase Johnston. Way longer.

The NCAA estimates the chances of ending the tournament with a zero in the loss column range anywhere from one in 9.2 quintillion (if you flip a coin for every game). The odds drop a little if you make educated guesses — all the way to one in 120 billion.

The NCAA’s own bracket challenge looked a lot like ESPN’s, with about 3.5% of entries still having a shot at perfection.

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

The fire spread to nearby gardens

Firefighters have been called to a fire in a Cambridgeshire village. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue were called to John Bends Way in Parson Drove at around 3.34pm on Thursday (March 19).

Crews from Wisbech, March, and the north roaming fire engine attended. Firefighters arrived to find a car on fire.

Smoke could be seen from nearby villages. The incident was ongoing as of 5.25pm with crews still at the scene.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue said: “At 3.43pm, crews were called to reports of a fire on John Bends Way, Parson Drove. Crews from Wisbech, March and the north roaming fire engine are in attendance.

“Firefighters arrived to find a car on fire that had spread to nearby gardens. The incident is ongoing.”

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Another candidate was fired from The Apprentice after a tense boardroom showdown on Thursday night.

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Tensions reached a fever pitch in the boardroom this week on The Apprentice as another hopeful said their goodbyes to the BBC programme.

This week, BBC audiences watched the remaining candidates attempt to redeem themselves with a second go at the discount buying task, which launched this series in Hong Kong.

However, this time they were on the Isle of Wight, tasked with securing nine items at the best possible price.

Ultimately, it was project manager Kieran who found himself in the hot seat as his team fell short this week. Opting to bring Conor and Harry back into the boardroom, the trio had the challenge of persuading Lord Alan Sugar to retain them in the contest.

In the end, Harry Clough was dismissed due to his purchase of the SUP (stand-up paddleboard), which was priced too high compared to the victorious team, reports the Mirror.

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Before firing the sales manager, Lord Alan Sugar delivered his verdict: “Kieran, I gave you two cracks at the whip, and you failed on both occasions.

“For that reason, you’ve kind of given me a dilemma. Do I like your character? Do I like your spirit? Yes. Conor, I like your spirit also. It is regretful when I say that my gut feeling is telling me, Harry, you’re fired.”

When questioned about how it felt to be the latest candidate to be fired, Harry admitted it wasn’t a massive surprise.

He remarked: “It was extraordinary. I mean, seeing Lord Sugar’s finger point and then saying ‘you’re fired’ was such a weird experience, it was pretty surreal.

“I kind of felt it coming because I was in the boardroom with Kieran and Conor, who are the biggest characters on the show. So, I thought I didn’t stand a chance against those guys.

“But then I was just really sad. I loved the whole process, filming was insane and everything was awesome. But then you just leave and you didn’t see them again and then it is just back to normal life. I was happy with how far I got, but I was definitely gutted to go.”

When questioned whether he believed it was the correct decision to dismiss him, Harry responded: “I don’t think that was all on me and I think there were other things that happened, but everyone did so well in that task, so it was always going to come down to the smallest thing. Someone had to be fired at the end of the day.”

Next week, the remaining candidates will be challenged with selling products on a television shopping channel. Within their teams, they’ll need to choose the products they believe will appeal to the nation in an effort to generate the greatest profit.

The Apprentice is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.