Shaz and Claire Wicker have proudly received the “Two Together” weight-loss accolade.

Two Monklands slimmers are inspiring others across the community after transforming their lives side-by-side, proving that with the right support, anything is possible.

Shaz and Claire Wicker, who attend Stacey McKendrick’s Slimming World group in Whifflet, have proudly received the “Two Together” accolade, recognising their dedication, commitment and the incredible support they’ve given each other throughout their journey.

Attending the Saturday 9.30am group at Calder Parish Church Hall, the hard-working pair made the decision to join after wanting to feel “healthier, happier and more in control of their lives”.

Together, they have already achieved an amazing one-stone seven-and-a-half pounds weight loss – a result of consistency, commitment and supporting each other every step of the way.

Shaz and Claire said: “Life gets busy and it’s so easy to fall into bad habits.

“We both knew something had to change and doing it together made all the difference.”

Their journey began thanks to a trusted family recommendation, when their sister-in-law, a Slimming World consultant in Sleaford, encouraged them to try Stacey’s group.

And that one decision has changed everything.

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From their very first visit, Shaz and Claire found more than just a group, they found a community.

They added: “Walking through the door can feel scary, but straight away we felt welcomed.

“There’s no judgement, just support, understanding and people who genuinely want you to succeed.”

Their success has been built on teamwork, encouragement and celebrating every win big or small.

The pair explained: “We’ve been there for each other through everything.

“We keep each other going, especially on the tough days, and celebrate every achievement along the way.”

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Now celebrating both their weight loss and “Two Together” award, Shaz and Claire hope their story will inspire others who may be thinking about taking that first step to sign up to Slimming World.

They said: “If you’re thinking about joining, just do it.

“That first step is the hardest but it could be the best decision you ever make.”

Slimming World Consultant Stacey McKendrick, who runs the Whifflet group, added: “Shaz and Claire are a true example of the power of support.

“Watching their journey has been incredible.

“They lift each other up, stay focused and even have a good laugh with all the members in class.

“They fully deserve this recognition and I’m so proud of them both.”

People can call Stacey on 07533 764697 for more information about her Slimming World groups.

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Half Man is an upcoming BBC drama that explores “brotherhood, violence, and the intense fragility of male relationships”.

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Half Man will soon be landing on the BBC, featuring recognisable talent from Baby Reindeer and Fantastic Four.

The original six-episode drama, which was filmed in and around Glasgow last year, hails from multi-award winning actor and creator Richard Gadd, who achieved worldwide recognition for his divisive Netflix series Baby Reindeer.

Gadd returns with Half Man, a production that “explores brotherhood, violence, and the intense fragility of male relationships”.

The BBC has announced Half Man will launch on Friday, April 24, via BBC iPlayer from 6am, with instalments released on the platform each week.

It’s also been revealed that BBC One and BBC Scotland will broadcast Half Man “within the week”, though the precise date remains unconfirmed.

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American audiences, however, will access the forthcoming drama slightly earlier on Thursday, April 23, through both HBO and HBO Max.

Previewing what Half Man has in store, the BBC has released its official synopsis: “Niall and Ruben are brothers. Not related in blood but the closest you can get. One, fierce and loyal.

“The other, meek and mild-mannered. Inseparable youth. Brought into each other’s lives through death and circumstance, all they have is each other…

“But when Ruben turns up at Niall’s wedding three decades later, everything seems different. He is on edge. Shifty. Not acting like himself.

“And soon, an explosion of violence takes place which catapults us back through their lives, from the eighties to the present day.”

Half Man will chronicle 30 years in the lives of these “broken men”, with the BBC dramatically stating: “When things fall apart… it is sometimes the closest relationships which break the hardest.”

Gadd assumes the “shifty” character of Ruben, alongside BAFTA-winning actor Jamie Bell, renowned for his roles in Billy Elliot, All of Us Strangers and Rocketman, who plays his “brother”, Niall.

The cast also features Mitchell Robertson from Mayflies, Stuart Campbell from SAS Rogue Heroes, Neve McIntosh from Tin Star, Marianne McIvor from Screw, as well as Charlie De Melo from Rivals and Coronation Street.

Half Man premieres on Friday, April 24, at 6am on BBC iPlayer.

Brussels’ largest railway hub, Midi station, was evacuated on Monday afternoon after police discovered suspicious bags, causing widespread disruption to all train traffic.

The incident occurred just one day after the tenth anniversary of deadly terror attacks in the Belgian capital.

A police spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that the station was closed following the discovery of one suspicious bag inside a train and another on a platform.

Officers, supported by an anti-explosive army squad, were dispatched to investigate the items.

The closure brought significant parts of the Belgian capital’s rail network to a standstill.

Vincent Bayer, a spokesperson for state-owned railway operator SNCB, told Reuters that no trains had arrived at or departed from Midi station, a crucial high-speed connection point for routes to Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Germany, since approximately 5.30pm (1630 GMT). The adjacent Midi metro station was also shut down.

SNCB stated on its website: “The duration of the disruption is still undetermined. We are waiting for additional information from the police forces.”

The incident comes as Brussels remains sensitive to security threats, with commemorations held on Sunday for the victims of the 22 March 2016 coordinated bombings by Islamic State militants at Brussels Airport and Maalbeek metro station.

The governing body promised a “thorough review” in the wake of the resounding 4-1 defeat Down Under, a tour plagued by criticisms of sloppy preparation, excessive drinking and selection mistakes, but has concluded evolution under McCullum as head coach and Key as managing director is preferable to swinging the axe.

Plans lodged with City of York Council would see new signs installed on the doorway of Lendal Cellars and at the top of the alleyway leading down to the pub.

Owners Greene King stated they were part of a revamp that would see the inside and outdoor area of the pub improve to enhance its value for the community.

The plans would see signs with hand-painted lettering and timber blackboards installed outside the pub, off Lendal.

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They would be painted in its owner’s green and copper colour scheme and feature a drawing of a monk sampling drinks from barrels in a cellar.

Signs with information about the pub’s history would also be displayed on the wall of the alleyway connecting Lendal to the venue’s entrance.

Lighting including a small lantern and a menu case are also set to be installed.

New signs planned outside Lendal Cellars, in York. Picture is from Greene King/York Council’s planning portal

Plans stated: “The use of individual letters and hand-painted signwriting reflects traditional signage methods commonly associated with historic public houses and reinforces the building’s established identity.”

The latest plans come after an application for the full refurbishment of the pub was submitted in November.

Greene King’s plans include refurbishing the beer garden including the installation of an outside bar, new seating and lighting.

Wooden floors inside the pub would be replaced, toilets would be refurbished and changes are also planned to the existing bar.

The council is yet to decide on the plans.

In a written statement to MPs, she said the proposed 360km per hour speed was faster than any high-speed train in service in the world, and meant safety tests would need to wait until the new railway line between London and Birmingham was finished, or that trains would need to be sent abroad for testing.

The five barns would become 10 new properties under the proposals

Barns which belonged to the notorious Norfolk farmer, Tony Martin, could be turned into new homes. The barns are part of the farm at Bleak House near Emneth in Norfolk. Bleak House became well-known following the shooting of two burglars in 1999 which ignited a national debate on householders’ rights.

Martin was sentenced to life for murder after fatally shooting 16-year-old Fred Barras in August 1999. Barras had broken into the semi-derelict site alongside his accomplice, Brendon Fearon, 29. They’d travelled from Newark, Nottinghamshire to raind the property where Martin stored antiques.

When Martin heard them, he opened fire from an upstairs bedroom with a pump-action shotgun. Both burglars were shot, with Barras dying at the scene. Fearon was treated in hospital.

His charge was later downgraded to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. After serving time, he returned to his Norfolk farm, in 2003.

Plans have been submitted by Jacqueline and David Wadsley, who Martin left his estate worth over £2.5 million to following his death, aged 80, last year. The five barns would become 10 new properties under the proposals.

Martin and Mrs Wadsley first met more than two decades ago when she was the landlady at the Hare & Hounds, the village pub he frequented after his release from prison.

In a planning statement issued to the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, the couple say they hope to convert five barns, described as “functional agricultural buildings and modest in appearance”, into homes.

The planning statement by the Wadsleys’ agent says: “The site comprises a group of detached agricultural barns located within a rural farmstead setting. The barns are arranged in clusters across the site and are set within areas of hardstanding and grassland, surrounded by mature trees and open fields.

“Two of the barns are steel-framed structures, whilst the remaining three are of traditional brick construction with roofs finished in metal sheet cladding. The structures are characteristic of functional agricultural buildings and are modest in appearance.”

The couple are asking the council for consent under permitted development rights which allow agricultural buildings to be turned into homes without full planning permission.

Bleak House is not included in the plans.

For millions, State Pension Age increases mean retirement is no longer a distant dream, it’s a looming source of stress, and too many are approaching the finish line without a clear plan.

• 32% of UK workers say they aren’t confident they’ll retire with a comfortable income
• Confidence drops sharply with age: 48% of 45-54-year-olds and 40% of those 55+ feel unprepared
• Nearly 1 in 5 (17%) approaching retirement have no financial goals
• 19% of workers have never logged in to check their pension value
• Only 27% check their pensions at least once a year

“The reality is that many workers are staring at a foggy retirement horizon,” says Mark Futcher, Head of DC at Barnett Waddingham, following the Employee workplace pensions in the UK – Office for National Statistics report.

“Too many people are approaching retirement without knowing where they stand or whether their current savings will support the lifestyle they want,” he says.

Women are disproportionately affected

• 42% of women lack confidence in their retirement income
• Just 27% of men express similar concerns
• Women are less likely to have formal financial goals or plans in place

Small changes can make a big difference

Experts stress that retirement planning doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Simple actions today can have a major impact over the long term:

• Check your pension balance regularly using projection tools
• Increase contributions after a pay rise
• Take full advantage of employer-matched contributions — it’s free money
• Explore the support tools your scheme provides, from guidance to transfer tools

“Employers and pension providers also need to make it easier for workers to understand and use these tools,” Futcher adds.

“Improving retirement outcomes is a shared effort — small steps now pay off big later.”

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3 easy steps to check your pension today

1. Log in now
Don’t wait another day – 1 in 5 UK workers have never logged in to see their pension balance. Checking your account helps you understand exactly where you stand.

2. Set clear goals
Even a simple target – like how much income you want at retirement — makes a huge difference. Nearly 1 in 5 nearing retirement have no goals, so start planning early.

3. Maximise contributions
If your employer offers matched contributions, don’t leave free money on the table. Small increases, even after a pay rise, compound into a significantly bigger pot over time.

Use your pension’s online projection tools to see how small changes today could change your retirement picture.

President Donald Trump backs down from his midnight deadline for an onslaught on Iran’s energy plants as he says a peace deal is coming – prompting Tehran to brand the claims “fake news”

US President Donald Trump has backed down from his threat to blitz Iran’s energy plants and infrastructure if it failed to open the Strait of Hormuz by midnight Monday.

Trump claimed the US and Tehran had held talks aiming for a “complete and total resolution of our hostilities” in the Middle East – prompting Tehran to brand the claims “fake news.”

The disagreement on Trump’s claims came as 5,000 Marines steam towards the Gulf for what many believe will be a ground operation on Iranian soil prompting escalation fears. Half of the troops are sailing from San Diego and the rest are on board the amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli, which is steaming from its duties off the coast of Japan.

Trump said on social media: “The US and Iran have had over two days very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities. He said he had “instructed the department of war to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period.”

And he added later: “We want to see no nuclear bomb, no nuclear weapon. Not even close to it,” and claimed the US would try to retrieve Iran’s enriched uranium. He even claimed his envoys were talking to Iran “today,” prompting Iran to deny they were talking to the US with the Tehran’s Foreign Ministry saying in a statement:

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“We deny what US President Donald Trump said regarding negotiations taking place between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran adheres to its position rejecting any type of negotiations before achieving Iran’s goals from the war.”

Iran’s denial negotiations were taking place was underlined when Tehran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf also said it was not true. He even said Trump’s claims were “fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets.” And British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also cast doubt on the war ending soon.

He welcomed claims that talks between the US-Iran had taken place, but said it would be “false comfort” to assume the war will have “a quick and early end” The U.K.’s air defence Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon has docked at Greece’s Souda Bay naval base, en route to help defend British military bases in Cyprus.

It departed the U.K. on March 3, days after an apparent Iranian drone launched from Lebanon struck the RAF Akrotiri air base, causing minor damage to an aircraft hangar. The regional death toll has risen to more than 1,500 people in Iran, more than 1,000 in Lebanon, 15 in Israel and 13 U.S. military members.

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The Lebanese Health Ministry said on Monday that 10 people had been killed over the past 24 hours. Civilians have also been killed on land and sea in the Gulf region. And millions of people in Lebanon and Iran have been displaced. Oil prices have climbed to more than $100 a barrel and U.S. gasoline prices surged to nearly $4 a gallon.

Trump added: “All I’m saying is, we are in the throes of a real possibility of making a deal.” “And I think, if I were a betting man I’d bet for it. But again, I’m not guaranteeing anything,” he said. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump said the U.S. would retrieve Iran’s enriched uranium as part of a potential agreement with the Islamic Republic.

“It’s very easy, if we have a deal with them, we’re going down and we’ll take it ourselves,” Trump said as he departed from a weekend in Florida. Trump said any deal with Iran would include ending the country’s nuclear capabilities.

Trump told reporters Monday his Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner conducted talks Sunday into the evening. He said talks would continue today but he added the U.S. has not talked to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

Hezbollah and Israeli forces have fought at multiple points along the border since Israel launched a renewed ground incursion into southern Lebanon.

The popular series, which started in 2024, has been called ‘comedy gold’ by viewers

A BBC series hailed as “cracking” and “comedy gold” is reportedly set to return for a third run.

Mammoth, following a 1970s PE teacher given a fresh shot at life, launched in 2024 and proved an instant hit with viewers. According to The Sun, production on the third series is scheduled to commence in June.

Starring Mike Bubbins as Tony Mammoth and Car Share actor Sian Gibson as his daughter, the programme – which was produced and shot in Cardiff – followed the teacher when his body was found preserved in ice. He had previously been presumed dead in an avalanche during a school trip in 1979.

Following his revival, he has to navigate a world that has totally changed, reports the Mirror.

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A BBC synopsis previously explained: “In the Seventies he was a carefree Cardiff bachelor, teaching PE and generally living la vida loca. In 2024, he thought the world would still be his oyster, but Mammoth never really liked oysters, he was more of a pint and a packet of crisps sort of bloke. All he wanted was his old life back; the same job, the same clothes, the same car and the same soundtrack.”

Mammoth debuted in 2024, with its second series airing last year.

Audiences embraced the show, with one viewer posting on Imdb.com that it was “a cracking comedy” that “feels remarkably relevant”, stating: “It is inoffensive yet sharp, poking fun at 1970s attitudes whilst highlighting the absurdities of modern life.”

“There were many genuine laugh out loud moments and some wonderful hilarious situations created by the writers,” one person commented.

Another viewer observed: “Bubbins is wonderfully understated as the titular star and delivers the punch lines with little fanfare but lots of laughs. The supporting cast is brilliant, but this is very much Bubbins show and plays it to perfection.”

“Love it, a much needed slice of comedy gold and well done to the BBC for backing it,” remarked another viewer.

“The writing is so strong, when you sit down you just know you’re in for some happy, silly, uncomplicated good fun and it’s been great to watch the series develop.”

The BBC has been approached for comment.

Mammoth aired on the BBC.