royal mail at the moment? absolutely disgusting- royal— royal mail at the moment?sgusting. royal mail— royal mail at the moment? absolutely disgusting. royal mail wants _ royal mail at the moment? absolutely disgusting. royal mail wants to - royal mail at the moment? absolutely disgusting. royal mail wants to be - disgusting. royal mail wants to be free to continue to deliver disgusting. royal mailwants to be free to continue to deliver- free to continue to deliver letters ro al mail free to continue to deliver letters royal mail made _ free to continue to deliver letters royal mail made losses - free to continue to deliver letters royal mail made losses of - free to continue to deliver letters i royal mail made losses of hundreds of millions last year. we want to find a _ of millions last year. we want to find a model that works for all our customers— find a model that works for all our customers and staff and has a sustainable customers and staff and has a sustainabl— sustainable regulator ofcom estimates — sustainable regulator ofcom estimates royal _ sustainabl

. ~ . kind of a situation as royal mail in? . , kind of a situation as royal mail in?tion as royal mail in? ,.,, ., kind of a situation as royal mail in? royal mail is a private company but it has this — in? royal mail is a private company but it has this obligation _ in? royal mail is a private company but it has this obligation imposed l but it has this obligation imposed by the government to deliver mail to every address in the uk for six days a week. that is a really expensive thing to do and royal mail has been losing a lot of money as the volume of mail declines, it is less than half what it was for letters in 2011. as you say, 0fcom, the regulator has said this risks becoming unsustainable and it set out a menu of options, a consultation to how it can be changed. 0ne consultation to how it can be changed. one option is to cut the six days a week to five, possibly losing saturday or perhaps monday, another option even more radical as three days a week. this is something people care hugely about, the bbc has had a massive response from its audiences about this bec

why is royal mail in - has to give. why is royal mail in this position?— this position?n? 2011 when this legislation came _ this position? 2011 when this legislation came in - this position? 2011 when this legislation came in was - this position? 2011 when this| legislation came in was quite this position? 2011 when this l legislation came in was quite a different world, although we all knew the direction of travel, and we have seen the number of letters declining quite significantly adds a number of parcels increasing and both of those things but a burden on the system. you need a different network to deliver parcels and the postie would walk down and address every day with 14 letters and now he has four and there are 4 million more addresses. that doesn't subtly cover the cost. the more addresses. that doesn't subtly cover the cost.— cover the cost. the minister says he would reject — cover the cost. the minister says he would reject the _ cover the cost. the minister says he would reject the idea _ cover the cost. the minister says he would reject the idea of _ cover

that makes the service very expensive to run and royal mail is losing a lot of money. and royal mails losing a lot of mone . . and royal mail is losing a lot of mone. . . ., and royal mail is losing a lot of mone. .., money. the postal operator says chan . e is money. the postal operator says change is badly _ money. the postal operator says change is badly needed. - money. the postal operator says change is badly needed. letters| money. the postal operator says - change is badly needed. letters have fallen from 20 billion a year to 7 billion a year as consumer behaviour has changed. we are only delivering about four letters per week and what we need, given the fact that royal mail lost about £190 million last year is a sustainable universal service and one that people really need. . ., service and one that people really need. _, , service and one that people really need. .. , , need. ofcom says the changes it is su: caestin need. ofcom says the changes it is suggesting could — need. ofcom says the changes it is suggesting could save _ need. ofcom says the changes it is suggesting co

royal mail is required _ resend it. royal mail is required by _ resend it.t. royal mail is required by law to - resend it. royal mail is i required by law to deliver letters six days a week at affordable prices that are the same throughout the country. yet with more and more people using digital communications instead, it claims the service has become far too costly. the company is clearly under pressure — it made an operating loss of 3 £319 million to in the six months to the end of september. last year, it was fined £5.6 million by 0fcom for failing to meet delivery targets. the regulator has been looking at what could be changed to protect the service. there's been plenty of speculation about whether saturday deliveries could be scrapped. earlierthis saturday deliveries could be scrapped. earlier this week, the government said it wouldn't support such a move. in response, royal mail said it's simply not sustainable to maintain a delivery network built for 20 billion letters when we're now only delivering 7 billion. last year, royal mail settled a bitter f

could the royal mail look at _ universal service.niversal service. could the royal mail look at diversifying into - universal service. could the royal| mail look at diversifying into other services to make more money? yes. services to make more money? yes, lease services to make more money? yes, please don't — services to make more money? yes, please don't think _ services to make more money? yes, please don't think it _ services to make more money? yes please don't think it hasn't. in services to make more money? 12: please don't think it hasn't. in my time we looked at all sorts of ideas. there is a lot of opportunity and i think the union have also embraced looking at those opportunities. but the sad facts of life are none of the opportunities are necessarily going to deliver the revenue that fills that gap of half of the parcel volume disappearing. we need to be realistic. it needs to be a combination of a lot of things to keep this company sustainable. theatres, public toilets and even cctv — these are just a few of the services

is it a genuine printing error royal mail? printing error by royal mail? ted royal mail who that it's very who said that it's very important that they investigate it. >> um, they have have given us a statement. they said that we have a robust multi stage process in place when assessing whether barcoded stamps are genuine. this includes a thorough examination using specialist equipment, then a follow up inspection by a human before any stamp is marked as counterfeit or pre—used. unfortunately without seeing all of the envelopes used , it would of the envelopes used, it would be impossible to explain what happened. be impossible to explain what happened . in these cases. but we happened. in these cases. but we will always happily review individual cases and if an error has been made, then we will of course correct and still no contrition, still no word. >> sorry, i can barely feel the difference in these stamps. >> real ones here in >> having the real ones here in my and the counterfeit my hand and the counterfeit ones. basically what ones. so the, um, basica

royal mail faces huge financial difficulties. unsustainable. lties. it posted a loss of £390 million for the first half of this financial year. it says reform is urgent. but of course, ultimately, whatever the regulator comes up with next week, this decision will lie with the government. thank you. now it's time for a look at today's sport. hello from the bbc sport centre. the women's top seed has been knocked out of the australian open. iga swiatek�*s search for a title in melbourne goes on after she lost in the third round to czech teenager lina noskova. swiatek was on an 18 match unbeaten run and took the first set against the 19—year—old, but she became just the latest seed to suffer defeat in this year's tournament, losing 3—6, 6—4, 6—3. noskova said she was speechless afterwards and will now play 19th seed elina svitolina in herfirst fourth round match at a grand slam. iamjust i am just really kind of exhausted mentally and physically, but i think it was an unbelievable match for me, playing this for the first time i really wanted to win t

royal mail is a private company. letters we are sending since 2011 has halved. something has to give or the service will be too costly. either stamp prices will go up or it will become unsustainable. we are opening a debate today. we are not proposing a specific answer. we want to hear people pass these about something that remains incredibly important to us and we'll do into the future. —— people's view. fist us and we'll do into the future. -- people's vieva— us and we'll do into the future. -- people's view. at the moment royal mail have to — people's view. at the moment royal mail have to deliver— people's view. at the moment royal mail have to deliver six _ people's view. at the moment royal mail have to deliver six days - people's view. at the moment royal mail have to deliver six days a - mail have to deliver six days a week. you suggested could come down to five, but even three is a possibility. that will alarm and off a lot of people this morning? we have a lot of people this morning? - have done a lot of cons

that makes the service very expensive to run and royal mail is losing a lot of money.rom 20 billion a year to seven billion a year as consumer behaviour has changed. that means we are only delivering about four letters per week, per address. and what we need, given the fact that royal mail lost about £419 million last year, is a sustainable universal service that protects the "one price goes anywhere" service that people really need. ofcom says the changes it's suggesting could save hundreds of millions of pounds for royal mail. but they would need government approval and ministers don't seem enthusiastic. i do understand letter volumes have decreased significantly, but nevertheless a six—day service is really important for our citizens, but also for businesses that rely on saturday deliveries. not least the magazine sector and the greeting cards sector. last year royal mail settled a bitter iii month dispute with employees represented by the communication workers union over pay and conditions. but now the union is angry once again. it said... with fewer and fewer peop

in the uk, a shake—up of the royal mail could see delivery is reduced to as few as three days a week. the brit awards nominations for this year will be announced shortly. it is a uk's biggest music awards ceremony. —— it is the uk's. hello, i'm ben thompson, welcome to the programme. we begin with developments in the war between israel and gaza; and the un refugee agency unrwa says a training centre sheltering tens of thousands of displaced people has been hit — report say at least nine people have been killed and 75 injured. israel has been pressing ahead with its offensive on southern gaza's main city, khan younis, cutting off hospitals, and killing more than 200 people in the last day. our middle east correspondent mark lowen is injerusalem. what do we know about this? we have a death toll and a number of injuries at 75.— a death toll and a number of injuries at 75. what can you tell us? this is _ injuries at 75. what can you tell us? this is the _ injuries at 75. what can you tell us? this is the un _ injuries at 75. what can you tell us? this is the un relief- injuries at 75. wha

royal mail faces huge financial difficulties.ear. it says reform is urgent. but of course, ultimately, whatever 0fcom comes up with next week, this decision will lie with the government. pro—palestinian protesters repeatedly interrupted a speech by the shadow foreign secretary, david lammy, at a conference in london earlier. he was stopped three times by protesters who criticised the labour party's response to the israel—gaza war. after the first protesters were escorted away by security, more people in the audience stood up to launch verbal attacks. the moment when the patient either begins to recover or begins to slip away... shouting you should be ashamed of yourself! blood _ you should be ashamed of yourself! blood on _ you should be ashamed of yourself! blood on your hands! blood on your hands! _ blood on your hands! blood on your hands! ., blood on your hands! blood on your hands! . ., ., ., ~ ., hands! change through at work, not rotest, hands! change through at work, not protest. my — hands! change through at work, not pr

royal mail faces huge financial difficulties. but of course, ultimately, whatever ofcom comes up with next week, this decision will lie with the government. uk supermarkets and manufacturers must be more open about so—called shrinkflation, according to the consumer group which. emily brown has more. shrinkflation is the process of items decreasing in size or quantity. the consumer group, which, has said that supermarkets and manufacturers must be more open about it. these are just a few examples of recent shrinkflation which has been picked out by which. listerine mouthwash, for instance, which has been reduced from 600 millilitres to 500 millilitres. and tesco kettle chips which have reduced to 130 grams in weight. and the research also found that other products were altered to include fewer expensive ingredients. for instance, morrisons saw its own—brand guacamole reduce its avocado content from 80% to 77%. and waitrose better chicken curry lost some of its chicken content. well, which has acknowledged that the changes have all

in the us, donald trump defeats nikki haley in the republican a shake—up of the uk royal mail could seeeliveries as few as three days a week. and the nominations for the 2024 the brit awards have just been released — it is the uk's biggest music award ceremony. hello, i'm ben thompson, welcome to the programme. we begin with developments in the war between israel and gaza — and the un refugee agency unrwa says a training centre sheltering tens of thousands of displaced people has been hit reports sat at least nine people have been killed and 75 injured. israel has been pressing ahead with its offensive on southern gaza's main city, khan younis, cutting off hospitals, and killing more than 200 people in the last day. the overall number of palestinians killed in the war has been taken to at least 25,700. 0ur middle east correspondent mark lowen injerusalem gave us the latest. this is the un release and work agency for gazan refugees which has reported that two tank rounds hit one of its training centres in khan younis which was sheltering hundreds of people in that specific building, and

royal mail faces huge financial difficulties.llion for the first half of this financial year. it says reform is urgent. but of course, ultimately, whatever 0fcom comes up with next week, this decision will lie with the government. the metropolitan police says it's concerned for the welfare of a mother whose newborn baby was found in a shopping bag by the side of a road in east london. officers say the girl, who has been given the temporary name elsa, is in good health, despite the freezing temperatures. she was found by a dog walker less than an hour after she'd been born. felix tshisekedi has been sworn in as president of the democratic republic of congo for a second term. he took the oath of office in a packed stadium in the capital, kinshasa. heads of state from across africa were invited to the ceremony. the opposition has refused to recognise the result of the poll, describing it as a sham. three defeated candidates had called for protests in kinshasa on the day of the inauguration, but police banned the demonstrations. bbc

royal mail made losses of £419 million last year. a model that works for all our customers, for our staff, and make sure we've got a sustainable one price goes anywhere, universal service in the future. the regulator, 0fcom, estimates royal mail could save up to £650 million a year if it cut letter deliveries to three days a week. something's got to give or the service is just going to be too costly and either stamp prices will go up or it will become unsustainable, so we're opening up a debate on this today. we're not proposing a specific answer. what we want to do is hear people's views. today, the prime minister said the six day a week service was safe. mr speaker, i agree about the importance of royal mail's universal service obligation and as you will have heard from the minister this morning, we remain absolutely committed to ensuring that it remains as it is. for the number of delivery days to be cut from six to five or even three days a week, will need a vote in westminster. and that's not going to happen any time soon becaus

royal mail faces huge financial difficulties.f course, ultimately, whatever ofcom comes up with next week, this decision will lie with the government. a bbc verify investigation has uncovered a network of nearly 200 fake social media accounts operating in uganda. using false identities, those behind them have been pushing pro—government messages and targeting critics — at times with threats. i spoke a short time ago to one of the targets of this scam, climate activist hillary innocent taylor seguya. i started by asking what happened to him. i was flabbergasted when i heard the findings of the investigation, that i am a target of state—sponsored inauthentic accounts. they want to silence me because i am a campaigner about a pipeline which has displaced thousands of people in our country, and 379 million metric tonnes of climate pollution will be the result in our lifetime from this pipeline, so i'm saying we cannot have this in uganda and it is better if we invest in renewable energies, not this oil pipeline. yes, and it sounds li

royal mail made losses of £419 million last year. model that works for all our customers, our staff, and make sure we have a sustainable one price goes anywhere, universal service in the future. the regulator ofcom estimates royal mail could save up to £650 million a year if it cut letter deliveries to three days a week. something has got to give or the service willjust be too costly and either stamp prices will go up or it will become unsustainable, so we are opening up a debate on this today. we are not proposing a specific answer. what we want to do is hear people's views. for the number of delivery days to be cut from six to five or even three days a week, will need a vote in westminster. and that's not going to happen anytime soon because politicians of all the parties know how much the post means to people, particularly the elderly, who are especially good at turning out to vote. don't cut it. sort it out. for alison, the post is an essential public service. but how does that square with royal mail's need to compete and survive

but while royal mail remains the dominant service for cards and letters, that market has fallen sharplydays and 42% of the british public say they only use royal mailfor british public say they only use royal mail for sending cards but they are sending fewer than they used to. despite rising stamp prices, the company is struggling to make ends meet. royal mail posted a 319 million pound loss the first half of the current financial year. and it's also failing to meet its service obligations that may for example, it is expected to deliver 93% of first class post within one working day but falls short of the target. it is arguing doing away with its saturday delivery obligation would help make the rest of the service more sustainable. but ultimately, it is a decision for government and in turn parliament too. david waddell, bbc news. australia has stopped taking applications for golden visas allowing wealthy investors to live in the country. the programme had been targeted at wealthy chinese nationals but it's come under flak, and katie silver is live for us in our asia business hub to exp

royal mail faces huge financial difficulties. year. it says reform is urgent. but of course, ultimately, whatever 0fcom comes up with next week, this decision will lie with the government. 13 children have been killed in a fire at a boarding school in central china — all of them aged nine or ten. the fire broke out on friday night in a boys' dormitory in the nanyang region of henan province. state media said the head of the school had been detained and the authorities are investigating the cause of the fire. fatal incidents of this kind are not uncommon in china because of lax enforcement of building and safety standards. a bbc verify investigation has uncovered a network of nearly 200 fake social media accounts operating in uganda. using false identities, those behind them have been pushing pro—government messages and targeting critics — sometimes with threats. a short time ago, i spoke to one of the targets of the fake accounts, climate activist hillary innocent taylor seguya. i started by asking what happened to him. i was fla

the royal mail could be allowed to produce letter deliveries to five or even three days a week, it isp the service become more sustainable. as the number of letters to be sent plummets. how does it compare to other services around the world? around the world 7 the around the world? the royal mail is legally obliged to deliver at letter six days a week but for years it has been asking to scrap its saturday service. that is something the government does not support but britain is somewhat of an outlier compared to european nations which have already significantly reduced their offerings. here is what ofcom plasma chief executive said to the bbc this morning. chief executive said to the bbc this morninu. _, , chief executive said to the bbc this morninu. .., , .,, morning. some countries in europe, because every _ morning. some countries in europe, because every body _ morning. some countries in europe, because every body is _ morning. some countries in europe, because every body is looking - morning. some countries in europe, because every body is looking at - because every body is look

why is royal mail in i has to give. why is royal mail in this position?— this position?uld reject the idea of _ addresses. the minister saying he would reject the idea of adjusting | would reject the idea of adjusting from six days a week. but viewers have been saying to us they are not even getting a six—day service at the moment. even getting a six-day service at the moment-— even getting a six-day service at the moment. ~ . , ., ., the moment. what is important, and i think ofcom have _ the moment. what is important, and i think ofcom have published _ the moment. what is important, and i think ofcom have published research i think 0fcom have published research on this, people want quality of service. they want something guaranteed and they want it affordable. they don't always necessarily need it next day or fast. i think the challenge for everyone to work together, whether it is the government, 0fcom, royal mail or the unions is, how can you have a sustainable quality service that people rely on that we can afford. every country in the world is going through these de

i have to say royal mail. this and ask, do think it's time to ask, do you think it's time to renationalise it? >> peter well, i'd love to renationalised almost everything because mistake to because it was a big mistake to privatise it, but i it's not going make difference. going to make any difference. >> the post office is in whatever the bit of it is that we're discussing, because you can't call the post office can't call it the post office anymore, can you? yeah royal mail, not mail, at least it's not consignia. ceasing to consignia. it just is ceasing to function because most of its important profitable areas have been away as a result of been taken away as a result of privatisation. so if you're if you're trying to make money out of service, of a basic postal service, you won't. so prices go up won't. and so their prices go up and up. and what happened last christmas with an awful lot of people said, that's people was they said, that's enough. not sending enough. we're not sending christmas it's christmas

there is still a big future for royal mail , but we future for royal mail, but we want to work with theay. martin walsh, deputy general secretary of the communication workers union. thank you for joining communication workers union. thank you forjoining us. what thank you for joining us. what do you think out there about this? i mean, i've more or less, if i'm honest, i just i've given if i'm honest, ijust i've given up on on royal mail now. i just think my house, think if things get to my house, it's bonus . and private it's a bonus. and private couriers all the couriers that i use all the time, they seem to be very, very dependent the royal mail dependent with the royal mail doesn't together. doesn't get its game together. it simply totally it might simply get totally outmoded now, from one national institution to another. and this time the civil service is facing more accusations of bias once again. today last week, senior civil servants were asked what they were most looking forward to in the new year and the two most popular answers were this a change of government and a general el

it is a royal mail delivery office.— is untrue. it is a royal mail delivery office.hair would - delivery office. the chance of getting a chair would be - delivery office. the chance of getting a chair would be slim| getting a chair would be slim because you have the office where members of the public faces that it might collect mail. during the interview, they would have been asked to make themselves known to royal mail, either royal mail would have brought them upstairs. we would have brought them upstairs. we would have come down to collect her but it wasn't a small parcel left, it is a natural left, designated wheelchair lift, it takes five people. she natural left, designated wheelchair lift, it takes five people.— lift, it takes five people. she is still shaken _ lift, it takes five people. she is still shaken by _ lift, it takes five people. she is still shaken by this _ lift, it takes five people. she is still shaken by this experience. lift, it takes five people. she is - still shaken by this experience. she is watching today, she suffers from crippling anxie

royal mail faces huge financial difficulties.ancial year. it says reform is urgent. but of course, ultimately, whatever ofcom comes up with next week, this decision will lie with the government. more demonstrations against right—wing extremism have been taking place in towns and cities across germany. the protests have been gathering momentum over the last week. they're a response to reports that some far—right politicians had met in november to discuss the deportation of millions of people with immigrant backgrounds. felix tshisekedi has been sworn in for a second term as president of the democratic republic of congo. he took the oath of office in a packed stadium in the capital, kinshasa. heads of state from across africa were invited to the ceremony. the opposition has refused to recognise mr tshisekedi's election victory last month, describing the result as a sham. bbc africa's emery makumeno was at the ceremony. there are tens of thousands of people here in this huge stadium in kinshasa, and a dozen heads of state as the ina

royal mail faces huge financial difficulties.this financial year. it says reform is urgent. but of course, ultimately, whatever ofcom comes up with next week, this decision will lie with the government. now it's time for a look at today's sport with hugh. hello from the bbc sport centre. the women's top seed has been knocked out of the australian open. iga swiatek�*s search for a title in melbourne goes on after she lost in the third round to czech teenager linda noskova. swiatek was on an 18 match unbeaten run and took the first set against the 19—year—old, but she became just the latest seed to suffer defeat in this year's tournamen, losing 3—6, 6—4, 6—3. noskova said she was speechless afterwards and will now play 19th seed elina svitolina in herfirst 11th round match at a grand slam. in the men's draw, the number two and three seeds went through. that's carlos alcaraz and daniil medvedev. britain's cameron norrie pulled off one of the other significant results of day seven. in the biggest grand slam victory of his career, nor

at the moment royal mail is legally obliged to deliver letters six days a week — something its ownersr business reporter peter ruddick. what have we actually heard from the regulator today? the what have we actually heard from the regulator today?— regulator today? the communication reuulator regulator today? the communication regulator ofcom _ regulator today? the communication regulator ofcom here _ regulator today? the communication regulator ofcom here in _ regulator today? the communication regulator ofcom here in the - regulator today? the communication regulator ofcom here in the uk - regulator today? the communication regulator ofcom here in the uk say, | regulator ofcom here in the uk say, royal mail, when the legal obligation was put in place, they were delivering about 20 billion letters a year. now they are delivering 7 billion. something has to give. essentially they have come up to give. essentially they have come up with a couple of possible solutions. both of which would be pretty controversial. one of them would be to change that legal obligation you mentioned, instea

they were like, yeah, sure, royal mail, it's okay., when you went people, all went private and people, uh, all that money out to your that money goes out to your shareholders, actually shareholders, which actually includes £450, uh, of includes me. uh £450, uh, of shares is, uh, probably worth a lot less now. i should think shares is, uh, probably worth a lot publishers, should think so. shares is, uh, probably worth a lot publishers, they d think so. shares is, uh, probably worth a lot publishers, they need|k so. shares is, uh, probably worth a lot publishers, they need foro. uh, publishers, they need for example, weekend deliveries as well to survive. >> yeah. no, it's only for people who send the birthday cards late. right >> guess what? if they can't >> and guess what? if they can't stand up to their, you know, fulfil their duty. there's even talk of a taxpayer, a taxpayer supported bailout, another failing the whole point of it. >> but also it's like, well, why make it three times a week? why don't we just make it once a week? ye

so it's one of those hybrid situations. >> have royal mail >> again, we have royal mail which the, know the, you know, the sense that it's a national service and it is a national service. but been service. but it has been privatised. one of those unhappy privatisation british, just privatisation in british, just like companies. uh, like the railway companies. uh, and question is to and now the question is how to define in role of private define in the role of private excuse me, royal mail in um conducting this national service because let's not, not forget that, for example, some, uh, industries like the magazine publishers like greeting card, uh, publishers, they need for example, weekend deliveries as well to survive. >> yeah. no, it's only for people who send the birthday cards late. right >> guess what? if they can't >> and guess what? if they can't stand up to their, you know, fulfil their duty. there's even talk of a taxpayer, a taxpayer supported bailout, another failing the whole point of it. >> but also it's like, well, why make it three times a week? why don't we just make it

we are subsidising the post office, the royal mail . yeah. royal mail.technology that you have a core service that gets worse, not better, but then you think so much of our communication is now switched to other tech, uh , methods. other high tech, uh, methods. and also the profitable sort and you also the profitable sort of parcel delivery stuff. clearly, they're a big private companies involved in that, uh, post office isn't going to get back a monopoly on that . the back a monopoly on that. the sums have to add up. i see rishi sunakis sums have to add up. i see rishi sunak is saying i will never countenance having countenance not having a saturday delivery . i don't think saturday delivery. i don't think he'll be around for long enough to make a difference. and i think if we can get to a stable new arrangement, which might even be three days a week of really reliable mail delivery, that people probably would wear that people probably would wear that well, i mean, anything that involved of postal involved redundancies of postal workers would of course,

the royal mail could be set to scrpart of an ofcom deliveries the royal mail could be set to scrpart scrpart of an ofcom review into as part of an ofcom review into how could be how the service could be updated. read save money, um ofcom are set to publish details next week on how the courier company can evolve to more closely meet consumer needs . closely meet consumer needs. yeah, right. okay, this comes after they posted a loss of over 300 million for the first half of the current financial year, and having called for urgent reforms for over three years. but how would you feel if your local post office were to be closed on a saturday? the most convenient day, obviously , for convenient day, obviously, for people who work monday to friday? um, yeah . i love the friday? um, yeah. i love the fact that this is being sold as an efficiency to help us all. how madeline, is it helping us to all cut postal deliveries and shut post offices on a saturday? how is that helping you exactly? >> frankly, it already feels like that's the case already. well, yeah. i i can't well, yeah. i mean, i ca

royal mail is struggling. it is not meeting its delivery targets for first or second class post.s peak under 20 years ago. until 2006 it was delivering 20 billion items of post every year, that has nosedived, it is now about 7 billion items. the service has become much more parcel focused as businesses and individuals alike do away with letters and cards in favour of e—mails and other electronic forms of communication. but while the parcel market is growing there is stiff competition in that sector, amazon delivers 6 million items in the uk every year, that's not far shy of the royal mail total delivery volume. so the company has been forced to manage down its capacity but some of its obligations are underpinned by statute and since 2020 it has been calling urgently for leeway on those obligations. it says focusing on five days of delivery would be much more sustainable. that question is one for parliament. but downing street has said the government would not countenance such a move. a spokesperson for the prime minister said his strong view is that saturday deliveries provide fl

here in the uk — a shake—up of the royal mail, which could see deliveries reduced to as few as threes a week. and the nominations for the 2024 brit awards have just been just been released — with dua lipa receiving three nominations. all that's still to come in as half—hour, but before that attentively tend to be busy sports latest from rep. jane has the latest details. chelsea await the winners of tonight's efl cup semi—final between fulham and liverpool. the second leg is finely poised, with the visitors liverpool having the advantage, following a 2—1win at anfield earlier this month. fulham manager marco silva says he hopes playing at craven cottage can make all the difference. him to make this difficult for liverpool at a big impact. the last two games we played there. and they pushed forward. and you can listen to that game at craven cottage on bbc radio 5 live and bbc sounds from 8pm tonight. or follow it on the bbc sport website. the efl have confirmed that two legged ties will remain in the efl cup semi—finals, but that they are open to changing the format if a deal can be st

he was the ceo when the post office was still a part of royal mail.ns were well underway. in a statement tonight, he said... there'sjohn roberts. he was in charge when horizon was implemented and has given a witness statement to the public inquiry, which is trying to get to the truth. dame moya greene. she was ceo when the first stories of the scandal emerged. all are facing media scrutiny now. then there's the japanese company fujitsu. their software is at the heart of this scandal. they installed it, managed it — and still do. they've been invited to answer questions from the business select committee next week. fujitsu's done very well out of public sector work. it's been awarded 191 contracts worth more than £6.5 billion since 2013. we may not hear from paula vennells again until she appears before the public inquiry sometime after easter. it starts again on thursday — and there's likely to be a lot more interest in its work now. and just to say tomorrow morning on bbc breakfast — nine subpostmasters will be live in the studio, some telling their

he was ceo of the royal mail group for seven years but the post office was owned by the royal mail, but he was not a member of the post office board but he has commented in the statement to those families affected. snoring can be annoying of course, if it keeps those around you awake, but it isn't usually harmful to the person making the noise. however, snoring caused by sleep apnoea, can be dangerous, resulting in breathing difficulties. now a new gadget can help, as david gregory kumar explains. where else to talk sleep and obstructive sleep apnoea, but in a hotel? and in this box is a device now on trial that will completely change how we diagnose this serious problem. but over time, the...there's obviously an increased risk of accidents, which can be very serious. it also can affect your heart and the cardiovascular system, so that can lead to an increased risk of stroke or problems with high blood pressure. getting a sleep apnoea diagnosis is complex — you pick up this wearable monitor from a hospital, where you're taught how to put it on. then, once it's in place, you try and get

or the royal mail actually know? or the royal mail actually know? or the royal mail actually know?terfeit ? counterfeit? >> well, i think you can see the difference , um, when you look difference, um, when you look very closely. but is there something that they put through a scanner or something and it doesn't come yeah they do doesn't come up? yeah they do have scanners . um, at and have have scanners. um, at and you know, they've, they've given their statement as well. >> royal mail obviously doesn't have a very good reputation and hasn't had for a few years. and is this what do you think about the way they're handling this, which is saying, yeah, you can have your correspondence back again if you pay us £5? i think it's really unfair because people don't know what what is going to arrive in the post. >> they might think it's something that they've ordered. um, and, and so they go and they pay um, and, and so they go and they pay the £5 only to realise it's a christmas card or something, which would not pay £5 for. which they would not pay £5 for. um, and the people who are sendi

might allowed that royal mail might be allowed to the number of days that to cut the number of days that they might be able to, that they will that service . can will provide that service. can the prime minister give a commitment here today that commitment to me here today that under watch , there will be commitment to me here today that untreduction tch , there will be commitment to me here today that untreduction in| , there will be commitment to me here today that untreduction in postala will be commitment to me here today that untreduction in postal services no reduction in postal services as provided by royal mail in as provided by the royal mail in scotland anywhere scotland or anywhere else? >> , yeah. >> yeah, yeah. >> yeah, yeah. >> well, mr speaker, i agree about the importance of the royal mail's universal service obligation. and as you will have heard the minister this heard from the minister this morning, absolutely morning, we remain absolutely committed to ensuring that it remains as it is. >> polos

at royal mail has already made its position clear.challenges, and this week, the chief executive of the firm that owns it that now was the time for urgent action. adding the maintaining the network as it is was simply not sustainable. the government says it has no current plans to change six—day deliveries, but it has said that it will carefully consider the regulator's advice. esyllt carr, bbc news. it is coming up to 6:10. a six—legged dog found dumped in a supermarket car park has had surgery to remove her extra limbs. ariel, an ii—week—old spaniel, was found outside a branch of b&m in pembrokeshire in september. around £15,000 was raised by the public, enabling her to have a life—changing operation, and she is now recovering with her foster owners. so, she actually had a duplication of her pelvis, so she had an extra pelvis with an extra limb. 0n the extra limb she also had two additional pores. so she was quite remarkable looking. we have managed to amputate the limb at the base of that additional leg, so now you wouldn't notice

he held various roles in the royal mail| various roles in the royal mail transport section.— variouss roles in the royal mail- transport section.- in 2000, transport section. correct. in 2000, around the _ transport section. correct. in 2000, around the time _ transport section. correct. in 2000, around the time of _ transport section. correct. in 2000, around the time of the _ transport section. correct. in 2000, around the time of the roll-out - transport section. correct. in 2000, around the time of the roll-out of i around the time of the roll—out of horizon, you became part of the post office investigations team. that horizon, you became part of the post office investigations team.— office investigations team. that is correct. office investigations team. that is correct- you _ office investigations team. that is correct. you see _ office investigations team. that is correct. you see your— office investigations team. that is correct. you see your role - office investigations team. that is| correct. you see your role variously described as _ correct. you see your role variously de

d0 done by royal mail group traders. do you think it was sufficient?o _ you think it was sufficient? i had no reason to think _ you think it was sufficient? i had no reason to think it _ you think it was sufficient? i had no reason to think it wasn't - no reason to think it wasn't sufficient at the time. what about now? i've always _ sufficient at the time. what about now? i've always said, _ sufficient at the time. what about now? i've always said, there - sufficient at the time. what about l now? i've always said, there always opportunities _ now? i've always said, there always opportunities to _ now? i've always said, there always opportunities to learn _ now? i've always said, there always opportunities to learn more - now? i've always said, there always opportunities to learn more so - now? i've always said, there always opportunities to learn more so if. opportunities to learn more so if that was not considered sufficient, maybe it will be a three—week or a four—week course extra added on. hagar four-week course extra added on. how many weeks — f

the government has said it would not support royal mail scrapping deliveries on saturdays.out future services. royal mail said it was not sustainable to maintain a delivery network built for twenty billion letters, when only seven billion are delivered. the nhs has launched a new campaign to encourage more people in england to get their children vaccinated against measles. cases are on the rise and new figures show more than three million children under the age of sixteen have not received their jabs. areas with low uptake of the vaccine are being targeted first. the composer lauriejohnson, who provided some of britain's best—loved television themes and film music, has died at the age of 96. his memorable themes include the avengers, the professionals, animal magic, and this is your life. his family said in a statement that his music touched the lives of millions around the world. you're live with bbc news. in the united states, the governor of florida, ron desantis, has dropped out of the republican presidential race and endorsed donald trump. the surprise video announceme

it is the first time royal mail has dedicated an entire stamp issue to a female pop group.that's girl power!" tributes have been paid to the british actress glynisjohns, who's died in los angeles at the age of 100. # where are the clowns? the song send in the clowns was written especially for her when she appeared in the stephen sondheim's a little night music in 1973. but she was perhaps best known for playing the suffragette in the 1964 film mary poppins. her career spanned more than 60 years. now there's a shortage of guide dogs in the uk, so there can be a long wait for someone who's visually impaired to be matched with one. 0ur correspondent sean dilley waited nearly 18 months, after his beloved guide dog sammy reached retirement age. but now, there's good news, because sean has a new companion who we'll all love having around the newsroom. here's sean with his story. thank you. hello! how you doing? this is a tale of two seans. good boy! it's early november and we've got the weekend together to see how well we bond. it's been 16 months since my third guide sammy retir

well, the end of the royal mail.t. going to bother using it. they're say, well, they're going to say, well, it's not going work well. not going to work well. >> be perfectly honest, >> well to be perfectly honest, some other companies are going to jump in that gap. >> may well do, but the >> well, it may well do, but the trouble is royal mail trouble is the royal mail is left the universal left under the universal requirement deliver at the requirement to deliver at the same price every single house same price to every single house in country. people may in the country. and people may well deliver in well jump in to deliver in islington barnet. they won't. islington or barnet. they won't. they won't to deliver in they won't jump in to deliver in the hebrides. they won't jump in to deliver in the yeah. des. they won't jump in to deliver in the yeah. no. they won't jump in to deliver in the yeah. no i mean and we >> yeah, yeah. no i mean and we are using mail list. are using the mail list. >> is the problem. we don't >

i think the royal mail have been underfunded.ch more serious situation." the government says the service needs to "up its game" — but doesn't back the idea of scrapping saturday services. nor does the posties union, the cwu — saying it was not consulted on 0fcom's report which they describe as not fit for purpose. how and when any changes happen is yet to be decided. but even in a much more digital world, it's clear that the post still plays an important part in many people's lives. are there other things that could be done to save money? let us know and get in touch with your thoughts. all the details on the screen, whatsapp, social media, however you would like to get in touch, we want to hear your thoughts. it’s to get in touch, we want to hear your thoughts-_ your thoughts. it's got me and charlie thinking _ your thoughts. it's got me and charlie thinking about - your thoughts. it's got me and charlie thinking about letters. | your thoughts. it's got me and i charlie thinking about letters. we received an e—mail yesterday fro

here in the uk, while royal mail deliveries could be reduced to as few as three days a week. prime minister rishi sunak and labour opposition leader sir keir starmer clash at prime minister's questions. hello, i'm a lucy hockings. welcome to bbc news now. a russian military transport plane has crashed in the country's south, close to the border with ukraine. the bbc has verified this video showing the moment of the crash. you can see the aircraft in the distance falling through the sky. 74 7a people were on board the plane altogether, no one is reported to have survived. russia says its radars detected the launch of two ukrainian missiles. officials in kyiv warn against what they call special information operations against moscow, which it says has a long history of lies and misinformation. well, russian politicians have been commenting in the russian state duma — let's have a listen. translation: around to 11am, in the area i of belgorod city airport, a russian air and space forces il—76 plane crashed. on board were 65 former servicemen of the ukrainian army, prisoners of wa

originally anyway, and also — the royal mail originally anyway, and also having the authority togo over the compensation. i and also having the authority to go overthe compensation. i mean, and also having the authority to go over the compensation. i mean, who do you _ over the compensation. i mean, who do you know. — over the compensation. i mean, who do you know, if somebody rubgy and stole everything out of your house and then _ stole everything out of your house and then said, i tell you what, i'm going— and then said, i tell you what, i'm going to— and then said, i tell you what, i'm going to decide what to give you back, _ going to decide what to give you back, who — going to decide what to give you back, who does that? in which country— back, who does that? in which country would you find the person who is _ country would you find the person who is committing the crime is actually— who is committing the crime is actually deciding on what course of action— actually deciding on what course of action to _ actually deciding on what course of action to take with you? it just do

just when — the royal mail and it was in 2007.e audit, _ an actual moment? what they do, i had requested the audit, they - an actual moment? what they do, i j had requested the audit, they came to the _ had requested the audit, they came to the office, remove the keys from me straightaway and i had to follow them _ me straightaway and i had to follow them in. _ me straightaway and i had to follow them in. so — me straightaway and i had to follow them in, so they led the way in. when _ them in, so they led the way in. when i — them in, so they led the way in. when i was _ them in, so they led the way in. when i was leaving i had a bag and it was— when i was leaving i had a bag and it was about the size of a pencil case _ it was about the size of a pencil case and — it was about the size of a pencil case and they searched me before i left and _ case and they searched me before i left and they said anything you take out of— left and they said anything you take out of here — left and they said anything you take out of here would be cl

what does the future hold for royal mail? year, now only handles around seven billion. something has to give — but what will it be? and how will it affect your letterbox? i take a look. killed whilst heroically trying to protect herfriend — the family of grace o'malley—kumar speak to breakfast about their loss and their anger. i miss...i miss her so much. she was my little friend, she was my pet. i'm literally dizzy with grief, and it's the same every day. the former cabinet minister simon clarke calls for the conservatives to replace rishi sunak as prime minister, or face heavy defeat at the next election. middlesbrough's wembley dream is over as chelsea hit them for six to reach the league cup final.