• Standard first-class postage will rise 30p to £1.65 – a 22.2% increase
• Fifth price hike in under three years 
• Postage rise could lead to a ‘doom spiral of decline’ for Royal Mail

By City & Finance Reporter

Updated: 21:50 BST, 6 October 2024

Businesses have warned that Royal Mail’s inflation-busting first-class stamp price hike could ‘herald the end of an affordable postal service’. 

Standard first-class postage will rise 30p to £1.65 from today – a 22.2 per cent increase.

The fifth price hike in under three years comes as Royal Mail’s owner International Distribution Service, led by chief executive Martin Seidenberg, is being bought by Daniel Kretinsky.

Concerns: Royal Mail’s owner International Distribution Service, led by chief executive Martin Seidenberg (pictured), is being bought by Daniel Kretinsky

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Royal Mail also intends to cut second-class deliveries to every other weekday. 

The first-class postage rise could lead to a ‘doom spiral of decline’ for Royal Mail, warned the Greeting Card Association (GCA), which fears a ‘premium, uncapped, unregulated first-class stamp beyond [consumers’] reach’.

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‘When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life,’ said the writer Samuel Johnson.

And Canadian expat Christina Ford agrees.

Christina, 63, moved to London in 2016. But despite her love for her new life in the Big Smoke, there were a few things that took some getting used to.

Here, the lifestyle blogger (a-broad-in-london) and author of award-winning book In Search of Mr Darcy: Lessons Learnt in the Pursuit of Happily Ever After shares her thoughts on the good, the bad and the just plain strange in the UK.

She reveals her thoughts on the likes of door handles, unrefrigerated eggs, jaywalking, stop signs and public transport – and reveals the key British phrases visitors ‘need to know to keep out of trouble’.

Christina Ford (above) moved to London in 2016. But despite her love for her new life in the Big Smoke, there were a few things that took some getting used to. Here, the lifestyle blogger and author reveals her thoughts on the good, the bad and the just plain strange in the UK

WHAT ARE THE STRANGEST ASPECTS OF LIFE IN THE UK?

No door handles

‘Instead, there’s a prominent door pull to close the door behind you. But it’s the turning of the key that opens the door, not a door handle.’

Unrefrigerated eggs

‘In the UK, eggs could be anywhere in the grocery store, except where I normally find them, in the refrigerated section. Plus, you occasionally find a feather or two stuck to them, which I have to admit, kind of grossed me out the first time.’

No stop signs

Christina is pictured above at the Tower of London. She says the best way of getting around the capital is by public transport 

‘This could be lifesaving intel. When I say “no stop signs”, it’s not because they are replaced with traffic lights or roundabouts. Cars merely have to slow down, not legally stop, when approaching an intersection. Of course, there are some stop signs, but far less than you would think.’

The jaywalkers

‘Londoners will wait for a gap in traffic and then confidently dash across the street. This is important to note – just because the herd is moving, doesn’t mean all the cows are safe. Look up from your phone and pay attention when crossing the street.’

The obsession with football (soccer)

‘I thought British women over 50, that awesome demographic, would have as much interest in a Newcastle vs Manchester United football match as I do – that being none. I was wrong. Although gotta say, this girl loved Ted Lasso, but I’ve learnt that doesn’t count. And although the women are not quite the loud chanting, beer-raising, boisterous lad enthusiast, make no mistake this country is football crazy. And if one wants to fit in, you better get yourself an answer to the inevitable question, “Who’s your team?”’

WHAT DOES THE UK DO WELL?

Public transport

‘Complain about it all you want, but most of the time it is the fastest and safest way to get around London.’

Queuing

’Standing in line for everything, and I mean everything.’

Would Christina recommend London as a place to live? She says: ‘‘Yes. As the saying goes, “He who is bored in London is bored with life”’

Mail delivery

‘Usually next day in the UK.’

Garbage pickup

‘Twice a week. Recycling once a week. (This varies depending on where in London you live.)’

Normalise drinking

‘Pub culture is socially acceptable and pretty much expected, versus hanging out in a local U.S bar. Still undecided if this is a good or bad thing.’

Talk about the weather

‘I mean, every day, all day’.

Art and theatre

‘All galleries and museums are free!’

So much greenery

Christina rightly points out that London has so many trees that it’s technically a forest, which she thinks is ‘just awesome’.

Would she recommend London as a place to Live?

‘Yes. As the saying goes, “He who is bored in London is bored with life.”’

HOW COULD THE UK IMPROVE?

More affordable housing

’For a single person with a decent wage, it is still almost impossible to afford a one-bedroom flat in London.’

Londoners should make eye contact

’Brits aren’t exactly known for being the most welcoming to strangers. They could be friendlier – and not just with our dogs.’

The prospect of racing 300 miles across New York State over a long weekend filled me with terror, but I tried to take the approach of ‘one day at a time.’

I’d signed up to do one of the toughest ultra races on the east coast, which takes place over a four-day period spanning from the source of the Hudson River in Essex County, New York and weaving south through suburbs until reaching the bustling metropolis of Manhattan.

The Source To City event, organized by the UK-based company Rat Race Adventures, consists of four disciplines – hiking, biking, kayaking and running – and it attracts a pool of thrill seekers and athletes alike.

As an avid adventurer, I had completed a Rat Race ultra event in Namibia in 2022, and I thought the Source To City event sounded like an amazing way of exploring more of New York State.

And after four days, 300 miles and 40 hours of grueling physical activity, not only had I seen mountains, forests, small towns and thriving cities, I crossed the finish line with sore muscles and achy joints. 

But the pain was worth it.  

DailyMail.com’s Sadie Whitelocks signed up to do one of the toughest ultra races on the east coast, which takes place over four days. Above, seen on Mount Marcy during the hiking section

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The Source To City event, organized by the UK-based company Rat Race Adventures, consists of four disciplines – hiking, biking, kayaking and running

The weekend I signed up for the grueling challenge, there were 10 participants in total, with the group hailing from Ireland, North Carolina, and the UK. 

Surprisingly, given the proximity, I was the only New Yorker. In terms of ages, we ranged from 30s to 50s.

Most participants had marathons, Ironmans, and triathlons under their belts, but Ian, 52, from the UK joked he had signed up to race in the hope of ‘toughening up’ for his wife and children, as he works in the female-centered world of cosmetics. 

Most people had spent a good period of time training, with cycling being the main focus.

This aspect of the race would encompass just under 260 miles, while the hike would span 18 miles, the kayak 10 miles and the final run, just shy of a half marathon at 13 miles.

Being strapped for time and with no bike of my own in New York, my training regime consisted of daily three-mile runs and trips around the city on electric CitiBikes – not the slickest of two-wheelers. 

To say I felt a little underprepared was an understatement, but like with many outdoor challenges I had faced in the past, I’ve found mental grit is one of the best skills to hone. 

While the name ‘Rat Race’ suggests a competitive edge, the challenges are actually open to people of all abilities, which fosters a feeling of camaraderie and its ‘the taking part that counts.’ 

There are no official awards for first place, but we wanted to push ourselves nonetheless for personal achievement. 

Our group met at JFK airport in Queens, New York, before taking a six-hour bus ride to Lake Placid, where we would stay for the night before the adventure really began. 

The weekend I signed up for the grueling challenge, there were 10 participants in total

During the bike legs, there were pitstops every 30 miles for participants to grab snacks 

After a briefing at the hotel around what each day would involve, we were off – all a little bleary eyed given the 4:45 am start time. 

Day one comprised of an 18-mile trek to the summit of Mount Marcy near Lake Placid, which is New York State’s highest point at 5,344 feet.

Following a bout of rain, the 11 hour hike through forested terrain was muddy and slick, and careful footwork was needed in order to stay upright.

Our group stayed together for this leg of the race and the route was led by a knowledgeable local guide.  

A couple of people from our group took a tumble on the steeper, rockier sections from the summit and Gemma – a 35-year-old baker from the UK – ended up with a nasty bruise on her backside, while Ian ripped his hiking pants.

The hike was tough going and at the end, my feet were shriveled from my waterlogged sneakers. 

When we reached the end, we quickly changed into our cycling gear and hopped on our bikes to pedal 33 miles from the base of Mount Marcy to North Creek, New York, where we would sleep for the night.

Biking through the Adirondack regions was exhilarating, and we rode through rolling woodlands and swathes of picture perfect farmland, though my legs and glutes took a beating from biking up hills for three hours. 

As nightfall descended, the route took on an eerie feeling as we had no road lamps and no phone reception. The group teamed up in pairs to get through it safely, making sure we stuck to the route on our mounted GPS devices.  

While day one was mentally and physically exhausting, I knew day two would be an even greater test of my stamina, as I would be cycling 120 miles from North Creek to Hudson.

To help us get through it, there were pitstops every 30 miles with snacks and water to refuel our bodies. 

The repetitive nature of pedaling took its toll on my left knee and a throbbing pain persisted. I also experienced severe pins and needles in my fingers, the result of compressed nerves in my wrist and hand from holding onto the handlebars.

Additionally, my back grew increasingly sore due to a combination of being hunched over the bike and carrying a backpack of spare clothing.

Dr Liam Musto, an expedition doctor who has worked with Rat Race on various events, told me the Source To City challenge is ‘definitely one of the more demanding endurance races.’

Detailing how it tests the mind and body, he said: ‘After several days of sustained exertion, participants commonly experience significant fatigue and muscle soreness. 

‘While the larger muscle groups in the legs and core are heavily taxed, less obvious areas such as the wrists, neck, and hips can also develop aches and fatigue, particularly by the latter stages of the race. 

‘Blisters and chafing are also very common as the distances increase – “saddle sores” for example can be particularly uncomfortable. 

‘Given the challenging nature of these events, preparation is essential. Including a well thought out pre-event training plan and proper nutrition and hydration during the event.’

Most people had spent a good period of time training for the event, with cycling being the main focus

Over the four days, my back got ‘increasingly sore due to a combination of being hunched over the handlebars and carrying a backpack of spare clothing’

By mile 60 on day two, I certainly wasn’t sure if I could hack much more, but cheers of support from the Rat Race crew helped lift spirits, as did the snacks at each pitstop, ranging from pizza and watermelon to mini cupcakes. 

I also cycled the majority of the stretch with Gemma and chatting helped keep our minds off the backbreaking distance. 

We couldn’t wait for a shower at the end and the thought of a refreshing drink at the bar that night was equally as motivating. 

Eventually, after 12.5 hours of tracing miles of road, we made it to Hudson, New York where we would stay for the night. 

‘You’ve got the hard part out of the way, the rest should be easy,’ Rat Race founder and trip leader Jim Mee said over dinner in a bid to pep us up for the final days. 

Days three and four were around equal distances on the bike (56 miles the first and 50 the following) and each featured brutal climbs. 

At the end of the third day of cycling from Hudson to Dutchess County, we kayaked 10 miles down the Hudson River from the Chelsea Marina to the picturesque town of Cold Spring, New York.

The Hudson was exceedingly calm and glassy, making it a pleasant paddle. 

On our last day, following a final push on the bikes from Cold Spring to the George Washington Bridge, we crossed the Hudson River, finishing with a 13-mile run.

At first, after days hunched over on the bike, my body felt stiff, but after a couple of miles, things loosened up and I tried to maintain a steady pace alongside three of my teammates. 

Our pace was a very slow jog, with some stops here and there to walk.  

On their final day, the racers crossed the Hudson on foot over the George Washington Bridge to finish with a half marathon

The run from the George Washington Bridge to the City Vineyard restaurant on Manhattan’s west side took us  just over 2.5 hours

A map showing the route Sadie and the rest of the competitors took over the long weekend

The running leg from the bridge to the City Vineyard restaurant on Manhattan’s west side took us just over 2.5 hours and the feeling of relief at the finish line was unbelievable. 

We were greeted by the jingle of a cow bell, along with the rest of the Rat Race team and our fellow – and speedier – comrades.  

Luckily, no one sustained any major injuries during the challenge. Some of the main complaints included chaffing, saddle sores, sunburn, creaky knees, stiff shoulders from kayaking, and practically everything was aching come the final run. 

Having a debrief with some celebratory beverages, we all agreed what a stunning place New York State is, and outside of Manhattan, there’s a swathe of greenery to explore. 

Summing up this year’s final Source To City race, Jim Mee said: ‘This was most definitely no picnic. Everyone fronted up and took it on with gusto. 

‘What a road trip it was. What a country the US is. Truly an adventure.’

Surprisingly, my body didn’t feel as worn down as I thought it would. 

In 2010 I ran the New York marathon with no training after my name got drawn out of a hat for a placement, and I could barely walk for a week or so. 

But this time around, it appeared my daily three miles runs had helped build my strength and the next day, I was in the office feeling remarkably perky. 

For me, I’m already looking into the next Rat Race adventure – it really makes for an unreal way of pushing your mind and body to their limits.  

By Daniel Matthews

Published: 00:26 BST, 7 October 2024 | Updated: 01:37 BST, 7 October 2024

Concussion campaigners have slammed the decision to allow Josh Allen to return to the field minutes after the Bills quarterback suffered a sickening blow to the head against the Texans.

Allen’s head bounced off the turf after a tackle during Buffalo’s 23-20 defeat by Houston on Sunday. The quarterback was left face down, his left wrist bent into the turf, following the brutal hit to his head.

Concerned teammates stood over Allen before he headed to the medical tent for evaluation, only to return to the game shortly.

It comes only weeks after Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa suffered another concussion and Chris Nowinski – a neuroscientist and founding CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation – slammed the ‘insane’ and ‘risky’ decision.

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‘It’s insane that Josh Allen was put back in after this hit. Even if he says he’s fine, why bet the franchise QB that concussion symptoms aren’t delayed?’ he wrote on social media. 

Josh Allen controversially returned to the field after suffering a sickening blow to the head 

Concerned teammates stood over the quarterback after his head bounced off the turf

‘Protocol aside, how are we taking risks like this just a few weeks after another Tua concussion?’

Nowinski added: ‘Fact: All #concussion protocols are imperfect. If I saw a player’s head bounce 18 inches off the turn and his left wrist fold like Allen’s did here, I’d call it “no protective action when falling”, a concussion sign. I’d at least sit him for the game. Why are we not cautious?’

Earlier on Sunday, Tommy Tremble of the Panthers appeared to be knocked unconscious after taking a blow to the head. 

Another clip from the Bills-Texas game, meanwhile, appeared to show Allen being handed something by a member of the bench before he returned to the field. Sports doctor Jesse Morse claimed it was smelling salts and he called for a ‘huge penalty’ over the decision to let Allen play on.

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After his return, Allen was unable to prevent the Bills from suffering an 23-20 loss

‘It’s insane that Josh Allen was put back in,’ concussion campaigner Chris Nowinski said

‘Josh Allen appears to have SUFFERED A CONCUSSION, they gave him SMELLING SALTS then allowed him to return to the game,’ he said. 

‘This should be a HUGE PENALTY and VERY risky for Josh Allen’s health. He could have suffered another concussion which could have caused second impact syndrome, which can be deadly.’

After trainers rushed on to the field, Allen reportedly stayed down for around 20 seconds before he sat up and made his way off.

Following CJ Stroud’s dramatic fumble, however, Allen reportedly attempted to run out of the tent, only to be pulled back in.

Mitch Trubisky briefly replaced him under center but soon Allen put his helmet on and ran back on. He was unable to prevent the Bills from suffering an 23-20 loss.

A disgraced breast surgeon is set to be stripped of his £1 million pension pot after he conducted unnecessary operations on more than 1,000 patients.

Ian Paterson, 64, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found to have carried out the procedures on more than 1,000 breast cancer patients over a period of some 14 years.

Inquests into the deaths of 62 patients who were treated by Paterson are to open this month, with another 20 due to open at a later date. 

However, if Judge Richard Foster, who has been appointed to lead the inquests, concludes any of the 82 patients died as a result of Paterson’s actions, this could result in further prosecutions.

According to The Sunday Times, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has decided to remove Paterson’s taxpayer-funded pension under rules that allow NHS benefits to be forfeited in the case of criminal, negligent or fraudulent acts.

The newspaper reported that the Secretary of State must authorise the decision and, to qualify, the offences must be considered so serious as to lead to a ‘serious loss of confidence in the public service’ or to have been ‘gravely injurious to the state’.

Ian Paterson (pictured) is currently serving 20 years in prison after being found to have carried out unnecessary procedures on more than 1,000 patients over a period of some 14 years

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Paterson was employed by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust and practised in the independent sector at Spire Parkway and Spire Little Aston in Birmingham

Health Secretary Wes Streeting (pictured) has decided to remove Paterson’s taxpayer-funded pension under rules that allow NHS benefits to be forfeited in the case of criminal, negligent or fraudulent acts

Paterson was employed by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust and practised in the independent sector at Spire Parkway and Spire Little Aston in Birmingham.

He was jailed in 2017 after being convicted of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three counts of unlawful wounding relating to unnecessary operations performed on 10 patients between 1997 and 2011.

An independent inquiry, chaired by former Bishop of Norwich, the Right Rev Graham James, ruled in February 2020 that Paterson had carried out hundreds of unnecessary operations on scores of patients, exaggerating or inventing cancer risks.

In at least 100 cases of the 300 discovered since 2021, patients were having treatment for conditions other than breast surgery, such as the removal of their gallbladder or appendix.

In 2023, it was revealed that the private medical group that Paterson had worked for had set aside nearly £50million to cover the costs of the cases.

He told hundreds of women, and some men, that they had cancer when they did not, putting them through tests and surgeries that would be paid for by insurance firms.

Paterson would have been part of the NHS final salary scheme and, assuming he had accrued 30 years of service, he would have built up a pension pot of just over £1million. This does not include private earnings or other pensionable income from the NHS.

Paterson (pictured in February 2017) was jailed in 2017 after being convicted of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three counts of unlawful wounding relating to unnecessary operations performed on 10 patients between 1997 and 2011

In at least 100 cases of the 300 discovered since 2021, patients were having treatment for conditions other than breast surgery, such as the removal of their gallbladder or appendix (Spire Parkway in Solihull, pictured) 

Debbie Douglas, 65, who was subjected to numerous unnecessary operations by Paterson, told The Sunday Times: ‘I’m delighted he has had his pension taken away because all those years he worked for the NHS harming people, he was committing criminal acts… I totally agree with the decision.’

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: ‘These were appalling crimes and we are assisting His Majesty’s Coroner with the inquests concerning the tragic deaths of patients previously treated by Ian Paterson. We offer our sincere condolences to the families.

‘Cases like this are fortunately rare, but this Government will prioritise patient safety to ensure everyone receives the high-quality, safe treatment they deserve.

‘We understand families’ frustration and recognise that significant improvements to patient safety are required.

‘This Government is working urgently to ensure all lessons from this terrible case are being learned.’

By Shivali Best For Mailonline

Published: 14:28 BST, 4 October 2024 | Updated: 14:34 BST, 4 October 2024

It’s one of the most popular streaming services around the world.

But if you use Amazon Prime Video, there’s some bad news for you.

Just nine months after they were first introduced, the tech giant has revealed that it’s doubling down on adverts.

Kelly Day, the head of Prime Video International, has confirmed that more adverts will be shown during films and TV programmes in 2025.

And if you don’t want your content interrupted, you’ll be forced to pay £2.99 extra each month.

If you use Amazon Prime Video, there’s some bad news for you. Just nine months after they were first introduced, the tech giant has revealed that it’s doubling down on adverts

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Kelly Day, the head of Prime Video International, has confirmed that more adverts will be shown during films and TV programmes in 2025. Pictured: Lord of the Rings

Amazon first introduced adverts at the end of January this year, with the commercials shown at the beginning, middle, and end of each programme or movie.

In an email sent to customers at the time, Amazon said: ‘Prime Video movies and TV shows will include limited advertisements.

‘We aim to have meaningfully fewer ads than linear TV and other streaming TV providers.’

However, it now seems that Amazon isn’t sticking to this aim.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Ms Day explained that ads will ‘ramp up a little bit more into 2025.’

However, she remained tight-lipped on what this ‘ramp up’ will entail, or which countries will be affected.

Amazon first introduced adverts at the end of January this year , with the commercials shown at the beginning, middle, and end of each programme or movie. Pictured: The Summer I Turned Pretty

How much does Amazon Prime Video cost?

Amazon Prime Video is one of the additional services that Amazon Prime subscribers receive for free as part of the subscription package.

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Standard: £8.99/month or £95/year

Student: £4.49/month or £47.49/year

However, to remove adverts from the service, subscribers will need to pay for an ad-free subscription.

This costs an additional £2.99/month or £35.88/year.

Unfortunately, if you don’t want to see adverts while watching your favourite show or movie, the only way to remove them is to pay an extra fee.

Amazon Prime subscribers will need to pay £2.99 per month or £35.88 per year in order to remove the ads.

That will bring the monthly cost of an Amazon Prime Video subscription to just below £12 per month.

This is more expensive than a standard Netflix account or Premium Disney+ account which both cost £10.99 per month and do not include adverts.

To upgrade to ad-free, go to your ‘Account & Settings’ page on Amazon Prime and select ‘Go Ad Free’.

This will remove ads from all Amazon Prime Video profiles that have been linked to your Amazon account.

Unfortunately, Amazon says this will not even remove all adverts.

Some titles will still include ‘promotional trailers that run before a movie or TV show’ which will be skippable with a paid ad-free subscription.

In addition, live events, such as sports fixtures, and any content offered through Amazon Freevee where available will continue to include advertising.

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