Royal Mail should cut second-class delivery days, says regulator Ofcom

Royal Mail is set to be allowed to deliver second-class letters on alternate weekdays and to stop Saturday deliveries under proposals to shake up postal service rules announced by the industry regulator.Ofcom said cutting the deliveries to every other weekday with a price cap on second-class stamps, while maintaining first-class letters six days a week, would still meet the public’s needs.Its provisional recommendations also included cutting delivery targets for first-class mail from 93% to 90% arriving the next day, and for second-class mail from 98.5% to 95% within three days.Ofcom’s consultation on the proposed changes will run until 10 April, and it expects to publish its decision in the summer

Allen v Jackson for MVP and a breathtaking play: NFL end of season awards

With the Super Bowl on the horizon we pick the outstanding players, coaches and moments from the 2023 season in the NFLJosh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills. Take your pick between transcendent quarterbacks: Allen or Lamar Jackson. Neither answer is wrong. I edge towards Allen here, for the sole reason that he hasn’t won the award before. That’s not right; it’s not fair

Georgina Hayden’s recipe for a herby, crispy rice, shallot and lemongrass salad

When I was a vegetarian, I was for many years presented with variations on rice salad. However, they always seemed to miss the mark not just in taste but mostly in texture. I couldn’t get onboard, until I tried a Thai rice salad, where the rice is crisp (and often ground up). It’s a thing of pure joy, with crunchy textures, fresh flavours and the right amount of punch. Play around with the balance, adding more acidity, sweetness or spice to suit your palate

NHS England chief under fire again as MPs ‘exasperated’ by responses

The head of the NHS in England is under fresh fire after a second influential group of MPs in barely 12 hours accused her of lacking the “drive and dynamism” to radically reform the service.The cross-party Commons health and social care committee criticised Amanda Pritchard, the chief executive of NHS England, after taking detailed evidence from her on Wednesday morning.In an unusual move, the health committee issued a statement about Pritchard’s performance, during which MPs were left “exasperated” and visibly frustrated by the vague and rambling answers she and two senior colleagues gave.“Following today’s report by the public accounts committee, this morning’s evidence session was an opportunity for NHS leadership to prove their drive and dynamism,” said Layla Moran, the Liberal Democrat MP who chairs the committee.“Regrettably, we were left disappointed and frustrated

Women’s Ashes: Australia v England one-off cricket Test, day one – as it happened

That’s all for today. I’ll leave with you Raf Nicholson’s report, and we’ll have a piece from Geoff Lemon in the next hour or two as well. Goodnight!Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s reactionIt was really tough. It’s one of those pitches where you have to grind out your runs. Kingy was absolutely ragging it on day one as well

Reeves’s growth plans ‘exactly what economy needs’ say UK business groups – as it happened

Business groups have strongly welcomed the measures in Rachel Reeves’ speech this morning.Rain Newton-Smith, CEO at the CBI, said:It’s crunch time for growth and today the chancellor has heeded business’ call to go further and faster. This is most evident in ministers grasping decisions that have sat on the desk of government for too long. This positive leadership and a clear vision to kickstart the economy and boost productivity is welcome …The chancellor’s announcements are smart, looking to leverage the UK’s strengths including our world class universities, innovation and openness to global talent.Shevaun Haviland, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:The chancellor has laid down a clear marker on her intent to push for growth and these proposals can light the blue touchpaper to fire up the UK economy