Daily Mail Stopping first-class post would prove we've become a second-class nationDaily MailThe Royal Mail was once a vital artery of our national infrastructure, playing a central role in building a modern, industrial society. Cheap, reliable and efficient, it was the envy of the world. Doomed? A book of first …

A masked robber has made off with about £1,500 after holding up a post office at gunpoint. More: continued here

Osborne is running a bigger budget deficit this year compared to last year …Gold made simple NewsOf course it also meant that the UK taxpayers are now on the hook for £36bn in Royal Mail pension payments down the road, but of course those don't get put into the figures …

Postal patrons get rare opportunity to weigh inTraverse City Record EagleOn Old Mission, nine out of 10 respondents chose to keep the counter open four hours a day, according to Nancy Warne, Old Mission's officer in charge of the post office, so a Wednesday meeting with postal officials focused on …

UNION – The U.S. Postal Service has asked Union residents whether the post office on Depot Street should be open fewer hours or closed altogether as the service downsizes rural locations in the face of declining demand. More: continued here

MP wins 'concession' over parcel collectionWhitstablepeopleThe move is due to take place in February next year. He said: "I am pleased Royal Mail has promised to make the Whitstable Post Office in Gladstone Road a parcel collection point. "This means Whitstable customers won't have to travel to Canterbury if … …

Shrink the post office? Union residents askedNorthwest HeraldCustomers enter the Union Post Office on Thursday morning. The postal service wants to reduce its hours to save money, but officials are asking for residents' input before making any decisions. An informational meeting about the survey is set for … More: continued …

Economic Times Borrowing falls as austerity bitesBurton MailStripping out the one-off impact of the transfer of £28 billion of assets from the Royal Mail's pension funds, public borrowing was £65.1 billion, up from £62.4 billion in the corresponding period in 2011/12. Mr Osborne is now widely expected to …UK September …

PhilPost to issue Calungsod canonization stampsGMA NewsThe Philippine Postal Corp. is issuing commemorative stamps to celebrate the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod as the Philippines' second saint. On Friday, PhilPost said it is issuing around 50,000 of the P9-denomination stamps on Oct. 21, Sunday …and more » More: continued here

Isle of Man Post Office, one of the statutory boards of Tynwald, announces continued profits with growth on the previous financial year’s results. Profit of almost £2.6 million is reported for the 2011/12 financial year, up on the previous year (£2.4m). More: continued here