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New stamps mark 50th anniversary of first commercial Concorde flights
A new set of stamps and co-ordinated nose drop events will mark the 50th anniversary of the first commercial Concorde flights.
The Royal Mail said it has produced 12 stamps which pay tribute to the supersonic aircraft’s “innovation, elegance and engineering excellence”.
The nose cones of three Concorde planes exhibited in the UK will be moved simultaneously at 11.40am on Wednesday to mark the moment the first commercial Concorde flights departed on January 21 1976.
A British Airways flight set off from London’s Heathrow airport to Bahrain at the same time as an Air France flight departed from Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport for Rio.
The main set of eight Concorde stamps features photography of British Airways’ Concordes throughout their history, including the first and last commercial flights.
One of the stamps depicts four Concordes flying in formation to celebrate 10 years of service.
A further four stamps are presented in a miniature sheet.
David Gold, director of external affairs and policy at the Royal Mail, said: “Concorde remains one of the most iconic achievements in aviation history, and we’re proud to celebrate its legacy with this special set of stamps.
“These designs pay tribute to the innovation, elegance and engineering excellence that made Concorde a symbol of British ingenuity and ambition.”
Hamish McVey, director of marketing for British Airways, said: “Concorde represents a landmark chapter in our history at British Airways, embodying the pioneering spirit of British innovation and creativity that remains integral to our brand today.”
Concorde planes have distinctive hydraulically operated nose cones designed to move down during take-off and landing to give pilots better visibility of runways.
The aircraft at Aerospace Bristol, Manchester Airport Runway Visitor Park and Imperial War Museum Duxford in Cambridgeshire will drop their noses in front of spectators on Wednesday.
Brooklands Museum in Surrey, which also has a Concorde on display, is hosting a dinner on Wednesday night when aviation enthusiasts will be able to hear from eight former Concorde pilots and view archive material relating to the jet.
Last week, the Royal Mint launched a new 50p coin celebrating Concorde.
Born out of a joint Anglo-French project, Concorde’s success was savoured as a moment of intense national pride.
Most impressive of all was its speed. A cruising velocity of twice the speed of sound, or 1,350mph, allowed it to cover a mile in just 2.75 seconds.
Concorde quickly established itself as the way to travel for the discerning tycoon and Hollywood star.
Its fine wines and five-star cuisine assured it a large, well-heeled fan base, with regular passengers including the likes of Joan Collins, Sir Paul McCartney and Diana, Princess of Wales.
But the aircraft was retired from service in October 2003, with British Airways and Air France blaming a downturn in passenger numbers and rising maintenance costs.
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Gold is sold at a discount in Dubai due to Middle East conflict disrupting flights. Traders offer up to $30 per ounce less than London prices.
Dubai Gold Selling Cheaper As Iran War Grounds Flights
Gold is being sold at a discount in Dubai as the widening conflict in the Middle East disrupts flights and hampers the movement of bullion from one of the world’s key trading hubs.
According to a Bloomberg report, traders in Dubai are offering discounts of up to $30 per ounce compared to the global benchmark price in London. The unusual price cut comes as shipments remain stranded due to flight disruptions triggered by the escalating conflict involving Iran and Israel.
Dubai is a key global centre for refining and exporting gold to markets across Asia, including India. However, partial airspace restrictions and heightened security risks have slowed the movement of bullion out of the region.
Why Gold Is Being Sold Cheaper
Gold is typically transported in the cargo holds of passenger aircraft. With several flights from the UAE restricted amid regional tensions, traders are struggling to move bullion to international markets.
At the same time, insurance and freight costs have surged, making shipments more expensive and uncertain. Many buyers have therefore stepped back from placing new orders, unwilling to bear high logistics costs without assurance of timely delivery.
To avoid paying prolonged storage and financing costs while shipments remain stuck, some traders are offering gold at discounted prices.
Although transporting bullion by road to airports in neighbouring countries such as Saudi Arabia or Oman is theoretically possible, logistics firms are reluctant due to the risks and complications of moving high-value cargo across land borders during a conflict.
What It Means For India
India, one of the largest buyers of gold shipped from Dubai, could face short-term supply disruptions if the situation continues.
Renisha Chainani, head of research at Augmont Enterprises Ltd., said several cargo shipments have already been delayed, creating temporary tightness in the availability of physical bullion in India.
However, industry experts as reported by Bloomberg say the immediate impact may remain limited as domestic inventories are currently comfortable after heavy imports earlier this year.
Chirag Sheth, principal consultant for South Asia at Metals Focus, said Bloomberg that India has ample stocks for now, but warned that prolonged disruptions could eventually affect supply if the conflict continues for several months.
Meanwhile, global gold prices have surged this year amid geopolitical uncertainty, with spot gold recently trading above $5,000 per ounce.
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March 08, 2026, 10:03 IST
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Some seven in 10 British adults without a full driving licence say learning to drive is currently unaffordable, according to a survey.
The figure is even higher among younger people, with 76% of 18 to 29-year-olds without a licence saying driving lessons are financially out of reach, the poll for car insurer Prima found.
Overall, 38% said the cost of driving lessons was the biggest deterrent to learning to drive.
Some 32% were put off by the price of buying a car and 15% said the cost of car insurance was the main barrier to learning to drive.
Almost half (45%) said they would consider learning to drive if it became significantly cheaper.
Nick Ielpo, UK country manager at Prima, said: “For a growing number of people, driving is no longer a symbol of freedom – it’s a financial stretch too far.
“Between lessons, buying a car and insuring it, the upfront and ongoing costs are pricing many people out before they even start.”
Find Out Now surveyed 1,134 adults who do not hold a full driving licence between January 21 and 23.
Go Digit General Insurance on Saturday said it has received a demand notice of about Rs 170 crore for short payment of goods and services tax (GST) for nearly five years. The company has received an order copy from the Office of the Commissioner of GST & Central Excise, Chennai South Commissionerate on March 6, confirming GST demand of Rs 154.80 crore levying penalty of Rs 15.48 crore and Interest u/s 50 of CGST Act, 2017 for the period July 2017 to March 2022, the insurer said in a regulatory filing. The company is in the process of evaluating the legal advice on the implications and would file an appeal, it said.
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