September 30, 2003 -- The U.S. Postal Service has filed with the House Committee on Government Reform its proposal regarding the use of P.L. 108-18 savings for fiscal years after 2005 and its proposal regarding the requirement within P.L. 108-18 concerning military retirement payments.

September 30, 2003 -- The Ft. Worth Star-Telegram has reported that "Charles McKinley, the adventurous New Yorker who gained his 15 minutes of fame when he air-mailed himself in a crate from Newark, N.J., to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to visit his parents in DeSoto, on Monday tasted freedom again for the first time in three weeks."

September 30, 2003 -- AllAfrica.com has reported that "Zampost has finished its restructuring process in terms of operations and has reduced its workforce by 240. A Zampost official said that due to liberalisation of the postal market, competition had become stiff as new players joined the market and that it was important to take advantage of technology in order to diversify and make money."

September 30, 2003 -- The BBC has reported that "the Royal Mail is to be fined £7.5m for failing to meet targets, regulator Postcomm has announced. The fines relate to two services for business customers: First Class Post Paid Impression (PPI) and First Class Response Services. The Royal Mail was ordered to improve the services in December. But Postcomm found not enough had been done to ensure performance improved as it remained 6% below agreed targets for both." See also Skynews and The Times.

September 30, 2003 -- The Journal of Commerce has reported that "the European Union and the United States will start negotiations Wednesday aimed at opening the trans-atlantic aviation market. The U.S. has pushed for an incremental approach leading EU airlines to believe that Washington wants to limit a new treaty to international flying rights and exclude issues of ownership and EU access to the U.S. market. The 15 EU member states favor a comprehensive agreement. Brussels is pressing for changes in foreign ownership limits of airlines, currently 49 percent in the U.S. It also wants Washington to allow European carriers to operate in the domestic U.S. passenger and cargo markets and drop the requirement that U.S. officials and cargo fly on U.S. airlines."

September 30, 2003 -- According to Traffic World:

• Reverse supply chain holds no profits, but revamping can cut losses, create savings.
• The first electronic product code show demonstrates RFID market interest

September 30, 2003 -- MAIL: The Journal of Communications Distribution has taken note of PMG Potter's willingness to tackle the big issues facing the Postal Service 'After two plus years at the helm, PMG Potter has toiled hard to manage in a difficult environment,' the article said."

September 30, 2003 -- InformationWeek has reported that "in an effort to slash costs, United Parcel Service Inc. is spending $20 million to develop logistics software that will aggregate ZIP code information and map out how packages should be loaded onto trucks for the most efficient deliveries. The software, which is connected to a database containing customer and U.S. Postal Service information, will generate new shipping labels that include information a customer may forget to fill out, such as a ZIP code, and drive automatic sorting machines that will put packages on pallets in the most efficient order for loading."

September 30, 2003 -- Dow Jones has reported that "the U.S. Postal Service faces a fight over its plans to shut down a post office in Birmingham, Ala. The spat underscores the resistance faced by the agency as it tries to shrink its enormous delivery network to overcome a falloff in many kinds of mail volume."

September 30, 2003 -- Kyodo News (Japan) has reported that "Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told parliament Tuesday he will make privatization of the postal services in an election pledge of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)."

September 30, 2003 -- The Washing ton Times has reported that "the problems with postal delivery are plaguing publishers and advertisers, both of whom want to get their information to readers at a certain time. The publishers want to get news out while it's still news; the advertisers want current ads in front of their prospects. That's where PDF comes in rather handy."

September 30, 2003 -- Ire land Online has reported that "An Post is reportedly seeking legal advice after discovering that several Irish companies are using the British postal system to send mail to Ireland in order to avail of cheaper rates. The Irish companies transfer their mail to Britain, where it is then posted back to Ireland by Royal Mail. The companies are reportedly making savings of around 25% because of the move." See also the Irish Examiner.

September 30, 2003 -- According to the Business Report (South Africa), "the communications department's postal business unit was exploring a relationship with Brazil on the roll-out of public internet terminals through the South African Post Office (Sapo)"

September 30, 2003 -- Ananova (U.K.) has reported that "the Royal Mail is urging people not to post letters in London on Wednesday because of a strike by postal workers which will cripple deliveries." See also ThisIsLondon.

September 30, 2003 -- Die Welt (Germany) has reported that "Deutsche Post, Germany's postal service operator, has signed a co-operation agreement with Post Danmark, its Danish counterpart, as part of which the latter will start working for DHL Express, the former's subsidiary, in Denmark. The German group is also among the future bidders for the 25 per cent stake which the Danish state intends to sell in Post Danmark in the near future. The co-operation agreement is expected to improve Deutsche Post's chances of being chosen as the buyer of the 25 per cent holding."

September 30, 2003 -- Datam onitor has reported that "the US Postal Service (USPS) is currently proceeding with plans to cut services and downsize its workforce as part of a drastic cost cutting process. It has trimmed its workforce by 25,000 in the last year alone. The US postal operator may be able to readdress its finances before the end of 2005 as it continues cutting costs. A forecasted recovery of the US economy in 2004 could also help in the process and reduced pension contributions may also give USPS access to billions of dollars. In sharp contrast with the USPS’s problems, its German counterpart, Deutsche Post (DP), is a picture of health."

September 30, 2003 -- According to postal commentator Gene Del Polito, "for the past two years, the Postal Service has been talking about intiating a redesign of its mail products. Talking, however, is about all the Postal Service has been doing, and mailers are getting frustrated with the "on again-off again" nature of the mail redesign project. Mailers also are frustrated with the very modest aims the Postal Service has had for redesign. Mailers have had enough with propping up a long-in-the-tooth, anachronistic, top-down pricing structure filled with enough inefficiencies and waste to float any bureaucrat's boat."

September 30, 2003 -- The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) membership has voted to accept both collective agreements negotiated by the union with Canada Post Corporation (CPC).

September 30, 2003 -- As Computerworld has noted, "you can't just throw money at innovation. And savvy CIOs know that it's not a question of how much you invest in IT but how wisely you do so. But there's a difference between creative spending during tough times and investing in IT to achieve competitive advantage. Companies such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc., United Parcel Service Inc. and RadioShack Corp. have continued to increase their annual investments in IT—albeit in low, single-digit increments—to help them maintain or achieve leadership positions in their markets."

September 30, 2003 -- American Shipper has reported that "Eric Keane will become vice president and chief information officer for Europe, Middle East and Africa, based at FedEx' European headquarters in Brussels."

September 30, 2003 -- According to R euters, "the deadly 2001 U.S. anthrax attacks may have been carried out by someone who did not intend to cause any harm, a top FBI official said on Monday. Of the possibility that a scientist wanted to issue a wake-up call about the bioterrorism threat and it went out of control, FBI Assistant Director Michael Mason told a news conference, 'That's a possible theory, but it's all conjecture.'" It sure is! I mean...I pulled the trigger, but I didn't mean any harm....Please, gimme a break.

September 29, 2003 -- The Boston Globe has reported that "Germany's postal service, Deutsche Post, plans to sell a minority stake in its Postbank banking business in an initial public stock offering in the next 18 months. Deutsche Post chief executive Klaus Zumwinkel told a news conference Monday that his company would keep a controlling stake in Postbank, and planned to sell at most 50 percent minus one share. He said the most likely timing for the offering was the fall of 2004."

September 29, 2003 -- According to Tim Kin and David Peikin writing in this month's Mailing Systems Technology, "A common misconception in the mailing industry is that this software is complex to use. However, that is only partially true. Direct marketing software can be complex to use — but only if you want it to be!"

September 29, 2003 -- DM News has reported that "deputy postmaster general John Nolan caused a stir at the forum when, speaking at a breakfast before 65 mailers, he said that a double-digit rate increase could be in place by the end of 2005. The statement appeared to contradict postmaster general John Potter's promise that no rate increase would be implemented before 2006, and the USPS acted quickly to correct Nolan and affirm Potter's guarantee. Nolan apparently mistakenly said that Potter's promise referred to fiscal year 2006, which includes the end of calendar year 2005, sources in the mail industry said. He later said that he misspoke. Nolan's statement spread swiftly through the forum and then to industry members nationwide who weren't in attendance. However, the USPS did not retract Nolan's reference to a double-digit rate increase."

September 29, 2003 -- Sofia Morning News (Bulgaria) has reported that "Bulgarian Posts and the French posts 'La Poste' signed on Monday a cooperation memorandum in the filed of the post services. The agreement aims to boost postal financial services cooperation including transfer of international post orders.

September 29, 2003 -- AMEInfo (UAE) has reported that "Minister of Industry of the Republic of France, H.E. Ms. Nicole Fontaine and Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Egypt, H.E. Dr. Ahmed Nazif, have signed an MOU on post, telecommunications, and information technology. The five-year Memorandum aims at considering the importance of the long-lasting relationship between France and Egypt, and empowering the principles shared between both countries. Additionally, the MOU recognizes the importance of the ICT as an economic and social tool for development.Within the scope of cooperation, Egypt and France will work on strengthening co-operation in the key sectors of post, telecommunications and information technology, focusing on projects like e-government, deregulation, modernization of postal services, human resources training and education, and the development of IT-oriented technology parks."

September 29, 2003 -- The General Services Administration has published in the Federal Register its "Federal Management Regulation; Mail Management; Interim Rule."

September 29, 2003 -- Th e Guardian (U.K.) has reported that "a fresh wave of national strike ballots among Royal Mail sorting office and logistics staff is threatened unless the company re-opens talks on its 14.5 per cent pay offer. Amid signs that the conflict between management and the leadership of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) has grown since the vote against a national strike on 17 September, branch representatives were summoned to union headquarters in London yesterday for briefings on plans that could effectively resurrect the nationwide stoppages."

September 29, 2003 -- The Financial Times has reported that "Deutsche Post, the German postal services and logistics group, could list Postbank, its banking arm and the country's biggest retail bank, on the stock market as early as the spring or summer of next year."

September 29, 2003 -- According to GoMemphis.com, "FedEx can no longer funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars from corporate revenue in 'soft money' contributions to political parties, but the company continues to show the many ways it can help politicians."

September 29, 2003 -- The Wall Street Journal has reported that "while Sept. 11 opened people's eyes to the general need for increased workplace security, the anthrax attacks that soon followed brought home to many corporations and government agencies just how crucial -- and vulnerable -- their mail operations could be. Once an overlooked backwater at some companies, corporate mail centers are now more often considered vital to physical security and the handling of information."

September 29, 2003 -- As the New York Times has noted, "Netflix spends considerable time and effort perfecting the red envelopes it uses to mail DVD's to minimize weight, maximize protection for the discs and enhance the speed at which the envelopes can be processed by the Postal Service."

September 29, 2003 -- AFX Asia has reported that "Western Union plans to boost the number of counters to 30,000 from the current 6,900, with 10,000 targeted for the end of this year. The company plans to increase its distribution network in China by increasing the number of partners it works with. Western Union currently has tie-ups with the Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) and the State Postal Bureau as a way around restrictions on foreign financial institutions in China."

September 28, 2003 -- The Wall Street Journal has reported that "the U.S. economy grew at a faster pace than previously reported in the second quarter amid a healthy increase in consumer spending and a jump in federal defense spending. Business spending also picked up, but corporate profits dropped. Gross domestic product, a measure of all the goods and services produced in the U.S., rose at revised 3.3% annual rate, up from an earlier estimate of 3.1%, the Commerce Department said Friday in its final report on GDP for the period."

September  28, 2003 -- As the Indianapolis Business Journal has noted, "several factors are pushing the Fedex emphasis to ground delivery, Dada said. Chief among those is the development of the Internet, which reduces the need to hurriedly ship documents, and a proliferation of Web-based mail-order businesses, which has dramatically increased the need for ground shipment of packages."

September 28, 2003 -- The Independent (U.K.) has reported that "the Dutch post office is threatening to tear up its plans to set up in direct competition with Royal Mail, claiming that the Government's deregulation proposals are flawed. TPG Post, which owns the TNT delivery service, already has a licence to deliver mail in the UK and is expected to be the biggest threat to the loss-making Royal Mail when the market is fully open by 2007. But in a letter to the postal regulator, Postcomm, TPG warns that, as the proposals stand, it will 'have to fundamentally reconsider its business plans for establishing an alternative delivery network'. TPG wants to set up an entirely new seven-day postal operation. But it is concerned about Postcomm's proposals to allow Royal Mail to charge rival companies to use its sorting and delivery network. TPG claims this so-called 'access charge' is set too low, in effect making its own plans to set up a rival network uneconomic.

September 28, 2003 -- As the Wash ington Post has noted, "the Supreme Court has long recognized a distinction between political and artistic speech, which are entitled to the highest degree of protection from government regulation, and commercial speech, defined as statements about the price and quality of goods or services. Commercial speech is given less protection because the government needs to protect consumers from false advertising and other forms of fraud. But that seemingly clear distinction has proved increasingly fuzzy in an age of socially aware corporate communications."

September 28, 2003 -- The Pittsburgh Business Times has reported that "Giant Eagle Inc. is looking at another new way to deliver more customers to its stores. After establishing Starbucks coffee locations within several of its grocery stores, Giant Eagle is testing Post Net, a mailing service retail franchise, as a potential addition to its ever-broadening array of offerings. Giant Eagle could play a major role in helping Post Net reach that number, estimating that Post Net could be a compatible presence in 40 percent of Giant Eagle's more than 200 stores." 

September 28, 2003 -- As the Asso ciated Press has noted, "that letter to your congressman takes a curious detour these days, a 115-mile road trip to a sprawling industrial park in southern New Jersey. In a ritual that has outlived the anthrax scare that prompted it, 9,000 pounds of mail addressed to congressional offices and federal departments arrive here each day to be exposed to enough radiation to neutralize any germs that might be lurking. Postal Service spokesman Bob Anderson said the round trip adds two to three days to a letter's delivery schedule. Additional House and Senate security procedures - a slit is made in each envelope, and the air is tested - tack on a few more days. The Associated Press mailed two test letters to Capitol Hill from downtown Washington on Aug. 27. One took nine Postal Service business days to reach the intended recipient; the other took 12."

September 27, 2003 -- The Brenha m Banner-Press has reported that "efforts to get a new post office in Brenham are being stepped up. A local delegation - joined by U.S. Rep. John Carter - met Friday in Austin with Postal Service officials and Congressman Tom Davis, who chairs the U.S. House's Government Reform Committee. Local efforts to secure a new post office have been under way for years, but thus far have been unproductive. Officials here say the facility is undersized and parking is severely limited."

September 27, 2003 -- The Charleston Post Courier has reported that "the Bush administration reached back 228 years into American history Friday to counter growing criticism in Congress about spending $20 billion on Iraq's reconstruction, including $9 million to modernize the postal service and create ZIP codes."

September 27, 2003 -- The latest issue of the PostCom Bulletin is available online.  (with addendum)

September 27, 2003 -- Business Mailers Review has reported that:

• Comments from a handful of major Postal Service customers illustrated how valuable intelligent mail data and address quality are to their businesses.
• Despite the aggressive use of address hygiene products, some mailers are seeing undeliverable as addressed (UAA) mail returns of 10% on their mailings.
• The Postal Service plans to merge two data collection systems, its Revenue, Piece, Weight (RPW) report with the Origin Destination Information System (ODIS).

September 27, 2003 -- ComputerWorld has reported that "United Parcel Service Inc. this week said it's starting to roll out a $30 million package-flow system designed to let the company more efficiently plan deliveries made by its 70,000 drivers in the U.S."

September 27, 2003 -- According to The Independent (U.K.), "the decision by Royal Mail to abandon trains in favour of road transport was bitterly opposed by the Department of the Environment. In a private letter to the leader of the rail network's biggest union, the Environment minister Lord Whitty registered his dismay over the move, declaring it was in contradiction to government policy."

September 27, 2003 -- The Asso ciated Press has reported that "Segway scooters, touted as almost untippable when unveiled two years ago, are being recalled. It turns out they don't work so well when the batteries get low - riders have fallen off and been injured. The U.S. Postal Service has bought 40 of the scooters to test. "

September 27, 2003 -- The Jap an Times has reported that "flush with his sweeping victory in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi vowed Friday to privatize postal services in April 2007. In a speech to kick off the extraordinary Diet session, Koizumi reiterated that a blueprint for privatizing the three services -- mail delivery, postal savings and life insurance -- will be drawn up by next autumn and bills submitted to the Diet in 2005."

September 27, 2003 -- The West ern Producer (Canada) has reported that "the decade-long Liberal moratorium on rural post office closings is effectively over, says a Saskatchewan New Democratic Party MP. But instead of announcing a rural post office closing, Canada Post is now announcing 'amalgamations' in rural Canada."

September 27, 2003 -- The U.S. Postal Service unveiled the Sickle Cell Disease Awareness commemorative stamp on Thursday evening, Sept. 25, at the 31st annual convention of Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Inc. Hosted by the Sickle Cell Disease Foundation of California, the event was held during the Dorothy Boswell Gala Awards Banquet at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. The Sickle Cell Disease Awareness stamp will be issued in September 2004.

September 26, 2003 -- In a presentation given at the American Enterprise Institute, PostCom President Gene Del Polito said that "any real postal reform is possible until we jettison the anachronistic concepts of 'attributable' and 'institutional' costs. Instead, the concepts such as 'marginal,' 'incremental,' and 'stand-alone' costs should be substituted as an economically more rational alternative."

September 26, 2003 -- According to two Cato Institute scholars, "if the president wants to toss an extra $87 billion at Iraq, he should think about cutting the $90 billion devoted to corporate welfare every year. He should also cut education spending, which has skyrocketed under his watch. Can we really justify billions going to 21st-Century Community Learning Centers or to vocational and adult education? The work of many government employees, among them NASA workers and air traffic controllers, can be privatized, along with federal assets such as land, mineral stockpiles and buildings. The National Endowments for the Humanities and for the Arts should be terminated. The federal government should also sell its defective business operations, including the Postal Service, Amtrak and electric utilities."

September 26, 2003 -- Unisto is showing Post-Expo (Brussels, Belgium) the newest Encrypta products from the recently formed Electronic Seals Division provide sealing, event recording and management information for transport and logistics. Second, the unique Qubis range of padlocks which can be sealed to give absolute control over access. Third, polyethylene envelopes which are individually designed for mail and high security operations.

September 26, 2003 -- Japan Today has reported that "posts minister Taro Aso on Friday criticized a proposal for privatizing Japan's postal services that was put forward last year by an advisory group to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi." See also the Asahi Shimbun.

September 25, 2003 -- Agenzia Giornalistica Italia has reported that "in the second quarter of 2003, the turnover indexes registered, compared to the same period the previous year, a positive variation in three of the economic sectors considered (telecommunications, technology and postal services). The postal services registered an increase in turnover of 1.2 percent, with a slight slowing down compared to the first quarter (a long term variation of +1.9 percent)."

September 25, 2003 -- In comments filed with the Postal Rate Commission with regard to its proposed rules governing the consideration of negotiated service agreements, the Association of Postal Commerce said that "at the outset, it is not entirely clear to us whether this is the appropriate time for the Commission to undertake to establish separate and specific rules -- putatively procedural in character, but carrying evidentiary and therefore substantive consequences -- to govern rate and service agreements. While it is true that Negotiated Service Agreements and their equivalents have long been used in the electric and telecommunications industries, they are of extremely recent origin in the postal context and the Commission's rules are necessarily based on its experience in a single case. There is simply no way to know whether that case turns out to be typical of future 'baseline' cases, whether there is a meaningful difference between 'baseline' cases and 'functionally equivalent' cases, or whether the term 'functionally equivalent' is a fair characterization of an NSA that is modeled on an earlier one."

September 25, 2003 -- Be sure to check out FirstLogic's Mail Automation eNews.

September 25, 2003 -- AllAfrica.com has reported that "the costs of posting letters and renting post boxes are to go up in Namibia from October 1. On average, prices will rise by 10 per cent, NamPost said in a press release yesterday."

September 25, 2003 -- On October 2, the Cato Institute will be holding a half-day seminar on the report of the presidential commission on the future of the Postal Service. Interested parties should contact kbrand@cato.org

September 25, 2003 -- As linkOnline has reported, "When it comes to revenue, the same ol' same ol' isn't going to cut it," says Flushing, NY, Postmaster William Rogers. "If we want new revenue, we have to do some things differently."

September 25, 2003 -- The Financial Times (U.K.) has reported that "postal workers yesterday announced they would stage a one-day strike in London on Wednesday. They also threatened to carry out action with other unions if their dispute was not settled. The Communication Workers' Union, which wants increased pay weighting in the capital, may co-ordinate future strikes with Unison, the local government union."

September 25, 2003 -- Dow Jones has reported that "Deutsche Post AG will maintain existing prices for regular mail and reduce prices for most mass mailings in 2004, the company said Thursday. The price for a standard letter weighing up to 20 grams for European delivery remains at EUR0.55, while the price for non-advertising mass mailings drops to EUR0.40 from EUR0.45. Deutsche Post said its prices ranked seventh in comparison with other European postal services. The U.S. Postal Service charges $0.37 for domestic delivery of letters up to 28.6 grams."

September 25, 2003 -- According to the Asahi Shimbun, Japan "needs specific measures, not propaganda. As president of the Liberal Democratic Party, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi needs to do more than repeat his vows. He must set out specific measures to hasten the reform process and see how voters react in the approaching Lower House election. Koizumi's notion that private sector businesses and local governments should take on what the central government bureaucracy now does is correct, as far as it goes. While any mammoth ship is bound to move slowly, this one is simply too slow. Koizumi has always put privatization of the government-led public highway corporations at the top of his agenda, together with privatizing postal services, but the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is making sure to fillet any recommendations made by the Promotion Committee for the Privatization of Four Highway-related Public Corporations."

September 25, 2003 -- The Jap an Times has reported that "new home affairs minister Taro Aso expressed skepticism Wednesday over the timetable put forward by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to privatize the postal services entity. Aso, former policy chief of the Liberal Democratic Party, emerged as the head of the Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry following the latest Cabinet shakeup. 'Making a law (to privatize the body) is a big deal,' Aso said. 'I wonder if the timetable (Koizumi has put forward) is sufficient to prepare' the envisaged legislation."

September 25, 2003 -- The Czech News Agency has reported that "former U.S. secretary of state Madeleine Albright, current U.S. ambassador to Slovakia Ronald Weiser and Culture Minister Rudolf Chmel are just some of the people who have had the technical section of the Slovak postal service put them on a stamp.In less than a year of instituting this service, the Slovak Postal Service has received thousands of orders for the stamps. Slovakia was the first country in the region to institute such a service."

September 25, 2003 -- The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Keenan, J.) dismissed for lack of jurisdiction claims asserted against John E. Potter, United States Postmaster General, arising out of the clean-up of anthrax contamination by the United States Postal Service (“USPS”) at its Morgan Processing and Distribution Center (“Morgan”). The action was brought by the New York Metro Area Postal Union, APWU, AFL-CIO; its president, William M. Smith; and Dennis O'Neil, a postal worker employed at Morgan.

September 25, 2003 -- The Federal Times has reported that "the U.S. Postal Service plans to request a postage rate increase of at least 10 percent — or about 4 cents — in October 2004, according to the organization’s second-in-charge. John Nolan, the deputy postmaster general, on Sept. 23 told an audience at the National Postal Forum in Kansas City, Mo. that the Postal Service will apply for the rate increase, which he said likely would take effect a year later in October 2005. The next day, postal spokesman Mark Saunders said Nolan misspoke and the rate increase would begin no earlier than January 2006."

September 25, 2003 -- As CNET News has noted, "the U.S. Supreme Court has said that commercial speech such as advertisements and marketing information receives less protection than "core" expression such as political speech. Because California's ant-span law is so restrictive, however, it bans unsolicited commercial communications sent through e-mail that would be perfectly acceptable if sent by way of the U.S. Postal Service. More so than any other state antispam law, the California measure is worded so broadly it is thought to be especially vulnerable to expected legal challenges, either from unapologetic spammers who claim it violates their constitutional rights or from legitimate businesses that claim it interferes with traditional marketing practices."

September 25, 2003 -- Japan Today has reported that "Japan Post's capital stood at 1,260 billion yen as of April 1, when it was launched to take over the Postal Services Agency's three services of mail delivery, postal savings and "kampo" life insurance, officials of the public entity said Thursday. The ratio of capital to its assets came to 0.3%, signifying the fact that the new public corporation is struggling with the excessively small capital."

September 25, 2003 -- According to CNET News, "business and consumer services led the first quarter increase in online-advertising spending, demonstrating that the Net is gaining momentum in capturing the attention of traditional advertisers. Traditional advertisers, which also include everything from clothing retailers to automakers, continue to spend the bulk of their ad dollars on print publications, television and radio. However, the latest results show further signs that they're shifting a larger portion of their ad budgets to Web advertising."

September 25, 2003 -- A copy of "The Expansion of Automatic Letter Processing," by Peter Traber, Head of Technology Development, PostMail, SWISS POST (which was presented at the 15th International Conference on Postal Automation 2003) has been posted on the PostInsight web site.

September 25, 2003 -- The Universal Postal Union (UPU) has reported that "World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern. The Posts in many countries use the event to introduce or promote new postal products and services. In most countries philatelic exhibitions are organized during this period and special stamps and date cancellation marks are issued on 9 October. Other activities include the display of World Post Day posters in post offices and other public places; open days at post offices, mail centers and postal museums; the holding of conferences, seminars and workshops; as well as cultural, sport and other recreation activities. The UPU in cooperation with UNESCO has, for the past 33 years, organized an International Letter-writing Competition for young people. Most participating Posts use World Post Day to award prizes to the winners of the competition." A message from the Secretary General of the UPU has been posted on the UPU web site.

September 25, 2003 -- The General Services Administration has reported that "the amendment to the Mail Management Interim Regulation will be published in the Federal Register on Monday September 29, 2003. This will be the official notice extending the deadline for agencies to convert to commercial payment. The deadline for agencies to convert to commercial payment will be extended from October 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003. Please contact Mail Communications Policy for more information at 202 208-7663."

September 25, 2003 -- Traffic World has published a directory of logistics service providers.

September 25, 2003 -- The Journal of Commerce has reported that "TPG NV, the Dutch mail, express and logistics company, on Wednesday said it has acquired the Italian print and mail company Full Service. TPG has made the acquisition through its Italian mail subsidiary TPG Post Italia. Full Service offers data processing, printing and outsourcing of data-related services. In 2002, it had revenues of 2.5 million euros ($2.87 million)."

September 25, 2003 -- USPS Service and Market Development V.P. John Wargo received the Postmaster General Leadership Award at the National Postal Forum in Kansas City, MO. PMG Jack Potter praised Wargo for his leadership in building the forum over the past two decades and for "his creativity, his perseverance, his commitment to growing this business, and most of all, his genuine concern for the needs of our customers."

September 25, 2003 -- The International Herald Tribune has reported that "an American ban on foreign airlines picking up and delivering cargo within the country may soon be lifted for flights that stop in Alaska, a move that could be a boon to carriers that depend on Asian routes. . Legislation proposed by Senator Ted Stevens, an Alaska Republican, would let American carriers and their foreign partners transfer global freight at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, a common stop for cargo flights between the United States and Asia."

September 25, 2003 -- Buffalo Business First has reported that "a corporate restructuring will see Buffalo's district office of United Parcel Service merge with its counterpart in Syracuse." Can you imagine what would happen if the Postal Service decided to do something like that?

September 25, 2003 -- According to the Times of India, "spams may force e-mail users back to snail mail."

September 24, 2003 -- MSNBC has reported that "London postal workers will stage a 24-hour walkout on October 1 which is set to cripple the capital's postal service as part of a pay dispute with the Royal Mail, their union announced on Wednesday." See also Business Europe and Th e Independent.

• Nicole Fontaine, the French Minister for Industry responsible for postal communications, recently spoke against a privatisation of La Poste. In an interview with the magazine ‘ouest france’ last week, Ms Fontaine said the post would remain in state ownership.\
• The tendering methods practised by the Norwegian post Posten AS are due to be investigated. Norway’s Audit Office is already investigating accusations that the post had for many years passed contracts worth several billion Norwegian kroner to subsidiary firms without public invitation to tender.
• Erik Olsson, CEO of Sweden’s Posten AB, demands to be given a free hand when it comes to establishing postage rates.
• The German Association of Newspaper Publishers has lodged a complaint with the Federal Cartel Office against a new offer presented by Deutsche Post. The publishers believe that the post’s so-called ‘Purchase Now’ project violates the ground rules of market economy competition.
• Swiss Post International Germany, which operates in Germany on behalf of Schweizerische Post, is attempting to gain more customers through a discount policy. New customers may send their first 100 letters or a maximum of 5 kilos free of charge before 31 December. Campaigning under the kite-mark ‘Swiss Made’, the post is targeting customers wanting to send international mailings and bulk mail.
• The Danish government appears to consider a more rapid market liberalisation than stipulated by the EU.
• United Parcel Service (UPS) is investing 135m USD in a new transhipment centre at the Cologne/Bonn airport in Germany. This represents the largest sum ever invested by UPS outside the USA.

Don't be satisfied with a less than complete report on the courier, express, and postal market in Europe. Get your subscription to CEP News, today..

September 24, 2003 -- Ananova (U.K.) has reported that "Royal Mail has warned the postal workers union it has no mandate for a strike in London and the company has robust plans to deal with industrial action."

September 24, 2003 -- According to one Was hington Post commentator, "in the 159 years since Samuel F.B. Morse strung the first copper cable from Washington to Annapolis Junction, the humble pine pole has taken on ever-increasing responsibility, delivering telephone service, cable television, the Internet and electric power to homes and businesses. As a result, it now takes only a strong gust of wind to bring the capital of the free world to a virtual standstill. What this points up is that all the whining this week by politicians that [local power companies] didn't do enough to prepare for the hurricane is largely beside the point. It conveniently distracts attention from the real problem, which is that politicians themselves failed to take steps to modernize a vital public service. Market economies don't thrive when essential public goods are neglected. We can either pay for those goods directly or try to fool ourselves by paying the cost in the form of lost income and economic growth. One way or another, however, we will pay."

September 24, 2003 -- Le Figaro (France) has reported that "plans by La Poste, the French national postal service operator, to expand its financial services, have met with criticism from the French banking sector."

September 24, 2003 -- According to the Ealing Times (U.K.), "postal union officials will today reveal a list of dates for industrial action in London. The strike action by postal workers is part of pay dispute over the amount of London weighting offered by Royal Mail. The Communication Workers Union will announce the dates at a press conference this afternoon."

September 24, 2003 -- The San Francisco Chronicle has reported that "Gov. Gray Davis has signed a law that prohibits spam in California and penalizes advertisers and others who send unsolicited e-mail messages hawking sexual enhancers, prescriptions and other products. 'This is the toughest bill of its kind in the nation and will hopefully be a model,' said Sen. Kevin Murray, D-Los Angeles, who introduced the bill. E-mail spam differs from postal junk mail because it is the customer who ends up paying for the unwanted message, Murray says. Consumers have to pay for their Internet connection, and unwanted e-mail simply increases the time they have to spend sorting through their mail." Not the best characterization in the world for advertising mail, but at least he's a legislator who appreciates the difference.

September 24, 2003 -- Congresswo man Candice Miller has announced her membership on the bipartisan Special Panel on Postal Reform and Oversight, which will focus on reforming the current postal service. On taking the appointment she said, "the postal service is a $900 billion industry, and whether you are an individual user or a catalogue like Land's End or Time Magazine, postal rates have a huge impact on our economy and our ability to communicate."

September 24, 2003 -- According to Business 2.0, "by converting truck drivers into sales machines and bringing its ground-shipping tech into the 21st century, FedEx is giving UPS a run for its money."

September 24, 2003 -- According to Bloomberg, "Japan aims to put together a basic plan for the privatization of its postal service by autumn next year, the Nihon Keizai newspaper said, citing Minister of Economy and Financial Services Heizo Takenaka."

September 24, 2003 -- The Peninsula (Qatar) has reported that "a law regulating the operations of foreign and local courier firms in Qatar is expected to come into force early next year. A revised postal tarrif for mail will also be enforced around the same time, Ali Mohammad Al Ali, chairman of the General Postal Corporation (Q-Post), said yesterday, the Al Sharq daily reports. Ali said that the draft law on the operations of courier firms is with the Planning Council, which will later send it to other authorities. He said that Qatar was the only GCC state where courier companies were being allowed to function without proper regulations."

September 24, 2003 -- WESH.com has reported that "enough mail to fill two trucks was found in an Orlando apartment Tuesday, and investigators are working to determine how it got there."

September 24, 2003 -- The China Post (Taiwan) has reported that "thousands of Chunghwa Telecom workers and labor union leaders from across the country rallied outside the Legislative Yuan yesterday, demanding the government to halt privatizing public enterprises to fatten business groups. Labor union representatives from Hong Kong, Korea, the United States and Australia addressed the rally in support of the CTWU's campaign against privatization. The UNI has over 50 million members from 1,000-plus labor unions in telecom, postal, banking and finance sectors worldwide, including the CTWU.

September 24, 2003 -- icWales has reported that "the threat of industrial action by postal workers in London came a step nearer when union leaders drew up plans for strikes in a dispute over pay. The Communication Workers Union is expected to announce the dates for walkouts, which will cripple mail deliveries in the capital and have a knock-on effect across the country." See also the BBC and The Telegraph.

September 24, 2003 -- The Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service will conduct its monthly meeting in Wilmington, DE, at the Hotel DuPont, 11th & Market Streets, on Thursday, Oct. 2, and Friday, Oct. 3. While the Thursday meeting is in closed session, the public is welcome to observe Friday morning's open session that is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m.

September 23, 2003 -- Business Line (India) has reported that "the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) will try to involve the post office network in Tamil Nadu to expand the self-help group (SHG) scheme, according to Mr C.R. Patnaik, Chief General Manager, Nabard Regional Office, Tamil Nadu. NGOs and commercial bank branches were involved, and post offices with their wide network covering every village were an ideal choice. The programme is in its initial stage and discussions have been initiated with the Chief Postmaster-General."

September 23, 2003 -- UPS< /a> has unveiled a dramatic new technology system that will improve customer service and provide greater internal efficiency, including simplification of work and training. The suite of package flow technologies includes software, hardware and process changes. Together with the next-generation wireless computer for UPS drivers and cutting-edge wireless scanners worn by employees, the company’s broad high-tech platform is expanding to deliver customized solutions for UPS customers and even more reliable service.

September 23, 2003 -- According to postal commentator Gene Del Polito, "the quickest and surest way of turning the corner to a better postal future would be to push as hard as possible for the enactment of postal legislative reform--one that would combine the best elements of the recommendations made by the Presidential Commission on the Postal Service and the proposals that already have been laid out by several key players in Congress. Unfortunately, simply 'wishing' is not enough to make postal reform a reality. Indeed, if it is to happen at all, our industry must be willing to shoulder the burden of educating an otherwise ill-informed and disinterested Congress on the benefits of postal legislative reform."

September 23, 2003 -- The Postal Service's chief operating officer, Patrick Donahoe, has told a delegation of PostCom members at the National Postal Forum that he would like them to join in a commitment to get a multi-class service performance measurement system up and running by fall 2004.

September 23, 2003 -- According to Edwin Feulner of the Heritage Foundation, "there are some things that can be done only by the government. Delivering mail is not one of those things. Private carriers are more efficient, more dependable and could do the same job for less money, if we’ll let them. That’s why it’s time for the taxpayers to deliver a message to Congress about the post office: Privatize—and start competing."

September 23, 2003 -- Di rect has reported that "Massachusetts residents will be signing up on a do-not-mail list soon if State Rep. Susan Pope (R-Wayland) has her way. The bill, introduced by Pope and scheduled to be heard next week at the Statehouse, would let people add their names to the list by checking a box on their annual tax returns. The do-not-mail list would apply to unsolicited mailings to generate new customers or new donors for a charity. Catalogers or businesses would be required to send postcards to customers they have not heard from in two years. If the postcard is not sent back requesting mailings, the marketer would have to stop mailing. Violators could face penalties up to $5,000."

September 23, 2003 -- DM News has reported that "Canada Post Corp. hired Wunderman Canada, Toronto, as its direct marketing agency in an overhaul of its advertising vendors as part of a new $75 million marketing push over three years. The Ottawa-based postal service also named Publicis for general advertising and its Publicis Dialog sibling's Capital C division for sales promotions. Blitz, Montreal, will handle direct marketing in Quebec, an important French-speaking market for government."

September 23, 2003 -- The Ass ociated Press has reported that "the Bush administration wants $100 million for an Iraqi witness protection program, $290 million to hire, train and house thousands of firefighters, $9 million to modernize the postal service, including establishment of ZIP codes."

September 23, 2003 -- According to the Daily Yomiuri (Japan), "the structural reforms, including the privatization of postal services, that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has touted since he became president of the Liberal Democratic Party in April 2001 have produced few tangible results. In regard to the reforms, there is still much to be done."

September 23, 2003 -- Transport Intelligence has reported that "TNT Express is reviewing how it will re-structure its US distribution network when its present contract with Airborne Express comes to an end next year. Airborne has recently been acquired by rival Deutsche Post for $1.05bn and inevitably TNT is now seeking other ways in which it can serve the US market from Europe and Asia Pacific other than through its competitor. TNT has its own existing network on both the east and west coasts of the US and Airborne’s role has been to service the rest of the country. Although it has not ruled out building on its own operations, it is understood that the company is already looking at potential partners in the market. The options for the company include either choosing a single partner or developing a solution based on a number of regional operators."

September 23, 2003 -- Siemens Dematic announced at the National Postal Forum the U.S. Postal Service has awarded the company a $127M fixed price contract for the Automated Tray Handling System (ATHS-100), an enhancement to the Automated Flats Sorting Machine (AFSM-100) program. The base contract (Phase I) will consist of 350 systems installed at 137 sites around the country with production deployment beginning in October 2004.

September 23, 2003 -- The Journal of Commerce has reported that "FedEx Supply Chain Services Inc. announced Monday that it has launched a new integrated technology platform to serve customers using the supply-chain capabilities of FedEx. The FedEx Corp. subsidiary developed the platform in conjunction with Cap Gemini Ernst & Young U.S. LLC, a provider of consulting, technology and outsourcing services. FedEx said the platform provides seamless connectivity to FedEx fulfillment and transportation-management services."

September 22, 2003 - Postmaster General Jack Potter stressed that USPS and mailers need to work together to move the Postal Service forward in the 21st century. Potter said USPS efforts at improving service and cutting costs paid off during Fiscal Year 2003. Service for overnight First-Class Mail, as measured by EXFC, has hit a record-breaking 95% for the past two quarters. Potter told attendees USPS is $1.2 billion under budget in non-personnel costs. On postal reform, he praised the entire mailing industry for supporting the effort that led to CSRS reform legislation. The legislative change will save the Postal Service billions that otherwise would've resulted in overpayment into the Civil Service Retirement System.

September 22, 2003 -- The latest in a continuing series of excellent texts on postal regulatory economics, "Competitive Transformation of the Postal and Delivery Sector" edited by Michael A. Crew of the Center for Research in Regulated Industries (CRRI) Graduate School of Management Rutgers University Newark, New Jersey, U.S.A. and Paul R. Kleindorfer of the Risk Management and Decision Process Center The Wharton School University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.  has been published by Kluwer Academic Publishers. You can learn more about this book on the CRRI web site. The Center also has issued its call for papers for the 12th Conference on Postal and Delivery Economics which will be held on June 2-5, 2004 at the Jurys Hotel, Cork Ireland. Interested parties should know that abstracts are due by December 20, 2003.

September 22, 2003 -- African news sources have reported that "the South African Post Office (SAPO) says it is has made tremendous progress on transformation and is committed to break even by March 2004. SAPO Chief Executive Officer Maanda Manyatshe told Parliament yesterday that over the past three years, remarkable progress had been made in the transformation process of the Post Office."

September 22, 2003 -- Firstlogic, Inc., a global provider of enterprise information quality and postal automation solutions, has announced the schedule for iSummit 2003, the company's second annual online conference. iSummit 2003 offers over 25 interactive sessions with leading authorities on the subjects of improving mail efficiencies, business intelligence, customer relationship management (CRM) and data warehousing. The free online conference series kicks off Oct. 1 with a panel discussion on "Information Quality Best Practices featuring Dr. Claudia Imhoff, noted business intelligence author and founder of Intelligent Solutions, Inc., James Ruan, a leading expert in information quality practices for PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Frank Dravis, vice president of Information Quality at Firstlogic. On Oct. 2 a second panel discussion featuring industry USPS representative Tom Mazzei, and industry leaders Joe Lubenow (Lubenow & Associates), Anita Pursley, (Quebecor World), and Christopher Lien (Firstlogic's Postal Market Director) will discuss how USPS transformation is changing the landscape of direct marketing.

September 22, 2003 -- Traffic World has reported that "the hearing on the corporate citizenship of AStar Air Cargo is off the fast track. Department of Transportation Administrative Law Judge Burton S. Kolko has pushed aside a Sept. 19 deadline for concluding the hearing and took a break from the case last week while waiting for DHL Worldwide Express and DHL Holdings to produce subpoenaed documents."

September 22, 2003 -- According to B usiness Week, Deutsche Post, "Europe's express-delivery king is going after the U.S. market."

September 22, 2003 -- Asahi Shimbun (Japan) has reported that "Japan Post's furusato hometown parcel service, which sells and distributes specialty goods particular to various regions of the nation, is gradually being introduced in other parts of Asia. The postal services corporation, which is looking to increase the amount of overseas business its Express Mail Service handles, has already inked deals with counterparts in South Korea and China, and intends to expand further into Asia. Japan Post and Korea Post set up a Web site in Japanese, Hangul and English in April to promote the International Furusato Parcels products of both nations."

September 22, 2003 -- DeHavilland (U.K.) has reported that "postal union negotiators meet today with Royal Mail representatives to discuss plans for a strike in London. The impasse surrounds postal workers' pay deal and the London weighting."

September 22, 2003 -- American Shipper has reported that while "Russian Customs generally prefers to develop information technology from within, it’s not averse to looking to the private sector for help. The agency recently asked New Jersey-based firm, AmeRussia Shipping Co., to initiate a program to pre-clear imports from certain approved American shippers."

September 22, 2003 -- According to The Express (U.K.), "leaders of the postal workers union will meet to decide their next move in the wake of the surprise rejection of industrial action over pay by thousands of Royal Mail employees."

September 22, 2003 -- The Arizona Republic has reported that "it's no wonder Scottsdale residents dread going to the post office. Like other Valley cities, the U.S. Postal Service workforce in Scottsdale is not keeping up with the city's rapid population growth, according to a Scottsdale Republic review of post office data and census figures."

September 22, 2003 -- The BBC News has reported that "hundreds of postal workers in Oxford are holding an unofficial strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions."

September 22, 2003 -- Vang uard has reported that "the Post-master General of the Federation, Alhaji Abubakar Musa Argungu, has said the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) will be self-reliance by the year 2006 just as he announced measures to checkmate mail pilfering in the country."

September 22, 2003 -- HiPakistan.com has reported that "Japan’s Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who began a fresh three-year term as ruling party president on Saturday, has used his popular appeal to overcome factional politics instead of relying on allegiances sealed in back-room deals. The 61-year-old Koizumi was comfortably returned as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has the power to nominate the country’s premier because of its dominance in parliament. With the party victory under his belt, Koizumi is back to work on his two and a half year-old reform drive, notably his long-cherished goal of privatising the mail, postal savings and postal life insurance services."

September 21, 2003 -- A commentator for the Canton Repository has written that "once again, there is talk of doing away with the U.S. Postal Service and letting private firms take over the business of delivering our mail. I hope that day never comes. The argument is that the Postal Service is bloated and inefficient. The postage rates keep going up while service keeps going down. Critics say that private industry could deliver our mail cheaper and faster. Well, call me a skeptic."

September 21, 2003 -- The Telegraph (U.K.) has reported that by "drawing heavily on his experience of improving staff morale at Asda, where he was chief executive, Leighton has made a monumental effort to wipe out the Us-and-Them culture that has blighted the Royal Mail since the dark days of the early 1970s, when the late Sir Tom Jackson led the first national postal strike and all but bankrupted his union in doing so. By aligning himself with the workers (but not the union leaders), Leighton has bought the company some time. Privately, he accepts that levels of pay are embarrassingly low (the average basic weekly wage is still under £300), but he insists that the only way this can be improved is by making the Royal Mail more efficient and returning it to profit."

September 21, 2003 -- Ta sley Eastern Shore News has reported that "a New York woman who leads a group dedicated to keeping rural post offices open does not think the U.S. Postal Service is treating Seaview postal customers fairly. Betty Eickler, co-chair of the Committee for the Preservation of Historic Universal Postal Services, said Friday that the rural seaside community was being treated 'very unfair."

September 21, 2003 -- Air Cargo World has reported that "the U.S. Postal Service will sharply curtail use of private air cargo airlines for annual and lucrative delivery of Christmas season mail this year, costing domestic freighter operators millions of dollars in highly-sought flight contract. The decision, extending a dramatic revamp of the USPS's management of transport operations, effectively ends the so-called 'C-Net' - for Christmas Network - system that has funneled huge volumes of greeting cards, parcels and very profitable revenue to a handful of domestic airlines. 'We are going to diminish our use of the C-Net significantly and rely instead on FedEx and greater use of ground transportation,' said USPS spokesman Mark Saunders. 'Customer service will not be impacted.'"

September 21, 2003 -- Lu's News and Views (a postal employee web site) is carrying the story that "John M. McGovern, Jr., a member of the North Jersey Area Local filed a lawsuit on September 11, 2003 in U.S. District Court against APWU. McGovern is seeking access to APWU books, records and documents necessary to verify the accuracy of Annual Financial Reports ( LM-2) submitted to Dept. of Labor in the years 1995 through 2001 In a letter addressed to National APWU Secretary-Treasurer Robert Tunstall, dated December 11, 2002, McGovern alleges, "I have recently examined copies of the LM-2's {financial documents filed by labor unions with the Department of Labor} of the American Postal Workers Union [the 'APWU'] for the years 1995 through 2001. It appears that, upon their face, these LM-2 Reports of the APWU are NOT accurate and correct." (note: McGovern was an unsuccessful candidate for National APWU President in the years 1998 & 2001)."

September 20, 2003 -- El Pais (Spain) has reported that "Correos, the Spanish post office, has bought 921,405 euros worth of new computer equipment from Iecisa, subsidiary of Spanish department store group El Corte Ingles. Correos has announced that the purchases will replace existing equipment in 440 offices."

September 20, 2003 -- The Malta Business Weekly has reported that "the Malta Communications Authority (MCA) last week published its report on the outcomes of the consultation process on the introduction of a new regulatory regime for the postal sector."

September 19, 2003 -- The Wilmington News Journal has reported that "for the first time since ABX Air became a publicly held company as result of the Aug. 14 acquisition of Airborne Express’ ground operations by German shipper DHL, the airline’s leader visited with the nation’s investment community Thursday. DHL-Airborne will likely remain ABX Air’s largest customer “for a long time,” but added the airline will aggressively seek third-party business by handling cargo for other shippers, selling excess capacity to the United States Postal Service and expanding its maintenance and flight training services."

September 19, 2003 -- TNT Express, the express arm of TNT Post Group, the $13 billion Netherlands-based express, logistics and mail group, today announced that it has combined its U.S. and Canadian capabilities to create a North American organization. Headquartered in Melville, NY, TNT North America will be led by Curtis Watson, President and supported by six Regional Vice Presidents. The appointees are Mary LaPonte, Regional Vice President of General Services & Compliance; Matt McDonough, Regional Vice President of Operations; Shawn McMahon, Regional Vice President of Finance & Administration; Mark O'Dell, Regional Vice President of IT and Communications; Peter Reed, Regional Vice President of Sales & Marketing; and Joe Schaffer, Regional Vice President of Human Resources.

September 19, 2003 -- Computer Weekly (U.K.) has reported that "a deal to outsource the management of Royal Mail's online platforms to IT services group Sapient has helped to reduce losses to £611m this year, the organisation said this week."

September 19, 2003 -- The Times (U.K.) has reported that "the Royal Mail is considering legal action against a far-Right party in Italy that plans to sell British stamps bearing the face of its leader next to the Queen’s head. To the embarrassment of the Post Office, the Northern League, a populist right-wing party in Italy’s coalition Government, announced that it was to sell Royal Mail stamps bearing not only the head of the Queen but also the face of Umberto Bossi, its leader. The Northern League, which campaigns for a breakaway north Italian state called 'Padania', had used a Royal Mail service that allows customers to customise stamps, and ordered a batch bearing the image of Signor Bossi. The service, known as “Smilers”, was intended as a novelty to allow customers to put pictures of their children or pets on stamps to brighten up greetings cards. The first-class “Bossi” stamps are not valid in Italy but can be used on letters sent within or from Britain."

September 19, 2003 -- As the Daily Mail (U.K.) has noted in an editorial, "had [postal workers] heeded their union and voted for a strike, it would certainly have spelled disaster for a service Britain has enjoyed for more than 150 years. They deserve all credit for their realism. The once proud and profitable Post Office last year recorded a loss of pounds 611m. It is a business that is continuing to lose customer confidence, while privatised overseas competitors fall over themselves in the scramble to muscle in."

September 19, 2003 -- The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has reported that "home delivery of mail has come a step closer on Saipan in the Northern Mariana islands. Workers started putting up street name signs last week. Some 2,000 are now in place, and 400 will follow. Lack of signs was a problem, particularly for visitors who will no longer need to ask for as many directions. Acting Governor, Diego Benavente also says street signs will help in the government's plan to introduce home mail delivery. Northern Marianas residents rely on Post Office Box mailing adresses, and there is only one Postal Service Station on Saipan where they can send and collect mail."

September 19, 2003 -- The Louisville Courier-Journal has reported that "FedEx may be known for its ability to fly packages across the country overnight, but trucks may be the company's future. The shipping conglomerate increasingly is turning to its FedEx Ground subsidiary to continue the battle against United Parcel Service for the country's shipping market, and it is beginning to turn the tide, thanks in part to its aggressive expansion plans."

September 19, 2003 -- Re uters has reported that "the Dutch Finance Ministry said on Friday that the state retains its "golden share" in Dutch telecoms group KPN and has no plans to surrender this soon. Finance Ministry spokesman William Lelieveldt said that the proceeds from the sale of a 12 percent stake in KPN, estimated to be about two billion euros, would go into a state fund for infrastructure spending on projects like roads. Lelieveldt declined comment on whether the Dutch government also plans to reduce its around 30 percent stake in postal group TPG.

September 19, 2003 -- The Financial Times has reported that "among those quietly celebrating the surprise defeat of union militants at the Royal Mail is John Keggie, a moderate leader of the Communication Workers Union who was ousted by the hard left in May. Dave Ward, his successor as deputy general secretary and head of the union's mail division, swept to power claiming to speak for a disgruntled majority among the union's 164,000 postal workers who were willing to strike rather than accept management restructuring plans."

September 18, 2003 -- Backstage.com has reported that "the board of governors of the U.S. Postal Service, acting in tandem with the U.S. Postmaster General, has endorsed new regulations to dismantle the 'cooperative mailing' rules which govern mailing rates for not-for-profit fundraising. Commercial fundraisers who work on behalf of nonprofit groups will now be able to reap the benefits of rates that are up to 10 cents less per parcel than first-class."

September 18, 2003 -- The U.S. Postal Service will have its Flats Communications Website up and running  by September 19. The site is reached by going to the "RIBBS" bulletin board (http://ribbs.usps.gov) and then clicking on the "Corporate Flats Strategy" title on the left side-bar. The site will include: * The U. S. Postal Service's Corporate Automation Strategy Document * Frequently Asked Questions (about FSS & DPP) * PowerPoint Presentations (concerning FSS & DPP) * Upcoming Events/Conferences - effecting flats mailers. If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact Franco Spencer at 703-292-3855 or via email at fspencer@usps.gov.

September 18, 2003 -- DM News has reported that "postal reform is urgent but time remains for Congress, labor and postal management to design the solutions that will make the U.S. Postal Service viable for the next two decades, a member of the presidential reform commission told lawmakers yesterday." See also GovExec.com.

September 18, 2003 -- The New Zealand Herald has reported that "state-owned mail agency New Zealand Post announced a 24 per cent rise in after-tax profit to $27.1 million for the year ended June 30. NZ Post was facing a trend of declining domestic mail volumes -- by about 1 per cent annually -- but had seen a growth in business mail volumes. The growth in business mail volumes was driven largely by retail, finance and utility companies using mail as a communications tool with customers. "

September 18, 2003 -- HR Gateway (U.K.) has noted that British "postal workers voted to avoid national strike action by the narrowest of margins, while the English capital could face postal strikes over London Weighting levels."

September 18, 2003 -- The Daily Yomiuri has reported that "the privatization of the three postal services and the four road-related public corporations--two core goals of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's much-touted structural reforms--is certain to raise objections from many Liberal Democratic Party members, even if he is reelected as LDP president, observers said."

September 18, 2003 -- American Postal Workers Union (APWU) President William Burrus told his members that "the presentation by James A. Johnson, co-chair of the President's Commission on the U.S. Postal Service confirms that the commission report...was fundamentally dishonest, purporting to represent progressive and modest reform when in fact it recommends radical change that would seriously erode service to the American public. The American Postal Workers Union continues to object to any changes that would result in the closing of plants and small offices serving rural America; that encourage contracting out and worksharing at a cost greater than when the work is performed by postal employees, and that empowers a politically appointed regulatory board with the authority to modify universal rates, the mail monopoly, universal service and employee wages."

September 18, 2003 -- NALC President William H. Young praised the coalition representing major corporate mailers for its outspoken opposition to a recommendation by the President's Commission on the Postal Service to impose wage caps on current and future postal employees. In the most recent issue of NALC's Postal Record, Young told his members that "the President's Commission on the U.S. Postal Service launched a direct attack on the pay, benefits and collective bargaining rights of letter carriers, far exceeding any steps needed to reform the agency to meet the challenges of the Internet age."

September 18, 2003 -- The Financial Times (U.K.) has reported that:

• The failure of attempts to launch a nationwide postal strike is a victory for the unconventional management style of Allan Leighton, who showered employees with personal letters and posters in an attempt to appeal to the workforce over the heads of union leaders. Breaking with the company's traditional industrial relations practices, the Royal Mail chairman cultivated a high profile and toured sorting offices in a manner more reminiscent of a tub-thumping politician than a public sector manager. The upshot is that Royal Mail has now cleared the main obstacle to its efforts to get into the black - before the strike threat it was forecasting an operating profit of more than £100m - and the company can drive forward its modernisation strategy knowing that the union has already shot its bolt.
• Postal workers snubbed union leaders' calls for a national strike mandate on Wednesday, in an unexpected victory for the Royal Mail that challenged perceptions that Britain is entering a new age of industrial militancy.

September 18, 2003 -- The Guardian (U.K.) has reported that "in an embarrassing reverse for union leaders, members of the communication workers union (CWU) voted by a majority of fewer than 2,000 against staging a series of walkouts. The outcome of the national ballot surprised and delighted Royal Mail executives who had warned that the troubled state-owned organisation faced losses of £20m a day if the strikes went ahead."

September 17, 2003 -- The co-chairman of the Presidential Commission on the Postal Service testified today before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee on his commission's report. A copy of his testimony has been posted on the committee's web site.

September 17, 2003 -- Ey efortransport.com has reported that "UPS is seeking to make use of potential business opportunities in the Southeast Asian markets."

September 17, 2003 -- The Evening Standard (U.K.) has reported that "the threat of a national postal strike ended today when Royal Mail workers narrowly rejected taking industrial action over pay."

September 17, 2003 -- If you're looking to find out "Who's on first" as far as the U.K.'s postal strike threat is concerned, be sure to check out the overview provided by The Times (U.K.).

September 17, 2003 -- FedEx has reported a first-quarter profit that handily beat analysts' consensus, and left its outlook for the full year intact.

September 17, 2003 -- Handelsblatt has reported that "Deutsche Post, the German postal service operator, has indicated that it is not fundamentally opposed to plans by the EU to impose VAT on stamps with the planned deregulation of the EU postal market in 2009. The company has not yet decided whether it will increase prices when VAT is introduced."

September 17, 2003 -- Expansion has reported that "Spanish tobacconists have threatened to stop selling stamps unless Correos, the Spanish post office, provides it with vending machines."

September 17, 2003 -- The Hindu (India) has reported that "Union Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology S Thirunavukkarasar launched the country's first Postal Packing material and the Bill Mail services here today."

September 17, 2003 -- G lobes Online (Israel) has reported that "Postal rates will go up 12% on January 1, 2004, when the Israel Postal Authority is converted into a government company. The cabinet made the decision on Monday, when it approved the establishment of the post office as a limited partnership company and the opening of the market to competition. VAT on postal services accounts for five-sixths of the 12% raise. One-sixth of the raise is based on recommendations by McKinsey and Co. The Ministry of Communications commissioned McKinsey to examine the situation of the Postal Authority, the opening of the market to competition, and converting the Postal Authority into a company."

September 17, 2003 -- CEP News (Courier-Express-Postal) has reported that:

• Johnny Thijs, CEO of Belgium’s La Poste, intends to turn the post into a competitive company by 2006 at the latest.
• In Spain the socialist trade union UGT in Catalonia has protested against the post Correos' plan to introduce its new logo in Castilian only.
• In Germany, private postal service providers are allowed to use the term 'post' in their name. The Patent and Brands Office in Munich decided accordingly last week, after Deutsche Post had lodged an objection to the brand TPG Post Deutschland being introduced in Germany.
• Rumours concerning a possible sale of Royal Mail's European parcel holding company GLS had been cleared out of the way. Royal Mail is satisfied with the way the subsidiary was developing.
• For the first time the French La Poste’s European parcel network DPD now offers an international c.o.d. service.
• New York is the uncontested world capital of bicycle couriers. According to the International Federation of Bike Messenger Associations, 2,000 bikers work for around 400 courier firms in the Big Apple.

Don't be satisfied with a less than complete report on the courier, express, and postal market in Europe. Get your subscription to CEP News, today..

September 17, 2003 -- According to the Jamaica Gleaner, "the island's postal service continues to face serious problems despite the attempts over the past five years to reform its management structure and operations."

September 17, 2003 -- As the BBC has noted, "Allan Leighton was personally appointed by the prime minister early last year, to turn around the loss-making Royal Mail. The 50-year-old, who is now grappling with the threat of the first national postal strike in seven years, is considered one of the top businessmen in the UK."

September 17, 2003 -- According to the Cybercast News Service, "If I tell you, "The check's in the mail," you probably won't look for it any time soon -- if at all. But if I tell you I've sent the check via FedEx, you'll probably plan a trip to the bank. We know we can count on private services like FedEx and United Parcel Service to deliver on time. If they didn't, they'd go out of business. And we also know -- many of us from bitter experience -- that we always can't count on the post office. That's because the post office is a government-protected monopoly; 19th century laws make it illegal for anyone else to deliver letters. It's also exempt from state and federal taxes and free from most government regulations. That combination is a recipe for disaster."

September 17, 2003 -- The Croydon Advertiser (U.K.) has reported that "figures published by [postal] watchdogs last week showed a wide gulf in the speed of delivery between neighbouring parts of the borough. Our survey produced a 100 per cent success rate, a first-class performance by the Royal Mail. The result appears to back its claim that things may not quite as bad as Postwatch suggested."

September 17, 2003 -- On Tuesday evening, September 16, the House of Representatives approved, by an overwhelming 426-0 majority, the Postmaster Equity Act for final White House action. The House was required to pass the Postmasters Equity Act for a second time because, although the text of H.R. 2249 and S. 678 were identical, it is required that a bill sent to the President must have one bill number. House sponsor, John McHugh (R-NY), and Senate sponsor Daniel Akaka (D-HI) agreed that the President would receive the bill that bore the Senate number, S. 678, for his signature. Upon receipt of S. 678, President Bush has ten days (excluding Sunday) to either sign the bill into law, or veto the bill. S. 678 would automatically become law if the President neither signs, nor vetoes it. NAPUS President Wally Olihovik declared upon learning of final Congressional action, "With remarkable bipartisan support, the Postmaster Equity Act has departed Capitol Hill and is arriving at the desk of our President. I am confident that President Bush will join hands with his postmasters and sign into law this important piece of legislation."

September 17, 2003 -- KCRA-TV told its viewers that "identity theft is the fasting-growing crime in the nation, according to officials. Now, the federal government is ready to teach Americans how to protect themselves. Authorities say the most common tool used in identity theft is a mailbox. With that in mind, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is teaming with a wide range of agencies to launch a new campaign called 'Operation Identity Crisis.' The U.S. Postal Service does more than deliver mail. Its inspectors also send suspects accused of identity theft to jail. And now, they're using the money seized in investigations to fight the crime."

September 17, 2003 -- The Financial Times (U.K.) has reported that "talks to prevent the first national strike by postal workers for seven years continued in London last night, with both sides knowing the first walkout could be as little as a week away." See also the Washi ngton Times and The Times, and the BBC.

September 17, 2003 -- Transport Intelligence has reported that "the failure of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks in Cancun, Mexico will have serious repercussions for the development of global supply chains. This in turn will hinder the growth prospects for all logistics suppliers which are presently building worldwide infrastructure. The talks, which ended without resolution, foundered on the inability of the developed trade blocs, namely USA and the European Union, to find common ground with a group of developing nations, including Brazil, India, China, Turkey and South Africa. The major sticking point was the reform of farm subsidies (such as the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy) although other contentious issues included the levels of competition and investment by Western companies in developing nations."

September 17, 2003 -- According to American Printer, "as printers fight for customers in a crowded market, more are turning to mailing and fulfillment as a natural extension of their services."

September 17, 2003 -- Law enforcement agencies have united in the fight against cross-border fraud. The Competition Bureau, along with Alberta Government Services, RCMP "K" Division, the Calgary Police Service, the Edmonton Police Service, the United States Federal Trade Commission and the United States Postal Inspection Services, today announced the creation of the Alberta Partnership Against Cross-Border Fraud. The purpose of this joint venture is to coordinate law enforcement activities among the parties, identify fraudulent, deceptive and misleading marketing practices with an Alberta connection, facilitate information sharing among the parties and support each other's law enforcement actions against people and companies that engage in various types of deceptive marketing practices.

September 17, 2003 -- The Sacramento Bee has reported that "the regional office of the Better Business Bureau is alerting auto dealers throughout Northern California of a scam to collect money through a mailing that resembles notices sent from state government offices in Sacramento. BBB officials said an organization calling itself the California Motor Vehicle Dealers Bureau has mailed 'what could be mistakenly taken as an official government notice' to some Northern California new-and used-car dealerships. The BBB said the mailing looks similar to notices sent by the state Department of Motor Vehicles. The BBB said the fraudulent mailings are marked 'Final Collection Notice,' but small print on the statements says the recipient is 'under no obligation to make payment.' The statements refer to a prior balance being paid, but they also show that 'current charges' of $63.50 are due."

September 17, 2003 -- InternetNews.com has reported that "Bank One is partnering with the US Postal Inspection Service and other government entities for a new national crime prevention campaign to raise awareness among business and consumers facing the specter of identity theft."

September 17, 2003 -- The Wichita Eagle has noted that "ABX management is introducing itself to industry analysts on Thursday as the company begins operations as an independent entity."

September 17, 2003 -- Ananova (U.K.) has reported that "last-ditch talks aimed at averting the first national mail strike for seven years were adjourned tonight - just hours away from a crucial ballot result. Negotiations between the Communication Workers Union and Royal Mail managers broke up at conciliation service Acas without any sign of agreement. Postal workers across the country are currently awaiting the result of the vote - expected to be announced by the CWU tomorrow - which could see walkouts begin as early as next week. The union has balloted 160,000 workers on whether to strike in protest at an offer said by Royal Mail to be worth 14.5% but linked to productivity."

September 17, 2003 -- RSA Security Inc. has offered its support for Operation: Identity Crisis, a new U.S. Postal Inspection Service campaign to help the general public guard themselves against identity theft. In addition, RSA Security, a founding member of The Coalition on Online Identity Theft, has outlined its perspective on the actions individuals and organizations should take in order to prevent identity theft in the online world.

September 16, 2003 -- Key mail products and services available from the U.S. Postal Service are targeted specifically to the priorities and needs of small and home-based businesses. Many tools available to help small businesses attract, fulfill, retain and grow their enterprises can be found conveniently at local post offices or on the Internet at www.usps.com.

September 16, 2003 -- Flightstar Aircraft Services, Inc. has announced that it was recently awarded a program to convert ten B727-200 aircraft, owned by BATA, LLC - a joint venture between Boeing Capital Corp. and ATA Holdings Corp., from passenger to freighter configuration. The ten aircraft will be operated by ASTAR Air Cargo. Earlier this year, Flightstar completed conversions for four B727 aircraft also being operated by ASTAR Air Cargo."

September 16, 2003 -- Corpor ateLocation.com has reported that "DHL will move most of its IT activities from the UK and Switzerland to the Czech Republic."

September 16, 2003 -- Haaretz.com (Israel) has reported that "Workers at the National Insurance Institute and Postal Authority will begin a series of open-ended sanctions as a prelude to a general strike, while port workers are continuing the sanctions they launched on Sunday. Post office workers will start sanctions in protest of the government's decision to turn the authority into a government corporation as of 2004. Post office branches will close at 2:30 P.M. every day."

September 16, 2003 -- The Business Times (Singapore) has reported that "FedEx Express will add 13 weekly flights through Hong Kong after being granted US regulator approval, the air express group announced yesterday."

September 16, 2003 -- Major European logistics systems company INFORM has launched in the UK making some of the world's most advanced 'Intelligent Decision Support' software directly available to UK industry. INFORM's pioneering optimisation technology, which improves productivity and reduces costs without compromising customer service, is used by companies such as BMW, Bosch, British Airways, Siemens and Swiss Postal Services.

September 16, 2003 -- The Belfast Telegraph (U.K.) has reported that "the result of a UK-wide strike ballot by Royal Mail workers to be announced tomorrow could force Northern Ireland postmen into a strike against their wishes."

September 16, 2003 -- A report of the August teleconference of the UPU's Direct Mail Advisory Board has been posted on this site.

September 16, 2003 -- China News has reported that "several of China's largest publishing and distributing giants have joined hands in investing in Xinhua Publications Distribution Group Corp, which was officially founded on Friday in Beijing. Partner companies include Xinhua General Bookstore, one of China's largest book wholesalers, and China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Corp. Both companies are members of the China Publishing Group. The State Postal Bureau, another partner of the new Xinhua Publications Distribution Group Corp, has taken the lion's share in newspaper and magazine distribution in China and has established a gigantic distribution network across the country. The new company is viewed as China's answer to the fierce competition likely to come in the industry."

September 16, 2003 -- KARE-TV has reported that "the crime of identity theft has become a huge problem for many Americans. Last year alone, 9.9 million Americans were victimized, costing $5 billion. Now, the people charged with protecting the nation’s mail system are leading the fight against our fastest growing crime. Tuesday, U.S. postal inspectors will launch a massive campaign, intended to teach each of us how to protect ourselves from thieves. Some say, help couldn’t come fast enough."

September 16, 2003 -- Family News In Focus has reported that "you may soon see an increase in charity solicitations in your mailbox. The U.S. Postal Service is changing rules to allow fund-raising companies to partner with nonprofit organizations. Charities already use the mail to raise funds — but this change is sure to increase the number of requests stuffed into your mailbox. Neal Denton, a spokesman for the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers, said it will become difficult to tell valid letters from rip-offs."

September 16, 2003 -- The W all Street Journal has noted that "making Europe more competitive is one of the European Union's top priorities; subsidy control is one of the most effective ways of getting there. Subsidy control in the EU rests on three "pillars:" recognition that subsidies tend to distort competition and commerce between our member states; an obligation on the part of EU member states to inform the European Commission -- the union's antitrust watchdog -- of any planned subsidies; and most importantly, the need for commission approval before any subsidy can be paid. Postal services remain highly regulated but the commission stands prepared to intervene when it finds that state subsidies are funding postal incumbents' below-cost pricing strategies that foreclose competition. In the case of Deutsche Post our policy against state-funded below-cost pricing has done much to open postal markets. When it comes to opening up public-utility markets, America acknowledges that Europe's subsidy control is on the cutting edge."

September 16, 2003 -- Eyefortransport.com has reported that "Japan Post President Masaharu Ikuta said he would not get involved in a debate over privatising the postal service, while emphasizing that they should continue to provide unified postal services nationwide."

September 16, 2003 -- Computer Troubleshooters USA Inc., an onsite computer service franchise that caters to small businesses, has partnered with PostalAnnex+, the nation's third largest postal service company with 270 franchises, it was recently announced. Computer Troubleshooters USA, which has more than 100 U.S. franchisees, specializes in providing services to small businesses - companies with up to50 computer systems. The four-year-old company provides a full range of computer services, including repair, networking and upgrading, at the customer's location. Under the partnership, customers with computer problems can drop their computer off at a participating PostalAnnex and a local Computer Troubleshooters franchisee will perform the services required. Also, PostalAnnex franchisees will receive a 20 percent discount on Computer Troubleshooters services.

September 16, 2003 -- CC3, a  national provider of both traditional and online direct marketing services, announced today that it will open a new 95,000-square-foot production facility in Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX, to meet the growing needs of its clients and extend its services to the Central region of the United States. The new CC3 Central facility expands the company's national production capacity to 700,000 square feet and enables CC3 to produce and distribute up to three billion pieces of mail annually.

September 15, 2003 -- The ranking minority committee members of the House and Senate committees charged with postal jurisdiction have written to Postmaster General Jack Potter "to urge you to reconsider the Postal Service's proposed change to the cooperative mailing rule. We are deeply concerned that the change proposed by the Postal Service would open the door again to...abuses. We are not opposed to reasonable changes in the cooperative mail rule. However, we are opposed to a return to an era of abuses of the nonprofit mail rate. The Postal Service has long recognized that protecting consumers and businesses from fraudulent and abusive mailing practices is an important part of the Service's mission.' To avoid such an undesirable outcome, there must be safeguards in place to protect public confidence in nonprofit mailings. We urge you in the strongest terms possible to give additional thought to the need for safeguards before finalizing this change."

September 15, 2003 -- PostalWat ch filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the U.S. Supreme Court antitrust case, United States Postal Service v. Flamingo Industries. The brief strongly supports the 9th Circuit Court's finding that the Postal Service does not enjoy broad "status-based" sovereign immunity from the Nation's antitrust laws.

September 15, 2003 -- The European express and parcels industry has entered a new era, according to industry analysts Transport Intelligence. Research in their latest report, European Express Leaders 2003 shows that the industry has been transformed by sustained acquisition activity in the late 1990s and into 2000 as the Post Offices, led by TPG and Deutsche Post, built owned networks. This activity has now diminished as they face the reality of integrating the acquisitions into a cohesive unit. The report includes a survey which demonstrates this trend. More details can be obtained by contacting John Manners-Bell on +44(0)1954 212858 or by email: jmannersbell@transportint elligence.com.

September 15, 2003 -- According to NorthJersey.com , "the U.S. Postal Service has uprooted 55 of its 461 traditional blue mailboxes from the streets of Passaic County's three largest cities during the past year. Boxes that averaged less than 25 pieces of mail per day were either moved to a busier location or permanently yanked as part of a nationwide cost-cutting move."

September 15, 2003 -- CentreDaily.com has reported that "e-commerce with Cuba is flourishing, says Enzo Ruberto, a Canadian middleman whose fledgling efforts in 1997 have evolved into a six-Web site enterprise - partnered, of course, with the Cuban government. There's just one catch: U.S. citizens and residents who turn to third-country companies to deliver gifts or money are, for the most part, violating the U.S. embargo on trading with the island nation. In addition to goods and cash, the sites offer legal aid, insurance and personalized postal services in Cuba."

September 15, 2003 -- AMEInfo (UAE) has reported that "Emirates Post today announced the opening of a new post-office in the concourse hall of the Dubai International Convention Centre. The post office, which will be used by the delegates at Dubai 2003 convention, will become a permanent post office to serve the needs of the area around the Dubai World Trade Centre."

September 15, 2003 -- The Washington Post has reported that "Global trade talks collapsed abruptly this afternoon in an unprecedented uprising by scores of the world's poorest nations against the United States, European Union countries and other wealthy nations. The impasse among the 148 nations of the World Trade Organization threatens to derail prospects for a global trade agreement that was supposed to be concluded by 2005. Negotiations were launched two years ago in Doha, Qatar, to lower trade barriers with special emphasis on increasing development in poor nations."

September 15, 2003 -- The Herald (U.K.) has reported that "the Trade and Industry select committee is set to launch an investigation into union claims that Royal Mail exaggerated its losses."

September 15, 2003 -- DMNews has reported that "Senate Governmental Affairs Committee chairwoman Susan Collins issued a letter to the U.S. Postal Service last week demanding to know why the USPS is cutting back on rural post office hours. Collins, R-ME, said the postal service's 'standardization program' has resulted in the closure of post offices during lunch hours and the scaling back of services in rural areas in her state. About 200 of Maine's 425 post offices have been affected, and another 99 have posted notices describing upcoming cutbacks, Collins said in her letter to Postmaster General John Potter."

September 15, 2003 -- The Evening Standard (U.K.) has reported that British "postal workers have voted in favour of a national strike in their long-running pay dispute."

September 15, 2003 -- The Guardian (U.K.) has reported that "Royal Mail and the postal workers' union, the CWU, are to hold last-ditch, face to face talks today in an attempt to prevent the first national strike for seven years being called later this week."

September 14, 2003 -- "Wanna keep track of packages?" Wired has asked. "Follow the data packets. That's the MO at UPS, which handles more than 13 million parcels a day. The company is spending $120 million to turn drivers into high-speed nodes at the edge of its vast wireless network. Information bounces from the customer to the driver to the warehouse to the Web quicker than you can say 'next-day air.'"

September 14, 2003 -- Traffic World has reported that:

• Free guarantees are fine but shippers prefer to see freight delivered on time to getting their money back.
• A Wall Street report predicts that pricing for U.S. air freight shipping will remain relatively stable through at least 2005. UBS Warburg analysts looked at the looming presence of a stronger third competitor in the form of a combined DHL and Airborne Express and concluded that the new, larger player is unlikely to significantly affect pricing during its first couple of years on the U.S. scene.

September 14, 2003 -- The Jerusalem Post (Israel) has reported that "the Postal Authority is ready and eager for the government to open up mail services to competition from private companies, but only gradually, says authority chairman Yossi Shelli, commenting on the Treasury's budget proposal that calls for turning the authority into a government company."

September 14, 2003 -- As the Baltimore Sun has noted, "President Bush is proposing to break Amtrak into a network of regional systems supported by a combination of private and state money and significantly reduced federal aid -a plan widely viewed as a virtual death sentence for the national rail system. Congress is expected to begin pondering Amtrak's future soon. Its decision will be felt across America. In an efficiency move, Amtrak has begun eliminating many of its business and postal deliveries."

September 14, 2003 -- ThisIsMoney.com (U.K.) has reported that "Royal Mail bosses face a grilling by MPs over almost 18,000 'missing' postal workers who have cost the firm £449m. The powerful Commons Trade and Industry Select Committee will this week demand to know why Royal Mail has made the massive provision for nearly 20,000 redundancies when its books show that fewer than 2,400 jobs have gone." See also The Guardian.

September 14, 2003 -- The St. Petersburg Times has reported that "For three years, Jack Greifenberger has purchased shiny silver, platinum and gold coins. They arrive promptly at his home a day or two after he purchases them from shopping networks, wrapped in packages bearing the purple and orange FedEx logo. But the Spring Hill collector recently learned that companies enjoy some shipping privileges not extended to consumers. Greifenberger shipped $2,900 worth of gold and platinum coins about 100 miles south to Sarasota via FedEx, which lost his coins and has since refused to reimburse him for their value. The Memphis, Tenn., company has produced for Greifenberger a long list of "prohibited items." No. 1 on the list: collectible coins. Under its "terms and conditions," FedEx refuses to insure prohibited items. But the fine print does not apply to everyone."

September 14, 2003 -- According to HiPakistan, "Prices of utilities in the country have increased by 71 to 135 per cent since the military takeover in 1999 except the electricity tariff which went up by only 17.5 per cent. The ordinary envelop of the postal department available at Rs2 in 1999 is being sold at Rs4 per envelop, showing an increase of 100 per cent. Similarly, a 20-gram registered post costing Rs10 in 1999 has now gone up to Rs15, showing a rise of 50 per cent."

September 14, 2003 -- The Ventura County Star has reported that "rather than deliver to individual boxes, mail carriers who stop at Renaissance drop off a plastic tub filled with unsorted pieces of mail. The receptionist at the front desk sorts the mail into envelopes and doles it out. Renaissance residents don't like the setup one bit."

September 14, 2003 -- The Ithaca Journal has reported that "as the nation continues to struggle with a restricted job market, it seems many businesses are finding themselves faced with this dilemma and the U.S. Postal Service is no exception. In an effort to cut costs and increase revenue, many local post offices are cutting back their hours of operation."

September 14, 2003 -- The Times Herald has reported that "to make the U.S. Postal Service profitable, a presidential commission recently issued a 208-page report on how to reorganize the Postal Service. One of its key recommendations was that some of the nation's small post offices be closed. Members of the commission are set to testify before Congress on Wednesday. Postal officials are quick to point out that no post offices are slated to close. But they do say reform is needed to help the Postal Service, the nation's second-largest employer, overcome $92 billion in debt."

September 14, 2003 -- According to The People.co.uk, "union bosses are plotting to undermine Tony Blair by calling a national postal strike on the eve of the Labour Party conference. The move is timed to create 'maximum embarrassment' for the PM as he attempts to spell out the strength of Britain's economy to activists."

September 13, 2003 -- Bloomberg News has reported that "United Parcel Service will rely on service rather than price cuts to counter competition for ground shipments, Chief Executive Officer Michael Eskew said. "We don't think price is the only value proposition here," Eskew said in an interview with Bloomberg News. "Service is the real differentiator when it comes to some of that competition. With service and technology and our people, we think we'll stack up real well." Atlanta-based UPS holds about 70 percent of the U.S. market for ground deliveries, based on volume. During the past four years, its market share has fallen about 4.8 percent, according to UBS Securities LLC. FedEx Corp. has risen 3.4 points to 15.3 percent, and Airborne Inc., recently acquired by a unit of Deutsche Post AG, has gone from zero to 1.7 perc