<b>IN THIS ISSUE</b> <b>TOP STORY</b> European postal and parcel operators generate record parcel volumes for Christmas ■ <b>AMERICAS</b> FedEx acquires 3PL provider GENCO ■ FedEx expands cross-border services with acquisition Bongo International ■ FedEx reports strong earnings growth ■ UPS expands four facilities in North America and Europe ■ Amazon expands delivery and collection services ■ <b>ASIA PACIFIC </b> Japan Post heads for IPO in second half 2015 ■ Booming Chinese express market soars by 50% in 2014 ■ SingPost adds parcel points and contracts Siemens for new hub ■ UPS expands partnership with 7-Eleven for parcel pick-ups ■ FedEx signs up new Saudi Arabia partner ■ <b>EUROPE</b> Itella becomes Posti with renewed appearance and services ■ Posti reports parcel volume growth ■ France’s La Poste successfully trials parcel delivery via drones ■ French fim Sodexi opens express freight hub at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport ■ La Poste targets ‘internet of things’ with digital devices connection hub ■ French go online for winter sale bargains ■ TNT to install vision technology for shipment handling ■ DPD launches operations at new €11m southern German depot ■ Deutsche Post adds secure, self-destructing voice messages ■ Poste Italiane plans to invest for future growth ■ GLS expands Italy capacity by 30% ■ Online bookshop IBS.it signs up for InPost-TNT Italy locker deliveries ■ UPS to buy Polish healthcare logistics firm Poltraf ■ DHL Express Russia invests €10m in Moscow gateway expansion ■ Swiss Post delivers millions of letters and parcels ■ Royal mail launches new postage solution for eBay sellers ■ UK e-retail tops £100bn in 2014 ■ UK parcel volumes post a new record in 2014, driven by e-Commerce surge ■ UK SME e-retailers target growth through increased use of online marketplaces ■ City Link failure ‘was due to insufficient specialisation’ <b>DIRECT MARKETING SPECIAL</b> <b>IPC PROJECTS</b> Direct Mail Guide for marketers ■ Direct Mail at a glance ■ <b>TRENDS</b> How have global mail volumes developed? ■ Five direct marketing predictions for 2015 ■ <b>CASE STUDIES</b> Direct mail grows pizza chain’s business ■ Paper invitation to a tech seminar ■ Mazda launches cross-channel campaign ■ Mail delivers rock & roll results for Coca-Cola