Earlier this year, Amazon threatened to cut US Postal Service deliveries by as much as two thirds. Now, the parties have reached tentative a deal that will see USPS deliveries reduced by 20 percent, The Wall Street Journal reported. While not as drastic as first menaced, the reduced volume will still deal a financial blow to the USPS.

“We’re pleased to have reached a new agreement with USPS that furthers our longstanding partnership and will let us continue supporting our customers and communities together,” an Amazon spokesperson told the WSJ.

Amazon is the USPS’s largest customer, accounting for 15 percent of its volume and $6 billion in revenue. A two-thirds cut would have been a disaster for the USPS, but a 20 percent reduction could result in more than $1 billion in lost revenue nonetheless. Amazon would have needed to scramble as well, as it relies heavily on the post office for rural and last-mile deliveries.

Amazon’s contract with the USPS was set to expire in September 2026, and in October Amazon said it wanted to strike a deal by December 2025. However, the USPS abruptly pulled out of negotiations, according to Amazon, and implemented a new bidding process for last-mile deliveries. “Our goal was to increase our volumes with USPS, not reduce them — until USPS abruptly walked away at the eleventh hour in December,” Amazon said at the time.

Amazon was reportedly considering expanding its own delivery network if the USPS deal fell through, though the company may have started those rumors itself to prod negotiations. The Postal Service decided to re-engage with Amazon after bids from several Amazon rivals fell short of its volume and revenue expectations, according to the WSJ‘s sources. The new agreement is still subject to approval by the federal Postal Regulatory Commission.

Indian startup Rocket is betting that the next big opportunity is the part before vibe coding: having AI help people decide what to build. It has launched a platform that produces consulting-style product strategies.

The startup, based in Surat, India, on Tuesday launched its platform, Rocket 1.0, which connects research, product building, and competitive intelligence in a single workflow. The platform generates detailed product strategy documents — including pricing, unit economics, and go-to-market recommendations.

As AI-powered coding tools proliferate — from platforms like Cursor, Replit, and Lovable to features such as Claude Code and Codex — writing code has become significantly easier and faster. “Everyone can generate the code now… it has become a commodity. But what to build is something which everyone is missing,” said Rocket co-founder and CEO Vishal Virani (pictured above), adding that “running a business and just building a codebase are two different things.”

TechCrunch briefly tested Rocket’s platform ahead of its launch and found that it generated product requirement documents in PDF format from simple prompts. These documents resemble consulting-style reports rather than vibe coding tools or chatbots, which largely focus on features and execution.

However, some of the analysis appeared to be synthesized from existing data — combining known pricing models, user behavior patterns, and competitive insights — rather than based on independently verifiable information. This suggests users may still need to validate outputs before making business decisions. Virani said the platform can offer human support when users encounter issues.

The product can also track competitors, including changes to their websites and traffic trends. Rocket draws on more than 1,000 data sources for its analysis, including Meta’s ad libraries, Similarweb’s API, and its own crawlers, Virani said.

Rocket’s subscription plans range from $25 per month for building applications to $250 for strategy and research capabilities, and up to $350 for the full platform, including competitive intelligence.

The $250 plan can generate two to three “McKinsey-grade” research reports alongside product builds, Virani told TechCrunch, positioning its higher-tier offerings as a lower-cost alternative to traditional consulting, which often costs thousands of dollars for similar strategy work.

Rocket raised a $15 million seed round in September from Accel, Salesforce Ventures, and Together Fund. Since then, the startup says it has grown from 400,000 to over 1.5 million users across 180 countries. It also reported an annualized average revenue per user in the ~$4,000 range, though it did not disclose detailed paying customer numbers. The startup said it operates at gross margins of over 50%, with 20–30% of its customers being small- and medium-sized businesses.

Rocket has a team of 57 employees and is headquartered in Surat, with operations in Palo Alto.

Five member countries are already experimenting with the solution this year, but they don’t all seem to be on the same page. It was pointed out at the press conference that France and Denmark are far ahead, while Greece, Spain, and Italy are lagging. This is why some experts are skeptical that the digital wallet will come into force within the established time frame.

An Alternative to the US Model

Among the players already visible in the European market for age verification are Yoti, which TikTok is using in Europe for this purpose along with other methods such as credit cards and documents, and Persona, which is an identity- and age-verification provider used by platforms such as Roblox, Discord, and Reddit.

The latter has a much more data-intrusive model, one that the Commission says it wants to avoid. In fact, its services include fingerprint verification, face recognition, screening a person’s face to compare it to one on a particular list, and the retention of all such data for up to three years.

In February 2026, it also emerged that Persona publicly exposed thousands of files online. The company responded by saying that this was an isolated testing environment and that the data was not actually exposed, and, in addition, that it does not work with US government agencies to provide it with data on users.

In any case, the US model shows the risks of age verification based on massive collection and analysis of identifying data. This highlights the need for a European alternative, one that shifts the concept to another level: not so much “prove your identity so I can check your age” as “just prove your age, without revealing anything else.”

Brussels is promoting an open source architecture, leaving room for both member states and market players to publish national or derivative versions. Scytales and T-Systems were mentioned during the press conference as services to look to in Europe. Whoever develops the system will still have to consider a “triangular” architecture, officials say: A third party certifies that the user meets the required attribute, i.e., being above a certain age, without the site receiving documents or other personal data. To make the concept more understandable, the Commission cited the experience of Covid certificates.

A Glaring Loophole

There remains, however, a clear distance between the technical promise and the social reality of the problem. As recounted in the press conference, the mini-wallet seems designed primarily to prevent the site from learning too much about the user, but much less to solve the most trivial bypass of all: a minor using an adult’s phone, credentials, or ID. In other words, the system may perhaps reduce the amount of personal data in circulation, but it does not automatically eliminate the risk of age verification being bypassed in practice.

Despite this, the mini-wallet currently appears to be the most promising solution. The Commission has clarified, though, that it is not the only possible solution. The door remains open to alternatives, provided they are “equally effective.” Pornhub is already involved in the pilot phase, while other operators have been invited to participate.

In short, Europe could become the first major policy laboratory where age verification stops being a formality and becomes a real infrastructure, with all the promise and—not to be overlooked—all the risks that this entails.

This story originally appeared in WIRED Italia and has been translated from Italian.

Apple has run into “more issues than expected” with its foldable iPhone that may set back its release, according to Nikkei. The engineering problems reportedly cropped up during the device’s early test production phase and may delay first shipments by months, according to multiple sources briefed on the matter.

“The current situation could put the mass production timeline at risk,” one of the sources said. “April will mark a crucial stage of the engineering verification test, and this month till early may is extremely critical.” Component suppliers have supposedly been notified that the foldable iPhone’s production schedule will be delayed, and Apple is working to address the problems.

A foldable iPhone has been rumored since 2017, and Apple’s biggest rival, Samsung, released its first one back in 2019. According to multiple sources, Apple was aiming to launch its debut foldable iPhone in fall 2026 alongside the iPhone 18. However, as we detailed in an explainer last month, “the project could slip into 2027 if Apple runs into manufacturing or durability issues, particularly around the hinge or display.”

Apple was reportedly prioritizing the foldable iPhone and other premium models for its September event this year due to constrained supplies of components like memory chips. However, the foldable’s engineering issues could throw a wrench into those plans. “Apple and the supply chain are working under a pressured timeline and the current solutions are not enough to completely solve the engineering challenge… more time is needed,” Nikkei’s source stated.

The problems reportedly arose during Apple’s production verification tests. That’s the fourth of six steps the company’s new products must go through before shipping, prior to the key pilot production and mass production phases. Since the foldable would be an all-new design, it would have to pass each stage with flying colors before proceeding to the next.

Though likely to account for less than 10 percent of iPhone production, the foldable will be a key product for Apple designed to boost interest in iPhones across its range. Apple reportedly plans to produce seven to eight million of the devices initially, Nikkei reported. Apple has not yet officially announced the device and declined to commented on the reported engineering issues.

Photo credit: Volodymyr Lenard via Yanko Design
According to the most recent leaks, the iPhone 18 Pro will give users a more noticeable increase in their day-to-day use than the jump from the 16 to the 17, particularly for those who prioritize a silky smooth experience. This week, we’ve learned more about key upgrades including processor speed, screen layout, and battery life, but the overall appearance and feel will remain consistent with previous Pro versions.

The design improvements are mostly focused on cleaning up the front and delivering a new look at the back. The notch at the top of the screen has dropped by nearly 35% in width, from 20.7 millimeters to 13.5 millimeters. The Face ID infrared flood illuminator has been placed beneath the display, leaving only the camera lens and sensor visible on top in a somewhat slimmer pill shape. For the first time in a Pro mode, the back will feature a striking deep red finish that is more reminiscent of a rich burgundy than some of the brighter reds we’ve seen before. Don’t anticipate the black finish to resurface anytime soon, while the purple and brown tones that some people have been gushing about appear to be variations of the same red theme. The Pro Max version is somewhat larger (8.8 millimeters), allowing for a few extra battery cells, but the titanium frame and Ceramic Shield keep it feeling light and robust as ever.

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That narrower notch will work well with the display, which will remain at 6.3 inches on the standard Pro and 6.9 inches on the Pro Max, complete with LTPO+ technology providing even more precision to the refresh rate, ensuring that power is only used when needed. This implies that even the simplest operations will feel silky smooth, and scrolling, which is already fluid, will become even more so. It’s a little more immersive because the top bar is less noticeable.

In terms of performance, the new iPhone 18 Pro will be powered by a chip made from TSMC’s 2-nanometer process, known as the A20 Pro, which promises roughly 15% more oomph and up to 30% better efficiency than the 3-nanometer chip in last year’s iPhone 17 Pro. Apple is teaming it with 12 gigabytes of RAM in both models, which should make a significant improvement for all those on-device AI workloads and multitasking in general. On the camera side of things, you can expect a practical upgrade with a variable aperture system on the main lens, which allows the phone to manage the amount of light that enters, resulting in better depth of field and lower light clarity than fixed aperture systems. The 48-megapixel Fusion sensor is being tweaked to provide even clearer details, and the lenses remain in their usual position at the back. A new Camera control button allows you to experiment with all of those capabilities without having to jump through hoops, and the entire rear glass now blends in much more seamlessly with the frame.

Connectivity is the new iPhone 18 Pro’s strong suit. Apple has replaced their own C2 5G modem with the Qualcomm one that was previously used, with the goal of providing significantly stronger mmWave signals as well as a lot more satellite coverage thanks to NR-NTN standards. To top it off, a few of extra chips bring Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 to the mix, which should result in faster local transfers and much more stable pairing, according to reports.

Battery life is also significantly improved, thanks to the more efficient chip and greater space in the Pro Max variant. Battery capacity ranges from 5,100 to 5,200 milliamp-hours, setting a new record for an iPhone. When you add in the power savings from elsewhere, it’s expected that even the larger model will run for up to 40 hours on a single charge, and that’s not just for watching cat videos all day. People who simply use their phone as a regular phone will notice that you get a lot more out of a charge on lengthy journeys or hectic workdays before you have to scramble for a power outlet.

All of these signs point to an official launch in September 2026, just in time for an autumn release. Insiders believe that this generation of iPhones will be the last to employ Apple’s current design language, which has been in use for roughly a decade, and that it will pave the way for a significant facelift in 2027.
[Source]

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Informative commercial, for short
Answer: PSA

4A clue: Something you trace to draw a Thanksgiving turkey
Answer: HAND

5A clue: ___ Johnson, former Prime Minister of the U.K.
Answer: BORIS

6A clue: Opposite of include
Answer: OMIT

7A clue: Crosses (out)
Answer: XES

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: City with the Notre-Dame Cathedral
Answer: PARIS

2D clue: Bad mood
Answer: SNIT

3D clue: About eight minutes of the average half-hour sitcom
Answer: ADS

4D clue: Remote worker’s office, perhaps
Answer: HOME

5D clue: Word that can follow each group of circled letters (and hints at its shape)
Answer: BOX

Costs for PC parts are skyrocketing, and I’m sure you understand the frustration of attempting to construct a gaming system when graphics cards and RAM are so expensive. Watching the price continue to rise is enough to put you off even the most basic upgrades right now, but a device like the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally, priced at $499.99 (was $600), steps in and saves the day, as you simply open the box and you have a whole gaming system right in your hands.

This portable is powered by an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. Indie games and old favorites run smoothly on the 7-inch screen, with consistent and snappy frame rates. Newer releases will still function properly on lowered settings, allowing you to enjoy playing games on the move or when you simply want to relax. For example, Forza Horizon 5 manages about 40 frames per second on medium detail, and Hollow Knight keeps the pace nice and fast with no drop off at all. Don’t worry if there are some titles that don’t run natively on the device, because cloud streaming comes to the rescue, allowing you to pull high-quality visuals straight from the cloud without putting a strain on the device.

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Let’s start with the screen, which is immediately noticeable as something special. When throwing the items about quickly or in fast action, 1080p at 120 Hertz provides silky smooth motion. The colors appear natural, and the touch layer responds instantly as you tap through menus. It’s bright enough to watch in most rooms, even with daylight streaming in from a nearby window. It comes down to more than just the numbers, though, because the grips on this thing are curved like an Xbox controller, so it feels natural in your palm. Even if you play for an extended period of time, the textured surfaces remain in place. The buttons and triggers are in the proper locations, so you don’t get tired after an hour or two. At just over a pound and a half, you may easily throw it in a bag or slide it into your pocket and go.

The software is also fairly sleek, with a clean interface that has the Xbox things up front. Your game pass library is right there, as are all of the other games you have access to. There is a button on the controller that allows you to quickly access power modes and display modifications without having to go through all of the options. Throw in three months of Game Pass Premium for free, and you’ll get access to dozens of games without having to deal with downloads and the like.

Unlike those inflated lab tests, battery life lasts fairly well in everyday use. Demanding games will slog along for roughly two hours on a single charge, whilst more casual titles may coast along for six to seven hours with settings reduced to a manageable level. That offers you plenty of time to complete your daily commute or spend a relaxed Sunday afternoon on the couch. Furthermore, the sixty-five watt charger performs admirably, quickly replenishing juice anytime you connect it. The side ports also have you covered, taking a microSD card for a bit more storage and two USB-C connections so you can plug it into a bigger screen whenever you want.

Most drivers have in mind a pure British roadster from the early 1990s, the Lotus Elan, but only a small group of fans are aware of the strange story of the Kia Vigato that followed. After the original Elan M100 run ended in 1995, Kia bought the whole production tooling from Lotus. The company then assembled the car in Korea and shipped examples to Japan under the Vigato name.

It’s a strange footnote in Kia history, and one of the decade’s most underappreciated sports cars. The Lotus Elan M100 was built around a lightweight front-wheel-drive chassis with double-wishbone suspension at all four corners, giving it the crisp, confident handling that we all enjoy. When Kia took over the molds, the chassis remained almost unchanged. The end result was a car that still seemed perfectly balanced and drove smoothly, but with a few adjustments to suit their new owner.

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The 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, a naturally aspirated beast, produces 151 horsepower and delivers it to the front wheels via a five-speed manual. It accomplishes the job well, with sprightly acceleration that never goes overboard. Drivers can simply shift easily and experience a direct connection between pedal and road. Brakes are discs all around, and the suspension absorbs bumps while remaining rooted even when making abrupt direction changes. In terms of fuel economy, it’s quite decent for a convertible with a hint of sportiness.

Visually, the car retains the original Elan lines, with a low wedge shape, clean surfaces… you get the idea. Pop-up headlights are a nice feature because they sit flush when switched off and spring up nicely when you turn the switch. The rear spoiler is small, and the fenders are filled with nice16-inch OZ Racing wheels. The current example features a sleek white paint job, a black soft top that folds over by hand, and Yokohama tires to keep everything in place on the road. Oh, and one more thing: previous owners had some fun with the badges, replacing them with Lotus emblems… despite the fact that the chassis plate still proudly states that it is a genuine Kia Vigato from 1997.

Inside the cabin, colorful textile inserts that match the door panels add a splash of color to the black vinyl seats. A Mitsubishi head unit handles the audio, and a wonderful old-fashioned analog clock sits to the side of the gauges. Standard features include power windows and mirrors, as well as air conditioning to keep you comfortable. The instrument cluster displays a speedometer with a maximum speed of 240km/h and a tachometer with a maxes out at 6500rpm. An upgraded wood-rimmed steering wheel with a cool MOMO horn button gives it a nice personal touch. Even with two adults in the car, space isn’t a problem on longer excursions, and there’s still room behind the seats for a few items.

It appears that practically all of the Vigatos that rolled off the assembly line never made it out of Japan, where they just blended in with the traffic. A few made their way to North America via private imports, no less. The 1997 Vigato now offered for auction on Bring a Trailer has only 53,000 kilometers on the clock. This Canadian import arrived in late 2022, complete with an Ontario registration and a clean history report. Some of the underbody pieces show rust, but the main body and all mechanicals appear to be in fine condition. Bidding began modestly and will continue through April 9th.
[Source]