AMAZON UK
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
01
Amazon , https://amzn.to/3ixf193, AMAZON UK, will be raising the fees for sellers on its UK marketplace by 2%, starting in September.
The change follows the passing of a new digital services tax in the UK, which levies a 2% tax on revenues of companies that run search engines, social media services, or online marketplaces in the country.
The moves shows Amazon is passing along the costs of the new tax on to its small business sellers, and raises questions on the effectiveness of such measures.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Amazon's UK sellers are facing a 2% fee hike after the company decided to pass along the entire cost of a new national digital tax
Amazon announced on Tuesday that it plans to charge more fees to the sellers on its UK marketplace, in response to the country's new Digital Services Tax.
In a note to sellers, Amazon , AMAZON UK,wrote that it will add a 2% fee to all merchants using its marketplace or storage and fulfillment services in the UK region. The new fee will go into effect on Sept. 1.
AMAZON UK said the fee increase is driven by the passing of the DST law, which levies a 2% tax on the revenues of companies that run search engines, social media services, or online marketplaces, and generate over £500 million in sales. Until now, Amazon, https://amzn.to/3ixf193, absorbed this cost, it added. Here's what the note said:
"In spring of 2020, the UK government introduced a Digital Services Tax ("DST"). While the legislation was being passed, and as we continued our discussions with the government to encourage them to take an approach that would not impact our selling partners, we absorbed this cost.
Now that the legislation has passed, we want to inform you that we will be adjusting referral fees, Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) fees, monthly FBA storage fees, and Multichannel Fulfillment (MCF) fees in the UK to reflect this additional cost. We will not apply the increased charges retroactively, but starting 1 September 2020, the above fee types will increase by 2%."
While Amazons' is passing along the costs of the new tax to the thousands of small business owners selling on its UK marketplace, it raises questions about how effective such measures are. Amazon's made a similar move in France last year when it raised seller fees by 3% in response to the country's new digital tax.
The UK law is aimed at ensuring big companies pay more taxes, as most of their European headquarters are located in tax havens like Luxembourg, and leveling the playing field between them and the small- and medium-sized businesses in the region.
The UK is Amazon's third-largest market in the world, https://amzn.to/3ixf193, after the US and Germany. Amazon generated over $17.5 billion in sales from the UK last year.
In a statement to Business Insider, Amazon's spokesperson said the company advocates for a global agreement on taxation, instead of a government-level law that varies by the country.
"Like many others, we have encouraged the Government to pursue a global agreement on the taxation of the digital economy at OECD level rather than unilateral taxes, so that rules would be consistent across countries and clearer and fairer for businesses. As we've previously indicated, the way that the Government has designed the Digital Services Tax will directly impact the businesses that use our services," it said.
Still, sellers in the UK are likely to continue using Amazon's services — even if it becomes more expensive — because of its sheer size, according to Tom Baker, founder of FordeBaker, an agency that helps Amazon sellers.
He said Amazon's, https://amzn.to/3ixf193, may become a slightly less attractive option for online sellers, as their profit margins will shrink, but they can't afford to abandon the marketplace given it's the largest e-commerce site in the country.
They can't raise their prices on Amazon either, he said, because doing so could drop a seller's search ranking on the site — or risk having certain products suspended due to Amazon's policy of keeping low prices.
"The size of the pie is just too big," Baker said.
While it's no surprise that Amazon is passing on the cost of the new tax to its sellers, Baker said it's a "missed opportunity" for the company to show support for the small businesses that account for a large chunk of its sales. Roughly 60% of all products sold on Amazon's , https://amzn.to/3ixf193, now come from third-party sellers, and the company has been promoting itself as a staunch supporter of small businesses lately as regulatory scrutiny has grown over its market power.
"It could have been an opportunity for Amazon to make a stand for SMBs and show their support for the backbone of the UK economy," Baker said.
02
15 best TV shows on Amazon Prime Video
The Expanse.
Amazon's Studios
Amazon Prime Video has gathered an impressive lineup of original shows to keep you entertained.
It's also picked up excellent programs from other countries to stream in the US. Thankfully, those exclusives, like A Very English Scandal and Catastrophe, can be appreciated by a wider audience.
CNET Culture https://amzn.to/3ixf193
Entertain your brain with the coolest news from streaming to superheroes, memes to video games.
Let's round up the best TV shows Amazon has to offer.
Read more: The 15 best movies on Amazon Prime Video
Amazon's Studios https://amzn.to/3ixf193
A comedy-drama set in New York's classical music scene, Mozart in the Jungle is as whimsical as its title suggests. Upcoming oboist Hailey meets eccentric conductor Rodrigo, who's tasked with revitalizing the New York Symphony. Never losing you with jargon, Mozart in the Jungle charmingly reveals an edgier side to the world of strings, playing its own symphony of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.
Amazon's Studios https://amzn.to/3ixf193
The Boys stormed Amazon last year with its ultra-violent tale of antihero vigilantes seeking revenge against the world's most beloved superheroes. But these heroes aren't what they seem: Their corporate overlords cover up their shady personal lives, including sexual harassment and the odd assassination. With social commentary, black comedy and pops of gore, The Boys takes a thrilling and unapologetic step away from the family-friendly genre.
Amazon's Studios https://amzn.to/3ixf193
A sex scandal in the UK Parliament? Starring Hugh Grant and Ben Wishaw? You can thank Russell T. Davies for dramatizing this slice of late-'70s British politics. Jeremy Thorpe, a Liberal member of Parliament, wants to silence unhappy ex-lover Norman before his career ends up in tatters. Watch the murder conspiracy, big trial and media scrutiny through A Very English Scandal's darkly funny lens.
Amazon's Studios https://amzn.to/3ixf193
Transparent's unique story follows the Pfefferman siblings who discover their dad is transitioning into a woman named Maura. Other aspects of the Pfefferman's lives, like a sour marriage and a disappointing child, give this tightly scripted comedy-drama a relatable side. Poignant and ambitious, Transparent is a show to look out for.
Amazon's Studios https://amzn.to/3ixf193
While season 2 of Homecoming didn't quite find its feet, season 1 hit the ground running. Julia Roberts made her small-screen debut in this psychological thriller about an army rehabilitation facility run by questionable owners. Using an effective, mystery-building narrative that covers two timelines, Homecoming is high on tension and paranoia as it reveals what the facility's true purpose is. Fun fact: The series uses the actual scores of movies from Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick and more.
Amazon's Studios https://amzn.to/3ixf193
This unique series uses the Rotoscoping animation technique to tell the story of a young woman who, after suffering a near-fatal car accident, discovers she can manipulate time. Intriguing, right? It gets better: Bob Odenkirk plays Alma's dead father, who enlists her help in investigating his murder. Bending both time and space, Undone is surreal and beautifully existential for those looking for deep material.
Amazon's Studios https://amzn.to/3ixf193
While The Tick was sadly canceled after two seasons, the superhero comedy will still give you a hit of fast-paced, colorful action with its tongue firmly in its cheek. Based on the comic book character, The Tick is a bulletproof hero who wears a, yep, blue tick suit. His sidekick? The meek Arthur who wears a ... moth suit. Their nemesis is The Terror, a supervillain in their city's underworld. If you want to sit back and watch pure superhero entertainment, you've found the right show.
Amazon's Studios https://amzn.to/3ixf193
The Man in the High Castle imagines an alternate history where the Axis powers (Rome-Berlin-Tokyo) win World War II. Based on a Philip K. Dick novel, the series follows characters in the '60s who live in a parallel universe, where Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan control the US. But there's impossible newsreel footage surfacing of a world where Germany and Japan lose the war, causing some to rebel. To really hammer home its dystopia credentials, The Man in the High Castle is steered by producer Ridley Scott. Fully realized and with a focused plot, this is gripping TV.
Amazon's Studios https://amzn.to/3ixf193
Amazon rescued The Expanse from the realm of canceled TV, bringing us a fourth season with a fifth to come. Thank goodness it did, because The Expanse is smart sci-fi with realistic characters, high production values and a dash of detective noir. Set in a future where humanity has colonized the Solar System, a conspiracy threatens to start a cold war between the largest powers. A band of antiheroes find themselves at the center. Look forward to more space western themes in the consistently excellent later seasons.
Amazon's Studios https://amzn.to/3ixf193
Con man Marius walks free from jail, only to be hunted by the gangster he once robbed. So he assumes the identity of his cell mate Pete and walks back into the lives of Pete's estranged family, who are none the wiser. Bryan Cranston brings all the gravitas to gangster Vince in this part-drama, party-comedy. The twists and dicey situations will carry you through the addictive episodes as quickly as Pete pulls his cons.
Amazon's Studios https://amzn.to/3ixf193
This long-running police procedural, inspired by Michael Connelly novels, gets everything right for old-fashioned detective drama. We follow Los Angeles police detective Harry Bosch, who's haunted by the death of his mother. While catching serial killers and keeping his family safe, he investigates her murder. Functional and no-nonsense, Bosch provides steady mystery with an equally steady lead.
Amazon's Studios https://amzn.to/3ixf193
A '50s housewife who becomes a standup comic? This brilliant series from Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, is filled with sparkling performances from Rachel Brosnahan and Alex Borstein, with dialogue to match. Set in a vibrant and changing New York, our delightful heroine moonlights as a comedian, while doing her duties as an upper class Jewish American housewife. With impressive visuals, warmth and zingers, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is the full package.
Amazon's Studios-------------------------https://amzn.to/3ixf193
Not only does this horror anthology series feature Japanese folklore and explorers heading into uncharted territory, but its first chapter stars pre-Chernobyl Jared Harris. He plays the captain of Arctic explorer ships that end up stuck in the ice. On top of the harsh conditions and cabin fever, an unknown presence in the mist stalks the crew. Strung with atmospheric dread, The Terror is thrilling, prestige horror.
Amazon's Studios_____________ https://amzn.to/3ixf193
If somehow the Fleabag train passed you by, it's time to let it hit you at its full, incredible force. Phoebe Waller-Bridge writes and stars in the play-turned extraordinary comedy series. A 30-something woman who runs a cafe lives a sex-filled life with a sense of humor that hides the tragedies she hasn't yet come to terms with. Just about word-for-word perfect, with a fourth-wall breaking device, Fleabag frequently does its best to both shock and devastate you, while being ridiculously funny.
Amazon's Studios-----https://amzn.to/3ixf193
Featuring Carrie Fisher's final TV role, Catastrophe is a rom-com about messy, chaotic people. Londoner Sharon and Bostonian Rob have a one-week stand that results in an unplanned pregnancy and Rob moving to the UK so they can start a family. The tricky part: Sharon and Rob don't know the first thing about each other. Covering age, sex, parenthood, marriage and love in its open book, Catastrophe is a superb rom-com that gives you four seasons to devour.
Read more: The 9 best TV series you can watch free on Peacock and other services
New movie calendar for 2020 and 2021 following coronavirus delays See all photos
03
© Provided by The Guardian Photograph: Thierry Mallet/Reuters
© Photograph: Thierry Mallet/Reuters Oil tankers being ferried across Ecuador’s Napo River, a tributary of the Amazon.
European banks urged to stop funding oil trade in Amazon's, https://amzn.to/3ixf193
© Provided by The Guardian Photograph: Thierry Mallet/Reuters
Indigenous people living at the headwaters of the Amazon, https://amzn.to/3ixf193, have called on European banks to stop financing oil development in the region, as it poses a threat to them and damages a fragile ecosystem, after a new report found $10bn in previously undisclosed funding for oil in the region.
The headwaters of the Amazon in Ecuador and Peru are home to more than 500,000 indigenous people, including some who choose to live in voluntary isolation. The area, covering about 30m hectares (74m acres), hosts a diverse rainforest ecosystem, but it is threatened by the expansion of oil drilling.
Related: Record 212 land and environment activists killed last year
Many banks have pledged to halt or limit the finance they provide to fossil fuel projects, particularly in delicate ecosystems, but the new report focuses on a grey area of bank lending: instead of project finance, the authors looked at trade finance. Project finance is used to start and develop oil wells, fossil fuel extraction, refineries and pipelines, but trade finance is used to move the oil and gas from production to refineries.
Banks make loans to companies seeking trade finance, sometimes through intermediaries, but these loans often do not fall under their standard sustainability goals. In a new report, Stand.earth Research Group and Amazon Watch traced $10bn (£7.6bn) of trade finance since 2009 from 19 European banks covering oil in the headwaters of the Amazon.
Marlon Vargas, the president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon, said: “I wonder if the executives of banks in Europe know the real cost of their financing. How can they possibly sleep peacefully knowing their money leaves thousands of indigenous peoples and communities without water, without food and in devastating health conditions due to the pollution of the Coca and Napo rivers? It is time for the banks, companies and consumers of the oil extracted in the Ecuadorian Amazon to acknowledge how their businesses affect our territories and way of life.”
© Photograph: Thierry Mallet/Reuters Oil tankers being ferried across Ecuador’s Napo River, a tributary of the Amazon.
An oil spill in April in Ecuador contaminated hundreds of miles of two major rivers and affected 35,000 people in river communities, and there have been ongoing oil spills in Peru. Previous oil exploration in the region resulted in about 17m gallons of crude oil being spilled. About 40% of the oil is exported to refineries in California.
Tyson Miller, the forest programmes director at Stand.earth, told the Guardian: “The Amazon sacred headwaters region is a cultural and ecological gem. It is considered to be the most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystem on the planet, maintaining the hydrological cycle for all of the Americas, and helping to regulate Earth’s climate.
“New and ongoing oil extraction in the region is a gateway to deforestation and increased agricultural and industrial activity, which is why indigenous leaders in the region have repeatedly voiced their opposition to the expansion of the oil industry, and other industrial activities in their territories.”
Related: UK's biggest pension fund begins fossil fuels divestment
Several of the banks named in the report have confirmed that trade finance – unlike project finance for fossil fuels – did not fall under their standard pledges on sustainable lending, but said they were engaged in reducing their environmental impact.
Credit Suisse said: “The report refers to our oil and gas policy and mentions requirements that apply to project-related transactions with respect to indigenous peoples and areas of high conservation value. However, these policy requirements do not relate to trade finance services.”
The company added: https://amzn.to/3ixf193, “We are committed to a responsible approach to business, and conduct due diligence on our clients’ activities. Environmental and social risks are assessed in a bank-wide risk review process, guided by our sector-specific policies. These are regularly reviewed and updated to take account of developments, including indigenous peoples’ rights or climate change.”
ING said: “We do not recognise the calculations of aggregate exposure in the report. This might be explained due to the extended time horizon and the change in client relationship over time. For instance, two traders mentioned in the report are no longer clients of ING.”
The company added: “ING takes a strong stance against deforestation and integrates assessments of biodiversity and nature impacts in our transaction due diligence. We encourage commodity clients to obtain certifications with chain-of-custody requirements. While certification schemes for soft commodities are more widely available, comparable certifications don’t yet exist for oil and gas. This makes the traceability of oil and gas trade challenging, particularly in the trade of commodities of mixed and diverse origin.”
UBS said: “We apply an in-depth environmental and social risk policy framework to all of our transactions, products, services and activities, including commodity trade finance, in order to identify and assess environmental and social risks. As such we have declined transactions where the origin of oil is verifiably associated with breaches of our standards, such as indigenous people’s land rights or Unesco world heritage sites. We maintain ongoing dialogues with relevant stakeholders such as non-governmental organisations to inform UBS’s approach to, and understanding of, societal issues and concerns.”
BNP Paribas said: “The lack of explanations on the methodology and the aggregation of data whose provenance cannot be verified, make any analysis impossible and render us, https://amzn.to/3ixf193, unable to comment on this report.”
Comments
Post a Comment
If you have any doubt, please let me know....