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Government does its duty Membership scam alert
DON’T find yourself up the creek without a paddle by falling into the trap of a phony Amazon scam.
The online ecommerce and digital streaming multinational recently alerted to the dangers of being fooled by unexpected calls, texts or emails that claim to refer to a costly membership fee or other membership issue.
These will ask you to confirm or cancel the charge, Amazon warned.
“Scammers will try to convince you to provide payment or bank account information in order to reinstate a membership,” the company said.
Amazon would never ask you to provide payment information for products or services over the phone, a recent statement stressed. Never pay over the phone, it added.
“Visit the Message Centre on the Amazon website or on our app to review authentic emails from Ama
THE UK government announced plans to grant hundreds of new oil and gas licences.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed on July 31 that the government would continue to back the North Sea oil and gas industry in its drive to make Britain more energyindependent.
Adopting a more flexible application process, licences could also be offered near currently licensed areas, he said. This would unlock vital reserves due to existing infrastructure and previous assessments, Sunak explained while visiting Aberdeen’s Shell gas terminal.
The independent Climate Change Committee predicted that approximately a quarter of the UK’s energy demands would still be met by oil and gas
TV turn off
ITV’S earnings fell 52 per cent to £152 million (€176.5 million) during the first six months of this year.
Total advertising revenues dropped by 11 per cent to £811 million (€940 million) between January and the end of June, compared with the same period in 2022.
The broadcaster admitted that it was enduring its worst advertising downturn since the 2008 financial crisis although chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall said that although advertisers were cautious, ITV had not experienced any difficulty in attracting sponsors for its programmes.
zon. To verify your Prime Membership status or to make payments, log into your Amazon account, and go to the Your Account section.”
Amazon also recommended always going through the Amazon mobile app or website when
Licensed to drill
seeking customer service, tech support, or to make changes to an account.
“Be wary whenever someone tries to convince you that you must act now,” the company said.
“Go directly to our website when seeking help with Amazon devices, services or orders.
“If you receive communications — a call, text or email — that you think may not be from Amazon, please report it to us,” the company said.
For more information on how to stay safe online, visit Security & Privacy on the Amazon Customer Service page.
tensive to ship oil and gas from abroad, he said.
The government was taking steps to slow the rapid decline in domestic production of oil and gas, securing the UK’s domestic energy supply and reducing reliance on hostile states.
“We have all witnessed how Putin has manipulated and weaponised energy, disrupting supply and stalling growth in countries around the world,” Sunak pointed out.
DUTY on pub drinks will be up to 11p lower than at UK supermarkets.
The changes would help pubs compete on equal terms, explained Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.
“British pubs are the beating heart of our communities and as they face rising costs, we’re doing all we can to help them,” Hunt said. “Through our Brexit Pubs Guarantee, we’re protecting the price of a pint.”
Taxing drinks by strength for the first time reflected the popularity of low alcohol drinks, the Chancellor added.
Small Producer Relief would also help small businesses and startups create new drinks, innovate and grow, he said.
Go like the wind
IBERDROLA’S US subsidiary, Avangrid, has completed construction of an electricity substation off the Massachusetts coast.
Iberdrola has, through Avangrid, a 50 per cent stake in the €2.5 billion Vineyard Wind undertaking, together with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP).
when the UK reached net zero in 2050. More licences were compatible with net zero commitments, the prime minister insisted. Bearing in mind the anticipated partreliance on fossil fuels for years to come, it was more carbonin
Penalty imposed
TELEFONICA must pay €5 million for breaching its €725 million contract with DTS on acquiring the digital channel in 2015.
At the time, Spain’s National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) required Telefonica to make concessions preserving market competition by maintaining DTS’s existing contracts.
Telefonica was also obliged to make available wholesale offers of premium channels with access to major sporting events to other television operators.
Despite this proviso, Telefonica reached an agreement giving sports streaming service DAZN exclusive rights to broadcast the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Formula 1 seasons. The deal also allowed Telefonica to access all DAZN content.
This fine is the latest from the merger, including a €6 million CNMC sanction last March for preventing client transfers.
As well as easing the need for higheremission imports, granting further licences would protect more than 200,000 jobs, and expand the UK economy, Sunak added. It would also provide the next generation of skilled apprentices.
