On eBay Live, livestreaming is for the entrepreneurial everyman. It is a no-frills, decentralized QVC for the modern age.
The interface is clunky, the sellers are unpolished, and the viewer numbers are low. The site is more like a digital garage sale than a Sotheby's auction, but it's just as thrilling to watch a bidder win a rare baseball card as to watch one win a Rothko.
Items for sale include Rolex watches, Funko Pop toys, commemorative coins, and Michael Kors backpacks, which sellers hawk to audiences of anywhere from 10 to 1,000 other souls. These online auctioneers set countdown clocks, sometimes as short as 10 seconds. Bids start as low as $1.
Tuning into a sub-100-viewer eBay Live auction is strangely intimate. Sellers, often in makeshift home sets or nondescript warehouse backrooms, fill the time between auctions with banter and often play music on their own speakers. Sellers also respond to the audience, affectionately referred to as "chat."
One bidding frenzy drew me in. Ten seconds and a flurry of clicks later, I became the proud owner of a $3.81 Dragonite Pokémon card. I know nothing about Pokémon, yet I felt a surge of joy hearing my username declared the winner. There is a simple pleasure in buying and selling real things in a digital auction house.
Meta says that over a quarter of Muse users made purchases with the AI agent.
The average order was over $200 — that's a lot of clams!
If this is you, please tell me what you're using it for.
Something just blew my mind, and I'm asking for your help to figure it out.
According to Meta's Q3 earnings call on Wednesday, more than a quarter of Muse users so far have used the AI agent make purchases — and the average order size is over $200.
I'll say that again: average order size over $200.
This is shocking to me, and I'm someone who has been actively and happily using Muse for a variety of things. I've been perfectly happy to give Muse access to my email, my calendar, my credit cards, and even my Apple health data.
But I've been slightly reticent about using it to actually buy stuff. Not that I'm totally worried about it getting stuff wrong (although the one purchase I did try to make with it was to order a salad for lunch, and it attempted to place the order on my HSA card after I failed to recognize the last 4 digits of that card, oops).
I think it's more I enjoy shopping online myself? I mean, for most things, I suppose. For "fun" stuff like clothes or personal items, I enjoy browsing and the hit of dopamine when you check out. (Others take this to the extreme, using "dopamine sites" that let you browse fake restaurants and "order" food that never arrives.) The other night I ordered — on a real site — cotton balls, razor blade refills, a plain white t-shirt, and a pair of scissors from the Target app while watching TV and even that boring purchase with a total under $30 gave me a small thrill. Why would I want to cede that joy to AI?
I understand, however, that not all purchases are fun. My colleague, Peter Kafka, used Muse to help him place an order for a new washing machine — the kind of purchase that is difficult to decide on, not particularly fun or exciting to make, and fairly expensive. Things like plane tickets, washing machines, or car insurance are in that category of stuff you have to buy, cost a lot of money, are fairly complicated to decide which option to buy, but bring very little joy during checkout.
I can understand why you might want to hand that off to an AI agent.
If you are using Muse to place big $$$ orders, what the heck are you buying?
My best guess here is that people are using Muse for airplane flights and hotels — the kind of big dollar items that are kind of annoying to book yourself, and you care mainly about just booking the right dates.
Am I right? You tell me!
Comment below, or you can email me at: knotopoulos@businessinsider.com. Or, you know, tell your Muse to email me.
Nel panorama dell’Unione Europea, i Paesi baltici si sono ritagliati da anni un ruolo di prim’ordine nell’attrazione di capitali esteri, grazie a burocrazie digitalizzate, ambienti favorevoli al business e regimi d’imposta competitivi. In questo contesto, l’ipotesi di fondare o gestire una società in Lituania rappresenta una scelta sempre più al centro delle valutazioni di startup, imprese innovative ed e-commerce. Tuttavia, per un founder o un professionista che sceglie di mantenere la propria residenza fiscale in Italia, i vantaggi normativi offerti dall’ordinamento lituano devono fare i conti con un quadro legislativo nazionale estremamente stringente.
Comprendere come funziona la tassazione d’impresa a Vilnius e quali siano i reali obblighi verso il Fisco italiano è il primo passo per evitare che un’operazione di pianificazione aziendale si trasformi in un contenzioso tributario di proporzioni onerose.
Aprire una società in Lituania: come funziona la tassazione
La forma societaria di gran lunga più utilizzata dagli operatori internazionali è la UAB (Uždaroji akcinė bendrovė), assimilabile alla nostra Società a Responsabilità Limitata (S.r.l.). La costituzione appare snella ed economica: il capitale sociale minimo richiesto è fissato a 1.000 euro, di cui soltanto un quarto (250 euro) dev’essere versato al momento della registrazione iniziale, mentre il saldo può essere completato nell’arco dei dodici mesi successivi.
In termini di prelievo sui redditi d’impresa, il sistema lituano articola la tassazione su diversi scaglioni a seconda della dimensione aziendale e dell’anzianità di costituzione:
aliquota ordinaria. La tassazione standard sui profitti aziendali è impostata al 17%, un livello ampiamente inferiore rispetto alla media delle nazioni dell’Europa occidentale;
regime per le piccole imprese. Le realtà con un fatturato annuo non superiore alla soglia dei 300.000 euro beneficeranno di un’aliquota ridotta al 7%. Per accedere a questo canale agevolato, l’entità non deve però essere parte o filiale controllata di un gruppo societario più ampio;
esenzione per le startup. Le nuove micro-attività di piccola dimensione che rispettano i medesimi limiti dimensionali godono di un’aliquota azzerata allo 0% per i primi due esercizi d’imposta, prima di passare al regime agevolato ordinario;
Zone Economiche Franche (ZEF). Nei distretti industriali e logistici ad hoc (come Klaipėda o Kaunas), la legislazione prevede l’esenzione totale dalle imposte sui redditi per dieci anni, seguita da uno sconto del 50% per i successivi sei. Tali benefici richiedono però investimenti strutturati in conto capitale (pari ad almeno un milione di euro o 100.000 euro abbinati a requisiti occupazionali minimi di 20 dipendenti).
Sul fronte dell’Imposta sul Valore Aggiunto, l’aliquota ordinaria standard si attesta al 21%, con una soglia di registrazione Iva obbligatoria stabilita al superamento dei 45.000 euro di ricavi annui.
Il nodo dell’esterovestizione: dove risiede davvero il cervello aziendale?
L’errore più comune commesso da chi decide di costituire una società in Lituania consiste nel credere che la semplice iscrizione al registro delle imprese di Vilnius basti ad affrancare i profitti dal prelievo fiscale italiano.
Secondo l’articolo 73 del Testo Unico delle Imposte sui Redditi (Tuir), un’entità giuridica estera viene presunta fiscalmente residente in Italia qualora si verifichi anche una sola delle seguenti condizioni per la maggior parte del periodo d’imposta:
la sede legale si trova in Italia;
la sede dell’amministrazione effettiva si trova in Italia;
l’oggetto principale dell’attività viene esercitato nel territorio dello Stato.
Se un imprenditore italiano apre una UAB senza creare una vera struttura operativa in territorio lituano – ossia senza uffici reali, dipendenti in loco o un organo amministrativo autonomo che prenda decisioni strategiche sul posto – l’Agenzia delle Entrate qualificherà l’operazione come esterovestizione. In caso di contestazione, il Fisco riqualificherà la società come residente in Italia, ricalcolando tutte le imposte dovute (Ires e Irap) secondo le aliquote nazionali, oltre ad applicare sanzioni amministrative e potenziale rilevanza penale per omessa dichiarazione.
Per far sì che l’architettura societaria regga ad un eventuale controllo, è indispensabile dimostrare la cosiddetta sostanza economica (substance): la UAB deve possedere locali reali, contratti operativi stipulati in loco e una governance indipendente sul suolo lituano.
Attenzione alla trappola della normativa CFC (Controlled Foreign Companies)
Anche laddove la società sia dotata di reale operatività locale, esiste un secondo ostacolo normativo spesso sottovalutato: la disciplina sulle società estere controllate (CFC), regolata dall’articolo 167 del Tuir.
La normativa antiriciclaggio ed elusione fiscale italiana prevede che, se un residente in Italia detiene il controllo di un’impresa estera e questa rispetta contemporaneamente due requisiti, scatti la tassazione per trasparenza:
livello di tassazione effettiva. L’imposta assolta all’estero risulta inferiore alla soglia del 15%;
prevalenza di redditi passivi. Oltre un terzo dei proventi complessivi deriva da categorie quali dividendi, royalties, plusvalenze finanziarie o prestazioni di servizi infragruppo a basso valore aggiunto.
Questo genera un paradosso fondamentale: le aliquote più basse offerte dal Fisco lituano (lo 0% per le startup nei primi due anni o il 7% per le piccole imprese), che rappresentano l’elemento di maggior attrazione commerciale, collocano la società al di sotto della soglia del 15% di tassazione effettiva. Di conseguenza, se la UAB produce proventi rientranti tra i redditi passivi, i profitti maturati a Vilnius verranno imputati direttamente al socio residente in Italia e tassati secondo le aliquote Irpef personali, a prescindere dal fatto che tali utili vengano poi effettivamente distribuiti o reinvestiti all’estero.
Tassazione dei dividendi e adempimenti per il socio in Italia
Quando la società in Lituania produce utili e decide di distribuirli al proprio socio persona fisica residente in Italia, la gestione del flusso finanziario segue quanto stabilito dalla Convenzione bilaterale contro le doppie imposizioni siglata tra i due Paesi (Legge n. 31/1999).
Il meccanismo di prelievo si articola su due livelli distinti.
Trattenuta alla fonte in Lituania
L’articolo 10 della Convenzione prevede che lo Stato d’origine possa applicare una ritenuta sui dividendi in uscita. Per i soci persone fisiche, la trattenuta massima consentita è pari al 15% dell’importo lordo. Qualora il socio fosse invece una società di capitali italiana detentrice di almeno il 10% delle quote, la ritenuta convenzionale si ridurrebbe al 5%.
Imposizione sostitutiva in Italia
In Italia, la persona fisica percipiente è soggetta al principio della tassazione su scala mondiale (worldwide taxation). I dividendi esteri sono assoggettati a un’imposta sostitutiva del 26%.
La modalità di calcolo varia in funzione dell’incasso:
se il dividendo viene incassato tramite una banca o un istituto di pagamento residente, il prelievo del 26% si applica sul cosiddetto netto frontiera (ossia la somma al netto del 15% già trattenuto dal Fisco lituano);
se i fondi vengono accreditati direttamente su un conto estero, il contribuente dovrà liquidare il 26% in sede di dichiarazione dei redditi calcolandolo sull’ammontare lordo originale, senza poter recuperare la ritenuta estera qualora non si applichino specifici crediti d’imposta.
Obbligo di monitoraggio fiscale (Quadro RW)
Il possesso di quote di partecipazione in una società estera impone al residente italiano la compilazione del Quadro RW nella propria dichiarazione dei redditi annuale. L’omessa o incompleta indicazione delle partecipazioni detenute all’estero comporta sanzioni pecuniarie proporzionali al valore della quota non dichiarata.
Compensi amministratore e costi del lavoro
Un ulteriore aspetto riguarda la retribuzione di chi ricopre la carica di amministratore all’interno della UAB.
Voce di costo/prelievo
Gestione in Lituania
Impatto per il residente italiano
Contributi datoriali (Sodra)
1,77% sulla retribuzione lorda (contratti a tempo indeterminato)
Ridotto costo del lavoro per l’azienda lituana
Contributi dipendente/amministratore
19,5% trattenuto alla fonte (previdenza e sanità)
Trattenuta diretta sulla busta paga lituana
Imposta sui Redditi delle Persone Fisiche
Aliquota progressiva locale tra il 20% e il 32%
Tassazione Irpef in Italia con credito d’imposta ex art. 165 TUIR
Se l’amministratore residente in Italia percepisce un compenso dalla UAB, tali somme devono essere incluse nella dichiarazione dei redditi italiana sotto la voce dei redditi assimilati a lavoro dipendente. Per evitare la doppia imposizione integrale, il contribuente potrà scomputare dall’Irpef italiana le imposte già pagate a titolo definitivo in Lituania tramite il meccanismo del credito d’imposta.
Packed with meats, cheeses and festive bites, this sweet and savory Halloween charcuterie board arrives ready to serve. Take advantage of free overnight delivery.
This 5-foot-tall decorative skeleton has many different decor possibilities. Set it up in your yard, take a picture with it in the pumpkin patch or lay it out on a long table to arrange your charcuterie board around it.
Make Halloween entertaining stress free with this limited-edition mummy-shaped brie that arrives ready to bake and cooks in 20 to 25 minutes. It's filled with cranberries, orange, pecans and brown sugar for a sweet and savory bite.
No baking required: Satisfy your sweet tooth with this Halloween dessert board, filled with cookies, candies, chocolates, brownies and plenty of other sweets.
Glow-in-the-dark fun
Keep the Halloween vibes going with interactive games and surprises for the whole party.
Practice more than 100 tricks with the ZipString Aracna, which launches and retracts a glowing loop of string that looks like spider webs for superhero-inspired fun. Our managing editor brought these home to her kids, who couldn't stop playing with them.
Get into the Halloween spirit with these orange and white roses. Perfectly on theme, they come printed with an adorable "Boo!" message and a ghost drawing, offering a fun alternative to a traditional bouquet. Enjoy 25% sitewide when you use the code SHOPSALE.
Trade bright blooms for dramatic black roses that fit right in with your haunting decor. Place them all around the room for an instant chilling Halloween vibe.
Make drinks interactive: Place food-safe syringes filled with juice or fruit punch beside plastic measuring cups filled with lemonade, sparkling water and other beverages so guests can customize their own Halloween potions.
Plan an activity: Have a hands-on party game available for kids or guests who want a break from the food table.
Mix homemade and ready-made treats: Pair easy snacks like mummy hot dogs with prepared charcuterie and dessert boards.
Halloween is right around the corner, but there's still time to put together a last-minute costume, throw an impromptu party or prepare for trick-or-treaters. These are the things you need for the spooky holiday that'll still arrive on time.
These glow-in-the-dark press-ons are the missing touch for your spooky outfit. They're easy to apply and stay on for weeks. Shop the entire Halloween collection here.
We found the cutest trick-or-treat bag ever. It's soft to the touch, so it's perfect for little ones, and you can customize it with your kiddos' name for a special touch.
This one bundle has all the tableware you'll need for a last-minute Halloween party. The black, orange, green and purple colors are perfect for the season and the bat pattern is super fun and festive.
Upgrade any spooky gathering with a fog machine. This one has 14 lighting effects and multiple colors to choose from. Control the machine with or without the fog with the included remote.
Halloween decor
Add these pieces to your home for the last weeks of October (or longer).
These bats couldn't be easier to use to decorate your space. Each one has a peel-and-stick backing, so just peel off the adhesive and stick them anywhere you like to give the room a Halloween ambiance.
If Halloween prep snuck up on you, there's still time to shop for decorations and kids' games to make the holiday frighteningly fun. Find picks with delivery dates that may still work for the holiday, including an easy classroom game and a festive alternative to candy for trick-or-treaters.
Non-candy fillers
Grab some fun knick-knacks to fill your kids' trick-or-treat bags this year.
Get little minds working with this two-pack of Halloween games. One challenges you to unscramble popular Halloween words, while the other gives you clues to answer spooky trivia questions.
Halloween LEGO sets
These festive LEGO sets are perfect to do with friends and family this season.
The coolest part about this pumpkin LEGO set (aside from the build, of course) is that it actually lights up. Finish building the 323-piece set and watch it glow.
Whenever you're building a LEGO botanical set, you're guaranteed to finish with a beautiful bouquet worthy of displaying. This dark colorway is perfect for Halloween.
Spooky season is here, and Lowe's is offering savings on Halloween decor, tools and home essentials. Shoppers can find deals on posable skeletons, an LG refrigerator for 41% off and a portable saw for less than $130. Shop these deals now for a limited time.
This 5-foot-tall posable skeleton gives trick-or-treaters a friendly fright. Its LED light-up eyes bring it to life, and you can display it in a rocking chair, on the roof or in your yard.
Decorate your home for Halloween with these water-resistant orange string lights. The LED lights' end-to-end design makes setup easy while giving a warm glow for trick-or-treaters.
Boo! Scare friends and family with this blue ghost projector, which casts a continuously moving figure on any background. Place it on the lawn to add the animated ghoul to your setup.
A smart addition to any kitchen, this GE electric range features four burners for cooking multiple dishes at a time. Its ceramic glass cooktop can simplify cleanup, while the steam-cleaning oven saves time without requiring special water, kits or extra steps.
Frigidaire's side-by-side refrigerator combines ample storage with a fingerprint-resistant stainless steel finish. Its tall ice and water dispenser accommodates larger bottles and uses a filtration system for cleaner-tasting water. Door bins hold gallon-size containers, making the fridge a practical pick for larger households.
This LG four-door French door refrigerator offers flexible storage and premium features. The ice maker produces standard cubes, crushed ice and slow-melting round options. French doors give quick access to fresh food, while two freezer drawers organize frozen items.
If you're moving between job sites, a compact table saw makes a world of difference. This Craftsman model has 12.5 inches of right-side rip capacity, making it suitable for cutting boards and narrow strips of plywood.
A reciprocating saw quickly gets through tough materials, from lumber and framing to metal. DeWalt's cordless model has a specialized clamp that helps lock the blade while you're working on a project.
This durable Craftsman rolling tool cabinet is made of steel and comes with 10 drawers that each support up to 100 pounds. Its wheels make it easy to move around your workspace, while toe-locking brakes keep it steady. Thanks to its embossed top, you can place tools on it without worrying about dings.
If you have trouble reaching inside your car's engine bay, the Creeper mechanic ladder lets you lean over the hood and reach the engine without needing a lift. Built-in tool storage reduces the need to constantly move up and down, and the adjustable ladder height accommodates users of different heights.
Get your lawn ready for trick-or-treaters with the EGO Power+ trimmer and blower combo kit. The battery provides up to 45 minutes of runtime for the trimmer and 75 minutes for the leaf blower — enough to tackle a small to midsize yard.
Skip the cost of a full-size shed and opt for a galvanized steel shed instead. It provides ample room to store a snowblower, lawn mower and tools, with a steel frame while built-in vents promote airflow.
Generator deals
These generators keep your home running and are available for delivery or in-store pickup.
The DuroMax portable generator runs on three fuel options: natural gas, gasoline and propane, making it easy to switch fuel sources. With 13,000 watts of starting power and 10,500 watts of running power, it can handle most home essentials, including lights and major appliances. A push-start button ensures startup is simple, and the remote start lets you power it on without stepping outside.
This dual-fuel Firman inverter generator delivers 3,200 running watts, up to 8.5 hours of runtime and built-in CO Alert safety technology. Its wheels and folding handle make it easy to move.
Stay prepared for power outages this fall with a Kobalt portable generator. It delivers up to 5,500 running watts and features CO sensor technology. Flat-free tires make the unit easy to maneuver.
New to DoorDash? Now through Dec. 31, new users can save 15% on their first order, up to $10 off, when they spend at least $15 before fees and taxes by using promo code USEG15OFF4Q26 at checkout.
DoorDash thrives on providing convenience. It's an on-demand delivery platform that seamlessly connects customers with local restaurants, grocery stores and other retailers for quick and easy deliveries to their doorstep.
From late-night eats and alcohol deliveries to that missing ingredient from your grocery list and convenience store items you need in a hurry, DoorDash eliminates the hassle of leaving home for essentials.
What is the DoorDash deal?
The current DoorDash offer is for new app users only. Download the app and make an account; the deal applies to one order of at least $15. Save 15% on your first order, up to $10 off through Dec. 31. Taxes, fees and tip aren't included in the discount, and alcohol purchases don't qualify.
It's spooky season and trick-or-treaters will be knocking before you know it. Stock up easily with this budget-friendly bulk Halloween candy deal. Originally $40, FOX readers can save 50% on 5-pound bulk candy bags with code FOXNEWSDEALS.That drops the price to $20, plus free shipping. Choose from several mixes, including assortments for chocolate fans, sweet-and-sour candy, Twizzlers and more.
Don't like the bulk candy mix options? The code works for any candy option on the site, so whether you are a chocolate lover or gummies are more your style, there's something for everyone to choose from, even the health nut! Just apply FOXNEWSDEALS at checkout to get your discount.
With five pounds of candy in each bag, you'll have more than enough to go around this Halloween. The variety, including sweet Hershey chocolate, tangy lollipops, sweet-and-sour candy and chewy Twizzlers, ensures everyone will receive something they like.
Plus, since each bag is half off, you can grab two for the price of one, making it easy to stock up on a favorite or mix and match varieties.
The Boo-tiful Bites mix includes Lindt white chocolate squares, Milk Duds, Kit Kats and brownie Hersey's kisses. If you want to keep nut allergies in mind, the Wickedly Sweet & Sour hard candy and lollipop mix. If you can't choose between chocolate and fruity flavors, consider the Sweet Heat & Spooky Treats assortment, which comes with brownie Hersey's kisses, Twizzlers, Tongue Torchers and Lindt white chocolate squares.
Each 5-pound bag drops to $20 with free shipping when you use code FOXNEWSDEALS at checkout. Larger 25-pound bags are also available if you’re expecting a bigger crowd.
Amazon's expanded fresh food delivery is helping it win market share from more traditional retailers.
: Deb Cohn-Orbach/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Amazon's sales of fresh groceries like seafood and produce are growing fast, new data show.
The retail giant is also gaining market share against more traditional retailers, Nielsen IQ found.
The data shows momentum for Amazon in a business it's spent years trying to break into.
Amazon is gaining ground in grocery thanks to items like fresh shrimp and berries.
Roughly a year after expanding same-day fresh grocery delivery to thousands of cities and towns in the US, Amazon's perishable grocery sales are booming — and taking market share from traditional retailers, according to data from market research firm Nielsen IQ.
Sales of groceries such as seafood, dairy, and produce on Amazon increased severalfold between June and August, per Nielsen IQ's data. Amazon also posted market share gains in the food category for the year through late August as traditional grocery stores lost it, Nielsen found.
Amazon gained market share in food sales, both overall and online, as rivals such as grocery stores lost it.
Nielsen IQ
"Shoppers are increasingly embracing Amazon for categories that historically represented one of the largest barriers to online grocery adoption," Nielsen wrote in its report.
Amazon has spent years trying to break into grocery, though it hasn't hit a home run in the category as it did with books or cloud computing. The company acquired Whole Foods, opened and shuttered another brick-and-mortar grocery chain, and created a selection of private-label groceries, among other steps.
The Nielsen IQ data suggest that Amazon's latest push — toward delivering fresh groceries quickly across much of the US — is yielding some results in the competitive grocery space.
Many of the shoppers buying fresh foods on Amazon come from households with incomes over $100,000 and tend to be older, according toNielsen IQ. They also tend to be frequent Amazon users, placing more orders and spending more money on the platform than an average user.
That meansfresh groceries, one of the most frequent purchases for US households, are "a potentially important lever for increasing shopper frequency and overall spend" on Amazon, the report reads.
To keep the momentum going, Amazon will need to take on formidable rivals. One is Walmart, which already uses its stores and its own army of gig workers to deliver groceries same-day.
Amazon is considering opening about 1,000 same-day fulfillment centers around the US by 2031, Business Insider reported in September. That move would create the same sort of advantage that Walmart has by placing more fulfillment centers close to more customers, one analyst said.
Scott Larson is joining OpenArt AI as its VP of brand marketing. He first experimented with the platform to create a short film starring a stick of butter about to meet an unfortunate end.
Salesforce and Meta marketing alum Scott Larson says OpenArt AI's conversational text-to-video generator is the tool he wished he'd had earlier in his career.
The platform helps whizz up short videos, arty images, and music by typing in a few prompts.
OpenArt this week tapped Larson as the company's vice president of brand marketing, the company exclusively told CMO Insider.
He joins in a period of rapid growth for the company, which said it's on track to pass $250 million in annual recurring revenue by the end of 2026. It's increased its head count to 80 employees over the past year, up from 20, and grown to 8 million monthly users, the company said.
Larson told CMO Insider he's on a mission to make OpenArt "as close to a household name as a creative AI can be."
He said the biggest challenge will be to wrap all of OpenArt's different use cases into a single "North Star" story.
It recently launched a new product called Director that lets users describe an idea, visual style, and narrative arc, which it then turns into videos up to 5 minutes long. It promoted the launch with a cinema and billboard campaign that it hoped would spark a "vibe directing" craze among the creative community. Others use its platform to create social posts, AI voiceovers, or lyric videos. It also offers an AI model leaderboard to help its users benchmark different AI video and image models.
Larson previously worked at advertising agencies on large consumer brands such as Nike, Levi's, and Gatorade. He later became global executive creative director at Meta, then known as Facebook. Larson went on to be an SVP at Salesforce, where he helped shape the branding behind its annual Dreamforce conference and launched ad campaigns starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.
Larson first experimented with OpenArt two months ago, creating a very short film with three cuts. Called "Life is Short," it shows a man made out of a stick of butter walking alongside a swimming pool. The butter man looks up at the scorching sun above before the video cuts to an old-school title card saying "The End."
"Had I had this tool starting back when I was a little creative junkie up until today, I'd be making everything all the time," Larson said.
Earlier this year, OpenArt plucked another exec from Big Tech, hiring former Google executive Raj Gajwani as its chief business officer.
Online fast-fashion giant Shein is outperforming many Australian high street retailers on ethical standards, according to an industry review.
The 11th Baptist World Aid ethical fashion report, released on Tuesday, assessed the ethical practices of 138 Australian and international companies, representing 543 fashion brands.
America's interminable war with Iran has killed thousands, disrupted commerce that flows through the Strait of Hormuz, and raised prices on the home front.
But there may be one silver lining. In an attempt to lower gas prices that spiked because of the war, the Trump administration has repeatedly issued waivers of the Jones Act, a century-old law that requires all goods moved between American ports to be carried on American-built, American-crewed ships.
With the law (temporarily) not being enforced, commerce has exploded.
Just look at how much propane has been shipped from the mainland United States to Puerto Rico, says Colin Grabow, a trade policy analyst at the Cato Institute and perhaps the nation's foremost advocate for abolishing the Jones Act.
America is one of the world's leading producers and exporters of propane, but the lack of Jones Act–compliant ships capable of carrying gas means that it has been nearly impossible to ship propane from the mainland to outlying parts of the country. In the past, Puerto Rico has imported gas from Nigeria, Chile, and elsewhere because those deliveries don't have to comply with the Jones Act.
For years, libertarians have argued that the Jones Act unfairly impoverishes American consumers and businesses that want to buy and sell things within the same country in order to artificially inflate the price of moving those things across water. Waiving the law seems to have proven that point: There are plenty of ships capable of moving gas and oil around the country as long as the government gets out of the way.
"The instant the Jones Act no longer applied to energy shipments, mainland propane displaced foreign imports, suggesting it had been the cheapest option all along," says Grabow.
Puerto Rico is hardly the only winner.
The Jones Act waivers are offering a glimpse into a world where the law doesn't exist. From March through mid-August, there had been 210 voyages completed that otherwise would have been deemed unlawful without the waivers, according to an analysis of Maritime Administration data by the Institute for Energy Research.
It's a world where American oil and natural gas can be more easily shipped from the Gulf Coast to New England, which had previously been importing energy from Russia and Europe. Another big winner is California, which had been importing gasoline from as far away as the Bahamas because it was nearly impossible to legally ship gas from Texas or Alaska to the West Coast.
President Donald Trump reupped the Jones Act waiver in mid-May. Another extension, issued in August, will last for 90 days but applies only to ships carrying energy products such as gas and oil. Before that waiver expires in November, lawmakers ought to kill the Jones Act permanently.
There is some irony in the fact that one of Trump's most successful policy maneuvers has paused a protectionist law that limited commerce, when so much else of his economic policy has been focused on erecting barriers to trade. It's also amusing that it was a war in the Middle East—something Trump pledged to avoid—that triggered this change.
Still, the proof is in the shipping. The free traders were right all along.
Ne plus avoir besoin de « motif valable » pour licencier, c'est le rêve de M. Pierre Gattaz, président du Mouvement des entreprises de France (Medef). Pour assouvir cette demande, la France devrait dénoncer la convention n° 158 de l'Organisation internationale du travail, qu'elle a ratifiée en 1989. Lutter contre de tels reculs s'avère de plus en plus délicat pour l'agence des Nations unies.
Toutes les quinze secondes, un travailleur meurt d'un accident ou d'une maladie liés à son travail (1). L'effondrement (plus de mille cent morts) de l'atelier textile du Rana Plaza à Dacca (Bangladesh), le 24 avril 2013, symbolise les conditions d'emploi proches de l'esclavage de nombreux ouvriers dans le monde. Mais on peut également citer, dans les pays du Nord, les suicides à répétition de salariés de groupes privatisés broyés par une politique managériale musclée (Orange, Renault, La Poste…).
C'est précisément pour lutter contre de telles situations que l'Organisation internationale du travail (OIT) cherche à gagner en influence. Première agence de l'Organisation des Nations unies (ONU), créée en 1919, elle repose sur une base tripartite, rassemblant sur un pied d'égalité les représentants de ses cent quatre-vingt-cinq Etats membres, ceux des employeurs et ceux des travailleurs qui y vivent. Son activité, principalement normative, consiste à adopter des conventions (obligatoires pour les Etats qui les ratifient) et des recommandations ou déclarations sur les droits des travailleurs (sans valeur contraignante).
Cependant, avec l'essor de la mondialisation économique, l'OIT s'est vue marginalisée par l'influence croissante des institutions financières internationales (IFI) — la Banque mondiale et le Fonds monétaire international — et par la création de l'Organisation mondiale du commerce (OMC) en 1995. En outre, la diminution du taux de syndicalisation tant dans les pays développés, où s'est généralisée la précarité de l'emploi, que dans les pays en développement, où prolifère l'économie informelle, fragilise l'OIT et son tripartisme fondateur. C'est pourquoi, à partir des années 1990, l'organisation s'est engagée dans une stratégie de réaffirmation internationale. En 1994, elle obtient ainsi le statut d'observateur auprès des deux IFI dans le but d'y promouvoir l'intérêt pour les questions sociales (2).
Peu de pouvoir contraignant
Mais c'est surtout l'adoption, en 1999, du concept de « travail décent » qui marque sa volonté de peser dans le débat mondial (3). En 2005, l'OIT lance ainsi les programmes par pays pour la promotion du travail décent (PPTD). Adoptés par plusieurs dizaines d'Etats, ils sont élaborés en accord avec les partenaires sociaux. La même année, l'organisation obtient que le travail décent figure enfin dans les Objectifs du millénaire pour le développement (OMD). La Conférence internationale du travail (assemblée décisionnelle de l'OIT) adopte à l'unanimité en juin 2009 un pacte mondial pour l'emploi, sans valeur contraignante.
Pour l'OIT, le travail rémunéré constitue le principal moyen de sortir de la pauvreté. Le choix du terme « travail », plutôt que celui d'« emploi », permet de prendre en compte le secteur informel. Quant à l'adjectif « décent », il relèverait plutôt du christianisme social, qui a inspiré certains fondateurs de l'organisation (4). L'agence insiste sur la protection sociale et met en place des équipes d'appui technique pour conseiller les gouvernements, notamment en Afrique.
Durant des années, le débat sur l'insertion d'une « clause sociale » dans les traités commerciaux avait agité l'organisation. Pour les partisans de cette innovation, il s'agissait de créer un lien entre l'OIT et l'OMC, cette dernière pouvant user de sa capacité de sanction vis-à-vis des Etats, capacité dont l'OIT est dépourvue. Mais les pays en développement y ont vu une manœuvre protectionniste déguisée de la part des pays développés. La déclaration de Singapour de 1996, adoptée par l'OMC, a clos ce débat en affirmant la stricte séparation des questions de commerce et de travail.
En conséquence, l'OIT a recentré son action sur la promotion de huit conventions jugées « fondamentales » : sur le travail forcé (convention adoptée en 1930), la liberté syndicale (1948), la négociation collective (1949), l'égalité de rémunération (1951), l'abolition du travail forcé (1957), la discrimination en matière d'emploi et de profession (1958), l'âge minimum d'admission à l'emploi (1973), les « pires formes de travail des enfants » (1999).
Observatrice au G20 en 2009, l'OIT paraît sortir de sa marginalisation. Mais son rapprochement des institutions financières et de l'OMC s'effectue-t-il au bénéfice des idées progressistes qu'elle porte ou des idées néolibérales promues par les IFI ? Pour le sociologue altermondialiste Thierry Brugvin, l'OIT braderait, au nom de l'efficacité, le droit international du travail en revoyant ses ambitions à la baisse (5). Pour d'autres, sa stratégie d'influence porterait ses fruits : les objectifs de travail décent et de lutte contre la pauvreté ont été inclus dans les documents stratégiques de réduction de la pauvreté (DSRP) des IFI qui ont succédé aux plans d'ajustement structurel en 1999. Ainsi, en 2009, la Banque mondiale a modifié son indicateur sur l'emploi des travailleurs, qui attribuait de bonnes notes aux pays dérégulant leur marché du travail ; elle prend en compte la mise en place d'une protection des travailleurs conforme aux conventions de l'OIT. Elle développe par ailleurs un nouvel indicateur, sur la protection des travailleurs. Ce qui ne l'empêche pas de prôner la lutte contre les « rigidités » du travail…
Quelle que soit l'évolution de l'OIT, la clé de son efficacité serait que toutes ses normes soient dotées d'une force contraignante lui permettant de sanctionner, comme l'OMC, les Etats et les entreprises contrevenants.
(2) Cf. Steve Hughes et Nigel Haworth, « Decent work and poverty reduction strategies » (PDF), Relations industrielles/Industrial Relations, université Laval (Québec), vol. 66, n° 1, hiver 2011.
(3) Cf. Marieke Louis, « Les organisations internationales et la régulation sociale de la mondialisation : le cas de l'agenda de l'OIT pour le travail décent », dans Chloé Maurel (sous la dir. de), Essais d'histoire globale, L'Harmattan, Paris, 2013.
Nuova stretta sugli acquisti online extra-Ue. Con la pubblicazione del nuovo vademecum operativo da parte della Commissione Europea, Bruxelles ha tracciato le linee guida per l’applicazione di due nuove tasse doganali sulle spedizioni a distanza importate da Paesi terzi.
Il provvedimento, pensato per tutelare i mercati comunitari e contrastare la concorrenza sleale dei colossi del commercio online, come Shein, Temu o AliExpress, combina una misura temporanea sui piccoli pacchi con una nuova tassa fissa di gestione destinata a diventare permanente.
Dazio temporaneo sui piccoli pacchi: 3 euro a pezzo
La prima novità riguarda il dazio doganale introdotto dal regolamento Ue 2026/382. La misura prevede l’applicazione di una tassa fissa da 3 euro su ogni singolo vestito o oggetto comprato online da siti fuori dall’Unione Europea, se il valore del pacco non supera i 150 euro.
chi acquista pagherà 3 euro di tassa su ogni articolo presente nel pacco, una misura che resterà in vigore per due anni (fino al 1° luglio 2028);
i 3 euro si pagano su qualsiasi oggetto, compresi alcolici, profumi e tabacco;
la tassa viene imposta su tutte le merci inviate da Paesi extra-Ue, a prescindere da chi si occupa della spedizione finale in Italia;
entro il 1° dicembre 2027 l’Ue deciderà se prorogare questa tassa oltre il 2028.
Dal 1° novembre la tassa di gestione: altri 2 euro a pezzo
A questa prima tassa se ne aggiunge un’altra: la Union handling fee, ovvero la tassa europea di gestione introdotta dal regolamento Ue 2026/2108 ai sensi del nuovo Codice doganale comunitario.
A partire dal 1° novembre 2026, si pagherà un ulteriore tributo di 2 euro su ogni singolo prodotto comprato online da Paesi extra-Ue. A differenza dei 3 euro sui piccoli pacchi, questa tassa di 2 euro si applica su tutti gli oggetti a prescindere dal prezzo, anche per acquisti sopra i 150 euro, ed è permanente, cioè non scadrà mai.
Chi paga davvero e come funzionano i controlli
Sulla carta la responsabilità di versare le tasse alla dogana spetta a chi dichiara la merce, ossia i grandi colossi dell’online come Shein, o i corrieri. Nella pratica è molto probabile che le piattaforme di e-commerce addebiteranno questi costi direttamente all’acquirente nel carrello prima del pagamento, oppure la somma verrà riscossa dal corriere al momento della consegna a casa.
Inoltre, dal 1° novembre 2026 scatta l’obbligo del codice identificativo di prodotto (Pid) per tutte le merci extra-Ue sotto i 150 euro: una sorta di carta d’identità del pacco che servirà alle dogane per tracciare chi ha prodotto l’oggetto e bloccare subito i vestiti o i prodotti che non rispettano le norme di sicurezza europee.
Il risultato per le tasche dei consumatori è un rincaro combinato. Per fare un esempio pratico: chi acquista una maglietta da 5 euro da un sito cinese, da novembre rischia di pagare 3 euro di dazio temporaneo più 2 euro di tassa di gestione.
The European Parliament has approved a major overhaul of the EU’s customs system, tightening requirements on e-commerce platforms, introducing a new handling fee for goods ordered from outside the bloc and creating a central EU customs authority.
“This is the biggest reform of European customs since 1968, supporting trade and the enforcement of EU rules,” said MEP Dirk Gotink, (EPP, Netherlands) who steered the legislation through Parliament. Gotink said European customs authorities had been overwhelmed by a “tsunami of Chinese parcels” and that the reform would give customs officers stronger tools to enforce EU standards.
Under the new rules, e-commerce platforms and sellers shipping goods directly from non-EU countries to European consumers will be treated as importers. That will make them responsible for providing customs data, handling applicable charges and ensuring products comply with EU law.
The reform also introduces an EU-wide handling fee on goods ordered directly from non-EU countries, with member states required to begin collecting it no later than 1 November, 2026. The European Commission will determine the amount and review it every two years.
Companies that repeatedly breach EU customs rules could face fines ranging from at least 1% to as much as 6% of the value of goods they imported into the EU during the previous 12 months.
The overhaul will also establish an EU Customs Data Hub, designed to replace at least 111 existing customs IT systems. A new EU Customs Authority, based in Lille, France, will manage the hub and coordinate customs cooperation and risk management across the EU.
The Council has already given the reform its final formal approval, making Parliament’s vote the final step in the legislative procedure.
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