News: international

Amazon boosts its minimum wage in UK and US

Amazon has increased its minimum wage to £10.50 in the London area and £9.50 for the rest of the UK, whilst also raising all US... Read more

EU council allows removal of VAT from e-books

The EU's Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) today agreed on a proposal which will allow all member states to give e-books the same VAT-free status... Read more

Gothenburg bans far-right exhibitors as fairs tackle populism

Following criticism, protests and arrests at its 2017 instalment, Gothenburg Book Fair has banned populist exhibitors this year, while public money dictates Frankfurt must take... Read more

FBF face-lift promises new sections for agents and public

The Frankfurt Book Fair is having a structural revamp over the next two years with a new home for the rights and licenses business and... Read more

SoA and IWU warn of dangers of no-deal Brexit

The Society of Authors (SoA) and the Irish Writers Union (IWU) have warned about the dangers of a no-deal Brexit. Read more

New Holtzbrinck translation deals role for Übleis

Publisher Hans-Peter Übleis is returning to Holtzbrinck Publishing Group in an advisory role. Read more

Dubruille to step down as EIBF director

Francoise Dubruille will step down from the position as director of the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF) in April 2019. Read more

South African publishers investigated for alleged price-fixing

The Publishers’ Association of South Africa (PASA) and its 91 members are under investigation by the country's competition authority over alleged price-fixing on books. Read more

Publishers praise 'successful' BIBF

After a "frantic" few days at the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) last week, UK publishers have reported a successful fair with their Chinese counterparts hungry... Read more

Gaiman and Murakami shortlisted for Nobel Prize substitute

Neil Gaiman and Haruki Murakami have been shortlisted for a substitute Nobel literature prize, created by cultural figures in Sweden after the Academy, rocked by a sexual assault scandal, was forced to postpone the awarding... Read more

Ex-Netflix exec and producer launch database for book adaptations

A US producer and former Netflix executive are embarking on a joint venture, 'TaleFlick', which offers a library of searchable books for adaptation across film, TV... Read more

Maldives bookseller advert 'overwhelmed' by applications

A company advertising for a bookseller in a luxury resort in the Maldives has admitted being "overwhelmed" by applicants since the job ad went viral.... Read more

Lawsuit reveals takeover bid for B&N by rival 'book retailer'

Barnes & Noble was on the cusp of being sold to another book retailer in June before the deal fell through, it has been revealed.... Read more

John Sargent to speak at Frankfurt Book Fair

Macmillan c.e.o. John Sargent will be taking part in this year’s ‘CEO Talk’ at Frankfurt Book Fair. Read more

Walmart and Kobo take on Amazon in the US

Rakuten Kobo is making strides into the US e-reading market through a partnership with Walmart which sees the multinational offering e-books to its customers.... Read more