Is Amazon’s pay rise what it seems? Spain slashes ‘tampon tax’, and more top news

The news professionals in Europe are talking about now, curated by LinkedIn’s editors. Join the conversation on today's stories in the comments.

Amazon announced this week that it is raising its minimum wage for employees in the UK and US — but some workers claim the company is removing certain perks and incentives, meaning they could end up earning up to ￡1,500 less each year. From next month, the online giant will cut bonuses and phase out its restricted stock program, which gives shares to workers after a certain amount of years of service. Amazon says the changes will make compensation “more immediate and predictable.” ? Here’s what people are saying.

Spain is slashing its ‘tampon tax’. Minister of finance María Jesús Montero has announced the VAT on feminine hygiene products will be cut from 10% to 4% — a move welcomed by women’s groups, who argue the items should be classified as “essentials” and not luxuries. “Women should not have to face additional taxes for the simple fact of being women,” says Montero. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Ticketless travel is now being trialled by train users in Switzerland. After logging into federal rail operator SBB’s Preview App, passengers simply need to select EasyRide and ‘check in’ when they board their train. Upon ‘checking out’ at the end of their journey — the app will send you a reminder — the lowest available fare is automatically calculated and then charged to the user’s bank account or credit card. The app currently has 250,000 users. ? Here’s what people are saying.

German digital bank N26 has launched in Britain. N26 — which gets its name from the number of cubes on a Rubik’s Cube — started in 2015 and gained 500,000 customers within nine months. It now boasts 1.5 million customers across 17 markets in Europe. More than 50,000 in the UK have put their names on a waiting list to open an account. The Berlin-based app-only bank, which offers a range of mobile banking services, is set to expand into the US next year. ? Here’s what people are saying.

A Swiss firm has developed a livestock feed that will help curb global warming — by reducing the amount that cows burp and fart. Feed additive company Agolin says one cow produces methane emissions equivalent to around three tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. It claims its specialist feed can reduce that amount by 10%. The UN estimates that livestock farming is responsible for up to 18% of global warming-causing greenhouse gases — 4% of which is is being blamed on the cows. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: Achieving diverse workplaces is one thing, but companies also need to foster diversity and inclusion in the design of their platforms, products and services, says Airbnb COO Belinda Johnson.

“Accountability doesn’t just happen. You design for it.”

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— Capucine Yeomans