Amazon's push for earlier Christmas shopping amid supply-chain crisis

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( October 15, 2021 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [Order your Christmas presents in November, Amazon to warn shoppers amid supply-chain crunch]( Amazon will push shoppers to buy Christmas gifts four weeks early and expects supply chain disruption to linger until at least spring next year, according to an internal document seen by The Independent. The retail giant’s UK arm is expected to ask customers to order as much as four weeks ahead of Christmas Eve in the face of the global supply crunch, according to company planning documents Even Prime customers, who pay for speedier delivery, may face some delays with their orders. “It’s hard to overestimate the level of supply disruption we’re facing, even with our resources," a person familiar with Amazon’s operations said. "It’s going to be a long, quite painful road to a new normal and air freight can’t take all the strain off of other routes.” 2 / [Lateral flow tests to replace PCRs for vaccinated travellers in time for half-term]( Change hailed as ‘massive step forward’ for families looking to get away 3 / [Fifa evacuates refugees from Afghanistan including national women’s football players and coaches]( Exclusive: ‘This has been a long negotiation since August’ 4 / [Meredith Kercher: Father was found in street before dying from pneumonia, inquest told]( John Kercher died last year at Croydon University Hospital 5 / [Homes for Afghan refugees lie empty for weeks as thousands of families remain stuck in holding hotels]( Exclusive: Councils ‘frustrated’ as properties procured for Home Office scheme still unfilled after more than a month The Big Question Will an increase in the contactless payment limit prompt people to spend more? British consumers will be able to make contactless payments of up to £100 in shops, cafes and bars from Friday. The decision to raise the upper limit from £45 to £100, breaking away from EU-wide limitations, was made by the Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority in the wake of a public consultation and discussions with banks and the retail sector. The move is intended to make transactions simpler as the economy recovers but has raised concern in some quarters. Does the change really amount to “a thief’s dream”, does it risk luring people into debt through casual overspending and what can you do to protect yourself? [Read the full story >]( Watch / [Banksy’s Love is in The Bin artwork sells for £18.6m at auction]( NUMBER OF THE DAY 45,066 The numbers released by the Department of Health yesterday indicate there had been a further 45,066 Covid-19 cases in the UK. This is the highest level of infections since July 20. QUOTE OF THE DAY “This is alarming news that must serve as a global wake-up call to the urgent need for investments and innovation to close the gaps in diagnosis, treatment and care for the millions of people affected by this ancient but preventable and treatable disease.” – Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, on the confirmation global deaths from tuberculosis have risen for the first time in more than a decade Other stories you might like [Shapps eases rules for EU lorry drivers to tackle post-Brexit supply crisis]( [Cop26: Queen’s anger at ‘irritating’ world leaders who ‘talk but don’t do’ on climate crisis]( [British football coach ‘tortured’ in brutal Dubai prison after 25-year sentence for CBD oil]( If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.