Watch NASA’s Artemis II Launch to the Moon

Amazon to Add 3.5% Fulfillment Surcharge as Fuel Costs Rise

The new surcharge will be added to fees paid by third-party sellers in the US and Canada.

Amazon will add a 3.5% fuel and logistics-related surcharge to fulfillment fees it charges third-party merchants, as the war in the Middle East, which began with US and Israeli strikes against Iran at the end of February, continues to drive up fuel costs.

The fee will be applied to third-party sellers across Fulfillment by Amazonin the US and Canada beginning April 17, Amazon said in a note to sellers on Thursday.

«Elevated costs in fulfillment and logistics have increased the cost of operating across the industry,» Amazon wrote in its announcement. «We have absorbed these increased costs so far. However, similar to other major carriers, when costs remain elevated, we implement temporary surcharges on our fulfillment fees to recover a portion of the actual cost increases we are experiencing.»

Amazon said the new surcharge is «meaningfully lower» than what is charged by other major carriers. Its surcharge will average about 17 cents per unit in the US, but the cost will vary based on the item’s size, Amazon said.

Amazon’s announcement comes amid surging gas prices across much of the globe as the war escalates. The national average price for a gallon of gas exceeded $4 per gallon at the end of March for the first time since August 2022, an increase of more than $1 per gallon in one month.

Amazon’s new fee follows a similar surcharge proposed last month by the US Postal Service. The USPS said it will implement a temporary 8% surcharge beginning in April «to better align its costs of transportation with the market.» The proposed increase, which requires the approval of the Postal Regulatory Commission, will affect Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select.

Shipping competitors, such as FedEx and United Parcel Service, have had fuel surcharges in place for years. Due to the ongoing oil crisis and rise in gas prices, they have increased these fees in recent weeks.

Technologies

YouTube Upgrades Its Music TV Experience, Just in Time for Coachella

YouTube is rolling out Stations, music video-themed FAST channels curated by the artists and creators you love.

YouTube has big plans for Coachella 2026, when the popular music festival returns for its two-weekend run. Yes, the Google-owned streamer will once again provide livestreaming of the performances for fans unable to make the show this month — but now, there’ll be music video-themed FAST channels, known as Stations.

FAST TV stands for «free, ad-supported television,» a popular category of streaming services that offer content without a paid subscription. Stations, much like popular linear TV services like Tubi and The Roku Channel — or even FAST channel offerings on Prime Video — offer viewers an old-school, stress-free and passive viewing experience.

During Coachella, these Stations, according to The Verge, will operate as «24-7 linear streams preprogrammed with videos from artists performing at the festival.» Instead of endlessly searching for something to click to play, «Coachella TV» on YouTube will feature a mix of iconic archival performances, artist interviews, documentaries and 2026 festival highlights, with Stations curated by the artists and creators.

Google didn’t immediately respond to our request for comment.

YouTube has already begun rolling out the new feature with a handful of musicians, including Grammy-winning artist Bruno Mars, who has used his YouTube Station to promote his new album, The Romantic.

YouTube’s senior product management director, Kurt Wilms, told The Verge that they have yet to set a date for when Stations will be available to all creators. But there is a plan in place to make this feature available to all.

«Anyone will be able to go in, make a playlist and click ‘Start a Station,'» he said. «That’s what we want to get to, ultimately.»

Technologies

Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for April 3, #1749

Here are hints and the answer for today’s Wordle for April 3, No. 1,749.

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Wordle puzzle features fairly common letters, so you might get it quickly. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.