Newsletter Oct 22, 2021

Amazon workers are pushing for unionization, and the fight over forming the ALU could have a major impact on holiday shopping and shipping.

3 things you must know

Amazon workers seek to unionize amid holiday logjams
The world's largest online retailer could soon be home to America's largest labor union if Amazon employees vote to organize. The timing of the move could take another link out an already thin supply chain as holiday shoppers are racing the clock to place their orders.
Just months after a failed attempt to unionize in Alabama, a New York group of workers plan to file for the formation of the Amazon Labor Union. Seeking the same basic rights offered by most unions -- "higher wages, job security, safer working conditions, more paid time off, better medical leave options, longer breaks and more" -- the ALU says it's goal is to bring the e-commerce giant into compliance.
A walkout or strike could further cripple deliveries in the country heading into an already hectic holiday shopping season. Amazon unveiled its new pick-up service option to speed up the process, but holiday shoppers and retailers are hoping for a smooth resolution.
FIND OUT HOW AMAZON IS FIGHTING THE MONDAY FILING

US strikes deal with European countries to end digital tax
American big tech giants might not have won their battle with European countries over the imposition of a digital tax, but they certainly benefited from the truce. The U.S. struck a deal with European allies Thursday to pull the plug on the digital tax.
Following a contentious argument between U.S.tech giants like Amazon, Apple and Google and European leaders who felt the companies should pay a tax for doing business within their borders, the Biden administration made the deal by canceling tariffs on products from the U.K., Austria, France, Italy, and Spain. Under the agreement, those countries will end taxes on big tech companies once a global minimum corporate tax deal takes effect about 2023.
FIND OUT HOW THE DEAL COULD HELP US-EU RELATIONS

S&P 500 reaches record high amid strong earnings reports
Global stocks experienced contrasting reactions to Thursday's mix of economic news. While European and Asian markets mostly fell over new concerns about China's Evergrande saga, the S&P 500 finished at a record amid the latest encouraging corporate financial reports.
Tesla, American Airlines and Union Pacific all climbed following earnings.reports, propelling the S&P 500 up 0.3% to end with its first record since early September. Equities have been rallying over the last week following a run of good earnings reports that have offset worries about higher inflation and more restrictive monetary policy.
SEE WHICH STOCKS ARE HOT AND WHICH ONES ARE NOT

Markets

DJIA	35,603.08	-0.02%
S&P 500	4,549.78	0.30%
Nasdaq Composite	15,215.70	0.62%
Japan: Nikkei 225	28,804.85	0.34%
UK: FTSE 100	7,211.24	0.29%
Crude Oil Futures	82.82	0.39%
Gold Futures	1,793.40	0.65%
Yen	113.93	-0.07%
Euro	1.16	0.09%
* As of market close

Discovered remains identified as Laundrie's

The search for Brian Laundrie ended in a tragic but predictable manner Thursday when authorities positively identified the remains they discovered in the Carlton Preserve in South Florida to be the fugitive's. His badly decomposed body, which was found near his belongings, were identified using dental records, marking the end of a two-month manhunt.

Forever gone are the answers to the questions haunting the family of Gabby Petito, Laundrie's former fiance who was found murdered in the Grand Tetons National Forest. Laundrie had been on the run ever since, refusing to cooperate with police or the Petito family in her search. Some call it instant justice, but the pain will be long lasting for her loved ones.

FIND OUT HOW AUTHORITIES DISCOVERED LAUNDRIE'S REMAINS

Trump launches new social media platform

What do you do when you've been banned from all the social media platforms for spreading "fake news"? If you're former president Donald Trump, you start your own platform and give it the ironic title "Truth Social" -- the MAGAverse's latest answer to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Trump announced the rollout of the long-anticipated social media startup, and he has a lot of capital backing the joint venture with Digital World Acquisition Corp. The group has an initial value of $875 million, with a potential earnout of $825 million in additional shares, for a total value of $1.7 billion. The move comes months after his longtime aide Jason Miller launched a social media platform called GETTR in July that has flopped.

SEE TRUMP'S PLAN TO USE TRUTH SOCIAL IN THE 2022 MIDTERMS

Hawaii reopening to visitors starting Nov. 1

Hawaii is saying aloha to COVID cases and aloha to visitors (or is it the other way around?) beginning Nov. 1. The Aloha State started locking out travelers from the Pacific paradise after a spike in cases in August, and the move seems to have worked as the islands are close to COVID-free.

Hawaii serves as a microcosm of how restrictions can work if the other 49 states could isolate themselves and get more than 70% of the population vaccinated. Now Hawaii is only allowing vaccinated visitors with negative tests into the state, but unvaxxed vacationers face a 10-day quarantine. What could be worse than spending your Hawaii trip in the hotel room?

SEE HOW HAWAII RESCUED ITS TOURISM INDUSTRY FROM COVID