Tuesday Briefing: Amazon boosts hourly pay to over $18, to hire 125,000 workers

The Reuters Daily Briefing Tuesday, September 14, 2021 by Linda Noakes Hello Here's what you need to know. Delta spreads in China, Norway's left-wing opposition wins in a landslide, and Californians will decide their governor's fate Today's biggest stories FILE PHOTO: An Amazon delivery worker pulls a cart full of packages during its annual Prime Day promotion in New York City, June 21, 2021 BUSINESS Amazon.com hiked its average starting wage to $18 per hour and said it plans to hire more than 125,000 warehouse and transportation workers in the United States. The world's largest online retailer also said it would pay a sign-on bonus of $3,000 in some locations and the hourly wage could go up to $22.50. Cash-strapped property group China Evergrande said it has engaged advisers to examine its financial options and warned of default risks amid plunging property sales, sending its stock and bond prices sharply lower. Angry investors gathered near Evergrande's headquarters in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen yesterday to demand the firm repay loans and financial products. Britain has delayed the implementation of some post-Brexit import controls for a second time, saying it would phase in checks through next year rather than impose them now when industry supply chains are under strain. Britain left the European Union's single market at the beginning of 2021 and the immediate introduction of checks on British goods going to Europe has hit sales hard. South Korea's antitrust regulator has fined Alphabet's Google $177 million for blocking customized versions of its Android operating system, in the U.S. technology giant's second setback in the country in less than a month. Vincent Bollore is set to own $7 billion worth of Universal Music Group shares after it floats next week, raising questions about how the French tycoon could use this new source of cash as Universal's parent Vivendi charts a new course. People display a Trump banner as President Joe Biden's motorcade drives by before a campaign rally by California Governor Gavin Newsom, at Long Beach City College Liberal Arts Campus, September 13, 2021 U.S. California voters will decide today whether to recall Governor Gavin Newsom in a special election that has pitted the state's majority Democrats against Republican supporters of former President Donald Trump. We profile Larry Elder, the right-wing radio host seeking the governorship, and tell you what you need to know about the election. U.S. Senate Democrats unveiled a new version of an election reform bill that is a top priority of President Joe Biden, amid a wave of Republican state legislatures imposing restrictions on voting. The governor of Iowa has said she will appeal a temporary order by a federal judge that aims to allow schools to enforce use of face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which has killed more than 6,300 people in the state. Meanwhile Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has threatened fines for cities and counties that mandate employees must get vaccinated. Heavy rains lashed Texas and Louisiana as hurricane Nicholas weakened into a tropical storm, bringing the threat of widespread floods and power outages as it swept down the U.S. Gulf Coast. WORLD New local COVID-19 infections more than doubled in China's southeastern province of Fujian, health authorities said, prompting officials to quickly roll out measures including travel restrictions to halt the spread of the virus. The Taliban have denied that one of their top leaders has been killed in a shootout with rivals, following rumors about internal splits in the movement nearly a month after its lightning victory over the Western-backed government in Kabul. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had hoped to secure a majority in parliament when he called a snap election, but a lackluster campaign and public anger over a vote during a pandemic are putting his chances of victory at risk. With just a week to go, Trudeau's Liberals are nowhere near the 38% in public support needed for a majority and could even lose to the Conservatives. A South Korean politician who once said he aspired to be a "successful Bernie Sanders" is leading the field to replace Moon Jae-in as president after rising to prominence with an aggressive pandemic response and a populist economic agenda. Norway's center-left opposition parties will start coalition talks today to try to form a majority government after winning a decisive parliamentary election victory, with climate change expected to be central in discussions. We profile election winner Jonas Gahr - a wealthy champion of "common people". Quote of the day "Popular chat apps are at risk of becoming the soft underbelly of device security. Securing them should be top priority" John Scott-Railton Citizen Lab researcher Cyber arms dealer exploits new iPhone software vulnerability Video of the day Putin oversees war games that worry neighbors Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw vast joint military exercises with Belarus, as NATO member Poland voiced concern over the drills. And finally… Gold armor for Lil Nas X, all black for Kim Kardashian at Met Gala Chaired by four of the biggest Gen Z stars - actor Timothee Chalamet, singer Billie Eilish, poet Amanda Gorman and tennis champion Naomi Osaka - the so-called Oscars of the East Coast annual fundraiser was intended to highlight young designers and celebrities. More from Reuters COVID-19 Reuters Investigates Legal news The Great Reboot Thanks for spending part of your day with us. Share your thoughts You are receiving this email because you signed up for newsletters from Reuters. No longer want to hear from us? Unsubscribe from The Reuters Daily Briefing. Terms, conditions, and privacy statement © 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. 3 Times Square, New York, NY 10036