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Patrick Atack,
Digital business correspondent
The Teamsters transport union in the U.S. said it hopes to unionize Amazon drivers, despite what many saw as a setback when a vote to unionize the Bessemer, Alabama warehouse was defeated. "At least more people are talking about it," said Randy Korgan, Amazon director at the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
The International Energy Agency has warned carbon dioxide levels will increase by the second-highest rate on record in 2021, as economies pump cash into the fossil fuel industry in attempts to force a speedy recovery from the pandemic.
Tobacco company stocks are down after reports the Biden administration is lining up regulation for U.S. cigarette sales. It's rumored Biden will attempt to ban menthol cigarettes, as the European Union recently did. Stocks of British American Tobacco and Imperial Brands fell around 6 percent on the news.
Brexit changes affecting imports and exports to the UK have produced an unexpected boom for small UK logistics and delivery firms, such as Eddie Stobart and Clipper Logistics – based in Leeds. Online shopping has boosted business, but an even bigger win has come from increased need for warehouse space and customs services since January.
The 19th International Automobile Industry Exhibition (Auto Shanghai 2021) kicked off on Monday in China's metropolis of Shanghai. The 10-day event is the world's first A-class auto show this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, attracting more than 1,000 exhibitors, including well-known global and domestic automotive manufacturers, auto parts makers and tech giants.
China's market regulator is investigating a joint venture between e-commerce giant Alibaba Group and Minmetals Development, Minmetals said on Monday, amid a broad antitrust clampdown on internet firms. Minmetals said in a statement that it received a notice from the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) in recent days about an investigation into the joint venture formed in 2015, in which Alibaba transferred its 44 percent stake to an unrelated firm in 2019. Alibaba has not commented.
China will continue to work with other countries to promote high-quality cooperation through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), by building a closer partnership for green and sustainable development, said Chinese President Xi Jinping during a speech at the opening plenary of the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference on Tuesday. The BRI is a public road open to all, not a private path owned by one single party and cooperation pursues development aimed at mutual benefits, Xi said.
The rise of "alternative milks" continues, as Jay-Z and Oprah Winfrey-backed oat milk brand Oatly filed to float on the tech-heavy Nasdaq exchange. The company added it would consider registering with a Chinese exchange, in large parts thanks to China Resources, a Beijing-based group that owns 30 percent of the brand.
Four pharmaceutical brands in the U.S., including world-renowned Johnson & Johnson, which has produced a COVID-19 vaccine, are facing a trial in California over allegations they minimized the risk of addiction to opioid-based medication. Three counties and the city of Oakland are seeking billions of dollars in damages.
The UK's Civil Aviation Authority has given the go-ahead for a trial of flying drones out of the pilot's line of sight. From today, one firm will be allowed to use cameras and sensors to fly the unmanned aircraft, which analysts say could revolutionize the country's delivery and logistics sector.
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Sports economist Simon Chadwick talks to CGTN Europe about the storm created by the European Super League (ESL) proposals.
What's your reaction to the ESL news?
I suspect the endgame of this will be some kind of a negotiated outcome, and that it won't go ahead. I know not only was there the Super League proposal in 1982, but there was also a similar proposal back in 2007 – and ultimately this proved to be horse trading. It was a way of both sides trying to jockey for a position of power.
So, for those of us who are not international football fans, what motivated this move?
Obviously, the pandemic has caused some financial issues for clubs and they've been looking to secure their financial futures. But there are other things happening at the same time, too. So, for instance, developments in broadcasting technology, particularly digital technology. I know that sports and football particularly are looking at the likes of Netflix, Amazon as a way to broadcast their content.
I think the other thing to keep in mind as well is whether we call them fans or consumers.
Are changing fans changing the game, then?
We have this view of fans in our mind that they are lifelong, die-hard born and brought up in the shadow of the stadium.
But football clubs like to think in terms of consumers and those consumers are all over the world, they're not just in London or Liverpool or Manchester. You know, they are in Shanghai or they're in Rio de Janeiro and they're in Lagos.
They don't just go to a stadium or watch on TV. They buy replica shirts, they pay for social media content. So this is a very different kind of football from the football we're used to.