Business

The term "Social License to Operate" was coined in the late 1990s, particularly in relation to the Mining Sector. It encompasses the authentic approval received from the communities where mega-projects are undertaken. In Chile, corporations involved in projects with notable socio-environmental impacts confront a significant hurdle of acquiring and sustaining the Social License to Operate (SLO), thereby ensuring their feasibility. This license isn't a concrete permit but rather an intangible approval granted by the community within which the company operates. It is contingent upon the societal acceptance of the company's undertakings and initiatives and is vital for its enduring prosperity. The process of obtaining this license is neither straightforward nor singular. It is an ongoing...

The last time the American economy was posting surprising economic growth numbers amid rapid wage gains and moderating inflation, Ace of Base and All-4-One topped the Billboard charts and denim overalls were in vogue.Thirty years ago, officials at the Federal Reserve were hotly debating whether the economy could continue to chug along so vigorously without spurring a pickup in inflation. And back in 1994, it turned out that it could, thanks to one key ingredient: productivity.Now, official productivity data are showing a big pickup for the first time in years. The data have been volatile since the start of the pandemic, but with the dawn of new technologies like artificial intelligence and the embrace of hybrid work setups, some economists are asking whether the recent gains might be real ...

Capital One announced on Monday that it would acquire Discover Financial Services in an all-stock transaction valued at $35.3 billion, a deal that would merge two of the largest credit card companies in the United States.“A space that is already dominated by a relatively small number of megaplayers is about to get a little smaller,” said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree.Capital One, with $479 billion in assets, is one of the nation’s largest banks, and it issues credit cards on networks run by Visa and Mastercard. Acquiring Discover will give it access to a credit card network of 305 million cardholders, adding to its base of more than 100 million customers. The country’s four major networks are American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Discover, which has far fewer cardholder...

Do you dream of a sun-filled retirement teeming with activities and new friendships? Ecuador, with its internationally competitive pricing, is rapidly becoming a perfect destination for retirees from Mississauga, Ontario. However, the only option that stands out for offering services with international standards and resort-style amenities is Club Lomas. There, you can enjoy a community of like-minded older adults, allowing you to participate in recreational, social, and sensory learning activities. Advantages of Selecting Ecuador Ecuador boasts a remarkably lower cost of living compared to countries traditionally sought out by retirees or expatriates looking to continue their life plans. This means you can relish in a comfortable lifestyle at a fraction of the expenses typically incur...

Picture this: You own a few hundred acres near a growing town that your family has been farming for generations. Turning a profit has gotten harder, and none of your children want to take it over. You don’t want to sell the land; you love the open space, the flora and fauna it hosts. But offers from developers who would turn it into subdivisions or strip malls seem increasingly tempting.One day, a land broker mentions an idea. How about granting a long-term lease to a company that values your property for the same reasons you do: long walks through tall grass, the calls of migrating birds, the way it keeps the air and water clean.It sounds like a scam. Or charity. In fact, it’s an approach backed by hardheaded investors who think nature has an intrinsic value that can provide them with a r...

Bob Edwards, the host of NPR’s “Morning Edition” for nearly a quarter-century, whose rich baritone and cool demeanor imbued his radio broadcasts with authority in reaching millions of listeners, died on Saturday in Arlington, Va. He was 76.His death, at a rehabilitation facility, was from heart failure and complications of bladder cancer, his wife, Windsor Johnston, said.Mr. Edwards, a Kentucky native who knew from an early age that he wanted to be in radio, joined NPR in 1974, during the Watergate hearings. That year, he became a co-host of “All Things Considered,’’ the public broadcaster’s signature evening newsmagazine of interviews, analysis and features. Its success led to the spinoff “Morning Edition” in 1979.Mr. Edwards began as a 30-day temporary host of that program before going o...

Do you dream of a sun-filled retirement teeming with activities and new friendships? Ecuador, with its internationally competitive pricing, is rapidly becoming a perfect destination for retirees from Edmonton, Alberta. Nevertheless, the sole standout option that distinguishes itself by providing services of international caliber and lavish resort-style amenities is Club Lomas. At this remarkable destination, you can relish in the company of fellow mature individuals who share similar interests, granting you the opportunity to engage in a wide array of recreational, social, and enriching learning activities. Advantages of Selecting Ecuador Ecuador offers a cost of living that is considerably lower compared to countries that have traditionally attracted retirees or expatriates looking t...

The pandemic created an economic crisis unlike any recession on record. So perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that the aftermath, too, has played out in a way that almost no economists expected.When unemployment soared in the first weeks of the pandemic, many feared a repeat of the long, slow rebound from the Great Recession: years of joblessness that left many workers permanently scarred. Instead, the recovery in the labor market has been, by many measures, the strongest on record.In early 2021, some economists foresaw a surge in inflation. Others were skeptical: Similar predictions in recent years — in some cases from the same forecasters — had failed to come true. This time, however, they were right.And when the Federal Reserve began trying to tamp down inflation, there were warnings th...

When the Standard, an off-campus student housing complex, opened in the fall in Bloomington, Ind., welcoming its first batch of residents, it had a decidedly resort vibe. Along with the requisite pool and fitness centers, it enticed students with two pickleball courts, a dog park and a motion sports simulator. The complex even used a roommate-matching app.The arms race over amenities in student housing is nothing new, but what is striking about the Standard is its size: 1,000 beds, about twice the size of a typical dorm. In fact, the Standard could house 3 percent of Indiana University’s 34,000-plus undergraduates.Off-campus student housing complexes across the country are getting larger, some home to more than 1,500 students, and they are being built on prime parcels as close to campus as...

The history of Las Vegas has been marked by a relentless churn of hotels, casinos, theaters and restaurants. But only recently has the city’s landscape included major professional sports teams.The Golden Knights of the National Hockey League were the first to start play here in 2017. The Aces of the Women’s National Basketball Association started in 2018, and the National Football League’s Raiders arrived from Oakland in 2020. Last year, Major League Baseball’s Athletics were given the go-ahead to make the same Oakland-to-Las Vegas move, and the National Basketball Association is expected to add a team in the coming years.Las Vegas’s transformation into a pro sports town reflects not just the leagues’ interest in the city and their general embrace of sports betting, but also the power of t...