South Africa may enforce law on black ownership of mines
Under the current legislation in the country’s mining charter, white owners of mining companies are obliged to sell at least 26 percent of their companies to new black owners. New South African president wants to seize land from white farmers without compensation However, there is a so-called “once empowered, always empowered” principle, under which a company which has sold a required stake to a black owner and then bought it back remains compliant with the charter, despite losing its black ownership due to such an exit.The case has been mooted for several years but has recently been revived in South Africa. On April 4, the High Court in Pretoria ruled that the first two versions of the country’s mining charter do not oblige miners to top up … [READ MORE...]
Critic’s Notebook: ‘I Feel Pretty’ and the Rise of Beauty-Standard Denialism
The film centers itself in this corporate feminist landscape. Renee works as a peon at a fictional cosmetics company, and as she rises through the ranks thanks to her I-think-I’m-hot-now pluck, she convinces the brand to incorporate self-acceptance into its marketing strategy.Back in the real world, Dove shops the most saccharine version of this corporate feminist fairy tale, but the sentiment has become a staple of the beauty — uh, “wellness” industry. Weight Watchers has pivoted to offering “lifestyle” solutions instead of “diet” tips, though with the same (now unspoken) goal of becoming thinner. And SoulCycle, prominently featured in “I Feel Pretty,” frames the fitness craze as a moral imperative: “With every pedal stroke, our minds clear and we connect with our true and best … [READ MORE...]
Some Said They’d Flee Trump’s America. These People Actually Did.
Unplugging and Yet NotJust like late-1960s hippies, right? But living an untethered life has gotten easier now that many people need only a laptop and a fast internet connection to earn a living. Websites like Nomadlist help people decide where on Earth to go. The rise of Airbnb makes it easy to rent space in most corners of the globe with a swipe of your iPhone. Roving parents can find global play dates and moral support on Facebook groups like Worldschoolers, which has about 40,000 members.Lainie Liberti, an administrator of the group, said it’s not just the tense political climate in the United States motivating people to leave. “People are not seeing a future,” she said. “People are starting to focus on living now and focusing on their children. They are re-evaluating what is important … [READ MORE...]
Latest News
Tariff Dodgers Stand to Profit Off U.S.-China Trade Dispute
“If you talk China, I’ve watched where the reporters have been writing 2 percent of our steel comes from China. Well, that’s not right,” Mr. Trump said last month. “They transship all through other countries.”The scale of such tariff-dodging isn’t clear. Based on available data, many economists don’t believe that it plays a major role in American trade. For example, the United States imports only modest amounts of steel from Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia or other Southeast Asian countries that … [Read More...]
Public Servants Are Losing Their Foothold in the Middle Class
Short of money, many states have also privatized services like managing public water systems, road repair, emergency services or prisons, transferring jobs from the public sector to private companies that have reduced salaries and benefits to increase their profits. AdvertisementContinue reading the main storyThe government employment pinch especially hurts in small and rural counties, where President Trump and other Republicans are popular. These areas tend to lack the number and … [Read More...]
In a Trade War, China Might Boycott U.S. Goods. That Could Backfire.
William Zarit, the chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, said a boycott “is one of the many tools that the Chinese have in their toolbox.” AdvertisementContinue reading the main story“Because of the structure of the government and the political power of the party, they can call for a boycott and get a pretty good response,” Mr. Zarit said. “So that concerns me.”Taicang, a 90-minute drive from Shanghai, underscores how interdependent the two economies are.Some of the … [Read More...]
If the World Economy Is Looking So Great, Why Are Global Policymakers So Gloomy?
For now, this remains more a theoretical risk than a cause of major disruption to economic expansion.The Trump administration has threatened a withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement, a steep tariff on steel and aluminum imports, and the intention to tax $50 billion (or maybe $150 billion) of Chinese imports. But it has then backed away, entering Nafta renegotiation, granting exceptions to the steel and aluminum tariffs to many countries, and delaying tariffs on Chinese … [Read More...]
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Small Business
Some Said They’d Flee Trump’s America. These People Actually Did.
Unplugging and Yet NotJust like late-1960s hippies, right? But living an untethered life has gotten easier now that many people need only a laptop and a fast internet connection to earn a living. Websites like Nomadlist help people decide where on Earth to go. The rise of Airbnb makes it easy to rent space in most corners of the globe with a swipe of your iPhone. Roving parents can find global … [Read More...]
The Dress Doctor Is In
Whereas a fashion business class may teach students how to design and market a product based on demographic trends, Ms. Jung’s students explore the psychology behind consumer behavior. “We talk about perceptions and standards of attractiveness,” she said. “Where these come from and how we use them to judge others.”The London College of Fashion offers what may be the field’s most comprehensive … [Read More...]
Your Money
Your Money Adviser: For Workers Without Retirement Savings, State-Run I.R.A.s Can Pay Off
Some workers may be unable to delay claiming benefits past age 62, if they are in poor health or unemployed. But others simply may be reluctant to postpone the benefits because they lack savings. State-based individual retirement accounts that automatically enroll workers who don’t have retirement benefits through their employers can help meet that need, Pew’s report said. Workers can delay … [Read More...]
Wealth Matters: An E.R. That Treats You Like a V.I.P.
Paying more for better, faster care may not be fair, but the concept has been around for decades.Concierge physicians often charge patients directly, bypassing insurance companies that discount their rates. They do this through annual membership fees but also with charges for each visit. In return, patients get direct access and more time with a doctor.Top hospitals have also started to provide … [Read More...]