Author: News Room
A major power provider in South Carolina started accepting bids from buyers on Wednesday to finish two nuclear reactors, hoping to take advantage of the recent interest in the energy source from technology companies.The utility, Santee Cooper, wants to sell the reactors that were mothballed in 2017 before they were half complete. Its decision comes as the tech industry, which is rapidly building power-hungry data centers, has begun looking to nuclear plants for their ability to provide lots of electricity around the clock without releasing emissions responsible for climate change.But delays and cost overruns have dogged nuclear power in recent…
As corporate diversity and inclusion programs come under attack, not all companies have scaled back.At Costco’s annual meeting on Thursday, shareholders will vote on a proposal from the National Center for Public Policy Research, a conservative think tank, that would require the company to report on any potential risks diversity programs could pose to profits.Ahead of the vote, Costco’s board delivered a full-throated defense of D.E.I., arguing that such initiatives reward shareholders and “enhance our capacity to attract and retain employees who will help our business succeed.”Unlike Costco, some of the biggest companies in the country have rolled back efforts…
Divvy Homes, a Silicon Valley-backed company that promised an alternative path to homeownership for consumers of modest means, is in talks to be sold to an operator of single-family home rentals, in part because high mortgage rates has made home buying difficult, according to people briefed on the matter.The company told employees of an impending sale, the people said, and several workers were laid off in the past few weeks ahead of an announcement.Several officials with Divvy, a so-called rent-to-own company based in San Francisco, did not respond to requests for comment. Fast Company, which first reported the prospective sale,…
Stellantis, the company that owns Chrysler and Jeep, said on Wednesday it planned to reopen a factory in Illinois and increase production elsewhere in the United States, a move that is likely to resolve several simmering disputes with the United Automobile Workers union.The reopening is also likely to help the company in its relations with the Trump administration, and is among the first big changes made by an interim management team that has been running the company since its chief executive, Carlos Tavares, resigned in December.“These actions are part of our commitment to invest in our U.S. operations to grow…
In 2025, air passengers will see lounge openings and changes in frequent flier programs, and the number of premium and elite offerings will continue at a steady ascent.For some travelers, reaching elite frequent flier status will be more costly and challenging. United Airlines has plans to raise its status thresholds, requiring travelers to spend and fly more to get perks like free checked bags and upgrades. British Airways, too, has major changes underway for its loyalty program, moving from a system based on distance traveled and cabin class to a revenue-based system hinging on how much travelers spend. Overall, it…
This year, travelers of means will be checking into remote new lodges and upscale all-inclusive resorts, and demanding reasonable prices, relatively speaking.“The high-end market is responding to three plagues in travel: overpriced, overcrowded and overheated, as in global warming,” said Jack Ezon, who runs the bespoke travel agency Embark Beyond, based in New York.Still, big spenders aren’t flinching at high-season rates topping $1,000 a night at cosseting new resorts that prioritize privacy, including Our Habitas Alula, set amid sandstone canyons in Saudi Arabia, and Gundari Resort, with suites built into cliffs on the Greek island of Folegandros in the Cyclades…
When President Trump refrained from immediately imposing new tariffs on his first day in office, as he had previously threatened, business executives and others who support international trade breathed a sigh of relief.That relief has been short-lived. On Monday night, just hours after his inauguration speech, Mr. Trump said he planned to put a 25 percent tariff on products from Canada and Mexico by Feb. 1, claiming the countries were allowing “mass numbers of people and fentanyl” to come to the United States.On Tuesday evening, Mr. Trump expanded the threat and said he also intends to put an additional 10…
Responding to record cruise demand, major cruise lines will continue to launch new mega-ships this year, with countless over-the-top features and amenities that will appeal to families.“With every big, splashy new ship launch, we’re seeing even more investment in the family market,” said Colleen McDaniel, editor in chief of the cruise news site Cruise Critic. “No longer are cabins for five the definition of the ultimate in family-friendliness, but now we’re seeing actual ‘neighborhoods,’ dedicated to families.”MSC’s largest ship, the World America, will begin sailing out of Miami in April with a family-oriented district packed with water slides, a ropes…
Is Trump bluffing? President Trump’s tariff threats have perplexed and rankled foreign leaders and C.E.O.s for some time now as they fear the unleashing of a tit-for-tat trade war.Investors apparently feel relieved that he has held off so far, with S&P 500 futures gaining this morning. But a growing number of analysts and business leaders fear tariffs are inevitable (more on that below). There’s one theory gaining traction: Trump sees levies not just as a negotiating tactic, but also as a way to make money.A recap of Trump’s latest threats: Canada and Mexico could face 25 percent tariffs as soon…
A recent Booking.com global survey of 31,000 travelers found that 71 percent of respondents “want to leave the places they visit better than when they arrived.” Eighty-three percent said that sustainable travel is important to them. Now, as travelers wake up to the social effects of tourism, travel businesses are responding in kind, helping visitors maximize the positive — and minimize the negative — impacts of their trips.The Kind Traveler platform, for example, has started a program in which every guest stay helps fund a local charity. StayAltered offers a “community-powered” accommodation booking platform that connects travelers with independent hosts…