Connor Hughes

The U.S. economic recovery from the pandemic has been stronger and more durable than many experts had expected, and a rebound in immigration is a big reason.A resumption in visa processing in 2021 and 2022 jump-started employment, allowing foreign-born workers to fill some holes in the labor force that persisted across industries and locations after the pandemic shutdowns. Immigrants also address a longer-term need: replenishing the work force, a key to meeting labor demands as birthrates decline and older people retire.Net migration in the year that ended July 1, 2023, reached the highest level since 2017. The foreign-born now make…

Social License to Operate Coined in the late 1990s, the term "Social License to Operate" gained prominence, particularly within the Mining Sector, as it signifies the lawful authorization obtained from communities where major projects are carried out. In Perú, companies engaged in projects that carry significant socio-environmental implications face a major challenge in obtaining and upholding the Social License to Operate (SLO), thereby securing their viability. This license doesn't manifest as a physical permit but rather as an intangible endorsement granted by the community in which the company conducts its operations. It relies on the community's acceptance of the company's…

Social License to Operate (SLO) The concept of the Social License to Operate emerged in the late 1990s, primarily associated with the Mining Sector. It pertains to the valid consent granted by the communities in which large-scale projects are undertaken. In Mexico, companies undertaking projects with substantial socio-environmental consequences encounter the formidable task of acquiring and preserving the Social License to Operate (SLO) while ensuring their sustainability. This license is not a tangible permit but an intangible validation bestowed upon the company by the community in which it operates. It hinges on the community's acceptance of the company's endeavors and…

More than 600,000 Toyota pickup trucks and SUVs in the United States were voluntarily recalled over the past week because of different issues that could increase the risk of crashes, the vehicle manufacturer said.The first announcement, on Feb. 21, stated that about 280,000 vehicles, including Toyota Tundra, Tundra Hybrid and Lexus LX600 vehicles from the model years 2022-2024 and Sequoia Hybrid vehicles issued from 2023-2024, were recalled because “certain parts of the transmission may not immediately disengage when the vehicle is shifted to the neutral position,” Toyota said in a statement.The defect “can allow some engine power to continue to…

The December day in 2021 that set off a revolution across the videogame industry appeared to start innocuously enough. Managers at a Wisconsin studio called Raven began meeting one by one with quality assurance testers, who vet video games for bugs, to announce that the company was overhauling their department. Going forward, managers said, the lucky testers would be permanent employees, not temps. They would earn an extra $1.50 an hour.It was only later in the morning, a Friday, that the catch became apparent: One-third of the studio’s roughly 35 testers were being let go as part of the overhaul.…

Just before the Russian-Ukrainian war reached its two-year milestone today, U.S. intelligence agencies warned that Russia might aim a nuclear weapon at an unusual target: not any place on Earth, but satellites orbiting in space.Putting a weapon into orbit is not just a military threat. It’s also a risk to the space economy — and the one on the ground. There is a little-known but fast-growing industry that insures satellites, but it doesn’t provide insurance against nuclear arms.What’s at stake: hundreds of billions (and probably trillions) of dollars when including the services that rely on satellites, according to David Wade,…