Modern economics has little room for parasites. In the vast majority of models, there are only buyers and sellers —there’s no one who just comes up and steals your money. In the real world, of course, there are parasites galore — thieves, con artists, fraudsters, extortionists and more. In the long term, the amount of parasitism in any system …

  Berlin / AFP German airline Lufthansa said on Wednesday that its net profits had almost doubled in the third quarter, boosted by a pensions deal with cabin staff. Net profits soared to 1.42 billion euros ($1.5 billion) between July and September. Last month, Lufthansa raised its profit forecast for the year, after recording better than expected demand from business …

  Bloomberg Avianca Holdings SA is studying options including the sale of a controlling stake and is set to receive bids next week from suitors including Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Continental Holdings Inc., people familiar with the matter said. The offers, due by November 9, may include about $500 million in new capital for Bogota-based Avianca, plus a …