Latest news with #Pacífico
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Climate
- Washington Post
A 6.3 magnitude earthquake hits central Colombia, with no casualties reported
BOGOTA — A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck central Colombia early Sunday, authorities said. No casualties were immediately reported. The quake hit 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) northeast of Paratebueno, a city about 116 miles southeast of the capital, Bogota. The U.S. Geological Service reported the quake hit at 8:08 a.m. (1308 GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). The Colombian Geological Service reported additional tremors with magnitudes ranging from 4 to 4.6 occurred in the same area minutes later. The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said on X that it was assessing the situation in several municipalities. Images posted on social media showed people in Bogota who felt the tremor — some left their workplaces to seek safety. Footage from rural areas indicated there was no damage. Colombia lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for frequent seismic and volcanic activity. ____ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ecuador apologizes to farm workers deemed to live like slaves
Ecuador's government apologized Saturday to some 300 people who worked as farmers for a Japanese textile firm in conditions which a court likened to modern-day slavery. These people worked on plantations that produced abaca, a fiber used in textiles and the auto industry. As of 2021, Furukawa's plantations for abaca covered almost 23,000 hectares spread over three provinces on the Pacific coast, where the majority of the population is Black. Some workers gave birth to children in unsanitary and overcrowded camps, while others were denied proper medical attention after work-related injuries, according to testimony given at a news conference in Quito back in December. That month the Constitutional Court ordered Furukawa to pay $120,000 to each of 342 victims -- a total of around $41 million. The company was also ordered to make a public apology to them. It has not complied with either order. The court said that over the course of five years Furukawa had people living in conditions of modern-day slavery in its abaca fields. It also ordered the government to apologize to the workers, and that is what happened Saturday. The company violated "national and international regulations that affected, in essence, human dignity," Labor Minister Ivonne Nunez said. She said "the state, through the various ministries, as the sentence explains, turned a deaf ear" to the plight of the abused workers. Nunez spoke at a ceremony with other government ministers at Quito's Independence Plaza, as ex-Furukawa workers chanted slogans such as "reparations, reparations" and "modern slavery, never again." After the court ruling, Furukawa said it does not have the money to pay the damages ordered by the tribunal and called them disproportionate. Back in December, at a meeting at a human rights group's headquarters, plantation workers told horror stories of their lives raising abaca. "We have been confronting the monster that is Furukawa," Segundo Ordonez, a 59-year-old farmer, said at the meeting. pld/dg/dw/mlm Sign in to access your portfolio
Al Bawaba
26-05-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Massive explosion triggers fire at Ecuador's largest oil refinery
ALBAWABA- A major explosion rocked Ecuador's largest oil refinery, the Esmeraldas Refinery, on Saturday, triggering a large fire and prompting emergency evacuations, according to the country's Energy Minister, as reported by AFP. The explosion reportedly originated in the facility's sulfur plant, part of the state-owned complex on the Pacific coast. Firefighters were immediately deployed to the scene, working alongside plant personnel to contain the blaze. 🚨#AlertaADN Una fuerte explosión en la refinería de Esmeraldas, en una planta de azufre, ha movilizado a los servicios de emergencia en Ecuador; hasta el momento se desconoce el saldo del accidente — adn40 (@adn40) May 26, 2025 In response, the Bloque de Seguridad mobilized operational and logistical units to assist in controlling the fire and protecting the facility. Authorities have also begun evacuating nearby residents as a precautionary measure to safeguard civilian lives. There are no confirmed reports of casualties, and officials have not disclosed the full extent of the damage. The Esmeraldas Refinery is a key component of Ecuador's energy infrastructure.
Miami Herald
15-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
CEO of popular beer brand spots concerning consumer trend
From the beginning of his second presidential campaign, President Donald Trump expressed his commitment to cracking down on illegal immigration, and he has begun to enact his political agenda now that he is back in office. Trump's policy changes and mass deportation plans have heightened the U.S. Hispanic community's concerns. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter And with such challenges emerging amid rising costs of essential goods and high Hispanic unemployment rates, these consumers have become more cautious in their spending. Related: Popular convenience store chain closing locations The Hispanic community makes up around 19.5% of the total U.S. population, representing the nation's largest racial minority and a large part of the economy. This has caused the softening in spending to begin trickling down, affecting companies that depend on those key consumers. Constellation Brands (STZ) is a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits. This company has been serving millions of consumers since 1945 and rose to fame thanks to its renowned liquor brands. Beer is one of Constellation Brands' biggest revenue sources. It owns popular brands such as Modelo, Corona, Especial, and Pacífico. Although beer is consumed globally, the Hispanic community is loyal to these beer brands and takes the lead in demand, making up around 50% of Constellation Brands' overall beer business, according to the company. Related: Liquor giant trades Diddy's vodka for Lebron James' tequila stake However, recent immigration policies and economic uncertainty have challenged the Hispanic consumer, contributing to the company's flat net beer sales and nearly 2% decline in shipments during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, as stated in its earnings report. "Social gatherings, an area where the Hispanic consumer often consumes beer, are declining today as part of these overarching concerns they have," said Constellation Brands CEO Bill Newlands in an earnings call. Despite the turbulent times, Constellation Brands believes that sales will improve once these issues have died down. So, to keep the business running and fight the slowdown, the company will focus on what it can control - distribution, innovation, and improving brand awareness. "When you look at our awareness levels versus some of the competition, when you look at our shelf positions versus some of the larger competition, we still have a lot of runway to grow. We have a lot of expansion capability of reaching," said Newlands. More Retail News: Key Coca-Cola, Pepsi rival embraces new beverage trendIconic retail chain reveals dates and places for store closuresIconic breakfast chain slashes menu, cuts promotions For the last several years, Constellation Brands has made an effort to increase marketing spend to support the business, even when it began to hit a slowdown last year. The company has seen a return on its investment. It expects to put another $200 million into marketing over the next 2.5 fiscal years, believing this will help drive future success. Because of all the uncertainties, Constellation Brands lowered its guidance for fiscal 2026, anticipating beer sales to grow at a flat or 3% rate, down from its previously forecasted 7% to 9%. The company predicts that the overall beer industry will be roughly flat to down 2%. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
