Business
Mexico Economy Dropped 18.9% in 2nd Quarter
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s economic activity plummeted 18.9% in the second quarter compared to the same period last year as the economic shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic drove the country deeper into a recession, according to preliminary government data released Thursday.
Brazil Virus Payout Cuts Extreme Poverty to Least in Decades
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazil’s extreme poverty has plunged due to a monthly federal handout during the coronavirus pandemic, but threatens to bounce back once the government ceases the stopgap welfare program, a report said Tuesday.
Latin America Faces ‘Lost Decade’ From Coronavirus GDP
MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean said Wednesday the region’s per-capita gross domestic product is likely to drop by 9.1% in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Latino Businesses Are Fighting for Their Lives in the Nation’s Capital
A new report shows that the coronavirus pandemic has had a major negative effect on Latino-owned and Latino-serving businesses in the Washington, D.C. region.
Detroit Women Filling a Niche in the Grocery Supply Chain
The pandemic turned their part-time hustle into a full-time job.
An Update on the Latino Job Situation in May 2020: One Step Forward and Two Steps Back
As in April, Latinos continued to have the highest unemployment rate in May with 17.5% of the civilian labor force without a job, though the rate eased downward from the earlier month
IMF Forecasts Deeper Latin America Recession in 2020
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The International Monetary Fund is forecasting a nearly double-digit recession for Latin America and the Caribbean in 2020 —a contraction of 9.4%— as the region is dragged down by its two largest economies, which continue to suffer from the coronavirus.
Mexico Desperate to Reopen 11 Million-Job Tourism Industry
Mexico’s tourism income crashed in April, when it was only 6.3% of what it was one year ago. Hundreds of thousands of hotel rooms were closed.
Latino Job Loss in the Last Few Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The newly released data from the April 2020 Current Population Survey (CPS) demonstrates yet another way in which the pandemic has hurt many Latinos and their families.
Board: Puerto Rico to See 65% Surplus Drop Amid Debt Crisis
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A federal control board that oversees Puerto Rico’s finances approved a revised fiscal plan on Wednesday that temporarily suspends all budget cuts and anticipates the island’s projected surplus could plunge by 65% as it warned the government is unable to pay current debt obligations.
Venezuelan High Court Orders DirecTV Property Seized
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s high court ordered the immediate seizure of all DirecTV property on Friday, days after the U.S. firm abandoned its services in the South American nation, citing U.S. sanctions.
AT&T Quits Venezuela as US Sanctions Force It to Defy Maduro
MIAMI (AP) — AT&T said Tuesday it will immediately ditch Venezuela’s pay TV market as U.S. sanctions prohibit its DirecTV platform from broadcasting channels that it is required to carry by the socialist administration of Nicolás Maduro.
During the Time of COVID-19, Player Pay and Job Security Not Minor Issues for Many Latino Pro Baseball Players
The vast majority of ballplayers —who toil with teams connected and not connected to MLB clubs in hopes of reaching the majors— are playing in a much different economic playing field.
This Santa Ana Flower Shop Has Become a Line of Communication and Support for Those Affected by the Pandemic
“For us it’s important to support those around us. If we are able to and if an opportunity to help someone presents itself, we will rise to the occasion,” Olga Calderón told Latino Rebels.
Language Barriers, Absence of Bank Loans Leave Latino Small-Business Owners Struggling
Before the pandemic, mom-and-pop stores at the Latino-oriented mall La Gran Plaza, in Fort Worth, saw crowds of thousands every day. Now, tenants are worried about evictions and not making ends meet.
Latino USA Presents: Latino-Owned And Without A Lifeline, Small Businesses Struggle To Survive
From Texas, the story of two Latino-owned businesses who have been trying to access relief funds and have come up short in a very crucial moment for their businesses.
Mexico Auto Plants to Reopen as Country Weighs Virus Risks
MEXICO CITY (AP) — On a day Mexico saw its worst daily increase yet in coronavirus cases, foreign-owned auto plants began setting dates for reopening.
Structural Inequalities and Not Behavior Explain COVID-19 Racial Disparities
As more data becomes available across states and cities across the country, it has become more and more apparent that the coronavirus is hitting racial and ethnic communities at a much higher rate than white Americans.
Venezuelan Crown Jewel Rum Distillery Takes on Coronavirus
LA VICTORIA, Venezuela (AP) — The Santa Teresa distillery in Venezuela has lifted spirits for generations with its amber-red rum, famous around the world for being slowly sipped over ice or mixed into cocktails like the Cuba Libre.
Lawsuit Forces Uber to Stop Operating in Colombia
BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — Uber said Friday it will stop operating in Colombia following stiff opposition from taxi drivers’ unions and a lawsuit that said the ride-sharing app was breaking local transport laws.
US, Mexico Quickly Mend Rift Over North American Trade Deal
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Mexico moved quickly Monday to defuse a dispute over President Donald Trump’s revamped North American trade pact.