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☆ Some people may love to abuse Costco's generous returns policy, but it's a genius business decision
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewA big perk of a Costco membership is the unlimited returns offered by the company. While the returns policy on electronic goods is now 90 days, until 2007, Costco members had an unlimited returns policy on electronic goods — excluding personal computers. It's far from the only example of Costco returns. Bean used to offer a legendary lifetime returns policy but switched to a one-year return limit in 2018 after some customers abused it. Shoshy Ciment/Business InsiderCostco's business model relies on maintaining customer loyalty, and unlimited returns help.

Persons: —, Yuliana Martinez, Louis Orellana, Bean, Shoshy, Neil Saunders, Saunders, Katherine Black, Kearney, Gina Logan, Logan Organizations: Service, Costco, Business, GlobalData

one of the deadliest wildfires in decades ripped through Chile’s coastal cities of Vina Del mar and Quilpué. Weeks later, some residents and firefighters questioned whether a lack of water to fight the fast moving wildfire contributed to the high death toll. Rodrigo Mundaca, one of Chile’s staunchest water rights advocates, is currently governor of the region where the wildfire hit. In march, Chile’s Congress said it would investigate the handling of the wildfire, including a lack of evacuation plans and lack of water to hydrants. And the country’s Ministry of Public Works is investigating specific complaints that Esval fall failed to provide adequate water to combat the wildfire.

Persons: Weeks, New York Times ’, Rodrigo Mundaca, Vina Del Mar’s, Ariel Orellana’s mother’s, Daniel Garín Organizations: Vina Del, New York Times, Ministry, Public Locations: Vina, Chile, Vina Del Mar’s El Olivar, Quilpué

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — One person died and at least two more were injured by gunshots near a pro-democracy demonstration in Guatemala on Monday, local authorities said. Victor Gomez, spokesman for the volunteer firemen in Malacatan, near the border with Mexico, said it was not clear whether the victims were protesters themselves, or just caught nearby. The incident is the latest violent episode after 15 days of protests and roadblocks in the Central American country. On Sunday, Porras' supporters in Guatemala City called for violence against demonstrators blocking roads. They have called for the resignation of Porras, prosecutors Rafael Curruchiche and Cinthia Monterroso, and Judge Fredy Orellana.

Persons: Victor Gomez, General Consuelo Porras, Bernardo Arévalo, Alejandro Giammattei, Arévalo, ”, Porras, Napoleón Barrientos, Rafael Curruchiche, Cinthia, Judge Fredy Orellana Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, National Police, Interior Department, Central American, Movement Locations: GUATEMALA, Guatemala, Malacatan, Mexico, Guatemalan, Guatemala City, El

☆ Ecuador nature reserve will take years to recover after oil exit-minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] A pipeline of state-owned Petroecuador is pictured as Ecuador is preparing to shut down oil production in the Yasuni Amazon reserve, in Via Auca, Orellana province, Ecuador July 28, 2023. Ecuador is preparing to shut down block 43-ITT, which is operated by state-owned Petroecuador, after a majority of Ecuadoreans voted to close the project in August. While oil wells have been closed before, Ecuador has no experience in abandoning an entire block of this size, which includes three fields and about 230 operating wells, he said. Environmentalists and some communities nearby insist that prohibiting future oil operations and other extractive industries is the only way to take care of nature and curb climate change. While some groups have demanded the immediate cessation of operations at 43-ITT, Davalos said an orderly closure was necessary.

Persons: Karen Toro, Jose Davalos, Ecuadoreans, Guillermo Lasso, Davalos, Petroecuador, Alexandra Valencia, Chizu, Oliver Griffin Organizations: REUTERS, ITT, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ecuador, Via Auca, Orellana province, QUITO

☆ We returned our used mattress to Costco and don't feel bad about it at all. We're just following the policy and plan on returning another one.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Alyshia Hull | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Yuliana Martinez and Louis Orellana returned their old mattress to Costco for a full refund. As we considered buying a new one, I wondered what we'd do with the old mattress that we had bought from Costco two years prior. The store will accept any used mattress as long as it is in good condition. After making our return, Costco provided us with store credit. In fact, we're already keeping this mattress in good condition, just so we can return it in the future.

Persons: Yuliana Martinez, Louis Orellana Organizations: Costco, Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, Los Angeles , California

☆ Ecuadorean votes could bar oil output in Amazon reserve, mining near Quito
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

But oil and mining guilds say their industries are needed to shore up Ecuador's battered economy and that bans would expose the areas to illegal mining and deforestation. Outgoing President Guillermo Lasso, who moved ahead elections after lawmakers attempted to oust him, has failed to raise oil production or attract more mining investment as violence and social problems have worsened. A "yes" vote in both referendums could complicate finances for his successor. State oil company Petroecuador says a "yes" on the Yasuni referendum would cost the country $13.8 billion in income over the next two decades. But residents say mining will threaten high altitude wetlands, water and animals like the spectacled bear.

Persons: Read, Ecuadoreans, Guillermo Lasso, Santiago Pérez, Ramon Correa, Correa, Rafael Correa, Pedro Bermeo, Bermeo, Petroecuador, Australia's SolGold, Maria Eulalia Silva, Morelia Fuentes, Alexandra Valencia, Tito Correa, Karen Toro, Julia Symmes Cobb, Marguerita Choy Organizations: ITT, Environmental, Reuters, Voters, of Mining, Mining, Thomson Locations: Orellana, Orellana province, Ecuador, QUITO, Quito, Choco, North America, State, Pastaza

☆ US adds Central American ex-presidents, judges, lawmakers to corruption list
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Raul Cortes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Two former Salvadoran presidents - Mauricio Funes, who served from 2009 to 2014, and his successor Salvador Sanchez, whom Washington links to corruption, money laundering and embezzlement of public funds - were added to the list. Guatemala's government meanwhile rejected the accusations on Wednesday, labeling the report "used by the United States to impose its jurisdiction on people abroad, as despicable." It includes ex-officials from the government of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was extradited to the United States over drug trafficking links. Politicians from Honduras' opposition Liberal Party also appear, including Liberal leader Yani Rosenthal, previously convicted of money laundering in the United States. The Nicaraguan section includes all of the country's parliamentary leaders, barring its president, who Washington has already sanctioned, and several judges and directors of Nicaragua's money laundering watchdog.

Persons: Mauricio Funes, Salvador Sanchez, Funes, Sanchez, Daniel Ortega, Brian Nichols, Fredy Orellana, Bernardo Arevalo, Engel, Juan Orlando Hernandez, Yani Rosenthal, Rosenthal, Washington, Raul Cortes, Sofia Menchu, Gustavo Palencia, Nelson Renteria, Sarah Morland, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S . State Department, Salvadoran, Western Hemisphere, Liberal Party, Liberal, Thomson Locations: El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Washington, United States, Mexico City, Sofia, Guatemala City, Tegucigalpa, Nelson, San Salvador

☆ Your Room Is Ready. Don’t Mind the Picket Line.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Jill Cowan | Seth Gilbert | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Oscar Orellana, 30, paused in the shade of the InterContinental and waved back at one of the drivers who honked while passing by. For six years, Mr. Orellana has worked in the housekeeping department at the hotel, where he ensures that linens are stocked on each floor. His parents, too, long worked in hotel housekeeping; his father was picketing at a nearby Ritz-Carlton, he said. “I used to see my parents, and they loved their job, which made me want to go into the hotel world, and I love my job,” he said. They also felt caught in an awkward social position during a time when they just wanted to relax.

Persons: Oscar Orellana, Orellana, “, ”, they’re, John Smith Organizations: InterContinental, Ritz, Carlton Locations: Long Beach, Santa Monica, San Bernardino

☆ El Salvador slashes size of Congress ahead of elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Nelson Renteria | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele delivers a speech to mark his fourth year in office, in San Salvador, El Salvador June 1, 2023. REUTERS/Jessica Orellana/File PhotoSAN SALVADOR, June 7 (Reuters) - El Salvador's Congress passed an electoral reform in the early hours of Wednesday to reduce the lawmaking body's size by nearly a third, a move the ruling party says will reduce spending and critics say consolidates power ahead of elections. The reform, announced last week by President Nayib Bukele in an address marking four years in government, cuts the unicameral Congress' size from 84 lawmakers to 60. Presidential and legislative elections will be held in February, with municipal and regional Central American Parliament elections scheduled for March. In 2021, El Salvador's top court, whose members are appointed by Congress which is controlled by the president's party, ruled that Bukele could stand for re-election, a decision that drew international condemnation.

Persons: Nayib Bukele, Jessica Orellana, Bukele, Anabel Belloso, Nelson Renteria, Kylie Madry, Bill Berkrot Organizations: El, San Salvador , El, REUTERS, SALVADOR, Salvador's Congress, FMLN, Central American, Thomson Locations: San Salvador ,, San Salvador , El Salvador, Congress, El

☆ El Salvador president pledges white-collar prison in 'war' on corruption
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele delivers a speech to mark his fourth year in office, in San Salvador, El Salvador June 1, 2023. REUTERS/Jessica OrellanaSAN SALVADOR, June 1 (Reuters) - El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele on Thursday pledged to build a prison to hold white-collar criminals as part of a crackdown on corruption that he likened to his fight against criminal gangs. "Just as we built a prison for the terrorists, we will build one for the corrupt." "We will fight white-collar criminals wherever they come from," Bukele added, "but we will only use legal means." Later in the speech, Bukele said former President Alfredo Cristiani's property was being raided.

Persons: Nayib Bukele, Jessica Orellana, Bukele, Alfredo Cristiani's, Salvadorans, Nelson Renteria, Lizbeth Diaz, Sarah Morland, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: El, San Salvador , El, REUTERS, SALVADOR, Thomson Locations: San Salvador ,, San Salvador , El Salvador

☆ Ecuador deploys soldiers against illegal mines in Amazonian areas
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

QUITO, May 8 (Reuters) - Ecuador's government is deploying soldiers and police in nine provinces to combat illegal mining, officials said on Monday, in a bid to stamp out the unlawful mines mostly targeting gold and copper deposits. The announcement came after some 1,000 security forces destroyed machinery in a raid on illegal miners in the eastern Amazonian provinces of Napo and Orellana. Earlier this year, President Guillermo Lasso declared illegal mining a threat to national security, linking the practice to organized crime, including money laundering and arms and fuel trafficking. So far this year, raids authorized by authorities on illegal mines have documented the seizure of heavy machinery and even a helicopter. The government has not given figures on the increase in illegal mining, nor the total number of hectares (acres) affected in the most affected areas, but it has described it is a growing activity.

☆ Chile culls 40,000 poultry amid industrial bird flu outbreak
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ivan AlvaradoRANCAGUA, Chile, March 15 (Reuters) - Around 40,000 poultry were culled and buried in central Chile on Wednesday after the country detected its first case of bird flu in an industrial setting. "We hope to have this situation contained and that Chile regains its status of being free of highly pathogenic bird flu," he added. Cases of bird flu, mostly in wild animals, have been detected in Chile since late last year. Brazil, the world's largest chicken exporter, still remains free of bird flu but has investigated several suspected cases. South American health authorities created a regional technical committee earlier this month to deal with bird flu outbreaks.

☆ Petroecuador losing 3,500 barrels per day due to protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Empresa Pública de Hidrocarburos del Ecuador FollowQUITO, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Ecuador's state oil company, Petroecuador, said on Saturday that it was losing an estimated 3,500 barrels of crude oil a day due to "vandalism" at two of its blocks, referring to recent Indigenous protests at the site. The Indigenous community argues it was not consulted about the new operation of the blocks by Petroecuador and made other social demands. Petroecuador took over production of the blocks at the start of this year. Petroecuador's production is around 393,000 barrels of oil per day, according to official data. Reporting by Alexandra Valencia in Quito Writing by Isabel Woodford Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Venezuelans describe dangers and desperation amid U.S. asylum changes
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Albinson Linares | Noticias Telemundo | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

MEXICO CITY — Mariantonela Orellana spent nine days in the dangerous Darien Gap jungle in the Colombia-Panama border, and she described her nightmarish ordeal. Now back in Mexico, migrants wrestle with whether to try to stay in Mexico, keep trying to seek asylum in the U.S. or return to Venezuela. According to Department of Homeland Security data, the flow of Venezuelan migrants to the U.S. increased by almost four times compared to the year prior. Mexican authorities approved 61% of asylum applications from January to November, including at least 90% of approvals for Hondurans and Venezuelans. “I left Venezuela because the discrimination against the LGBT community is terrible; we are trampled on and attacked every day.

A Texas man allegedly admitted to authorities that he murdered and mutilated his wife, according to a news release published by the Waller County Sheriff's Office. The Waller County Sheriff's Office responded to a call about a possible death at a southeast Texas home about an hour away from Houston around 4:35 p.m. Wednesday. "During my short time with them, they were a very nice young couple," he wrote. The Waller County Sheriff's Office and District Attorney's Office are investigating the murder. The district attorney's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

☆ Ecuador's $290 mln Petrolia debt void on handover - gov't, company
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

QUITO, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Ecuador's $290 million debt to a subsidiary of Canada's New Stratus Energy (NSE.V) will be void once contracts for the operation of two oil production blocks expire on Dec. 31, the government and subsidiary said on Thursday. "The state owed the contractor, under unpaid tariffs, $290 million," the energy ministry said in a statement. Ecuador has paid Petrolia some $60 million in fees over the past two years, company manager Ramiro Paez told Reuters, acknowledging the remaining $290 million debt would be wiped when the contracts ended. The company has not yet presented its arbitration case because it must complete a mediation process first, he added. State oil company Petroecuador will on Jan. 1 take over operation of the blocks, which together produce about 14,000 barrels a day.

☆ Guatemalan court approves sending detained renowned journalist to trial
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/6] Journalist Jose Ruben Zamora Marroquin, founder and president of El Periodico newspaper, talks with the media after attending his court hearing in Guatemala City, in Guatemala, December 8, 2022. REUTERS/Josue DecaveleGUATEMALA CITY, Dec 8 (Reuters) - A Guatemalan court decided on Thursday to take to trial a case against a well-known Guatemalan journalist who was arrested four months ago on charges of money laundering, influence peddling and blackmail. Jose Ruben Zamora Marroquin, an outspoken government critic, was detained in late July after a police raid on his home and will now remain in prison until the trial begins. Zamora, 65, is the founder of the elPeriodico newspaper, an outlet famous for investigations into government corruption. Reporting by Sofia Menchu; Writing by Isabel Woodford; Editing by Bradley PerrettOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ FC Sevilla s-a salvat de la o înfrângere rușinoasă în partida cu Real Valladolid
▼ + stars: | 2021-03-21 | by ( Publika.Md - Aici Sunt Știrile | ) www.publika.md time to read: 1 min

Meci pe muchie de cuțit în campionatul de fotbal al Spaniei. FC Sevilla s-a salvat de la o înfrângere rușinoasă în partida cu Real Valladolid, golul egalizator fiind marcat de portarul Yassine Bounou, cunoscut drept Bono, la ultima fază a meciului.Marocanul a venit în careu la un corner executat de andaluzi, în minutul 90+4. Jucătorii lui Real Valladolid nu au reușit să respingă convingător, mingea a rămas cu noroc în teren și a ajuns la portarul Sevillei, care a șutat perfect cu piciorul stâng, de la aproximativ opt metri.Partida s-a terminat cu scorul de 1-1. Golul gazdelor a fost marcat înainte de pauză, de Fabian Orellana, din penalty.Sevilla este pe locul 4 în La Liga, cu 55 de puncte, iar Valladolid a pierdut două puncte importante în lupta pentru salvarea de la retrogradare.

Persons: Bono, Fabian Orellana Organizations: FC Sevilla, Real Valladolid, Real, Liga Locations: Spaniei, Real Valladolid, Valladolid

☆ SUA: Pandemia a creat mai multă foamete, în special în rândul copiilor
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-07 | by ( Publika.Md - Aici Sunt Știrile | ) www.publika.md time to read: +4 min

În aceste condiţii, adolescenta se aşează la coadă în faţa unei şcoli pentru a beneficia de distribuirea de alimente, acţiune organizată de o asociaţie non-profit. "Uneori avem nevoie de un pic de provizii pentru a ne menţine frigiderul plin", explică Kimberly în Cockeysville, o localitate la nord de oraşul Baltimore, într-o pauză de la cursurile care acum se desfăşoară online.Din ce în ce mai mulţi copii sunt flămânzi în SUA. "Uneori este foarte dificil, dar trebuie să mergem mai departe", a spus ea. "Îmi frânge inima",declară Ayo Akinremi, un imigrant nigerian care a început să vină pentru a primi alimente pentru soţie şi copii după ce şi-a pierdut slujba şi acum face voluntariat. "A fost un şoc cultural pentru mine să vin în SUA şi să găsesc atâta nesiguranţă alimentară", a declarat acesta, scrie agerpres.ro.

Persons: El, Kimberly Orellana, Kimberly, Lauren Bauer, Chloe Waterman, Bauer Organizations: Agriculturii Locations: El Salvador, Cockeysville, Baltimore, flămânzi, SUA

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