Gracias por SEGUIRNOS, este artículo contiene la edición 1259 de la revista digital de HOUSTON de ¡Que Onda! Magazine.
Del 16 de marzo al 22 de marzo del 2023
Trade Delegation of agricultural and cattle exporters from Costa Rica attend the Houston Rodeo
Costa Rica is a true gem among tourist destinations, offering a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and sustainable tourism practices. This small Central American country boasts an incredible array of ecosystems, from lush rainforests to pristine beaches, and stunning volcanoes to expansive grasslands. The country’s commitment to conservation and eco-tourism has resulted in a truly unforgettable travel experience that is both educational and awe-inspiring.
Visitors to Costa Rica can experience some of the most diverse and
abundant wildlife on the planet, including jaguars, sloths, and howler monkeys. Adventurers can enjoy activities like hiking, zip-lining, surfing, and birdwatching, while history and culture enthusiasts can explore the country’s rich traditions and landmarks. From the iconic Arenal Volcano to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, there is truly something for everyone.
Beyond its natural beauty and cultural significance, Costa Rica is also known for its exceptional hospitality and service. The tourism industry is a vital part of the country’s economy, and visitors can expect a warm and welcoming attitude from locals. Sustainable tourism practices are also a priority in Costa Rica, with eco-lodges, resorts, and boutique hotels offering eco-friendly accommodations and tours.
It may come as a surprise to some, but Costa Rica is a notable exporter of beef to the United States. Currently, a delegation of agricultural and cattle exporters led by Costa Rican Congressman Daniel Gerardo Vargas Quiroz is effectively representing Costa Rica at the 2023 Houston Livestock and Rodeo.
Overall, Costa Rica is a great tourist destination for those seeking a truly unique and unforgettable experience that combines natural beauty, cultural richness, and sustainability.
Bosnian Immigrant Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole for Killing Wife and Her Lover in Southwest Houston
A Bosnian immigrant was sentenced to life in prison without parole late Tuesday after being convicted of capital murder for killing his wife and her lover in 2018, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.
“This man killed two people, including the mother of his children, and tried to flee the country to escape responsibility,” Ogg said. “We know that domestic violence can escalate to murder, and that is why it is so important to seek justice for the victims in cases like this.”
Jordy Husein Suljanovic, 46, fatally shot Adriana Perez, his wife and the mother of his four children, and her boyfriend, Omar Santamaria-Ruiz, in the closet of the master bedroom of their home in southwest Houston on Oct. 2, 2018.
Suljanovic, a Bosnian refugee who became a long-haul truck driver, had installed a secret camera at his home and was monitoring it while driving. When he saw his 41-year-old wife and her 33-year-old lover at the house, he returned home and killed both of them, waking their children in the middle of the night with the gunshots.
After the slaying, Suljanovic and his adult son took both bodies to Louisiana and dumped them. Santamaria-Ruiz’s body was dumped in the woods outside of Natchitoches, La.
Suljanovic’s son, who also is named Jordy Suljanovic, dumped his mother’s body near the Atchafalaya River outside of Baton Rouge. The 21-year-old pleaded guilty last year to tampering with evidence, namely a corpse, in exchange for a five-year prison sentence.
In the weeks following the slayings, the older Suljanovic sold his Houston home and fled to Mexico City with his two young daughters, his son, and his son’s 16-year-old girlfriend. When he learned that he would be charged with the double murder, he tried to fly with all of them back to his homeland of Bosnia.
Suljanovic was detained when the plane landed in London after the first leg of the trip. He was returned to Houston where he was arrested by the Houston Police Department and the FBI.
Late Tuesday, he was convicted of capital murder late after an 8-day-trial. He was sentenced automatically to life in prison without parole. His wife’s brother and Santamaria-Ruiz’s sister gave victim impact statements about losing their loved ones.
Assistant District Attorney Lauren Bard, who prosecuted the case with ADA Kim Nwabeke, said Suljanovic had a history of abusive behavior toward his wife.
“She had been verbally and physically abused by him. And since she was born and raised in Mexico, she didn’t have citizenship of her own and probably didn’t feel like she could leave, she couldn’t go anywhere,” Bard said. “I’m sure she felt trapped, and she also had two younger daughters and probably stayed in part because of the kids.”
Special prosecutor in Alec Baldwin Rust shooting case steps aside after separation of powers complaint
A special prosecutor who doubles as a state MP is stepping down from her role in the manslaughter case against actor Alec Baldwin in the death of a cinematographer on a New Mexico film set.
Key points:
- Alec Baldwin’s legal team said Andrea Reeb’s dual roles were unconstitutional
- Ms Reeb said she was stepping aside to allow the prosecution to focus on the evidence
- Baldwin and weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed have pleaded not guilty of involuntary manslaughter
Baldwin’s legal team in February sought to disqualify special prosecutor and Republican state representative Andrea Reeb based on constitutional provisions that safeguard the separation of powers between distinct branches of government.
Ms Reeb said in a statement on Tuesday that she “will not allow questions about my serving as a legislator and prosecutor to cloud the real issue at hand”.
“It has become clear that the best way I can ensure justice is served in this case is to step down so that the prosecution can focus on the evidence and the facts,” Ms Reeb said.
District attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies filed a notification in state district court and declined further comment.
Baldwin and weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed have pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison and fines.
Ms Hutchins died shortly after being wounded on October 21, 2021, during rehearsals for the Western film Rust at a ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled in May to decide whether the evidence is sufficient to proceed to a trial.
Prosecutors say assistant director David Halls, who oversaw safety on set, has signed an agreement to plead guilty to the negligent use of a deadly weapon.
In her role as a state representative, Ms Reeb has sponsored several criminal justice initiatives, including enhanced punishments for firearms violations.
The Republican steered clear of voting on public spending to prosecute Baldwin and Ms Gutierrez-Reed.
She was excused from a House floor vote in February on a proposed state budget that includes $US360,000 ($538,000) for special prosecution expenses in the fatal film-set shooting.
Is my money safe? What you need to know about bank failures.
The recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, which catered mostly to the tech industry, may have you worried about your money. They were the second and third-biggest bank failures in U.S. history.
It all started last week when too many depositors tried to withdraw their money from Silicon Valley Bank at once, resulting in a bank run.
The bank had to sell treasury bonds and other securities at a steep loss to give customers their cash, and word spread fast on social media, contributing to the bank’s sudden failure. Regulators took control of New York-based Signature Bank soon after, saying it was necessary to protect depositors after too many people withdrew money.
In response, regulators guaranteed all deposits at the two banks and created a program to help shield other banks from a run on deposits.
Here’s what you need to know about your own money.
Are my deposits protected?
Yes, all deposits up to $250,000 are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The FDIC has a solid track record of insuring deposits above its cap, too.
Nearly all banks are FDIC insured. You can look for the FDIC logo at bank teller windows or on the entrance to your bank branch.
Credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Administration.
Individuals or businesses with large deposit amounts are encouraged to spread the funds across different financial institutions given that the FDIC insures up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank for each account type.
Federal officials have implemented measures to make sure customers at other banks don’t fret and withdraw their deposits.
Is my bank going to fail?
If you are worried about your bank closing in the near future, there are telltale signs of a bank that’s in trouble, according to Caleb Silver, editor-in-chief of investment site Investopedia.
He recommends that bank clients:
- Watch the bank’s stock price.
- Keep an eye on the bank’s quarterly and annual reports.
- Set a Google alert for the bank to monitor news coverage.
Pay close attention to the way your bank is behaving, Silver said.
“If they’re trying to raise money through a share offering or if they’re trying to sell more stock, they might have trouble on their balance sheet,” said Silver.
Should I look for alternatives?
If you have more than $250,000 in your bank, there are a few things you can do, including opening a second, joint account.
You can protect up to $500,000 by opening a joint account with a spouse, according to Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate, a financial services company.
“A married couple can easily protect a million dollars at the same bank by each having an individual account and together having a joint account,” he said.
You can also open up an account at another financial institution to spread out your deposits so that each falls under the FDIC insurance cap.
Do not withdraw cash
Despite the recent turmoil, experts don’t recommend withdrawing cash from your account. Keeping your money at a bank rather than in your home is safer, especially when it is insured.
“It’s not a time to pull your money out of the bank,” Silver said.
Even people with uninsured deposits usually get nearly all of their money back.
“It takes time, but generally all depositors — both insured and uninsured — get their money back,” said Todd Phillips, a consultant and former attorney at the FDIC. “Uninsured depositors may have to wait sometime, and may have to take haircut where they lose 10 to 15% of their savings, but it’s never zero.”
Source: cbsnews
First nor’easter of the season dumps heavy snow and cuts off power to hundreds of thousands across Northeast Dakin Andone Monica Garrett Christina Maxouris
The season’s first nor’easter has dropped nearly 3 feet of snow over parts of the US Northeast as of Tuesday evening, piling on trees and power lines and causing power outages for tens of thousands in the frigid weather with more snow possible into the night.
More than 240,000 customers across the region were without electricity as the sun went down Tuesday, including in New York, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, according to utility tracker PowerOutage.us.
Areas from upstate New York into southern New England have reported snowfall totals of at least 2 feet since Monday night, and parts of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine could see another 6 to 12 inches through the night, according to the Weather Prediction Center.
The heavy snowfall, coupled with strong wind gusts, created dangerous conditions for drivers Tuesday, with New York state’s transportation department warning residents the safest place to be is home.
In New Hampshire, fire officials rescued a child who had been trapped under a tree that fell, the Derry Fire Department said on Facebook. The child had been playing near a parent who was clearing snow, fire officials said.
For nearly 20 minutes, more than a dozen first responders used their hands, chainsaws, and shovels to free the child, the fire department said. The child was taken to a hospital with minor injuries but was in “good spirits,” it added.
What to expect Wednesday
Millions of people in the region were under winter storm warnings or winter weather advisories Tuesday evening during the nor’easter – a type of storm that travels along the Eastern Seaboard and brings winds from the northeast.
Live updates: Snow, rain and flooding pummel US coast to coast
Here’s what to expect going into Wednesday:
• The nor’easter is expected to continue dumping snow across New England overnight and taper off early Wednesday, according to the Weather Prediction Center.
• The winds won’t slow down as quickly: Areas from the mid-Atlantic through the Northeast will experience strong wind gusts through Wednesday afternoon, which could mean more power outages and woes for travelers.
• Parts of Massachusetts could also see minor coastal flooding and beach erosion Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service.
More than 1,000 flights canceled
The weather caused major disruptions for air travelers, with hundreds of flights canceled or delayed Tuesday.
More than 1,100 flights within, into, or out of the US were canceled, and more than 5,200 were delayed, according to FlightAware.com.
Among the most affected airports in the US were New York’s LaGuardia Airport and the Boston Logan International Airport – both of which urged passengers to check their flight status before going there.
Also in New York, the nose gear of a Delta Air Lines plane went beyond the paved taxiway at Syracuse Hancock International Airport while taxiing for departure to LaGuardia on Tuesday morning, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
‘Please check on your neighbors’
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency across dozens of upstate counties that went into effect Monday night.
The governor’s office said it activated the state’s emergency operations center Monday in response to the severe weather, and also activated the state’s National Guard to help with any response efforts.
“This winter storm has already dumped nearly 2 feet of snow in some of the eastern regions of the state, north of Westchester County, with heavy, wet snow causing power outages,” state Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said Tuesday.
“As power restoration and snow removal efforts continue, please check on your neighbors and loved ones to make sure they are weathering the storm safely,” Bray added.
In Massachusetts, roughly 1,700 pieces of equipment were deployed to help with snow and ice response, the state’s transportation department said.
The city of Worcester was prepared to assist residents with burst pipes, City Manager Eric Batista told “CNN This Morning” on Tuesday.
“Right now, the biggest concern for residents is to make sure they stay home and they stay safe,” he said.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills closed all government offices on Tuesday and advised residents to “stay off the roads if they can, plan for extra time if traveling, and give plenty of space to road crews and first responders working hard to keep us safe.”
Utilities and transit agencies announced preparations and gave advice in anticipation of the storm’s impacts.
Power company ConEdison, which serves New York City and neighboring Westchester County, brought in more than 400 outside workers to assist with possible outages, the utility said in a news release.
ConEdison warned customers to avoid downed wires – which could be hidden by snow, leaves or water – and report them to the utility or local authorities.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which serves a 5,000-square-mile travel area surrounding New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York state and Connecticut, announced plans to maintain as much service as possible.
“MTA employees will be deployed throughout the operating region spreading salt and clearing surfaces of snow, keeping signals, switches, and third rails operating, and attending to any weather-related challenges,” a news release from the authority said.
Source: cnn
Consumer Rights Day
The consumer movement marks 15th March with World Consumer Rights Day every year, as a means of raising global awareness about consumer rights and needs.
El mundial 2026 ahora será de 48 equipos y 104 partidos
El ente rector del Futbol determinó que en el próximo Mundial que se celebrará en Estados Unidos, México y Canadá participarán 48 selecciones nacionales que jugarán un total de 104 partidos durante seis semanas en los meses de junio y julio de 2026.
El Mundial de Futbol de 2026 que se disputará en Norteamérica se expandió más.Este martes 14 la FIFA incrementó la magnitud del torneo de 2026 por segunda vez — seis años después del primer cambio — al aprobar una etapa de grupos más amplia en el que será el primer Mundial con 48 selecciones.
Al preservar los grupos de cuatro equipos en vez de reducir a tres, el ente rector del fútbol concibió un calendario de 104 partidos en seis semanas durante los meses de junio y julio en Estados Unidos, Canadá y México.
Las 16 ciudades sede — 11 en Estados Unidos, tres en México y dos en Canadá — tendrán ahora 24 partidos adicionales que albergar sobre los 80 que ya habían sido previstos.
Con 1.5 millones de entradas adicionales, la FIFA podrá facturar más para sus arcas por lo menos 11 mil millones de dólares hasta 2026 en un torneo que se disputará mayormente en los gigantescos estadios de la NFL.
La FIFA señaló que la decisión respondió a un análisis completo que tomó en consideración la integridad del torneo, el bienestar de los jugadores, los traslados de los equipos, el atractivo comercial y deportivo.
Añadió que el nuevo formato “mitiga el riesgo de colusión (entre equipos en la última fecha de la fase de grupos) y garantiza que todos los equipos jueguen un mínimo de tres partidos, al mismo tiempo que brinda un tiempo de descanso equilibrado entre los equipos participantes”.
El empeño del presidente de la FIFA Gianni Infantino por disputar más partidos y ampliar los torneos en un calendario congestionado seguramente acentuará el recelo de las ligas domésticas y los jugadores, representados por el sindicato FIFPRO. Llevan quejándose que la FIFA les mantiene al margen de las consultas sobre el futuro del torneo internacional.
El Mundial de seis semanas se disputará un año después que la FIFA ponga en marcha el primer Mundial de Clubes con 32 equipos, el cual se realizaría en Norteamérica para poner a prueba la logística del torneo. La Liga de Campeones también estrenará un nuevo formato con más equipos y partidos desde la temporada 2024-2025.
Desde Francia 1998 los mundiales se disputaron con 32 equipos, con ocho grupos de cuatro. Los finalistas acababan con un total de siete partidos cada uno, pero los que alcancen el duelo por el título sumarán ocho duelos en total.
En el Mundial de Qatar del año pasado, ganado por Argentina, se escenificaron 64 partidos en 29 días.
Apenas 24 equipos participaron la última vez que México (1986) y Estados Unidos (1994) organizaron un Mundial. Canadá será sede por primera vez.