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☆ Daddy Longlegs Have Been Hiding Extra Eyes From Us
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Veronique Greenwood | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Guilherme Gainett, then a biologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was looking through a microscope at the embryo of a daddy longlegs when he saw it — or, rather, saw them. Daddy longlegs, the group of splendidly leggy arachnids also known as harvestmen, have been thought to have just two eyes. Arachnids include spiders, scorpions, harvestmen and other arthropods, and divining the relationships among this sprawling group of organisms is tricky. For the current study, Dr. Gainett used fluorescent tags to study the development of harvestman eyes. These findings suggest that the neural architecture that handles the daddy longlegs’ vision may be quite old.

Persons: Guilherme Gainett, Daddy longlegs, Gainett, Prashant Sharma Organizations: University of Wisconsin, Boston Children’s Hospital Locations: Madison

LAÚNDOS, Portugal (AP) — Guilherme Peixoto, a village priest in northern Portugal, has been busy this month celebrating Masses at his two parishes, presiding over remembrances for the dead — and preparing the electronic music set for his next international DJ gig. "They can think, 'If it’s possible for a priest to be DJ, it’s possible for me to like music, and festivals, and be Christian.'" The priest broke onto the global stage when the organizers of World Youth Day in Lisbon asked him to “wake up the pilgrims” at 7 a.m. before Pope Francis’ open-air Mass in August. There, he re-mixed electronic dance beats with words from Pope Francis’ encyclical about protecting the environment. “It’s very important to me to not only be the priest DJ, but be the shepherd of the community,” Peixoto said.

Persons: — Guilherme Peixoto, remembrances, ” Peixoto, Pope Francis ’, Peixoto, who’s, John Paul II, He’d, Francis ’, Silvana Pontes, ”, ” Pontes, he’d, Tania Campos, she’s, —, Paulo, Switzerland —, Irene Pontes, Andreia Flores, ” Flores, “, “ It’s, Pope, Pope Francis, Eduardo Duque, “ Padre Guilherme, we’ll, ’ ”, don’t, Jesus —, DJ Organizations: —, Ar, Rock, Peixoto, Catholic Portuguese University, Braga, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: LAÚNDOS, Portugal, fundraise, Italy, Lisbon, Portuguese, Laúndos, Ar de, Arizona, Switzerland, Amorim .

☆ Brazil Cracks Down on Surprising New Threat: Neo-Nazis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Julia Vargas Jones | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In southern Brazil in July, Laureano Toscani and João Guilherme Correa were smoking cigarettes along a busy road in their prison-issued garb, shorts and sandals, waiting for a ride after seven months in jail. Mr. Toscani was once convicted of stabbing a group of Jewish men, and Mr. Correa has been accused of murdering a couple leaving a party. But this time, they were behind bars for attending what they said was a harmless barbecue. The Brazilian authorities, however, say it was something far more sinister: a meeting of the Hammerskins, a neo-Nazi group founded in Dallas in 1988 that they say has recently found its way thousands of miles south, to Brazil’s most starkly conservative region, reflecting a surge in far-right extremists in Latin America’s largest nation. In September 2022, the state police in Santa Catarina began trailing the Hammerskins as members strategized on how to attract new recruits.

Persons: Laureano, João Guilherme Correa, Toscani, Correa, strategized Organizations: Nazi, Santa Catarina Locations: Brazil, Dallas, Santa

☆ Walmex Q3 net profit jumps more than 12%, pushed by higher sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Walmart is pictured outside a store in Mexico City, Mexico July 27, 2023. Walmart de Mexico, or Walmex, the biggest retailer in Mexico, posted net profit of 13.63 billion pesos ($782 million). Quarterly revenue at the chain rose 7.7% from the year-earlier period to reach 213.07 billion pesos, missing slightly the LSEG estimate of 213.34 billion pesos. Sales increased 9.5% in Mexico and 9% in Central America, with the retailer adding 24 new stores in Mexico and three in Central America, which contributed 1.6% to total revenues. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the quarter rose 8.5% to 23 billion pesos.

Persons: Henry Romero, Walmex, Guilherme Loureiro, Loureiro, Cofece, Valentine Hilaire, Aida Pelaez Fernandez, Brendan O'Boyle, Tom Hogue, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Walmart, REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Central America, Thomson Locations: Mexico City, Mexico, MEXICO, Mexican, Central America

☆ Medical imaging struggles to read dark skin. Researchers say they’ve found a way to make it easier
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Kaitlyn Schwanemann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Traditional medical imaging – used to diagnose, monitor or treat certain medical conditions – has long struggled to get clear pictures of patients with dark skin, according to experts. Researchers say they have found a way to improve medical imaging, a process through which physicians can observe the inside of the body, regardless of skin tone. They found that a distortion of the photoacoustic signal that makes the imaging more difficult to read, called clutter, increased with darkness of skin. The applications of photoacoustic technology vary, but with the researchers’ new developments, it may help diagnose health issues more accurately and equitably. We know there’s no basis in the human genome for racial sub-speciation.”This study isn’t the first to find skin color biases in medical technology.

Persons: –, Muyinatu Bell, it’s, ” Bell, Theo Pavan, “, ” Pavan, ”, Guilherme Fernandes, Camara Jones, ” Jones, Bell Organizations: CNN, Ultrasonics Systems, JHU, University of São Paulo, American Public Health Association Locations: Brazil

☆ Mexican liquors and beers are on the rise in the U.S. — here’s what’s driving the torrid growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Stefan Sykes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

"Tequila has been such a national treasure here in Mexico," said Guilherme Espagnoli Martins, global brand director of Diageo-owned Don Julio Tequila. The Mexican beer boomIt's not just tequila and mezcal — Mexican beer is booming, too. Mexican beer imports into the U.S. are up 10.6% in 2023, according to alcohol research firm Bump Williams Consulting. watch nowA spokesperson for Constellation told CNBC that Mexican beer sales grew as Hispanic culture gained a stronger foothold around the world. Constellation on Thursday reported quarterly results that topped Wall Street estimates, driven by the surge in demand for its Mexican beer brands.

Persons: Mario Tama, Lea, Tequila, Guilherme Espagnoli Martins, Don Julio Tequila, Don Julio, George Clooney, Martins, Don, Don Julio Tequila Blanco, Bump, Bud Light, Cowen, Vivien Azer, InBev's Bud, Constellation's, Azer, Jonnie Cahill, Tecate, Cahill, Heineken's, It's, Dos Equis, Eduardo, Lalo, González, LALO Blanco Tequila, Don Julio González Organizations: Modelo Especial, Getty, U.S, Experts, Diageo, CNBC, Bump Williams Consulting, Mexico's Modelo Especial, Constellation, Modelo, Constellation Brands, Anheuser, Busch InBev, InBev's, Heineken USA, Cinco de Mayo, Dos, Corona Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Mexico, The U.S, United States, British, Mexican, Modelo, Dos

☆ Palmeiras' facial recognition on match tickets helps police arrest criminals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sept 23 (Reuters) - Facial recognition technology used on match tickets by top flight soccer club Palmeiras has helped the Sao Paulo Public Security Secretariat (SSP) arrest 28 criminals in four games at the Allianz Parque stadium, the government body said on Friday. However, its use has also helped the SSP apprehend criminals before they enter the stadium to watch the team play. "We invested in the implementation of facial recognition to protect our greatest asset, which is the Palmeiras fans," club president Leila Pereira said in a statement. The facial recognition technology at matches allows real-time analysis to detect fans who have bought tickets from touts, the use of false or third-party documents, outstanding arrest warrants, non-compliance with court orders and sanctions. The SSP have issued arrest warrants related to theft, embezzlement, robbery and drug trafficking.

Persons: Leila Pereira, Guilherme Derrite, Angelica Medina, Ken Ferris Organizations: Palmeiras, Sao Paulo Public Security Secretariat, Allianz Parque, Paulista, SSP, Thomson Locations: Mexico City

[1/5] Pope Francis waves to pilgrims at the end of the Holy Mass on the last day of World Youth Day (WYD) at Parque Tejo in Lisbon, Portugal, 06 August 2023. About 1.5 million people attended his closing Mass at a riverside park in the Portuguese capital, the Vatican said, quoting local authorities. "Dear friends, allow me, this old man, to share with you young people a dream that I carry within me: it is the dream of peace, the dream of young people praying for peace, living in peace and building a peaceful future," Francis said. Francis, who was returning to Rome on Sunday evening after an event to thank volunteers at the World Youth Day festival, met a delegation of 15 young people from Ukraine during his trip. The pope announced that the next World Youth Day would be held in Seoul, South Korea in 2027.

Persons: Pope Francis, Read, Francis, Marina Sylvester, DJ, Guilherme, Philip Pullella, Frances Kerry Organizations: Parque Tejo, Catholic Youth, Church, Thomson Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, LISBON, Ukraine, Rome, pope's, Argentina, Seoul, South Korea

☆ Walmart Mexico posts slightly higher profit amid June sales uptick
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Carolina Pulice | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MEXICO CITY, July 27 (Reuters) - Walmart's Mexico and Central America unit on Thursday posted a 5% year-on-year rise in its second-quarter net profit, boosted by slightly higher sales especially in June, though earnings were slightly behind forecasts. Walmart de Mexico (WALMEX.MX), the largest retailer in Mexico, posted a net profit of 11.44 billion pesos ($668 million). The company posted a profit of 0.66 pesos a share, just below the Refinitiv estimate of 0.69 pesos. Same-store sales increased 8.5% in Mexico and 9.5% in Central America, and the firm expanded its physical footprint with 22 new stores in Mexico. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the quarter rose 8.5% to 21.9 billion pesos.

Persons: Paulo Garcia, Guilherme Loureiro, Monex, Loureiro, Carolina Pulice, Noe Torres, Kylie Madry, Lincoln, Christopher Cushing Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Central America, Walmart, America, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, Central, Central America

☆ Neo-Nazi groups multiply in a more conservative Brazil
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Steven Grattan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/5] Items seized from a neo-Nazi group who call themselves Crew 38 are displayed in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina state, Brazil April 24, 2023. "Santa Catarina is a land of WHITE PEOPLE, FOR WHITE PEOPLE," the anonymous sender wrote, signing off with the Nazi salute "SIEG HEIL." Researchers at Sao Paulo state's Unicamp university have tracked a more than 10-fold rise in the number of neo-Nazi cells in Brazil since 2015. SOUTHERN HATEThe problem of neo-Nazism is particularly acute in Santa Catarina, a state where many have German and Italian ancestry. The state has the largest proportion of white residents in Brazil, with 84% declaring as white in the last census.

Persons: Cristiano Estrela, Andrea Muller, Jair Bolsonaro's, Adolf Hitler, Bolsonaro, Flavio Dino, CONIB, Guilherme Franco de Andrade, Bolsonaro's, Arthur Lopes, Lopes, Luis Eduardo de Quadros, de Almeida, Steven Grattan, Gabriel Stargardter, Deepa Babington Organizations: Nazi, REUTERS, Reuters, Reuters Graphics, Federal Police, Nazism, Santa, Brazil's, Sao Paulo state's Unicamp, Federal University of Mato, Blacks, Haitian, Thomson Locations: Florianopolis, Santa Catarina state, Brazil, Itajai, Santa Catarina, Haiti, Nazi, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Sul, U.S, United States, Europe

[1/2] Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro leaves his home following a search operation, in Brasilia, Brazil, May 3, 2023. REUTERS/Adriano MachadoBRASILIA, May 3 (Reuters) - Brazilian police on Wednesday raided former President Jair Bolsonaro's home and seized his cell phone as part of an investigation into his COVID-19 vaccination records. The investigation may answer questions about how Bolsonaro, a strident coronavirus skeptic who vowed never to get a COVID vaccine, was registered as vaccinated in health records made public in February. Bolsonaro confirmed the raid on his home in Brasilia to journalists and reiterated that he had never taken a COVID vaccine. Police said they were investigating "false data" allegedly added to a national COVID-19 database between November 2021 and December 2022, when Bolsonaro was president.

☆ Brazil police raid Bolsonaro's home as part of Covid vaccine probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Federal police officers stand guard near the house of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, during a search operation at his home, in Brasilia, Brazil May 3, 2023. Brazil's federal police on Wednesday raided former President Jair Bolsonaro's home in Brasilia as part of a probe into a group suspected of adding false vaccine data into the government's Covid-19 database, two sources familiar with the matter said. Two of Bolsonaro's closest aides, Mauro Cid and Max Guilherme, have been arrested in the same operation, the sources added. Federal police earlier in the day said in a statement they were serving 16 search and seizure warrants and six preventive arrest warrants in Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro as part of the operation, but did not disclose the names of those targeted.

☆ Walmart in Mexico sees net profit rise in first quarter, yet trails competitors
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 26 (Reuters) - Walmart's Mexico unit (WALMEX.MX) on Wednesday posted a 3.7% rise in first quarter net profit as same-store sales rose in all markets, but it flagged inflation concerns after falling behind competitors in Mexico. Walmart de Mexico, known as Walmex, recorded 11.5 billion pesos ($639 million) in net profit for the first three months of the year, missing a Refinitiv estimate of 12.3 billion pesos. The company said changes in how taxes were calculated in a Central American country hit net profit, which otherwise would have grown 15.6%. Both Mexico and Central America posted same-store sales growth, with revenue up 9.7% from a year earlier to land at 206 billion pesos. Walmex's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) grew 7.7% to 22.31 billion pesos.

☆ Brazil’s Lula pitches ‘peace coalition’ for Ukraine, but he treads a thin line
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Julia Jones | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

He says he aims to form a coalition of countries willing to intervene and lead efforts for peace in Ukraine, though in the process is finding himself treading a thin line with the world’s biggest powers. When he launched his political comeback in 2022, Lula told Time magazine that he thought both Russia and Ukraine were responsible for the conflict. Lula condemned Russia’s decision to invade its neighbor, but controversially claimed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could have done more to avoid the conflict. Lula could not contemplate sending weapons – a step that would go far beyond Brazil’s traditional foreign policy, suggested the analyst. But he couldn’t do nothing, either – after all, Lula had promised to bring Brazil “back” to the world stage.

[1/3] A 3D printed Meta logo is seen in front of displayed Google logo in this illustration taken on November 2, 2021. If upheld, their appeals could establish jurisprudence for future cases concerning liability for internet content, at a time when social media companies are under pressure in Brazil due to a surge of political disinformation. According to Ruf, declaring it unconstitutional would increase removals of subjective content, including critical content that is important for democratic public debate. In mid-March, Brazil's government said it was planning to regulate internet platforms to reduce misinformation but also to tax platforms making money from advertising. Google Brasil lawyer Guilherme Sanchez said the company does not wait for court orders to remove content from its platforms.

[1/3] A 3D printed Meta logo is seen in front of displayed Google logo in this illustration taken on November 2, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File PhotoBRASILIA, March 28 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) and Alphabet Inc's Google (GOOGL.O) defended before the Supreme Court on Tuesday a Brazilian law that holds Internet platforms are not responsible for content posted by users unless they are subject to a court order. If upheld, their appeals could establish jurisprudence that will apply to future cases concerning the responsibility for Internet content, at a time when social media companies are under pressure in Brazil due to a surge in the spread of political disinformation. Google Brasil lawyer Guilherme Sanchez said the company does not wait for court orders to remove content from its platforms. By contrast, in the same period Google received just 1,700 requests for the removal of content from its products.

☆ These are Morgan Stanley's favorite Latin American stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Fred Imbert | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Latin America stocks are off to a solid start this year, and Morgan Stanley sees some names in the region posting strong gains in the near term. Latin American stocks got a boost last year as commodity prices rose due to the global economic reopening and the Ukraine-Russia war breaking out. Brazilian bank Itau Unibanco made the list, with Morgan Stanley expecting a total return of 54% this year, including dividends. "We think Itaú's strategic foresight and operational capabilities represent a meaningful competitive advantage in the marketplace," Morgan Stanley said in the note. However, Morgan Stanley said Credicorp "remains a top-class banking franchise that could navigate the current challenging based on management's execution capabilities."

☆ Brazil central bank greenlights Meta's WhatsApp merchant payment system
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A smartphone with a displayed Meta logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken February 23, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File PhotoSAO PAULO, March 2 (Reuters) - Brazil's central bank on Thursday approved Meta Platforms' (META.O) payments launch for small and medium-sized business in Brazil via its messaging application WhatsApp, building on the app's existing local peer-to-peer payment system. WhatsApp users in Brazil have been able to make payments between users through the application since 2021, but the new development clears the way for merchants to receive payments. "Soon, WhatsApp users will be able to pay for products and services directly in a conversation with Mastercard and Visa debit and credit cards," Guilherme Horn, head of WhatsApp Latin America, said in a Linkedin post. Shortly after the central bank's greenlight, Meta's chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said on his Instagram broadcast channel that "people will be able to pay small businesses right on WhatsApp".

☆ Student-loan borrowers' 'monthly costs could rise dramatically' this year if Biden's debt relief gets struck down, Elizabeth Warren says. She wants to know how that would impact you.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

She wants to know how the lawsuits blocking the relief are affecting the groups' members. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments to the cases on February 28. The cases are now headed to the Supreme Court on February 28. Insider has previously spoken to a number of borrowers who have expressed confusion, uncertainty, and anger with the stalled debt relief. Guilherme Lopes, a first-generation borrower with $146,000 in student debt, said that the legal challenges to the relief are "not the American dream that we were promised coming over."

☆ JPMorgan upgrades this under-the-radar Latin American airline, says it can rally 50%
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Copa 's stock could rally as air travel continues to rebound and industry-wide headwinds ease, according to JPMorgan. Analyst Guilherme Mendes upgraded the Latin American airline's stock to overweight from neutral. Mendes said Copa is attractive given its financials, specifically its debt-to-EBITDA ratio and liquidity. To be sure, Mendes noted factors like increased competition, weaker air travel recover than expected and re-elevated fuel prices could impact the stock's performance. Within the broader air travel sector, the analyst pointed to capacity increases and a 30% drop in jet fuel prices since October as evidence of an improving environment.

☆ Fact Check-Photograph of man likened to ‘QAnon Shaman’ not related to Jan. 8 riots in Brazil
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

But the image dates from 2021 and is not related to the attack on Brazil’s state institutions in early 2023. In September 2021, Angeli pleaded guilty to obstructing an official proceeding during the riots for which he received a prison sentence of 41 months (here). One of the posts, which features side by side photos of Angeli and the Brazilian protester, reads, “You know Brazil went FULL Jan 6 when they brought their own shaman” (here), (here). The image of the Brazilian man was taken by photographer Guilherme Gandolfi at a demonstration in Sao Paulo. The photograph of a man in Brazil likened to the “QAnon Shaman” dates from 2021 and is not related to the Jan. 8 attack on Brazil’s state institutions.

☆ Brazil's incoming finance chief Haddad names ministry officials
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAO PAULO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Brazil's incoming Finance Minister Fernando Haddad on Thursday announced a fresh batch of officials to lead the economic team of President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government. In a press conference, Haddad said Rogerio Ceron, his finance secretary when he himself served as Sao Paulo's mayor, would lead Brazil's Treasury. Ceron recently headed Sao Paulo Parcerias, a city government-linked agency involved in projects related to concessions, privatization and public-private partnerships. Haddad also confirmed Marcos Barbosa Pinto as the finance ministry's new secretary for economic reforms, Guilherme Mello as economic policy secretariat, and Robinson Barreirinhas as secretary of the federal revenue service. Haddad said the "quartet" he presented on Thursday would boost the finance ministry's efficiency and find solutions to the country's problems.

☆ Lula seen tapping Haddad for Brazil finance minister in coming days -sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Lisandra Paraguassu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRASILIA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is expected to tap former Sao Paulo Mayor Fernando Haddad in coming days to be his finance minister, people familiar with the deliberations told Reuters on Tuesday. The sources, who requested anonymity to share private talks, said Haddad's appointment to a working group on economic issues within Lula's transition team added to expectations, reported by Reuters this month, that he was the leading candidate for Lula's finance minister. According to one of the sources, Lula insisted on having Haddad in Brasilia, as he did on a trip the COP27 climate summit in Egypt, although he has not explicitly spoken with Haddad about his possible indication. On Monday night, Haddad told reporters that Lula had asked him to join meetings of the transition team's economic policy group, which includes economists Nelson Barbosa, Guilherme Mello, Persio Arida and Andre Lara Resende. Haddad's relationship with Lula was bolstered by his 2018 presidential campaign, which he lost to outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro.

☆ A first-generation college student with $146,000 in student debt says blocking Biden's relief 'feels like a really sick game': 'It's not the American dream that we were promised'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Guilherme Lopes, 31, is a first-generation college student with $146,000 in student debt. He said the recent court decisions blocking the debt relief "feels like a really sick game." When his high-school guidance counselors advised him to take out student loans to finance his education, that's exactly what he did. He also had high hopes that it would aid his mother and brother, who also hold student debt. While Biden's administration has expressed confidence that it will prevail in court, Lopes said he's upset these lawsuits even happened in the first place.

In a last minute U-turn, two days before the tournament's opening match, international soccer governing body FIFA said on Friday that alcoholic beer would not be sold at Qatar's World Cup stadiums. Now fans can only consume beer at the FIFA Fan Festival in Doha. "Not having alcohol is not good because the World Cup it's a party of the world," said Brazilian fan Julio Cesar, wearing a felt hat in his country's colours. The 2022 World Cup is the first edition of the tournament held in a conservative Muslim country with strict controls on alcohol, the consumption of which is banned in public. For the fans unfazed by Qatar's dire human rights record, the absence of beer at World Cup venues has proven a major disappointment.

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