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Officials are urging those who have been rescued from the floods not to return to their homes. Carlos Fabal/AFP/Getty ImagesA horse was found stranded on a rooftop in a flooded area in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul on Wednesday, May 8. It had been stuck on the roof for four days surrounded by flood water in the municipality of Canoas in the Brazilian state Rio Grande do Sul. Agencia Brasil, the sate-run news agency, has reported the rescue of more than 2,000 animals since the floods impacted Rio Grande du Sol, including dogs, cats, chickens, and pigs. Cars are surrounded by flooded streets after heavy rain in Canoas, in Rio Grande do Sul state, on May 9, 2024.

Persons: INMET, Katiane Mello, James Vargas, Carlos Fabal, –, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, El Niño, Carlos Macedo, Adriano Machado Organizations: CNN, Getty, Globo, Agencia Brasil, AP Brazilian Air Force Soldiers, Brasilia Air Force Base, Reuters Locations: Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Uruguay, Porto Alegre, Eldorado do Sul, AFP, Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul, Paulo’s, Canoas, Rio Grande, Sol, Pacific, Reuters Rio Grande do Sul

☆ Mars is buying Britain’s Hotel Chocolat in £534 million deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Mars is buying Hotel Chocolat in a deal that values Britain’s largest independent chocolate maker at £534 million ($661 million) and could boost its growth prospects outside of the United Kingdom. Hotel Chocolat was founded in 1993 by entrepreneurs Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris who “were on a mission to make chocolate exciting again,” according to its website. In the most recent financial year, Hotel Chocolat posted what it described as “disappointing” financial results. The company’s revenue declined 10% to £205 million ($254 million) and it reported a loss of £6.2 million ($7.7 million). “Hotel Chocolat, whilst expensive, is proper chocolate.

Persons: London CNN —, Jonathan De Mello, Angus Thirlwell, Peter Harris, “, Chocolat, Thirlwell, ”, Kraft, ” Susannah Streeter, Hargreaves Lansdown, Mars Organizations: London CNN, United Kingdom ., Chocolat’s, JDM Retail, Twitter, Kraft Foods, Mondelez, Mars, Hargreaves Locations: United Kingdom, Chocolat, London, Japan, Caribbean, American, Birmingham

☆ Home Sweet Times Square: How New York City can save Midtown Manhattan from the 'urban doom loop'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

And New York City has had success transforming single-use office districts, most notably Lower Manhattan's financial district, into more vibrant mixed-use places. Times Square is one of those, according to Tom Harris, president of the Times Square Alliance, which represents the district's businesses. AdvertisementAdvertisement"I'm not negating it, but certainly the opportunities south of Times Square, to the west of Times Square, are a little bit better for development of the housing stock," he said. The mix of businesses around Times Square has changed in a way that could be appealing to potential residents. Times Square lost 179 businesses during the pandemic, but has since welcomed more than 180 new businesses into the neighborhood, according to the Times Square Alliance.

Persons: —, Eric Adams, Dan Garodnick, Garodnick, Lynne Sagalyn, Sagalyn, Andrew Lichtenstein, Susan Mello, Walker, Dunlop, Mello, Luiz C . Ribeiro, Tom Harris, Harris, aren't, Le Bernardin, haven't —, Gardonick Organizations: Midtown, Service, Garment, Eighth, New York City's Department of City Planning, Columbia University, Getty, Financial, Times Square Alliance, Times, Lambs, —, Taco Bell, Grand Central Madison Locations: Midtown Manhattan, Midtown, Manhattan, America, Manhattan . Old, York City, Lower Manhattan, hasn't, Retail, Long, New York

☆ Birthplace of the atomic bomb braces for its biggest mission since the top-secret Manhattan Project
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Los Alamos was the perfect spot for the U.S. government's top-secret Manhattan Project. The mission calls for modernizing the arsenal with droves of new workers producing plutonium cores — key components for nuclear weapons. James Owen, the associate lab director for weapons engineering, has spent more than 25 years working in the nuclear weapons program. Alexandra Martinez, 40, grew up in nearby Chimayo and is the latest in her family to work at Los Alamos. The film put the spotlight on Los Alamos and its history, prompting more people to visit over the summer.

Persons: James Owen, Owen, Alamosans, Greg Mello, Alexandra Martinez, chuckles, Martinez, J, Robert Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan's, Oppenheimer, watchdogs, What's Organizations: U.S, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Associated Press, Los Alamos Study, Alamos, PF, Manhattan, —, Trinity Test, Independent Locations: Alamos, Manhattan, New Mexico, Albuquerque, Los Alamos, Peñasco, Taos County, Chimayo, selfies

LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (AP) — Los Alamos was the perfect spot for the U.S. government’s top-secret Manhattan Project. The community is facing growing pains again, 80 years later, as Los Alamos National Laboratory takes part in the nation's most ambitious nuclear weapons effort since World War II. The mission calls for modernizing the arsenal with droves of new workers producing plutonium cores — key components for nuclear weapons. Alexandra Martinez, 40, grew up in nearby Chimayo and is the latest in her family to work at Los Alamos. Some of the hand-written notes touch on the complicated legacy left by the creation of nuclear weapons.

Persons: James Owen, Owen, Alamosans, ” Greg Mello, Alexandra Martinez, chuckles, ”, Martinez, J, Robert Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan’s “ Oppenheimer, watchdogs, “ What's Organizations: ALAMOS, U.S, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Associated Press, Los Alamos Study, Alamos, PF, Manhattan, —, Trinity Test, Independent Locations: N.M, Los Alamos, Manhattan, New Mexico, Albuquerque, Alamos, Peñasco, Taos County, Chimayo, selfies

☆ Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro is barred from running for office until 2030
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro leaves his home following a search operation, in Brasilia, Brazil May 3, 2023. Far-right former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was barred Friday from running for office again until 2030 after a panel of judges concluded that he abused his power and cast unfounded doubts on the country's electronic voting system. Five judges on the nation's highest electoral court agreed that Bolsonaro used government communication channels to promote his campaign and sowed distrust about the vote. Speaking to reporters in Minas Gerais, Bolsonaro lamented that the trial was unfair and politically motivated. Brazilian law forbids candidates with criminal sentences from running for office.

Persons: Jair Bolsonaro, Bolsonaro, Carlos Melo, Judge Carmen Lucia —, —, Alexandre de Moraes, Melo, Fernando Collor de Mello, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Sen, Sergio Moro, Maria Maris, Maris, Lula, Swift jailing, Gleisi Hoffmann, mongers, Donald Trump, Marie Santini, Katia Caminha, Caminha, Bolsonaro's, Thomas Traumann, didn't, Traumann Organizations: Insper University, Liberal Party, Federal, Lula's Workers ' Party, Federal University of Rio, Bolsonaro, Associated Press, Sao Paulo Locations: Brasilia, Brazil, Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de, Copacabana, Sao, decamp, Florida

☆ Brazil's top court sentences ex-President Collor to prison for corruption
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Then-Senator Fernando Collor de Mello, also a former Brazilian president, during a vote session on the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia, Brazil, May 11, 2016. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino/File PhotoBRASILIA, May 31 (Reuters) - Brazil's supreme court voted on Wednesday to sentence former President Fernando Collor de Mello to 8 years and 10 months in prison on corruption and money laundering charges. The Brazilian prosecutor's office accused Collor, 73, of having received around 30 million reais ($6 million) in bribes from a subsidiary of state-run oil company Petrobras (PETR4.SA). The top court convicted the former senator in mid-May, but justices had still to decide on his sentence, which he can appeal. A rakish, dynastic heir with a penchant for expensive sports cars, Collor was one of Brazil's original free-marketeers whoopposed Brazil's entrenched protectionism and sought to privatize state-run firms in his curtailed presidency.

Persons: Fernando Collor de Mello, Dilma Rousseff, Ueslei Marcelino, Collor, Brazil's, Ricardo Brito, Carolina Pulice, Anthony Boadle, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Brazilian, Petrobras, PETR4, Thomson Locations: Brazilian, Brasilia, Brazil, BRASILIA, Alagoas

☆ U.S.-led Iraq war ushered in years of chaos and conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] A general view of Tahrir square as demonstrators take part during the ongoing anti-government protests in Baghdad, Iraq November 5, 2019. Here is a look at some of the violence, including suicide bombings and beheadings, that has plagued Iraq, a major OPEC oil producer and key U.S. ally, since the 2003 war. * March 20, 2003 - U.S.-led forces invade Iraq from Kuwait to oust Saddam Hussein. * October 2004 - Al Qaeda leader in Iraq Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi starts waging bloody attacks designed to turn majority Shi’ite Muslims against minority Sunnis in a civil war. * January 2007 - Bush announces a new war strategy including a “surge” of U.S. troops into Iraq to combat the insurgency.

☆ Brazil's Petrobras faces legal risks after halting asset sales -lawyers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Marta Nogueira | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Lula appointee Petrobras Chief Executive Jean Paul Prates told reporters on Thursday "everything is halted for analysis." There is no stipulation for that," Alexandre Calmon, lead partner of law firm Campos Mello Advogados' energy area, told Reuters. "That would be a breach of contract," he said, adding if "Petrobras fails to do something that it is obligated to do, it can be held responsible." The lawyer also explained that sale processes already signed but not concluded are not under the control of the oil company. The sale halt marks a major shift from the stance taken by former President Jair Bolsonaro's administration, which oversaw a number of Petrobras assets sales, including oilfields and refineries.

☆ 'Coup-mongering' Bolsonarista's battle cry reveals a radicalized Brazil
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Gabriel Stargardter | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Lots of people realized this wasn't a safe place," said Lucas Mello, a 22-year-old TikToker who has lived in the camp since Dec. 5. Three days after the riots, Moraes released Baldin, sent him home with an ankle bracelet, and barred him from talking to the media. "The heavily violent (protests) ... occurred in exactly the same context that motivated the temporary arrest of Milton Baldin," Moraes wrote in his sealed ruling. Bolsonaristas deride Moraes as an unelected despot who has censored free speech and trampled on the president's executive power. On Dec. 9, Bolsonaro broke weeks of post-election silence with an ambiguous message many viewed as encouragement to his protesting supporters.

☆ 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.

☆ How to make money as a content creator, according to dozens of influencers
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Content creators can earn money in many ways. In the past few years, earning money as a content creator and building an influencer career have become more accessible. Here are 11 common ways influencers earn money, based on conversations with dozens of industry insiders. For example, Aisha Beau Frisbey, a full-time lifestyle content creator with 36,000 Instagram followers, recently launched a deck of affirmation cards. Platform creator funds and bonusesSeveral platforms offers bonuses or "creator funds" that pay influencers money for the views they receive on their content, primarily short-form videos.

☆ 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.

That would surpass the October 2020 peak of 89% in the central bank series dating back to 2006. "It reduces the degree of freedom for the central bank to manage monetary policy," said Ramos. Brazil's central bank has held interest rates at 13.75% since August, after 12 straight hikes that lifted rates from a 2% record low in March 2021. Lula campaigned openly against the constitutional spending cap that limits spending growth to inflation. The proposal also removes some public investments from the cap, opening space for another 23 billion reais in public spending next year.

☆ Lula plans broad Brazil consumer debt renegotiation, adviser says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Marcela Ayres | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRASILIA, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Brazilian presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has proposed a broad consumer debt renegotiation program backed by government guarantees, aimed at relief for lower-income families if he wins an Oct. 30 runoff election, a senior adviser said. Renegotiated debts would be partially covered by a government guarantee fund of 7-16 billion reais, Mello said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"These are very reasonable amounts for the government to contribute," he added. The details of the plan, described broadly in Lula's leftist presidential platform, come after right-wing incumbent Jair Bolsonaro announced a debt renegotiation program for some 4 million clients of state bank Caixa Econômica Federal. But they are also studying strategies to encourage restructuring of bank debt at lower interest rates by reducing lenders' compulsory deposits.

☆ Influencers who are testing Instagram's Creator Marketplace say it's nearly impossible to get brand deals: 'It's crickets'
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Instagram's Creator Marketplace is currently invite only. How Instagram's Creator Marketplace worksInstagram's Creator Marketplace isn't exactly a no man's land: There are more than 100 brands listed in the app's marketplace, Mello said. What influencers want to see from Instagram's marketplaceIn the end, Instagram's Creator Marketplace is still a limited test, and ups and downs are to be expected. Otherwise, the marketplace could alienate smaller creators, Bright said — and Instagram has reiterated that smaller and emerging creators are a core focus. Otherwise, the marketplace could alienate smaller creators, Bright said — and Instagram has reiterated that smaller and emerging creators are a core focus.

☆ George Malkemus, Who Pushed Manolos to New Heights, Dies at 67
▼ + stars: | 2021-09-28 | by ( Penelope Green | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The cause was cancer, said Anthony Yurgaitis, his husband and business partner. Princess Diana wore them, as did Paloma Picasso, Anjelica Huston, the designer Carolina Herrera and virtually the entire staff of Vogue magazine. The company began in the early 1970s in a London boutique frequented by Bianca Jagger and other rock star adjacents. It was presided over, salon-style, by the exuberant Mr. Blahnik. A Manhattan store, opened in 1981, was an afterthought and losing money when Dawn Mello, then the fashion director of Bergdorf Goodman, the New York department store, introduced Mr. Malkemus, one of her copy writers, to Mr. Blahnik.

Persons: George Malkemus, Manolo Blahnik, Sarah Jessica Parker, Anthony Yurgaitis, Long, Manolos, Ms, Parker, Diana, Paloma Picasso, Anjelica Huston, Carolina Herrera, Bianca Jagger, Blahnik, Dawn Mello, Bergdorf Goodman, Malkemus Organizations: City, HBO, Vogue, New Locations: Manhattan, London, Canary, New York

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