International

Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine

Guillermo Ulises Ruiz-Esparza is the first Mexican to be awarded the Pegasus Future of Health Technology award by the MIT Media Lab. The recognition is for his innovative contributions to medicine and nanotechnology.

Guillermo is a physician at the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education. He noticed the suffering caused by heart failure during his first encounters with his patients. That was the first step in creating nano-vectors to help fight this pathology.

His thesis on the use of nanotechnology to treat heart failure was written while he was at the Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas. At that time, nanotechnology was solely focused on oncological diseases.

And it was the perfect opportunity for him to propose an innovative idea: how nanotechnology vectors can carry drugs and be targeted to specific tissue. The heart was no exception. This research earned Ulises several awards, such as MIT’s TR35, the Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare Award, among others.

Ulises believes that the pandemic will help us better understand the importance of this technology. “Moderna, the company developing the COVID-19 vaccine, is implementing a method based on nanoparticles,” he said.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

Besides his research and awards, this Mexican doctor and researcher intends to create a program that encourages young Hispanics to do research in Boston. His goal is to increase the number of Latin Americans in the field. The most important thing for Ulises is that his research will be useful in the future.

Sources: El Tiempo Latino and Tec.mx

International

US panel backs Trump-themed coin amid controversy

The United States Department of the Treasury confirmed to AFP that the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design of a new collectible coin featuring Donald Trump, with members of the commission appointed by the current administration.

According to the proposal, the coin will feature an image of Trump standing with clenched fists over a desk on the obverse, while the reverse will display an eagle, a traditional symbol of the United States.

The sale price of the collectible has not yet been disclosed, although the United States Mint typically offers similar items for more than $1,000.

“There is no more iconic portrait for the front of these coins than that of our president Donald Trump,” U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement sent to AFP. He added that two additional coins — a $1 piece and a one-ounce gold coin — are also under consideration.

However, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), another body responsible for reviewing new coin proposals, declined to discuss the Trump design in late February.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

“Only nations governed by kings or dictators place the image of a sitting leader on their currency,” said Donald Scarinciat the time. “No country in the world has minted coins featuring a democratically elected leader during their term in office,” he added.

When contacted by AFP, the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

International

Fed’s Waller warns of rising inflation risks amid Middle East conflict

Christopher Waller, a governor at the Federal Reserve, said Friday that he is increasingly concerned about the inflationary impact of the ongoing conflict involving United States and Israel against Iran, particularly due to the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Waller, who had supported interest rate cuts over the past year amid concerns about the labor market, said he has shifted his stance in recent weeks due to rising inflation risks.

“Since the Strait of Hormuz was closed, it suggests this conflict could be much more prolonged and that oil prices will remain elevated for longer,” Waller said in an interview with CNBC.

“Therefore, this indicates that inflation is a greater concern than I had previously assessed,” he added.

Waller also backed the Federal Reserve’s decision earlier this week to keep interest rates unchanged, signaling a more cautious approach as global geopolitical tensions continue to affect economic outlooks.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

International

Brazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint

The government of Brazil has offered to mediate in the ongoing tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, while calling on both nations to exercise restraint.

In a statement released Wednesday, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the parties involved to act with moderation and seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

“Brazil encourages all sides to act with moderation in order to find a peaceful solution to the controversy. It stands ready to support dialogue efforts aimed at preserving peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

Brazil also expressed “serious concern” over reports of deaths in the border area between Colombia and Ecuador, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incidents have not yet been clarified.

The diplomatic move comes amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries, increasing regional concern over stability and security along their shared border.