Price surge for tomatoes has Brazilians up in arms

A woman shops for tomatoes with her daughter at a supermarket in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, April 11, 2013. A longer-than-usual rainy season, high fuel prices and superheated demand have combined to send prices for the beloved vegetable soaring, and consumers are seeing red. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

A woman shops for tomatoes with her daughter at a supermarket in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, April 11, 2013. A longer-than-usual rainy season, high fuel prices and superheated demand have combined to send prices for the beloved vegetable soaring, and consumers are seeing red. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ? The tomato has long been a near-obligatory garnishing for just about any Brazilian dish, yet it's becoming the country's apple of discord.

A longer-than-usual rainy season, high fuel prices and superheated demand have combined to send prices for the beloved food soaring, and consumers are seeing red.

Facebook pages have popped up for Brazilians to vent their anger, and some restaurants have even dropped tomato-based dishes from their menus. Opposition lawmakers pushed grocery carts laden with tomatoes and other pricey fruits and vegetables into the House of Representatives to complain about inflation, while people living near Brazil's southern border are crossing into Argentina and Paraguay to smuggle in tomatoes in defiance of customs laws.

The price of tomatoes has more than doubled over the past year, according to Brazil's IBGE statistics agency. A kilogram (2.2 pounds) now fetches as much as $6.50 at some Rio de Janeiro supermarkets ? a hefty sum in a country where the minimum wage is just $339 a month. While the price of a whole range of basic vegetables from carrots to cabbage to potatoes has risen steeply over the past year, only manioc flour, which saw a 140 percent price spike over the past 12 months, has risen more steeply than the tomato.

Clever cartoons and tongue-in-cheek photos on the "Tomatoes are very expensive" Facebook page cast them as a luxury, Brazil's newest status symbol. "Five star meal," reads the caption above a photo of a workaday lunch of breaded meat, rice and salad, crowned by two skimpy tomato slices. "Want to conquer her love? Give her this," says a cartoon featuring a shining gold band topped off with a pyramid of juicy red tomatoes.

According to a report in the newspaper O Globo, the online backlash started when an Italian restaurant in Sao Paulo announced that it was holding off on buying fresh tomatoes and suggested clients opt for spaghetti with shrimp sauce instead.

A segment on the Globo television network showed Brazilians stocking up on tomatoes at supermarkets across the border in Argentina. The piece ended with a stern admonishment from a Brazilian customs agent warning that crossing back into Brazil with such "contraband" could lead to its confiscation.

Vendors and buyers at an outdoor fruit and vegetable market in Rio's Flamengo neighborhood this week had tomatoes on the brain.

Chauffeur Otacilio Cavalcante sorted through a bin of mostly small and yellowish tomatoes, searching for the juiciest and reddest specimens for a special lunchtime treat.

"I've pretty much cut tomatoes out of my diet because at prices like these, who can afford then?" Cavalcante said with a shrug as he picked out four tomatoes destined for a salad. "I used to eat them all the time, but now they're a just for special occasions. It's crazy."

At $5 a kilogram, the small bin of tomatoes at vendor Adelina Dias stand garnered precious little attention.

"No one's buying, which is why I only stock half as much as I used to. What's the use if I'm just going to have to cart it away at the end of the day anyway," she said. "No one's buying tomatoes but they're all complaining about the prices. They're all crying like a bunch of babies."

While Brazil's economy grew just 0.9 percent last year, inflation has been steadily creeping up. In March, it hit a cumulated 6.6 percent over the past 12 months, the IBGE statistics agency reported Wednesday. The government had set 6.5 percent as its ceiling target for inflation for all of 2013.

Food is where many Brazilian consumers are feeling inflation the most. The price of the "cesta basica," the government-established basket of basic food products, went up in March in nearly all Brazilian state capitals.

In a media stunt aimed at scoring points with constituents up in arms over the rising cost of food, three opposition lawmakers wheeled shopping carts full of fruits and vegetables into the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

"Did you ever see such an expensive tomato," one of the lawmakers asked the television cameras as he plucked a plump red tomato from the cart.

___

Associated Press writer Marco Sibaja in Brasilia contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-04-12-LT-Brazil-Pricey-Tomatoes/id-37d8b5503fa543a4a9907a9340eda2f0

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At least 45 die in shelling, executions in Syrian town: activists

BEIRUT (Reuters) - At least 45 Syrians were killed, some in cold blood, when government troops stormed the contested town of Sanamein in the southern province of Deraa, opposition activists and a monitoring group said on Thursday.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said dozens of civilians, including children, were killed on Wednesday in shelling and summary executions after forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad entered Sanamein.

There was no immediate comment from Syrian state officials.

Security forces had been fighting anti-Assad rebels in the town in Deraa, a province bordering Jordan that has become a focal point of battles as both sides seek to control Syria's frontiers and seize supply lines to the capital, Damascus.

Rami Abdelrahman, head of the Observatory, which uses a network of contacts in Syria, told Reuters by telephone that the situation was still too confused to determine how many people had died in the fighting and how many in cold blood.

"Residents say there were heavy clashes yesterday and later security forces stormed the town. As they entered, they started shelling some districts and other gunmen were executing people," he said, adding that 45 victims of what he called a massacre had been named, with the confirmed death toll likely to rise.

Dozens of houses had been destroyed in shelling or by fire, Abdelrahman said.

Activist groups in Deraa said more than 60 people had been killed.

Video uploaded by residents showed rows of corpses laid out in a building, their faces covered in blood and bodies wrapped in blankets, with names scribbled on sheets of paper placed on top of them. Some of the dead appeared to be young children.

"Sanamein, April 10, a massacre has happened in Sanamein. I put my faith in God," said the cameraman filming the scene.

Reports and videos from inside Syria are hard to verify, as access to the country for international media is limited.

The United Nations said in February around 70,000 people had been killed in the two-year-old uprising against Assad. At least another 10,000 people have died since then, activists say, and the violence has also spilled across Syria's borders.

In the Bekaa Valley of northeast Lebanon, residents said five people were wounded outside the border town of Arsal from a Syrian air strike. The area is a stronghold of Sunni Muslim rebels opposed to Assad, who is from Syria's Alawite minority.

The Observatory also published video showing the bodies of 10 people, seven of whom it said were aged 17 or under and had been killed by "shabbiha" fighters loyal to Assad in the western province of Homs, according to local residents.

(Reporting by Erika Solomon; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/least-45-die-shelling-executions-syrian-town-activists-122116723.html

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Refurbished 27-inch iMacs hit the Apple store, start at $1,529

Lusting after Apple's giant, yet shockingly thin 27-inch iMac? The object of your desire just got a little cheaper -- well, as long as you don't mind refurbished goods. The extra large all-in-one is the latest Apple product to hit the company's certified refurbished store, offering as much as $270 the product's regular price. The iMac's 2.9GHz Core i5 base model can be had for $1,529, replete with 8GB of RAM, a 1TB HDD and that luxuriously large 2560 x 1440 display. Apple is also offering refurbished versions of the 3.2Ghz model for $1,699 and 3.4GHz Core i7 rigs for $1,869 and $2,199, depending on the configuration. As always, Cupertino promises that the machines have gone through a rigorous restoration process, but offers a included one-year warranty to put the concerns of cautious buyers to rest. Mosey on over to the source link to consider your savings. Still too rich for your blood? Well, there is a 21-inch model, too.

Filed under: Desktops, Apple

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Via: MacRumors

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/09/refurbished-27-inch-imacs-hit-the-apple-store/

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Italy's Moleskine fails to sparkle on market debut

By Antonella Ciancio

MILAN (Reuters) - Shares in upmarket notebook maker Moleskine made a lackluster debut in Milan on Wednesday as growth concerns and broad market weakness weighed on this year's first major stock listing in crisis-hit Italy.

The maker of notebooks based on originals used by Ernest Hemingway and Bruce Chatwin is the first company to join the main Milan stock market since the listing of cashmere brand Brunello Cucinelli nearly a year ago.

Shares in Moleskine closed 0.9 percent below their issue price at 2.28 euros, though Italy's all-share index <.ftitlms> fared worse, losing 2.1 percent.

Moleskine shares had risen nearly 3 percent in early trade from the 2.30 euros price the company had set for its 488 million euro ($626.5 million) initial public offering (IPO).

"They tried to defend it at placement price but eventually gave up and it slipped back," a Milan trader said.

The Milan-based company was valued around 14.5 times its 2012 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), a discount to Prada and luxury brand Tumi , but in line with brands with strong margins and growth in foreign markets.

Moleskine, which also makes diaries and leather covers for tablet PCs, lacks the exclusive appeal of luxury names such as Prada or Salvatore Ferragamo , whose shares rose in their stock market debut in 2011.

However, the company says it has revenue growth potential and margins above the luxury sector average.

"We are better than the average of luxury makers in terms of profitability," Chief Executive Arrigo Berni told Reuters at the market launch ceremony at Milan's stock exchange.

Founded in 1997, the company makes its thread-bound jotters in Asia, generating an operating margin of 43 percent, putting it in line with high-end luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton.

Bottega Veneta, owned by PPR , and Hermes have EBIT margins around 33-34 percent.

Moleskine generated revenues of around 78 million euros in 2012, a 16 percent rise on the year before and above an average 11 percent growth in the luxury sector, helped by new stores and stationery products. Profits rose 25 percent to 19.7 million euros.

Moleskine is the fourth upscale Italian brand to tap the stock market in under two years, following the IPOs of Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo and Cucinelli.

"I don't remember any recent luxury company which closed down on the first day," said Mario Ortelli, senior analyst at Bernstein Research. "They rather preferred not to float at all, like Graff and Moncler," he said.

"SIGNIFICANT GROWTH"

Berni said he expected "significant" growth in coming years as Moleskine developed applications and other digital products for a growing number of smartphone users and opens its first stores in China.

"We are not like Rolex, which makes exclusivity and price an integral part of its appeal," Berni said.

Moleskine sells 90 percent of its 15-euro notebooks outside Italy, which is struggling with a deep recession and stuck in political limbo after inconclusive elections.

"I think the management of Moleskine did a good job building the brand, but I think margins look pretty high and might come down in the future since they will need to invest in expanding their distribution channels and entering new product categories," said Scilla Huang Sun, who runs the JB Luxury Brands Fund with 320 million euros under management.

Moleskine offered 106.3 million shares, including 12 million new ones, meaning just over 50 percent of the company's shares are now traded on the market.

Demand for the shares has come from investors in Italy, Britain, elsewhere in Europe, the United States and Asia. The offer was 90 percent reserved for institutional investors.

"I hear the concerns that Italy doesn't have a government," said Raffaele Jerusalmi, CEO of Italian stock exchange Borsa Italiana, adding that the listing provided a sign of confidence.

"It is even more important to have a market flotation at this moment of uncertainty."

Private equity funds Syntegra Capital and Index Ventures, alongside founder Francesco Franceschi and management, will pocket most of the 244 million euros generated by the sale.

Moleskine has seen revenue growth of around 25 percent per year since Syntegra bought 75 percent for around 60 million euros in 2006. The company had revenues of 78 million euros in 2012.

Moleskine said remaining proceeds from the capital increase would be used to halve debt to 12 million euros, while retail growth would be funded through cash generation.

($1 = 0.7789 euros)

(Additional reporting by Elisa Anzolin and Stephen Jewkes, Astrid Wendlandt in Paris; Writing by Lisa Jucca and Antonella Ciancio; Editing by Helen Massy-Beresford and Will Waterman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/italys-moleskine-fails-sparkle-market-debut-162655611--finance.html

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Drake Matches Gritty '5 AM In Toronto' Lyrics With Homegrown Video

'Doing it for the city this time around,' Drizzy says of the low-key video for the venomous track.
By Rob Markman

Drake in his "5 AM in Toronto" music video
Photo: Universal Music Group

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1704804/drake-5-am-in-toronto-music-video.jhtml

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Mounting demand pushes Dubai real estate prices up further ...

Apartment sales prices grew on average by 12% in the three months to the end of March 2013 with year-on-year growth standing at 27%. In comparison, although average villa sales prices only climbed 5% in Q1 2013, growth over the past 12 months averaged 24%.

The performance of rental rates was also impressive, average apartment and villa rents grew by 3 and 4% compared to Q4 2012, but still managed to climb 19 and 21% respectively over the past 12 months.

"The overall outlook is positive with demand and rates expected to continue to grow. However, this will also mean that some tenants and buyers will be priced out of certain buildings or communities," said John Stevens, Managing Director, Asteco Property Management.

"Prices are not only being driven by tenants relocating, Dubai is also attracting new tenants and those expatriates here are still tending to take a longer-term view of living in Dubai," added Stevens.

The areas that came out on top for villa sales in Q1 2013 were the Meadows which jumped 10% reaching Dhs11,850 per square metre; Jumeirah Islands which rose 9% achieving Dhs13,450 per square metre and the Jumeirah Village which also grew 9% to Dhs6,450 per square metre. Year-on-year villa sales in the Springs grew by 29% to Dhs 9,700 per square metre and the Palm Jumeirah remains the most expensive at Dhs20,450 per square metre.

In terms of apartment sales the top performer in Q1 2013 was Discovery Gardens which increased by 33% to Dhs6,450 per square metre. The only other double-digit growth was recorded in Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence, where rates grew 14 and 15% respectively to Dhs12,900 and Dhs12,400. Over the past 12 months once again Discovery Gardens was the top achiever climbing an impressive 50% and again the Palm Jumeirah is the most expensive area with property commanding Dhs16,150 per square metre compared with apartments in DIFC and Downtown Dubai, which now change hands for Dhs15,600 and 15,000 per square metre respectively. The Palm Jumeirah remains the most expensive area, with a three-bedroom villa now costing Dhs325,000 per annum.

"In terms of supply and demand, Dubai is still benefiting from the Arab Spring and the Euro crisis, which was brought into sharper focus recently with the Cypriot banking crisis. Good quality stock is gradually being reduced while the length of time that advertised units stay on the market now is also shortening," added Stevens.

Apartment rental rates grew most during Q1 2013 in International City where a two-bedroom unit increased by 8% to Dhs40,000, while most other areas recorded up to 3% growth. However on an annual basis, a two-bedroom unit in Discovery Gardens now leases for Dhs70,000 a 27% increase. Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina followed, notching-up increases of 21 and 22% respectively. A two-bedroom apartment in these developments rents on average for between Dhs100,000 and Dhs125,000.

Although the commercial market saw little movement during 2012, it did show some signs of life in Q1 2013. Rental rates in Dubai Investments Park rose 13% to Dhs485 per square metre, while JLT and Tecom rose 20 and 25% respectively to command Dhs654 to Dhs800 per square metre compared to the same period last year. DIFC remains the premium destination for office rental with Dhs2,400 per square foot. Q1 2013 office sales prices grew most notably in JLT (9%) and Business Bay (7%).

Source: http://www.ameinfo.com/mounting-demand-pushes-dubai-real-estate-335982

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Man Tattoos Pitbull, Defends Actions as Dog Lover

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/03/man-tattoos-pitbull-defends-actions-as-dog-lover/

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