Economy:
p24
2011 UK Budget Enterprise in the spotlight.
p28 Editor's choice:
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
Brazil's housing boom stokes bubble worries.
ISSUE NO. : 016 | WWW.BRAZILIANPOST.CO.UK
HIGHLIGHTS: BRAZIL:
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Rio proposed as World Heritage Site.
HEALTH:
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Rio : 10,000 dengue fever cases in 2011.
MADE IN UK:
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HIV cases double over decade in UK.
SHOWBIZ:
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Ricky Martin honored by GLAAD.
WHAT'S UP:
Brazil was proud host to Barack Obama and his family last week, during the president's first visit to South America. Mr. Obama and his delegation made the long-planned trip, despite pressing concerns at home and abroad, which is symbolic of the fact that the US recognizes Brazil's importance in regional and global affairs. Read more on Page 2.
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Human Rights Film Festival.
WORLD:
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Chinese stock salt amid radiation rumors.
ICON:
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End of an era with Liz Tylor.
ECONOMY:
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Barclays Isa tops best buy tables.
SPORT:
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Neymar gives Brazil 2-0 friendly win vs. Scotland.
OBAMA
WOOS BRAZIL
Brazil OBAMA IN A HISTORIC VISIT TO LATIN AMERICA
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When Barack Obama set off on his first trip to South America, it wasn't in the choicest of circumstances. With the budget debate in Washington, the rapidly unfolding events in Libya and the aftermath of Japan's tsunami, the timing of the visit certainly raised some eyebrows back home. However, billed by the White House as an important economic and diplomatic visit that would create US jobs and deepen economic ties with Latin American countries, President Obama and his delegation made the 5-day trip to Brazil, Chile and El Salvador as planned.
A Marked Difference Mr. Obama spent the first two days in Brazil, which constituted perhaps the most important leg of his tour. There have been 14 previous visits to Brazil by US presidents, but this one was different and significant in many ways. Up until now, Brazilian presidents have been expected to go to Washington first, whereas in this case, it was a US president who came to Brazil first. The timing is significant too: with America's unforeseen involvement in Libya's political crisis, Mr. Obama certainly had his hands full. So his visit, which falls within the first three months of the new Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff's admin-
Sao Paulo (Iberia) Rio de Janeiro (Iberia) Salvador (Air Europa) Belo Horizonte (TAP) Brasilia (TAP) Porto Alegre (Ibeira) Londrina (Lufthansa) Goiania (Iberia)
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istration, is a momentous one. Ties between Brazil and the US were often strained under president Rousseff's predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. There was the 2009 constitutional crisis in Hunduras, and in 2010 there was a big difference of opinion over policy towards Iran. In president Lula's administration, Brazil, along with Turkey, voted against the UN resolution to tighten sanctions against Iran's nuclear programme. The new president Dilma Rousseff is a protégée of Lula and her cabinet still has many members from Lula's day, but she has taken a distinctly different stance towards Iran, distancing herself from the Islamic country and expressing her disagreement with Brazil's previous vote. In addition, she has appointed former ambassador to the United States Antonio Patriota as Brazil's new foreign minister, in place of Celso Amorim, who was closely associated with the Iran dealings. The Americans see these developments as very positive signs for future bilateral relations. According to US ambassador to Brazil, Thomas Shannon, “Brazil is no longer an emerging country, it has emerged.” Mr. Shannon believes that both nations now need to learn to work together in a productive and mutually advantageous way in areas of regional and global importance, such as the world's economic governance, climate change, food security, poverty reduction, global health and peace.
The Power of the Obama Speech
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Mr. Obama has been a popular and inspirational figure in Latin America. Being the first black president of the US, his personal story resonates with millions of black and indigenous Brazilians who aspire to social equality and access to a better life. The sustained applause that echoed through Rio de Janeiro's Municipal Theatre as he made his speech was indicative of how he has been able to strike a common chord with citizens of the largest and most rapidly developing country
in Latin America. During the live-televised speech, Mr. Obama spoke a few words in Portuguese and drew parallels between the histories of Brazil and the US He said, “ Our journeys began in similar ways… We became colonies claimed for distant crowns, but soon declared our independence. We welcomed waves of immigrants to our shores, and eventually cleansed the stain of slavery from our land.” He also praised Brazil's democracy, saying that the Latin American giant's flourishing economy and growing democracy were a model for countries in the Middle East. Alluding to an old joke that Brazil would always be a “country of the future” because of its unfulfilled potential, Mr. Obama said, “For the people of Brazil, the future has arrived.” All around, there were heartfelt reactions to his words. Abdias Nascimento, a representative of Brazil's Movimento Negro, called the speech "profound." Eduardo Eugenio Gouvea Viera, who represents FIRJAN, Brazil's leading industry federation, told Agencia Brasil that the speech was nothing short of historic; it carried the message that “the most worthy value to Brazilians and Americans is freedom.”
A New Beginning Mr. Obama's visit to Rio followed talks with president Dilma Rousseff in the capital Brasilia. This was the first time since the restoration of democracy in Brazil in 1985 that a high-level bilateral dialogue took place between the US and Brazil. In a joint news conference, both leaders spoke of Brazil's economic power. Ms. Rousseff said that the two countries would explore opportunities to collaborate in areas such as genetics, biotechnology, renewable energy and deep-sea oil exploration. Mr. Obama's agenda included increased energy trade with Brazil as well, noting that Brazil's newly discovered oil reserves could be even larger than America's. According to White House aides, Brazil is the eighth largest importer of US goods, and the amount it buys from the US is growing rapidly. President Obama would like to grow this market for US exports and overtake China as Brazil's biggest trading partner. Another key issue on the table was Brazil's desire to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. The joint statement calling for “modest expansion” of the council and said that Mr. Obama "expressed appreciation for Brazil's aspiration…” The wording did not amount to a full endorsement, but this is likely to change in the not-too-distant future. The leaders discussed increased cooperation in areas such as education, energy, bio-fuels, agribusiness, and the environment, but this American presidential visit was more important from the point of view of the recognition Brazil has won as a key global player because of its stable democracy and growing economy.
The Brazilian Post
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
The Brazilian Post
Brazil
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Obama: Brazil's democracy an example to Arab world As U.S. warplanes pounded faraway Libya, President Barack Obama praised Brazil's transition from dictatorship to democracy as a model for the Arab world where decades of stability enforced by strongmen is giving way to an uncertain but potentially brighter future. The president spoke from a theater in the historic Rio de Janeiro square where a 1984 protest set the stage for the eventual end of a 20-year military dictatorship. He said those protesters showed how a popular revolt could produce a thriving democracy. And without specifically mentioning the military action he authorized just a day ago in Libya, the president drew a connection to the events there and throughout the Middle East. "No one can say for certain how this change will end, but I do know that change is not something that we should fear," the
president said. "That is the example of Brazil. Brazil - a country that shows that a dictatorship can become a thriving democracy. Brazil - a country that shows democracy delivers both freedom and opportunity to its people. Brazil - a country that shows how a call for change that starts in the streets can transform a city, a country and the world." Brazil was ruled by a military dictatorship from 1964-85, a regime that was eased from power not by a sharp, violent revolution, but through a long, massive popular movement of peaceful protests and strikes led in a large part by labor unions and dissident political groups. New President Dilma Rousseff, the nation's first female leader, who took
power in January, was a key member of a Marxist militant group that battled against the dictatorship. Brazil is now enjoying one of the strongest democratic moments in its political history, and analysts have lauded the quality of its leadership during the last 16 years.
Shakira Meets Dilma
Rio proposed as UNESCO world heritage site
Colombian singer Shakira and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff pledged to improve the welfare of children in Brazil. Shakira met with Rousseff for about 20 minutes Thursday last week in front of reporters in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia prior to a scheduled concert. The two discussed the work of Shakira's Alas Foundation, which promotes early-childhood development in Latin America. The singer gave Rousseff a guitar after the meeting. Before coming to Brazil, Shakira inaugurated 20 childhood development centers in Argentina. She has said she has plans to do similar work in Panama and Mexico.
Movie 'Rio' premieres in Rio The Brazilian government is proposing that UNESCO name the city of Rio de Janeiro a World Heritage site. The proposal was made by Iphan, the government agency in charge of historic and artistic patrimony. It proposed for official recognition of Rio's landscape, with its singular combination of cultural and natural attractions. Among the sites mentioned are the Sugarloaf mountain, Christ the Redeemer statue, the botanical garden and Copacabana beach. UNESCO has recognized 18 cultural and natural sites in Brazil so far, including a national park in the Amazon, the historic city of Ouro Preto, and the capital, Brasilia. UNESCO is expected to make a decision in 2012.
Hollywood superstars Anne Hathaway and Jesse Eisenberg were in a Rio de Janeiro shanty town Friday last week for the world premiere of the animated film "Rio." "You will be the first children in the world to see this movie," Hollywood director Carlos Saldanha told favela school children chosen to see the film, scheduled to widespread release in April. Saldanha, a Brazilian living in the United States who gained fame directing the animated "Ice Age" movies, premiered his film at a new cinema able to project 3D movies in the Complexo do Alemao. The film is about
Brazilian police shot unarmed minor A Brazilian prosecutor says five police officers have been detained after Brazilian television stations released amateur video allegedly showing them repeatedly shooting a 14-year-old boy. Prosecutor Joao Bosco Valente says the boy survived, despite being shot five times. Valente says the shooting took place just outside the boy's house on Aug. 17, 2010 in the northern state of Amazonas. He says the shooting only came to light Wednesday night last week, when the videos were broadcast. He says that's because the boy's family, the man who shot the video and the reporter who first saw the footage were afraid of retaliation.
the adventures of Blu, a rare blue macaw living in the US state of Minnesota that travels to Rio, where he meets a female blue macaw named Jewel who shows him around town. The film opens in theaters on April 8. Anne Hathaway who is voice of Jewel was present during the premiere.
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Brazil
The Brazilian Post
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
Brazilian plastic surgeon says he operated on Gaddafi Dr. Liacyr Ribeiro, a noted Brazilian plastic surgeon, says that he performed middle-ofthe night cosmetic surgery on Gaddafi deep inside one of the leader's bunkers 16 years ago. It was well past midnight when the Brazilian surgeon says he was escorted deep inside a bunker in the Libyan capital. His assignment: to shave years off Moammar Gaddafi's appearance by removing fat from his belly and injecting it into his wrinkled face. The Libyan leader also got hair plugs. "He told me that he had been in power for 25 years at that time, and that he did not want the young people of his nation to see him as an old man," Dr. Liacyr Ribeiro recalled. "I recommended a facelift, but he refused." The secretive four-hour procedure in 1995 was done, on Gaddafi's insistence, with local anesthesia because he wanted to remain alert. Midway through, the Libyan leader stopped to have a hamburger. Gaddafi was worried a facelift would be too noticeable, so he opted for the less radical procedure, the plastic surgeon told. At the time of the surgery, Gaddafi was 53, but Ribeiro said he looked at least 10 years older. After the procedure, "he looked like a 45-yearold man," the doctor said. Ribeiro insists he is speaking out now only to provide insight into a
man about whom little is known, and certainly not to boast. Gadhafi is hardly the only world leader to go under the knife. Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi owes his look to plastic surgery and a hair transplant — work also performed by Ribeiro, according to media reports, though the doctor refuses to confirm that. And rumors swirled about Russian leader Vladimir Putin after he appeared last October with heavy makeup covering bruises under his eyes. A surgeon with an international reputation, the 70-year-old Ribeiro has written two books on plastic surgery and taken part in conferences around the world on the topic.
Obama thrills Brazil slum residents President Barack Obama didn't just take in Rio's famous tourist sites during his visit last week, instead making his first stop at a notorious slum where police recently wrested control from a violent drug gang. At a community center, the president shed his coat and tie, rolled up his sleeves and dribbled a soccer ball one-on-one with a delighted boy. Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia also kicked a ball around with the kids. In this nation of 190 million where half the population is black, Obama's election is an inspiration for many, said Ana Luiza Paradiso, a 40-year-old housewife. "He opened a path for us," Paradiso said. "The fact that he is black lets other people dream. We have a real connection, real empathy for Obama." Obama was on a five-day tour of Latin America that began in Brasilia, the capital.
Advisers said the Rio slum tour was designed to call attention to his push for reducing violence, a major concern for Latin American countries wrestling with drug gang wars and lingering poverty. The City of God gained worldwide notoriety after the 2002 film, which told of the slum's transformation over five decades from a government-planned housing project for the poor to a violent haven for cocaine gangs. The same story has been repeated in hundreds of Rio slums. In 2009, however, this City of God became part of an ambitious police "pacification" program, in which security forces clear heavily armed gangs from slums and establish a police presence. The program aims at reducing violence in Rio before the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games and improving the lives of shantytown residents by bringing in basic services.
US bank to give $3 bn to Brazil for World Cup, oil The US Export-Import Bank will establish a $1 billion line of credit for Brazilian companies to improve infrastructure ahead of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, the bank's president said last week. The bank also announced $2 billion in credit to Brazilian state-run oil giant Petrobras, Latin America's biggest company, which aims to become one of the world's biggest oil producers in coming years. The announcement follows US President Barack Obama's visit in which he sought to drum up business for US companies, adding the United States wants to "be one of your best customers" when Brazil starts pumping oil from offshore reserves. "We have $3 billion committed to Brazil," bank president Fred Hochberg said during an event with business leaders from the Federation of Industries of Sao Paulo (FIESP). "I'm hopeful that we can use this first $1
billion for infrastructure as the beginning of building our portfolio and building our work with Brazilian companies," he added. About 50 business leaders who made the trip with Obama visited the FIESP representatives on Monday to discuss investment opportunities. "There are many opportunities to increase bilateral trade and it will happen with the 2014 World Cup and the Olympic Games in 2016," Locke said in an interview with O Estado de Sao Paulo published Monday. "We can help with the infrastructure." Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and Obama signed agreements aimed at reducing trade barriers, easing bilateral investment, broadening Brazilian oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico, and outlining an "open skies" accord expanding commercial flights between the two nations. Oil recently discovered off Brazil's coast could amount to twice the US reserves.
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
The Brazilian Post
7 year old’s molestation suspect castrated A man of 38 years suspected of molesting a seven year old girl in Laguna, south coast of Santa Catarina, was castrated by a mob and remains hospitalized. The man, who police said is a wanderer, was transferred to the Hospital Celso Ramos, Florianópolis. According to the delegate José David Machado, Police Headquarters in Laguna on Sunday, at around 16 hours the girl's father went to the police station to register the abuse. The father said that the suspect was seen with the child sitting on his lap in a canoe at Villa Victoria neighborhood. Outraged, the neighborhood residents beat up the suspect. But the revolt did not stop there, late on Monday the hiker was assaulted again and had his genitals cut off. He was rescued by the Office of Mobile Emergency Care (SEMC) and brought to Florianopolis.
The World Trade Organization on Friday ruled that some anti-dumping duties imposed by the United States on imports of Brazilian orange juice violated international trade rules. Brazil had claimed in a complaint filed in 2008 that the method used by Washington to calculate when its orange juice was dumped, or sold at less than cost price on US markets, was illegal. The WTO dispute settlement panel accepted the Brazilian complaint on two points, ruling that the United States had "acted inconsistently" in applying its controversial and complex method called 'zeroing.' It recommended that the United States "bring its measures into conformity with its obligations under the AntiDumping Agreement." Brazil argued that the unfair calculation allowed the United States to impose extra duties on its orange juice, hampering its exports. The Brazilian government said in a statement that it "hopes that the United States will bring its measure into conformity without delay, as a clear sign of respect for the multilateral trade" system.
Recently, the first two cases of type-4 dengue fever in Rio de Janeiro state were confirmed in the city of Niteroi. The type-4 dengue fever is not more dangerous than the other types, but as the disease had not been registered in the region before, the local population has no immunity to it. As there are four different types of dengue fever, a person can develop the disease several times. The last epidemic of dengue fever in Rio de Janeiro state occurred in 2008 when 174 people died of the disease and some 250,000 cases of dengue were registered.
Obama lauds Brazil as a model for peace
Immersing himself in Brazil's poverty and pride, President Barack Obama on Sunday held up the South American nation as a model of democratic change in a time of uprisings and crackdowns across the Arab world and yet another war front for the United States. From Rio's glamorous beaches to a notorious slum to an elegant theater, Obama glimpsed the city's Rio's cultural extremes, offering the kind of personal engagement that can pay political dividends for years. Less than one day after announcing U.S. military strikes against Libya's government,
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WTO rules against US in Brazil orange juice dispute
Rio reports over 10,000 dengue fever cases in 2011 The number of dengue fever cases in Rio de Janeiro city this year has already surpassed 10,000, local health authorities said last week. According to the city's Health Secretariat, in less than three months, the number of confirmed dengue fever cases in Rio reached 10,158, exceeding the figures registered in the entire years of 2009 (2,723) and 2010 (3,120). In Rio de Janeiro state, the number of confirmed dengue fever cases reached 20,150, and the death toll rose to 18.
Brazil
Obama made time to kick a soccer ball around with kids in a shantytown. The competing stories of Obama's itinerary — a war front in Africa, an economic commitment to South America — divided his time in incongruous ways. By morning, he spoke with his security team about the international assault against Moammar Gadhafi's defenses; by night, he was to stand atop a mountain and admire Rio's world famous statue of Jesus. In a speech, Obama celebrated Brazil as a place that has shifted from dictatorship to democracy, moving millions into its middle class and embracing human rights. "As two nations who have struggled over many generations to perfect our own democracies, the United States and Brazil know that the future of the Arab world will be determined by its people," Obama told an invitation-only crowd inside an ornate hall here. “For so long, you were called a country of the future, told to wait for a better day that was always just around the corner," Obama said. "Meus amigos, that day has finally come."
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Brazil
The Brazilian Post
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
OBAMAS IN BRAZIL The Obamas won Brazilian hearts. On a 5 day tour of Latin America, a first for a US president, Barack ‘played office’ with the Brazilian dignitaries while Michelle exerted the role of second-in-command with panache. Making his first significant appearance after US’s intervention in the Libyan crisis, the presence of his wife and daughters helped in feathering and softening his stoic stance. As the First Family put up a united front for all to see, what most touched people’s heart was a glimpse of his role as the ‘Family man’.
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01 First family of the U.S. arriving in Brazil 02 Obama with Dilma 03 Michelle Obama sharing a lighter moment with daughters Sasha and Malia 04 Obama with Dilma listening to the national anthem 05 Michelle Obama during her speech at the event 06 The Obamas with Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff 07 Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff greeting Michelle Obama 08 Michelle Obama enjoying a samba dance performance 09 A glimpse of mother –daughter (Malia) bonding while on Brazil visit
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Made in UK Double Murder Police find body of Sian O'Callaghan and search for another nearby The search for the missing Swindon woman Sian O'Callaghan has taken a dramatic turn after police announced that a man arrested over her disappearance had told them the location of two bodies. Police said a man initially held on suspicion of kidnapping 22-year-old O'Callaghan had directed them to her body and that of a second victim. Officers found one of the bodies, and said they were confident it was O'Callaghan's; they were continuing to search for the second body. Police have been carrying out forensic searches at the house of a Swindon taxi driver named locally as Christopher Halliwell, as well as at Savernake forest in Wiltshire, where O'Callaghan's phone is known to have been taken after she vanished early on Saturday. O'Callaghan disappeared after leaving the Suju nightclub in the Old Town area of Swindon at 2.52am on Saturday. She had been expected to walk the half mile to the flat she shared with her boyfriend, Kevin Reape, 25, but did not arrive and was reported missing a few hours later. At 3.24am Reape sent a text message to her mobile phone. Checks revealed that it was sent in the Savernake forest area near Marlborough, 12 miles from her home, when the message was received. Police said that she could only have covered such a distance in a vehicle. After initial reports that two bodies had been found, police said in a statement: "Wiltshire police would like to make it clear that while the location of two bodies has been identified to the senior investigating officer, only one body has currently been found, and this is believed to be Sian O'Callaghan. "The second body was yet to be recovered at the time of going to press.
UK toughens student visa rules Britain is toughening its student visa rules, closing bogus colleges and turning away students who can't speak English well in a bid to reduce immigration, officials said last week. The clampdown could cut the number of foreign students and their dependents by about 100,000 people a year under the plan, home secretary Theresa May said. "You need to speak English to learn at our education establishments. If you can't, we won't give you a visa," she said. The numbers of foreign students coming into the country have more than trebled in the last ten years and they now account for a far larger number of incoming population than those who apply as workers or family, May said. The minimum English proficiency for degree-level students will be raised and assessed with tests, although uni-
versities will be permitted to make their own assessments, May said. Border Agency officers will also be given discretion to refuse entry to students who cannot speak English without an interpreter, or who are clearly below the minimum standard for university, May said. However, students who lack the required level of English for university will still be allowed to attend preparatory courses that help them progress to university. The measures will also limit the amount of work students and fresh graduates can undertake. Students studying at private colleges will be barred from working, while those wishing to stay in the country after their studies can only do so if they find employment that pays at least 20,000 pounds ($38,000) a year.
The Brazilian Post
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MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
Night stalker Delroy Grant jailed for 27 years The 53-year-old rapist and burglar was ordered to serve four life sentences for a relentless campaign of terror that spanned 17 years. The former minicab driver and one-time Jehovah's Witness was told he will remain in prison for a minimum of 27 years. Judge Peter Rook said the attacker's 'utter depravity knows no bounds' and that his offending 'is in a league of its own'. Speaking at Woolwich Crown Court, he said the sex attacker subjected his victims to 'humiliating and degrading' attacks that robbed them of their 'winter years'. The judge added: 'I have no doubt you are a very dangerous man capable of committing heinous crimes and of causing incalculable harm to people. Grant, who raped and sexually assaulted women and men in their 70s and 80s after breaking into their homes, will be 78 when he can first apply for parole. His unprecedented crimes left thousands of elderly people living in fear in south east London, north Kent and north Surrey.
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Made in UK
The Brazilian Post
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
iPad 2 cheaper in UK's first UK than original full face and hand transplant
The massive onslaught of Android tablets was starting to make the iPad look relatively expensive, until Apple took the decision to lower the price of the iPad 2 in the UK. Prices for iPad 2 will start at just £399 inc VAT for the 16GB Wi-Fi only version to be released in Uk. This is £30 cheaper than the firstgeneration iPad on its release and one of the first times that Apple's actually reduced the price of a product for a successive version. If you want a higher capacity version, it's £479 for 32GB and £559 for 64GB, Wi-Fi only models. The iPad 2 is also available with built-in 3G at the same capacities, although you'll have to pay £100 extra per model to get this. As usual, some deals will be available through mobile operators if you also take out a 3G contract at the same time. After release, the iPad 2 will be available to buy online from the Apple UK Store, although the wait for delivery times could be up to a few weeks.
The pioneering procedure, which has only been performed once before, is expected to be carried out by doctors at the Royal Free Hospital in north London. Surgeons have already been given the go-ahead for the country's first full face transplant and are waiting for a suitable donor match, as well as conducting psychological testing on patients put forward for a hand and face transplant. It comes as the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence issues new guidance calling for "more evidence" on the possible risks and benefits of
hand transplant surgery. Several patients are also being assessed for a combined hand and face transplant, and are undergoing rigorous psychological testing. In new guidance, it said health professionals should explain the uncertainties and possible risks to all patients considering the operation before they give their consent. The patients being assessed by the hospital include burns and blast victims and people who have suffered serious infections.
Radioactive trace from Japan found in Britain
U.K. woman dies in dentist's chair An investigation is underway into the death of a British woman who collapsed in the dentist's chair after using mouthwash. Sacha Rumaner, 30, from Brighton, in southern England, was having her teeth cleaned at the Morley Street Family Dental Clinic when she went into anaphylactic shock, according to media reports. Anaphylaxis is a severe and life-threatening type of allergic reaction, with symptoms developing rapidly — often within seconds or minutes. If the condition is not treated immediately, it can lead to unconsciousness or even death. In this case, paramedics tried to resuscitate Rumaner, but it was too late, and she died before they could get her to the hospital.
Radioactive particles from the shattered Fukushima power station have reached Europe and Britain. Tiny samples of nuclear fallout were found in the atmosphere by a monitoring station in Reykjavik, Iceland, after an 8,000-mile journey. But experts stressed the levels were NOT harmful, and were between 1,000 and 10,000 times less dangerous than the fallout from Ukraine's 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Iceland's head emergency planner Sigurdur Emil Palsson said: "We were very surprised that it has been found here."
HIV cases double over decade in UK
The number of British people infected with HIV virus has doubled in the past decade, Health Protection Agency's figures show. The number of those in the UK infected with HIV rose from 1,950 in 2001 to 3,780 in 2010. The majority of new cases were among homosexual men, with a 70 percent rise in the last decade. Another group with a high number of HIV cases was the Black African community, HPA figures showed. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued new principles for doctors in England, to increase the number of HIV tests among homosexual men. “This new guidance from NICE makes a number of practical recommendations which aim to increase HIV testing by encouraging healthcare professionals to offer it routinely to people in areas where there are a high number of people living with HIV," said Professor Mike Kelly, director of the centre for public health excellence at NICE. "For many people of black African heritage there is a fear that being diagnosed HIV positive will result in social exclusion or racism and prejudice from both inside and outside their community. As such there is often a reluctance to be tested which can significantly delay diagnosis," he added.
The head of HIV surveillance at the HPA, Dr Valerie Delpech, said, "These expanded HIV testing policies should be prioritized for implementation as soon as possible. “The impact of late diagnosis is clearly demonstrated when you look at deaths among people with HIV - three out of five of HIV-positive individuals that die are diagnosed too late to gain the most health benefits from their treatment, like increased life expectancy."
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
The Brazilian Post
Made in UK
The largest demonstration since the Iraq war Demonstrators from the whole country gathered in central London on Saturday 26th to march against the government's spending cuts within the public sectors. It is estimated that up to 500,000 people including organised groups, union members, students, teachers, nurses and families, with different backgrounds and of different age groups took part in the march that ended in Hyde Park, the biggest march since the Iraq war in 2003. The march was riddled with clashes between the police and the demonstrators. It has been reported that 84 people, including 31 police officers have been injured and other 201 people have been placed under arrest. According to sources, demonstrators attacked symbols of wealth in Piccadilly, Oxford Street and Regent Street. Police were mostly gathered around candidate shops, banks, ATM’s, Boots, Mc Donald’s and others that could be vandalised protecting them with their shields.
Photos by: Photographer Hara
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Made in UK
The Brazilian Post
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
How to be a good parent, Women 'trafficked' to work as prostitutes by Cameron and Clegg Here's how British Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg navigate their family lives in government matters. Cameron has admitted that he likes making a mess, while Clegg said he ducks difficult questions - but only with their children, reports the Daily Mail. The Prime Minister said he did not get enough time to spend with his children, but believed cooking with them and making a lot of mess had helped his family to forge a close bond. "The more you give, the more you get back. The more time you spend with your children, the more they respond to you," said Cameron, who has three children. "Time is something I don't always have, sadly, but my one tip - one thing that I do that I find I get a huge benefit from, and lots of fun - is cooking with the children," he said. According to Clegg, the key to good parenting is dodging your children's trickier questions. The Lib Dem leader said he sometimes refused to answer the incessant 'why's of his sons Antonio, Alberto and Miguel. "As a dad, you have to do almost the opposite of what I have to do in my day job," he said. "As a politician, I have to answer lots of questions. As a dad, I think it's sensible not to always get dragged into answering the question
'why', because you'll never end, so don't be embarrassed not to answer the question 'why'," he added. The party leaders were interviewed for a parenting week on BBC Radio 2 's Jeremy Vine show.
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Up to 70 women may have been brought to the UK and Ireland to work as prostitutes, a Belfast court has heard. The details emerged as a restaurant owner was remanded in custody charged with two counts of controlling prostitution for gain. Matyas Pis, 37, was arrested and charged after handing himself in to police last week. His lawyer told the court Mr Pis claimed to have acted because he was in love with one of the women. The Hungarian national, with an address in Gaybrook Lawns, Dublin, had allegedly booked flights into Dublin for two women and then drove them to Belfast to work as escorts. Belfast Magistrates' Court heard the Hungarian Embassy had contacted the Metropolitan Police about a woman who had gone to work in a restaurant, but had allegedly been forced into a brothel to work as a prostitute. It was established that she had arrived in Dublin from Bratislava, Slovakia
with another woman before they were allegedly taken into Northern Ireland by Mr Pis on 14 March. But before handing himself in, Mr Pis went to a flat in the city's Titanic Quarter which was being used as a brothel and cleared out any evidence, the detective claimed. However, bags of condoms, other sexual paraphernalia, hundreds of euros and a notebook containing the prices for services offered was recovered from his car, the court was told. They claimed to have been working as prostitutes, with services advertised on a local escort website, according to the investigating officer. He said Mr Pis admitted he had known one of them for four years, rented the apartment on her behalf, and booked the flights.Opposing bail due to concerns over possible flight and interference with witnesses, the detective claimed the women were victims living in fear of a suspected organised crime gang.
Cherie Blair bares all about her sex life Former British Premier Tony Blair's wife Cherie has lifted the lid on her sex life, saying that her husband "still excites me in all possible ways". 'The Sun' tabloid quoted the 56-year-old mother-of-four as saying in an interview with a magazine. Cherie, a Queen's Counsel, giggled when asked how the couple spends their time when the former Prime Minister returns from his trips as envoy to the Middle East. Tony, 57, once joked he could make love "at least five times a night" and the couple also claim to be members of the mile high club. Last year Tony revealed in his memoirs how he "devoured Cherie's love" the night before he became Labour leader in 1994. He wrote: "I was an animal following my instinct." Cherie had son Leo, who is now ten, when she was 45 and living in Downing Street. She later revealed the pair conceived the child on an official stay at Balmoral in Scotland as it's embarrassing to bring contraceptive "equipment" for the castle, where servants unpack wash bag. But Cherie admitted some things have changed over the years. Recalling watching the fireworks after the 1981 Royal Wedding, she said her husband lifted her on to his shoulders adding, "He couldn't do that now. He would probably collapse."
HIGHLIGHTS: MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
GUIDE
Showbiz: Katy Perry booed for Bieber. Page 13
Sacred Chat: Devotion devoid of you. Page 18
What's up: Dirt: The filthy reality of everyday life. Page 17
Mariah says no to American X Factor Mariah is not interested in being a judge on the show, although she still wants to take part in it in some other role. Page 12
SUMMER TIME Hi guys, summer is just starting in the UK; officially, on Sunday 27th March 2011. So do not forget to set your clocks forward by one hour over the weekend. This also means losing an hour(at work) but getting longer evenings(for fun) because of the extra daylight. Also, calibrate your schedules with ours as we guide you to an eventful summer!
Thank you London! We are overwhelmed by your response to the English edition of The Brazilian Post. So from now every 2nd issue released will be in English. Do not forget to grab your copy!
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Showbiz
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
The Brazilian Post
Hello beloved readers, This week Ricky made us proud of him again. He came out of the closet years before but was recently honoured for being a gay role model. With the world’s eyes on him, the heartthrob humbly declared that all he wants is to be free. We love it! Other than that, The Devil is back in Prada and on the covers too. So, I’m back to spread some more celebrity juice on you. Come with me and it is fun guaranteed!
Mariah says no to American X Factor Mariah Carey´s husband, Nick Cannon told the press that Simon Cowell went to their house last week to try and persuade his wife to join his U.S. version of X Factor. But Simon did not have any success. Nick said that Mariah is not interested in being a judge on the show, although she still wants to take part in it, in some other role. What this role could be, is still under speculations and remains to be determined. Cannon also confirmed that Cowell told Mariah about his plans of including Nicki Minaj as a judge on the show. Woah, what a great opportunity for the rap superstar and we would definitely have hilarious crazy face moments with her. Hope she cuts a deal or we will have to deal with the dull Cheryl Cole.
Ricky Martin Since Ricky Martin announced his homosexuality, everyone has been inquiring about his boyfriend. And finally he laid the mystery to rest by appearing in public with Carlos González Abella, his boyfriend. While earlier the singer was reluctant to talk about his love life, Rick is no longer hiding his golden boy now. The couple recently attended the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards ceremony sponsored by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Ricky Martin accepted the Vito Russo Award, for his contributions toward eliminating homophobia by being an openly gay member of the entertainment community, and for the first time in public he thanked his partner, Carlos. After extending his gratitude to GLAAD for supporting him when he was "attacked by someone in the media in Puerto Rico," Martin said, I just want to be free." Ricky, in his acceptance speech, said. "I can say today I'm free. I definitely need to thank my mother and my dad for their unconditional love, and my friends, my family, my fans. And my partner-in-crime and my boyfriend Carlos. You rock." He finished his speech by asking for some GLAAD action in the Latin America. "And GLAAD, let's go to Latin America, let's share the love! Let's go to Mexico! Let's go to Columbia! Let's go to Argentina! Let's go to Chile! Let's go to Brazil! We need you GLAAD -- we need you down there, we need to spread the love in Latin America. Let's do it in Spanish. I can help, I can do it! I'll be part of it. I want to be a part of it." You rock, Ricky!
honored by GLAAD
Renee: Broken hearts united Recently, Renee Zellweger and Bradley Cooper split up. And she is trying to make a move. Looks like Renee has been visiting Sandra Bullock in New York City for some support, which certainly makes sense given Sandra's recent highly publicized breakup. We hope the best for Renee during this tough time. As per reports, at least by getting on with the negotiations for the movie ‘Bridget Jones 3’ she’s getting back to work. We feel for you, girl. Don´t stay down!
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
The Brazilian Post
A £7,000 smile makeover for Liam
To conquer the American market by promoting his new band Beady Eye, Liam Gallagher spent £7,000 on cosmetic dentistry to correct his crooked smile. According to his close friends, Liam wants to do his best on relaunching his career, and to be successful in the U.S. market, the former member of Britpop band Oasis was ordered by management to get himself to a dentist. The source also said that "Several hours of heavy-duty drilling later, the singer emerged, puffy-mouthed and dribbling slightly, with a brand-new Hollywood smile". In 2002, Liam was involved in a fight in a Hotel, in Germany. He bit the fist of the opponent. And now he uses a fixed prosthesis to replace his front teeth.
Showbiz
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Rihanna’s US tour cancelled due to poor ticket sales! Rihanna is facing a bad moment in her career. Reports are now suggesting that she is being urged to cancel her US tour dates, because of poor presale numbers. Apparently, only 3,700 tickets were sold in Boston, where at least 15,000 more were expected to sell. "It has been a big disappointment" a source explained. "The ticket sales in U.S. cities like Boston are so bad that they barely cover basic expenses such as lighting and other costs of the arena. The tour organizers are distributing lottery tickets on the radio,” the source added. According to critics, Rihanna's Loud tour was expected to do better than last year's Last Girl On Earth Tour. At least she’s doing well here. It's just been announced that Rihanna will perform a ninth show at the O2 Arena in London on her tour. The new show will be on December 22nd! This time we get to have a lovely Christmas with Riri!
The Devil wears Prada again She has balls and nobody can doubt that. Anna Wintour, the impersonation of the glorious character of The Devil Wears Prada and Editor-in-Chief of American Vogue, covers next month's Wall Street Journal Magazine wearing nothing other than Prada. We love her boldness. Anna appears in profile, with her famous Chanel sunglasses. The cover was shot by Vogue photographer Mario Testino. She is not silly, and naturally Ms. Wintour had one of her own behind the camera. The magazine will be printing a rare profile of this vogue icon. Her power and influence may not be recognized by all, but she was the one who suggested Marc Jacobs as creative director for Louis Vuitton, when the brand was looking for a new stylist in 1997.
AUTHENTIC BRAZILIAN BUFFET
Katy Perry
booed for Bieber
London might have already overcome Justin Bieber! Katy Perry brought her California Dreams to the UK, touring at the Hammersmith Apollo on April 19th. Everything was beautiful, fabulous and going smooth when suddenly the audience gave her a ‘not such a great moment.’ Perry was about to perform a Justin Bieber song, when she was booed on stage by the crowd. Even though she was shocked, Perry refused to stop and responded, saying: "“Justin is mine and Russell’s adopted son. We love him dearly. Don’t boo him, guys. Come on.” And this video is currently doing the rounds of Youtube. Oh, poor Bieber. Is this the beginning of the end?
Delicious Home-made food and The Best Feijoada of London FOOD ALSO SOLD BY WEIGHT
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London by Night
The Brazilian Post
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
LONDON BY NIGHT If you are looking for good music, beautiful people and the best of Brazilian rhytham, London is the place. Bars and Restaurants like Bankete, Guanabara, Primo Bar (at the Park Plaza), Ronnie Scott's are some of the best options. Check out the photos by our exclusive photographer Erick Oliveria.
Begoña Lozano and Bruno Souza at Forró do Galpão.
Bruno Figueiredo and the Band Natema at Roots Brasil.
The promoters Serginho Ricardo e Lucas Amorim.
The dancers Romero de Mangueira, Gladys Cavalcante and Damian Duffy at Roots Brasil.
Cleiton Lima and friend at Forró do Galpão.
Kita Steuer and Jandira Silva with the band Soul Fiesta at Dover Street.
Cida Ferreira and the singer Sabrina Malheiros in an special gig at PizzaExpress Live.
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
The Brazilian Post
London by Night
Good option: Park Plaza.
DJ Limão in good company at Park Plaza.
O Dj Fabricio D.Vyzor and Fabio Louis at Roots Brasil.
The promoter of the gig Figueiredo and Dj Fabricio D.Vyzor.
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Fashion
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
The Brazilian Post
Olivia, 22
Zaza Oliva our Cool Hunter takes from the streets the latest fashion trends and tells you where to find what you're looking for. Clothes and accessories that fit your style and budget.
British/Student Necklace: Alex Monroe:£200 T-Shirt: H&M:£3.99 Jumper: H&M:£7.99 Coat: Charity Shop:£6 Jeans: Primark:£10 Shoes: Charity Shop:£2 Bag: Charity Shop:£ 0.50 Music: Pop music Best thing of London: atmosphere
Stephen, 30 Australian/Artist Hat: Spitalfields Market:£6 Sunglasses: Top Man:£15 Shirt: All Saints:£80 Scarf: Top Man:£12 Jeans: Nudie:£100 Trainers: Adidas:£60 Music: Rock,Hip Hop Best thing of London: summer
Sheesha, 23
COOL HUNTER BY
Czech Republic/student Sunglasses: somewhere at Soho:£4 Jumper: Tatuun:£15 Jacket: G-Star:£70 Jeans: Pull and Bear:£20 Trainers: Converse:£40 Music: 50's american music Best thing of London: freaks on the street
ZAZA OLIVA
Kirsty, 24
Scotish/Artist Dress: Vintage Shop:£12 Cardigan: Vintage Shop:£15 Shoes: Office:£30 Music: everything Best thing of London: always something to do
Alex, 18 Aramita, 22 Katheryn, 20 British/Clothes designer Hat: North Circular:£65 Shirt: Roland Mouret:£1000 Dress: Roland Mouret:£1200 Tights: Wolford:£25 Boots: Top Shop:£89 Bag: Vintage Shop:£35 Music: Rock Best thing of London: Dominic Jones Jewellery
Londoner/Ballet Dancer Headphone: Skullcandy:£70 Sunglasses: H&M:£5 Top: Charity Shop:£5 Leather jacket: Guess:£200 Belt: Urban Outifitters:£14 Shorts: Levi's by Urban Outifitters:£25 Tights: Boots:£3 Shoes: Urban Outifitters:£89 Music: Classic Best thing of London: variety of culture
Londoner/student Sunglasses: Portobello Market:£8 Denim jacket: Top Shop:£40 Dress: New Look:£20 Tights: Marks & Spencer:£7 Shoes: Vintage Shop:£20 Bag: Osprey:£70 Music: Soul,Jazz Best thing of London: the markets
What’s Up
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
The Brazilian Post
17
shows some of her paintings, collages, printmaking that are a part of her 50 years career. Until 01/05 10am - 6pm daily Free Serpentine Gallery Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, W2 3XA Information: 0872 261 0115
Once Upon a Wartime Dirt: The filthy reality of everyday life Around 200 artefacts spanning visual art, documentary photography, cultural ephemera, scientific artefacts, film and literature will canvass our attitude and behaviour towards cleanliness and dirt over human existence. The exhibition introduces six very different places: a street in Victorian London; a hospital in Glasgow in the 1860s; a museum in Dresden in the early twentieth century; a community in present day New Delhi; and a New York landfill site in 2030. The highlights from Dirt include the earliest sketches of bacteria, John Snow’s “ghost map” of cholera, beautifully crafted delftware, Joseph Lister’s scientific paraphernalia, and a wide range of contemporary art, from Igor Eskinja’s dust carpet, video pieces by Bruce Nauman and Mierle Ukeles and a specially commissioned work by Serena Korda. The exhibition uncovers the truths and dirty secrets of our past and traces the complicated network of cultural meanings that attached to new discoveries about dirt.
less atmosphere that worried the population hit by crises unfolded with the bankruptcy of that tough time. Featuring sculptures, drawings, photographs, documentation of performances and mixed media works, the exhibition focuses the concerns about the urban environment, disappearance of manufacturing, widespread unemployment and virtual lawlessness which threatened and affected life in downtown New York decades ago. Until 22/05 11am - 8pm, until 6pm Weds and 10pm Thurs £8.00-£10.00 Barbican Art Gallery Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS Information: 0872 148 3091
Returning to London from 23 March to 1 April, the 15th edition of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival brings to UK audiences a powerful line-up of 16 documentaries and 5 dramas — many attended by filmmakers and film subjects. Presented at cinemas throughout London including The Ritzy, ICA and Curzon Soho; the selected films feature the struggle to highlight injustices inflicted against humanity.
Viva el Vino Nancy Spero Exhibition NW1 2BE
Pioneers of the Downtown Scene, New York 1970s The works of the three acclaimed artists Laurie Anderson, Trisha Brown and Gordon Matta-Clark are the theme of this exhibition at the Barbican. The artists belonged to New York´s art community during the 70s and the works developed by them were the response to the hope-
Until 30/10 10am - 5.45pm £3.95-£5.95 Imperial War Museum Lambeth Road, SE1 6HZ Information: 0872 148 1759
Human Rights Film Festival
24/03 – 31/08 10am - 6pm Tues-Sat, 11am - 6pm Sun Free Welcome Collection 183-193 Euston Road,
The Pinchito Tapas and Rioja wine label Campo Viejo bring back to London the campaign Viva el Vino. The event will offer the diners a tasteful opportunity to choose their wine first, from a menu, without selecting their food – and then presented with a selection of food, matched perfectly to their wine in order to enhance their culinary experience. All of the dishes on the Viva El Vino London menu are contemporary with a traditional tapas presentation and a special touch of Mediterranean flavours. The experience aims to take people on a trip where the wine chosen complements the flavors of the dishes they eat. Untill 11/04 £25 Pinchito Tapas 32 Featherstone Street, Shoreditch, EC1Y 8QX Information:0872 148 2208
This exhibition at Imperial War Museum London takes a fresh and engaging look at five of the bestloved books written for children about conflict - War Horse by Michael Morpurgo, Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden, The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier, The Machine Gunners by Robert Westall and Little Soldier by Bernard Ashley. Once Upon A Wartime will take the visitors on a journey through conflicts from the First World War to the present day and aims to illuminate the experience of war through a child’s eyes exploring themes of loyalty, separation, excitement, survival and identity.
Since her death in 2009, this is the biggest exhibition of the American feminist artist Nancy Spero. Spero rejected the dominant post-war movements of formalist Abstraction and Pop Art in the 1950s, developing a more ephemeral way of working that used paper and collage, gouache and printmaking – a process she described as allowing for ‘all manner of processions, conflicts, interruptions and disruptions’. Her work was based on histories and mythologies of the past and present cultures through which she conveyed strong statements against war, male dominance and abuses of power, presenting compelling arguments for tolerance and a nonhierarchical society. The exhibition
Until 01/04 London Cinemas Tickets prices vary
Festival of Gardening The Festival of Gardening is all about talks, walks and demonstrations where you can meet a wide range of guest gardening experts and get the answers to all those tricky gardening questions you have been longing to ask someone about! Plus learn how you can make a difference for wildlife and the environment with your own garden. Most activities are included in the admission price. 01/04 and 02/04 London Wetland Centre Queen Elizabeth's Walk, SW13 9WT Information: 020 8409 4400
Beast Pangolin gallery brings the work of an eclectic group of artists examining the relationship between man and beast through contemporary representation in varying media. Highlights include David Bailey’s haunting images of skulls, Terence Coventry’s powerful Standing Bull and Abigail Fallis’s humorous play on extinction in Dodo: Death of the Author. Other artists exhibiting will include David Mach, Alaistair Mackie, Steve Dilworth, Joseph Paxton, Jon Buck, Dorothy Cross and Joe Rush. Until 16/04 Free Pangolin Kings Place 90 York Way N1 9AG
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Sacred Chat
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
The Brazilian Post
DEVOTION DEVOID OF YOU What is difference between love and devotion? What you call as love, if you are not devoted to the person whom you love, there is really no love; it is only a mutual benefit scheme. When you truly love somebody, you will naturally be devoted; how can you not? One, who does not know devotion to the one he loves, does not know love at all. Then it is just a socially picked up word – because everybody is saying, "I love you," you are also saying it. Love has conditions attached to it. Only if your expectations are fulfilled, your love affair will continue, otherwise it will end. Devotion is not like that. It is unconditional. Love also genuinely becomes a fulfilling and life-nurturing process for any one only when it is unconditional. The moment it is conditional, it becomes a transaction. Human transactions at the physical, emotional and intellectual levels are often referred to as love. "You fulfill my need; I will fulfill your need." It is just useful; it is utilitarian. People do not like to see it that way because it makes their lives ugly. So they want to give it a beautiful name, so they call it `love.' Observe this at places of worship: What people think is devotion to God might not in fact be so. Here, too, there is a transaction. You do whatever you think God expects you to do, and then God is supposed to do many other things for you. This is deal making, and an unfair one. Love and devotion, however, are not two different things, but people still do tend to see them as being separate because one is meant for a higher purpose and
ARIES Talk about a revolutionary start to the week. Aside from an unexpected birthday present you could hear some news that alters more than your plans for the weekend. A wonderful creative surprise is on the way and this is a great time for self-promotion. It doesn’t take much to set Arians onto a new and untrammelled course and, especially if your efforts have met with little or no success recently, it seems you are ready to cut your losses and move on. In some cases, this means an association will have to be relegated to the history books. It is the right time to liberate yourself but do be careful not to burn all your bridges and create an enemy for life.
TAURUS This is an extremely fertile period for planting seeds of any description. For many Taureans, over the coming weeks, ideas will take root that could develop into beautiful blooms; likewise tentative friendships formed and new feelings sprung should lead to great things. The point to remember is that what is in the process of becoming will be totally different from anything that has gone before. Yes, this may involve raising a few eyebrows and taking a leap in the dark but 2011 is your year for brave new beginnings and the more fearless you are the greater the gains. Use this time’s ground-breaking influences to do something you have never done before.
GEMINI Geminis do not court controversy but they’re not afraid to air their views and take an independent stance if necessary. And this week’s influences are just the sort to encourage your individualism. It is an
ideal time to launch a new creative venture and the perfect moment to release yourself from a commitment in order to do your own thing. The downside being that not everyone is going to be as delighted with developments. Certainly, if you’ve been experiencing frustration with a project or a person you’re unlikely to remain silent under these stars. Regardless of the flak generated by current events, you’ll benefit from them in the not so distant future.
CANCER The current planetary alignments are enough to jolt you out of a comfortable rut and open your eyes to a previously unknown fact. Maybe you have already been alerted to a new state of affairs so that the week ahead gives you an opportunity to adapt to them; on the other hand, should you receive some unexpected news you may surprise yourself at how easily you can accommodate developments. You are required to look at your future in a different way, which in some cases means putting your career under the microscope. Look back to this time last year and you’ll see how much you have altered and why, therefore, you are facing changes now.
LEO Keep your fiery spirit in check because, as you know, it is impossible to rewind the past. Mistakes take time to mend. These are few very volatile days. If, indeed, you are beginning something new, the experience is likely to be thrilling; on the other hand, should you expect everything to run like clockwork, start loosening up immediately. When you have fixed expectations even the slightest alteration can affect your perception of events. Then again, a journey of any sort is always more memo-
rable for the unscheduled twists and turns. The weekend may bring a crisis as people you share your life with react with anxiety to the unknown. Be aware!
VIRGO Sometimes it is difficult to appreciate the positive side of a situation while it is happening, which is the reason I’m reminding you that what right now seems inconvenient in the extreme will have its beneficial aspect. You are probably not seeing a situation in the correct light, perhaps because you do not have enough information or you are looking at it through the lens of your hopes or fears. There is a reason why things are the way they are and although your hands are tied for now this will not be the case forever. This astro-scape does have it upside, however, and if you’re newly in love or ready to make a heartfelt move, set your compass to happy-everafter.
LIBRA Throw away the rule book and prepare to be amazed. While it could be you who are about to perform a U-turn or take someone else by surprise, you’re more likely to be on the receiving end of someone else’s impulse action. A romantic proposal, an unexpected invitation or a very different side to a familiar face could be on the menu and, one way or another, this is going to be a time to remember. These planetary influences can also bring an abrupt end to a situation so if there have been rumblings of discontent anywhere expect them to reach something of a crescendo this week. If life were a fairground; you’d be on the big-dipper in an electric storm.
another is expected to fulfill a daily need. But there is no need to separate the two. Love is devotion and devotion is love. Without love, how can anybody be devout? Just because you have ascribed to your self a certain religion or faith, you don't instantly become a devotee – a devotee is just drawn. A devotee is never thinking in terms of his own well being. Only one who can look beyond his own wellbeing can be a devotee. You cannot cultivate devotion. Cultivated devotion is deception. When you are overwhelmed by something, you will naturally be devoted to it. It takes experience for devotion to be natural. When you plant a rose plant, you don't try to get a flower out of it immediately. You just nurture it. When it is sufficiently nurtured, it will blossom forth. So devotion is like a flower. It is not something that you try to do. If you dig into the earth, you will not find a flower or fruit, but it all comes from there; the plant is only a passage from earth to flower. The fragrant flower does not display any trace of soil, manure or water – it is devoid of all that. Devotion is devoid of you. When you become just a conduit for life, you become an outpouring of devotion. No one has ever achieved anything of significance in any sphere of life without being devoted to what he is doing. Devotion is not only the sweetest way to be, but also the most intelligent way to be, as a devotee effortlessly perceives what one of intellect will struggle with for a lifetime. - Satsang: Sadhguru
SCORPIO It may be difficult to find your focus, in some cases because you’ve lost your heart and in others because you’ve lost the plot! Yes, the real world may seem like it is a very blurry place. Of course, there are times when romance and fantasy are appropriate so if you have a hot date or a dream occasion in the diary, expect to be dazzled. By contrast should an event be cancelled or a mystery development get in the way of your plans, treat it as par for the course and wait for clarity to be regained. This is also a period in which machinery, computers and the like appear to have a life of their own so handle such things with care.
SAGITTARIUS This week is far from stable, which is a plus if you’ve been bored to tears or yearning for a fresh challenge and a minus should you be relying on others to carry out their promises. You’re going to discover that life progresses in fits and starts this year and that opportunities arrive suddenly and from unexpected quarters, and this is one of the periods in which ambitious projects can begin and new alliances born. Nonetheless, you will need to be cautious in your handling of certain situations – it won’t take much to upset a working or romantic relationship and something you had assumed would take place much later in the year could spring forward.
CAPRICORN You are about to get a master class in the unusual and the unexpected. Events are intended to awaken you, whether you’ve been ignoring a mechanical problem or turning a blind eye to a personal or professional matter. It will be pointless relying on past strategies and resisting the new in
whatever way it is trying to come in. What breaks down at this time has no purpose in your future, and although you may still see its value, something infinitely better is set to take its place. Partners and children in particular tend to be restless and unpredictable, and adjustments may have to be made. The searchlight is on your home and private life.
AQUARIUS Appearances can be deceptive but also in this harsh and unremitting world there is room for the divine to shine through. The cosmic influences my lead to opening hearts and minds and inspiring selfless acts. And although this planetary double act can also cause disappointments and rejections, it is almost always because something or someone more deserving is waiting in the wings. You may need to be prepared for some last minute rewrites and a surprising twist in the tale so don’t leave home without your contact list and a contingency plan. Radical new developments are taking place in your mental life affecting the way you think and communicate.
PISCES This is not your run-of-the-mill week. People are likely to act in bizarre ways and outcomes you could have banked on turn out completely different. This is not to say you won’t enjoy every moment, although you may be surprised at the way everyday systems suddenly begin to act up. Fortunately, you are one the signs best equipped to handle the weird and the wonderful and even if you have to rethink an entire plan in less than a heartbeat, you’ll probably find the result will be superior. You will soon be emerging from the shadows with a strong agenda for living a life in the way you like to - in contact with nature and with your creative soul.
World
The Brazilian Post
19
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
Nuclear fears shut 25 embassies in Tokyo Osaka: The nuclear emergency following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan has led 25 embassies to temporarily shut their doors in Tokyo, foreign minister Takeaki Matsumoto said last week. Matsumoto provided the figure in an appearance before the lower house foreign affairs committee. Germany, Switzerland and Finland headed the list. As of mid last week, "eight of them have transferred their functions outside Tokyo or Japan", a foreign ministry spokesman said. "The rest have had their staff stay home. They have been changing its working arrangement day by day," he said. "At any rate, the ministry of foreign affairs keeps in touch with the embassies temporarily transferred or embassy staff staying home, providing accurate information to the entire diplomatic corps." Nearly two weeks after the
Tiger Woods cancels Japan visit
Tokyo: Golf star Tiger Woods cancelled his visit to Japan next month, following the quake-tsunami tragedy, his sponsors Nike said last week. The stop-off was to be part of Nike's Asian "Make it Matter" tour, promoting golf among young fans, which will still visit China and South Korea, starting on April 12. The 9.0-magnitude quake and monster tsunami have left nearly 21,000 dead or missing along Japan's eastern Pacific coast and crippled a nuclear power plant, 250 kilometres (155 miles) from Tokyo. Many foreign companies and embassies have relocated their employees to Osaka, 400 kilometres from the capital, as a precaution.
Top Democrats support Obama on Libya Washington: Top Democrat leaders came out in support of President Barack Obama's decision to help enforce the no-fly zone over Libya, saying that he had taken a "cautious and thoughtful" tact as the future of US ties with Muslim world was at stake. Senator Carl Levin said, "He has put the ducks in a row before he decided that the United States should take the lead for a short period of time to do what only we could do because of the type of accurate targeting that our equipment has, and then to hand this off for the ongoing effort to allies, including Arab countries." "That was the right course of action because if we had proceeded unilaterally, we would not have had the kind of political support around the world which is essential for the mission to succeed," Levin said in a joint teleconference with his two other Democratic Senator colleagues, Richard Durbin and Jack Reed. Their statements came amid increasing complaints from Republican lawmakers that Obama kept Congress out of the loop during the early military campaign. The number-two Democrat in the US Senate, Durbin termed it "a very wise act". He said that US action reflected Washington's need to cement ties with new Middle East leaders emerging from recent regional political upheaval. Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the US House of Representatives, said. "Actions taken by the international community have already prevented Gaddafi from implementing his threat to 'show no mercy' to his own people, including those living in the city of Benghazi," said "Acting upon the United Nations Security Council's resolution to use 'all measures necessary' to protect the Libyan people and the Arab League's call for a no-fly-zone, the United States joined the international community in preventing an imminent humanitarian crisis in Libya," she said.
double disaster ravaged the country's Pacific coast on March 11, workers were battling to avert catastrophe at a crippled nuclear power plant, located 250 kilometres northeast of Tokyo. The foreign ministry's press division said the following countries had closed their doors: Angola, Bahrain, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Kenya, Kosovo, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Panama and Switzerland. Switzerland has temporarily moved its embassy to Osaka, citing the "very uncertain" situation at the Fukushima Daiichi (No 1) nuclear plant. The US State Department last week authorised the "voluntary departure" of embassy family members in Tokyo, including relocation to other areas within Japan.
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World
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MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
The Brazilian Post
World
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US nuclear agency plans German Chancellor safety review of reactors escapes chopper Washington: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said last week that it was launching a two-pronged review of US nuclear power plant safety amid the crisis at a Japanese complex hit by an earthquake and tsunami. The US regulator called for an agency task force to be set up to conduct "both short- and long-term analysis of the lessons that can be learned from the situation in Japan," the NRC said in a statement. "Our focus is always on ensuring the health and safety of the American people through our licensing and oversight of plants and radioactive materials in this country," NRC chairman Gregory Jaczko said. US President Barack Obama
last week ordered a "comprehensive review" of US nuclear safety and vowed to learn lessons from Japan's nuclear crisis. The NRC said the task force would provide updates on its work in 30, 60 and 90 days, and a full report with its recommendations would be published in six months. "We will perform a systematic and methodical review to see if there are changes that should be made to our programs and regulations to ensure protection of public health and safety," Jaczko said. The review will include information from NRC inspectors who are posted at every US nuclear power plant, the regulator said.
Bosnian police seizes child pornography
Sarajevo: Bosnian police say they have seized some 2 million child pornography pictures and 7,000 video clips in the arrest of an alleged member of an international online child pornography ring. Police said last week that an unidentified 46-year-old suspect was arrested over the weekend following a raid on his home in the northern town of Derventa. Spokeswoman Mirna Soja said police also found a suitcase full of children's clothes. Soja described the suspect as an "important member" of the international pedophile community and said he was "producing and posting online child sexual abuse materials." However, she said he appeared not to be linked with a huge international pedophile ring centered in The Netherlands that was revealed last week following a three-year investigation codenamed Operation Rescue. The operation against the ring centered on an Amsterdambased online forum called boylover.net uncovered 670 suspects and identified and safeguarded children in more than 30 countries by arresting people accused of abusing them. The investigation of the heavily encrypted forum which had up to 70,000 members was led by Britain's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Center but also involved law enforcement agencies as far afield as Australia, the United States and Thailand.
Chinese stock up on salt amid radiation rumors Beijing: People bought large stocks of salt and it vanished from shops after rumors spread that radiation had leaked in the sea from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, and salt taken from the sea would not be safe in the near future. The panic was also boosted by text messages over mobile phones that iodized salt can help protect people from radiation poisoning. Large scale hoarding by merchants who saw it as a profit making opportunity complicated the situation further. Reports from different cities said prices of salt jumped five or ten-fold in places where it was available. The country's National Development and Reform Commission ordered price control authorities at provincial and municipal levels to take "immediate action to monitor the market prices and resolutely crack down on ille-
gal acts including spreading rumors to deceive the public." Michael O'Leary, head of the World Health Organization in China, appealed to the government to "take steps to halt these rumors, which are harmful to public morale." The WHO "would like to assure governments and members of the public that there is no evidence at this time of any significant international spread from the nuclear site," he said.
crash
Berlin: German Chancellor Angela Merkel narrowly escaped a helicopter crash while travelling to attend an election rally, a news report has said. The chancellor travelled in a VIP helicopter of the federal police to Oldenburg in the state of Baaden Wuerttemberg to attend an election campaign rally of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party on Wednesday evening last week. After dropping her in Oldenburg, the helicopter left for Oberschliessheim, near Munich with its three-man crew on board and just a few minutes into the flight and at an altitude of about 1,600 metres, both rotors of the Superpuma 332 chopper broke down. It fell from the sky like a stone and the pilots succeeded in restarting the engines and stabilising the machine only a few hundred metres above the ground, Bild newspaper reported. It was forced to make an emergency landing in Augusburg. German authorities are not suspecting any attempts of sabotage in the incident. Nevertheless, they are investigating how both rotors of the powerful 21-seat helicopter broke down simultaneously.
Berlin's beloved bear Knut found dead Berlin: Knut the polar bear, who became a global media sensation as a cub after being rejected by his mother and reared by hand, died suddenly for unexplained reasons last weekend, the Berlin Zoo said. "Everyone is just in shock here," said Claudia Bienek, a spokeswoman for the zoo in the German capital. Knut, who shot to fame as a highly photogenic, snow-white cub in 2007, was aged just four years and three months, well below the average life expectancy for polar bears of around 35. He was found floating dead on Saturday afternoon in the enclosure he shared with three other bears including his mother Tosca. The cause of death was not immediately known, said Heiner Kloes, in charge of bears at Berlin Zoo, said. Vets are due to conduct an autopsy this week. "This is awful," said Berlin's mayor Klaus Wowereit. "We had all taken him to our hearts. He was the star of the Berlin Zoo." Knut weighed nine kilogrammes (19 pounds) at birth and triggered a wave of media coverage after an animal activist said he should have been put down after he and his brother, who later died, were rejected by their mother.
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MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
West will end in 'dustbin of history', Gaddafi says
Tripoli: Western powers pounding Libya's defences will wind up in the dustbin of history, said leader Muammar Gaddafi as his troops held back rebel advances despite four nights of airborne attacks. While Western air power has grounded Gaddafi's planes and pushed back his troops and armour from the brink of rebel stronghold Benghazi, disorganised and poorly equipped insurgents have failed to capitalise on the ground and remain
pinned down. The rebels have been unable to dislodge Gaddafi's forces from the key junction of Ajdabiyah in the east, while government tanks dominate the last big rebel hold-out of Misrata. "We will not surrender," Gaddafi earlier told supporters forming a human shield to protect him at his Tripoli compound. "We will defeat them by any means ... We are ready for the fight, whether it will be a short or a long one ... We will be victorious in the end," he said in a live television broadcast, his first public appearance in a week. "This assault ... is by a bunch of fascists who will end up in the dustbin of history," Gaddafi said in a speech followed by fireworks in the Libyan capital as crowds cheered and supporters fired guns into the air.
‘Gaddafi daughter is Claudia Schiffer of North Africa' The Arab media describes Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's only daughter Aisha as the "Claudia Schiffer of North Africa", a media report said. Aisha has stopped dying her hair blonde these days, but she looked perfect as she stood amid the crowd in her father's compound, according to the Telegraph. Apart from one widely reproduced picture, in which she sported blonde locks and a trout pout, she rarely ventures into the public eye. It was taken before 2006 when she married her cousin, an army colonel. Since then she has maintained a low profile, despite her role (terminated last month) as a UN goodwill ambassador and head of Libya's largest charity group Wa'tassimu.
Taylor's death marks end of a Hollywood era
The screen legend died Wednesday last week at age 79 of complications from congestive heart failure. But before her death, she survived several near-death experiences and morphed from screen goddess to successful businesswoman and tireless AIDS activist to virtual recluse. "Ultimately, it was congestive heart failure that really made her not want to be in the public eye," William J. Mann, author of "How to Be a Movie Star: Elizabeth Taylor in Hollywood," said. "She needed oxygen all the time. It became difficult to travel. It was difficult to speak, difficult to walk, just a chore to get dressed." In 2004, Taylor was diagnosed with congestive
heart failure, a condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the rest of the body. Ever since then, she was in and out of hospitals, and in and out of the tabloids documenting her rumored health. Taylor, perhaps more than anyone, personified the Golden Age of Hollywood and the glamour of those days. She was always shimmering with diamonds, always covered in makeup, as though she were just waiting for her cue. You would NEVER see Liz Taylor in jeans and a T-shirt. There are few stars left who left an imprint on film and film culture like Taylor did. Fittingly, perhaps the star who comes closest is Mickey Rooney, Taylor's fellow child star and frequent co-star. Like Taylor, Rooney is perhaps best known now for being himself — a former child star who used to act and has been married countless times. Though Taylor was just 79, most of her former co-stars had died long ago, as the old guard of Hollywood faded away. Montgomery Clift, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Paul Newman, Richard Burton — Taylor's most famous leading men proceeded her in death, most by decades. Her female contemporaries fared no better. The best actresses of Taylor's era — Katharine and Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, Deborah Kerr — passed on long ago. In fact, of the 17 actresses Taylor competed against in her five Academy Award nominations, just five are still with us today: Joanne Woodward, Shirley MacLaine, Doris Day, Vanessa Redgrave and French actress Anouk Aimee.
Syrians spurn reforms offer, say stir still on Daraa: Syrian activists vowed to push on with rallies against "repression" on Friday after weekly Muslim prayers, dismissing reform pledges announced by the authorities. Facebook group 'The Syria Revolution 2011', which has attracted almost 78,000 fans, called for "Day of Dignity" rallies at mosques across Syria, after a week of deadly protests in the south. "We will continue to protest on Friday against injustice and repression in Daraa and throughout the country," a statement on the site said. The town remained tense after crowds gathered to attend the funeral of those killed in antigovernment protests.
Economy - Brazil
The Brazilian Post
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MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
Dilma Rousseff moves Brazil to centre
For those familiar with Latin American politics, the notion that Muammar Gaddafi had fled to Venezuela seems absurd. Certainly, Chávez and other leftwing Latin American leaders have seemed embarrassed and uncertain how to respond to the events unfolding in Libya. But Chavez has not given explicit support and it is an awkward moment for many governments. In any case, Gaddafi has much better friends in Africa and had some good friends in London as well. It was interesting to see British Foreign Secretary William Hague bring Chavez back to the centre of attention in Latin American politics. Because, for better or worse, Chávez is much less important in the region than he was a few years ago. And there is a new figure on the scene, now in charge of half of South America's population, who may be beginning to embody a new strategy for left-of-centre leaders in Latin America. In her first months as president of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, former guerrilla and chosen successor to the wildly popular Lula, has begun to carve out her own style. She took a step back from her country's friendship with the government of Iran, and has set out to rein in public spending, something she thinks necessary to keep the country's economic boom going. Her strategy seems to be to maintain pragmatic centrist policies and forge ahead with fast growth, content that it has raised several tens of millions of people out of poverty in the last few years. For decades the leftwing strategy in Latin America, from Castro to the Sandinistas to Lula's early presidential campaigns, was to create a radical and alternative project outside of global capitalism and the "imperialist" west. With their economies booming and the US's so clearly faltering, many in Latin America are finding they can beat the west at its own game –
and then use their increased power and wealth to pursue their goals at home and abroad. It's an approach reminiscent of China; and coincidentally, the boom in many countries comes largely from exporting commodities to China. In 2005, when Chávez led the openly confrontational campaign to bury George W Bush's Free Trade Agreement of the Americas – flanked by former Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona no less – the world was a different place. The credit bubble was still expanding in the rich countries, the US was
Embraer: Fall in profits but higher revenue
Brazil's Embraer, one of the world's largest airplane makers, has reported a fall in profits in 2010 and forecast fewer deliveries this year. Net profit came in at $345.4m (£214.3m) compared with $478.9m a year earlier. Revenue fell slightly to $5.36m. The firm warned that unrest in the Middle East and the Japanese earthquake could undermine the industry's recovery and could lead to fewer jet deliveries. However, it said it expected revenue to rise to $5.6bn in 2011. The firm delivered 246 aircraft in 2010, but forecast 220 deliveries this year. It said that despite the recent appreciation in the Brazilian real, and a rise in wages of about 10% following a settlement with unions at the end of last year, it expected earnings to grow in 2011.
confidently and openly aggressive internationally, and was pushing a trade agreement it seemed they hadn't bothered to ask Latin Americans about first. Now, the US economy is in the dumps, internal squabbling besets its politics, and its leadership has been forced to humbly accept the limits of American power. Meanwhile, Latin American is rushing ahead – its economy is thought to have grown by about 6% last year – and is increasingly confident on the global stage. Latin leaders used to love to thumb their noses at the west: Chávez called Bush "the devil", Bolivia's Evo Morales joked about being included in the "Axis of Evil", and Lula famously said – to Gordon Brown's face – that the financial crisis and subsequent international misery was caused by "blue-eyed bankers". I suspect we will see less of this from Dilma Rousseff, who can carry on quietly confident that everyone knows in whose favour the balance of power is tilting. It's not yet clear if she will continue in the tradition of maintaining international alliances that infuriate Washington, but her move on Iran suggests she may not. Of course, Brazil's current path has its limitations. There is the risk of over-reliance on commodity exports and the death of industry. And posting big increases in GDP, while useful, has not magically solved the often shocking levels of inequality and social exclusion in the country. Many in the very different Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America, where no country has Brazil's shot at being a global power, remain committed to a much more radical approach. But no new solidly leftwing leaders are on the up at the moment, and there is certainly nothing of the kind on the horizon in Brazil. Here, where most people are better-off than they were a few years ago, the attitude seems to be: "If it ain't broken, why fix it?"
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Economy - UK
The Brazilian Post
Canary Wharf's to see influx of 10,000 workers Canary Wharf's biggest landlord has predicted that the influx of another 10,000 workers over the next few months will lead to a boom in retail in the area. JP Morgan and Royal Dutch Shell are both moving their headquarters to Canary Wharf, raising the financial hub's army of workers to 105,000. "Weekend traffic also continues to be strong," said David Pritchard, the chairman of Songbird Estates, which owns Canary Wharf Group (CWG). "Long may this continue. We don't seem to be experiencing the same picture as retailers in the rest of the country." CWG rents out 17 of the 35 retail and office buildings on the Wharf. With the arrival of new names such as Tiffany and Aquascutum last year, 99.8% of the shops are let. "Rental is performing well. There is no shortage of tenants wanting to be here," said Pritchard. Pritchard played down fears that the already stretched transport links cannot take the additional strain, saying overcrowding on the Jubilee underground line had been caused by signalling work that is expected to be finished this year and will see the number of trains increased from 20 to 30 every hour. The Docklands Light Railway line has also undergone work to improve it.
Songbird reported a 40% rise in pretax profits to £463.8m in 2010, boosted by the £495m sale of the old Lehman Brothers building to JP Morgan, although it also had to write off over £50m after the Lehman administrators stopped paying rent on the Bank Street offices. The market value of Songbird's property portfolio rose by 10% to £4.6bn on 31 December. The company has branched out into central London and CWG is one of the bidders for the old Shell headquarters, worth £300m, on the South Bank. It is also working with Land Securities on the Walkie Talkie in the City, due to be completed in 2014. Pritchard welcomed the chancellor's budget, in particular the creation of an enterprise zone two miles east of Canary Wharf and the reduction in corporation tax. He shrugged off fears of an exodus of banks unhappy with the bank levy and banking reform, saying much of the threats to up sticks are purely rhetoric. "Small businesses like venture capitalists and hedge funds have left, small numbers of highly paid people who are mobile [whereas the banks] are not the sort of enterprise you can move easily." He noted that HSBC, which has threatened to move to the Far East, has taken more space in Canary Wharf and Barclays has renegotiated its lease.
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
2011 UK Budget Enterprise in the spotlight George Osborne's second Budget was, he promised, one that would encourage greater enterprise and open the UK to business. "My ambition," he told the House of Commons on 23rd March, "is to make Britain the best place in Europe to start and grow a business." But what did that mean in practice? The headline announcement was a 2% reduction in corporation tax, followed by a 1% cut in subsequent years to bring the rate down to 23% which will please Indian businesses that have established their European headquarters in the UK. The introduction of a fuel stabiliser was also very welcome news for businesses and individuals that have seen their transport costs soar over recent months. The Chancellor made several announcements intended to reduce the burden of red tape on Britain's companies, including a promise to act on the recommendations of the Office of Tax Simplification (involving the abolition of 43 different tax reliefs), and a consultation on the possible combination of income tax and National Insurance, a process which could take several years to complete. Care will need to be taken on the merger of tax and NI so that the favourable treatment extended to Indian employees on secondment to the UK is not lost as this would alienate their employers who would ultimately have to bear this additional cost. A number of measures were specifically aimed at entrepreneurial businesses. The Enterprise Investment Scheme was extended to help growing business raise equity finance, Entrepreneurs' Relief was doubled to apply to gains of up to £10m and the Chancellor announced that 21 new Enterprise Zones, offering tax incentives, discounts and relaxed planning regulations would be created in England. The Chancellor also announced pro-
posed changes to the non-domicile tax regime which allows individuals of Indian origin to realise non-UK income and gains without paying UK tax until the amounts are remitted to the UK. The current rules require that a £30,000 payment is made after seven years where a "remittance basis" claim is made. The proposals now being considered will increase the payment to £50,000 after 12 years of UK residence. If these proposals become law, they will apply from April 2012. The full Budget details covered a wide range of initiatives, consultations and tax changes. Many were directed at smaller businesses, which the Chancellor singled out as "the innocent victims of the credit crunch". The measures included a promise to abolish more business regulations, an increase in the availability of credit from banks to smaller companies, and an increase in the R&D tax credit to 200% in 2011 and 225% in 2012 which could mean that more Indian companies will carry out R&D in the UK. Many small businesses will also be cheered by the news of a three-year moratorium from new regulations for companies with fewer than ten employees, although the Federation of Small Businesses immediately urged the Chancellor to extend the plan to larger companies in an effort to encourage job creation.
Barclays Isa tops best buy tables Barclays will pay 3.25% interest to new and existing customers who open its variable rate instant access Golden Isa Issue 3, but the account will not accept transfers of existing ISAS. The rate puts it at the top of the table for savers who want the best rate for this year's cash Isa allowance, but will disappoint those who want to shift their previous years' Isa into a top paying variable rate account. For them the best deal remains the Halifax Direct cash Isa paying 3%, or 3.2% to those who also bank with the Halifax. Many savers are expected to opt for variable rate Isas this tax year and next, with interest rates expected to rise over the next few months. Barclays has promised that the interest rate on its Golden Isa will move in line with base rate changes – however, the account's rate includes a fixed introductory bonus of 1% for the first 12 months, so savers who opt for this deal should be ready to move their money in a year's time to continue earning the best rates. Those who are prepared to give up access to their money and fix the interest rate can earn up to 5%, fixed for five years, with Skipton Society. The account accepts transfers and the minimum balance is £500.
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
The Brazilian Post
Economy - World
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Larry Page takes back the command As Google co-founder Larry Page prepares to reclaim his role as chief executive on April 4, he has already taken steps to assume greater command of the Internet company. Since Google said in January that longtime CEO Eric Schmidt was stepping aside, Mr. Page has made a series of moves to cut through the firm's 24,000-person bureaucracy and figure out ways the company can act more like a start-up than an incumbent. Mr. Page has asked product and engineering managers to email him about their projects to potentially winnow them down, said people are familiar with the matter. He has persuaded top executives to sit and work together every day in a public area of the company's Mountain View, Calif., headquarters so employees can directly approach them on matters. The 38-year-old has also embarked on a tour in recent weeks to hear from managers about problems they face and has asked that employees develop new practices for meetings, such as designating a decision-maker and refraining from working on their laptops, these people said. The moves give a sense of what Mr. Page—who hasn't commented on his CEO strategy—will do to speed up what he has said has been sluggish decision-making at Google's top levels.
Mr. Page was Google's founding CEO before handing the reins to Mr. Schmidt in 2001, when the company had around 200 employees, and his recent efforts show he wants to bring back elements of the company's early days. Google declined to make Mr. Page available for comment. Google continues to try and diversify away from its dependence on its search engine, which generated most of the company's nearly $30 billion in revenue last year. At the same time, Google faces competition from Apple Inc. and Facebook Inc. in the mobile content and online National concensus advertising markets, as well as urged increasing antitrust scrutiny It was not clear by governments at home and whether the interim government had the authority to negotiate a bailout, nor whether a broad coalition government may be possible or how soon new elections could be held. Those uncertainties added to tensions and brought an appeal from European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, a former Portuguese prime minister. "The important thing is that, as quickly as possible ... there is a national consensus on the need to meet the goals Portugal has set for reducing its deficit and debt levels,'' Barroso told reporters. Having said for weeks that they would agree a "comprehensive package" to tackle the euro zone debt crisis by the end of March, EU leaders at the summit ended up delaying a final decision on boosting their safety net until mid-year, agreed to increase their financial rescue fund to the full $623bn by June. Standard & Poor's downgraded Portugal's credit ratings by two notches from A- to BBB previously and warned it could cut it again by one notch as early as next week depending on the final shape of the euro zone bailout fund. S&P, which followed a two-notch cut by Fitch on last Thursday, said the collapse of Portugal's government resulted in increased political uncertainty, hurting market confidence and potentially raising refinancing risk. Lisbon needs to refinance about $6.4bn of debt in April and a similar amount in June, which may prove a trigger for finally making the request for aid. One problem is that any bailout request would have to be approved by parliament and the majority is opposed to asking for help. With Portugal widely expected to seek assistance, attention could soon shift to Spain, which has gradually won back the confidence of investors in recent months by unveiling reforms of the labour market and pension system, as well as a plan for shoring up its ailing savings banks.
Portugal crisis overshadows EU summit
Portugal's political crisis and the resignation of the prime minister have overshadowed the European Union summit, which was aimed at tackling the euro zone's debt problems. Jean-Claude Trichet, the European Central Bank president, told reporters as he left the summit on last week that it was crucial for Portugal to stick to the fiscal austerity measures' Prime Minister Jose Socrates had proposed. Socrates quit on Wednesday after parliament rejected new austerity measures that he had hoped would allow the country to avoid the need to seek EU/IMF financial assistance. Despite stepping down, Socrates came to the two-day summit in the role of care-taker prime minister. He remains adamantly opposed to requesting aid and has made it clear he intends to hold that line, at least until a new Portuguese government is formed, probably after early elections in about two months' time. "The government will continue to fight against the possibility of resorting to foreign aid," cabinet minister Pedro Silva Pereira said in Lisbon. Jean-Claude Juncker, the prime minister of Luxembourg who chairs the eurozone finance ministers meetings, told France 24 television that if Portugal asked for a bailout it would need about $106bn - roughly half its annual gross domestic product. That is less than the $155bn Greece got but more than Ireland's $95bn.
abroad. Under Mr. Page, Google is expected to focus on its graphical online-ad initiatives, video site YouTube and its Android mobile device software, people familiar with the matter said. He is also expected to devote resources to several emerging lines of business, including online business software division Google Apps, and to continue to make acquisitions of start-ups. Google is also likely to continue long-term bets including driver-less car technology and an effort to scan all the world's books and make them available on the search engine, both of which were pet projects for Mr. Page. The book effort suffered a setback this week when a federal judge in New York rejected a deal between Google and publishers that would have blessed the scanning of out-of-print books whose copyright holders are unknown. Some managers believe Mr. Page will eliminate or downgrade projects he doesn't believe are worthwhile, freeing up employees to work on more important initiatives. One project expected to get less support is Google Health, which lets people store medical records and other health data on Google's servers. Mr. Page has also tried to facilitate better communication among top executives and given employees access to them. He recently mandated a "bullpen" session every afternoon, in which he and the company's executive officers sit and work on small couches outside a boardroom in Building 43 at Google's headquarters. The attendees have included chief legal officer David Drummond, senior vice president of engineering Jeff Huber, senior vice president of product management Jonathan Rosenberg, and YouTube chief Salar Kamangar, said people familiar with the matter. But after the deal closed, the Slide management and the Google social team had diverging views; Slide was allowed to remain independent and work on its own services, the reports said.
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Sport
The Brazilian Post
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
Five of 10 big wages in the Premier League The French magazine "France Football" published the list with the biggest wages in football and amongst the 10 big salaries 5 belong to Premier League players. The first 2 places are taken by the world's best player 2009-2010, Messi and world's best player 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo. In the coaches list, the 2010 world best coach is in the first place but the big surprise is the presence of ex-Liverpool coach and currently unemployed, Rafael Benetiz who is in third place. Benetiz will get € 10,2 million from Internazionale till the end of 2011. See the lists below: Players: 1) Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - € 31 million 2) Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) - € 27,5 million 3) Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) - € 20,7 million 4) Kaká (Real Madrid) - € 19,3 million 5) David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy) - € 19 million 6) Ronaldinho (Flamengo) - € 18,3 million 7) Carlos Tevez (Manchester City) - € 15,4 million 8) Frank Lampard (Chelsea) - € 14,2 million 9) Fernando Torres (Chelsea) - € 14 million 10) Yaya Touré (Manchester City) - € 13,8 million Coaches: 1) José Mourinho (Real Madrid) - € 13,5 million 2) Josep Guardiola (Barcelona) - € 10,5 million 3) Rafael Benítez (unemployed) - € 10,2 million 4) Fabio Capello (England) - € 8,5 million
New strategy to retain young talent Brazilian football has always been a good business for clubs abroad but during the last few years things have been changing and it's not just about the economic development anymore but about the mentality as well. The teams are trying to keep their new talent and fighting offers from rich clubs in Europe. In 2009, the number of brazilian players transferring were 1017 and in 2010, about 1029. Although the total has increased, the number of young players transferring has declined. Good wages, great career packages and high buy-out clauses are helping the clubs to keep their
young talent. Neymar, Paulo Henrique Ganso e Lucas are good examples of the new strategy by the brazilian teams. Now if any club wants to take these precious players, first they need to pay an astronomic fine. Paulo Henrique Ganso, possibly the new number 10 of the brazilian Team, has a £42 million fine; Neymar, the Chelsea's dreams, has £47 million and Lucas, the new brazilian diamond, has an incredible £66 million buy-out clause. Brazilian football continues to be a gold mine but now the "investors" need to pay much more in order to take the brazilian treasures away.
Yellow light is on
In less than a month, Barcelona's players were subjected twice to antidoping tests this season. Last year the club's players underwent three tests from UEFA. This should be a normal situation considering that anti-doping tests are frequently carried out in the football world but this last test upset Barcelona's players since the tests were carried out just days after the Cadena Cope Radio said that Real Madrid would ask the Spanish Federation to put in place serious anti-doping controls across the Spanish League. The players are not scared about the tests but they know that the yellow light is on and they need to be aware when taking medicines, drinks or food so as not to make the speculations come true.
Are Brazilian coaches as good as Brazilian Players? Carlos Alberto Parreira, Football World Champion coach in 1994, Luiz Felipe Scloari, Football World Champion coach in 2002 and Vanderlei Luxemburgo, 5 times Brazilian Championship Champions, are symbols of successful coaching careers but maybe something is missing in their curriculum. These 3 renowned coaches have achieved the most prestigious positions in the Brazil football scenario and are examples for all aspiring coaches but they did not achieve the same success coaching the clubs abroad. Parreira is one of two coaches that has led five national teams to the World Cup: Kuwait in 1982, United Arab Emirates in 1990, Brazil in 1994 and 2006, Saudi Arabia in 1998 and South Africa in 2010. However, his rich history in the World Cup is not the same in the clubs and he has only one impressive title with a club abroad, Fenerbahçe in Turkey where he won a Turkish League Championship. Vanderlei Luxemburgo holds the distinction of being the most successful manager in the history of Brazil's Série A, with 5 wins, and because of that he was hired as Real Madrid's coach from Santos in the second half of 2004/5 season but his new formation (the Magic Rectangle, a 4-2-2-2 formation) did not work well and after a humiliating 0-3 home defeat to their rivals, Barcelona, and a second place in the La Liga, he was sacked. Luiz Felipe Scolari, was the public preference after the 2010 World Cup disaster and before Mano Menezes took over the Brazilian Team coach position. Luiz Filipe, most known as Felipão or Big Phil in England was the Brazilian coach in 2002 World Cup when the Brazilian Team won the title 5 times and also coached the Portugal team that reached the second place in the Euro 2004 and in fourth place in 2006 World Cup. After years of coaching Portugal, Big Phil came to London and became the first World Cup winning coach to work in the Premier League but after a good start, Big Phil had problems with Chelsea's star players and left the Blues. Everyone knows that Brazilian players are good wherever they go but Brazilian coaches still need to prove that they can have the same success around the world and not just in the national championships.
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
The Brazilian Post
Sport
27
Neymar gives Brazil 2-0 friendly win vs. Scotland Brazil wonderkid Neymar underlined his growing reputation with both goals in a 2-0 friendly win over Scotland at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Neymar, a teenage striker with Santos, is reportedly high on the transfer shopping lists of Chelsea and Real Madrid and it was easy to see why after an eye-catching display capped by the first-half opener and a late penalty. The supremely-gifted 19-year-old scored on his full debut for Mano Menezes' side in August and now has three goals in three international appearances as Brazil got back on track after successive defeats against Argentina and France. The presence of Brazil legend Ronaldo, who was introduced to the teams before kick-off, provided a vivid reminder of a glorious era for the Selecao that included their last World Cup triumph back in 2002.
New Tyres, new problems The new Formula 1's tyres did not make a good impression in the preseason. Pirelli is the supplier for the Formula 1, 2011 season but the durability of their tyres is not making the teams happy. Drivers are complaining about the need to do 3 or 4 pit stops in each race. "The tyres are interesting and the critics will not have any effect. The teams need to adapt to the new tyres and those who can do this first, will be one step ahead of the others.", said Ferrari's team boss, Stefano Domenicali. Now with the first race gone the question is: Who will transform the tyre's problem into an advantage?
28
The Brazilian Post
MARCH 28th - APRIL 03rd 2011
Brazil's housing boom stokes bubble worries
Rio, boasting of picture-postcard scenery and plans for big investments ahead of the soccer World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games two years later, is not alone in a Brazilian housing boom that is inevitably raising fears of an asset bubble in one of the world's hottest emerging markets. Since early 2008, just as the credit crunch was biting in the developed world, residential property prices in Rio have risen 99 percent with Sao Paulo not far behind with 81 percent, according to a newly launched index by Brazil's Fipe economic research institute. Brazil lacks an official gauge of national
house prices, but there have been similar booms in other major cities, including the capital Brasilia and coastal cities in the northeast such as Recife and Salvador. Apartment prices are popular dinner table and beach conversations in Rio, anecdotes of humble doormen and taxi drivers becoming real estate brokers are common, as are stories of people snapping up apartments without seeing them. Rio's swankier addresses, such as beachside Leblon or Ipanema, are catching up with the eye-watering prices of Manhattan and central London with three-bedroom apartments changing hands for 2 million reais (748,000 pounds) or more. One fairly averagelooking two-bed apartment in Leblon a block from the beach is currently on the market for 2.45 million reais. Rio's central business area has overtaken Manhattan's Midtown district to become the world's fourth most expensive city to rent
office space, behind only Hong Kong, London and Tokyo, according to global real estate group Cushman & Wakefield. Demand for training courses to become real estate brokers is booming. Just over 3,300 new brokers were registered in Rio state last year, a nearly ten-fold increase from 2005. Just as in China, another fast-growing emerging market where some worry about a property bubble, there is plenty of evidence that the boom is well-founded. Brazil's economy grew a sizzling 7.5 percent last year, driven by record-high employment and confident consumers who are swelling the middle class and eager to get a foot on the housing ladder, often with the help of credit. Millions had for long been locked out of owning property because of a lack of financing, but the mortgage market is now growing rapidly on the back of unprecedented economic stability, bringing home ownership into reach. With a national housing deficit estimated at more than 7 million units, there is plenty of pent-up demand.
"The boom is real. We don't have any bubble and there's not a chance of one because the percentage of GDP (of mortgage debt) is very low and the lower classes have been left out of
this market for many years," said Joao Paulo Matos, the director of Carmo e Calcada, a Rio civil construction firm. "The World Cup and the Olympics are bringing more companies and industries here and their employees need somewhere to live, from low-level workers to executives." Three buildings with a total of 821 apartments that the firm launched last year sold out in the first week, one of them in a single day. Matos' main worry is a shortage of qualified labour and materials to meet the insatiable demand for new projects, most of which are in the Barra da Tijuca beach zone west of Rio where the bulk of Olympic events will take place. Major builders such as Rossi Residencial, Cyrela and Gafisa have been among the biggest gainers on Brazil's stock market in the past two years, backed by a $41 billion government low-income housing program.
LOW MORTGAGE DEBT
Mortgage debt in Brazil is indeed relatively low, standing at about 4 percent of GDP compared to about 15 percent in China in 2009, and much higher levels in developed economies. Brazilian banks have stricter standards too, generally lending no more than 80 percent of a property's value. High mortgage rates also act as a sobering force, although they are now low by Brazil's historical standards. Banco do Brasil, whose mortgage portfolio has more than doubled to 4 billion reais in the past year, offers 30-year home loans at a 13 percent fixed annual interest rate, almost triple the current rates in the United States. The majority of economists agree with Matos, but there are a growing number of skeptics who, on Portuguese-language Web sites like bolhaimobiliaria.com (housingbubble.com), vent their view that Brazil's boom is doomed to a familiar fate.
Mortgage debt may be low, skeptics say, but the overall consumer debt burden has been growing fast when taking into account credit cards and installment payments that carry average annual interest rates of around 30 percent. The explosion of credit in recent years has raised concern that Brazil is nurturing a new breed of sub-prime consumers who are not financially astute enough to manage their debts and who could default as the economy cools and interest rates rise. That is exactly the scenario Latin America's largest economy faces this year. "It's like putting someone who has never eaten in front of a banquet. They will get ill from eating too much," said Heitor Mello Peixoto, the head of eyesonfuture, a Sao Paulo business consultancy. Peixoto, who believes a bubble is forming, worries that banks aren't monitoring the amount that mortgage holders are spending on maintaining their other debts. Household debt costs stand at around 22 percent of income in Brazil, according to Sao Paulo consultancy LCA Consultores, compared to 15 percent in the United States at the end of 2010. "I received an offer of credit from my bank much higher than I could afford because they worked it out from my income, not from what I spend," Peixoto said. Matos has noticed that more of his apartments are being bought by investors these days, accounting for 40-45 percent of sales, rather than by families who want a permanent home. Still, his firm plans no let up in the pace of construction this year, expecting to build 1,200 units for total sales of around 300 million reais, up from 200 million reais in 2010. Judging by the packed, enthusiastic class of real estate brokers, there will be no shortage of help to sell them. "Rio has everything -- beaches, sun and business all together and there's not much more room to build. However much prices go up, there will always be people wanting to buy," said Carmen Garcia, a 49-year-old resident.
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