50 v. Ja Rule
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Friday, April 30, 2010
Obama: Congress may not tackle immigration soon
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama says there "may not be an appetite" in Congress to deal with immigration immediately after going through a tough legislative year. 
With energy legislation on the table and midterm elections approaching, Obama said Wednesday he didn't want to force an immigration bill through Congress "just for the sake of politics." Still, he said discussions on the issue must move forward in a way that can garner the support of the American people.
"We've gone though a very tough year and I've been working Congress very hard, so I know there may not be an appetite immediately to dive into another controversial issue," the president told reporters aboard Air Force One returning with him to Washington from a Midwest trip.
The issue of immigration bubbled to the surface in recent weeks after Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed a controversial bill into law requiring local and state law enforcement to question people about their immigration status if there's reason to suspect they're in the country illegally. The law also makes it a state crime to be in the U.S. illegally.
Obama has sharply criticized the law, asking the Justice Department to look into whether it violates civil rights. On Wednesday, he said he understands the frustrations of people in Arizona who are faced with thousands of immigrants coming into their state illegally, but he said the state's new immigration law would only end up polarizing the debate over reform.
"What I think is a mistake is when we start having local law enforcement officials given the power to stop people on the suspicions that they may be undocumented workers," Obama told reporters. "That carries a great amount of risk."
The president said that while he believed he could get a majority of Democrats to support immigration reform, he still needs help from Republicans.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had talked about moving immigration ahead of climate change legislation, a suggestion that splintered bipartisan support for the climate bill. Then Reid said Tuesday he was willing to bring up climate change legislation ahead of an immigration bill, but Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., was still angry that Reid considered putting off the climate bill.
Reid said the long-delayed climate bill "is much further down the road in terms of a product" than the immigration measure, which remains unwritten.
An immigration proposal by three Democratic senators calls for more federal enforcement agents and other border security-tightening benchmarks before illegal immigrants could become legal U.S. residents, according to a draft of the legislation obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press. The bill is being developed by Reid of Nevada, Chuck Schumer of New York and Robert Menendez of New Jersey.
President Barack Obama answers question for members of the media aboard Air Force One entroute to Andrews Air Force Base, Wednesday, April 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
"We've gone though a very tough year and I've been working Congress very hard, so I know there may not be an appetite immediately to dive into another controversial issue," the president told reporters aboard Air Force One returning with him to Washington from a Midwest trip.
The issue of immigration bubbled to the surface in recent weeks after Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed a controversial bill into law requiring local and state law enforcement to question people about their immigration status if there's reason to suspect they're in the country illegally. The law also makes it a state crime to be in the U.S. illegally.
Obama has sharply criticized the law, asking the Justice Department to look into whether it violates civil rights. On Wednesday, he said he understands the frustrations of people in Arizona who are faced with thousands of immigrants coming into their state illegally, but he said the state's new immigration law would only end up polarizing the debate over reform.
"What I think is a mistake is when we start having local law enforcement officials given the power to stop people on the suspicions that they may be undocumented workers," Obama told reporters. "That carries a great amount of risk."
The president said that while he believed he could get a majority of Democrats to support immigration reform, he still needs help from Republicans.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had talked about moving immigration ahead of climate change legislation, a suggestion that splintered bipartisan support for the climate bill. Then Reid said Tuesday he was willing to bring up climate change legislation ahead of an immigration bill, but Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., was still angry that Reid considered putting off the climate bill.
Reid said the long-delayed climate bill "is much further down the road in terms of a product" than the immigration measure, which remains unwritten.
An immigration proposal by three Democratic senators calls for more federal enforcement agents and other border security-tightening benchmarks before illegal immigrants could become legal U.S. residents, according to a draft of the legislation obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press. The bill is being developed by Reid of Nevada, Chuck Schumer of New York and Robert Menendez of New Jersey.
Nelly's Cousin Killed in St. Louis
Michael Johnson, a relative to Grammy Award winning artist Nelly, was killed on Wednesday (April 28) in St. Louis, Missouri.
According to St. Louis' News 11, Johnson was killed outside a residence on the 8000 Block of Nola near the intersection of N. Hanley and St. Charles Rock Road. Reports say that Johnson, 36, was shot several times while leaving or entering the home. St.Louis authorities have yet to find any leads in the case.
While reports are saying Johnson was Nelly's bodyguard, Pimp Juice referred to him as his "cousin and friend."
He took to his Twitter page to blast Channel 2 News for their false reporting on the incident, writing, "Channel 2 stl don't Ever have 2worry about another interview from me or a stlunatic ever again!!There not invited 2any of my functions!! Why would you channel 2 mix me giving away scholarships 2students with the murder of my cuzzen after I told u I didn't want 2talk about it Ino its your right channel 2 but Y is it when a brother goes to do good they wanna make the bad the headline?thanx for the home town support After watching channel 2's broadcast its clear to me about motives! my cuzzen deserved his own segment as well as the 2 deserving students!! I'm NEVER WATCHING CHANNEL 2 news in stl ever again!!! STLOUIS SPREAD THE WORD!!!"
Stay tuned as this story develops.
While reports are saying Johnson was Nelly's bodyguard, Pimp Juice referred to him as his "cousin and friend."
He took to his Twitter page to blast Channel 2 News for their false reporting on the incident, writing, "Channel 2 stl don't Ever have 2worry about another interview from me or a stlunatic ever again!!There not invited 2any of my functions!! Why would you channel 2 mix me giving away scholarships 2students with the murder of my cuzzen after I told u I didn't want 2talk about it Ino its your right channel 2 but Y is it when a brother goes to do good they wanna make the bad the headline?thanx for the home town support After watching channel 2's broadcast its clear to me about motives! my cuzzen deserved his own segment as well as the 2 deserving students!! I'm NEVER WATCHING CHANNEL 2 news in stl ever again!!! STLOUIS SPREAD THE WORD!!!"
Stay tuned as this story develops.
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Thursday, April 29, 2010
SAfrica prepared if Obama decides to attend WCup
NEW YORK – The top South African World Cup organizer says his country is prepared to have President Barack Obama visit during the tournament. 
Obama met last summer at the White House with FIFA president Sepp Blatter, and South African officials have said Obama has told them he might try to attend if his schedule allows.
"I think it would be wonderful it he comes," Danny Jordaan, the South African organizing committee's chief executive officer, said Wednesday during an interview with The Associated Press. "We expect a high number of heads of states during the World Cup."
A little more than six weeks before the June 11 opener, Jordaan gave an update on the tournament at the South African consulate.
"I think we're going to get many high-profile individuals," he said. "The government will take the necessary security precautions."
Blatter and Jordaan hope former South African president Nelson Mandela also can attend. The Nobel Prize winner makes few public appearances these days.
"Of course Mandela is 91 years old," Jordaan said. "It's something that we have to wait and see."
Jordaan said it was hard to evaluate a purported threat by al-Qaida directed at the high-profile U.S.-England match on June 12. Jordaan said the "authenticity of that thing" has not been determined.
FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said in February that South Africa would fail to draw the 450,000 international visitors it once projected for the tournament, and South African Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said this month the figure could be as low as 300,000.
Jordaan said he projected 373,000 international visitors, of which 100,000 will come from neighboring African countries. There are still 120,000 to 140,000 unsold tickets. Part of the difficulty has been caused by the global recession.
"That crisis affected many of the countries in Europe, including England and Germany, which happen to be the major markets," he said. "And even now you see the crisis in Greece. And people in 2010 who may have had the capacity to travel in 2004 and '05 may now not have that capacity."
Still, the U.S. leads foreign countries with 160,000 tickets bought, despite high prices for airfare and hotels.
"It seems the recovery has been good in the States," he said. "And certainly fans follow teams that they believe in. And we've seen after the United States made it to the final of the Confederations Cup and was leading Brazil 2-0 at halftime, that fans in the U.S. decided this is a team that has a chance in this World Cup. And I think as the teams progress into the second round and latter stages, there will be a further influx of fans into the country."
Jordaan estimates the tournament will leave a legacy of $80 million to $100 million for South African soccer, which often has struggled for funding in competition with rugby and cricket.
He hopes the World Cup will leave a lasting boost on tourism. South Africa had just over 10 million international visitors last year and hopes to increase the figure to 15 million annually by 2014.
Already, he said up to 30 new hotels are being built and that 557 new buses have been delivered along with 124 new train sets. South Africa wants to be discussed as a travel destination "in the coffee tables and dinner tables of the world," and the estimated 15,000 reporters attending the tournament will generate discussion about the country's progress away from the 10 stadiums.
Already a global forum of business leaders has been scheduled for Cape Town during the tournament.
"That's one of the fundamental reasons as to why we pursued the idea of hosting the World Cup," Jordaan said. "It's about further investment in the country, growth in trade and economic opportunities. And the way in which you do that is by demonstrating that you have the infrastructure and the capability to warrant serious consideration for such investment. And the second thing is about your reputation. It's the country's ability to deliver on what it promises."
South Africa may try to follow the World Cup by bringing the Olympics to Africa for the first time in 2020. Jordaan has said he could envision Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban as host.
"If you can host the World Cup and if we have the infrastructure, what about the Olympics? I think that's the obvious question that's going to be raised," he said. "It's the last of the mega-events outstanding for the continent."
___
AP Sports Writers Barry Wilner and Eric Nunez contributed.
Dr. Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 World Cup Organizing Committee in South Africa, speaks during a World Cup soccer news conference in New York, Wednesday April 28, 2010. (Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
"I think it would be wonderful it he comes," Danny Jordaan, the South African organizing committee's chief executive officer, said Wednesday during an interview with The Associated Press. "We expect a high number of heads of states during the World Cup."
A little more than six weeks before the June 11 opener, Jordaan gave an update on the tournament at the South African consulate.
"I think we're going to get many high-profile individuals," he said. "The government will take the necessary security precautions."
Blatter and Jordaan hope former South African president Nelson Mandela also can attend. The Nobel Prize winner makes few public appearances these days.
"Of course Mandela is 91 years old," Jordaan said. "It's something that we have to wait and see."
Jordaan said it was hard to evaluate a purported threat by al-Qaida directed at the high-profile U.S.-England match on June 12. Jordaan said the "authenticity of that thing" has not been determined.
FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said in February that South Africa would fail to draw the 450,000 international visitors it once projected for the tournament, and South African Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said this month the figure could be as low as 300,000.
Jordaan said he projected 373,000 international visitors, of which 100,000 will come from neighboring African countries. There are still 120,000 to 140,000 unsold tickets. Part of the difficulty has been caused by the global recession.
"That crisis affected many of the countries in Europe, including England and Germany, which happen to be the major markets," he said. "And even now you see the crisis in Greece. And people in 2010 who may have had the capacity to travel in 2004 and '05 may now not have that capacity."
Still, the U.S. leads foreign countries with 160,000 tickets bought, despite high prices for airfare and hotels.
"It seems the recovery has been good in the States," he said. "And certainly fans follow teams that they believe in. And we've seen after the United States made it to the final of the Confederations Cup and was leading Brazil 2-0 at halftime, that fans in the U.S. decided this is a team that has a chance in this World Cup. And I think as the teams progress into the second round and latter stages, there will be a further influx of fans into the country."
Jordaan estimates the tournament will leave a legacy of $80 million to $100 million for South African soccer, which often has struggled for funding in competition with rugby and cricket.
He hopes the World Cup will leave a lasting boost on tourism. South Africa had just over 10 million international visitors last year and hopes to increase the figure to 15 million annually by 2014.
Already, he said up to 30 new hotels are being built and that 557 new buses have been delivered along with 124 new train sets. South Africa wants to be discussed as a travel destination "in the coffee tables and dinner tables of the world," and the estimated 15,000 reporters attending the tournament will generate discussion about the country's progress away from the 10 stadiums.
Already a global forum of business leaders has been scheduled for Cape Town during the tournament.
"That's one of the fundamental reasons as to why we pursued the idea of hosting the World Cup," Jordaan said. "It's about further investment in the country, growth in trade and economic opportunities. And the way in which you do that is by demonstrating that you have the infrastructure and the capability to warrant serious consideration for such investment. And the second thing is about your reputation. It's the country's ability to deliver on what it promises."
South Africa may try to follow the World Cup by bringing the Olympics to Africa for the first time in 2020. Jordaan has said he could envision Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban as host.
"If you can host the World Cup and if we have the infrastructure, what about the Olympics? I think that's the obvious question that's going to be raised," he said. "It's the last of the mega-events outstanding for the continent."
___
AP Sports Writers Barry Wilner and Eric Nunez contributed.
Justin Bieber is the King
Bieber bandwagon rolls on ... teen star Justin has recruited
Sean Kingston for his latest video for new single Eenie Meenie
WE'RE ready for a server crash.
JUSTIN BIEBER fans can get an exclusive first look at the wonderkid's video for his new single Eenie Meenie.
The track - the third to be taken from the Canadian's album My World 2.0 - features rapper SEAN KINGSTON.
You might also recognise pretty Jasmine Villegas as she previously starred as Justin's love interest in his Baby video.
Check out the video below.
Eenie Meenie is available to download on itunes now.
Check out Justin's recent Biz Session for The Sun HERE.
.LIVERPOOL 2 ATLETICO 1
TENSE ENCOUNTER ... but Diego Forlan's extra-time winner put Atletico through
DIEGO FORLAN and Jose Antonio Reyes combined to break Liverpool's hearts and scupper the hopes of a dream all-English final.
Alberto Aquilani's first-half goal had raised the Reds hopes and they looked to be heading for a Hamburg clash with Fulham after Yossi Benayoun had put them ahead on aggregate early in extra-time.
But 10 minutes later, Reyes found space on the right to pick out the unmarked Forlan, and the ex-Man Utd hitman guided his finish past a helpless Pepe Reina
Liverpool and Atletico Madrid line up before kick-off
Glen Johnson under pressure from Sergio Aguero
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard
Daniel Agger heads in but the goal is ruled out for offside
Steven Gerrard argues with referee Terje Hauge after Liverpool have a goal disallowed
Liverpool needed a good start and they almost had it after just nine seconds when Daniel Agger's long ball forward picked out Benayoun in the penalty area and his low shot from a narrow angle was turned behind by goalkeeper David de Gea.
It was the first of three corners inside two minutes as all the play was concentrated in the visitors' half.
Aquilani was next to threaten but his low shot from Dirk Kuyt's 11th-minute lay-off on the edge of the penalty area was straight at De Gea.
But the Spanish side were still a threat and Reina dived low to his right to turn Raul Garcia's long-range effort around the post in the 19th minute.
Paulo Assuncao trips Liverpool's Steven Gerrard
Just when it seemed Liverpool had lost momentum, Steven Gerrard sent Javier Mascherano racing down the right and his cross along the six-yard area was diverted over the crossbar by the sliding Kuyt.
Sergio Aguero went round Reina having latched on to a perfect through-ball from Reyes but opted to cross rather than shoot from a narrow angle and Forlan was too far behind play to take advantage.
Liverpool thought they had scored when Gerrard curled in a 32nd-minute free-kick and Agger headed into the bottom corner only to be flagged offside.
Gerrard was then booked for a needless foul on Aguero as the half drew to a close and frustration levels began to rise at Anfield.
But a minute before the interval the breakthrough finally came.
Mascherano's throw down the right wing was picked up by Benayoun whose cross was missed by Kuyt but found Aquilani who curled a low shot just inside De Gea's left-hand post.
Atletico regrouped for the second-half and the optimism around Anfield was replaced by a growing sense of anxiety as the tie reached the business end.
Benayoun shot well over from 25 yards and Johnson cut in from the left and whipped in a right-footed shot De Gea could only parry over.
Diego Forlan with Liverpool's Lucas, Jamie Carragher and Javier Mascherano
Dirk Kuyt and Atletico Madrid's Raul Garcia
Alberto Aquilani scores for Liverpool
But the game became increasingly tense as the 90-minute mark closed in and with less than five minutes left, Forlan narrowly failed to reach a throughball that would have left him bearing down on Reina's goal.
Goalscorer Aquilani was replaced by Nabil El-Zhar with a minute to go as the game went into extra time.
The extra 30 minutes then started like a dream for Liverpool, when Benayoun broke free on the left and rifled a powerful shot into the far corner.
But the cheers turned to silence when terrible defending left Forlan in acres of space to rattle in the decisive goal.
Rafa Benitez's side huffed and puffed in the second period but it was to no avail and time was called on any chance of honours in Liverpool's miserable season - and possibly Benitez's tenure at the club.
Alberto Aquilani celebrates his goal with Liverpool's Glen Johnson
Pepe Reina celebrates Liverpool drawing level
Teenage Girls Injured at Justin Bieber Concert
Sydney, Australia finally got to witness Bieber Fever. On Monday morning (April 26) a handful of teenage girls were injured as they awaited the arrival of pop sensation Justin Bieber outside Sydney Harbour.
Concertgoers said doors for the performance weren't supposed to be open until 5 a.m., but opened two hours early. Rumors circulated that Bieber arrived at the venue a bit early which caused fans to rush the entrance.
Grant Denyer, the weatherman for Network Seven's Sunrise program planning to broadcast the open air concert, expected a huge turn out, but had no idea it would escalate to that level.
"We were expecting this to be the biggest concert we ever had, but we just couldn't have foreseen this scale," Denyer said.
Of the injured, eight were sent to the hospital, one suffered a fractured knee and others hyperventilated. Jessica Whitmore, 13, wanted nothing to do with the crowd frenzy and did everything in her power to leave the venue. Said Whitemore, "I couldn't wait to get out of there."
Though the show was canceled for saftey reasons, Bieber did relocate to Network Seven's studios to briefly perform his smash hit "Baby" for a handful of fans.
Representatives for Justin Bieber have yet to comment on the incident.
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