JOIN DISSCUSSION: MAKE YOUR COMMENTS ON JUSTIN BIEBER

DO YOU FIND JUSTIN BIEBER HOT / SEXY?

DO YOU WANT TO DATE HIM?

DO YOU WANT TO MARRY HIM?

DISSCUSSION GROUP: DO YOU LIKE OBAMA GIRL? DO YOU FIND HER SEXY? DO YOU WANT TO DATE HER?

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THE RELEASE OF OBAMA'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE???

Obama releases 'long form' birth certificate

The White House has released President Barack Obama's birth certificate, in response to persistent rumours he was not born in the US.

Mr Obama had previously released an official "certification of live birth" showing he was born in Hawaii.
But fringe "birther" theorists have insisted Mr Obama was actually born in his father's native Kenya, making him ineligible to be president.
Recently potential Republican candidate Donald Trump has revived the rumour.

Analysis

Mark Mardell BBC North America editor

---

The White House clearly felt they had to lay this matter to rest. And they were almost certainly right.
I was out of town when the story broke and rushed to find a diner with a TV to watch what the president said. As I talked to people afterwards, it was very clear many had doubts about the president's birth certificate and wondered why something hadn't been said more clearly much earlier.
Something else was also very clear: They agreed with the president that this was a distraction and nearly everyone, unprompted, mentioned the price of petrol as their overwhelming concern.

• Mardell's America: What do voters think?

'Silliness'

On Wednesday, Mr Obama described the unprecedented move as an effort to rid the US political debate of a distraction, saying he had watched, puzzled and bemused, as the birther conspiracy had built and developed over the past years.

He described the matter as a "sideshow" and its proponents as "carnival barkers".
"We do not have time for this kind of silliness," Mr Obama said. "We've got better stuff to do. I have better stuff to do. We've got big problems to solve, and I'm confident we can solve them, but we're going to have to focus on them - not on this."
The release of Mr Obama's long form birth certificate, which had been stored in a bound volume among the records of the Hawaii Department of Health since his birth in August 1961, comes after years of speculation among conspiracy-minded conservatives.
Under the US constitution, only a "natural born citizen" - a clause widely interpreted to mean born in the US or in some cases to US citizens abroad - is eligible to be president.
Trump's birther hype The birther conspiracy held that Mr Obama was born in Kenya or in Indonesia, where he lived as a child, or that the birth certificate revealed other unwholesome information about the president.

Click to play

Barack Obama: "We've had every official in Hawaii...confirm that yes in fact I was born in Hawaii"

During the 2008 presidential campaign Mr Obama released a computer print-out of the birth certificate information that is recognised as an official record of his birth - on passport applications, for instance - and Hawaiian public health officials vouched for its authenticity.
But the move did little to quell the birthers, even as most mainstream Republicans have sought to quash the movement, calling it a distraction from substantive policy disagreements.
New York real estate entrepreneur and reality television star, meanwhile, has publicly flirted with a Republican presidential bid in recent weeks, founded in large part by stoking questions about Mr Obama's origins.
And on Wednesday, Mr Trump took credit for forcing Mr Obama's hand.
"I've accomplished something that nobody else has been able to accomplish," Mr Trump told reporters. "He should have done it a long time ago."
The White House released copies of the original birth certificate, with a stamp verifying its authenticity. White House officials said they had been given a waiver by Hawaii public health officials, as the state's policy in general bars release of long-form birth certificates.
Birthers unsatisfied The document shows Barack Hussein Obama II was born 4 August 1961 at Kapiolani Maternity and Gynecological Hospital in Honolulu, to Barack Hussein Obama, a 25-year-old student, and Stanley Ann Dunham, 18, and includes the signature of the attending physician.
It remains unclear whether the release of the birth certificate will satisfy the most hard-core birthers.
Joseph Farah, chief executive of birther-orientated website WorldNetDaily.com, said on the site the document "raises as many questions as it answers".
"It is important to remember there are still dozens of other questions concerning this question of eligibility... concerning Barack Obama's parentage, his adoption, his citizenship status throughout his life and why he continues to cultivate a culture of secrecy around his life," he said.

Royal wedding: IS KATE ALREADY PREGNANT

Stories that Kate Middleton is pregnant, and that she and Prince William will make a baby announcement shortly after their wedding on April 29 have been hotly denied by Buckingham Palace.

A magazine in the US reported the couple are are expecting their first child, and that they would break the news officially once back from their honeymoon.

They quoted a source close to the couple as saying: 'Kate's bursting with the secret knowledge that she could soon be a mum,' adding 'She had originally been nervous about having morning sickness on the wedding day, but in the end she decided not to put it off, to just leave it up to fate.'

A Buckingham Palace spokesman flatly denied the rumours, branding them 'absurd' and 'certainly not true'.

And given that all the UK press is obsessed with how THIN Kate has been looking in the run up to her big day, a pregnancy does seem rather unlikely, doesn't it? But you never know -- most people in the UK are saying that. William and Kate have been dating for nearly a decade now.

 

Justin Bieber Wins Big at Kids Choice Awards

By Michael Arceneaux

Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, Eddie Murphy and Shaq win at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.

Filed Under Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake

Justin Bieber turned out to be the big winner at the 2011 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.
The show, hosted by Jack Black and featuring performances by Willow Smith, brought out a bevy of stars, but it was Bieber who drew the biggest applause of the night.
The Usher protégé beat out his mentor to win the award for Favorite Male Singer, while his song “Baby,” featuring Ludacris, won the prize for favorite song.
In movies, Jaden Smith took to the stage to accept The Karate Kid’s award for Favorite Movie.
Eddie Murphy also graced the stage to take home the blimp for Favorite Voice From an Animated Movie for his role as Donkey in Shrek Forever.
In sports, Shaquille O’Neal won for Favorite Athlete, while Justin Timberlake was acknowledged for his philanthropic work with Nickelodeon’s The Big Help Award.
While accepting his award, Timberlake told the kid-filled audience, “I want to dedicate this to all of you very cool, very loud kids. This is your world.”

Justin Bieber's Ill-Fated Israeli Summit

Wed., Apr. 13, 2011 8:17 AM PDT by Josh Grossberg

Hector Vallenilla, PacificCoastNews.com

When it comes to visiting the Holy Land, there's no peace in the Middle East for Justin Bieber.
The teen idol was on the receiving end of a bad rap after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scrapped a meeting with him when Bieber supposedly snubbed young victims of Palestinian rocket attacks.
Here's what really went down...

RELATED: Justin Bieber's Mom Catches Her Hair on Fire
A spokesman for Netanyahu told the New York Times that a member of Bieber's camp had contacted his office about setting up a summit, to which  the prime minister quickly agreed—with the proviso that Israeli children under intense rocket fire near the Gaza border be invited.
"Sadly, [the meeting] proved impossible," according to the spokesman, noting that the "Baby" singer's management wasn't keen on the idea and suggesting he may have been throwing his lot in with a growing number of artists like Elvis Costello and the Pixies who have decided to boycott Israel because of the occupation of Palestinian lands.
Not so, said a rep for the beleaguered Bieb.
According to both parties, the appointment purportedly set for Wednesday night had never been finalized; and secondly, the talks ended because of miscommunication and logistical issues, not political reasons.
"Justin welcomes the chance to meet with kids facing difficult circumstances, regardless of their background, and in fact, he had already invited children from the Sderot area," said the rep, referring to the Israeli border town.
Bieber arrived in the Holy Land on Monday with his family and is scheduled to perform in Tel Aviv on Thursday. But like everywhere else he's been, touring Israel's holiest sites has been difficult with the ever-annoying paparazzi always on his tail, a fact of life he recently lamented.
"You would think paparazzi would have some respect in holy places. All I wanted was the chance to walk where jesus did here in isreal [sic]," Justin tweeted. "They should be ashamed of themselves. Take pictures of me eating but not in a place of prayer, ridiculous."
Frustration mounting, the 17-year-old Canadian crooner then swore he'd spend the rest of the week in his hotel, adding, "u happy?"
Welcome to his world.
As for the matter of Netanyahu's snub, Bieber commented on it as well, albeit diplomatically: "I want to see this country and all the places I've dreamed of and whether it's the paps or being pulled into politics it's been frustrating."
He then announced to all his Beliebers out there that while he's excited about his concert, he's also "gonna take a little break from Twitter and enjoy this time with my family until then."
Peace be unto you, Justin.

Pakistan should apologise to Bangladesh for atrocities unconditionally: Imran Khan

Pakistan should apologise to Bangladesh for atrocities: Imran

Islamabad, Mar 24 (PTI)

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan said the Pakistan government should officially apologise to the people of Bangladesh for atrocities allegedly committed by the Pakistan Army in the 1971 war.

Khan said this during a television show on Geo News and Geo Super TV channels yesterday while analysing the cricket match between Pakistan and West Indies played at Mirpur in Bangladesh. The host of the show asked Khan about the expected behaviour of the Bangladeshi crowd in Mirpur and he said the Bangladeshis would support the Pakistani cricket team. The host then asked Khan whether the time had come for the Pakistan government to apologise to the people of Bangladesh for the army operation of 1971. Khan said he was previously of the opinion that the army operation was "a good thing" because there was no independent media in Pakistan in 1971. Khan said when he went to Britain in 1971, his Bengali friends told him about the "reality" of the Pakistan Army operation in erstwhile East Pakistan. He said army operations always created hatred and "we must apologise to the Bangladeshis".He added: "We must learn lessons from our past mistakes and we should not repeat these mistakes in Balochistan and the tribal areas where we have started army operations on US pressure." Khan said he had experienced the love and affection of Bangladeshis during an exhibition match in Mirpur in 1989.

NEXT 11 COUNTRIES

The BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) were named in 2003 as the most rapidly developing countries with the greatest economic potential. With these countries continuing to develop fast, albeit at different rates, it is useful to look at the next tier of emerging economies. Those countries following the BRIC path will typically experience high rates of population growth, creating a growing pool of potential consumers, at the same time as rising disposable incomes.

Key points

• Since the acronym BRIC was coined by Goldman Sachs in 2003, the economies of these countries have grown rapidly, with China experiencing the highest growth in the group and Brazil the lowest

• In 2005 Goldman Sachs mooted the BRIC successors, otherwise known as the Next-11 (N11). This grouping comprises Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, South Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Turkey and Vietnam

• The N11 countries share the characteristics of rapidly growing populations combined with significant industrial capacity or potential

• Together, these factors indicate a growing consumer market with increased earning potential, creating business opportunities for both local and international firms

• However, long-term risks to the progression of the N11 towards BRIC economic levels include slowing oil production for those that are oil exporters, and mounting levels of political instability

Background

The original 2003 Goldman Sachs research focused on Brazil, Russia, India and China as the economies with the greatest development potential to 2050 on the basis of positive economic fundamentals, large and growing populations, and the ability to exploit resource assets, such as oil. By 2008 this hypothesis is playing out.

All the BRIC countries have posted consistent economic growth since 2001, despite the global economic downturn of 2001-2002. In 2007, economic growth registered 4.4%, 7.0%, 8.9% and 11.5% for Brazil, Russia, India and China respectively:

Real GDP growth in Brazil, Russia, India and China: 2001-2007

Source: Euromonitor International from International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Financial Statistics and World Economic Outlook/UN/national statistics.

Next 11 countries

The N11 countries are Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, South Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Turkey and Vietnam. Although varied both geographically and economically, these 11 countries have features in common that are believed to single out their high economic potential:

• All have large and growing populations. Between 1980 and 2008, population growth was highest in Pakistan at 110.8%, with the lowest being in South Korea, with 28.4% period growth

• Of the N11 countries, Indonesia had the largest population as of January 2008, with 228.9 million people, while South Korea had the smallest at 47.6 million

• In 2006, Mexico had the highest sum of private final consumption expenditure, totalling US$567 billion. Vietnam had the lowest, at US$36.8 billion

• All 11 countries demonstrate population growth rates above those of Western developed economies, indicating greater consumer market potential over the medium term. Large populations represent a wide potential pool of consumers for businesses to target, while high growth rates mean that this market will expand rapidly, providing proportionally more potential customers

Current consumer trends

In 2007, the N11 economies performed markedly differently, with varying implications for consumer spending trends:

• In 2007, real GDP growth varied between 2.9% and 8.3% year-on-year, for Mexico and Vietnam respectively

• These differing growth levels were led by country-specific factors. For example, Mexican growth fell from 4.8% in 2006 owing to the Mexican economy's close links to the US economy, which experienced decelerating growth in 2007 owing to a growing credit crisis, particularly in the housing sector, growing by only 1.9%, compared to 2.9% in 2006

• By contrast, Vietnamese economic growth was fuelled by strong export figures, particularly of textile goods, and a surging tourism industry. In addition, Vietnam benefited from a diversified export market, meaning that it was less affected by the slowdown in the USA. In 2006 Vietnam sent 22.8% of its exports to the USA, while Mexico sent 85.8%

• Consumer markets in Vietnam therefore possessed greater growth potential, with high economic growth rates encouraging wage and job growth

Sustained strong economic growth in the N11 countries is creating new consumer markets that can be targeted by businesses. However, differences in levels of growth mean that some higher-growth countries may prove more profitable for businesses.

Targeting differences

While the N11 countries share certain characteristics, they are not at the same level of economic development so consumer-focused businesses must target these markets in different ways:

• The N11 countries can be categorised in two different ways: developing economies and newly industrialised economies. These are both 'emerging economies', but the latter have greater industrial capacity and are typically beginning to export heavy manufactured or refined products, while the former are still largely reliant on primary exports, with some industrial capacity. Typically, developing economies have lower standards of living than newly industrialised economies

• Of the N11 countries, Bangladesh, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan and Vietnam can be categorised as developing economies, while all the others except South Korea can be categorised as newly industrialised economies. South Korea is the only N11 economy that could be categorised as a developed economy, owing to its high level of industrialisation and relatively stable macroeconomic fundamentals

• For example, South Korea is a predominantly technological state, exporting manufactured goods and services expertise. By contrast, Bangladesh is an exporter of primary goods while Nigeria is an oil exporter and an exporter of lower-level manufactured goods

• In 2007, GDP per capita (purchasing price parity; figures adjusted for currency fluctuations) was the highest in South Korea, which has the most skilled and well-paid population, with the population being significantly smaller than most of those of its N11 peers. Nigeria had the lowest GDP per capita in 2007, at International $1,328, owing in part to a lower skilled but larger population, but also the significantly lower level of development in the country

GDP per capita in N11 countries: 2007

(International $, PPP)

Source: Euromonitor International from IMF.

• Sales of high-end consumer goods are therefore likely to be higher in a higher income country such as South Korea, while a lower income N11 state may be more suitable for targeting more basic consumer durables

Consumer incomes in N11 countries are not necessarily comparable, but are at different levels and will grow by varying rates in the long term. This allows international businesses to target these markets for different products.

N11 business environments

The N11 countries are also different in their business environments, affecting their relative attractiveness as an investment destination:

• South Korea was ranked 30th out of 178 countries in the World Bank's 2007 Ease of Doing Business survey, the highest of the N11 countries. This is due to its well-regulated tax and investment code, heavily influenced by the US model, and the adherence of state and financial institutions to this code

• Iran is ranked the lowest at 135th. This reflects its authoritarian state-owned business environment, which in many cases actively deters foreign investors. In other cases, the regulatory environment is opaque and arbitrary, offering few incentives for investment

• In 2006, Turkey received the greatest amount of foreign direct investment of the N11 countries, at US$20.1 billion. This reflected its unique role as a bridge between Europe and the Middle East, and its consequent position as an export and re-export hub

• By contrast, Iran received the least foreign direct investment, at US$901 million, indicating its investor unfriendly business environment and also the economic sanctions imposed on it by the USA

Business environment is a major contributing factor for potential growth, since investors can easily choose to invest elsewhere if operating environments are too difficult, restricting the potential for wage and job growth in those countries.

Potential drawbacks

While the N11 countries have significant growth potential, there are also factors that could hinder them from following the BRIC growth path:

• Shifts in global commodity prices will affect the N11 producers of these commodities. For example, all except South Korea are oil producers, although only Mexico and Iran are consistent net oil exporters. Accordingly, high oil prices (with oil touching US$100 per barrel in January 2008) will benefit Mexico and Iran in particular, although the other producers will also benefit, since their domestic supply will limit the amount of imported oil required, and hence a higher import cost

• Domestic political events may also restrict growth prospects. For example, ongoing political instability in Pakistan and Bangladesh may deter investment, while the activities of terrorist groups in Indonesia, the Philippines, Nigeria and Turkey could also act as a disincentive for growth

Both global market moves, particularly of export commodities, and the domestic political situation could act to counteract the investment incentives offered by these countries. This would limit the potential for economic growth, with correspondingly negative implications for consumer spending growth.

Future scenarios

Both domestic and international factors will affect growth prospects for the N11 countries going forward:

• Demand from key export markets will determine economic growth. For the N11 countries, the USA and China are the main export markets. Although US GDP growth is forecast to reach only 1.9% year-on-year in 2008 owing to ongoing concerns about poor credit, China's economy will grow by 10%

• Those countries that are most stable – whether via democracy or dictatorship – will have better prospects for consistent growth. These include South Korea, Vietnam, Mexico and Egypt

• A key factor for Iran will be the continuation of economic sanctions by the USA, which would curtail growth