'Limitless'? Not Hollywood, says Robert De Niro

Despite his years in film, Robert De Niro says he still can't do anything he wants in Hollywood.

He notes the troubles and delays he experienced with "The Good Shepherd," the 2006 CIA tale that he directed and starred in. De Niro doubts he could make a similar film now. He says people don't really want to do "those kind of movies" nowadays.

Still, De Niro says he does have a choice of roles that other actors would envy and that he "can't complain."

The actor's latest film, "Limitless," debuts in theaters March 18.

In it, De Niro plays a mega-mogul. Co-star Bradley Cooper plays an unsuccessful writer whose life is transformed after he discovers a secret drug that allows him to use 100 percent of his brain.

AP Interview: Greece calls for EU migrant help

Other European countries must step up and help share the burden of illegal immigration by agreeing to take in some of the thousands of migrants who have flooded into debt-ridden Greece, the interior minister said Thursday.

Yannis Ragousis also told The Associated Press that a group of nearly 300 migrants who went on a six-week hunger strike demanding residence permits did not win any concessions from the government. The mostly North Africans ended their hunger strike late Wednesday after meetings with government officials.

Greece, located on the southeastern tip of Europe and with hundreds of islands within easy reach of Turkish shores, is the European Union's busiest transit point for illegal migrants and has seen hundreds of thousands slip in.

But with the country in the grip of a severe financial crisis for more than a year and unemployment approaching 15 percent, many are finding it increasingly hard to find work, adding pressure to a strained welfare system.

"It is not enough for Europe to give money. It has to take illegal immigrants too, to share the burden," Ragousis said in a telephone interview. "Because no matter how much money (Europe) gives, the pressure is so great that Greece practically ... can't cope with this problem."

Late last year, more than 90 percent of all illegal migrants detained in the EU were being caught in Greece, prompting European countries to send a multinational force to beef up border patrols. In 2010 alone, about 128,000 migrants entered the country of 10.7 million people.

And while deportation orders are often served, frequently they cannot be carried out because of the migrants' country of origin, such as war-ridden Somalia, or for humanitarian reasons, Ragousis noted.

"In those cases ... Europe has to take some of the burden by accepting the sojourn of illegal immigrants who are under deportation orders but who can't be deported for objective reasons," he said.

The immigration crisis in Greece came to a head recently with the protracted hunger strike, which developed into a crisis for the government as increasing numbers were hospitalized.

The migrants and their supporters declared victory and ended their strike late Wednesday, saying they had won the right to remain in the country.

Coca-Cola CEO's pay package increases 30 percent

Coca-Cola Co.'s Chairman and CEO, Muhtar Kent, received compensation valued at $19.2 million in the 2010 fiscal year, 30 percent more than the year before, as his bonus and stock awards increased, according to an Associated Press analysis.

Kent has been CEO of the world's biggest drink maker since July 2008.

Coca-Cola maintained his base salary at $1.2 million. His performance-based cash bonus increased 18 percent to $6.5 million, according to a regulatory filing submitted Wednesday.

Coca-Cola did not grant any stock awards to its executives in 2009. This year, Kent received stock awards valued at $5.1 million. He also received options awards valued at $5.7 million at the time they were granted, down from $7.4 million worth of options granted in 2009.

Kent also received perks, such as personal drivers, use of the company aircraft and financial planning services, worth $737,848. That's 12 percent higher than the $659,274 in perks a year earlier.

Coca-Cola and its rivals have suffered falling soft drink sales in the U.S. in recent years and it continues to face volatile ingredient costs and an uncertain economy. The company, however, has expanded its product lines increasingly into water, juices and teas, increased its push in international markets and acquired its largest bottlers.

The company's net income surged 73 percent to $11.81 billion in the most recent fiscal year, and revenue rose 13 percent to $35.12.

Coca-Cola, based in Atlanta, is the world's biggest seller of drinks, with brands such as Coke, Sprite and Dasani bottled water.

The Associated Press formula is designed to isolate the value the company's board placed on the executive's total compensation package during the last fiscal year. It includes salary, bonus, performance-related bonus, perks, above-market returns on deferred compensation and the estimated value of stock options and awards granted during the year.

Unemployment rate falls in 24 states, rises in 10

The unemployment rate fell or held steady in 40 states in January, the latest sign that hiring is strengthening throughout the country.

The Labor Department says the unemployment rate fell in 24 states and remained the same in 16. The unemployment rate rose in only 10 states. In December, the rate fell in 15 states and rose in 20.

Employers added to their payrolls in 35 states in January, up from only 15 in the previous month. That's the most to report higher payrolls since October.

Nationwide, employers added 63,000 net jobs in January, and the unemployment rate fell sharply to 9 percent from 9.4 percent. The rate ticked down last month to 8.9 percent and employers added 192,000 net jobs.

`Teen Angel' songwriter Jean Dinning dies at 86

Songwriter Jean Dinning, who wrote the teen tragedy hit "Teen Angel," has died. She was 86.

Daughter Cynthia Wygal tells the Orange County Register that her mother died Feb. 22 in Garden Grove.

Dinning's brother Mark performed "Teen Angel," which is about a girl who dies tragically. A couple's car stalls on railroad tracks and they safely get out, but the girl runs back to get the boy's high school class ring and a train hits the car.

The song was released in October 1959 and it became an instant hit.

Dinning is survived by her sisters Ginger and Dolores; children Shay Edwards, Cynthia Wygal, Howard Mack, Ronald Surrey and David Surrey; eight grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.

A memorial service is planned May 21 in Nashville, Tenn.