Newtopics2010

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2012-03-12T14:22:00.006+00:00

Google Fails To Acquire Nortel Patents

2011-07-13T13:46:00.000+01:00

Google lost out to a consortium on its bid to acquire an estimated 6,000 patents from Nortel, a bankrupt telecom-equipment manufacturer. Google bid $900 million for the patents however the consortium which included big companies such as Apple and Research In Motion made a $4.5 billion cash bid making their offer five times as much as that of Google.

A lot of big companies became interested in acquiring the patents after they learned that it was up for sale. These patents include technologies related to 4G wireless systems, semiconductors and networking. Most of the patents relate to social networking, telecommunications and Internet search making it very attractive to own.

A representative from Nortel said that the patents cost them $40 billion in investments in a span of 15 years. This was achieved through the company's own development as well as through acquisitions.

Google was the first company to signify its interest in getting the patents since it planned to use it in its expansion of additional services. Kent Walker, the senior VP of Google had this to say regarding the outcome "This outcome is disappointing for anyone who believes that open innovation benefits users and promotes creativity and competition.”

Facebook To Announce “Awesome” Product Next Week

2011-07-13T13:45:00.000+01:00

Facebook, the current leading social network, has a surprise in store for everyone which will be revealed next week. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that they will "launch something awesome" next week. Invitations have already been sent out through Facebook for an event that will happen at 10 AM this coming Wednesday, July 6.

Nothing has leaked yet as to what the company will announce next week although it seems like a respond to the recent launch of Google's Google+ social network.

Most experts believe that Facebook might announce some of its native mobile apps, specifically for the iPad which until now still does not have an app. The rumored Facebook iPad app will rely heavily on HTML 5 and will be web based.

There's also some rumors circulating that Facebook might also be revealing it new photo sharing service for the iPhone.

The company is working hard right now to introduce exciting new features as it expects to get serious competition from Google's own social network, Google+. The fact that Google had to shut down invites to their new service is proof that a lot of people are interested in joining it.

Whatever the announcement next week will be, you can be sure that a lot of people will be interested in hearing about it.

Google Swiffy Converts Flash Into HTML5

2011-07-02T09:07:00.000+01:00

Google Labs launches a new tool called Swiffy that can convert Flash files into HTML5 so that it could be viewed on devices that are not capable of Flash. SWF files are run through the converter that splits it into a JSON file. Then it renders the file with HTML, Scalable Vector Graphics, and Cascading Style Sheets. The converted files are slightly larger than the original Flash file but it renders smoothly in HTML5.

Adobe has a similar tool called Wallaby, which it launched earlier this year. It converts the FLA-format files into JavaScript, HTML5 and CSS. The tool was designed for developers to port ads for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and other devices that didn't have Flash capabilities.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs said that his company has no intentions of incorporating Flash into any of its devices that run on iOS. He added that Flash was created during the PC era. At today's mobile era, new open standards are created, such as HTML5.

Adobe responded to apple's challenge by creating tools for HTML5. It has already released a HTML5 update to the Dreamweaver software and introduced CSS Regions to its WebKit browser engine program. It would also launch Edge, a tool that allows designers to create animated web page elements with standard web technologies.

Google Unveils Google+ Social Network

2011-07-02T09:06:00.001+01:00

Google announced its new Google+ social network, which is currently by invite only. Reports from those who got into the field test say that it's a social network for geeks. It has several options that let the user share, protect, hide and discover photos, videos, friends, posts, and more.

It has several features that could confuse those who are used to Facebook's minimalist approach. Its Circles feature lets the user add friends. The Hangout is a group video chat feature. Google+ lets its users upload unlimited amount of video and photos through its Google+ Mobile.

Sadly, Google's field test of its Google+ network suffered from overcapacity that is reported to be a regular occurrence during this part of its testing. There were also complaints of poor design and alpha glitches.

If you're lucky enough to get an invite for Google+, you'll notice a +Mark on the black bar on top of your screen when you're in a Google web site. When you click it, you'll enter Google+. You'll find four icons on top of the screen, which as Home, Photos, Profile and Circles.

Google+ is the latest attempt by the search engine giant on social networking which in the past gave us Google Wave and Google Buzz

Google Asks What Do You Love?

2011-07-02T09:04:00.000+01:00

Google unveiled its WDYL.com web site, which displays results of your search via 20 different Google products on a single page. When you go to WDYL.com, you'll be greeted by a simple page that asks the user "what do you love?" and a search bar below.

Once the user input a search request, the site will display results through 20 widgets that feature Google's various searches, which include blogs, news, YouTube, and Picasa photos. You could scroll through all the widgets in the page.

Google silently rolled out this new web site without any fanfare, intro or marketing strategies. Apparently it was supposed to be launch a few days ago but Google had to fix some engineering problems before it was ready for the big unveiling.

It is interesting to see the results but it looks like WDYL.com is more of a promotional tool for Google's products such as Chrome, Gmail, Calendar, and others that don't show any results regarding the search query. There's a button at the bottom of each widget that would take the user to the Google product's web site.

WDYL.com is overshadowed by the launch of Google+, which is Google's latest attempt at creating its own social network.

Facebook Faces Antitrust Complaint

2011-07-02T09:03:00.000+01:00

Consumer Watchdog, a public interest group based in the United States, filed an antitrust complaint with the Federal Trade Commission with regards to Facebook Credits. The group claims that the virtual currency used to buy assets in online games in the social network is anticompetitive.

Consumer Watchdog objects the new terms for using the Facebook credits that will take effect on Friday. It says that the new terms will enable Facebook to extend its monopoly over the virtual goods market in social games within the site.

The new terms prohibit game developers from charging lower prices for their games on other social networks. The consumer group said that Facebook wants to dictate prices. It undermines competition and forces the consumers to pay higher prices.

In the past, Consumer Watchdog is a Google critic. It once labeled video ads of former CEO Eric Schmidt as creepy. It looks like the group is expanding its range has taken Facebook as its next target. The group also included Zynga in its complaint. It said that the social gaming company conspired with Facebook through an agreement made last May 2010. Although the details of the deal are secret, it is rumored to include concessions on Facebook's part regarding Facebook Credits.

Google+ To Compete With Facebook

2011-07-02T09:02:00.000+01:00

Google is taking another shot at social networking with its limited release of Google+. This new service provides you with an interesting way of connecting with your friends and acquaintances. What the company did is take the best features of Facebook and Twitter and add their own ideas in creating Google+.

The service is available for selected people only since it is still in its beta phase. If you want to try it out you have to ask someone who has access to the service so that you could create your account. I was lucky enough to get an invite and tried it out for a spin.

Once I was able to access my Google+ account I immediately noticed that it is different from Google Buzz or Google Wave. What makes this social network unique is that you will be able to immediately categorize your contacts into different Circles. Whatever content you want to share can be limited to specific Circles.

One feature that is useful is the Hangout feature. You can start a Hangout and can invite up to ten people to video chat with. Make sure to have your webcam ready if you want to use this feature.

Although there are still some bugs in Google+ it already looks like it will be a popular service.

Paypal Hits 100 Million And Predicts The End Of Wallets By 2015

2011-07-02T09:01:00.000+01:00

Who would have thought that 100 million registered users would signal the end of the wallet—the humble, easy to carry, wallet. Well, Paypal president, Scott Thompson, announced recently that his company now has over 100 million active users. This milestone led him to announce in the same breath, that by 2015, we will all be using some form of digital currency. Yes, by 2015, all our wallets will be in the Smithsonian.

It is indeed fact, that today more and more people use the internet and other digital platforms to make purchases. But it is also true that even today, some people prefer to go into a bank and deal directly with a teller—a live person. And we mustn't forget that as we march towards this bold digital future, security seems to be lagging woefully behind. In the last six months, online companies have had no fewer than 30 security breaches with data, and no fewer than 250 million people affected. That's more people who've had their data compromised than Paypal glorious milestone of 100 million active users.

Using digital platforms to effect purchases requires a "digital connection" and I doubt that we'll all be connected by 2015. When people talk about the digital revolution, they tend to forget the millions of people who have yet to graduate to broadband, or even worse, make their first phone call. Even in the wealthy western societies, having a cell phone doesn't necessarily equate to having spending power. Mr Thompson, perhaps meant to say: "By 2015, no-one who works at Paypal will have need for a wallet". Had he said that, I would have wholeheartedly agreed.

The wallet is probably not here to stay, but I guarantee Mr Thompson and Paypal that it will be around long after 2015.

See analysis of the 100 million milestone in the video below.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm-bbcbQBT4

call for free

2011-06-23T23:30:00.001+01:00

Free International Calls

Free international calls have been a dream of many since the dawn of VOIP. There are many low cost VOIP companies that allow international calls. These low cost calls are extremely cheap in comparison to conventional phone companies and mobile carriers. In some cases, such as in Egypt, VOIP calls were banned because they took away business from conventional phone companies.

What Exactly Does Voip Mean?

What is VoIP? Is it useful, or inexpensive? The answer is that VoIP is Voice over Internet Protocol. Voice over the Internet allows connections all over the world. It is one way to have a free pc to phone international call. In other words it is a phone call from pc. Yes, it is useful, and it is inexpensive, especially if you like the word free. Some Voice over Internet service may allow you to only call anyone who has the same service, but some will allow a phone call to anyone with a telephone number including international numbers.

Easy Free PC To Phone International Call

Voice over Internet Protocol allows the converting of your voice into a digital signal that travels over the Internet. If you are calling a regular phone number, using a broadband service, the signal is converted to a regular telephone signal before it reaches the destination. In layman’s terms you are using your Personal Computer via a modem or phone adapter to connect to the Internet, and the receiving person will answer via PC or telephone. This allows the free pc to phone international call. This all happens with this broadband Internet connection instead of a regular or analog phone line.

The equipment needed to make this happen are a broadband high speed Internet connection. A computer, adapter or other specialized phone is required. Some Voice over Internet Protocol services only work over your computer or a special VoIP phone, while there are other services that allow you to use a traditional phone connected to a VoIP adapter. If you are going to use your computer as a phone call from pc then you will need to have some software and an inexpensive microphone. Some special VoIP phones plug directly into your broadband connection and operate largely like a traditional telephone. If you use a telephone with an adapter, then you will use the phone like you always have.

In order to make the VoIP free pc to phone international call you must make certain that your Internet provider will allow you to make those calls. It comes down to what your subscription service will allow on their services. Check into that before you decide if VoIP is right for you. One of the advantages of VoIP is that you may be able to avoid paying for both a broadband connection and a traditional telephone line, which will save you money. More so if you are able to make a phone call from pc. If you are traveling overseas or to another country you may take your phone and adapter with you, and connect to another computer. This makes you able to use your same provider to make phone calls back home.

The disadvantages are that the VoIP will not work during power outages and the service provider may not offer backup power. Not all VoIP service connects directly with emergency services such as 9-1-1. Nor will some providers offer directory assistance or white page listings. These seem to be the downfall of having VoIP service. The computer does not have to be turned on for the VoIP to work, but the broadband connection must be active or live. The other piece of news is that you can use both the computer and the VoIP phone service at the same time. Yes, this is one good way of making your free pc to phone international call.

The option is for you to check with your Internet service provider. Make certain you have all software and possible adapters, as well as the broadband connection. With the right equipment you will be able to make a free pc to phone international call. If you are attending school, working overseas, or checking on the family back home, then VoIP is a wonderful tool to connect with loved ones, and special people. This is a way to have your free pc to phone international call. The tools are available. Your next step is to set up your computer and Internet service provider for a Voice over Internet Protocol.

How you can Make Free International Calls Using VoIP Technology ?

If you're friends or families staying in other countries, you probably know how expensive and difficult it can be to keep in touch with them Via your telephone. But now you can make free international calls from your mobile phone. You may be wondering how to make free international calls without cost. There are three ways to people can make a free call to other countries from PC, Phones and Mobiles. This is all because of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) or Internet Telephony has changed the phone world totally upside down. All this three cases, wherever your call starts and finished, it travels most of its path via the internet.

VoIP technology is an amazing technology that offers making calls from the web. Some people can get information about VoIP Services from various websites and got a through knowledge of cheap calling plans offers several service providers. There are many service providers which offer cheap calling plans and many schemes to VoIP users. Some of the providers offer free bonus minutes to certain countries like France, London, New Zealand, Germany etc and some of them offers that allow its users to make call at lowest rates without any conditions. Normal People won't bear the cost factor in their mind when making a long distance calls now.

Nowadays internet calls are turned old method of calling. This VoIP technology helps users to make free international calls through their PC to PC or using mobile phones or landline within minutes and can talk as long as they can. If you make a call using IP phones charges are also very low as compared to the other services. The user can choose any of the VoIP service connection as per their need by accepting their terms and conditions.

If you want to make cheap phone calls to other countries, you can choose from three options namely,
* top-up
* direct dial
* T-mobile and Orange short number.
The direct dial service is very to use for the users. You only need to dial the given access number by VoIP providers and make your call.
Top up service on the hand requires you to top up before you make international calls. The cost of top-up service starts from 0.5p per minute.
T-mobile and Orange short numbers are specially designed for the above two services.

If you want to chat with your family and friends, you can choose cheap international calls and free international calls services available in online and the service providers also offers many associated services such as voice mail, video calling, call divert and lots more. They also are offering sending messages, sharing images and uploading videos also to its users. In order to get these facilities you only need to submit your details into VoIP provider's websites. After the submission user can enjoy to make free international calls.

free sms

2011-06-23T23:25:00.000+01:00

what the meaning of SMS?

Short Message Service (SMS) is a communications protocol allowing the interchange of short text messages between mobile
telephone devices. SMS text messaging is the most widely used data application on the planet, with more than 2.4 billion
active users.SMS is very popular in Europe and Asia, where some users spend more time exchanging messages
than actually talking.

Send Free SMS

The people of all over the world have much more friends and contacts around the world that they overcome 10 years ago but the time to contact to them or inquiring about their happiness is enormously less. The most cost proficient way to get in touch with them is either by calling them, which comes at a cost which makes you looking to your mobile bill at end of everyday or you can send them SMSs, which also costs you although less then calling. But the freedom to send free sms is just above everything.

There are many websites where you can register and send free sms to your loved and dear ones. It is not limited to one country but you can send free sms in any sms worldwide, send free sms from PC, send free sms from internet, send free
mms, send free SMS without registration and send free long sms.

In today's greatly energetic world, people need to communicate continuously in categorize to keep themselves updated of the latest happenings. The free sms service is a most excellent way to make confident you don't miss out on any
chance to make a sale. If you are a marketing consultant, free sms services are outstanding tools to reach a wider market support, send info messages out to consumers, and receive consumer feedback.

There is different company's option to this kind of misinformation because it is cheaper and reaches a wider base. The messages are sent in genuine time, and the recipients can read these pieces of information at their own free time. With the
facilitate of these free sms services, websites one can send any message in respect of quantity and quality to any parts of the planet. With the rising require of these online free sms services many websites are getting online these days.

All you must need to have to advantage the facility of sending sms is a PC and an internet connection. The messages get delivered in 3 to 4 seconds like messages send throughout a mobile. However free sms has a benefit over the mobile's sms
that they do not get affected by the network jams. As well free sms service also provides its members daily horoscopes and various tips including health and beauty tips. Most outstanding features of this free sms service is that it is easy to use, easy for creating sms templates, send sms, user-friendly set up and personalization of each sms.

The popularity of the bulk text messaging is at a go up as both for profitable and personal use they are cheaper. Another time with customization of the internet sms tool it is likely to select contacts from the stored list of contacts. It is just desirable to customize with the chat messenger of the pc. There does prosperity of bulk text messaging software exist but careful selection is compulsory. It is also attraction

mentioning that performance and capability of all sms software are not same. Through bulk SMS service one can even send bulk sms directly from Excel sheet. You can get more knowledge about sms services through our web portal. Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/humor-articles/send-free-sms-3870634.html#ixzz1AYbCmf5Z

How to Send Free SMS ?

Send Text Messages for Free via the Web :
Many web sites give visitors the ability to send text messages to cell phones at no cost.

Like talksms.com you can send FREE SMS every day

Send Text Messages for Free via Instant Messenger:
You can send text messages to many cell phones via AOL Instant Messenger.

To send a text message via AIM, simply message the telephone number. Include a plus sign and the country code. For example, to text message your friend at (303)555-1212, send an IM to +13035551212.

Send Text Messages for Free via E-mail:
Quite a few cell service companies provide free e-mail to SMS gateways where you can send text messages for free via e-mail.

Here is our list of e-mail to SMS gateways where you can send free text messages. If you know the SMS gateway of a wireless carrier we do not list here,

Australia

Provider	E-mail to SMS address format
Blue Sky Frog	xxxxxxxxx@blueskyfrog.com
Optus Mobile	xxxxxxxxx@optusmobile.com.au

Brazil

Provider	E-mail to SMS address format
Nextel	xxxxxxxxx@nextel.com.br

Canada

Provider	E-mail to SMS address format
Bell Mobility	xxxxxxxxx@txt.bell.ca
Bell Mobility	xxxxxxxxx@txt.bellmobility.ca
Fido	xxxxxxxxx@fido.ca
Microcell	xxxxxxxxx@fido.ca
Manitoba Telecom Systems	xxxxxxxxx@text.mtsmobility.com
NBTel	xxxxxxxxx@wirefree.informe.ca
PageMart	xxxxxxxxx@pmcl.net
PageNet	xxxxxxxxx@pagegate.pagenet.ca
Rogers	xxxxxxxxx@pcs.rogers.com
Telus	xxxxxxxxx@msg.telus.com

France

Provider	E-mail to SMS address format
SFR	xxxxxxxxx@sfr.fr

Germany

Provider	E-mail to SMS address format
T-Mobile	+49xxxxxxx@t-d1-sms.de
Mannesmann Mobilefunk	xxxxxxx@d2-message.de
E-Plus	0177xxxxxxx.sms@eplus.de

India

Provider	E-mail to SMS address format
BPL mobile	xxxxxxxxx@bplmobile.com
Chennai RPG Cellular	xxxxxxxxx@rpgmail.net
Chennai Skycell / Airtel	xxxxxxxxx@airtelchennai.com
Delhi Aritel	xxxxxxxxx@airtelmail.com
Delhi Hutch	xxxxxxxxx@delhi.hutch.co.in
Idea Cellular	xxxxxxxxx@ideacellular.net
Orange	xxxxxxxxx@orangemail.co.in

Italy

Provider	E-mail to SMS address format
Telecom Italia Mobile	33xxxxxxxx@posta.tim.it
Vodafone Omnitel	34xxxxxxxx@vizzavi.it
Vodafone	xxxxxxxxx@sms.vodafone.it

Japan

Provider	E-mail to SMS address format
Vodafone Japan	xxxxxxxxx@c.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Japan	xxxxxxxxx@h.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Japan	xxxxxxxxx@t.vodafone.ne.jp

Malaysia

Provider	E-mail to SMS address format
Celcom	019xxxxxxx@sms.celcom.com.my

The Netherlands

Provider	E-mail to SMS address format
Dutchtone / Orange-NL	xxxxxxxxx@sms.orange.nl

Portugal

Provider	E-mail to SMS address format
Telcel	91xxxxxxx@sms.telecel.pt
Optimus	93xxxxxxx@sms.optimus.pt
TMN	96xxxxxxx@mail.tmn.pt

Russia

Provider	E-mail to SMS address format
BeeLine GSM	xxxxxxxxx@sms.beemail.ru
MTS	7xxxxxxxxxx@sms.mts.ru
Personal Communication	sms@pcom.ru (number in subject line)
Primtel	xxxxxxxxx@sms.primtel.ru
SCS-900	xxxxxxxxx@scs-900.ru
Uraltel	xxxxxxxxx@sms.uraltel.ru
Vessotel	xxxxxxxxx@pager.irkutsk.ru

Singapore

Provider	E-mail to SMS address format
MiWorld	xxxxxxxxx@m1.com.sg
Mobileone	xxxxxxxxx@m1.com.sg

Spain

Provider	E-mail to SMS address format
Movistar	xxxxxxxxx@correo.movistar.net
Vodafone	xxxxxxxxx@vodafone.es

Obama trial .... you turn on the magic magician??

2011-05-24T22:11:00.000+01:00

To notice what is happening Botoar trial Rachid Nini know that those who masterminded the night and plotted in the dark for the tomb of his voice spam and demands accountability of the corrupt names, caught in the evil of their actions and what they did topple them, Vdvaa Nene will no longer looking for provisional release or innocence of the charges detailed by the prosecution General of the Nene, the discourse on the piece obsolete and lapsed, the defense has asked to bring those who prosecutors said that Rashid lied to them in the articles adopted as an instrument of charge, as stated by the lawyer Sufyani (why now considered the prosecution that the rational lies except when he began to reveal the corruption of Elan and Nikri especially director detained Temara Abdul Latif Alhmoshe, and why did not require the prosecution Nene when breaks the performance of Abbas El Fassi and his family and many, and asked Defense Is detainee Temara Festival and balances have become holy more than God and the homeland and the King ???), from watching the trial in historical and the judge finds good Jaber himself in trouble from his command that the accounts are no longer benefit him in the case of the more protracted the more its brilliance, and worse, even the representative of the right-General, Mr. Rachid Mohamed Little Signs of confusion on his face as long as he wants to hide behind the laughter lock her back once he receives it receives from lessons and sermons in the law, honor, and the Secretariat of the senior lawyers present within the constellation defender Nene, the issue has become confusing to those who created it and became out of them such as passing sentenced him to life in a patent or a royal pardon, the names insists the defense for the presence of the certificate as long as prosecutors pursue rational criminal law and criminal law necessary to bring witnesses who saw the prosecution that they are affected by the writing Rashid, here stand the Court's position enabled her speeches calling for the fact that the Moroccan judiciary independent and Log in to view what its resolutions, here's the test succeeds the elimination or humiliated, here put defense issue a ruling in our country in its own bottle, despite the quirks expressed by the representative of the public right of using all its powers to adjust the case according to temperament, defend with all his energies show apoptosis unrivaled of the need to bring witnesses .. And are not any witnesses in the State such as Morocco, where corruption hits prevail in all walks of life, is not a common thing to bring those witnesses who were, until recently, the mere mention of their name is one of the taboos and also said a lawyer in the case, (I thank God mM Machdic I mention these names to appear between Oitbekm Mr. Judge), to Nikri Inspector General of the Forces assistance from Almthmben fabricating bombings May 16, 2003, Abdul Latif Alhmoshe the first man in a Aldezti and others .... despite the fact that prosecutors have created an argument against the need to attend because they oversee the sensitive files by virtue of their positions, but .. that is replaced by the expression Their presence as citizens, witnesses Aintqs the sensitivity of their positions, and how he wants the representative of the general right to fear the people in state institutions, according to what he said as fair, Venzahtha emerge from here, when he attends the witnesses the case who mentioned the defense then all will give the greeting of the judiciary, and we will say Morocco has achieved the same as a true democracy ... Is Nene key issue for the fall of the capital have blossomed and the time picked?? Will he be able Engoa the night of the arrest of Nene to get out of this issue safely?? Is Nene was arrested immediately after the bombing of a cafe in Marrakech Argana coincidental, or there was apprehension among those who issued the arrest warrant against Nene questioning in the attacks in his column?? How will the fiery end of this file at this particular time and the movement of February 20 moving with determination to escalate, and the store also heading the same direction?? Of the victorious People's Voice or sound corruption??? Everybody is waiting and days to wait until ...

morbid dependence gaddafi

2011-05-16T12:52:00.000+01:00

Libyans are with Gaddafi

2011-05-16T12:47:00.001+01:00

Obama: Bin Laden death sends message to world

2011-05-05T18:43:00.001+01:00

President lays wreath at Ground Zero after saying al-Qaeda leader's killing demonstrates to world that US never forgets.

Barack Obama, the US president, has laid a wreath at Ground Zero in New York, where he met families of people killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US.

The attacks are believed to have been ordered by Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, who was killed by US forces earlier this week.

The president first paid a visit to Engine 54, a fire station from where 15 firefighters died attempting to save the nearly 3,000 people who were killed after planes were flown into the World Trade Center.

Addressing the firefighters, Obama said: "What happened on Sunday because of the courage of our military and the outstanding work of our intelligence sent a message around the world but also sent a message here back home."

The president said bin Laden's death sent out the message that "when we say we will never forget, we mean what we say".

"This is a symbolic site of the extraordinary sacrifice that was made on that terrible day,' he said.

Rudy Giuliani, the mayor of New York at the time of the attacks, joined Obama in the visit to the station.

The president viewed a memorial plaque commemorating the firefighters who were lost and then lunched privately with a dozen firefighters.

Bush rejection

The White House has stressed that Obama's visit to Ground Zero, his first since becoming president, was not a victory tour following bin Laden's killing, but a form of homage to the victims of the attacks that triggered Washington's "war on terror" against al-Qaeda nearly a decade ago.

Obama invited George Bush, his predecessor who was president at the time of the attacks, to join him at Ground Zero. However, Bush declined the invite.

"This is a moment of unity for Americans and a moment to recall the unity that existed in this country in the wake of the attacks on 9/11," Jay Carney, the White House spokesman, said. "The invitation was made in that spirit."

Carney described the death of bin Laden as a "cathartic moment for the American people", adding that Obama wanted to "honour the spirit of unity in America that we all felt in the wake of that terrible attack".

"He wants to meet with them and share with them this important and significant moment, a bitter-sweet moment, I think, for many families of the victims," he said.

The killing of bin Laden during a helicopter-borne commando raid deep inside Abbottabad is undoubtedly one of Obama's chief political triumphs since taking office in 2008, analysts said.

Obama ratings surge

Polls showed an immediate surge in his ratings and even the usually squabbling Washington political establishment has rallied around the president.

The president's actions during the visit have been portrayed as part of the same attempt to retain an atmosphere of dignity in the wake of bin Laden's killing.

Obama has personally ordered that photographs of the al-Qaeda leader's dead body remain secret - despite a clamour from many people for some visual proof of his demise.

The Reuters news agency released several pictures of people killed in the operation that it said were taken by a Pakistani security official about an hour after the assault.

In an interview with 60 Minutes, the CBS news programme, Obama said: "It is important for us to make sure that very graphic photos of somebody who was shot in the head are not floating around as an incitement to additional violence.

"As a propaganda tool. You know, that's not who we are. We don't trot out this stuff as trophies. The fact of the matter is this was somebody who was deserving of the justice that he received.

"And I think Americans and people around the world are glad that he's gone. But we don't need to spike the football."

What next after bin Laden death?

2011-05-02T12:51:00.000+01:00

Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s death is politically momentous for US president Barack Obama - witness the cheering crowds which gathered outside the White House even before his speech on Sunday night.

Its impact on al-Qaeda, though, is harder to measure.

Peter Bergen, an American journalist, said on CNN that bin Laden’s death marked “the end of the war on terror". But many other analysts would disagree: Al-Qaeda, after all, is a very different organisation in 2011 than in 2001, with a new cadre of leaders and a wider range of affiliate groups.

Analysts have long debated the extent to which bin Laden - and his deputy, Egyptian-born Ayman al-Zawahiri - direct al-Qaeda’s operations. The two men have largely been in hiding since September 11, 2001, attacks on the US, leaving their subordinates to handle many of the group’s day-to-day operations. Affiliate groups, like al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, already operate with relatively little direction from the “leadership” on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

“It is often assumed that their principal roles, particularly in bin Laden’s case, are as propaganda leaders or even mere figureheads,” said Barbara Sude, a former CIA al-Qaeda analyst, in a policy paper released last year.

Indeed, a series of younger leaders - some of them now deceased - emerged to play leading roles in the group over the past few years, broadening its leadership. They include Abu al-Yazid; Abu Yahya al-Libi; and Atiyah abd al-Rahman.

If bin Laden is only a figurehead, then one could argue that he has already served his purpose: His ideology and strategy has permeated throughout al-Qaeda, both the central organisation in Afghanistan and Pakistan and its affiliate groups elsewhere.

“This is an enormous blow to the jihadi network in multiple ways, but it does not kill al-Qaeda,” said Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, director of the Centre for the Study of Terrorist Radicalisation at the Washington-based Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. “The jihadi group possesses other leaders who can step in to serve as figureheads for the group.”

Bin Laden’s death, in other words - while symbolically significant - may mean little for al-Qaeda’s capabilities.

'Catastrophic if it is authentic'

Reaction from al-Qaeda and its sympathisers has so far been muted. The group’s propaganda wing has not yet issued a video tribute to bin Laden, nor has it commented on the reports of his death.

On internet forums sympathetic to al-Qaeda, a majority of commentators seem shocked by the reports of bin Laden’s death.

In the past, when US officials announced the death of high-ranking al-Qaeda members, commentators often rejected those reports out of hand. But the latest announcement by Obama, on the other hand, seems to be viewed as somewhat more credible.

“If it is true then we must thank Allah that America was not able to capture him alive,” one commentator wrote. “Else they would be humiliating him like Saddam Hussein.”

“God willing, news is not true. Catastrophic if it is authentic,” another wrote.

The US state department issued a worldwide travel alert for American citizens, and the US military increased its “force protection” level, which measures threats to military bases. A senior administration official said there were no specific threats reported, though.

'No other country was informed'

One pressing question is what bin Laden’s death means for the already strained US-Pakistani relationship. The two countries have clashed publicly in recent months over US drone strikes in northwest Pakistan and over the case of Raymond Davis, the CIA contractor arrested for murder in Lahore and then released after “blood money” was paid to the families of his victims.

Obama had in the past praised the Pakistani government for its co-operation in the hunt for bin Laden. And some officials in the ISI, Pakistan’s spy agency, reportedly played a role in his eventual killing, according to media reports.

But the White House quickly rejected that claim: In a conference call on Sunday night, a senior administration official told reporters that Pakistan was not briefed in advance on the operation which led to bin Laden’s death.

“An operation like this has the utmost operational security attached to it,” the official said. “No other country was informed, and a small circle of people within the United States knew about it.”

Obama, in offering praise for Pakistan, also seemed to admonish the country’s leadership, calling it “essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al-Qaeda". Other administration officials went further, describing bin Laden’s long hideout in Pakistan as a cause for concern and a potential source of friction in the relationship.

“We are very concerned about the situation in Pakistan… but this is something we need to work with the Pakistani government on,” a senior official said.

Also unclear is whether bin Laden’s death will have any impact on the war in Afghanistan, now in its tenth year. Obama did not mention any changes to strategy during his speech; bin Laden was killed in Pakistan, not Afghanistan; and US officials admit that only a handful of al-Qaeda members remain in Afghanistan.

In other words, the war - started to punish the perpetrators of the September 11 attacks - may well outlast the architect of those attacks.

Killing bin Laden .. Obama's move toward a second presidential term

2011-05-02T12:47:00.000+01:00

Barack Obama made many of the defining moment as president of the United States .. But the killing of Osama bin Laden has become the most important event for him politically.

Obama announced that belongs to the Democratic Party late Sunday night that U.S. forces killed al Qaeda leader and found his body. The killing of bin Laden a major victory for Obama in the area of national security just as it starts to campaign for re-election in 2012.

The following is an overview of the benefits that accrue to Obama from behind the successful operation:

Divert attention

Attached to concern about the increase in gasoline prices and the handling of the economy, political damage Obama. The announcement would turn the influential killed bin Laden's interest in the American public to his success as commander in chief, which will create a strong mental image of him. The forecast decline in political risk has been reduced from the surge in oil prices.

Fulfillment of the Covenant:

During his election campaign in 2008, Obama pledged to bring U.S. troops from Iraq while strengthening the war effort in Afghanistan and U.S. efforts to hunt down bin Laden. With a body of bin Laden's possession of the Americans can say that the U.S. president's pledge to the fullest another which would give credibility as it seeks to stay in the White House for a new period.

Swank on the opposition:

Republicans have long enjoyed the reputation of U.S. policy in that they are stronger than Democrats on national security matters. But with the success of this process under the leadership Obama could clinch this bounty from his opponents and he attributes to himself and his party - which may be a tool to change the rules of the political game and kept up his sleeve. He had eluded the rhythm with bin Laden during the reign of Republican President George W. Bush's predecessor, Obama.

Mobilization of national sentiment:

As was the atheist attacks of September 2001, the defining moment of Bush's presidency, the killing bin Laden would be the case for an Obama presidency. Has inflamed nationalist sentiment among Americans in the aftermath of the attacks, which helped Bush win a second term.

May benefit Obama, who on Sunday called on Americans to unite as they did in 2001 of a new surge of patriotism. Although the images leaked oil and economic troubles remain, the death of bin Laden would have a greater impact, at least in the short term which will give his historic victory could be celebrated by Democrats and Republicans alike.

Osama bin Laden killed in Pakistan

2011-05-02T12:34:00.000+01:00

US president Barack Obama said bin Laden, the most-wanted fugitive on the US list, had been killed on Sunday in a US operation in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad, about 61km north of Islamabad.

"Tonight, I can report to the people of the United States and the world, the United States had carried an operation that has killed Osama bin Laden, a terrorist responsible for killing thousands of innocent people," Obama said in a statement.

"Today, at my direction, the United States carried out that operation... they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.

"The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date against al-Qaeda.

"We must also reaffirm that United states is not and will never be at war against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader, in fact, he slaughtered many Muslims," Obama said.

Four people, including one of bin Laden's sons, were also killed in the operation.

According to New York Times, bin Laden's body was taken to Afghanistan and later buried at sea.

Hours after Obama made the announcement, a top al-Qaeda ideologue promised revenge for bin Laden's death. The commentator, going by the online name Assad al-Jihad2 posted on websites a long eulogy for the al-Qaeda leader and promised to "avenge the killing of the Sheik of Islam".

The Pakistani Taliban also threatened attacks against government leaders, including President Asif Ali Zardari, the Pakistan army and the United States.

"Now Pakistani rulers, President Zardari and the army will be our first targets. America will be our second target," Ehsanullah Ehsan, a spokesman for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Taliban Movement of Pakistan, told Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location.

US celebrations
But as the news of bin Laden's death spread, crowds gathered outside the White House in Washington DC to celebrate.

Former US president George Bush called his death a "momentous achievement".

"The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done," Bush said in a statement.

According to Al Jazeeera's Rosalind Jordan in Washington, the operation had been in the making for the last nine or 10 months.

"The fact that it happened inside Pakistan, there have been suggestions that Pakistani intelligence may have been protecting them," she said.

Patty Culhane, another Al Jazeera correspondent, said the US authorities got intelligence last September and were able to track bin Laden down through his couriers. They followed them to his compound which was reported to be worth over a million dollars.

Reporting from Pakistan, Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder said the development had caught a lot of people by surprise .

"He was considered by many as a hero, but not to the extent that people would come out on the streets. The reaction so far not likely to be strong on the streets, perhaps a protest here or there by the religious parties," he said.

'Symbolic victory'

Qais Azimy, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Kabul, said Afghan officials described bin Laden's killing as a "symbolic victory", since he was no longer directly connected to the group's field operations.
Mark Kimmit, a US military analyst, said bin Laden's death "was not the end of terrorism, but an end of a chapter."

"Capturing or killing bin Laden has more iconic value. It will have symbolic value, because it has been a number of years since bin Laden has exercised day to day control over operations. We still have an al-Qaeda threat out there and that will be there for a number of years.

"This organisation (al-Qaeda) is more than bin Laden, it may be symbolised by bin Laden, but it definitely is more than bin Laden," he said.

It is, however, a major accomplishment for Obama and his national security team. Obama's predecessor, George Bush, had repeatedly vowed to bring to justice the mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington, but never did before leaving office in early 2009.
He had been the subject of a search since he eluded US soldiers and Afghan militia forces in a large-scale assault on the Tora Bora mountains in 2001. The trail quickly went cold after he disappeared and many intelligence officials believed he had been hiding in Pakistan.

While in hiding, bin Laden had taunted the West and advocated his views in videotapes spirited from his hideaway.

Besides September 11, Washington has also linked bin Laden to a string of attacks - including the 1998 bombings of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and the 2000 bombing of the warship USS Cole in Yemen.

Nato strike 'kills Gaddafi's youngest son'

2011-05-01T14:10:00.001+01:00

Saif al-Arab Gaddafi, the youngest son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, and three of his grandchildren have been killed in a NATO air strike, a Libyan government spokesman said.

Gaddafi and his wife were in the Tripoli house of his 29-year-old son, Saif al-Arab Gaddafi, when it was hit by at least one missile fired by a NATO warplane late on Saturday, according to Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim.

"The house of Mr Saif al-Arab Gaddafi was attacked tonight with full power. The leader with his wife was there in the house with other friends and relatives.
"The leader himself is in good health, he wasn't harmed," the spokesman said, adding that Gaddafi's wife was also unharmed but other people in the house were injured.

"This was a direct operation to assassinate the leader of this country. This is not permitted by international law. It is not permitted by any moral code or principle.

"What we have now is the law of the jungle," Ibrahim told a news conference.

"We think now it is clear to everyone that what is happening in Libya has nothing to do with the protection of civilians."

Ibrahim would not give the names of the three children, who he claimed were killed, except to say they were nieces and nephews of Saif al-Arab and that they were younger than 12. He said they are not releasing the names yet to protect the privacy of the family.

He said the compound that was hit was in the Garghour neighborhood.

"It seems there was intelligence that was leaked. They knew about something. They expected him for some reason. But the target was very clear, very, very clear. And the neighbourhood, yes of course, because the leader family has a place there, you could expect of course it would be guarded, but it is a normal neighbourhood. Normal Libyans live there," he said.

The 29-year-old Saif al-Arab Gaddafi is the most unknown of the Libyan leader's children, Al Jazeera's Anita McNaught, reporting from Tunisia, said.

"He's one of the low-profile of his children and has been largely invisible since the conflict began", she said.

"He hasn't been visible in any significant form. He hasn't appeared on TV or made any speeches, he hasn't been on any crowd-rallying marches."

Ibrahim said al-Arab was a civilian and a student who had studied in Germany.

Report questioned

Ibrahim had earlier taken journalists to the remnants of a house in Tripoli, which Libyan officials said had been hit by at least three missiles. Given the level of destruction, it is unclear that anyone could have survived.

Benghazi rebels, who control a vast swathe of the east of the country, say they cannot trust Gaddafi.

Al Jazeera's Sue Turton, reporting from Benghazi, said there were "an awful lot" of suggestions in Libya that the news of the deaths could be fabricated.
"One of the main spokesmen for the Transitional National Council, Abdul Hafez Goga, is saying he thinks it could all be fabrication, that it may well be Gaddafi is trying to garner some sympathy," she said.

"Back in 1986, Gaddafi once claimed that Ronald Reagan, then US president, had launched a strike on his compound in Tripoli and killed his daughter. Many journalists since then dug around and found out that the actual child that had died had nothing to do with Gaddafi, that he sort of adopted her posthumously."

Three loud explosions were heard in Tripoli on Saturday evening as jets flew overhead. Volleys of anti-aircraft fire rang out following the first two strikes, which were followed by a third.

NATO statement

In a press release issued early on Sunday, NATO said it had staged air strikes in Tripoli's Bab al-Azizya neighbourhood but did not confirm Libyan claims that strongman Gaddafi's youngest son and three grandchildren were killed.

"NATO continued its precision strikes against Gaddafi regime military installations in Tripoli overnight, including striking a known command and control building in the Bab al-Azizya neighbourhood shortly after 1800 GMT Saturday evening," the statement said.

"All NATO's targets are military in nature and have been clearly linked to the... regime's systematic attacks on the Libyan population and populated areas. We do not target individuals," Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard, commander of NATO's Operation Unified Protector, said.

Bouchard said he was aware of unconfirmed reports that some of Gaddafi's family members might have been killed in the strike, adding: "We regret all loss of life, especially the innocent civilians being harmed as a result of the ongoing conflict."

Rifle fire and car horns rang out in Benghazi as news of the attack spread.

Cars whizzed by the sea front beeping their horns and shouting "God is greatest" as the night sky was lit up by red tracer fire.
Source:
Al Jazeera and agencies

Scepticism surrounds 'Gaddafi son's death'

2011-05-01T14:04:00.000+01:00

Benghazi celebrates report of Gaddafi son's death in air strike, but NATO offers no confirmation of Libyan announcement.

Libyans in the opposition stronghold of Benghazi have taken to the streets to celebrate the government's announcement of the death of Muammar Gaddafi's youngest son in an air strike, but growing scepticism remains over the veracity of the news.

Gaddafi and his wife were in the Tripoli house of his 29-year-old son, Saif al-Arab Gaddafi, when it was hit by at least one missile fired by a NATO warplane late on Saturday, Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said on Sunday.

Al-Arab's compound in Tripoli’s Garghour neighbourhood was attacked "with full power" in a "direct operation to assassinate the leader of this country," Ibrahim said, calling the strike a violation of international law.
"What we have now is the law of the jungle," he told a news conference. "We think now it is clear to everyone that what is happening in Libya has nothing to do with the protection of civilians."

Ibrahim had earlier taken journalists to the remnants of a house in Tripoli, which Libyan officials said had been hit by at least three missiles. Given the level of destruction, it is unclear that anyone could have survived.

No NATO confirmation

Three loud explosions were heard in Tripoli on Saturday evening as jets flew overhead. Volleys of anti-aircraft fire rang out following the first two strikes, which were followed by a third.

NATO continued strikes against military installations in the Libyan capital, including one on a known command and control building in Bab al-Aziziya neighbourhood, but could not confirm the deaths of some of Gaddafi family members, Carmen Romero, the deputy NATO spokeswoman in Brussels, told Al Jazeera by phone.

NATO targets do not include individuals as they are military in nature and clearly linked to regime's systematic attacks on Libyans, Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard, commander of NATO's Operation Unified Protector, said earlier Sunday in a statement.

"This was a military target and we cannot confirm who was there," Romero emphasised, denying questions over the target site being a family home.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron echoed NATO's stance on the western coalition forces’ targeting policy, and refused to comment on an "unconfirmed report".

Report questioned

Rifle fire and car horns rang out in Benghazi as news of the attack spread. Cars whizzed by the sea front beeping their horns and shouting "God is greatest" as the night sky was lit up by red tracer fire.

But rebels there who control a vast swathe of the east of the country, say they cannot trust Gaddafi.

Al Jazeera's Sue Turton, reporting from Benghazi, said there were "an awful lot" of suggestions in Libya that the news of the deaths could be fabricated.

"One of the main spokesmen for the Transitional National Council, Abdul Hafez Goga, is saying he thinks it could all be fabrication, that it may well be Gaddafi is trying to garner some sympathy," she said.
"Back in 1986, Gaddafi once claimed that Ronald Reagan, then US president, had launched a strike on his compound in Tripoli and killed his daughter. Many journalists since then dug around and found out that the actual child that had died had nothing to do with Gaddafi, that he sort of adopted her posthumously."

Saif al-Arab Gaddafi is the most unknown of the Libyan leader's children, Al Jazeera's Anita McNaught, reporting from Tunisia, said.

"He's one of the low-profile of his children and has been largely invisible since the conflict began", she said.

"He hasn't been visible in any significant form. He hasn't appeared on TV or made any speeches, he hasn't been on any crowd-rallying marches."

Egypt to open Gaza border crossing

2011-04-29T18:45:00.001+01:00

Egypt is to permanently open the Rafah border crossing to ease the Israeli blockade on Gaza, Nabil al-Arabi, the country's foreign minister, has said.

Arabi said Egypt would take "important steps to help ease the blockade on Gaza in the few days to come".

Speaking to Al Jazeera on Friday, the minister said Egypt would no longer accept that the Rafah border, Gaza's only crossing that bypasses Israel, remain blocked, describing the decision to seal it off as "shameful".

The announcement came days after Hamas, which controls Gaza, and their secular West Bank rivals Fatah, which controls the Palestinian Authority (PA), agreed to end their rift and form an interim government to prepare for elections.

In talks before the deal, the two sides had discussed reopening the crossing after positioning PA representatives at the border, a condition in a US-brokered 2005 border crossing agreement between Israel and the PA.

Mahmud Zahar, a senior Hamas official, told the AFP news agency that it was understood that the crossing, which under the 2005 agreement was to be monitored by European Union delegates, would be opened after a unity deal.

Israeli concerns

A senior official in Jerusalem said Israel was "very concerned" about the implications of the Rafah crossing being open.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said Hamas had already built up a "dangerous military machine" in northern Sinai which could be further strengthened by opening Rafah.

"What power could they amass if Egypt was no longer acting to prevent that build-up?" the official said.

Earlier this week, unknown assailants in northern Sinai blew up a gas pipeline supplying Israel and Jordan, the second time it has been sabotaged in 10 weeks.

"We are troubled by the developments in Egypt, by the voices calling to annul the peace treaty, by the rapprochement between Egypt and Iran, and by the upgrading of relations between Egypt and Hamas," the Israeli source said.

"These developments potentially have strategic implications for Israel's national security."

Palestinian officials welcomed the Egyptian move, with Saeb Erakat, the PA's chief negotiator, saying it was one step towards loosening the siege on the Gaza Strip.

"We welcome this step by Egypt. We have been pressing them all the time to end the suffering of the people in Gaza, but the real siege is caused by Israel because there are many border crossing with Israel but only one with Egypt," he said.

"We ask Israel to open all the borders to end this crime against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip," he said.

Hatem Ewidah, the Hamas official in charge of border crossings in Gaza, also welcomed the move, but stressed it was "important to open the commercial crossing with Egypt" to reduce the impact of the blockade.

Shift in power

In a reminder of the border tensions, which is honeycombed with tunnels that supply Gaza with everything from cars and cattle to guns, police announced hours after Arabi's comments that smugglers had shot dead an Egyptian soldier on Thursday.

The border has remained largely shut since June 2006 when Israel imposed a tight blockade on Gaza after fighters snatched Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who is still being held.

The blockade was tightened a year later when Hamas seized control of the territory, ousting forces loyal to the Western-backed PA.

The UN has called the blockade illegal and repeatedly demanded it be lifted.

Morocco steps up security after cafe blast

2011-04-29T18:39:00.000+01:00

Moroccan authorities have stepped up security following Thursday's bomb blast at a cafe in Marrakesh in which at least 16 people were killed, including 11 foreigners.

A senior police official said cordons have been erected at the entrances to Morocco's main cities and security forces deployed across the country, "to ensure the internal security of the country".

"Preliminary investigation ... suggests that this was a terrorist act caused by an explosive device," the official MAP news agency quoted Taieb Cherkaoui, the interior minister, as saying on Friday.

Khalid Naciri, a government spokesman, told the Associated Press news agency it was too soon to say who had carried out what he called a terrorist attack.

Interpol, the international police agency, condemned the attack and said it would ensure "the Moroccan authorities investigating this terrible attack have the full support of the global law enforcement community."

French intelligence and anti-terrorism experts will travel to Marrakesh on Friday to help in the probe, a source said.

Police sought to restore calm in the iconic Jamaa el-Fna square, a cultural heritage site frequented by tourists, while investigators worked to determine how it was carried out and who was responsible.

Police were at the site searching for clues on Friday morning, keeping back onlookers who showed up to see the dramatic sight. The explosion ripped off the facade of the Argana cafe, leaving awnings dangling.

Blast condemned

Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, condemned the "cowardly attack" and pledged support for Morocco, which is considered a US ally in the region.

France condemned the blast as being "cruel and cowardly" and confirmed there were French casualties.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, learnt "with consternation of the terrorist attack," his office said in a statement.

"He condemns with the greatest firmness this odious, cruel and cowardly act that has caused many casualties, including French citizens," it said.

The United Nations, Britain, Germany, Spain and the Council of Europe human rights watchdog also condemned the attack.

William Hague, the British foreign secretary, described it as "utterly reprehensible, and said alleged links to terrorism were worrying.

Al-Qaeda's affiliate in North Africa stages regular attacks and kidnappings in neighbouring Algeria.

Morocco, however, has been mostly peaceful since it was hit by five simultaneous terrorist bombings in Casablanca in 2003 that killed 45 people and a dozen bombers believed linked to the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group.

Anti-government protests hit Syria

2011-04-29T13:36:00.002+01:00

Thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators join the "solidarity for Deraa" rallies across the country.

The Syrian government has mobilised army units across the capital and other cities as thousands of demonstrators, demanding the ouster President Bashar al-Assad's regime took to the streets of several cities, including the coastal town of Baniyas, witnesses have said.

Activists have called for protests following Friday prayers to commemorate the killings of over 100 protesters last Friday.

Al Jazeera correspondent Rula Amin, reporting from Damascus, said today's slogan is "solidarity for Deraa".

The call for mass demonstrations was made in a statement on the Facebook page of Syrian Revolution 2011, a motor of the protests in which demonstrators inspired by uprisings elsewhere in the Arab world are seeking greater freedoms.

"To the youths of the revolution, tomorrow we will be in all the places, in all the streets ... We will gather at the besieged towns, including with our brothers in Deraa," the statement said.

It said demonstrations would also be staged in other flashpoint towns such as Homs in the centre of the country and Baniyas in the northwest.

Meanwhile, eyewitness in Deraa, speaking to Al Jazeera on Friday from close to the Omari Mosque that has been a focus for the uprising, described a scene of death and devastation.

He confirmed earlier testimony from a separate source of a split in the military forces sent by Assad to lay siege to the city.

At least 80 people have been killed since the military assault began on Monday, said the eyewitness, who added that he had collected the names of the dead from different neighbourhoods and counted 25 bodies in his own area.

"Some areas smell really bad due to the bodies rotting in the street. No one can collect them for fear of being shot," he said, the sound of continuous gunfire audible over the phone. Those bodies which have been collected are being stored in refrigerated lorries, he said.

"Deraa is completely surrounded by tanks and armed troops. There are snipers on the roofs of government buildings and tall buildings. They are hiding behind water tanks and some are even hiding in the minarets of mosques."

The source said not all members of the Fifth Division had defected, but those who had were attempting to protect civilians against attacks on them by the Fourth Division, led by Assad’s brother, Maher al-Assad.

"Those who have defected are fighting on behalf of the people, helping them with information on the army's movements and trying to protect civilians from attacks," he said.

The eyewitness said he had witnessed the defection yesterday of some 20 soldiers of the Fifth Division who abandoned their unit and ran towards civilian houses. "I saw two soldiers gunned down and killed," he said.

The witness's comments came as Adnan Mahmud, the information minister, told the AFP news agency that the crackdown on protesters would continue, setting the scene for violent confrontations later Friday.

Our correspondent said: "There has been huge security presence: all entrances to capital are manned by security forces."

Muslim Brotherhood backs protests

Significantly, Friday's demonstrations have the backing of the outlawed Islamist group, the Muslim Brotherhood, which was crushed by the regime in 1982.

It is the first time that the Brotherhood has called directly for protests in Syria since pro-democracy demonstrations against Assad, nearly erupted six weeks ago.

A declaration by the Brotherhood, sent to Reuters news agency by its leadership in exile on Thursday, said: "Do not let the regime besiege your compatriots. Chant with one voice for freedom and dignity. Do not allow the tyrant to enslave you. God is great."

So far, Brotherhood has been trying to keep a low profile, as government has been trying to tie them to protests, Amin said.

The looming showdown comes as the UN Human Rights Council prepared for a special session on Syria in Geneva, and the European Union was meeting in Brussels to consider a wide range of sanctions against the Arab state.

The protests have drawn a cross section of Syrian society, which has been under Baath Party rule for the last 48 years.

The younger Assad kept intact the autocratic political system he inherited in 2000 from his father, Hafez al-Assad.

On Monday, Syrian army backed by tanks and armoured vehicle stormed Deraa resulting in further casualties.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the attack on Deraa has killed at least 50 civilians, with essential supplies in the city running law.

Microsoft Third Quarter Earnings Up But Still Loses To Apple

2011-04-29T13:29:00.000+01:00

Microsoft just presented a report which shows a 31% increase in profits which translates to US$5.2 billion or 61 cents per share. This latest figure however is still not enough to beat Apple’s earnings. This is the first time in 20 years that Microsoft losses to Apple.

One key line of Microsoft which is Windows showed it dropped 4% which can be attributed to the decline in PC sales worldwide.

Although the company has increased its earnings it is now playing catch up with Apple. PC sales which is where Microsoft gets most of its profit due to licensing of its Windows operating system is on a steady decline due to the entry of tablets. These devices run on either iOS of Apple or Android of Google with no viable Microsoft tablet in the market yet.

The recent entry of Microsoft into the smartphone market has also been slowed down and is far behind Android or iOS smartphones.

The strong products of the company seem to lie on their Office productivity suit and their Xbox line. In the long run this may not be enough to sustain them as more and more devices are coming out of the market that does not run on the Windows platform.

Nintendo: Breaking Stereotypes

2011-04-29T00:40:00.000+01:00

Nintendo which is considered to be on of the greatest video game producers in the world announced that the release of their home console and a Wii successor will take place in 2012.

Briefly, Nintendo will present a playable model of the new system and its specifications at the E3 Expo. This annual game showcase will take place on June 7-9, in Los Angeles. Believably, the new home console will be providing players with high-definition gaming which is supposed to be even better than Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.

The presence of touch-screen controllers is also possible and they will provide you with the opportunity to get all the images from the central console. But still, nothing is confirmed and it is believed that Nintendo will center on a fresh sort of gameplay. According to Nintendo, it is becoming harder to develop something new and surprise players.

And yet, there are a lot of features that could be updated and made more popular. Now, Wii is considered to be a home console, played in the living room with all the family members. But, Nintendo wants to change this stereotype.