Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs has died aged 56.

Steve Jobs co-founded Apple and has since been the main visionary in launching the iPod, iPhone, iPad and Apple Computers. 

Apple announced his death without giving a specific cause.

Jobs had been battling cancer since 2004 and underwent a liver transplant in 2009. 

He resigned as CEO six weeks ago. 

Apple fans have already began gathering to pay their respects to Jobs.

From Cupertino, California, to Washington, DC and New York, customers at Apple stores expressed their sadness at Jobs' death.

"I think it's very sad, and I think from a technology standpoint, a business standpoint, and a personal standpoint, we've definitely lost a visionary."

"He was an incredible businessman, an incredible entrepreneur, an incredible personality."

President Barack Obama also commented on the death of Jobs, calling him a "visionary leader" and "one of the greatest U.S. innovators". 

Whilst Business rival, Microsoft's CEO, Bill Gates, said in a statement that Jobs' "profound impact" on the world of technology would be "felt for many generations to come".

A memo sent by CEO Tim Cook to Apple employees has cited that Apple is planning a celebration of Jobs' life for it's employees that will take place in the near future.

 

 

Hourly News: UNESCO Palentine Update

 

UNESCO's executive committee has voted in favor to allow its 193 member states decide whether to grant the Palestinian Authority full membership in the organization.

40 of the 58-member states voted in favor. Four voted against and there were 14 abstentions.

The result of the first ballot is the first hurdle that Palestine needed to clear in order to become a full member of UNESCO. 

Two-thirds of the states must vote in favor to grant Palestine full membership when the ballot takes place at UNESCO's General Conference which begins on October 25 and runs to November 10.

The Palestinian delegation has had an observer status at UNESCO since 1974.

 

 

White House voices concern over yuan legislation

 

The White House is now expressing concern about proposed bill in the US Senate connected to China's currency.

The Democratically-controlled Senate is expected to vote the proposed legislation later on this Thursday.

The bill, which would then have to be sent to both the House of Representatives and the US President before becoming law, could authorize the US government to impose duties on those countries -- it feels -- undervalue their currency.

Republican House Majority leader John Boehner has already labeled the proposed legislation a "dangerous" overreach by lawmakers.

The Chinese government says the proposed bill would violate the rules of the World Trade Organization and obstruct China-US trade ties.

 

 

Melted iron overflow kills 11 in Jiangsu

 

12 workers are dead after a molten iron spill in Jiangsu Province.

The accident happened when the molten iron spilled out of a refining furnace at a factory in Nanjing yesterday morning.

One other worker is in hospital in stable condition.

The accident happened as the workers were shutting down one of the furnaces at the steel mill.

 

 

President Assassination plot thwarted in Afghanistan

 

Afghanistan's intelligence service says it's thwarted a plot to assassinate President Hamid Karzai.

Afghan authorities have arrested one of Karzai's bodyguards and 5 others, all said to have links with both the Haqqani network and al-Qaeda.

The intelligence agency says the plotters include university students and a medical professor.

Agency spokesperson Lutfullah Mashal says the group recruited one of Karzai's bodyguards to kill the president after he left Kabul.

 

 

NTC forces completes siege of Sirte

 

Fighters allied with the Libyan National Transitional Council are now making, what is being described, as their final push against Gadhafi loyalists entrenched in the ousted leader's hometown of Sirte. 

NTC forces have completely encircled Sirte, after some 3-weeks of heavy fighting. 

NTC commanders claim they've been holding back on a final assault because of concerns about civilian casualties. 

Pro-Gaddafi forces in the center of Sirte have been heavily entrenched, pushing back several earlier attempts by NTC fighters to take the city.

 

 

NATO hints more countries to join missile defense

 

The head of NATO is hinting that more countries in Europe may be preparing to join the alliance's controversial missile shield program.

Romania, Poland and Turkey have all agreed to allow the anti-missile defense systems on their territory.

Spain has also agreed to play host to 4 US anti-missile ships in the southern port city of Cadiz, which will allow NATO to expand its missile defense program into the Mediterranean.

Speaking to reporters following a NATO Defense Ministers meeting, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen says he wouldn't be surprised more announcements coming in the weeks and months ahead.