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Steve Jobs dead: Apple confirms former CEO loses fight

Source: The Age

56 is too young.

RIP Steve.

He was an industrial designer who was anal about getting it right - nothing more.

And most of the good ideas were pinched from others. Some of the over the top media reports said he invented the mouse. The mouse was invented by Douglas Engelbart at Stanford University in 1963. The graphical user interface that made the Mac famous (and was later copied by Microsoft) was invented by Xerox in the same year using Engelbart's mouse. The Mac from 1984 is basically a copy of the Xerox Alto from 1973. The portable digital media player was invented by Kane Kramer in 1979, 22 years before the iPod. The tablet computer was invented by Hewlett Packard a decade before the iPad.

But there is no doubt Jobs was a marketing genius. There's no other reason so many people would keep buying expensive Apple gear with religious fervour.

VETERAN Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi has been killed by new regime forces in their final assault on the last pocket of resistance in his hometown Sirte.

``We announce to the world that Gaddafi has been killed at the hands of the revolution,'' National Transitional Council spokesman Abdel Hafez Ghoga said on Thursday in the eastern city of Benghazi.

``It is an historic moment. It is the end of tyranny and dictatorship. Gaddafi has met his fate,'' he added.
Another NTC commander said one of Gaddafi's sons, Mutassim, was also killed in Sirte.

``We found him dead. We put his body and that of (former defence minister) Abu Bakr Yunis Jabar in an ambulance to take them to Misrata,'' said Mohamed Leith.

NTC fighters who had fought in the bloody seven-month conflict that toppled the veteran despot at a cost of more than 25,000 lives, erupted in jubilation at the news, which followed earlier reports that Gaddafi had been captured.

A photograph taken on a mobile phone appeared to show the 69-year-old Gaddafi, toppled by NTC fighters in August, heavily bloodied.

In the poor-quality image, Gaddafi is seen with blood-soaked clothing and blood daubed across his face.

A video circulating among NTC fighters in Sirte showed mobile phone footage of what appeared to be Gaddafi's bloodied corpse.

In the grainy images, a large number of NTC fighters are seen yelling in chaotic scenes around a khaki-clad body, which has blood oozing from the face and neck.

The body is then dragged off by the fighters and loaded in the back of a pick-up truck.

'Sirte has been liberated'

News of Gaddafi's death came as new regime troops overran the last redoubt of his loyalists in Sirte, bringing to an end a two-month siege.

Fighters moving in from east and west overcame the last resistance in the city's Number Two residential neighbourhood where his diehard supporters had been holed up.

The defence minister in Gaddafi's ousted regime, Abu Bakr Yunis, was killed in the last battle, medics said.

``Sirte has been liberated, and with the confirmation that Gaddafi is dead,'' Libya has been completely liberated, a top NTC military official, Khalifa Haftar, told AFP in Tripoli.

``Those who were fighting with Gaddafi have either been killed or captured,'' he added.

Pick-up trucks blaring out patriotic music later criss-crossed the streets of Sirte, as fighters flashed V for victory signs and chanted Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest).

A lot of pick-up trucks are playing the new national anthem and other revolutionary songs.

``I am happy we have got revenge for our people who suffered for all these years and for those who were killed in the revolution. Gaddafi is finished,'' said fighter Talar al-Kashmi.

Gaddafi was wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity by Libyan leaders have said they want him to be put on trial in his home country.

A pro-Gaddafi television website however insisted the strongman remained at liberty.

``The reports peddled by the lackeys of NATO about the capture or death of the brother leader, Muammar Gaddafi, are baseless,'' said Al-Libiya television.

Gaddafi ``is in good health'', it insisted.

In Brussels, a NATO spokesman said two alliance aircraft on Thursday morning struck two pro-Gaddafi military vehicles near Sirte.

``At approximately 0830 local time (GMT+2) today, NATO aircraft struck two pro-Gaddafi forces military vehicles which were part of a larger group manoeuvring in the vicinity of Sirte,'' NATO spokesman Colonel Roland Lavoie said in a statement.

A NATO diplomat said checks were under way to verify reports by the NTC that the convoy in which Gaddafi was travelling was stopped by NATO strikes, and that the ousted despot was injured and captured at that time.

At NATO's Brussels headquarters, the alliance said it had ``nothing to say'' formally.

News of Gaddafi's death came as NTC troops overran the last redoubt of his loyalists in Sirte, bringing to an end a two-month siege.

Fighters moving in from east and west overcame the last resistance in the city's Number Two residential neighbourhood where his diehard supporters had been holed up.

The defence minister in Gaddafi's ousted regime, Abu Bakr Yunis, was killed in the last battle, medics.

``Sirte is free. The whole of Libya is free,'' said Khaled Ballam, field commander of the February 17 Brigade, which took part in the final assault.

``We had some clashes but there was no fierce resistance as many Gaddafi fighters were trying to escape rather than fight because they had no other option. The game is over.''

Abdul Matlub Saleh, a fighter from the February 17 Brigade, said: ``Every inch of the city is liberated. Our people are spread everywhere. There is no fighting. The gunfire that you are hearing is all celebrations.''

Medics said that at least three NTC fighters were killed and 30 wounded on Thursday after 18 were killed and around 180 wounded the previous two days.

Last of the Gaddafi loyalist strongholds

The death of Gaddafi and the fall of Sirte mark a milestone.

Libya's new rulers had said that only once Sirte had fallen would they declare the country's liberation and begin the transition to an elected government.

In the end loyalist forces were limited to a tiny enclave of less than a square kilometre that had been completely cut off by the besieging NTC forces who controlled the entire seafront of the Mediterranean coastal city as well as all of its landward sides.

Sirte once had 100,000 inhabitants, almost all of whom have fled. Fierce artillery battles and heavy gunfire over the past month have not left a single building intact, while looting has become commonplace as NTC fighters take their revenge on the Gaddafi bastion.

Among the few natives of Sirte in NTC ranks, anger at the destruction wreaked on their home city by their comrades runs deep.

``We are not happy about what has been happening in our city. It is the only city that is getting so much destruction,'' said Ibrahim Alazhry.

ITALY'S Marco Simoncelli has died from injuries sustained in a crash that resulted in the cancellation of today's Malaysian MotoGP.

The crash occurred just minutes after the race began when the 24-year-old Honda rider's bike veered across the track and into the path of riders Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi.

Simoncelli had his helmet knocked off in the ensuing collision, which occurred on turn 11.

MotoGP later announced Simoncelli's death in a one-line statement on its website.

"Marco Simoncelli succumbed to injuries sustained in Malaysia,'' it said.

Motor sports have seen a nightmare stretch recently and Simoncelli's death looked certain to throw open more questions over safety.

Last weekend, 2010 MotoGP champ Jorge Lorenzo crashed during warm-ups in Australia, severing a finger, while two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon died in a 15-car crash in Las Vegas in Indy Car.

The race at Malaysia's Sepang track was immediately red-flagged following the crash and organisers later announced it had been cancelled.

Edwards also fell but escaped serious injury, while Rossi was able to return to the pits.

Although there is a final race in Spain still to come, Australian Casey Stoner has already secured the 2011 championship with his win last weekend in the Australian Grand Prix.

A NATION MOURNS

Meanwhile, all sports matches taking place in Italy today will observe a minute's silence in honour of Simoncelli.

Italian Olympic Committee (Coni) president Gianni Petrucci announced the measure soon after Simoncelli was pronounced dead at the Sepang track.

Italian football giants Inter and AC Milan were amongst the first sports clubs to offer their commiserations.

"AC Milan offers a hug to the family of Marco, a huge rossonero fan, and we want to offer the most sincere and heartfelt condolences in this sad moment,'' said a Milan statement on their website.

Inter added: "The president Massimo Moratti and everyone at Inter Milan, together with (coach) Claudio Ranieri and the team, shares in the pain of the Italian sports world and indeed the sports world for the loss of the rider Marco Simoncelli.

"Remembering a young and passionate champion Inter offers a hug to the family and friends of Marco Simoncelli.''

MARCO SIMONCELLI FACTFILE:

Date of birth: January 20 1987
Place of birth: Cattolica, Italy
Nationality: Italian

Teams -
MotoGP: Honda (2010-2011)
250cc: Gilera (2006-2009)
125cc: Aprilia (2002-2005)

Career -
Races contested: 148
Wins: 14 (12 in 250cc, 2 in 125cc)
Podiums: 31 (2 in MotoGP, 22 on 250cc, 7 in 125cc)
Pole positions: 15 (2 in MotoGP, 10 in 250cc, 3 in 125cc)
Best MotoGP result: 2nd in Australia, 2011
Last win: Australia, 2009 - 250cc
Last pole position: Dutch GP, 2011
250cc world champion - 2008
First GP: Czech Republic 2002
First pole position: Spain 2004
First fastest lap: Qatar 2005
First podium: Spain 2004
First win: Spain 2004

Australian filmmaker Sarah Watt dies

Australian director and animator Sarah Watt has died of cancer aged 53.

Watt is survived by her husband, actor William McInnes, and their two children Clem and Stella.

The family published a tribute saying she "died peacefully at home filled with the love she gave to those who adored her - her family".

"A life of courage humour, intelligence, generosity, honesty and grace."

She is best known for her feature films Look Both Ways, and My Year Without Sex, which combined her distinctive animation style with live action film.

Watt was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and secondary bone cancer in 2009.

Her death prompted an outpouring of grief on the social media service Twitter.

Film reviewer Marc Fennel was among those paying tribute.

"Incredibly sad day for Australian cinema. RIP Sarah Watt. Wonderful filmmaker behind Look Both Ways & My Year Without Sex," he tweeted.

Film Victoria and the Australian Film Institute also expressed their sadness.

"Terribly sad to hear of the passing of AFI award winner and talented filmmaker Sarah Watt," Film Victoria tweeted.

And Palace Films extended their condolences to Watt's family and friends, calling her "a truly extraordinary artist".

Roebuck dies aged 55

ABC cricket expert and newspaper columnist Peter Roebuck has died at the age of 55.

Roebuck was found dead at a hotel in Cape Town, where he had been covering the two-Test series between Australia and South Africa.

Fairfax reported that Roebuck was spoken to by police prior to his death.

Roebuck captained English county team Somerset in the 1980s before becoming a respected commentator.

His shrewd analysis was a highlight of the ABC's cricket coverage and Grandstand manager Craig Norenbergs says Roebuck will be greatly missed.

"[It's] incredibly sad news," Norenbergs said.

"He was an integral part of the Grandstand commentary team and apart from being a magnificent print journalist.

"For us he could describe a game of cricket in such a way that even if you didn't like the game, you liked the way that he went about his business."

Norenbergs said Roebuck had been due to return to Australia over the summer.

"He was a much loved member, he'd worked for Grandstand for many, many years and we were looking forward to him being an integral member, as always, as part of our team for the upcoming summer and the series against New Zealand and India," he said.

Fellow cricket writer Gideon Haigh said Roebuck revolutionised the way the sport is covered.

"He was so fresh and so different and so off the reservation, that he made it easier for all the writers who came after him," he said on the ABC1's Offsiders program.

But he said Roebuck was also an outsider.

"And an outsider he remained - I think to benefit of his writing, but perhaps in the end to his cost as a person," Haigh said.

Roebuck was also a regular columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers.

"Peter was a wonderful writer who was the bard of summer for cricket-loving Australians," Herald sport managing editor Ian Fuge said.

"He was also an extraordinary bloke who will be sorely missed."

BBC cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew was shocked by the news of Roebuck's death.

"My God. Just heard about Peter Roebuck. Loved working with him. Incisive. Erudite. Funny," he wrote on Twitter.

John Stern, former editor of The Wisden Cricketer said: "Shocking and sad news about Peter Roebuck. One of the two or three best writers on cricket in the world."

During his playing days Roebuck was a solid run-scorer for Somerset, passing 1,000 runs in nine out of 12 seasons.

He played 335 first-class matches, scoring 17,558 runs at an average of 37.27 with 33 centuries and a highest score of 221 not out.

Roebuck also took 72 wickets at 49.16.

He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1988.

South African police have released a statement confirming that cricket columnist and commentator Peter Roebuck took his own life.

"This office can confirm that an incident occurred last night at about 21:15 at a hotel in Claremont where a 55-year-old British national who worked as an Australian commentator committed suicide," the statement said.