Steve Jobs, Apple CEO and creative force, resigns

By RACHEL METZ and JORDAN ROBERTSON

SAN FRANCISCO – Steve Jobs, the mind behind the iPhone, iPad and other devices that turned Apple Inc. into one of the world's most powerful companies, resigned as CEO on Wednesday, saying he can no longer handle the job but will continue to play a leadership role.
The move appears to be the result of an unspecified medical condition for which Jobs took a leave from his post in January. Apple's chief operating officer, Tim Cook, was quickly named CEO of the company Jobs co-founded 35 years ago in his garage.
In a letter addressed to Apple's board and the "Apple community," Jobs said he "always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come."
The company said Jobs gave the board his resignation Wednesday and suggested Cook be named the company's new leader. Apple said Jobs was elected board chairman and Cook is becoming a member of its board.
Genentech Inc. Chairman Art Levinson, in a statement issued on behalf of Apple's board, said Jobs' "extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world's most innovative and valuable technology company."
He said that Jobs will continue to provide "his unique insights, creativity and inspiration," and that the board has "complete confidence" that Cook is the right person to replace him.
""Tim's 13 years of service to Apple have been marked by outstanding performance, and he has demonstrated remarkable talent and sound judgment in everything he does," Levinson said.
Jobs' health has long been a concern for Apple investors who see him as an industry oracle who seems to know what consumers want long before they do. After his announcement, Apple stock quickly fell 5.4 percent in after-hours trading.
Jeff Gamet, managing editor of The Mac Observer online news site focused on Apple, said Jobs' departure has more sentimental than practical significance, and that he has been telegraphing the change for several years.
"All Apple really has done is made official what they've been doing administratively for a while now, which is Tim runs the show and Steve gets to do his part to make sure the products come out to meet the Apple standard," he said.
"I expect that even though there are a lot of people that right now are sad or scared because Steve is stepping back from the CEO role, that ultimately they'll be OK," Gamet said.
But Trip Chowdhry, an analyst with Global Equities Research, said Jobs' maniacal attention to detail is what set Apple apart. He said Apple's product pipeline might be secure for another few years, but predicted that the company will eventually struggle to come up with market-changing ideas.
"Apple is Steve Jobs, Steve Jobs is Apple, and Steve Jobs is innovation," Chowdhry said. "You can teach people how to be operationally efficient, you can hire consultants to tell you how to do that, but God creates innovation. ... Apple without Steve Jobs is nothing."
Earlier this month Apple became the most valuable company in America, briefly surpassing Exxon Mobil. At the market close Wednesday its market value was $349 billion, just behind Exxon Mobil's $358 billion.
Jobs' hits seemed to grow bigger as the years went on: After the colorful iMac computer and the now-ubiquitous iPod, the iPhone redefined the category of smart phones and the iPad all but created the market for tablet computers.
His own aura seemed part of the attraction. On stage at trade shows and company events in his uniform of jeans, sneakers and black mock-turtlenecks, he'd entrance audiences with new devices, new colors, new software features, building up to a grand finale he'd predictably preface by saying, "One more thing."
Jobs, 56, shepherded Apple from a two-man startup to Silicon Valley darling when the Apple II, the first computer for regular people to really catch on, sent IBM Corp. and others scrambling to get their own PCs to market.
After Apple suffered a slump in the mid-1980s, he was forced out of the company. He was CEO at Next, another computer company, and Pixar, the computer-animation company that produced "Toy Story" on his watch, over the following 10 years.
Apple was foundering as he returned as an adviser in 1996 — a year it lost $900 million as Microsoft Windows-based PCs dominated the computer market. The company's fortunes began to turn around with its first new product under Jobs' direction, the iMac, which launched in 1998 and sold about 2 million in its first 12 months.
Jobs eventually became interim CEO, then took the job permanently. Apple's popularity grew in the U.S. throughout the 2000s as the ever-sleeker line of iPods introduced many lifelong Windows users to their first Apple gadget. Apple created another sensation in 2007 with the iPhone, the stark-looking but powerful smart phone that quickly dominated the industry.
The iPad was introduced less than a year and a half ago but has already sold nearly 29 million units as it inspired myriad rivals in a tablet computer market that scarcely existed before Apple stepped in.
There have been some setbacks. Apple was swept up in a massive Securities and Exchange Commission inquiry into stock options backdating in the mid-2000s, a practice that artificially boosted the value of options grants. But Jobs and Apple emerged unscathed after two former executives took the fall and eventually settled with the SEC.
As Jobs was praised for his vision, concerns about his health persisted. The January leave was Jobs' third medical leave over several years. He had previously survived pancreatic cancer and received a liver transplant.
Shannon Cross, an analyst at Cross Research, said Cook is a good choice to replace Jobs.
"He has taken over for Jobs twice in two medical leaves and the company has functioned extremely well," she said, adding that Cook has been Jobs' "right hand guy" for many years.
Cross also said Jobs put in place a "culture of innovation" that will help Apple remain a creative force in the industry.
"Steve Jobs is an extremely strong leader and clearly has made Apple a leading consumer electronics company and one of the most innovative companies in the world," she said. "However, he didn't do it alone."

With CIA help, NYPD moves covertly in Muslim

By MATT APUZZO and ADAM GOLDMAN

NEW YORK – Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the New York Police Department has become one of the nation's most aggressive domestic intelligence agencies, targeting ethnic communities in ways that would run afoul of civil liberties rules if practiced by the federal government, an Associated Press investigation has found.
These operations have benefited from unprecedented help from the CIA, a partnership that has blurred the line between foreign and domestic spying.
The department has dispatched undercover officers, known as "rakers," into minority neighborhoods as part of a human mapping program, according to officials directly involved in the program. They've monitored daily life in bookstores, bars, cafes and nightclubs. Police have also used informants, known as "mosque crawlers," to monitor sermons, even when there's no evidence of wrongdoing.
Neither the city council, which finances the department, nor the federal government, which has given NYPD more than $1.6 billion since 9/11, is told exactly what's going on.
Many of these operations were built with help from the CIA, which is prohibited from spying on Americans but was instrumental in transforming the NYPD's intelligence unit.

Asian Beauty Girl

Asian Beauty Girl

Hello, readers! How are you? Today, we embark on a journey to explore the enchanting world of Asian beauty, a vibrant tapestry woven with rich traditions, diverse cultures, and stunning aesthetics. From the captivating allure of flawless skin to the striking elegance of fashion trends, this article will celebrate the unique qualities that define Asian beauty and its influence on the global stage. So, join me as we delve into this fascinating subject, and please continue reading!

Table of Contents

1. Exploring the Diversity of Asian Beauty Trends
2. Cultural Influences on Asian Beauty Perceptions
3. The Rise of Asian Beauty Influencers Online
4. Traditional Beauty Practices in Asian Cultures
5. Asian Beauty Essentials for Flawless Skin
6. The Impact of K-Beauty on Global Trends
7. Celebrating Unique Features of Asian Women
8. Asian Beauty Secrets Passed Down Generations
9. Makeup Techniques Inspired by Asian Aesthetics
10. Skincare Routines That Emphasize Asian Beauty

Exploring the Diversity of Asian Beauty Trends

Asian beauty trends showcase a rich tapestry of diversity, reflecting unique cultural influences and values across the continent. From the natural, dewy skin favored in South Korea to the vibrant, bold makeup styles popular in India, each region offers distinct approaches to beauty. Japanese beauty emphasizes minimalism and skincare rituals, focusing on achieving a flawless complexion through layering products.

Meanwhile, Chinese beauty trends often incorporate traditional practices, such as herbal remedies and gua sha techniques, to enhance natural features. Additionally, the rise of social media has facilitated the exchange of beauty ideas, allowing trends to transcend borders and inspire a global audience.

This dynamic interplay of tradition and modernity continues to shape the evolving landscape of Asian beauty, celebrating individuality and innovation.

Cultural Influences on Asian Beauty Perceptions

Cultural influences play a significant role in shaping beauty perceptions across Asia, where diverse traditions and values intersect. In countries like Japan, the concept of "kawaii" emphasizes youthfulness and innocence, leading to a preference for softer features and a polished appearance. Conversely, in India, beauty ideals often celebrate rich skin tones and elaborate adornments, reflecting the country's vibrant heritage.

Furthermore, globalization has introduced Western beauty stKamurds, creating a complex interplay between traditional and contemporary ideals. Social media platforms amplify these influences, with trends rapidly spreading across borders, prompting individuals to navigate their identities within a multifaceted beauty landscape.

Ultimately, Asian beauty perceptions continue to evolve, blending cultural legacies with modern expressions of self.

The Rise of Asian Beauty Influencers Online

In recent years, the rise of Asian beauty influencers has dramatically transformed the online beauty landscape. These influencers, often hailing from diverse backgrounds, have captivated audiences with their unique perspectives on beauty, skincare, and makeup. By leveraging platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, they share innovative techniques, product reviews, and cultural insights that resonate with millions.

This surge is not just about aesthetics; it reflects a growing appreciation for authenticity and individuality in beauty stKamurds. As they challenge conventional norms, these influencers inspire a global community to embrace their heritage and celebrate diverse beauty. Their impact is undeniable, fostering a richer dialogue around beauty that transcends borders and unites followers worldwide.

Traditional Beauty Practices in Asian Cultures

Traditional beauty practices in Asian cultures are rich and diverse, reflecting the region's deep-rooted history and values. In countries like Japan, the use of natural ingredients such as rice bran and green tea is common in skincare routines, emphasizing a holistic approach to beauty. In India, Ayurvedic treatments utilize herbs and oils to enhance skin health and promote overall well-being.

Chinese beauty rituals often include gua sha and acupuncture, believed to improve circulation and rejuvenate the skin. Meanwhile, in Korea, the multi-step skincare regimen has gained global popularity, showcasing the importance of hydration and protection. These practices not only focus on physical appearance but also promote self-care and mindfulness, illustrating how beauty in Asian cultures is intertwined with health and spirituality.

Each tradition offers unique insights into achieving beauty that transcends mere aesthetics.

Asian Beauty Essentials for Flawless Skin

Asian beauty rituals are renowned for their emphasis on achieving flawless skin, often focusing on hydration, protection, and nourishment. A multi-step skincare routine is central to this philosophy, starting with gentle cleansing to remove impurities without stripping natural oils. The use of essences, packed with botanical ingredients, helps to hydrate and prepare the skin for subsequent products.

Serums enriched with antioxidants and vitamins are applied to combat aging and promote a radiant complexion. Sunscreen is a non-negotiable element, guarding against harmful UV rays that can cause premature aging. Additionally, traditional ingredients like rice water, green tea, and ginseng have stood the test of time, providing essential nutrients that enhance skin health.

These practices highlight the beauty of simplicity and the importance of caring for one’s skin daily, leading to a luminous, youthful appearance.

The Impact of K-Beauty on Global Trends

K-Beauty, atau kecantikan Korea, telah merevolusi industri kecantikan global dengan pendekatan inovatif dan berfokus pada perawatan kulit. Produk-produk K-Beauty, seperti sheet mask dan essence, memperkenalkan rutinitas perawatan kulit yang lebih mendalam dan menyeluruh. Selain itu, pemasaran yang cerdas dan penggunaan media sosial, terutama oleh influencer, telah meningkatkan popularitas merek-merek Korea di seluruh dunia.

K-Beauty tidak hanya mempengaruhi produk yang digunakan tetapi juga cara orang memKamung kecantikan dan perawatan diri. Penekanan pada bahan alami dan efisiensi telah mendorong merek lain untuk mengadopsi praktik yang lebih berkelanjutan. Dengan demikian, K-Beauty telah menjadi lebih dari sekadar tren; ia telah membentuk harapan baru untuk inovasi dan keberagaman dalam industri kecantikan di berbagai belahan dunia.

Celebrating Unique Features of Asian Women

Asian women embody a rich tapestry of unique features that deserve celebration. From the graceful elegance of their traditional attire to the intricate artistry of their cultural practices, each aspect reflects a deep-rooted heritage. Their diverse backgrounds contribute to a captivating blend of beauty, intelligence, and resilience.

The distinct physical attributes, such as almond-shaped eyes and lustrous hair, are often celebrated in various art forms, enhancing the appreciation of their individuality. In contemporary society, Asian women continue to break barriers, excelling in fields like business, technology, and the arts.

By honoring their contributions and embracing their diverse identities, we not only uplift Asian women but also promote a more inclusive perspective on beauty. This celebration is essential in fostering understanding and respect across different cultures, acknowledging the strength found within diversity.

Asian Beauty Secrets Passed Down Generations

Asian beauty secrets, cherished for generations, embody a harmonious blend of nature and tradition. From the delicate art of Korean skincare routines to the timeless use of Japanese rice water, these rituals emphasize the importance of nurturing one's skin. Natural ingredients like green tea, ginseng, and lotus flower have been revered for their rejuvenating properties, offering a glimpse into the wisdom of ancient practices.

Women have gathered in families to share these treasured secrets, passing down tips and techniques that celebrate individuality while promoting holistic wellness. The emphasis on balance, from diet to mindfulness, reflects a deeper understanding of beauty that transcends mere appearance. As modern beauty trends emerge, these time-honored secrets remain a testament to the enduring power of nature and the wisdom of those who came before.

Makeup Techniques Inspired by Asian Aesthetics

Asian aesthetics in makeup techniques beautifully blend tradition and modernity, showcasing a spectrum of styles that enhance natural beauty while embracing cultural nuances. Techniques such as the Korean "glass skin" look prioritize a luminous, dewy complexion, achieved through layering hydrating products and lightweight foundations, creating an ethereal glow.

Japanese makeup often emphasizes delicate features with soft, pastel colors and intricate eye designs, inspired by the artistry of anime and traditional motifs. Moreover, Chinese makeup celebrates bold, expressive colors that draw from historical influences, often highlighting the eyes with striking eyeliner and vibrant lips.

Each of these techniques not only reflects the diverse beauty stKamurds across Asia but also encourages a personal expression that resonates with the wearer's identity.

Skincare Routines That Emphasize Asian Beauty

Skincare routines that emphasize Asian beauty often focus on hydration, layering, and the use of natural ingredients. Many of these routines begin with a gentle cleanser to remove impurities, followed by toners that help balance the skin's pH levels. The incorporation of essences, serums, and ampoules, rich in antioxidants and nutrients, targets specific skin concerns like dryness or pigmentation.

Sheet masks are also a popular staple, providing an instant moisture boost, while moisturizers seal in hydration. Finally, the use of sun protection is crucial to prevent premature aging and maintain a radiant complexion. This holistic approach not only enhances skin health but also promotes a sense of self-care and mindfulness.

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Libyan rebels hunt Gadhafi, try to secure Tripoli

By BEN HUBBARD and KARIN LAUB

TRIPOLI, Libya – Libyans hunting Moammar Gadhafi offered a $2 million bounty on the fallen dictator's head and amnesty for anyone who kills or captures him as rebels battled Wednesday to clear the last pockets of resistance from the capital Tripoli.
While some die-hard loyalists kept up the fight to defend Gadhafi, his support was crumbling by the hour. His deputy intelligence chief defected, and even his foreign minister said his 42-year rule was over.
A defiant Gadhafi vowed from hiding to fight on "until victory or martyrdom," in an audio message early Wednesday.
He may have little choice. Asked by the British broadcaster Channel 4 if a negotiated settlement or safe passage for Gadhafi from Libya was still possible, Foreign Minister Abdul Ati al-Obeidi said: "It looks like things have passed this kind of solution."
Rebel leaders were beginning to set up a new government in the capital. Their interim administration, the National Transitional Council, has been based in the eastern city of Benghazi, which fell under rebel control shortly after the outbreak of widespread protests in February.
"Members of the council are now moving one by one from Benghazi to Tripoli," said Mansour Seyf al-Nasr, the Libyan opposition's new ambassador to France.
Rebel officials are eager to prove they can bring a stable political future to Libya, and that their movement is more than an often-fractious collection of tribes, ethnicities and semiautonomous militias. Mahmoud Jibril, the head of the opposition government, outlined plans for a new constitution and elections and said officials were talking to the U.N. about sending up to 200 monitors to help ensure security in Tripoli.
But the capital was far from pacified. A day after rebels captured Gadhafi's vast Bab al-Aziziya compound, the symbolic center of his regime, loyalists were firing into the compound from an adjacent neighborhood where intense clashes broke out. Pro-regime snipers cut off the road to the airport. Four Italian journalists were kidnapped on the highway to Tripoli around the city of Zawiya, 30 miles west of the capital.
Tripoli's streets were largely empty of civilians. Rebels manned checkpoints every few hundred yards, but little could be seen beyond the debris of days of fighting and weeks of accumulated garbage.
Rebels found no sign of Gadhafi after storming his compound Tuesday, but rumors churned of his possible whereabouts. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said there was no evidence he had left Libya, but rebel officials acknowledged they could not find him.
"He might be in Sirte or any other place," Jibril said in Paris, where he met French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Sirte, a coastal city 250 miles from Tripoli, is Gadhafi's hometown and a bastion of regime support.
Khaled al-Zintani, spokesman for the rebel military council for the western mountains, said it has set up an operations room with intelligence officers, military defectors and security officers who are trying to find Gadhafi, his family, regime members and his forces. They are collecting information on the location, size and direction of any convoys.
The operations center is in the western mountains, the staging base for the rebels who marched on Tripoli.
Mohammed al-Herizi, an opposition official, said a group of Tripoli businessmen has offered a $2 million reward for the arrest or killing of Gadhafi. The rebels themselves are offering amnesty for anyone who kills him or hands him over.
"The biggest prize is to offer amnesty, not to give money," rebel spokesman Col. Ahmed Bani said.
Gadhafi vowed not to surrender. Speaking to a local television channel, apparently by phone, he called on residents of the Libyan capital and loyal tribesmen to free Tripoli from the "devils and traitors" who have overrun it.
Al-Sadeq al-Kabir, a rebel spokesman, denied media reports that Gadhafi had offered a cease-fire.
The rebels have taken control of much of Libya with the help of a relentless NATO air campaign that included about 7,500 strike attacks against Gadhafi's forces. His defenses around Tripoli melted away as the rebels rapidly advanced and entered the capital Sunday.
Jibril said a commission created with members from around Libya would write a new constitution, which would be put up for a referendum. He didn't specify a timetable but said that once a constitution is adopted, elections for parliament would be held within the next four months, and its president would be Libya's interim leader until a presidential election sometime later.
"The mission of protecting civilians is not over," Jibril said. "The other bigger and more fierce battle has not started yet. It is the rebuilding of Libya."
In the postwar period, a new army will be created, he said, and the National Transitional Council planned "to call on all those who took up arms to join either the new army or the new police force that we will constitute in coming days."
The rebels said they also have an environment team that tries to detect bodies of combatants and clean the city of rotting animals.
Fighting continued, however, and not just in Tripoli. Jibril said pro-government forces were shelling a number of southern cities.
Residents of the port town of Zwara, about 70 miles west of the capital, said they had suffered through four days of shelling. All roads to the city had been cut off, and rebels said they were running low on supplies.
As they are routed elsewhere, Gadhafi's forces "take their revenge by shelling our town," Sefask al-Azaabi, a rebel, said by telephone. "We are appealing to the (rebel) military council to send us reinforcements or this town will be finished in no time."
In Tripoli, rebel fighters were using Gadhafi's captured compound as a staging area, loading huge trucks with ammunition and discussing deployments, but they had yet to control all of Bab al-Aziziya.
Pro-Gadhafi snipers repeatedly fired on the fighters from tall buildings in the Abu Salim neighborhood, a regime stronghold, rebel Mohammed Amin said.
He said the rebels had surrounded Abu Salim, home to the country's most notorious prison and scene of a 1996 massacre of protesting political prisoners, but had been unable to push into it. But late Wednesday night, al-Kabir, the rebel spokesman, said rebels released thousands of inmates from Abu Salim, many of them political prisoners who had been held there for years.
Matthew VanDyke, a writer from Baltimore missing since March in Libya, was among those who escaped, his mother said. VanDyke called her and said he had been held in solitary confinement, but fellow prisoners helped him escape to a compound where he borrowed a phone. He had traveled to Libya to write about the uprising against Gadhafi.
The rebels claim they control the Tripoli airport but were still clashing with Gadhafi forces around it. Associated Press reporters said the road leading to the airport was closed because of heavy fire by pro-regime snipers.
Rebels said pro-Gadhafi forces to the south and northeast were firing rockets and shelling rebel positions inside the airport and had set a plane on fire.
Inside Gadhafi's compound, two young rebel fighters searched through a heap of pill packages in a building they said had served as a pharmacy. A broken TV, its screen shattered, lay on the ground in the courtyard. A dozen young fighters posed for pictures next to a gold-colored statue of a clenched fist squeezing a plane — a memorial to the 1986 U.S. airstrikes on the compound in retaliation for a bombing at a German disco frequented by U.S. servicemen.
The rebels also targeted other symbols of the regime, including the homes of some of Gadhafi's children.
About 200 people ransacked the beachfront villa of Gadhafi's son Saadi, driving off with four of his cars — a Lamborghini, a BMW, an Audi and a Toyota station wagon, said Seif Allah, a rebel fighter who joined in the looting, taking a bottle of gin and a pair of Diesel jeans.
After a five-hour gunbattle with guards, rebels also ransacked the mansion of Gadhafi's daughter Aisha.
Clothes and DVDs were strewn on the floor of the master bedroom, including a DVD about getting in shape after childbirth. In a sitting area, a gold-colored statue of a mermaid — a mermaid with Aisha's face — framed a sofa.
At the once-luxurious Rixos Hotel near Abu Salim and Bab al-Aziziya, dozens of foreign journalists were freed after being held captive for days by pro-government gunmen.
The hotel was where rotating tours of journalists had lived for the past six months, closely watched by government minders and taken on approved tours. But it became a de facto prison after the rebels swept into the city because a team of gunmen refused to let the journalists leave.
Heavy gunbattles had raged all around the hotel since Sunday, and a gunman even ran through the lobby at one point. Near-constant power outages left reporters without air conditioning in the sweltering summer heat, and in their final days at the Rixos they had to scrounge the hotel to find food and water.
As the rebels drew closer, most of the guards left, leaving just a pair of increasingly nervous gunmen. The journalists were suddenly freed Wednesday after the International Committee of the Red Cross stepped in to negotiate their release.

By BEN HUBBARD and KARIN LAUB, Associated Press – 13 mins ago

TRIPOLI, Libya – Libyans hunting Moammar Gadhafi offered a $2 million bounty on the fallen dictator's head and amnesty for anyone who kills or captures him as rebels battled Wednesday to clear the last pockets of resistance from the capital Tripoli.
While some die-hard loyalists kept up the fight to defend Gadhafi, his support was crumbling by the hour. His deputy intelligence chief defected, and even his foreign minister said his 42-year rule was over.
A defiant Gadhafi vowed from hiding to fight on "until victory or martyrdom," in an audio message early Wednesday.
He may have little choice. Asked by the British broadcaster Channel 4 if a negotiated settlement or safe passage for Gadhafi from Libya was still possible, Foreign Minister Abdul Ati al-Obeidi said: "It looks like things have passed this kind of solution."
Rebel leaders were beginning to set up a new government in the capital. Their interim administration, the National Transitional Council, has been based in the eastern city of Benghazi, which fell under rebel control shortly after the outbreak of widespread protests in February.
"Members of the council are now moving one by one from Benghazi to Tripoli," said Mansour Seyf al-Nasr, the Libyan opposition's new ambassador to France.
Rebel officials are eager to prove they can bring a stable political future to Libya, and that their movement is more than an often-fractious collection of tribes, ethnicities and semiautonomous militias. Mahmoud Jibril, the head of the opposition government, outlined plans for a new constitution and elections and said officials were talking to the U.N. about sending up to 200 monitors to help ensure security in Tripoli.
But the capital was far from pacified. A day after rebels captured Gadhafi's vast Bab al-Aziziya compound, the symbolic center of his regime, loyalists were firing into the compound from an adjacent neighborhood where intense clashes broke out. Pro-regime snipers cut off the road to the airport. Four Italian journalists were kidnapped on the highway to Tripoli around the city of Zawiya, 30 miles west of the capital.
Tripoli's streets were largely empty of civilians. Rebels manned checkpoints every few hundred yards, but little could be seen beyond the debris of days of fighting and weeks of accumulated garbage.
Rebels found no sign of Gadhafi after storming his compound Tuesday, but rumors churned of his possible whereabouts. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said there was no evidence he had left Libya, but rebel officials acknowledged they could not find him.
"He might be in Sirte or any other place," Jibril said in Paris, where he met French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Sirte, a coastal city 250 miles from Tripoli, is Gadhafi's hometown and a bastion of regime support.
Khaled al-Zintani, spokesman for the rebel military council for the western mountains, said it has set up an operations room with intelligence officers, military defectors and security officers who are trying to find Gadhafi, his family, regime members and his forces. They are collecting information on the location, size and direction of any convoys.
The operations center is in the western mountains, the staging base for the rebels who marched on Tripoli.
Mohammed al-Herizi, an opposition official, said a group of Tripoli businessmen has offered a $2 million reward for the arrest or killing of Gadhafi. The rebels themselves are offering amnesty for anyone who kills him or hands him over.
"The biggest prize is to offer amnesty, not to give money," rebel spokesman Col. Ahmed Bani said.
Gadhafi vowed not to surrender. Speaking to a local television channel, apparently by phone, he called on residents of the Libyan capital and loyal tribesmen to free Tripoli from the "devils and traitors" who have overrun it.
Al-Sadeq al-Kabir, a rebel spokesman, denied media reports that Gadhafi had offered a cease-fire.
The rebels have taken control of much of Libya with the help of a relentless NATO air campaign that included about 7,500 strike attacks against Gadhafi's forces. His defenses around Tripoli melted away as the rebels rapidly advanced and entered the capital Sunday.
Jibril said a commission created with members from around Libya would write a new constitution, which would be put up for a referendum. He didn't specify a timetable but said that once a constitution is adopted, elections for parliament would be held within the next four months, and its president would be Libya's interim leader until a presidential election sometime later.
"The mission of protecting civilians is not over," Jibril said. "The other bigger and more fierce battle has not started yet. It is the rebuilding of Libya."
In the postwar period, a new army will be created, he said, and the National Transitional Council planned "to call on all those who took up arms to join either the new army or the new police force that we will constitute in coming days."
The rebels said they also have an environment team that tries to detect bodies of combatants and clean the city of rotting animals.
Fighting continued, however, and not just in Tripoli. Jibril said pro-government forces were shelling a number of southern cities.
Residents of the port town of Zwara, about 70 miles west of the capital, said they had suffered through four days of shelling. All roads to the city had been cut off, and rebels said they were running low on supplies.
As they are routed elsewhere, Gadhafi's forces "take their revenge by shelling our town," Sefask al-Azaabi, a rebel, said by telephone. "We are appealing to the (rebel) military council to send us reinforcements or this town will be finished in no time."
In Tripoli, rebel fighters were using Gadhafi's captured compound as a staging area, loading huge trucks with ammunition and discussing deployments, but they had yet to control all of Bab al-Aziziya.
Pro-Gadhafi snipers repeatedly fired on the fighters from tall buildings in the Abu Salim neighborhood, a regime stronghold, rebel Mohammed Amin said.
He said the rebels had surrounded Abu Salim, home to the country's most notorious prison and scene of a 1996 massacre of protesting political prisoners, but had been unable to push into it. But late Wednesday night, al-Kabir, the rebel spokesman, said rebels released thousands of inmates from Abu Salim, many of them political prisoners who had been held there for years.
Matthew VanDyke, a writer from Baltimore missing since March in Libya, was among those who escaped, his mother said. VanDyke called her and said he had been held in solitary confinement, but fellow prisoners helped him escape to a compound where he borrowed a phone. He had traveled to Libya to write about the uprising against Gadhafi.
The rebels claim they control the Tripoli airport but were still clashing with Gadhafi forces around it. Associated Press reporters said the road leading to the airport was closed because of heavy fire by pro-regime snipers.
Rebels said pro-Gadhafi forces to the south and northeast were firing rockets and shelling rebel positions inside the airport and had set a plane on fire.
Inside Gadhafi's compound, two young rebel fighters searched through a heap of pill packages in a building they said had served as a pharmacy. A broken TV, its screen shattered, lay on the ground in the courtyard. A dozen young fighters posed for pictures next to a gold-colored statue of a clenched fist squeezing a plane — a memorial to the 1986 U.S. airstrikes on the compound in retaliation for a bombing at a German disco frequented by U.S. servicemen.
The rebels also targeted other symbols of the regime, including the homes of some of Gadhafi's children.
About 200 people ransacked the beachfront villa of Gadhafi's son Saadi, driving off with four of his cars — a Lamborghini, a BMW, an Audi and a Toyota station wagon, said Seif Allah, a rebel fighter who joined in the looting, taking a bottle of gin and a pair of Diesel jeans.
After a five-hour gunbattle with guards, rebels also ransacked the mansion of Gadhafi's daughter Aisha.
Clothes and DVDs were strewn on the floor of the master bedroom, including a DVD about getting in shape after childbirth. In a sitting area, a gold-colored statue of a mermaid — a mermaid with Aisha's face — framed a sofa.
At the once-luxurious Rixos Hotel near Abu Salim and Bab al-Aziziya, dozens of foreign journalists were freed after being held captive for days by pro-government gunmen.
The hotel was where rotating tours of journalists had lived for the past six months, closely watched by government minders and taken on approved tours. But it became a de facto prison after the rebels swept into the city because a team of gunmen refused to let the journalists leave.
Heavy gunbattles had raged all around the hotel since Sunday, and a gunman even ran through the lobby at one point. Near-constant power outages left reporters without air conditioning in the sweltering summer heat, and in their final days at the Rixos they had to scrounge the hotel to find food and water.
As the rebels drew closer, most of the guards left, leaving just a pair of increasingly nervous gunmen. The journalists were suddenly freed Wednesday after the International Committee of the Red Cross stepped in to negotiate their release.