The Google

social networking boss called Google+.

     Likely, lovely and famous an Internet name of Google, the king and big boss of Internet search but a bust on the social front, has launched its rival to Facebook, a main social networking service called Google+.

"Its online sharing is awkward. Even broken. And we aim to fix it," Google's senior vice president for engineering Vic Gundotra said in a blog post about the long-awaited social networking initiative from the Internet giant.

       The ability of Google gives users to separate online friends and family into different "Circles," or networks, and to share information only with members of a particular circle.

      We like to bring the nuance and richness of real-life sharing to software. We want to make Google better us, our relationships and interests for next generation.

"Not all relationships are created equal," Gundotra said. "So in life we share one thing with college buddies, another with parents, and almost nothing with our boss.

       Google said in a message on the site that it "won't be long before the Google+ project is ready for everyone."

      Photos and video can be uploaded and shared among Circles using a feature known as "Instant Upload," while an online sharing engine called "Sparks" delivers content from the Web into a user's feed.

       Google's last major foray into social networking -- Google Buzz, launched in February 2010 –

 Google dominates Internet search on the social networking front, where Facebook has accumulated nearly 700 million users and Twitter around 200 million.

Amid lewd photo scandal, US lawmaker Anthony Weiner resigns

        US congressman Anthony Weiner announced his resignation on Thursday, done in by lewd photos he took of himself, sent to women online and then adamantly lied about after being caught.

        Party leaders have been pressing him to resign so that Democrats could resume positioning themselves for the 2012 election campaign without constant criticism from Republicans on moral grounds.

        "I'm here today to again apologize for the personal mistakes I have made and the embarrassment I have caused," he said reading from a brief statement in New York City's Brooklyn borough.

        "I make this apology to my neighbors and my constituents, but I make it particularly to my wife, Huma."

        Weiner's wife was absent as he announced his decision, as she was 10 days ago when he admitted having sent inappropriate messages and photos to several women online.

        The crowd on Thursday included hecklers and radio shock jocks, vying for attention at what became a New York media event.
 
 
        His decision to give up his House seat marks the end of a scandal that resulted from the brash New Yorker's use of social media such as Twitter and Facebook.

        He at first denied having sent any inappropriate photos, then recanted in a remarkable news conference 10 days ago at which he admitted having exchanged inappropriate messages with several women.

        President Barack Obama added to the pressure on Monday, saying it he were in Weiner's situation, he would step down.

        Several officials have said in recent days that Weiner was reluctant to make any decision about his career without speaking with his wife, Huma Abedin, a top aide to secretary of state Hillary Clinton who had been overseas since shortly after the scandal broke. The trip ended Tuesday night.

        Abedin is pregnant with the couple's first child.

        New York governor Andrew Cuomo is expected to call a special election to fill the seat.

Indonesian cleric gets 15 years on terror charge

Indonesian cleric gets 15 years on terror charge

Abu Bakar Bashir

The Indonesian Muslim cleric known as spiritual leader of the militants who carried out the deadly 2002 Bali bombings was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in prison for his support of a terror training camp uncovered last year.

         Abu Bakar Bashir's conviction for incitement of terrorism followed two unsuccessful attempts by prosecutors over the past eight years to link him to terror activities, including a conviction that was later overturned in the Bali attacks that killed 202 people.

        The relatively long sentence against Bashir, now 72, shows Indonesia's continuing resolve to tackle its deadly extremist movement. The sentence was announced amid high security at a Jakarta court, where nearly 3,200 police and soldiers secured the area after bomb threats spread through Twitter and text messages.

        Bashir said in the courtroom. "This verdict ignores Sharia law and is based on the infidel law, so it's forbidden for me to accept it,"