Dark clouds over Apple as privacy turns into a public affair

Images of more than 100 celebrities were exposed by an unidentified hacker in a major breach of privacy. Nude images of A-List Hollywood stars, such as Academy Award winning actress Jennifer Lawrence, model Kate Upton and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, were posted on various internet forums by hackers.

There have been reports that the hacker gained access to the files through the iCloud accounts of the celebrities.

This scandal has placed Apple in the unusual position of having to mend its image only a few days before its highly anticipated product launch.

In the wake of the breach, cyber-security experts and mobile developers have criticised Apple and have pointed towards the inadequacies in its cloud-services security in general. A host of people have taken to Twitter to express their frustrations with the company.

According to The Guardian, a number of photos of numerous celebrities have since then been circulating on different file-sharing websites. Imageboard website 4chan was quick to ensure that they removed these posts from their website.

The release of these images has drawn varying responses from the celebrities, with publicists of some, such as Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton, conceding that they are in fact real images whilst other celebrities have either denied their veracity or have chosen to stay tight lipped on the issue.

Kate Upton’s lawyers have acknowledged the authenticity of the photos of the model-turned-actress referring to it as “an outrageous violation” of her privacy. “We intend to pursue anyone disseminating or duplicating these illegally obtained images to the fullest extent possible,” Kate Upton’s attorney Lawrence Shire added.

Apple on Tuesday said that these hacks were the result of targeted attacks on accounts and not a direct breach of their systems and has stated that such attempts are “all too common on the Internet.”

But the current public affair has been deemed as one of Apple’s worst public crisis in years. Speculation continues to spread on social networking websites and internet forums about the flaws in Apple’s iCloud service, which lets computer and mobile users store photos, documents and other data so they can be accessed from a plethora of devices they own.

Brandwatch, a company that analyses sentiment on social media, blogs and other sites, found that prior to the hacking scandal; Apple had very few negative mentions on Twitter, a testament to its strong brand image.

But over the past three days, 17,000 mentions on Twitter were related to the security breach as of Tuesday afternoon. Almost half of these tweets specifically mention Apple. Some of the negative words associated with mentions of Apple’s iCloud service include “violation,” “disgusting violation,” “criminality,” “failure,” “glitch” and “disappointment.”

At its upcoming event, Apple was expected to announce the launch of a mobile payments service alongside its iPhone 6 but the current leaks have left both app developers and customers uncertain.

Abbas Jafri: more than what meets the eye

LAHORE: 

It is very apparent now that there are striking differences between the male and female modeling industry. In Pakistan, male models exude a sense of personal style and aesthetic; that is not generic and can be classified as character specific.

Abbas caught the attention of designers when he transformed his look into the rugged one he has today. This change in style gave his career a much needed boost with designers and editors alike seeking his services. Many considered this change to be temporary but over the last few years, he has made it his own.

Adding to that is his nomination for the Best Male Model at the Lux Style Awards this year. Jafri sits down with The Express Tribune for an up close and personal chat about his career tragectory.

“Modelling is not my bread and butter, and frankly speaking, it shouldn’t be anyone’s either,” says Jafri, “I say this because on one hand you spend your whole life trying to reach the top and once you do, you don’t earn enough to sustain a household of five adults in an upper class society.”

He feels people in Pakistan are reluctant to change, as they see how foreigners respond to change before they embrace it themselves. “I was rejected as a model because of my look and it wasn’t until an Australian delegation appreciated my style that our industry took notice of my talents,” adds Jafri.

On the contrary, he continues to handle his father’s telecommunications business and is in the process of launching his own venture. “It’s a new concept I ventured into, keeping in mind the needs of our society,” he added.

The project revolves around student rights and he intends to form a student union to encourage communication between them.

“Nowadays, students have gotten so involved into politics that they seem to have forgotten their individuality. I want to unite them on a singular platform and excel from there on,” stated the model.

Commenting on how male models transition into acting he said, “Acting is by far the most popular profession that models turn to later in their careers. This is something natural as it’s a part of the same industry and striking a pose comes naturally to models. Acting is embedded within our genes; we just need to find an avenue to showcase our talent and right now, I’m waiting for the right moment before I plunge into this field.”

Jafri didn’t shy away from talking about the inherent disparity between the treatment of male and female models. Acoording to Jafri, this is because of the lack of high end fashion designers dedicated to menswear.

“You see, nature has certain laws, and according to it, women are inclined towards fashion and beauty,” continues Jafri, “Men, however, have found a way into this world and have carved a niche for themselves. We cannot defy the laws of nature and expect men to be more inclined towards this industry. It’s a man’s world out there, but in here, women are atop the pecking order.”

The model feels that society hasn’t warmed up to the idea of men as eye candy. “Traditionally, men are the breadwinners and the women are supposed to smile, look pretty and make their partners feel like a million bucks. So, the prettier she looks the more society deems her worth. Hence, the bidding for her worth and her looks begins.”

Jafri recently met with some government officials to discuss the future of the male modeling industry and they have been very supportive. “They are planning to start a programme that nurtures and promotes fresh talent in our industry. If all goes well, they might introduce subsidies to attract new talent.”

Wozniacki books last four with Peng

NEW YORK: 

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki and first-time grand slam semi-finalist Peng Shuai will meet for a place in the US Open title match after dominant victories on Tuesday.

Wozniacki, the runner-up at Flushing Meadows in 2009, dismissed 13th-seeded Italian Sara Errani 6-0, 6-1 and is back in the semi-finals of a major for the first time since the 2011 US Open.

China’s Peng, in the quarter-finals of a major for the first time in her 37th attempt, made similarly short work of Swiss teen Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-1.

Peng joined two-time Grand Slam champion Li Na and Zheng Jie as the only Chinese to reach the last four of a Grand Slam.

“Thirty-seven times grand slam,” said Peng, then had to stop the thought as she struggled to contain her emotions after taking apart Bencic in just 64 minutes.

“It’s a little bit too exciting,” she said. “I love tennis, I love to play, but this achievement took a long time. It’s tough. Sometimes I’ve thought to give up and stop playing because I don’t know if I can make it or not.”

Wozniacki was similarly convincing on a windy night on Arthur Ashe Stadium court, where towels from the players’ chairs and stray plastic bags had to be corralled.

In a match between two players with an uncanny ability to extend rallies, Wozniacki’s 26 outright winners to the 12 of Errani made the difference.

“It was really tricky conditions with the wind but I tried to stay aggressive,” said Wozniacki. “It means so much to me. It’s been a pretty up and down year for me, and to be here in the semi-finals of the US Open again is just incredible.”

Federer advances, Dimitrov fizzles out

Five-time champion Roger Federer set up a US Open quarter-final blockbuster against eccentric French star Gael Monfils as the hugely-hyped new generation once again flopped.

Second seed Federer reached his 10th US Open quarter-final in the last 11 years with a comfortable 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 win over Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut while Monfils, the 20th seed, reached his second New York last-eight stunning seventh-seeded Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 7-6 (8/6), 7-5.

Federer, the 17-time major winner, leads Monfils 7-2 in career meetings, including their most recent clash in Cincinnati last month.

“Monfils has been playing some great tennis, he’s always very entertaining,” said Federer. “I’m sure we’ll see lots of retrieving by him and attacking by me.”

Meanwhile, Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych reached the quarter-finals with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 win over Austria’s Dominic Thiem.

He will next tackle Croatia’s Marin Cilic for a place in the semi-finals after the 14th seeded Croatian reached his third US Open quarter-final with a 5-7, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over France’s Gilles Simon.

Van Gaal unrepentant for turning down Spurs

LONDON: 

Louis van Gaal says he has no regrets about becoming Manchester United manager and claims that if he had wanted an easy life, he would have gone to Tottenham Hotspur.

Van Gaal rejected an offer from Spurs to succeed David Moyes at United, but he has had a difficult start at Old Trafford. United are without a win after three league games and were humiliated 4-0 by third-tier Milton Keynes Dons in the League Cup.

But with the club having lavished around £150 million on new players, including Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao, the Dutchman says that he is ready for the challenges ahead.

“No, I don’t regret taking this job,” he told Wednesday’s edition of the Daily Mirrornewspaper.

“Yes, it is a massive job I have taken on at Manchester United. I realise that. And the situation is not worse than I thought — I knew what I would find on my plate.

“I could have easily gone to Spurs. But I chose the biggest challenge of all the jobs in football. And I really wanted to join the number one club in the country, not Tottenham.

“Financially, Tottenham was kind of as attractive as Man United. But, in my eyes, Man United is still the number one club in England.”

Van Gaal has been quick to assert his authority at United, introducing a new 3-4-1-2 playing system and allowing players such as Danny Welbeck, Shinji Kagawa, Nani, Javier Hernandez and Tom Cleverley to leave.

Early indications suggest it will take time for his new-look side to gel, but having endured a similarly slow start to his ultimately successful spell at Bayern Munich, he is confident the club will stand by him.

“My start at Bayern was just as bad as my start with Manchester United,” he said.

“But the big difference was that at Bayern I had already been called in for a major showdown with [general manager] Uli Hoeness, who wanted an explanation.

“And what have United done? They have just bought more players for me. They are supporting me. That is a sign of trust in the manager. I feel their trust and belief in my ability.”

Cook hopes to serve at 2015 World Cup

BIRMINGHAM: 

England captain Alastair Cook insisted he still wanted to lead the side at the World Cup despite conceding the team’s chances of triumphing at next year’s tournament were ‘far-fetched’ following another mauling by India.

The reigning world champions inflicted a humiliating nine-wicket defeat upon England in the fourth ODI at Edgbaston on Tuesday to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

India dismissed England for just 206, a total that owed much to number seven Moeen Ali’s 67.

They then coasted to victory with more than 19 overs to spare after Ajinkya Rahane, whose 106 was his maiden ODI century, and Shikhar Dhawan (97 not out) put on 183 for the first wicket.

Defeat saw England suffer a fifth loss in their last six ODI series.

Former England off-spinner Graeme Swann recently urged Cook to quit one-day cricket and concentrate solely on Tests.

But Cook, whose nine on Tuesday meant he has gone 38 innings without an ODI hundred, faced similar calls to stand down as Test skipper from half-a-dozen former England captains earlier in the season, only to lead the team to a 3-1 series win over India.

Cook, asked if he would be England’s captain at the World Cup, replied, “If I’m allowed to be, yes.

“I don’t have a say on selection, but I’ve captained for three-and-a-half years with the goal to try to win the World Cup in Australia.

“I know that seems a bit far-fetched at the moment when we’re losing games of cricket, but there are a lot of really good players in that changing room.

“If we can improve at the rate we need to improve, we’ve got a chance. We’ve got a World Cup in six months. That’s our big focus now.”

Meanwhile, India captain MS Dhoni was left to reflect on a ‘complete game’.

“With the World Cup coming up, it is very important we start doing well outside the subcontinent,” said Dhoni, who led India to triumph on home soil at the 2011 edition.

Reserves: Tight gas production starts from Zarghun block

KARACHI: 

The production of tight gas has started from Zarghun South Block in Balochistan with initial flows from the field stated to be 4 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd), according to one of the partner companies that control the lease.

Tight gas is natural gas found trapped in impermeable rock and non-porous sandstone or limestone formations, typically at depths greater than 10,000 feet below the surface.

Approximately 80% of Zarghun South’s reserves are certified as tight gas under the Pakistan’s Tight Gas (Exploration and Production) Policy 2011 that is entitled to a price of $6.74 per million British thermal unit (mmbtu), said Canada-based Jura Energy Corporation.

Jura owns Frontier Holdings Limited and Spud Energy Limited, which together holds interest in nine fields across Pakistan. The information related to Zarghun was shared with Canadian securities regulators last month.

The corporation said it expects monthly revenue of $170,000 from Zarghun South, a lease that covers 124 square kilometres in the western part of the Sulaiman Fold and Thrust Belt of the Middle Indus Basin.

Jura holds 40% working interest in Zarghun, which is operated by Mari Petroleum Company Limited with 35% stake.

Tight gas is priced higher than the output of a conventional field. The contribution of tight gas is minimal in the 4,000 mmcfd produced locally.

The 4 mmcfd being sold to Sui Southern Gas Company is off-specification but the Zarghun joint venture partners will be commissioning an Amine Sweetening Unit, used to remove unwanted chemical components, by October 2014, it said.

In the six months to June 2014, Jura Energy reported a loss of $1.577 million and accumulated losses amounted to $32.2 million.

According to its website, Jura’s interim chief executive officer is Shahid Hameed who also headed the operations for Dewan Petroleum.

Of the 27 companies engaged in petroleum exploration and production in the country, half of them are controlled by Pakistanis.

Industry officials say that except for the major multinationals and four big local firms, most have not invested any substantial sums for drilling. “There are many reasons but the security situation and low gas price are the top most concerns for the investors,” said an official

Travel alert: An inauspicious August for tourism

LAHORE: 

Whatever recovery of sorts Pakistan’s tourism industry had recorded, the previous month has done a good job in casting a dark shadow over it.

The ongoing political standoff in Islamabad featuring Imran Khan-led PTI and Tahirul Qadri’s PAT against the government has caused quite a bit of damage to the economy. Rupee has depreciated, foreign exchange reserves have slid and the KSE-100 index has seen several days of drastic decrease.

Similarly, the tourism industry has also been adversely affected. Major tourist destinations including Murree, its adjacent spots, Kaghan, Naran, Kashmir and Swat have seen a dip in visitors who tend to go through Islamabad to reach the northern areas.

Among these, Murree, Nathia Gali and Ayubia are the most visited spots because of their accessibility and better infrastructure compared to the rest.

Summer is considered the peak season for local hotels and vendors to earn money. But, unfortunately, this August has not been a favourable one for them. Normally, the sector earns huge profits in summers to sustain for the off seasons.

“Our hotels are usually fully occupied during mid-August and bookings are made in advance, but this political turmoil has proven disastrous for us,” said Hotel One Murree Regional Manager Ali Zeeshan.

There are about 1000 medium- and small-scale hotels and motels along the Murree belt which go up till Abbottabad. The occupancy rates there fell sharply in August.

The hotel chains are claiming around 70-80% low occupancy compared to the previous year. “We have recorded 70% difference this August. We normally have 90% occupancy by August but this year we closed it at 20%,” Zeeshan said.

“People from central, southern Punjab and even from Karachi and other parts of Sindh who usually visit these areas either cancelled or postponed their trips as the government blocked the highway, Grand Trunk Road and the Motorway.”

“Those coming from Sindh usually prefer staying overnight in Lahore or Islamabad before arriving here. Many people book rented cars from hotels or other agencies but sales volume was very low there too,” he said.

“Obviously such leisure trips require money, but since there is a lack of cash flow in the economy, people have postponed their trips,” said Travel Hut Managing Director Wahid Mukhtar.

“Embassies have also advised their citizens to avoid travelling. Hikers, who visited the region, have now headed towards India and Nepal. School and college tours have diminished too. For local tourists, visiting Naran Kaghan areas is also risky as many petrol pumps are closed in the area,” Mukhtar pointed out.

“Seeing the situation, hotels and guest houses closed for business in August, as they saw minimal or no profit coming their way.

“Due to the impediments set on the roads, the area has suffered acute shortage of food items and basic commodities too. Though the supply has been restored, there had been a temporarily hike in prices, which added to the woes of the industry,” said Zeeshan.