AdDetector will make sure you never mistake a sponsored story for a real one

#GNN Tech - Sponsored news stories — or what are more politely known as "native ads" are becoming a fixture of the web, yet it isn't always so easy to tell when an article is sponsored.

Google engineer Ian Webster is now trying to solve that problem with a browser extension called AdDetector, which searches out native ads and drops a bright red bar over the top of the page announcing that what you're viewing is a paid promotion.

The extension doesn't work flawlessly, but it did detect most of the sponsored pages that I tested it on. It's been set up to work with a close to 50 sites already, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, BuzzFeed, several Gawker Media sites, and two Vox Media sites, including The Verge.

Advertisers are drawn to native ads because they fit in with the rest of a site's content and are, to some extent, less obtrusive.

The problem for news organizations is that, without prominent labeling, sponsored stories can be easily be confused with actual articles from the publication, especially if a reader doesn't know to look for them.

Making the situation worse is that different sites handle labeling in vastly different ways, so it isn't always clear where you should even be looking.

AdDetector's huge red banner probably isn't the solution that any site will decide upon, but it'll certainly make native ads very hard to miss.

VIA ENGADGET
SOURCE ADDETECTOR

Amazon Now Piloting CPM Ads With Select Amazon Associates Publishers

#GNN Tech - #Amazon has launched a display ad network, in the form of Amazon CPM ads, to members of its online affiliates program, Amazon Associates. Select members of the program have recently been invited to test the new advertising option, which will feature both display ads from Amazon as well as other “high-quality” advertisers.

The program is currently in a pilot testing period – some of the Amazon Associates have seen the option appear in their online accounts, while others have not.

Dave Zatz, who runs the popular website, Zatznotfunny.com, was one of the first to be invited to join the program, and blogged about the details, explaining that he has been a member of Amazon Associates in order to post the occasional link to the site or tweet, in order to help generate revenue and endorse worthy products.

According to Amazon’s description of the new CPM ads, the ads are tailored to the user using Amazon’s personalization technology. You’ll be paid for each impression you serve, and you can specify a target CPM minimum. If Amazon can’t meet the CPM target, your ad request will then be “passed back” to your specified ad network.

Zatz tested the new feature for a couple of hours, and found that there were still some kinks to be worked out – there were a few periodic rendering issues where his logo didn’t show, or the ad font settings were inherited by other areas of a page, for example, he says. In addition, Amazon didn’t appear to honor his target CPM ($2).

Unlike Google AdSense, which is primarily pay-per-click, Amazon CPM Ads are impression-based, Zatz also notes in his blog post.

The ads are offered in a variety of formats, including 728×90, 300×250, 300×600, and 160×600, but Associates users are not able to block or choose which advertisers show up on their websites.

CPM payout minimums will be the same as those for the Associates program itself, but will be issued separately from other program earnings, says Amazon, in its online documentation.

The website also confirms that participation in Amazon CPM ads is only available by invitation currently.

Amazon has not responded to our requests for more information on the program or when it would be more broadly available, but if it chooses to do so, we’ll update with those details. However, much about how the new CPM ads work can be found in the Q&A here.

Secret Update Removes Photo Library Access As It Faces Renewed Claims It Isn’t So Anonymous

#GNN Tech - Secret has a new update out for Android, with an iOS equivalent arriving sometime next week. The app changes include the addition of Flickr image search, which requires the “exchange” of the ability to use pics from your photo library, in a move clearly designed to limit users from sharing potentially damaging pics of people they know. You can still take a pic on the fly and share it, but you can’t dip into the archive, which could help stop users from sharing images of their exes in the buff, for instance.

Other updates going out in the new version include the ability to poll contacts via a “Yes or No” poll, as well as more new tools aimed at shoring up the potential for the anonymous social network to do damage to individuals and their reputations.

The analyzing process implemented by Secret to detect names has been improved with the power to detect keyword, sentiment and photos of people who might also be questionable. The app will present its warning when it finds these new types of questionable content, and if the poster proceeds, the post will be flagged for review by Secret to make sure it’s safe.

Secret is also going a step further with its real name policy, and isn’t just warning users against posting, but is actively blocking posts with the names of individuals when it can, and are devoting resources to improving this aspect of its app.

These updates are timely, for a couple of reasons: First, Secret faces legal action in Brazil, where a judge has granted a temporary injunction against it being made available in either Google Play or the App Store. This has resulted in Apple blocking its availability in its mobile software store in order to comply with the order.

The problem in Brazil was sparked by at least one user claiming that pictures of them were shared on the network by an anonymous poster, including their personal details, so the update here seems designed directly to address that through blocking of the camera roll and automatic detection and deletion of real name posts.

Second, Secret faces renewed scrutiny about the actual anonymity of its app after a new Wired report reveals that simple hacks (more like address book tricks) can reveal Secrets attached to a specific address book.

Secret has responded already, saying it has plugged the gap, but the workaround resembles ones we’ve seen before, so it raises the question of whether a permanent solution will ever render posts anonymous in a lasting way. For its part, Secret says these exploits have never resulted in a significant outing of user identity, and they are always addressed as soon as they’re discovered.

The company has been pretty good about responding to issues quickly, which is key as it operates in clearly sensitive territory. The question that remains is whether it can stay out ahead of these recurring issues while also pushing the product forward in a meaningful way.

Amazon Reopens Its AWS Loft In San Francisco

#GNN Tech - Earlier this year, #Amazon opened a space for developers in San Francisco to come and talk to AWS engineers, get training, network or simply hang out.

This “Pop-up Loft” was open for four weeks in June. Today, the company announced that it is re-opening the space this Fall after tweaking the concept a bit to “make it even more valuable for you.”

Back in June, Amazon clearly said that it was only going to keep the original space open for four weeks. This time, it has not announced a closing date, but we’ve asked Amazon for clarification and will update once we hear more.

Similar to the experience in June, developers will be able to go to “The Loft” (not to be confused with LOFT) to get one-on-one help from AWS experts, as well as to learn about AWS through product sessions and to attend instructor-led technical bootcamps at the venue. Amazon will also use the space to give developers access to self-paced, hands-on labs to learn more about AWS.

In the evening, Amazon plans to use the space for networking events and talks from startups. Previous speakers include representatives from Twilio, CoreOS, Coin and Hearsay Social.

Over the years, AWS has expanded into a very complex system and while it’s often easy enough to find more information about it online, that’s not always the best way to learn about the service. With this space in San Francisco as well as its annual re:invent developer conference in Las Vegas and online certification training Amazon has started to address this need.

Developers will definitely appreciate the fact that they can go to the space to get some one-on-one time with AWS engineers. This kind of training is always a major part of re:invent, so it’s no surprise that when it first opened its pop-up loft in June, Amazon’s Jeff Barr called it “re:invent on crack.”

Lean Hardware Strategy Lets Kickstarter Breakout Nomiku ‘In-Shore’ Manufacturing Back To The U.S.

#GNN Tech - In the 1980s, Silicon Valley’s hardware elite began outsourcing much of the semiconductor and hardware manufacturing work that gave the region its name to Asia.

But now that the economics of hardware startups have fundamentally changed with new ways to test consumer interest and get feedback through platforms like Kickstarter, some startups are finding that it’s easier to build products locally because the design-and-testing cycles are much tighter.

One example is Nomiku, an immersion circulator that lets amateur chefs use the high-brow technique of sous vide in their home kitchens. When Nomiku built its original prototypes, the trio of founders behind the company had to decamp for Shenzhen for several months to learn how to maneuver through suppliers there with hardware accelerator HXLR8R.

Now with the second version, they’re bent on manufacturing Nomikus locally with current partner Studio Fathom out of Oakland.

“We can iterate much faster here,” said co-founder Lisa Fetterman. “China is great if you have your design down pat. But if you’re creating something new that nobody’s ever seen before, you need to rapidly prototype.”

She added, “It’s surprising that it’s cheaper to do prototyping in San Francisco rather than China, and the turnaround is faster.” The manufacturing cost gap between China and the U.S. has narrowed as wages in the local industry have nearly doubled since 2008.

The shrinking cost differential has compelled other hardware companies like former Wired editor Chris Anderson’s drone startup 3D Robotics to “near-shore” production to Mexico. That, in turn, has fueled a thriving cross-border startup scene in San Diego and Tijuana where low-cost engineering talent can quickly turnaround prototypes.

Fetterman explains that While the Chinese market is great for mass producing thousands or hundreds of thousands of units of a product, it’s less great for customization and small runs.

The newest version of the Nomiku is smaller, clips to the front of a bin instead of the back, and is Wifi-connected. It also comes with a paired app for planning and sharing recipes.

Sous vide is a cooking technique where you vacuum seal food in a pack and then immerse it in a water bath at a very precise temperature. The benefit is that you’ll get food that is completely evenly cooked, instead of, say, a steak that gets overcooked just to brown the outside. It has particularly cool effects on eggs, which get done perfectly with solid whites and a runny yolk.

“When I first tasted sous vide, how could I ever go back? It’s like someone who has died, gone to heaven and come back,” Fetterman said.

The technique was re-popularized by chefs like French Laundry’s Thomas Keller a decade ago, and since then, a number of competing manufacturers like Polyscience and Anova have tried to mass-market sous vide appliances to the home cook.

Nomiku is the little guy. It was created by a husband-and-wife team named Lisa and Abe Fetterman along with an industrial designer named Wipop Suppipat. Both foodies, Lisa had worked in hospitality at high-end restaurants under chefs like Jean-Georges and Mario Batali, while Abe was a plasma physicist earning his doctorate at Princeton University.

Their love of cooking spawned this business, which they’ve backed with a bit of seed funding and nearly $600,000 from an initial Kickstarter campaign that was the most successful one in food at that time. The newest campaign here has raised north of $400,000 in about a week.

The new Nomiku will end up retailing in outlets for $249. But a pre-ordered version is available on Kickstarter for $129 over the next three weeks.

The Bitcoin-Litecoin Decoupling, Redux

#GNN Tech - The price of litecoin and bitcoin, two of the most prominent cryptocurrencies, once saw their prices go up and down in something approaching a consistent ratio.

That’s to say that bitcoin was always worth far more than litecoin, but the two coins saw their value rise and fall roughly in step with each other.

In June, that started to fall apart. Noting the decoupling, TechCrunch threw together the following chart, which superimposed their prices and market caps — in USD, data via CoinMarketCap — over time:

The trend isn’t hard to spot, is it?

Let’s talk about the last few weeks. It’s been tough for the “alts,” or the cryptocurrencies that are not bitcoin. Prices are down nearly across the board.

Litecoin, which traded north of $48 inside of the past year, now sells for less than $4.

Bitcoin itself has seen a new negative trend emerge in its price as well, as TechCrunch noted in a recent post.

Our prior data source changed how it charts data, so using CyrptoCoinCharts, here’s a somewhat similar chart showing the decoupling trend continuing:

Bitcoin, being the larger, better known of the two, has seen its price endure the downswing perhaps a bit better than its smaller cousin.

What I think is evident is that whatever short-term luster that litecoin might have once had, is gone.

IMAGE BY JASON BENJAMIN UNDER PUBLIC DOMAIN LICENSE (IMAGE HAS BEEN MODIFIED)

Investment Banking 2.0 Says “Hello World!?”

#GNN Tech - Editor’s note: Jacob Mullins is the CEO of Exitround, a software-powered M&A marketplace for buyers and sellers of companies.

David Gelles wrote in the New York Times this weekend about how large tech corporations have been conducting more M&A deals with less input from traditional investment banks. Because of my company’s insight into buy and sell-side M&A interest, I wanted to provide some additional insight into how we see the M&A world changing.

But first, a little history to explain this evolution: Investment banking is a 300-year-old industry; the first transaction on record was the British East Indies Trading Company merging with its largest competitor in 1708. Since that day, investment banking has been entirely conducted under human power. These people are arbiters of information, connecting people within a particular sector of expertise or geography.

In an analog world, this worked, as finding the most strategically relevant business has been difficult. But we’re in the digital age. Businesses can achieve awareness and distribution far easier than in the past, enabling strategic acquirers to identify them earlier, without the need for human subject-matter experts.

In the past, buying stock on a physical trading floor in New York required an insider personal network to consummate the trade. In the past, finding love required a close-knit network of friends and family to help you find that ideal match. In the past, finding the perfect home required paging through newspapers and walking through open houses. Today, structured data and intelligent matching algorithms have solved each of these problems.

In the past, buying a company required people with subject-matter expertise to help identify the right M&A target and all the related data and information you needed to make the decision. Today, intelligent matching algorithms and proprietary data sets that span the globe enable buyers to identify the right target within minutes and connect within a matter of hours. The world of investment banking is a-changing.

On one end of the market, billion-dollar deals are starting to move in-house at large, highly resourced companies like Google and Facebook, as detailed by Gelles. Similarly, in the long tail of tech M&A, transactions under $100 million, where 88 percent of deals are done, the majority of corporate acquirers may not be as resourced up as the tech majors to go it alone, or hire an M&A adviser. However, because of software innovation in the space, enabling efficient prospecting at a highly disruptive cost, access to highly relevant M&A deals is becoming democratized to even corporate development departments of one.

There are 1,205 sell-side companies across 36 different countries in Exitround’s marketplace. On the buy side, there are over 1,450 individual companies, each looking for very specific strategic targets for M&A and corporate development expansion. This matrix of over 1,700,000 potential M&A connections is far beyond the limits of a human being’s ability to connect the relevant end-points.

Structured data, machine-learning algorithms and proprietary data are revolutionizing the way buyers and sellers of companies connect, not only more intelligently, but also more quickly.

Today on Exitround, the average connection time between a buyer and a seller is 17.8 hours, compared with the weeks or months needed in a traditional M&A process. And finding that correct target comes by way of mathematical relevancy between the two companies, as opposed to coffees, lunches and sit-downs to “explore opportunities.”

All this isn’t to say that investment banking is dead. In fact, great bankers can be incredibly valuable to a process in negotiation, extracting as much value as possible for the client, deal structuring to minimize tax burdens and integration. But as with all other large industries, modernization and technology has finally reached the doorstep of Goldman Sachs.

Are they ready to open the door and say “Hello”?

IMAGE BY SHUTTERSTOCK USER ISCATEL (IMAGE HAS BEEN MODIFIED)

Y Combinator’s Doblet Plans To Be Everywhere Your Phone Charger Isn’t

#GNN Tech - We’ve all been there. You’ve been out all day and suddenly that low battery alert pops up on your phone.

If you’re lucky, the bar you’re at might have the right charger for your phone behind the counter. If you’re not, you’re walking or taking the bus instead of calling a car service.

But with Y Combinator-backed Doblet, you might be able to get a charge even when you don’t have an outlet. The startup is putting portable batteries that charge Android and iPhone 5 phones in bars, restaurants and coffee shops. Users have the option of paying either $3 for a single charge or $30 for an annual subscription to the service and unlimited charges.

To use Doblet, you download an app for iOS or Android that shows you where the nearest charging vendors are. Then you ask for a charger, and you’ll get the portable battery device. You then pay for the Doblet service on the app, and you’re free to move around with your Doblet and bring it back at a later time.

Gurson joked that Doblet was the realization of Stephen Colbert’s dream of ambient phone charging, a project he suggested when Elon Musk appeared on his show in July.

“I would have a subscription service to a charging system, and that anywhere I went in the United States, there would be a charge that would follow me around,” Colbert joked.

Musk said we’ll do it, but it seems Jeff Chang and Doktor Gurson have beaten him to it.

Doblet soft-launched at three locations this weekend, but by the end of September, the founders expect it to be available at about 50 San Francisco locations.

The co-founders tell me when the service first launches, they’ll even come get the Doblet from you if you’re at another location in San Francisco.

Chang and Gurson both took unique paths to Y Combinator. Chang skipped several years of school and graduated from New York University School of Medicine at just age 20. He previously worked as a radiologist and most recently received a master’s degree in artificial intelligence. Gurson describes himself as a “serial entrepreneur,” and previously worked in web hosting startups.

Gurson told me he first got the idea for Doblet when a man with a dying phone approached him in a bar and asked him if he had a charger. Gurson said only if you give me $2. The man laughed and walked away, but later that night Gurson saw him again and he said he ended up spending $15 on a new phone charger.

“He came up to me later and said he definitely should have given me $2,” Gurson said.

Even though I’m constantly killing my own phone battery, I was skeptical of the $30 annual subscription fee. That’s around the same cost as buying your own portable battery, and you can always just throw your phone charger in your bag for free.

But Chang and Gurson of Doblet say their technology sets itself apart because often people forget those additional devices or don’t remember to charge spare batteries or charging cases. In my personal experience, they’re right.

They also say it differs from existing services like the stands at airports or the lockers available at some retail stores that let you charge your phone because you can move around with a Doblet and use your phone while it’s charging, rather than being tied to a stand or leaving your phone in a locker to charge.

The location-based app that shows users where to find nearby vendors offering the service when their phones are dying could also drive new customers to bars and restaurants. Businesses additionally receive a cut of the profit Doblet makes when they have it available to their customers.

Hopefully the next time my battery starts to die, Doblet will be around.

IMAGE BY DOBLET (IMAGE HAS BEEN MODIFIED)

Related articles

• Portable Charger Claims to Be World's Smallest Portable Power Outlet (mashable.com)
• Turn Your iPhone Charger Into a Portable Backup Battery (gizmodo.com)

This Real-Time Projected CGI Makeup Is Beautiful And Terrifying

#GNN Tech - #CGI has come a long way – from simulating Jar Jar Binks on the silver screen to replacing green screens with King’s Landing.

Today, we should add this video to the progression. Producer and technical director Nobumichi Asai has used a projection technology called Omote to project makeup onto a live model’s face.

At first, the model goes from very basic makeup to a more dramatic, runway look. I initially thought, “OK, so this is just like every random makeup app that imposes makeup onto a selfie.” But then I noticed the movements of the model’s face, and just as the accuracy of the technology set in, I realized that the term “electronic makeup” is a crazy understatement.

Watch for yourself. The facial transformations that happen, one after another before your eyes, are amazing.

OMOTE / REAL-TIME FACE TRACKING & PROJECTION MAPPING. from something wonderful on Vimeo.
Asai hasn’t revealed the technical details of the project, but as SlashGear points out, it seems to use an initial face-mapping technology to latch on during real-time movements and accurately project various designs onto the face.

This isn’t Asai’s first go at CGI, but it is one of the first times the producer has done CGI work on non-stationary objects.

[via SlashGear]

Related articles

• Omote "living makeup" uses mind-blowing projection mapping (slashgear.com)
• This face-tracking projection is the craziest thing you'll see today (theverge.com)

PTI stands disintegrated after civil disobedience call: Shahbaz Sharif

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: #Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif Monday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s demand for technocratic government followed by his call for a civil disobedience has created fissure in the PTI.

“Imran Khan has thrown himself in isolation by indulging in politics that is based on personal ego and stubbornness,” Shahbaz Sharif said in a statement issued here.

He said not even a single person supported Imran Khan’s announcement of civil disobedience. “The people of Pakistan can distinguish between what’s good for them and what’s not,” he added.

Azadi March: PTI workers clash over getting chairs at sit-in

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: Fighting among Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers broke out at sit-in, being staged by party activists on the call on Imran Khan.

Sources said the clash erupted over getting the chairs. The clashing activists freely used fists and clubs in the fight.

Police brought the situation under control.

PTI is staging sit-in to press their demands. Imran Khan has demanded PM Nawaz Sharif to step down over poll row.(GNN)(Geo)(AIP)

Political parties agree not to dissolve assemblies: Sirajul Haq

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Sirajul Haq Monday said there was a consensus among the political parties that the assemblies should not be dissolved rather protected.

Sirajul Haq said his party was making efforts for continuity of assemblies and to resolve the issues between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Haq said efforts would be made to convince PTI to reconsider its decision although they were independent in taking a decision.

Ameer JI said there were many other serious problems including the issue of the IDPs of North Waziristan Agency and that attention must be given to those issues.

He said there was a way in constitution to change the government, adding the system should run smoothly as any mishap could damage democracy. (GNN)(APP)(AIP)

Opposition committee fails to contact Imran Khan

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: Opposition committee failed to contact Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan for holding a meeting, Geo News reported.

Opposition leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah also rang up PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi, however, his phone was unattended.

Later, sources said, the committee contacted PTI leader Arif Alvi, who assured that he would communicate the message to Imran Khan.

Qadri refuses to meet dialogue team

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: The first round of dialogues between Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and parliament’s talks committee failed here on late Monday night.

PAT chief Tahirul Qadri refused to meet members of the committee, comprises Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Aijazul Haq and Haider Abbas Rizvi.

The dialogue team held meeting with Raheeq Abbasi and Khurram Nawaz Gandapor.

On Monday two separate committees were formed to engage Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in dialogue in the backdrop of their ongoing sit-ins in the capital city.

The committee that would hold talks with PTI chief Imran Khan comprises Syed Khursheed Shah, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Ghazi Gulab Jama and a member from Jamat-e-Islami.

The second committee comprising Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Aijazul Haq, Haider Abbas Rizvi and Hasil Bizenjo will engage PAT leader Tahirul Qadri.(GNN)(Geo)(AIP)

Revolution can’t be delayed, put off: Qadri

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: #Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri has said that revolution could not be delayed or put off and asked people to come out from their homes to see the rising of sun new era.

Addressing the participants of Inquilab March sit-in after deadline expired here Monday night, Qadri said: “Sun of revolution will rise in Pakistan today (Tuesday)”. He said Inquilab would change the fate of the people of Pakistan.

He appealed the masses to come out of their homes and become part of this historical movement.

Qadri paid rich tribute to the martyrs of Model town, saying that they were hero of Inquilab (revolution) struggle.

He also appreciated the efforts of participants of Inquilab march.

Qadri said a people’s parliament would be held here at 5:00PM today and appealed people to attend it. He said: “whatever people’s parliament decide today it will be implemented.”(GNN)(Geo)(AIP)

Govt sets up bodies to hold dialogue with PTI, PAT

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: #Government on Monday constituted two separate committees to engage Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in dialogue in the backdrop of their ongoing sit-ins in the capital city.

The committee that would hold talks with PTI chief Imran Khan comprises Syed Khursheed Shah, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Ghazi Gulab Jama and a member from Jamat-e-Islami.

The second committee comprising Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Aijazul Haq, Haider Abbas Rizvi and Hasil Bizenjo will engage PAT leader Tahirul Qadri.

Tahirul Qadri’s deadline to govt expires

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: #Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Tahirul Qadri’s deadline to the government to pack its bags expired at 12 midnight.

He had made a number of demands including resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and dissolution of National Assembly as well as all the provincial assemblies.

Tahirul Qadri on Saturday presented ‘Charter of Demands’ of his party's Inquilab March.

Demands of Qadri
PAT chief said the first demand of the rally is resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif over Model town tragedy. He also demanded the arrest of Sharif brothers as per the law of the land.

The parliament and provincial assemblies be dissolved as these were formed 'unconstitutionally'. He said the sit-in would continue till all assemblies are dissolved.

A new national government should be formed for bringing about democratic reforms.

The names of Sharif brothers and the cabinet members be placed on Exit Control List (ECL).

Corrupt politicians, technocrats and bureaucrats be made accountable.

More provinces be created as there is need of them on administration basis. There should be 23 provinces in the country.

Complete protection be provided to the minorities communties.

Local government elections be conducted in all provinces.

Terrorism and extremism be rooted out from Pakistan.

Free education be provided to every single child of Pakistan.

Resolution moved against civil disobedience in BA

#GNN - #QUETTA: A resolution against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) civil disobedience movement was tabled in the Balochistan Assembly on Monday.

According to details, senior provincial minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri tabled the resolution in the house, condemning the ‘unconstitutional and illegal’ moves to damage the present democratic system.

The resolution stated that all undemocratic and unconstitutional activities must be stopped to save the democratic system.

It is pertinent to note here that PTI Chief Imran Khan on Sunday had announced to launch a civil disobedience movement and sought resignations of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif besides demanding mid-term elections.

Imran Khan vows to peacefully lead supporters to red zone Tuesday

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: #Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman, Imran Khan Monday announced to lead his supporters into the red zone of the capital city to stage a peaceful protest in the ‘fake’ (National) assembly and ‘fake’ Prime Minister House.

“Promise me that not a single pot will be broken and you will remain completely peaceful,” he took a pledge from the participants of his party’s sit-in, being staged fifth day on, by asking them to raise their hands.

The red zone houses Supreme Court of Pakistan, Parliament House, Prime Minister House, President Houses and other important buildings including embassies of various countries, diplomatic enclaves, Foreign Office, NADRA, Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation and parliament lodges.

“I don’t want you to come in confrontation with the police. I will lead you and you will follow me. I will take the first bullet,” Imran Khan said, adding, ‘we will stage a peaceful protest first in the fake (National) assembly and then in the fake Prime Minister House’.

However, he said, he was sure Pakistani police will not open fire on him. He warned that in case some ‘Gullu Butts’ picked up arms against his supporters, they will not find any place to hide anywhere in the world.

The PTI chief also warned the police not to take any such step that may lead to a chaos.

He invited men, women and children from across the country to join the tomorrow’s peaceful protest demonstration.

Defending his decision to launch a civil disobedience campaign, Imran Khan termed it a ‘best weapon’ to attain ‘Azadi’ (independence) in a peaceful manner.

“In case Nawaz Sharif gets scared and takes a flight to Raiwind, we will still be able to bring him to his knees through civil disobedience, we will still be able to topple his government,” he argued.

He said he and people like him remained slaves to the rulers like the ones in power today but he would never want the future generations to face such slavery.

Imran Khan questioned on what merit the Prime Minister had appointed his close relatives on lucrative positions. “What is the qualification and merit on the basis of which Nawaz Sharif placed his daughter on Rs100 billion fund?” he asked.

“What kind of democracy it is that is not based on merit; this is a fake democracy,” he reiterated.

Khursheed rules out damage to system until united

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: Leader of opposition in National Assembly and that of Pakistan People’s Party Syed Khrusheed Shah Monday ruled out any possibility of damage to the system if the democratic leaders continued to stay united.

Speaking from the floor of National Assembly, Khrusheed Shah said: “No international force can cause any damage to the system if we kept sticking together as one unit.”

He warned that no one would be able to give a consensus constitution for centuries if the current Constitution suffered any damage.

Outgoing ISAF commander calls on General Sharif

#GNN - #RAWALPINDI: General Joseph Dunford, outgoing Commander International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, at General Headquarters on Monday.

According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), during the meeting, matters of mutual interest came under discussion including post election situation in Afghanistan and coordination along Pak-Afghan Border.

The COAS particularly thanked the outgoing ISAF Commander for his efforts towards stability in Afghanistan.

PTI resigns from NA, 3 provincial assemblies

#GNN - #ISLAMABAD: #Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Monday announced to resign from the National and three provincial assemblies.

PTI vice president Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while talking to media persons here said: “We are resigning from National Assembly, Punjab Assembly, Sindh Assembly, and Balochistan Assembly.”

He said, for the time being, his party is not resigning from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, as there is a coalition government in the province and the allies will have to be taken into confidence before making such a big decision.

Shah Mehmood said the decision to quit provincial cabinet of KP will be taken after holding consultations with the coalition partners.
(PTI) Has Decided To Resign From All The...

According to Geo News senior anchor Hamid Mir, the PTI’s stance as announced by its Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday did not go down well with the supporters of its ‘Azadi March’. Therefore, he said, the PTI leadership had to reach the decision to resign from assemblies.

On Sunday, the fourth day of PTI’s Azadi March in Islamabad, Imran Khan, while addressing his supporters, gave a two-day deadline to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down and also announced to launch a civil disobedience campaign with immediate effect.

He said from now on he would not pay taxes or utility bills and appealed the entire nation to do the same.

Javed Hashmi opposes decision
President PTI, Javed Hashmi vehemently opposed the decision of his party to quit NA and provincial assembly seats.

He said tendering of resignations will not lead to the holding of mid-term elections. 

Shaharyar Khan elected chairman PCB

#GNN - LAHORE: Former diplomat Shaharyar Khan was Monday elected Pakistan´s cricket chief for a three-year term, a move aimed at ending a 14-month leadership tussle which has left the governing body in disarray.

Khan, 80, becomes the 30th chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) but the only one to have a second tenure, having held the post between December 2003 to October 2006.

Khan was elected unopposed under the Board´s new constitution adopted last month in a bid to resolve the dispute triggered in May last year when then-chairman Zaka Ashraf was suspended by Islamabad High Court.

After Ashraf´s suspension, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appointed veteran journalist Najam Sethi as PCB head. But court orders and government decrees saw Sethi swapping power with Ashraf five times.

The Supreme Court last month ordered elections under the new constitution and named a retired judge as interim PCB chief and election commissioner.

The PCB said in a statement Khan was unanimously elected unopposed by the 10-member board of governors.

Khan, who also served as the country´s foreign secretary between 1990-94, was appointed PCB head by military ruler General Pervez Musharraf but was removed after the fiasco in the Oval Test against England in 2006. Pakistan forfeited that Test after then-skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq refused to lead the team onto the field in protest at being penalised by the umpires for ball-tampering.

Khan was blamed for not handling the matter properly. But his experience as foreign secretary was credited as being instrumental in reviving Pakistan-India ties in 1999. Then Pakistan toured India after a gap of 12 years, with Khan as team manager. (GNN)(AFP)(AIP)

Related articles

• Zaka Ashraf back as PCB chairman for third time (nation.com.pk)
• IHC reinstates Zaka Ashraf as PCB chairman (pakistantoday.com.pk)

Google buys travel guide app startup Jetpac

#GNN  Tech- SAN FRANCISCO: Google confirmed Monday it has bought the startup behind a Jetpac mobile application that creates insightful travel guides by analyzing pictures from social networks such as Instagram.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Jetpac said that its application would be removed from Apple´s online App Store in the days ahead and that it would stop supporting the software in the middle of September.

"We look forward to working on exciting projects with our colleagues at Google," Jetpac said in an online post.

Jetpac mines publicly shared pictures for visual clues to insights such as "bars where women go, the best views, or where the hipsters are" and then presents users with city guides suggesting spots that might be of interest.

Jetpac boasts visual guides recommending local haunts in about 6,000 cities "from San Francisco to Kathmandu."

Google did not comment on its plans for Jetpac, which could be woven into the California-based Internet titan´s own social network, mapping service, or personalized recommendation features.

Jetpac was founded about three years ago and is based in San Francisco. (GNN)(AFP)(AIP)

7 Best Natural Sweeteners

#GNN - 7 Best Natural Sweeteners: Artificial sweeteners may not have any calories, but that's about all they have going for them.

Many have a hollow, saccharine taste, and they play havoc with your weight, appetite, and general wellbeing, making them just as bad as the sugar you're trying to replace.
So now's the time to ditch them completely, and turn to nature instead, with these seven amazingly tasty and surprisingly healthy natural sweeteners.You don't have to rely on artificial sweeteners in your coffee to give up sugar (REX)

Stevia

The latest sugar-free saviour, this 100 per cent natural, zero calorie sweetener made from a South American plant seems to have it all. Far from being just another healthy alternative to sugar, it can lead to reduced blood pressure, improved heart health, and a generally improved quality of life, according to a Chinese study published in Clinical Therapeutics.

In its powdered form stevia is extremely sweet so you need far smaller quantities than sugar. If you find the taste to be over the top look for the extract in its milder liquid offering.Stevia plants are being cultivated for its use to replace sugar

Yacon syrup

South Americans have been using the Yacon plant for its medicinal purposes for centuries, and now scientists have discovered that the plant’s syrup is one of the healthiest natural sweeteners out there.
In a study published in Clinical Nutrition, Yacon syrup was shown to accelerate weight loss, reduce constipation, and lower cholesterol. The health secret behind Yacon syrup is its high level of fructooligosaccharides, which boost the development of good bacteria in your intestine.

Rapadura sugar

When you hear that it’s the pure juice extracted from sugarcane, you could be forgiven for thinking that Rapadura sugar would be bad for you. Thankfully for the sweet-tooths amongst you, the opposite is true.
A single serving of Rapadura on your cereal in the morning will provide up to 1,000mg of potassium and 110mg of calcium, which both improve bone health and cardiovascular functionality.
Rapadura also retains a healthy balance of fructose, sucrose and glucose, which means it’s much easier for the body to digest it and use it as energy compared to regular sugar.

Date sugar

Most healthy sweeteners out there claim to have antioxidant qualities, but a 2009 study at the Biochemistry Department of Virginia Tech found that wasn’t quite the case, with only two of twelve observed sweeteners displaying antioxidant levels higher than regular sugar.

Date sugar, a powder made from dehydrated dates, ranked highest, with 600 times the antioxidant level of sugar. Date sugar is also packed with essential minerals including iron and calcium, and because it’s so sweet you can get away with using around half the amount when compared to sugar.

Blackstrap molassesBlackstrap molasses can offer an alternative to sugar (REX)

While date sugar came out on top as the undisputed antioxidant king in the Virginia Tech study, blackstrap molasses came in at a close second, providing nearly 30 per cent of your daily recommended amount of antioxidants in one tablespoon.

As a by-product of the sugarcane refinement process, blackstrap molasses retains the majority of the nutritional content removed by refinement, including high levels of iron, calcium, selenium and vitamin B6.

Monk fruit extract

As the name suggests, monk fruit was originally cultivated by holy men in China and Thailand around 800 years ago, who used it for its healing powers. Monk fruit is unique in that its sweetness is not actually caused by sugars, but instead by a rare type of antioxidant compound called mogroside that gives a sweet taste and the added bonus of strengthening the immune system.

The extract form of monk fruit has only recently been popularised, so make sure you opt for the 100 per cent natural version, as there are some brand name versions that combine the extract with artificial sweeteners.

Tagatose

Found in milk and some cheeses, tagatose is a natural sweetener with half the calories of sugar, and practically the same levels of sweetness. One of the newer sweeteners on the scene, tagatose has become increasingly popular in health food circles because it doesn’t leave an unpleasant aftertaste like many natural sweeteners do.

That’s not to say it’s just a good choice because of its taste though. Research published in the Journal of Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism found that tagatose helps to balance blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, and increase weight loss and levels of high-density lipoprotein (‘good cholesterol’) amongst obese people.