Facebook is announcing a new standalone iPhone app called Paper. Contrary to earlier rumors, it’s much more than just a news-reading app — it’s a complete reimagining of Facebook itself. Once you’ve used it, you may never want to open the standard Facebook app again. It might not replicate every feature of Facebook’s main app, but it does fulfill the majority of people’s needs. Simply put, it’s much, much better.

Paper takes the standard Facebook News Feed and re-creates it as an immersive, horizontally scrolling set of screens. It also provides a new way to post to Facebook (and Paper) with an elegant WYSIWYG editor that borrows the styling of Medium’s and Svbltle’s blogging systems. Finally, yes, it’s a news-reading app that owes some of its looks to Flipboard. It will be available for the iPhone in the US (and only the iPhone in the US) on Feb. 3. It’s also ad-free, at least for now.

Paper cuts away virtually all buttons and other UI elements to make every status update, photo, and news story appear full-screen. To get around, you will need to learn a basic set of gestures, but the app will gently remind you what they are if it thinks you’re stuck. Wide photos pan as you tilt the phone (the team cheekily calls it the “Ken turns” effect), UI elements often just fade away, and news stories are presented in Twitter-esque cards.

Paper is the first product to come out of Facebook Creative Labs, a unit within the company tasked to “innovate and build new things,” as Facebook product manager Michael Reckhow puts it. That’s likely a sign that Paper will be just one of what CEO Mark Zuckerberg called “new and engaging types of mobile experiences” on [Thursday's] earnings call. Since its embarrassing Snapchat clone called Poke failed, Facebook seems closer to figuring out the right formula for its single-use apps. Facebook knows that mobile users are gravitating toward such apps, and it intends to create more of them.

source: theverge.com

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It’s no secret that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg thinks the National Security Agency has overstepped its bounds when it comes to the agency’s surveillance practices, but on Thursday the social network’s chief said he took his gripe directly to the nation’s commander-in-chief.

“I’ve called President Obama to express my frustration over the damage the government is creating for all of our future,” Zuckerberg said in an update to his Facebook page. “Unfortunately, it seems like it will take a very long time for true full reform.”

Zuckerberg’s status update comes a day after documents from whistle-blower Edward Snowden revealed that the NSA uses an automated system called Turbine to hack into millions of computers. The NSA has even posed as a fake Facebook server to infect a target’s computer, according to The Intercept.

Facebook, Zuckerberg wrote, focuses much of its energy on making its own network secure as well as working to identify flaws in others’ services because the company wants to “keep the Internet strong.” The government, however, is undoing all of this goodwill, Zuckerberg’s remarks suggested.

“I’ve been so confused and frustrated by the repeated reports of the behavior of the US government. When our engineers work tirelessly to improve security, we imagine we’re protecting you against criminals, not our own government,” Zuckerberg said.

Zuckerberg has repeatedly sounded off on the NSA since the organization’s covert data collection and surveillance practices were revealed by Snowden last summer.

Source: cnet.com

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Facebook has signed up almost half the countries in Africa – a combined population of 635 million – to its free internet service in a controversial move to corner the market in one of the world’s biggest mobile data growth regions.

Facebook’s co-founder and chairman, Mark Zuckerberg, has made it clear that he wants to connect the whole world to the internet, describing access as a basic human right. His Free Basics initiative, in which mobile users are able to access the site free of data charges, is available in 42 countries, more than half of them in Africa.

But digital campaigners and internet freedom advocates argue that Facebook’s expansion is a thinly veiled marketing ploy that could end up undermining, rather than enhancing, mass efforts to get millions more people connected.

“Even if people are hungry, we shouldn’t be giving them half a loaf,” says Gbenga Sesan, whose organisation Paradigm Initiative Nigeria helps young people living in poverty get online.

“It’s difficult for me to argue against free internet,” he says. But he added that it is problematic to give people only part access to the internet, especially if they believe what they have is full access.

According to the mobile industry trade body GSMA, there will be as many as 700m smartphones in sub-Saharan Africa by 2020. But a handset alone may not get you online, explains GSMA’s head of mobile, Yasmina McCarty.

A person might not have enough money for data, or the government might not have installed broadband cables in the area where they live, she says.

Read more here.

Uganda’s High Court has ordered the closure of a chain of private schools over concerns about poor sanitation and its curriculum.

The Bridge International Academies group says it offers affordable, high-quality education to its 12,000 pupils, who often come from poor families. The Education Ministry says the 63 schools must now close immediately.

The group, supported by foundations such as those set up by Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, says it will appeal.

A judge said the Bridge International school authorities had been given several opportunities to meet the national standards but had failed to do so. The U.S.-owned group first opened its schools in Uganda in 2015, but has been plagued with accusations of poor sanitation, inadequate infrastructure and not following the national curriculum, reports the BBC Africa’s Catherine Byaruhanga from the capital, Kampala.

The government ordered their closure in July also alleging that the schools were recruiting unqualified teachers.
However, the organization decided to go to court to fight the decision.

It insists it follows Uganda’s public education system, with seven years of primary school and children starting from the age of six. Some people who support Bridge International argue that government schools are worse off with nearly 70 percent of children dropping out before they finish primary education, our correspondent says.

Teacher absenteeism is also said to be a major challenge with about one third of teachers not turning up during the school week, she says.

Read more here.

Bill Cosby Legal Team Aims to Block the Jury Form Hearing Accuser Call to Mom: Bill Cosby’s lawyers are working to prevent the jury from hearing accuser Andrea Constand’s call to her mom where she tells her she was drugged and molested in 2004. The attorneys feel the call is “hearsay.” Accuser Andrea Constand and her mom testified about the call in the first trial.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Will Testify Before Congress: According to CNN, Facebook lost trust from users when they revealed that Cambridge Analytica, a data firm with ties to President Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign, were able to access data to target U.S. and British voters. The social media website obtained information from 50 million Facebook users without their knowledge. Zuckerberg accepted the invitation from Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassle to stand trial before Congress April 10.

Donald Trump Hires Former Disney Star to Trump Administration: President Trump added Disney star former Caroline Sunshine to the press team as an assistant. The former “Shake It Up” star interned recently at the White House. She will work alongside the current press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

District Judge Orders Florida Governor to Create Process to Restore Voting Rights to Convicted Felons: U.S. District Judge Mark Walker ordered Governor Rick Scott to dismantle Florida’s “fatally flawed” system to restore voting rights to convicted felons. It will be replaced by April 26.

Alabama Man Who Claims He’s Al Sharpton’s Brother is Being Charged with Murder: Kenneth Glasgow of Alabama, who fatally shot a 23-year-old womanhas been charged. Glasgow claimed he is Al Sharpton’s half-brother, he and Sharpton have worked together in several charity events.

“Boomerang” TV Series in the Works: The classic romantic comedy starring Eddie Murphy will become a TV series thanks to BET. According to Hollywood Reporter, the new half-hour series will explore “contemporary workplace dynamics, including the changing role of gender, office politics, relationships and the conflicts between Generation X and millennials.”

Ted Cruz Grills Mark Zuckerberg About Facebook’s Bias at Court Hearing: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in front of Congress about the data privacy controversy. Most senators and lawmakers asked the CEO data privacy questions but Ted Cruz asked about the multiple conservative-themed Facebook pages and whether his company took note of employees political views.

Meek Mill Receives Jail Visit from Robert Kraft and 76ers Owner: Patriots owner Robert Kraft and 76ers owner Michael Rubin visited Meek Mill at the Chester State Correctional Institution in Pennsylvania. Both are pushing for his early release from a 2-4 prison term for probation violation. Kraft told reporters outside of the facility, “Amazing young man. I know how I’d feel if I was in the situation he is. Every time I see him, I just come away more impressed. He’s very intelligent. And makes it clear to me we have to do something with criminal justice reform.”

Coachella is being Sued by the Family of Woman Who was Killed on Campsite: According to a lawsuit, Coachella’s negligence caused a woman to be hit by a Jeep Cherokee on her way to the campsite. The parents of the victim said the festival failed to provide temporary pedestrian barricades, fences, lighting, warning signs and other safety provisions.

Chris Paul Becomes a Part Owner of a Minor League Baseball Team: NBA all-star Chris Paul will be a part owner of Winston-Salem Dash, a Class High-A team. The Dash is also affiliated with the Chicago White Sox.

Mark Zuckerberg Will Apologize to the European Parliament: Co-founder of social media website Mark Zuckerberg will appear in front of the European Parliament and will likely apologize for the data breach. He reportedly will say similar statements he stated when he faced the U.S Congress. “Whether it’s fake news, foreign interference in elections or developers misusing people’s information, we didn’t take a broad enough view of our responsibilities,” Zuckerberg is expected to say.

Michael B. Jordan Set to Star in Upcoming Animated Series: Actor Michael B. Jordan is set to be the lead voice in Rooster Tooth Animations upcoming futuristic anime-style series “gen:Lock.” Jordan will voice the hero Julian Chase, who is the first pilot for the next generation of mech: giant robots controlled by humans. The show will premiere in late 2018 exclusively on Rooster Teeth’s streaming service.

Former Attorney General Eric Holder Urges FBI to Reject Trump’s Request: President Trump demanded that the  Department of Justice investigate his claims that the FBI spied on his campaign for political purposes. Former Attorney General Eric Holder tweeted about the investigation,”..time for DOJ/FBI to simply say no-protect the institutions and time-tested norms.”

Midterm Primaries Elections: Midterm primaries kick off today across the country.  Democrats could potentially expand to republican states such as Arkansas, Kentucky and Texas. Polls to vote in Georgia close at 7pm tonight.

‘Bratz’ CEO Will No Longer Try to Save Toys ‘R’ Us: Isaac Larian CEO of ‘Bratz’ has given up on trying to save beloved Toys ‘R’ US. Larian told CNN Money that he was unable to reach an agreement with the toy store’s lenders. “I am most disheartened that the legacy of the retailer will be lost for future generations,” Larian said.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — A major Ethiopian broadcaster says Facebook has shut 20 pages that falsely used its name.

Fana Broadcasting Corporate’s announcement comes as Ethiopians complain that fake news reports in recent months have contributed to mass violence and deaths in some parts of the country.

“Based on our request, Facebook has shut down 13 fake pages in the past week alone. In recent weeks, a total of 20 fake Fana pages that were spreading fake news were shut down,” Mekoya Hailemariam, head editor of Fana’s online publications, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “The pages were using our official logo and mixing our authentic news items with fake ones to intentionally spread misinformation. Some of these fake pages used to have as high as 45,000 followers.”

Ethiopia has one of the lowest internet penetrations in the world with about 15 percent of its citizens having access to the net, according to Internet World Stats. The number of people using Facebook in Ethiopia, is estimated to be about 4.5 million of its 100 million inhabitants.

“There are only a few independent and free media outlets in Ethiopia,” said Befkadu Hailu, a prominent blogger in Ethiopia. “Hence, people are exposed to rumors, fake news and conspiracy theories. As such, they are exploited in many ways.”

Ethiopia’s reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who came to power in April, has relaxed the government’s control of the media, freeing journalists and bloggers who were in jail and unlocking several dozen online media outlets. But Abiy has warned on several occasions that fabricated stories are jeopardizing the public’s peace and security.

“Youths should refrain from taking measures based on misinformation and fake news,” Abiy said in August. “This will only hamper our reform efforts and lead us to failure ultimately.”

The Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, Fitsum Arega, also tweeted in August urging the public to “disregard falsehoods” and stay away from “fabricated stories.”

In recent months, Ethiopians were exposed to fake news reports that sometimes led to violent and deadly events. One video that circulated four months ago purported to show ethnic Oromos throwing dead bodies of ethnic Somalis into a grave. The video was blamed for instigating a violent confrontation.

In another example, fake news reports last week accused the country’s running great, Haile Gebrselassie, of renting the ground floor of one of his buildings in the capital Addis Ababa to security agencies that were torturing people inside. He later dismissed it as an “utter lie.”

This East African nation has cut off internet in several occasions to curb the flow of information, notably during its two recent emergency rules.

Rev. Al Sharpton brought ever-widening concerns about Facebook’s refusal to fact-check political ads to Mark Zuckerberg‘s home directly in what the civil rights activists called a “no-holds-barred meeting” Monday.

Sharpton, who spoke with Reuters in a phone interview Monday, said the meeting at Zuckerberg’s Palo Alto house lasted almost two hours and included other civil rights activists as well as Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, Reuters reported.

“We told him that we feel that the exemption for politicians could be used to suppress voting, give wrong messaging and could suppress census taking,” Sharpton told the news agency.

Sharpton said he initiated the meeting through a letter and Zuckerberg, now the company’s chief executive officer didn’t commit to any changes.

“He listened,” Sharpton said. “He made no firm commitments of change but he seemed open.”

A Facebook company spokesperson said in an email to Atlanta Black Star Wednesday that they’re grateful the “prominent leaders of the civil rights community took the time to attend a private dinner hosted by Mark and Sheryl.”

“They discussed a range of important issues and we look forward to continuing these conversations,” the company said.

Zuckerberg, who spoke before the House Financial Services Committee Oct. 23 to discuss plans for the social media giant’s proposed Libra cryptocurrency, was instead held to task on Capitol Hill on a range of issues, including political ads, CBS News reported.

Rep. Maxine Waters weighed in on the topic of Facebook’s politcal ad policy, specifically.

“It seems that a policy that allows politicians to lie, mislead and deceive would also allow Facebook to sell more ads to those politicians, thus making your company more money,” Waters told Zuckerberg during his congressional testimony.

Zuckerberg responded, “The very small percent of our business that is made up of political ads does not come anywhere close to justifying the controversy that this incurs.”

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez asked if Zuckerberg saw a potential problem with a “complete lack of fact-checking on political advertisements.”

“Well congresswoman, I think lying is bad, and I think if you were to run an ad that had a lie that would be bad,” Zuckerberg responded.

He didn’t directly answer whether he would take down misleading ads.

“In a Democracy, I believe that people should be able to see for themselves what politicians that they may or may not vote for… judge their characters themselves,” Zuckerberg said.

Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk compared Zuckerberg to President Donald Trump.

“You’re both very successful businessmen. You’re both capitalists. You’re both billionaires. You both challenge the status quo,” Loudermilk said. “He calls it draining the swamp. You see it as innovation.”