Facebook to use surveys to boost ‘trustworthy’ news
Facebook has announced it will prioritise news sources deemed to be more trustworthy on its News Feed.
The firm said the social network community will determine which outlets are reliable via the use of user surveys.
Founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said news content will soon make up around 4% of what appeared in people's News Feeds - down from 5% before.
The move is the latest attempt by the company to quell the spread of so-called fake news and propaganda on the network.
As part of that continuing battle, Twitter also announced on Friday that it had notified 677,775 US-based users who had retweeted, liked or followed Russian bot accounts on the network in the run up to the 2016 US presidential election.
The change is an attempt to shift the key judgements over bias and accuracy away from Facebook's employees, and onto its user base.
"We could try to make that decision ourselves, but that's not something we're comfortable with," Mr Zuckerberg said.
"We considered asking outside experts, which would take the decision out of our hands but would likely not solve the objectivity problem. Or we could ask you - the community - and have your feedback determine the ranking."
Users will be asked, as they sometimes are about advertising, whether they recognise a news brand and if they trust it.
Facebook's theory - yet to be tested on a large scale - is that while there are many partisan outlets that have readers that trust them, there is a smaller subset of media companies that a majority people find "broadly trustworthy", whatever their particular leanings.
"There's too much sensationalism, misinformation and polarisation in the world today," wrote Mr Zuckerberg, who recently announced that his challenge this year was to essentially "fix" Facebook.
"Social media enables people to spread information faster than ever before, and if we don't specifically tackle these problems, then we end up amplifying them."
The news ranking system will first be tested on US-based users only, and the results of the survey will not be made public.
"This is one of many signals that go into News Feed ranking," a Facebook spokesman told the BBC.
Source-BBC
Bolt pledges $1 million for kids displaced by fire
Jamaica's sprint legend Usain Bolt wasted no time in pledging $1 million, through his foundation, to assist children displaced by an early morning fire at Walker's Place of Safety in St Andrew Tuesday morning.
The Usain Bolt Foundation, which was established in 2011, targets children in need.
Chairman of the foundation, Winsome Wilkins, said Bolt was moved by the tragedy at the home, which saw two wards of the State being killed and another 34 displaced.
She said that the Foundation, which is dedicated to the legacy of happy children and to enhance their educational and cultural development, was chosen by Bolt as the best vehicle through which he would show his support for those who have suffered.
Wilkins said preparations were being made to have the donation handed over early next week to the Child Development Agency by Bolt.
In the meantime, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) said yesterday that 34 children affected by the fire have been relocated to three residential childcare facilities in the Corporate Area. The children, who were accompanied by social workers and their caregivers, were also receiving counselling, the agency said.
Source-JO
House passes stopgap spending bill, Senate fate uncertain
The House a cleared a must-pass bill Thursday night to fund the government through February 16, sending the measure to the Senate as lawmakers scramble to avoid a government shutdown amid a fight over the fate of young undocumented immigrants known as Dreamers.
The measure passed by a 230-197 vote, with a handful of Republicans joining Democrats in voting against the measure.
Conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus largely backed the measure, after spending much of the day in negotiations with the White House and GOP leaders over concerns about military funding levels and the larger debate between the White House and Capitol Hill over immigration reform.
The package would fund the government through mid-February, and also includes a measure to renew funds for a program, known as CHIP, providing low-income children with health insurance for six years.
Democrats largely opposed the measure over the amount of funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the lack of progress on protecting roughly 700,000 Dreamers from deportation in March.
In the Senate, Democrats have pledged to oppose the bill unless it includes protections for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
Last-minute negotiations were disrupted Thursday by an early-morning tweet from President Trump that appeared to undermine the GOP strategy to include CHIP funding to attract Democratic votes.
Trump later spoke with House Speaker Paul Ryan, and the White House and top GOP leaders said the president did in fact support Republicans’ short-term spending package.
The measure now moves to the Senate, where the math still appears to be a challenge for Republicans, who would need Democratic votes to clear the 60-vote threshold needed to pass it.
A shutdown would begin just after Friday's midnight deadline-- Saturday being the one year-anniversary of President Trump’s inauguration.
Source-ABC
13 siblings ages 2 to 29 "held captive" by parents, some shackled, officials say
An investigation is underway in California after 13 siblings ages 2 to 29 were allegedly held captive in a home, some "shackled to their beds with chains and padlocks," the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said in a press release.
Two parents, 57-year-old David Allen Turpin and 49-year-old Louise Anna Turpin, were arrested in the torture and child engagement case in Perris, about 27 miles south of San Bernardino.
The investigation began early Sunday morning when a 17-year-old girl allegedly escaped from the home and called 911, claiming that her 12 brothers and sisters were being held captive there, the sheriff's office said.
Responding officers said the teen "appeared to be only 10 years old and slightly emaciated."
Inside the home was a shocking scene.
Several children were "shackled to their beds with chains and padlocks in dark and foul-smelling surroundings," the sheriff's office said. "The victims appeared to be malnourished and very dirty."
Seven of the victims were adults, ranging in age from 18 to 29, the sheriff's office said. The others were children as young as 2. The victims -- who authorities say claimed to be starving -- were given food and drinks and interviewed, the sheriff's office said. They were then hospitalized for treatment, the authorities said.
The parents were interviewed and later booked on charges of torture and child endangerment, the sheriff's office said. Bail was set at $9 million each.
David Turpin's parents, James and Betty Turpin of West Virginia, told ABC News they are “surprised and shocked” by the allegations against their son and daughter-in-law.
James and Betty Turpin said they hadn't seen their son and daughter-in-law since visiting them in California some four to five years ago. However, they said they have kept in touch with them by phone since. They told ABC News they had not spoken to their grandchildren, saying David Turpin or his wife would often call when they were without the children, who are homeschooled.
The distraught grandparents added that David and Louise Turpin are considered a good Christian family in their community, saying they can't understand “any of this.”
The sheriff's office said it's believed that all of the victims were their biological children.
It's unclear how long the victims were held inside the home, the authorities said.
Source-ABC
H&M hires diversity leader after global backlash
Following the nearly two weeks of immense backlash over the racially insensitive image that showed a young black boy wearing a “coolest monkey in the jungle” hoodie, H&M has announced they've appointed a global leader in diversity.
"The recent incident was entirely unintentional, but it demonstrates so clearly how big our responsibility is as a global brand," the Swedish-based company said in a statement on Facebook, which includes an image of the words, "We are listening."
"We have reached out, around the world, inside and outside H&M to get feedback," the statement continues. "Our commitment to addressing diversity and inclusiveness is genuine, therefore we have appointed a global leader, in this area, to drive our work forward. There will be more from us soon."
The announcement comes just days after H&M had to temporarily close some of its South African stores after anti-racism protests, and a South African non-governmental organization demanded that H&M executives undergo “compulsory anti-racism and diversity training."
According to USA Today, H&M has hired Annie Wu, the company's current global manager for employee relations, as its new global leader for diversity and inclusiveness. However, there is no word on exactly what Wu's new role will entail.
San Antonio Spurs' Kawhi Leonard out indefinitely with quad issue
San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard is being put back on the shelf indefinitely, the team announced, as Leonard continues to recover from a quadriceps issue.
The team announced during training camp that Leonard would miss the preseason with right quadriceps teninopathy. His recovery took longer than initially expected, causing him to miss the first 27 games of the season.
Since then, Leonard has played in just nine game -- scoring 16.2 points in 23.3 minutes per game.
On Wednesday, Spurs general manager RC Buford said Leonard "has made significant progress and continues to move forward in his rehabilitation." Still, Buford said, allowing Leonard to sit out for a while "is the best approach for the next steps in his return to play."
Sources told ESPN that Leonard did not experience a setback.
Even without Leonard, considered an MVP candidate before the season, the Spurs are in third place in the Western Conference, with a record of 29-16.
Sports-ABC
Hello, Chicago! Kanye and Kim Kardashian West reveal newborn daughter's name
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West have finally decided on a name for their newborn daughter.
Friday, Kim wrote a message on her official website with the words, "Chicago West." Eliminating any doubt about what the post means, Chicago's date and time of birth, along with her birth weight, are listed under her name.
As previously reported, Kim announced the birth of her and Ye's third child on her website Tuesday. Chicago was born via a surrogate. In her message she wrote, "Kanye and I are happy to announce the arrival of our healthy, beautiful baby girl. We are incredibly grateful to our surrogate who made our dreams come true with the greatest gift one could give and to our wonderful doctors and nurses for their special care. North and Saint are especially thrilled to welcome their baby sister."
The reality star announced she was expecting her third child in the trailer for season 14 of her family's reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, back in September. Kardashian-West and her husband of three years are parents to one-year-old son Saint and four-year-old daughter, North.
Kardashian-West's sister, Khloe Kardashian, is currently six months pregnant with her first child. Their younger half-sister, Kylie Jenner, is rumored to be expecting as well.
Source-ABC
Blizzards Chilled while the Spartans dominates in Schoolboy Basketball
The Paba resumed its high school league with two exciting games on Friday at the Graceway Sports center.
The Maranatha Blizzards remain unbeaten as the blew away the Wesley Methodist Sting Rays 25-19.
Omar Williams led the way for the Rays with 10 pits, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Jervanio Rigby and Jaden Louis each scored 7 points apiece for the Blizzards. Jaden Louis grabbed 6 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 steals for the Blizzards.
In game 2 the Bwic Spartans finally entered the win column after defeating the CHHS B team 40-28.
Kenny Forbes led the way for the CHHS B team with 17 pts 2 assists. Braden Higgs scored 18 points and nabbed 2 steals for the Spartans.
Games will continue on Monday at 3:45 pm.
North Korea will send 22 athletes to Pyeongchang for Winter Olympics 2018
North Korea will send 22 athletes to compete in three sports at the Winter Olympics in South Korea in February.
The two countries agreed a breakthrough deal earlier this month in the first high-level talks in two years.
The International Olympic Committee hosted a meeting in Switzerland on Saturday to discuss North Korea's participation in Pyeongchang.
IOC president Thomas Bach announced the two nations would march together at the opening ceremony on 9 February.
Describing the agreement as "a milestone in a long journey", Bach also confirmed North and South Korea will be allowed to field a unified women's ice hockey team at the Games.
North Korea will also be represented in skating and skiing.
The two countries had already agreed to compete under a unified Korean flag.
Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force Investigates Drowning in Grand Turk
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 31-year-old man, of Grand Turk. The Grand Turk police received a report of an alleged drowning incident on Thursday, January 11, at about 5:48pm, near the Close Hall Road beach area.
EMTs attempted CPR before the victim later succumbed at the Cockburn Town Medical Center.
Commissioner James Smith and members of the Force are extending sympathy to the grieved family and friends of the deceased.