When Indonesian President Widodo played zero-gravity VR ping pong with Mark Zuckerberg!

 

Zuckerberg took to social network site to express his happiness over his meeting with the President.

Interestingly, this time the President also played zero-gravity ping pong in virtual reality with Zuckerberg.

Zuckerberg said they had a good conversation about continuing to work together to increase connectivity and extend the opportunities of the internet to everyone in Indonesia.

Kanye West asks Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg $1 billion for his ''ideas''

 

West asked his Twitter followers to urge Zuckerberg to support him. "World, please tweet, FaceTime, Facebook, instagram, whatever you gotta do to get Mark to support me ... West tweeted. (@kanyewest)

The rapper also asked Alphabet Inc CEO Larry Page to help him with his financial troubles.

West, who claimed he was "still 53 million dollars in personal debt," said that people do not give money to "real artists" like him but rather open schools in Africa.

Neither Zuckerberg nor Page have verified accounts on Twitter, the microblogging website. 

Some Twitter users have reached out to Zuckerberg via Facebook Messenger asking him to help the rapper out.

On Saturday night, prior to releasing his eighth studio album and performing on TV comedy show "Saturday Night Live," the rapper revealed via Twitter that he was $53 million in debt.

"I write this to you my brothers while still 53 million dollars in personal debt," he tweeted. "Please pray we overcome ... This is my true heart."

West, who`s married to reality TV star Kim Kardashian, has been putting tens of millions into his fashion label. According to the Business Insider website, his latest clothing line is selling high-end coats and jackets for as much as $3,000 to $4,000. The Kanye sweatpants alone cost $510.

In a 2015 interview with BET, the controversial rapper said he incurred $16 million in debt from his fashion business.

Via online streaming, more than 20 million viewers watched West debuted his new album, "The Life of Pablo" and clothing collection during a New York Fashion Week runway show last Thursday.

Facebook gives ad credits to users who counter terror propaganda

In an attempt to discredit extremist content with posts from its users, Facebook began combating terrorist propaganda online with its own form of "counter speech", Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. 

Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) recently, Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg expressed her support for campaigns that counter propaganda from terrorist groups like Islamic State (IS) with messages of tolerance and hope. 

Sandberg also pointed to a case in which a Facebook page for a neo-Nazi group was flooded with "likes" and positive messages.

According to the journal, the social network has also collaborated with the US State Department to develop messaging from college students.

Together with the State Department, Facebook launched competitions in 45 college classes around the world. Those who participated in the competition were provided a budget of $2,000 and $200 in ad credits.

Last year, Facebook allowed former members of extremist groups to create fake accounts and engage with current members. The experiment delivered encouraging results.

See pic: When Prime Minister of Singapore visited Facebook Headquarters!

Facebook is the biggest social media platform in the world that reaches out to various parts of the world and endeavours to connect people globally.

With over 1.44 billion monthly active users, as of March 2015, Mark Zuckerberg has succeeded in putting Facebook on the global map.

This said, the world's leaders look forward to visit the social media headquarters in the United States to reach out to the global audience and connect with them. This is not saying much, considering that the said leaders themeselves are Facebook users.

Prime Minister of India, Mr Narendra Modi also visited Facebook recently, in September, 2015. Now, the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, became the newest addition to Zuckerberg's list of “World leaders who visited Facebook”.

Mark Zuckerberg shared his proud moment with the world through a photograph, which he captioned saying, “It was an honor to host Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore at Facebook HQ today.

The Prime Minister is one of the only world leaders who knows how to code. To recognize his technical skills, we gave the PM this artwork designed at Facebook etched with lines from a computer program he wrote. Coding can be useful -- no matter what your job is!”

Disappointed but will not give up, says Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on TRAI decision

"Internet.org has many initiatives, and we will keep working until everyone has access to the internet," Zuckerberg said in a post on the Facebook yesterday, his first reaction to the ruling of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on net neutrality.

Backing Net neutrality, telecom watchdog TRAI yesterday barred operators from charging different rates for Internet access based on content, dealing a blow to Facebook's controversial Free Basics and other such plans.

Facebook's Free Basics plan came in from major criticism from experts who alleged that it curbed one's freedom to access the internet of their choice.

"Today India's telecom regulator decided to restrict programmes that provide free access to data. This restricts one of Internet.org's initiatives, Free Basics, as well as programmes by other organisations that provide free access to data," Zuckerberg said.

"While we're disappointed with today's decision, I want to personally communicate that we are committed to keep working to break down barriers to connectivity in India and around the world. Internet.org has many initiatives, and we will keep working until everyone has access to the internet," he said.

Zuckerberg claimed that Facebook's work with Internet.org around the world has already improved many people's lives.

"Connecting India is an important goal we won't give up on, because more than a billion people in India don't have access to the internet," Zuckerberg said.

"We know that connecting them can help lift people out of poverty, create millions of jobs and spread education opportunities. We care about these people, and that's why we're so committed to connecting them," he said.

More than 19 million people in 38 countries have been connected through Facebook's different programmes.

"Our mission is to make the world more open and connected. That mission continues, and so does our commitment to India," he said, adding that everyone in the world should have access to the internet.

"That's why we launched Internet.org with so many different initiatives - including extending networks through solar-powered planes, satellites and lasers, providing free data access through Free Basics, reducing data use through apps, and empowering local entrepreneurs through Express Wi-Fi," Zuckerberg said.

Meanwhile in a statement, Facebook said it would continue with its efforts in India.

"Our goal with Free Basics is to bring more people online with an open, non-exclusive and free platform. While disappointed with the outcome, we will continue our efforts to eliminate barriers and give the unconnected an easier path to the internet and the opportunities it brings," a Facebook spokesman said.

Disappointed but will not give up: Zuckerberg

"Internet.org has many initiatives, and we will keep working until everyone has access to the internet," Zuckerberg said in a post on the Facebook yesterday, his first reaction to the ruling of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on net neutrality.

Backing Net neutrality, telecom watchdog TRAI yesterday barred operators from charging different rates for Internet access based on content, dealing a blow to Facebook's controversial Free Basics and other such plans.

Facebook's Free Basics plan came in from major criticism from experts who alleged that it curbed one's freedom to access the internet of their choice.

"Today India's telecom regulator decided to restrict programmes that provide free access to data. This restricts one of Internet.org's initiatives, Free Basics, as well as programmes by other organisations that provide free access to data," Zuckerberg said.

"While we're disappointed with today's decision, I want to personally communicate that we are committed to keep working to break down barriers to connectivity in India and around the world. Internet.org has many initiatives, and we will keep working until everyone has access to the internet," he said.

Zuckerberg claimed that Facebook's work with Internet.org around the world has already improved many people's lives.

"Connecting India is an important goal we won't give up on, because more than a billion people in India don't have access to the internet," Zuckerberg said.

"We know that connecting them can help lift people out of poverty, create millions of jobs and spread education opportunities. We care about these people, and that's why we're so committed to connecting them," he said.

More than 19 million people in 38 countries have been connected through Facebook's different programmes.

"Our mission is to make the world more open and connected. That mission continues, and so does our commitment to India," he said, adding that everyone in the world should have access to the internet.

"That's why we launched Internet.org with so many different initiatives - including extending networks through solar-powered planes, satellites and lasers, providing free data access through Free Basics, reducing data use through apps, and empowering local entrepreneurs through Express Wi-Fi," Zuckerberg said.

Meanwhile in a statement, Facebook said it would continue with its efforts in India.

"Our goal with Free Basics is to bring more people online with an open, non-exclusive and free platform. While disappointed with the outcome, we will continue our efforts to eliminate barriers and give the unconnected an easier path to the internet and the opportunities it brings," a Facebook spokesman said.

TRAI says no to Facebook's Free Basics, Airtel Zero; rules in favour of net neutrality

Issuing the 'Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations, 2016' that bars service providers from offerring or charging discriminatory tariffs for data services on the basis of content, TRAI said it would levy a penalty of Rs 50,000 per day on companies violating the rule.

Announcing the final guidelines on differential pricing, TRAI said that "No service provider shall enter into any arrangement or contract that has the effect of discriminatory tariffs for data services."

This statement/rule, which comes amid the debate of net neutrality in the country, will come into immediate and will be renewed every two years.

"Prohibition of discriminatory tariff is necessary to ensure that service providers continue to fulfill obligations in keeping internet open and non-discriminatory," TRAI said.

Sounding a strong warning, TRAI said no service provider shall enter into any arrangement, agreement or contract, by whatever name called, with any person, natural or legal, that has the effect of discriminatory tariffs for data services being offered or charged to the consumer on the basis of content.

Any company violating the law will be fine a penalty of Rs 50,000 per day, TRAI said.

"By way of financial disincentive, an amount of rupees fifty thousand for each day of contravention, subject to a maximum of rupees fifty lakh," TRAI said in the press statement.

This means that facilities such as Airtel Zero and Facebook's Free Basics will not be allowed in the country.

The telecom apex body however ruled that a service provider may reduce tariff for accessing or providing emergency services.

Facebook to help BSNL set up 100 wi-fi hotspots in rural India

 Boosting the government’s ambitious 'Digital India' drive, social media giant Facebook has come forward to facilitate state-run BSNL in setting up100 Wi-Fi sites in rural areas of western and southern India. Facebook will spend Rs 5 crore per annum for sponsoring these 100 wi-fi hotspots in the country.

"Facebook has partnered with us to sponsor 100 Wi-Fi hotspots in villages across west and southern India. They will pay Rs 5 lakh for BSNL bandwidth for each hotspot per annum," BSNL Chairman & MD Anupam Shrivastava told PTI. The hotspots are being set up by BSNL selected vendor Quad Zen.

"We have already set up 25 hotspots under the agreement. Facebook is only sponsoring them and not taking any revenue share. Quad Zen will set up these hotspots and handle sales. There is revenue share model between BSNL and Quad Zen," Shrivastava said.

When contacted, Facebook spokesperson said, "We don't have any comments at this point of time." The agreement between Facebook and BSNL is for three years and it can be further extended for two more years, he said. BSNL has also received interest from Member of Parliaments for setting up wi-fi hotspots in villages, which they have adopted under Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) to make it a model village by 2016.

"Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Najma Heptulla and Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan are sponsoring BSNL bandwidth for wi-fi hotspots in the villages that they have adopted under SAGY. BSNL approached MPs explaining this model under MPLAD scheme and over 50 MPs have responded positively to it," Shrivastava said.

He said that the sponsored wi-fi spots are being set-up in addition to 2,500 wifi spots that BSNL is setting up in partnership with Quad Zen and Trimax.

"With Facebook and MPs coming forward, we are being able to set up wi-fi hotspots in area where it is not commercially feasible to run them. We are quickly extending optical fibre connectivity to these hotspots," Shrivastava said.

Under commercial model, Quad Zen will set up 2,000 wi-fi hotspots in West and Southern part of the country and Trimax will set up 500 hotspots in North India.