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There is no power on this earth that is capable of holding Facebook to account. No legislature, no law enforcement agency, no regulator. Congress has failed. The EU has failed. When the Federal Trade Commission fined it a record $5bn for its role in the Cambridge Analytica scandal, its stock price actually went up.

Which is what makes this moment so interesting and, possibly, epochal. If the boycott of Facebook by some of the worlds biggest brands Unilever, Coca-Cola, Starbucks succeeds, it will be because it has targeted the only thing that Facebook understands: its bottom line. And if it fails, that will be another sort of landmark.

Because this is a company that facilitated an attack on a US election by a foreign power, that live-streamed a massacre then broadcast it to millions around the world, and helped incite a genocide.

Ill say that again. It helped incite a genocide. A United Nations report says the use of Facebook played a determining role in inciting hate and violence against Myanmars Rohingya, which has seen tens of thousands die and hundreds of thousands flee for their lives.

Facebook is not a mirror. Its a gun. Unlicensed, out of control, in the hands of 2.6 billion people across the planet

I often think about that report. When I watch documentaries showing Facebook employees playing ping-pong inside their Menlo Park safe space. When I took a jaunt to the suburban Silicon Valley town earlier this year and strolled down the normal street where Mark Zuckerberg lives his totally normal life as the sole decision-maker in a company the like of which the world has never seen before. When I heard that Maria Ressa, the Filipino journalist who has done so much to warn of Facebooks harms, had been sentenced to jail. When I read the Orwellian defence that our former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg wrote last week. Platforms like Facebook hold a mirror up to society, he said.

Facebook is not a mirror. Its a gun. Unlicensed it is not subject to laws or control it is in the hands and homes of 2.6 billion people, infiltrated by covert agents acting for nation states, a laboratory for groups who praise the cleansing effects of the Holocaust and believe 5G will fry our brainwaves in our sleep.

People sometimes say that if Facebook was a country, it would be bigger than China. But this is the wrong analogy. If Facebook was a country, it would be a rogue state. It would be North Korea. And it isnt a gun. Its a nuclear weapon.

Because this isnt a company so much as an autocracy, a dictatorship, a global empire controlled by a single man. Who even as the evidence of harm has become undeniable, indisputable, overwhelming has simply chosen to ignore its critics across the world.

Instead, it has continued to pump out relentless, unbelievable, increasingly preposterous propaganda even as it controls the main news distribution channels. And just as the citizens of North Korea are unable to operate outside the state, it feels almost impossible to be alive today and live a life untouched by Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram.

The #StopHateForProfit campaign is focused on hate speech. Its what has united six American civil rights organisations in the US to lobby advertisers to pause their ads for July, a campaign precipitated by Facebooks decision not to remove a post by Donald Trump threatening violence against Black Lives Matter protesters: When the looting starts, the shooting starts.

But this is so much bigger than Facebooks problem with hate. And it goes far far beyond the US, though the role it will play in the US election is pivotal (and its worth noting that #StopHateForProfits demands dont extend to stopping lies in political ads, a crucial necessity). Facebooks harms are global. Its threat to democracy is existential.

Is it a coincidence that the three countries that have dealt with coronavirus worst are those with populist leaders whose campaigns exploited Facebooks ability to spread lies at scale? Trump, Bolsonaro, Johnson. Perhaps. Perhaps not.

And if you dont care about democracy, think for a moment about coronavirus. If and when a vaccine comes along, will enough people want to have it? Facebook is riddled with anti-vaxxing like its infected by antisemitism. If thats a mirror, Nick, you might want to take a long, cold, hard look in it.

Zuckerberg is not Kim Jong-un. Hes much, much more powerful. My guess is that all these advertisers will be back on the platform soon enough, he is reported to have told employees last week. And although 500 companies have now joined the boycott, the Wall Street Journal reports this represents only a 5% dip in profits. It may turn out that Facebook isnt just bigger than China. Its bigger than capitalism.

It comes, in the end, down to us and our wallets and what we say to these brands. Because the world has to realise that theres no one and no thing coming to the rescue. Trump and Zuckerberg have formed an unspoken, almost certainly unstated, strategic alliance. Only the US has the power to clip Facebooks wings. And only Facebook has the power to stop Trump spreading lies.

Sometimes you dont realise the pivotal moments in history until its too late. And sometimes you do. Its not quite yet too late. Just almost.

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Facebook is out of control. If it were a country it would be North Korea - The Guardian

There are plenty of third-party keyboards and mice available for Mac users.

Most are fantastic, but one annoyance about non-Apple keyboards is that they often lack a Mac-friendly layout that includes the Command and Option keys, as well as a row of shortcut keys, akin to what youd find on an Apple keyboard.

For example, the Logitech MX Keys has always been a dual-purpose keyboard, made for Windows or Mac users. Until now, that is.

Starting Tuesday, you can buy a Mac-specific version of the $99.99 MX Keys wireless keyboard, a $39.99 K380 multi-device Bluetooth keyboard, and the $99.99 MX Master 3 wireless mouse.

The Windows and Alt keys have been replaced by Mac-specific Option and Command keys on the MX Keys and K380. Theres also a function row that includes shortcuts for common tasks like viewing Mission Control, all of your installed apps, or controlling media playback.

The MX Master 3 and MX Keys now come in a very Apple-like space gray color to match its Mac, iPad and iPhone lines. To add variety, the K380 now comes in a brand new pink option, called rose, along with an off-white color.

It can switch between three Apple devices with the press of a button and offers a battery life of up to two years.

The MX Keys and MX Master 3 have both fit right into our normal work routine over the past few weeks.

The cupped key caps on the MX Keys keyboard provide a gentle reminder of where your fingers should rest between keystrokes, as well as offer a landing pad as you hammer away at an instant message or work document.

The 10-key number pad isnt something were accustomed to, having switched from Apples compact Magic Keyboard, but by the end of our testing, we found ourselves instinctively reaching for the number pad when needed.

You should be able to get about 10 days out of the MX Keys battery with the backlight turned on, or five months with the backlight disabled. Charging is done via a USB-C port on the back of the keyboard, and, yes, you can use the keyboard while it charges.

By far, our favorite feature of the MX Keys is its smart backlighting. Not only do the lights automatically adjust their brightness based on ambient lighting, but they turn off when you move your hands away from the keyboard and then they magically turn back on as your hands approach the keyboard.

Forget the fact that it saves on battery life; its just fun to use.

You can pair up to three devices to the MX Keys and switch between them with the press of a button.

We love everything about the MX Master 3 wireless mouse, which weve extensively tested. So much so, we named it the best ergonomic mouse in 2020.

The Master 3 offers a battery life of up to 70 days and is also charged via a USB-C port on the front of the housing, making it possible to charge and use the mouse at the same time.

Theres also a suite of gestures you can use to quickly move around your Mac, including holding in the gesture button on the far left side of the mouse and moving the mouse to complete tasks like switching between desktops or opening Mission Control. You can also customize the gestures using Logitechs Options program.

Weve also reprogrammed the two shortcut buttons that are found just below the vertical scroll wheel, to launch 1Password and to open Mission Control so we can quickly sign into apps or websites, or switch between apps.

You can even set up button functionality for different applications, like Chrome, Safari, Excel or Photoshop.

The entire MX line is built and designed for creatives who spend a lot of time working in video or photo editing software.

The MagSpeed scroll wheel took a few days to adjust to, but its definitely a highlight.

When you spin the wheel like youre on The Price Is Right to scroll through a long document, it can speed up to 1,000 lines per second, either until you stop it, or it eventually stops itself. That means you can accidentally scroll past what youre looking for. Or if you started scrolling and then moved your mouse to another window, the scrolling follows the pointer, and you can end up losing your place in a different document.

Our advice? If you start scrolling and need to move the mouse, first stop the wheel.

You can order any of the three new Mac-friendly devices from Logitech starting Tuesday. The K380 is priced at $39.99, while the MX Master 3 and MX Keys are priced at $99.99 each.

Note: The prices above reflect the retailers listed price at the time of publication.

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Logitech has updated the MX Keys, MX Master 3 and K380 keyboard specifically for the Mac - CNN

TORONTO -- A Toronto woman who refused to wear a mask while seeking treatment at a hospital and was forced out filmed and posted the incident on social media, drawing condemnation from local officials, celebrities and thousands of others.

Letitia Montana said she went to St. Josephs Hospital in Toronto with her son on July 4 for a "suspected broken finger."

"You're making me wear a mask otherwise you are going to deny me service," she is heard saying in the video filmed at the front counter of the emergency room.

"Yes, we're asking you to wear a mask," a nurse replies.

The video does not show Montana being escorted out of the emergency room.

It has since been viewed more than four million times.

Non-medical mask use has been encouraged by health officials across North America, and became mandatory in all indoor, public spaces in Toronto on Tuesday, as a means of slowing the spread of COVID-19.

A growing body of research has shown that mask use can reduce the emission of respiratory droplets that carry the virus, reducing the risk for people who cannot remain apart from infecting each other if both are masked.

It has also spurred backlash from some, including Montana, who say they lead to other health problems and their use was mandated as a form of political control.

Unity Health Toronto said Monday that its staff members at St. Joseph's Hospital were simply following the guidance of the Ministry of Health when asking Montana to wear a mask.

"This policy follows guidelines set out by Ontarios Ministry of Health based on our best scientific understanding of COVID-19 and how it spreads. We encourage all community members to seek care when they need it. At St. Josephs and any of our Unity Health Toronto sites, you will be asked questions about any COVID-19 related symptoms, to wear a mask and remember to maintain physical distancing in all parts of the hospital."

Toronto Mayor John Tory said he thought wearing a mask in a hospital emergency room of all places was a reasonable request.

"I dont think there are very many people who would argue with the requirement that when youre in a hospital, in the emergency room of a hospital, that you wear a mask."

Meanwhile, Health Minister Christine Elliott thanked the staff at St. Joseph's Hospital for their efforts.

"I would like to thank the brave frontline heroes at St. Joseph's Health Centre and across Ontario for putting themselves in harms way to care for us. When seeking care, each of us should follow all protocols in place at hospitals to help protect frontline workers and other patients."

Most on social media werent having any of it.

City of Toronto chief spokesperson Brad Ross warned Montana she was going to become a verb.

Councillor Michael Ford, who had to be hospitalized after contracting COVID-19 last month, chimed in as well, calling refusing to wear a mask selfish.

The encounter drew attention south of the border, where an even larger share of the population is up in arms against mask use due to COVID-19.

Montana said later on Twitter she stood by her decision to not don a mask in the emergency room.

On social media, Montana self identifies as a "truther," defined as a person who believes a conspiracy is blocking the public from learning the truth about an important subject.

She recently attended a protest in Ottawa demanding an end to lockdown measures and removal of the Liberals from power.

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Woman roasted on social media after refusing to wear mask in Toronto hospital - CTV News

BEIJING, July 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glory Star New Media Group Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: GSMG) (Glory Star or the Company), a leading mobile and online digital media and entertainment company in China, today announced that it has established a strategic cooperation agreement with Nanfang Food Basket, an integrated sales platform for agricultural products in China. Nanfang Food Basket is operated by Nanfang Media Group, which has established a top brand presence in China with a service coverage of roughly 200 million people. The partnership between the Company and Nanfang Food Basket will focus on leveraging the substantial user traffic and dynamic media capabilities of the Companys CHEERS e-Mall platform to improve the marketing and sales performances of Nanfang Food Basket for its agricultural products, which include fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. In addition, CHEERS e-Mall users in all parts of China will still be able to enjoy a delivery time of just a few days for these agricultural products, despite them being sourced from Chinas more rural and poverty-stricken areas.

After launching its CHEERS App in 2018, the Company concentrated on the integration of premium lifestyle content with online sales to pioneer a new and innovative content e-commerce model. In April 2019, the Company launched CHEERS e-Mall to better address Chinas youth and the diverse consumption needs of this same demographic. CHEERS e-Mall is a highly interactive shopping experience that allows users to browse the Companys online store while simultaneously enjoying the platforms premium lifestyle content.

The Company continues to expand its user base as well as its online advertising and e-commerce businesses by consistently refining its service offerings and curating premium lifestyle content. As of April 30, 2020, CHEERS App downloads exceeded 106.5 million, while CHEERS App average DAUs reached 4.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. In addition, during the 6.18 Shopping Festival in 2020, the Company collaborated with 460 business partners and 1,200 brands to present over 15,000 stock keeping units to its users. The Company also grew its GMV to RMB50.6 million during the 6.18 Shopping Festival in 2020, representing an increase of more than 40 times the GMV previously generated during the 6.18 Shopping Festival in 2019.

Mr. Bing Zhang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Glory Star, commented, We are pleased to announce our partnership with Nanfang Food Basket and are excited about its long-term potential. This collaboration not only marks our entrance into Chinas agricultural industry, but also showcases our commitment to empowering Chinas agricultural industry players through supply chain digitization. By bringing Nanfang Food Baskets agricultural products onto our CHEERS e-Mall platform, we will enhance our partners sales and marketing efforts while simultaneously augmenting our product offerings, user engagement, and platform stickiness to create a truly win-win situation. Importantly, Chinese farmers, who have experienced significant difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, will also benefit from this exchange as we provide them with more effective sales and marketing channels for their agricultural products. Looking ahead, we remain confident that our expansion of e-commerce offerings, cooperation with agricultural industry players, and unique combination of media and e-commerce will continue to fuel our expansion as we advance through the rest of 2020 and beyond.

About Glory Star New Media Group Holdings LimitedGlory Star New Media Group Holdings Limited is a leading mobile entertainment operator in China. Glory Stars ability to integrate premium lifestyle content, including short videos, online variety shows, online dramas, live streaming, its Cheers lifestyle video series, e-Mall, and mobile app, along with innovative e-commerce offerings on its platform enables it to pursue its mission of enriching peoples lives. The companys large and active user base creates valuable engagement opportunities with consumers and enhances platform stickiness with thousands of domestic and international brands.

Safe Harbor StatementCertain statements made in this release are forward looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words estimates, projected, expects, anticipates, forecasts, plans, intends, believes, seeks, may, will, should, future, propose and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside the Companys control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, are: the ability to manage growth; ability to identify and integrate other future acquisitions; ability to obtain additional financing in the future to fund capital expenditures; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions; costs or other factors adversely affecting our profitability; litigation involving patents, intellectual property, and other matters; potential changes in the legislative and regulatory environment; a pandemic or epidemic; and other factors listed in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2019 and in other filings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Such information speaks only as of the date of this release.

ContactsICR Inc.Jack WangTel: +1 (646) 308-0546Email: gsnm@icrinc.com

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Glory Star New Media Holdings Limited Announces Partnership with Nanfang Food Basket to Expand CHEERS e-Mall Offerings and Support China's...

The spread of the coronavirus has surprising similarities to the spread of fake news, gun violence and even social media fads. What they all have in common is that mathematics plays a role in predicting how things "go viral," whether it's a germ, a rumor or an internet trend.

Adam Kucharski, associate professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, is the author of The Rules of Contagion: Why Things Spread And Why They Stop. Adam Kucharski hide caption

In his new book, The Rules of Contagion, Adam Kucharski, associate professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, talked about how to understand all types of contagion.

In your book, you describe a drinking game, Neknomination, that started on Facebook and YouTube in 2014 in Australia and "went viral." You studied it when it came to England, and you correctly predicted the game would die out quickly. How did you come to that conclusion?

In Neknomination, people were downing pints of beer and large quantities of alcohol. Each person would do it, post a video online and nominate two or three others to outdo them. Those people had to meet the challenge and nominate others within 24 hours. In studying it, we had two bits of information that are really hard to get at in disease outbreak: the reproduction number how many others one person "infects" and the lag time, 24 hours, after which people would stop spreading the game. Friends tend to cluster together and nominate the same people. That reduces the reproduction number below one and leads to a smaller outbreak. Despite a media frenzy in early February 2014, [the game] was all but gone by the end of that month.

Talk about the importance of the reproduction rate in contagion.

It's the mathematics of exponential spread. For each case of COVID-19 you have, how many others are you infecting? In the early stages of this pandemic, the reproduction number, or "R," was 2 to 3. Now, in many countries, it's in the 0.81.2 range. Anything above 1 means it's going to grow. If you bring the "R" rate down below 1, it means one person infects fewer than one other person, and you can say the spread of the disease is under control and will eventually die out. If the "R" is .95, you will have a declining epidemic.

Even though the epidemic is in decline with an "R" of less than 1, some people will continue to get infected, get sick and even die, correct?

Yes, that's a good point. There could be a large number of individuals still getting sick as transmission slows. You can't think that when you get to an "R" number below 1, the problem is solved.

How far into the future can you predict how a virus will spread?

The hard thing about predicting the future for COVID-19 is that it's so dependent on what governments do and what individuals do. You can see a lot of different scenarios depending on what people do. Models can be a useful way of laying out the possibilities. If you lock down longer, this is what will happen; if you lift the lockdown early, then this is what will happen. But a much larger question is what governments and people do with the information. Some countries might think a predicted level of contagion is acceptable. Other countries will think that same level of contagion is too high, and they need to put more measures in place for a longer time.

Contact tracing has been identified as a key element in stopping spread: finding all those in contact with a newly diagnosed case. Can that work in other areas, like stopping the spread of gun violence?

In a pandemic, you identify a patient and then you identify others in that person's network that they've been in contact with. You quarantine them all, and that should stop transmission. Violent events can also spread through definable networks like gangs. If you have a shooting, you try to find other people connected through friends, gangs or other networks. Some communities have what they call violence interrupters a well-known person in the community who has credibility. They might find friends of a gunshot victim and talk to them about the danger and futility of retaliation.

How do you think this pandemic is going to unfold?

It's often hard to imagine what might have happened had you done something differently. But we can watch different scenarios. Some countries, like New Zealand, had early travel restrictions and now have local control. With border restrictions, they might be able to keep that going. Other places, like Hong Kong and South Korea, are keeping the pandemic under control but with flare-ups. Some places in Europe and the U.S. are lifting lockdowns, but they're doing it differently with or without various substitute measures, like testing, contact tracing, mandatory masks and social distancing. And still other places, like India and South Africa, are not able to keep lockdown measures in place.

With this pandemic, we'll see alternative realities play out in real time with wide variations around the world. Things aren't going to look the same for a long time.

Susan Brink is a freelance writer who covers health and medicine. She is the author of The Fourth Trimester and co-author of A Change of Heart.

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New Book: 'The Rules Of Contagion: Why Things Spread And Why They Stop' : Goats and Soda - NPR