NEW YORK: Facebook users in the US will soon be able to see which of their friends are nearby using a new feature launched by the company.
The "Nearby Friends" feature launched yesterday must be turned on by the user, so people shouldn't expect to broadcast their location unknowingly. It will use your smartphone's GPS system to tell your Facebook friends you are nearby provided they have the feature turned on as well. Rather than share your exact location, it will show only that you are nearby, say, within half a mile.
If you like, you can manually share a more precise location with a specific friend you'd like to meet up with. Friends can see where you're located in a particular park, airport or city block. By default, your exact location will be shared for only an hour, although you can change this.
Facebook rolls out location-sharing feature
Nearby Friends launches amid the growing popularity of location-based mobile dating apps such as Tinder and Hinge. But unlike those apps, Facebook's feature will let you meet up only with people who are already your friends.
Facebook, whose motto has long been "move fast and break things," built a lot of precautions in this new tool as it tries to avoid privacy fiascos that often bubble up when it makes changes to its service.
The new motto, "ship love," is evident in the cautious rollout of Nearby Friends, said Jules Polonetsky, director of the Future of Privacy Forum, an industry-backed think tank in Washington. He has advised Facebook on privacy issues, including the latest feature.
He believes Facebook is showing "a deeper appreciation that with a billion users, any change needs to be implemented in a way that doesn't surprise the audience." That's especially so when it comes to privacy, especially when it comes to location sharing.
Christians celebrate Easter in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Christians in Kerala Sunday celebrated Easter, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ after crucifixion.
Thousands congregated for prayers in churches of various denominations across the state, where senior prelates and priests gave out the message of hope and revival as symbolised by the occasion.
The day also marked the end of the Holy Week of prayers and penitence recalling the final phase of Christ's life from his arrest and crucifixion, followed by resurrection.
In Thiruvananthapuram, Archbishop M Soosai Packiam presided over the mass at St Joseph's cathedral of Latin Catholic rite.
Breaking the 40-day season of Lent when believers shun worldly pleasures, sumptuous traditional feasts were arranged in most Christian homes.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and leaders of various political parties also greeted Keralites on the occasion.
Christians constitute about 23 per cent of Kerala's population.
Thousands congregated for prayers in churches of various denominations across the state, where senior prelates and priests gave out the message of hope and revival as symbolised by the occasion.
The day also marked the end of the Holy Week of prayers and penitence recalling the final phase of Christ's life from his arrest and crucifixion, followed by resurrection.
In Thiruvananthapuram, Archbishop M Soosai Packiam presided over the mass at St Joseph's cathedral of Latin Catholic rite.
Breaking the 40-day season of Lent when believers shun worldly pleasures, sumptuous traditional feasts were arranged in most Christian homes.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and leaders of various political parties also greeted Keralites on the occasion.
Christians constitute about 23 per cent of Kerala's population.
Five Keralites killed in Saudi Arabia
MALAPPURAM: Five Keralites were killed and two seriously injured when the vehicle in which they were traveling lost control and met with the accident at Radwan in Saudi Arabia. The dead has been identified as Nawaz, Noushad, Janardhanan, Sreedharan and Jaleel.
The accident happened early Sunday morning at the Taif Express highway in Jeddah. The dead were employees of Saad al Usman, a catering company in Taif.
The injured identified as Jazeer of Tirur and a native of Bangladesh have been admitted in the hospital.
The accident happened early Sunday morning at the Taif Express highway in Jeddah. The dead were employees of Saad al Usman, a catering company in Taif.
The injured identified as Jazeer of Tirur and a native of Bangladesh have been admitted in the hospital.
Govt hid report after accepting graft from bar owners, says VS
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government accepted a big amount as graft from bar owners so as not to implement the report of Justice M Ramachandran Commission in the liquor policy, alleged opposition leader V S Achuthanandan. In a release, VS sought a comprehensive probe in granting bar license.
The commission submitted the report last August and the government had not executed the recommendations of the report so far. The government concealed the report after accepting graft from bar owners. They did not inform the Supreme Court about the report submitted. In order to cover the lapses they are levelling baseless lies. Excise Minister K Babu is also releasing unwarranted statements.
The commission submitted the report last August and the government had not executed the recommendations of the report so far. The government concealed the report after accepting graft from bar owners. They did not inform the Supreme Court about the report submitted. In order to cover the lapses they are levelling baseless lies. Excise Minister K Babu is also releasing unwarranted statements.
Tribal woman killed by elephant
KANNUR: A 45-year- old tribal woman was killed by a wild elephant at Aralam in the district early Sunday.
According to police, the dead was identified as Madhavi (45), wife of Mohanan They were living in a shed at 11th block at Aralam farm, the state's only tribal rehabilitation farm.
The incident occurred at about 0430 hrs, when they were sleeping. Mohanan took to his heels. The elephant attacked his wife and damaged the shed.
Locals rushed to the spot and chased the pachyderm away. Police conducted inquest on the body and shifted it to Pariyaram Medical College Hospital, police said.
Bar license only for three-star hotels, says panel
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Justice M Ramachandran Commission, who reviewed the liquor policy, recommended the state government to grant bar license only to at least three--star bar hotels. The panel also suggested not giving temporary bar licenses.
The timings of bars should be from 11.30 am to 10 pm. Toddy shops should function only from 8 am to 8 pm. Changes can be made in the distance limit of bar hotels and liquor outlets, but toddy shops should retain the existing 400 metre distance limit.
Liquor should be sold only to those above 21 and should produce an identity card while buying it. The details of the card should be recorded in the bill and a signature or fingerprint should be registered in it.
A complete ban on liquor is not practical.
The timings of bars should be from 11.30 am to 10 pm. Toddy shops should function only from 8 am to 8 pm. Changes can be made in the distance limit of bar hotels and liquor outlets, but toddy shops should retain the existing 400 metre distance limit.
Liquor should be sold only to those above 21 and should produce an identity card while buying it. The details of the card should be recorded in the bill and a signature or fingerprint should be registered in it.
A complete ban on liquor is not practical.
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