(2020-01-13). French lawyers throw off their robes to back ongoing STRIKE against pension reform (VIDEOS). rt.com 
Lawyers across France are discarding their robes in a dramatic show of solidarity, signaling they will not give up on what has become a two-month strike against unpopular pension reforms – even if it disrupts high-profile trials. | Bar associations in cities all over France have staged theatrical demonstrations to draw the public's attention to the longest general strike in decades, which has been underway since December 5. Videos posted on social media show the lawyers tossing off their robes, carrying a "coffin of justice," spelling out "SOS" with law books, and singing protest songs as they demand a retract…
(2020-01-13). 'Wow…has he seen our PM?' Tory MP roasted on Twitter for saying the poor are the 'fattest' & need lessons on healthy eating. rt.com 
A former Tory aide of ex-PM David Cameron has come under fire on social media after claiming poor people are the "fattest" in the UK and they need to be educated about eating a healthy diet. | Writing in his local newspaper, Sir Desmond Swayne, the Conservative MP for New Forest West, suggested that food banks were an "important contribution" to the welfare system, but checks on how families spend their benefits were required. | Swayne, 63, then claimed that one in five children in Britain is "obese" by the time they leave primary school, with those from the "lowest household incomes" being disproportionately…
(2020-01-13). Trump defends killing of Soleimani regardless of 'imminent' threat, says he had a 'horrible past'. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump has lashed out against the "fake news media" and their "Democrat partners" over criticism of his administration's decision to assassinate Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. | The president claimed in tweets marred with misspellings that it does not matter if Soleimani presented an imminent threat to the US, something he had said previously to defend the assassination, because of the general's "horrible past." | The Fake News Media and their Democrat Partners are working hard to determine whether or not the future attack by terrorist Soleimani was "imminent" or not, & was my team in agr…
(2020-01-13). Trump's odd tweet of Pelosi and Schumer in Muslim garb sparks outrage, but defense even more bizarre. rt.com 
White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham gave a strange defense of a tweet from President Donald Trump that depicted Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer in Muslim clothing and sparked major backlash. | Grisham says Democrats are "taking the side of terrorists" and that was the point Trump was trying to make when he retweeted an image of Pelosi and Schumer photshopped with Muslim garb on in front of an Iranian flag. | Fox News host Harris Faulker confronted Grisham about the tweet on Monday and even read a response that called the photoshopped image a "slur." | "Why the actual hell is the president of the Unite…
(2020-01-13). Shedding 'crocodile tears' and 'dishonoring' Persian language: Iranian officials blast Trump's Farsi tweets. rt.com 
Officials in Tehran slammed both the language and the message of US President Donald Trump's tweets in Farsi, in which he backed anti-government protesters in the country and claimed to be standing up for ordinary Iranians. | "Hands and tongues smeared with threatening, sanctioning and terrorizing the #Iranian nation, are not entitled to dishonor the ancient #Persian language," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abbas Mousavi tweeted on Monday. | By the way, are you actually 'standing by' millions of Irania…
(2020-01-13). WATCH: Alabama man lucky to be alive after tornado-thrown branch just misses him. rt.com 
One Alabama man was incredibly fortunate not to be crushed by a huge branch flung to the ground during an intense storm which lashed the state over the weekend. | Footage shot by the man's doorbell camera shows him entering his property in Pickens County, Alabama, mere seconds before a tree limb came crashing to the ground right where he had been walking, shattering instantly with the force of the impact. | Guys. I'm pretty sure that I'm still alive bc I'm supposed to watch the @Vikings win today. Otherwise I'd be dead. üò≥…
(2020-01-13). "Our children, born amid the struggle, are our future" peoplesdispatch.org 
On January 11, the landless peasants' organization, Southern Peasants' Federation of Thailand (SPFT), organized a Children's day scholarship drive for the children of its militants. The event was conducted in various SPFT land occupation communities in Surat Thani province. | The SPFT was officially established in 2008 when farmers began occupying the land held illegally by a palm oil company with the aid of the mafia. They have since established various land occupation communities in Thailand's Surat Thani p…
(2020-01-13). Under US pressure, social media companies censor critical content and suspend Venezuelan, Iranian, and Syrian accounts. thegrayzone.com As the US escalates its hybrid wars, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are suspending accounts and censoring content that conflicts with…
(2020-01-13). Culture Jam at Facebook HQ: Protesters Hijack Giant "Like" Billboard Pt. I. indybay.org In the tradition of billboard liberators everywhere, activists projected slogans on to the giant thumbs up sign, also known as the "like" sign, outside Facebook Headquarters on January 9.
(2020-01-13). Evo Morales Urges Bolivia to Restore Rule of Law. telesurenglish.net Bolivia's democratically elected President Evo Morales, who is now an asylum seeker in Argentina after the coup d'etat against him, urged the South American nation to restore the rule of law in his country in order to achieve "peace, reconciliation and unity." | RELATED: | Bolivia: Senate Approves Constitutional Guarantee Law | Morales tweeted on Monday that the treatment of government officials from his administration, including former Interior Minister Carlos Romero, by the de facto reg…
(2020-01-13). US secretary of state's attempt to suck up to Iranians backfires spectacularly. thecanary.co Since the beginning of this new decade, Donald Trump has pushed the US even closer to a war with Iran. So it's somewhat ironic, and indeed sickening, that on 12 January, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo tried to paint the US as a friend of the Iranian people: | @SecPompeo #IranProtests
(2020-01-13). "Thumbs Down" Protest at Facebook. indybay.org Photos: Leon Kunstenaar/Pro Bono Photo | Protesters converge on Facebook headquarters.
(2020-01-13). Culture Jam at Facebook HQ: Protesters Hijack Giant "Like" Billboard Pt. II. indybay.org Not the first, but one of the earliest and best examples of Silicon Valley culture jamming.
(2020-01-13). Jeff Bezos Donates Three Minutes' Income to Help Australia Fight Wildfires. mintpressnews.com The donation would be equivalent to someone who earned $500 per week announcing on social media that they had just donated five cents to help tackle the blazes.
(2020-01-13). Damning Video Emerges of Biden Praising Bush for Leading America Into Iraq War. theantimedia.com (ZH) — Yet another video of Democratic primary front runner Joe Biden passionately defending the 2003 Iraq invasion and occupation has resurfaced and is going viral. In it he even sings George W. Bush's praises at a moment which came a mere few months after the now infamous "Mission Accomplished" stunt aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. This comes …
(2020-01-13). White House Tweets 'First Snow of the Year' Pic on the Day There Was No Snow in DC. sputniknews.com The first snow of 2020 fell on Washington, DC on 7 January, but the White House only tweeted about it five days later — when some people in the capital wear wearing shorts and shirts rather than winter coats.
(2020-01-13). Desperate Juan Guaido Vows Again to Plunder teleSUR's Signal. telesurenglish.net The self-proclaimed 'president' of Venezuela, Juan Guaido, is struggling to stay relevant these days after several failed coup attempts to overthrow the legitimate government of the Bolivarian Republic. | RELATED: | Juan Guaido Wants to Silence teleSUR by Taking Over TV Signal | Guaido, in a new set of Tweets, doubled down on his vow to take over teleSUR's signal, claiming that he was "evaluating the relevant legal and institutional options." | "After evaluating the relevant le…
(2020-01-13). What is That Thing? Twitter Puzzled Over Weirdly-Groomed Feline. sputniknews.com Sometimes giving a haircut, especially a bad one, to one's pets can backfire; this video, which was uploaded to Twitter, is proof of just that.
(2020-01-13). EU hails Libya cease-fire as 'first fundamental step'. yenisafak.com The European Union's foreign policy chief and the head of bloc's parliament Monday welcomed the cease-fire in Libya."The announcement of a ceasefire in Libya provides an important opportunity to resume dialogue for a political solution to the crisis. It is now to the parties to fully implement it," said Josep Borell, high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy, on Twitter."The EU is ready to help Berlin process and efforts of UN. All Libyans deserve peace and prosperity," he added.Separately, David Sassoli, the president of the European Parliament, welcomed the decision in a written stat…
(2020-01-13). Seven Taliban commanders ecape in Afghan prison break. yenisafak.com At least seven Taliban commanders broke out of a prison in Afghanistan, officials confirmed Monday.The prison break took place last evening in the southeastern Paktia province. Abdullah Hasrat, spokesman for the provincial governor, told Anadolu Agency the prisoners escaped through the mosque inside the facility in Gardez city, located 120 kilometers (74.56 miles) south of the capital Kabul.Local broadcaster Tolo News reported that a total of 23 inmates managed to flee the prison.Zabihullah Mujahed, the Taliban spokesman, claimed in a tweet that their fighters have managed to reach a secure place.
(2020-01-13). Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Refuses to Bow to the DCCC. truthdig.com 
For bucking a key arm of the Democratic Party establishment that has stood in the way of attracting and supporting progressive candidates, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) received applause over the weekend after she announced the launch of a new political action committee designed to directly challenge the power of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee by helping insurgent, left-leaning challengers like herself take on both Republican incumbents and centrist Democrats. | "The rumors are true," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Saturday. "Today we're announcing the Courage to Change PAC—and we need your h…
(2020-01-12). Facebook 'thought police' censors pro-Iran posts 'to comply with US sanctions'… as Trump warns Tehran against censorship. rt.com 
Facebook has admitted to selectively censoring pro-Iranian government Instagram posts about the murdered General Soleimani, as US President Donald Trump hypocritically championed free speech and warned Tehran against censorship. | Instagram has confirmed that they have been removing posts that voice support for Qassem Soleimani, with a Facebook spokesperson claiming that censorship is fully justified in order to comply with US sanctions. Instagram is one of the few social media platforms that is not blocked in Iran, and it is where many within the country went to fuel outrage over the US assassination strike i…
(2020-01-12). As Trial Nears, Trump Keeps Discredited Ukraine Theory Alive. truthdig.com 
The theory took root in vague form well before Donald Trump laid claim to the White House in 2016. The candidate's close confidant tweeted about it. His campaign chairman apparently spoke about it with people close to him. | What if, the idea went, it was actually Ukraine — and not Russia — that was interfering in the 2016 election? | Never mind that the notion has since been amplified by the president of Russia, the country that U.S. intelligence agencies unequivocally blame for interfering in that year's presidential race. Or that Trump's hand-picked FBI director and other American officials have sa…
(2020-01-12). 'Totally up to them': Trump says he 'couldn't care less' if Iran negotiates with US or not. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump said his maximum pressure campaign against Iran is not about bringing it to the negotiating table, but ensuring that Tehran doesn't obtain nuclear weapons or kill protesters. | "Actually, I couldn't care less if they negotiate. Will be totally up to them but, no nuclear weapons and 'don't kill your protesters'," Trump said in a tweet Sunday night, contradicting the narrative of National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien. | National Security Adviser suggested today that sanctions & protests have Iran "choked off", will force them to negotiate. Actually, I couldn't care less if they negot…
(2020-01-12). US wants to discuss steps for Iran to become 'normal country' without precondition — Esper says amid 'warnings' from Washington. rt.com 
Despite soaring tensions, the US is open to talk with Tehran, Defense Secretary Mark Esper has said. But there's a catch: such discussion should revolve around "a series of steps" that would make Iran "a more normal country." | "We're willing to sit down and discuss without precondition a new way forward, a series of steps by which Iran becomes a more normal country," Esper said on Sunday, speaking on CBS's 'Face the Nation'. | On negotiations between U.S. and Iran, @EsperDoD acknowledged that Iran, once deemed "corrupt" is "still the legitimate go…
(2020-01-12). 'Impeached for life': Pelosi sets off Twitter fireworks, falsely claims Dems pursuing subpoena-defying witnesses. rt.com 
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made numerous odd claims about Trump impeachment in a new interview, including that Dems are pursuing subpoena-defying witness from the Ukraine investigation. | While speaking on ABC's 'This Week' Pelosi told host George Stephanopoulos that "this president is impeached for life, regardless of any gamesmanship on the part of Mitch McConnell." | While Congress passed articles of impeachment against the president, he still technically needs to go through a trial in the Senate to determine his guilt. One is not "impeached" until a decision is made through a trial. Congress merely conduct…
(2020-01-12). Human Rights Advocates Demonstrate, Demand Guantanamo's Closure. telesurenglish.net As Jan. 11 marked the 18th anniversary of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp opening by the United States, human rights activists rallied Saturday outside the White House to demand the prison's immediate closure and an end to "years of torture and human rights violations." | RELATED: | Roger Waters Plays 'Wish You Were Here' Live in Support of Assange | The organizers explained on social media that their goal was to call "attention to the brutality of the prison, including in…
(2020-01-12). Iraqi Journalists Launch Campaign After Killing of Two Reporters. telesurenglish.net Journalists in Iraq have started a campaign called "I Am Next" to highlight the risks they face for doing their work after two reporters were killed Friday in the southern city of Basra amid ongoing anti-government protests, Al Jazeera reported. | RELATED: | Iran Admits Fault in Downing of Ukranian Airliner | "We started a social media campaign to encourage all journalist…
(2020-01-12). Iran's Accidental Downing of a Ukrainian Plane Is Already Being Used to Smear MH-17 Skeptics. globalresearch.ca When the Pentagon confirmed the assassination of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani, U.S. President Donald Trump took to social media to post a single image of the American flag to the adulation of his followers. Unfortunately, most Americans are …
(2020-01-12). U.S. Media Outlets Fail to Disclose U.S. Government Ties of 'Iranian Journalist' Echoing Trump Talking Points. globalresearch.ca The Trump administration is adamant that Iranians welcome the assassination of Qassem Soleimani. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed Iraqis were "dancing in the street … thankful that General Soleimani is no more" and that Iranians will view the U.S. …
(2020-01-12). This Iranian War Vet Has Some Advice for Trump: Don't Play Checkers with the Grandmasters of Chess. globalresearch.ca Dear President Trump, | In a recent Tweet, you claimed that "Iranians never won a war, but never lost a negotiation." As a world citizen and a veteran of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, I have firsthand experience with the bitterness of …
(2020-01-12). Several Rockets Hit Iraqi Airbase: 4 Wounded. telesurenglish.net The Iraqi Armed Forces announced on their official Twitter account that a number of rockets targeted the Al-Balad Airbase in the country's Salah Al-Deen Province. | RELATED: | Iran Admits Fault in Downing of Ukranian Airliner | "The Al-Balad Airbase in the Salah Al-Deen Governorate came under attack by eight Katyusha rockets, wounding four members of the Iraqi Air Force, including two officers," the Iraqi Armed Forces said. | The Iraqi Armed Forces did not release anymore details about the…
(2020-01-11). 'Your courage is inspiring!' Trump tweets in FARSI, backing Iranian protesters against Tehran govt. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump has appealed directly to the protesters in the streets of Iran, wading into the grief and fueling anti-government discontent, after Tehran admitted to accidentally shooting down a Ukrainian jet. | "To the brave, long-suffering people of Iran: I've stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency, and my Administration will continue to stand with you. We are following your protests closely, and are inspired by your courage," Trump wrote both in English and Farsi, addressing the protesters in Iran. | ÿ®Ÿá ŸÖÿ±ÿØŸÖ ÿ…
(2020-01-11). EvaluÃÅan declarar a Puerto Rico zona de desastre tras terremotos. peoplesworld.org 
La iniciativa llega en momentos en los que el presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, no habloÃÅ ni acudioÃÅ a sus habituales intervenciones en la red social Twitter para referirse a los desastres, seguÃÅn recalcoÃÅ el mayor general JoseÃÅ Juan Reyes, en una intervencioÃÅn ante medios nacionales. Los sismos dejaron aproximadamente dos tercios del territorio …
(2020-01-11). Warren Stands to Gain From Castro Donors After Endorsement. truthout.org Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) stands to gain from former U.S. housing secretary Julián Castro's endorsement as Castro had most donors in common with Warren compared to other Democratic candidates. | Last Thursday, Castro suspended his campaign for president, and…
(2020-01-11). 'Democracy for sale': Cambridge Analytica & big tech's history of manipulating elections. nationofchange.org "So was Facebook responsible for Donald Trump getting elected? I think the answer is yes."
(2020-01-11). Boston area professor fired after anti-Trump Facebook posting. wsws.org Asheen Phansey lost his career over statements made in jest, while Trump and his enablers in the Democratic Party make real threats against Iran without any consequences.
(2020-01-10). "Democracy For Sale": Cambridge Analytica & Big Tech's History of Manipulating Elections. democracynow.org 
A longtime Facebook executive has admitted the company's platform helped Donald Trump win the 2016 election, and it may happen again this year. In an internal memo, Facebook Vice President Andrew Bosworth wrote, "So was Facebook responsible for Donald Trump getting elected? I think the answer is yes." Bosworth, who was a backer of Hillary Clinton in 2016, went on to write that the company should not change its policies in an effort to hurt Trump's re-election chances. In his memo, Bosworth referenced the role of the shadowy data firm Cambridge Analytica but downplayed its significance. However, a new Oscar-shortl…
(2020-01-10). China mourns native paddlefish after scientists declare it extinct. thecanary.co People in China have been lamenting the demise of the Chinese paddlefish after scientists declared it extinct in a research paper. | Chinese internet users and media outlets have been paying tribute to the hefty creature, whose sharp, protruding snout made it one of the largest freshwater species in the world. | "It's farewell at first sight," said China Youth Daily, noting that many were lamentably unfamiliar with the paddlefish before learning of its demise. | Users shared similar sentiments on the Twitter-like Weibo platform. | Named after its distinctive shape, the Chinese paddlefish, or Chinese swordfish, ha…
(2020-01-10). Hunt monitors say right-wing media coverage of their arrest is 'absolutely' blown out of proportion. thecanary.co On 4 January, Cheshire Police arrested eight hunt saboteurs on suspicion of assault and possession of an offensive weapon. But one of those arrested told The Canary that media reporting of the incident spun what actually happened on the day "out of proportion". | Mass arrest: | Cheshire Hunt Saboteurs broke the news that Cheshire Police sent numerous vehicles and officers to arrest "monitors" attending the Cheshire Hunt: | Police have just arrested a car full of monitors and a sab due to the hunt making an 'allegation'. The hunt…
(2020-01-10). Study Finds Bots and MAGA Supporters Pushing #IraniansDetestSoleimani Hashtag. mintpressnews.com 
A social media disinformation expert studied 60,000 tweets from nearly 10,000 accounts using the hashtag #IraniansDetestSoleimani and found that the most common phrases in those users' biographies were "Make America Great Again" and "Trump."
(2020-01-10). 'HOLY S**T': Deepfake YouTuber 'embarasses' Netflix & Scorsese by de-aging 'The Irishman' better than they ever could. rt.com 
An anonymous YouTuber spent far less time and money than Martin Scorsese and Netflix to de-age actors in 'The Irishman' using the deepfake technology — and the results are rapidly winning fans over. | Martin Scorsese's 'The Irishman' may be an awards favorite at the moment, but a spotlight was just blasted onto one of the movie's most glaring flaws: the de-aging of its star cast. Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Al Pacino, and others are de-aged throughout the film, which tells a story that spans three decades. Even positive reviews of the Netflix feature, which debuted in November, pointed out that the de-agi…
(2020-01-09). 'Alien baby': Internet shook by 'pregnancy announcement' from Elon Musk's girlfriend Grimes. rt.com 
What appears to be a strange pregnancy announcement by Grimes, the musician girlfriend of billionaire Elon Musk, has not gone down well on Twitter, with one user jokingly speculating that the couple might produce "the antichrist." | The internet was at pains to process the news after Grimes posted a picture of what seems to be her baby bump with an image of a fetus photoshopped onto it. "Being knocked up is a very feral & war-like state of being," she wrote in the Instagram post. | The couple, who have been dating since 2018, are generally seen as a fairly odd pairing. The idea of Grimes, with her reputatio…
(2020-01-09). Headlines for January 9, 2020. democracynow.org Trump Appears to Pull Back from New Military Action Against Iran, Mitch McConnell Met with Trump at White House & Discussed Impeachment Trial, Investigators Probe Cause of Fatal Boeing Plane Crash in Tehran, Youth Climate Group the Sunrise Movement Endorses Bernie Sanders, More Than 1 Billion Animals Killed in Climate-Fueled Wildfires in Australia, Ruth Bader Ginsburg Says She's Cancer-Free, Guatemalan President Says U.S. Cannot Send Mexican Asylum Seekers to Guatemala, Spanish Socialist Party Leader Pedro Sánchez Sworn In as Prime Minister, Facebook Doubles Down on Its Policy of Allowing Lies in Political Ads…
(2020-01-08). A View from Tehran: Iranian Professor Condemns U.S. Aggression & Warns U.S.-Backed Gulf States. democracynow.org 
Iranian forces fired 22 ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in Iraq early Wednesday in what Iran described as "fierce revenge" for the U.S. assassination of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike last week at the Baghdad airport. The Iranian missiles targeted the Al Asad Airbase in Anbar province and a base in Erbil. There were no initial reports of U.S. or Iraqi casualties. Shortly after the attacks, Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted, "We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression." Earlier today, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali…
(2020-01-07). "The Great Hack": Big Data Firms Helped Sway the 2016 Election. Could It Happen Again in 2020? democracynow.org 
The documentary "The Great Hack," which was shortlisted for the Oscars, explores how the data firm Cambridge Analytica came to symbolize the dark side of social media in the wake of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Cambridge Analytica collapsed in May 2018 after The Observer newspaper revealed the company had harvested some 87 million Facebook profiles without the users' knowledge or consent. Cambridge Analytica then used the data to sway voters to support President Trump during the 2016 campaign. We speak with "The Great Hack" co-directors Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim, as well as Cambridge Analytica whistle…
(2020-01-07). Propaganda Machine: The Military Roots of Cambridge Analytica's Psychological Manipulation of Voters. democracynow.org 
We continue our discussion of data harvesting, targeted advertising and voter manipulation — practices used by firms like Cambridge Analytica. The secretive data firm collapsed in May 2018 after The Observer newspaper revealed the company had harvested some 87 million Facebook profiles without the users' knowledge or consent to sway voters to support Trump during the 2016 campaign. A new trove of internal Cambridge Analytica documents and emails are being posted on Twitter detailing the company's operations, including its work with President Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton. We speak wit…
(2020-01-07). Meet Brittany Kaiser, Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower Releasing Troves of New Files from Data Firm. democracynow.org 
New details are emerging about how the shadowy data firm Cambridge Analytica worked to manipulate voters across the globe, from the 2016 election in the United States to the Brexit campaign in Britain and elections in over 60 other countries, including Malaysia, Kenya and Brazil. A new trove of internal Cambridge Analytica documents and emails are being posted on Twitter detailing the company's operations, including its work with President Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton. The documents come from Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Brittany Kaiser, who worked at the firm for three-and-a-half yea…
(2020-01-06). More Rockets Fired At US Embassy, US Iranians Detained & Trump Says Twitter Is "Notifying Congress" thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (1/5/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-12-02). The War on Truth: How Israel's Social Media Trolls Conquered Facebook. zcomm.org Israel may have found a way to circumvent the influence of Facebook on the discussions pertaining to Palestinian rights and the Israeli occupation…