Washington DC protesters topple statue of Confederate general Albert Pike
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-06-20
Black Lives Matter protesters have toppled the only statue of a Confederate general in the US capital and set it on fire on Juneteenth — the day marking the end of slavery in the US. | Cheering demonstrators jumped up and down as the 11ft statue of Albert Pike, wrapped with chains, wobbled on its high granite pedestal before falling backwards. | Protesters then set a bonfire and stood around it in a circle as the statue burned, saying "No justice, no peace!" and "No racist police!". | Eyewitness accounts and videos posted on social media indicated that police were on the scene but did not intervene. | Donal…
thecanary.co/global/world-news/2020/06/20/washington-dc-protesters-topple-statue-of-confederate-general-albert-pike/

[Comment] The Lancet Commission on dengue and other Aedes-transmitted viral diseases
Annelies Wilder-Smith, Steven W Lindsay, Thomas W Scott, Eng Eong Ooi, Duane J Gubler, Pamela Das | thelancet.com | 2020-06-20
The past 50 years have seen the emergence of epidemic arboviral diseases transmitted by the urban mosquito, Aedes aegypti. More than 120 countries are affected by frequent and cyclical dengue epidemics that result in an estimated annual 400 million infections and 100 million symptomatic cases.1 Chikungunya virus re-emerged in 2004 from east Africa and spread to Asia, the Pacific, the Americas, and Europe.2,3 Zika virus spread from sub-Saharan Africa through Asia and the Pacific to the Americas, where it caused a major outbreak associated with severe birth defects and neurological complications.
thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31375-1/fulltext?rss=yes

India claims Pakistani drone shot down in Jammu and Kashmir
yenisafak.com | 2020-06-20
India's border security forces on Saturday announced that they had shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) belonging to Pakistan at an outpost in the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir.The Border Security Force (BSF) shot down the Pakistani Hexa copter drone allegedly carrying an assortment of arms at the Pansar border outpost in Kathua district."Alert troops of BSF shot down a Pakistani Hexa copter drone carrying 01 M4 carbine machine (US Made), 02 filled magazines (60 Rds), 07 Chinese grenades," the BSF said in a statement on Twitter.The aircraft was spotted by a BSF patrol at in the vicinity of the borde…
yenisafak.com/en/news/india-claims-pakistani-drone-shot-down-in-jammu-and-kashmir-3532586

PANDERMONIUM: Snapchat yanks cringeworthy Juneteenth filter that asked users to 'smile to break chains'
rt.com | 2020-06-19
Snapchat has removed a Juneteenth-themed that encouraged users to "smile" to break the chains of slavery, something that was quickly flagged by social media users as an offensive attempt to pander to Black Lives Matter activists. | If users chose to use the filter, they could photograph themselves in front of an African flag with the words "Juneteenth" and "Freedom Day" captioned. The user was then told to smile as chains appear and then suddenly break, a clear nod to the day being a celebration of the end of slavery in the US. | The filter was disabled after numerous complaints and removed from the service in…
rt.com/usa/492422-snapchat-juneteenth-filter-smile-chains/

Trump Issues Threat to Those Planning to Protest Tulsa Rally
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-06-19
President Donald Trump made an ambiguous but direct threat to anyone planning to protest his first campaign event in months, set to take place this Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. | "Any protesters, anarchists, agitators, looters or lowlifes who are going to Oklahoma please understand, you will not be treated like you have been in New York, Seattle, or Minneapolis," Trump wrote in a tweet on Friday. "It will be a much different scene!"
truthout.org/articles/trump-issues-threat-to-those-planning-to-protest-tulsa-rally/

EU must pay full $6.5B to Turkey: Top Hungary diplomat
yenisafak.com | 2020-06-19
The EU should respect its commitment to Turkey and pay the entire sum of ‚Ǩ6 billion ($6.5 billion) promised under a 2016 deal to stem irregular migration, Hungary's foreign minister said Friday."Turkey has a crucial role in stopping illegal migration," which is why "the EU should pay the ‚Ǩ6 billion it previously promised to Turkey," Szijjarto said in streaming video on Facebook, speaking after a high-level videoconference with his counterparts from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Poland, and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.Szijjarto was referring to the 2016 Turke…
yenisafak.com/en/news/eu-must-pay-full-65b-to-turkey-top-hungary-diplomat-3532533

Video: Snapchat Apologizes After Juneteenth Filter Prompted Users to Smile to Break Chains
sputniknews.com | 2020-06-19
Snapchat apologized Friday for a Juneteenth interactive face filter that prompted users to "smile" in an effort to break chains seen in the background.
sputniknews.com/viral/202006191079668571-video-snapchat-apologizes-after-juneteenth-filter-prompted-users-to-smile-to-break-chains/

Twitter pulls Trump's 'manipulated' CNN parody video after media outcry, citing copyright violation
rt.com | 2020-06-19
Twitter has removed a satirical video shared by US President Donald Trump — a parody CNN clip it flagged as "manipulated media" — after the broadcaster saw red over the tweet and following complaints from the owner of the footage. | The meme clip, which featured a mock CNN chyron and was meant as a dig at what Trump and his supporters see as biased media coverage of his presidency, was pulled on Friday after a company representing the original creators of the video complained to social media platforms, saying the footage was used without permission. In addition to Twitter, Facebook has also deleted…
rt.com/usa/492423-trump-video-cnn-censored/

Twitter pulls Trump's 'manipulated' CNN parody video after media outcry, citing copyright violation
rt.com | 2020-06-19
Twitter has removed a satirical video shared by US President Donald Trump — a parody CNN clip it flagged as "manipulated media" after the broadcaster saw red over the tweet and following complaints from the footage's owner. | The meme clip, which featured mock CNN chyron and was meant as a dig at what Trump and his supporters see as biased media coverage of his presidency, was pulled on Friday after a company representing the original creators of the video complained to social media platforms, saying the footage was used without permission. In addition to Twitter, Facebook has also deleted the clip. | Th…
rt.com/usa/492423-trump-video-cnn-censored/

Katie Hopkins permanently suspended from Twitter to keep platform 'safe' from 'hateful conduct'
rt.com | 2020-06-19
Twitter has permanently suspended the account of right-wing British media personality Katie Hopkins, who had amassed over a million followers and was retweeted by US President Donald Trump. | "Keeping Twitter safe is a top priority for us. Abuse and hateful conduct have no place on our service, and we will continue to take action when our rules are broken," the social media company said in a statement on Friday. | Hopkins was banned from the platform shortly after complaining that her blue-check verified status had been removed. The company claimed the Briton violated their "hateful conduct policy," but did no…
rt.com/uk/492411-katie-hopkins-suspended-twitter/

Trump Says Should Have Fired Bolton for Botching NK Talks, but Bolton Had Already Sabotaged Talks Under Bush
Marko Marjanović | anti-empire.com | 2020-06-19
Trump now says he was shocked to learn in 2018 — one month after he had already installed Bolton as the National Security Advisor — that the latter still thought the Iraq War had been a good idea all along. | He also blames Bolton for setting him back on the North Korea process so much so the consequences are still felt to this day: | twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1273620779645665280 | twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1273620783131250690 | Trump says he should have fired…
anti-empire.com/trump-says-should-have-fired-bolton-for-botching-nk-talks-but-bolton-had-already-sabotaged-talks-under-bush/

Social Media and OPSEC: How Much Information Are You Giving Away?
_____ | strategic-culture.org | 2020-06-19
J.G. Martinez D. | For many, the current situation has brought us lessons to learn. Quarantine, crisis, and collapse: all of these events bring consequences that impact like a ton of bricks. With the lack of decent jobs available (something that in Venezuela has been hard to find since somewhere around 2012) it has been normal to see an increase in crime. A young, uneducated population, will look for the means to provide for themselves in any manner they choose, including finding victims on social media. Add drug and…
strategic-culture.org/news/2020/06/19/social-media-and-opsec-how-much-information-are-you-giving-away/

VIDEO: J.K. Rowling scandals
_____ | strategic-culture.org | 2020-06-19
Enough is never enough for extremists and now SJWs are on the hunt for the head of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowfing because of a tweet.
strategic-culture.org/video/2020/06/19/video-jk-rowling-scandals/

Reporter Sues Newspaper For Prohibiting Her Coverage Of Protests
_____ | popularresistance.org | 2020-06-18
A reporter in Pittsburgh is suing the newspaper she works for after the company prohibited her from covering the city's Black Lives Matter protests because of a tweet concerning the issue. The suit claims that Ms. Johnson was prevented from pursuing stories on jailed protesters or social-media efforts to raise bail funds after she posted a tweet on 31 May highlighting the different treatment black and white people regarding property damage. | "Horrifying scenes and aftermath from selfish LOOTERS who don't care about this city!!!!!" the tweet says. "…. oh wait sorry. "No, these are pictures from a Kenny Chesney…
popularresistance.org/reporter-sues-newspaper-for-prohibiting-her-coverage/

Rashad Robinson on Recent Spike in Hanging Deaths, the Cancellation of "Cops" & Boycotting Facebook
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-06-18
For more than a decade, the racial justice organization Color of Change led a push to cancel the long-running TV show "Cops," which glorifies police aggression. Now the show has been cancelled, along with A&E's "Live PD." "The thing about these shows is that they call themselves reality programming, but they are only from the vision of the police officers," says Rashad Robinson, president of Color of Change. "These shows have served as a PR arm for law enforcement." He is now calling on Netflix to cancel "Border Security: America's Front Line."
www.democracynow.org/2020/6/18/rashad_robinson_corporate_response_blm

Supreme Court 'more important than ever' Trump says in 2020 election pitch after DACA setback
rt.com | 2020-06-18
After the US Supreme Court delivered him a lemon verdict, President Donald Trump set out to make lemonade, announcing he would release a shortlist of SCOTUS nominees as part of his re-election pitch to make the court conservative. | A new list of "Conservative Supreme Court Justice nominees" will be released by September 1, the president tweeted on Thursday afternoon. "Based on decisions being rendered now, this list is more important than ever before," he added, listing the right to bear arms, religious liberty and abortion as the issues that would depend on the court in the future. | …Based on decisions be…
rt.com/usa/492293-trump-scotus-nominees-daca/

Brazil: Minister of Education announces his departure from Bolsonaro government
Brasil de Fato | peoplesdispatch.org | 2020-06-18
Brazil's Minister of Education, Abraham Weintraub, announced on the afternoon of Thursday June 18 that he is stepping down from the government of Jair Bolsonaro. He made the announcement through a video published on Twitter, where he is standing next to the president. Until now there is still no information about the transition period with the position. | His fall comes after the minister participated in a series of anti democracy rallies principally against the Supreme Federal Court (STF). According to sources from the Planalto Palace, his…
peoplesdispatch.org/2020/06/18/brazil-minister-of-education-announces-his-departure-from-bolsonaro-government/

'Nazi' or 'Antifa'? Trump campaign ads removed as Facebook rules RED TRIANGLE violated 'organized hate' policy
rt.com | 2020-06-18
Several Donald Trump presidential campaign ads were axed by Facebook for violating its policy with a red triangle, which critics say is a Nazi reference. Conservatives insist it's meant to symbolize Antifa, crying political bias. | The ads in question were posted to the Facebook pages for the president, Vice President Mike Pence, and Team Trump, and blasted "Antifa" and "far-left mobs" for "destroying" American cities. | However, it's not the verbiage of the ads that has raised eyebrows, but rather an inverted red triangle seen right before social media users were asked to sign a petition celebrating Trump's d…
rt.com/usa/492296-trump-ads-antifa-red-triangle-facebook/

Five more Iraqi lawmakers test positive for coronavirus
yenisafak.com | 2020-06-18
At least five more Iraqi members of parliament have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, local media reported on Thursday.Mahasin Hamdun Dali, Alaa Nasi and Laith Dulaimi from Mosul are among the lawmakers tested positive for the virus, Hoshiar Karadag, the head of the parliament, told reporters.The parliament would not be suspended due to the latest developments, Karadag added.Wahdi Jumeili, another lawmaker, also announced on social media that he tested positive for COVID-19.No information was provided regarding the identity of the fifth lawmaker, who contracted the virus.On Wednesday, an Iraqi medical so…
yenisafak.com/en/world/five-more-iraqi-lawmakers-test-positive-for-coronavirus-3532422

'It's Like Meta-Racist': Twitter Stunned After Trump Claims He Made Juneteenth 'Very Famous'
sputniknews.com | 2020-06-18
US President Donald Trump raised eyebrows on Thursday when it was revealed that he said during a Wall Street Journal interview that by initially scheduling his Tulsa, Oklahoma, rally for June 19, he made the Juneteenth holiday "very famous."
sputniknews.com/viral/202006181079657491-its-like-meta-racist-twitter-stunned-after-trump-claims-he-made-juneteenth-very-famous/

'I was ahead of our times': Trump says both he & CHAZ anarchists in Seattle opted for building BORDER WALL first
rt.com | 2020-06-18
US President Donald Trump has pointed out that an anarchist community that took over a part of Seattle first built a barrier around it, choosing to take that as an endorsement of his wall on the US-Mexico border. | Taking to his social media of choice on Thursday, Trump styled himself as a true visionary as he half-jokingly suggested that the builders of the anarchist utopia (or dystopia, depending on one's point of view) in Seattle might have drawn inspiration from his own mega-project. | "First thing the anarchists did upon taking over Seattle was 'BUILD A WALL.' See, I was ahead of our times!" Trump tweeted…
rt.com/usa/492302-trump-chaz-seattle-wall/

'I was ahead of our times': Trump says both he & CHAZ anarchists in Seattle opted for building BORDER WALL first
rt.com | 2020-06-18
US President Donald Trump has pointed out that an anarchist community that has taken over part of Seattle first built a barrier around it, choosing to take that as an endorsement of his wall on the US-Mexico border. | Taking to his social media of choice on Thursday, Trump styled himself as a true visionary as he half-jokingly suggested that the builders of the anarchist utopia (or dystopia, depending on one's point of view) in Seattle might have drawn inspiration from his own mega-project. | "First thing the anarchists did upon taking over Seattle was 'BUILD A WALL.' See, I was ahead of our times!" Trump twee…
rt.com/usa/492302-trump-chaz-seattle-wall/

'Independent' Facebook fact-checker exposed as partisan smear factory packed with CNN alumni
rt.com | 2020-06-18
Facebook fact-checker Lead Stories is a biased outfit bristling with ex-CNN staffers that presents itself as neutral, despite most of its employees having donated to the Democratic Party, a conservative outlet has revealed. | The National Pulse (TNP), whose story about supposed financial links between Black Lives Matter, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, and fundraiser ActBlue was flagged as "partly false" by Lead Stories on Facebook, did some digging on Wednesday to find out who was…
rt.com/usa/492294-lead-stories-factcheck-facebook-cnn/

'Who's dead? I'm not': Alan Sugar calls for swifter easing of UK lockdown as coronavirus hasn't killed him
rt.com | 2020-06-18
The star of Britain's The Apprentice Alan Sugar has said the UK should follow the US' lead and reopen more quickly from Covid-19 lockdown, citing the fact that he has not died since the lifting of restrictions where he's staying. | Sugar reasoned that because neither he, his wife nor anyone he knows personally has died from Covid-19, that's a sure sign the peak has passed and, frankly, it's time for consumers to get back out there. His argument failed to impress many on Twitter, as his name trended on Thursday with people lashing out at him for seemingly forgetting about the many thousands who have succumbed t…
rt.com/uk/492271-alan-sugar-coronavirus-lockdown-lift/

Indian minister calls for boycott of 'ALL Chinese goods' after deadly border clash
rt.com | 2020-06-18
An Indian government minister has called for an economic boycott of China, following a deadly Chinese-Indian military clash in a disputed border region. | "China is a country that betrays", Ramdas Athawale, India's minister for social justice and empowerment wrote on Twitter, adding that India "should boycott all Chinese goods". He then became more specific, posting, "Chinese restaurants and hotels serving Chinese food should be closed in India!" | Athawale is known for making bold proclamations. He previously made the headlines for a show of solidarity with China in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
rt.com/news/492280-india-minister-boycott-china/

About face: Northam is speaker for Virginia Dems even though they called for his resignation over blackface photo
rt.com | 2020-06-18
Governor Ralph Northam is speaking for Virginia Democrats at an upcoming convention, a decision being blasted, because the same group had previously called for his resignation over a controversial blackface photo. | "We're honored to have @GovernorVA speaking at our virtual state convention coming up in just a few days!" the Democrat Party of Virginia wrote on Thursday, in a tweet that left many scratching their heads. | We're honored to have @GovernorVA speaking at our virtual state convention coming up in just a few days! Be sure to stream it l…
rt.com/usa/492292-ralph-northam-blackface-virginia-democrats/

Let's Not All Rush Out And Buy John Bolton's Book
_____ | strategic-culture.org | 2020-06-18
The world of arts and letters is atwitter this week. John Bolton has a new book coming out–provided it can clear the gauntlet of Donald Trump's censorious rage, that is. Bolton's tome is called The Room Where It Happened, and despite what the title might suggest, it contains no details about the author's conception.
strategic-culture.org/news/2020/06/18/lets-not-all-rush-out-and-buy-john-boltons-book/

#WalkAway founder removed from flight for refusal to wear mask, as US airline trade group threatens to blacklist violators
rt.com | 2020-06-17
Political activist Brandon Straka was removed from an American Airlines flight for refusing to wear a mask the day trade group Airlines for America announced that passengers who refuse to mask up can be blacklisted from flying. | Straka, a former Democratic Party member who very publicly left the party and started the #WalkAway movement, revealed he was removed from an American Airlines plane at Dallas Airport for refusing to wear a mask on Wednesday, noting on Twitter that it was the "1st time this has happened" to him, and complaining the mask requirement was "not a federal law." Flight attendants apparently…
rt.com/usa/492165-passengers-warned-flight-mask-airlines/

Boris Johnson's car 'crashed into motorbike' during Kurdish protest in London
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-06-17
Boris Johnson's convoy was targeted by Kurdish protesters as the prime minister left the Palace of Westminster: | Kurdish man arrested after throwing himself in front of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's car causing the Prime Minister's car to crash into police motor bike! He was protesting against Turkey's invasion of South Kurdistan. He is from South Kurdistan. FLASH NEWS. @ReutersUK @AP pic.twitter.com/3X0CDUZooc | — Stop Turkey's Racist War on Kur…
thecanary.co/uk/news/2020/06/17/boris-johnsons-car-crashed-into-motorbike-during-kurdish-protest-in-london/

An "Autonomous" three block-long Seattle street threatens America — what?
Eds. | mronline.org | 2020-06-17
President Donald Trump from his New Jersey private golf club tweeted this past Friday morning June 12, that "The terrorists burn and pillage our cities."
mronline.org/2020/06/17/an-autonomous-three-block-long-seattle-street-threatens-america-what/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=an-autonomous-three-block-long-seattle-street-threatens-america-what

Inside CHAZ: An "Autonomous" Three Block-Long Seattle Street Threatens America, What?
Nick Licata | counterpunch.org | 2020-06-17
President Donald Trump from his New Jersey private golf club tweeted this past Friday morning June 12, that "The terrorists burn and pillage our cities." He was referring to demonstrators occupying three blocks along a single street, in Seattle's most culturally active neighborhood. Trump demanded that the mayor and governor, "Must end this Seattle takeover now!" Or else he would call in the army.
counterpunch.org/2020/06/17/inside-chaz-an-autonomous-three-block-long-seattle-street-threatens-america-what/

PepsiCo dropping 131-year-old 'Aunt Jemima' pancake branding over 'racist stereotype'
rt.com | 2020-06-17
PepsiCo has said it will drop its 'Aunt Jemina' syrup and pancake mix branding, in use since 1889, which it said was "based on a racial stereotype," prompting both complaints and celebration on social media. | "We are starting by removing the image and changing the name," said Kristin Kroepfl, vice president and chief marketing officer of Quaker Foods NA, PepsiCo's subsidiary, in a press release. | "We will continue the conversation by gathering diverse perspectives…
rt.com/usa/492143-pepsico-dropping-aunt-jemima/

Facebook Surrounds Africa
Manlio Dinucci | globalresearch.ca | 2020-06-17
Many industries and service companies are failing or shrinking due to the lockdown and subsequent crisis. Instead, there are those who have gained from all this. Facebook, Google (YouTube owner), Microsoft, Apple and Amazon — writes The New York Times…
globalresearch.ca/facebook-surrounds-africa/5716157

Turkish ministers visit Libya, Tripoli government says
yenisafak.com | 2020-06-17
Turkish government officials including the foreign and finance ministers arrived in Tripoli on Wednesday to meet Libya's internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), the GNA said in a Facebook post.Turkish support has been critical to the GNA in staving off a 14-month assault on Tripoli by the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), which is backed by the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Egypt.
yenisafak.com/en/news/turkish-ministers-visit-libya-tripoli-government-says-3532324

Turkish first lady marks desertification, drought day
yenisafak.com | 2020-06-17
Turkey's first lady on Wednesday marked the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought that is celebrated annually on June 17 across the world."Land is life, love, homeland, our future. Our children do not deserve a world with depleted resources, rather blue sky, fertile lands and verdant forests," Emine Erdogan said on Twitter.This fact should be remembered again on the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, she stressed.Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. It is caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations, according to the UN.Obse…
yenisafak.com/en/news/turkish-first-lady-marks-desertification-drought-day-3532322

White Balloon-Like UFO Spotted Over Northeastern Japan Sparks Plenty of Buzz on Social Media
sputniknews.com | 2020-06-17
A mysterious white balloon-like unidentified flying object was spotted in the skies of Japan's northeastern city of Sendai in the Miyagi Prefecture on Wednesday, prompting some locals to report the mysterious incident to local authorities, according to Kyodo News.
sputniknews.com/viral/202006171079645354-white-balloon-like-ufo-spotted-over-northeastern-japan-sparks-plenty-of-buzz-on-social-media/

Civil Rights Groups Call for Facebook Boycott Over Platform's Failure to Address Hate Speech
sputniknews.com | 2020-06-17
Several civil rights groups, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), have urged corporations to boycott advertising on Facebook in July because they believe the platform has failed to address hate speech.
sputniknews.com/society/202006171079645559-civil-rights-groups-call-for-facebook-boycott-over-platforms-failure-to-address-hate-speech/

Hispanic Californian man fired over 'racist' OK gesture claims he was only cracking his knuckles, stoking calls to reinstate job
rt.com | 2020-06-17
A Mexican-American man who was fired after being accused of flashing a "white power gesture" says he was merely cracking his knuckles, prompting demands that he be given his job back and a retraction from his accuser. | Emmanuel Cafferty was recently terminated from his position at a San Diego utility company after an encounter with a stranger some two weeks ago. Stopped at an intersection, the stranger snapped a photo showing Cafferty in his truck with an arm hanging out of the window. The picture was promptly shared to Twitter, where it was alleged the man had flashed a symbol some associate with white supre…
rt.com/usa/492072-hispanic-man-white-power-gesture/

Wokeness trumps grammar? Columbia Journalism Review grilled for capitalizing 'Black' but not 'white' in ethnicity references
rt.com | 2020-06-17
The Columbia Journalism Review has received a barrage of internet scorn after attempting to justify its policy of capitalizing 'black' but not 'white', when referring to ethnicity. "Isn't this a bit racist?" Twitter has asked. | The prestigious journal proudly acknowledged its radical style guide choice in a piece published on Tuesday. "We capitalize Black, and not white, when referring to racial groups," the article declared, explaining that "Black is an ethnic designation; white merely describes the skin color of people who can trace their ethnic origins back to a handful of European countries." | CJR went o…
rt.com/usa/492085-columbia-journalism-review-black-capitalization/