Daily Archives: January 12, 2020

2020-01-12: News Headlines

Ben Norton (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 and Facebook are suspending accounts and censoring content that conflicts with Washington's…

RT (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…

Staff (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…

RT (2020-01-12). 'We're just locked in': Tennessee star Derrick Henry shines as Titans stun Ravens to progress to AFC championship game (VIDEO). rt.com The underdog Tennessee Titans produced a shock in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs as they defeated the AFC's top seed Baltimore Ravens to progress to the AFC championship game next weekend. | Powerful running back Derrick Henry — the league's leading rusher — was the star of the show for the Titans as he ran for a remarkable 195 yards and even threw a surprise touchdown pass as the Titans defeated the Ravens 28-12 in Baltimore in the biggest shock of the playoffs so far. | Is there anything @KingHenry_2 can't do? &uuml…

RT (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…

RT (2020-01-12). Oops! Canadian nuclear power plant 'incident' alert turns out to be 'error' after 'Chernobyl' Twitter panic. rt.com It was 7: 24am Sunday when Ontario residents received a chilling alert about an "incident" at one of the world's oldest nuclear power stations located a few kilometers away from Canada's most populous city of Toronto. | Pickering power plant, located on the shore of Lake Ontario, sent out an alert stating that emergency staff are responding to an incident at the facility, although "there has been no abnormal release of radioactivity from the station." It also said that locals do not need to evacuate or take any other protective measures. | I was just awoken by my phone blaring an emergency alarm. There's been a…

RT (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…

RT (2020-01-12). Iran made 'important decision' to admit fault for Ukrainian plane crash, now all sides must decrease tensions — Kazakh president. rt.com Kazakhstan's leader has said that all sides must avoid further civilian deaths and work towards de-escalation, after Iran acknowledged that it mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane amid fears of war with the US. | Qasym-Jomart Toqayev wrote on Twitter that Iran's decision to admit responsibility for the downing of the plane was "an important" one. | Under the current circumstances, all parties must show restraint in order to lower tensions, which also lead to civilian casualties. | Kazakhstani Foreig…

Text RR Photos Chris Cassell, Pro Bono Photo (2020-01-12). 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.

Leon Kunstenaar (2020-01-12). "Thumbs Down" Protest at Facebook. indybay.org Photos: Leon Kunstenaar/Pro Bono Photo | Protesters converge on Facebook headquarters.

RR Photos Chris Cassell, Pro Bono Photo (2020-01-12). 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.

Max Parry (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 …

sputniknews (2020-01-12). Five People Injured as Car Rams into Motorcycle and Parked Vehicle in India — Video. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): A report by the Indian Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on road accidents has stated that as many as 97,588 people had died in 2018 in India in accidents caused by speeding. The figure accounts for 64.4% of all road deaths in India, according to 'Road Accidents in India, 2018'.

sputniknews (2020-01-12). Alert Signal Goes Off in South Israel Near Gaza Strip, No Threat of Rocket Fire – IDF. sputniknews.com The Israeli Defence Forces earlier wrote on Twitter that an alarm was sounded at Kibbutz Nahal Oz in the southern district of the country.

Habib Ahmadzadeh (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 …

teleSUR (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…

Eli Clifton (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. …

yenisafak (2020-01-12). Turkey extends condolences to Oman over Sultan's death. yenisafak.com Turkey on Saturday extended condolences to Oman over the death of longtime ruler Qaboos bin Said al Said.In a Twitter post, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "I wish Allah's mercy on Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said al Said, who was a key figure for Oman's welfare and development with his efforts as well as for the politics in our region."In a separate Twitter post, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "Heartfelt condolences to the brotherly people of #Oman who lost a visionary leader, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said. May his soul rest in eternal peace. @MofaOman @Oman_GC."Sultan Qaboos die…

yenisafak (2020-01-12). Protesters gather again in Iran, chant against authorities. yenisafak.com Scores of protesters gathered for a second day in Iran on Sunday chanting slogans against the authorities following the military's admission it had shot down a passenger plane in error after days denying it was to blame, social media posts showed.

yenisafak (2020-01-12). Turkey 'neutralizes' 2 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq. yenisafak.com Turkish security forces "neutralized" two PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the Defense Ministry said on Sunday."Two PKK terrorists were neutralized in an air-back operation in Metina region of northern Iraq," the ministry said on Twitter adding that the operations will continue.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.PKK terrorists often use northern Iraq to plan cross-border terrorist attacks in Turkey.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK

Prensa Latina (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 …

RT (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 &yuml…

Staff (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…

teleSUR (2020-01-11). Iran Admits Fault in Downing of Ukranian Airliner. telesurenglish.net Iran announced on Saturday that a preliminary investigation into the crash of the Ukrainian airliner that was flying to Kiev from Tehran earlier this week was caused by human error. | RELATED: ‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã | Palestinian Militants Not Yet Ready to Avenge Iran | Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter that "human error at time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism l…

Staff (2020-01-11). At Least 7 Dead as Severe Storm Plows Through Southern U.S. truthdig.com BENTON, La. — Authorities say at least seven people have died as severe storms sweep across parts of the U.S. South, bringing high winds and unrelenting rain. | The National Weather Service in Birmingham, Alabama, said Saturday via Twitter that three people have been confirmed killed near Carrollton in Pickens County. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency said that an "embedded tornado within a long line of intense thunderstorms" caused the deaths. | Earlier Saturday, firefighters in Louisiana found the bodies of an elderly couple Saturday near their demolished trailer, the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office…

Amy Goodman (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."

WSWS (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.

RT (2020-01-11). Protests, vigils at Iran universities after Tehran admits it shot Ukrainian plane down. rt.com Videos from Tehran show crowds holding vigils and protests at universities after Iran admitted shooting down a Ukrainian plane with 176 on board. Many of the passengers were Iranian students. | People were lighting candles and bringing flowers to several universities in Tehran. | One banner among the many in the crowd read: "What is the costs of the war with the world? what is the cost of lying? #condolence to Iran." | #Vigils for #Ukraine plane crash vi…

Staff (2020-01-10). U.S. Dismisses Iraq Request to Work on a Troop Withdrawal Plan. truthdig.com BAGHDAD — Iraq's caretaker prime minister asked Washington to work out a road map for an American troop withdrawal, but the U.S. State Department on Friday bluntly rejected the request, saying the two sides should instead talk about how to "recommit" to their partnership. | Thousands of anti-government protesters turned out in the capital and southern Iraq, many calling on both Iran and America to leave Iraq, reflecting their anger and frustration over the two rivals — both allies of Baghdad — trading blows on Iraqi soil. | The request from Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi pointed to his determin…

Staff (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…

The Canary (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…

Staff (2020-01-10). Sanders Campaign Says 'Bring It' Following Trump's Attacks. truthdig.com After President Donald Trump's reelection campaign used its massive email list to go after potential 2020 rival Sen. Bernie Sanders on two consecutive days this week, team Sanders welcomed the president's attacks as a sign that he views the Vermont senator as a serious threat to his hopes for a second term. | In an email Wednesday attacking Sanders for condemning the likely illegal U.S. assassination of…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-01-10). Mexico assumes presidency of CELAC and revives the mechanism of regional integration. peoplesdispatch.org On January 8, a summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) was held in Mexico City, Mexico. It was attended by ministers and delegates of 29 regional countries. The main objective of the summit was to strengthen the regional integration in the face of current socio-political conflicts in the region. | Under the leadership of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), Mexico assumed the pro tempore presidency of the CELAC for the year 2020-2021. | President AMLO shared the news on his twitter account. "Today, Mexico assumed the presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribb…

Staff (2020-01-10). Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower: Facebook Allows Racist, Sexist Political Ads. truthout.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 r…

Glen Black (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…

Alan Macleod (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."

RT (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…

RT (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…

Staff (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…

RT (2020-01-08). Shell-shocked pundits come crawling back to Hillary over Trump's Iran belligerence… forgetting she'd have started war sooner. rt.com Social media sang praises of would-be US President Hillary Clinton as actual President Donald Trump seemed headed for all-out war with Iran — even though Clinton had been a much more enthusiastic participant in US wars. | After Iranian missiles struck several US bases Tuesday night, #Resistance twitter wasted no time disavowing the administration they blamed for the hostilities, running into the arms of his arch-rival with the #IVotedforHillaryClinton hashtag. | I'm proud to raise my hand and say that I voted for Intelligence. | I voted for Leadership. | I voted for Experience. | I voted for Maturity.

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Ryan Cristián (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 …

Ramzy Baroud (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…

Matt Bruenig (2019-12-01). The Usual Incoherence on Student Benefits Is Back. peoplespolicyproject.org Of all the welfare state topics, student benefits manages to consistently attract the most incoherent and weird arguments, and the recent spate of arguments on this front are no exception. In the last week, a student benefit dustup has been instigated by Pete Buttigieg ostensibly being against free public college for millionaires and billionaires while Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are ostensibly for it. | This has set off the usual round of commentary about how Buttigieg is arguing for means-testing while Warren and Sanders are arguing f…

Matt Bruenig (2019-11-17). CAP's Topher Spiro Is Trying to Deceive Journalists By Lying. peoplespolicyproject.org It's been fun to see how the Center for American Progress (CAP) navigates this year's presidential election. For insider political reasons, they can't support Biden or Sanders. But for a long time, it was unclear who the alternative candidate they could support would be. | When Kamala Harris was rising, CAP's staff was doing overtime boosting her on Twitter and in the press, including boosting Harris's absurd health care proposal. But Harris's collapse put an end to that strategy. Recently Warren has risen as the alternative and so CAP has been working to promote her campaign, which puts CAP in the comical positi…

2020-01-12: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

Under US pressure, social media companies censor critical content and suspend Venezuelan, Iranian, and Syrian accounts
Ben Norton | thegrayzone.com | 2020-01-13
As the US escalates its hybrid wars, Twitter and Facebook are suspending accounts and censoring content that conflicts with Washington's…
thegrayzone.com/2020/01/12/us-pressure-social-media-censoring-suspending-venezuela-iran-syria/

Culture Jam at Facebook HQ: Protesters Hijack Giant "Like" Billboard Pt. I
Text RR Photos Chris Cassell, Pro Bono Photo | indybay.org | 2020-01-12
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.
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/11/18829662.php

"Thumbs Down" Protest at Facebook
Leon Kunstenaar | indybay.org | 2020-01-12
Photos: Leon Kunstenaar/Pro Bono Photo | Protesters converge on Facebook headquarters.
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/10/18829614.php

Culture Jam at Facebook HQ: Protesters Hijack Giant "Like" Billboard Pt. II
RR Photos Chris Cassell, Pro Bono Photo | indybay.org | 2020-01-12
Not the first, but one of the earliest and best examples of Silicon Valley culture jamming.
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/12/18829676.php

"Thumbs Down" Protest at Facebook
Leon Kunstenaar | indybay.org | 2020-01-12
Photos: Leon Kunstenaar/Pro Bono Photo | Protesters converge on Facebook headquarters.
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/10/18829614.php

Facebook 'thought police' censors pro-Iran posts 'to comply with US sanctions'… as Trump warns Tehran against censorship
rt.com | 2020-01-12
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…
rt.com/news/478044-instagram-iran-trump-censorship/

Iran's Accidental Downing of a Ukrainian Plane Is Already Being Used to Smear MH-17 Skeptics
Max Parry | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-12
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 …
globalresearch.ca/iran-accidental-downing-ukrainian-plane-used-smear-mh-17-skeptics/5700281

Alert Signal Goes Off in South Israel Near Gaza Strip, No Threat of Rocket Fire – IDF
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-12
The Israeli Defence Forces earlier wrote on Twitter that an alarm was sounded at Kibbutz Nahal Oz in the southern district of the country.
sputniknews.com/middleeast/202001121078014464-alert-signal-goes-off-in-south-israel-near-gaza-strip—idf/

Oops! Canadian nuclear power plant 'incident' alert turns out to be 'error' after 'Chernobyl' Twitter panic
rt.com | 2020-01-12
It was 7: 24am Sunday when Ontario residents received a chilling alert about an "incident" at one of the world's oldest nuclear power stations located a few kilometers away from Canada's most populous city of Toronto. | Pickering power plant, located on the shore of Lake Ontario, sent out an alert stating that emergency staff are responding to an incident at the facility, although "there has been no abnormal release of radioactivity from the station." It also said that locals do not need to evacuate or take any other protective measures. | I was just awoken by my phone blaring an emergency alarm. There's been a…
rt.com/news/478070-canada-pickering-incident-false-alert/

Several Rockets Hit Iraqi Airbase: 4 Wounded
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-12
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…
telesurenglish.net/news/Several-Rockets-Hit-Iraqi-Airbase-4-Wounded-20200112-0006.html

'Impeached for life': Pelosi sets off Twitter fireworks, falsely claims Dems pursuing subpoena-defying witnesses
rt.com | 2020-01-12
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…
rt.com/usa/478086-pelosi-impeached-for-life/

'Impeached for life': Pelosi sets off Twitter fireworks, falsely claims Dems pursuing subpoena-defying witnesses
rt.com | 2020-01-12
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…
rt.com/usa/478086-pelosi-impeached-for-life/

Oops! Canadian nuclear power plant 'incident' alert turns out to be 'error' after 'Chernobyl' Twitter panic
rt.com | 2020-01-12
It was 7: 24am Sunday when Ontario residents received a chilling alert about an "incident" at one of the world's oldest nuclear power stations located a few kilometers away from Canada's most populous city of Toronto. | Pickering power plant, located on the shore of Lake Ontario, sent out an alert stating that emergency staff are responding to an incident at the facility, although "there has been no abnormal release of radioactivity from the station." It also said that locals do not need to evacuate or take any other protective measures. | I was just awoken by my phone blaring an emergency alarm. There's been a…
rt.com/news/478070-canada-pickering-incident-false-alert/

This Iranian War Vet Has Some Advice for Trump: Don't Play Checkers with the Grandmasters of Chess
Habib Ahmadzadeh | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-12
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 …
globalresearch.ca/iranian-war-vet-has-some-advice-trump-dont-play-checkers-grandmasters-chess/5685775

As Trial Nears, Trump Keeps Discredited Ukraine Theory Alive
Staff | truthdig.com | 2020-01-12
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

Turkey extends condolences to Oman over Sultan's death
yenisafak.com | 2020-01-12
Turkey on Saturday extended condolences to Oman over the death of longtime ruler Qaboos bin Said al Said.In a Twitter post, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "I wish Allah's mercy on Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said al Said, who was a key figure for Oman's welfare and development with his efforts as well as for the politics in our region."In a separate Twitter post, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "Heartfelt condolences to the brotherly people of #Oman who lost a visionary leader, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said. May his soul rest in eternal peace. @MofaOman @Oman_GC."Sultan Qaboos die…
yenisafak.com/en/world/turkey-extends-condolences-to-oman-over-sultans-death-3509456

Protesters gather again in Iran, chant against authorities
yenisafak.com | 2020-01-12
Scores of protesters gathered for a second day in Iran on Sunday chanting slogans against the authorities following the military's admission it had shot down a passenger plane in error after days denying it was to blame, social media posts showed.
yenisafak.com/en/world/protesters-gather-again-in-iran-chant-against-authorities-3509461

Turkey 'neutralizes' 2 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq
yenisafak.com | 2020-01-12
Turkish security forces "neutralized" two PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the Defense Ministry said on Sunday."Two PKK terrorists were neutralized in an air-back operation in Metina region of northern Iraq," the ministry said on Twitter adding that the operations will continue.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.PKK terrorists often use northern Iraq to plan cross-border terrorist attacks in Turkey.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK

'Your courage is inspiring!' Trump tweets in FARSI, backing Iranian protesters against Tehran govt
rt.com | 2020-01-11
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 &yuml…
rt.com/usa/478043-trump-iran-tweet-protests/

Iran Admits Fault in Downing of Ukranian Airliner
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-11
Iran announced on Saturday that a preliminary investigation into the crash of the Ukrainian airliner that was flying to Kiev from Tehran earlier this week was caused by human error. | RELATED: ‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã | Palestinian Militants Not Yet Ready to Avenge Iran | Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter that "human error at time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism l…
telesurenglish.net/news/Iran-Admits-Fault-in-Downing-of-Ukranian-Airliner-20200111-0001.html

At Least 7 Dead as Severe Storm Plows Through Southern U.S
Staff | truthdig.com | 2020-01-11
BENTON, La.

EvaluÃÅan declarar a Puerto Rico zona de desastre tras terremotos
Prensa Latina | peoplesworld.org | 2020-01-11
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 …
peoplesworld.org/article/evaluan-declarar-a-puerto-rico-zona-de-desastre-tras-terremotos/

'Democracy for sale': Cambridge Analytica & big tech's history of manipulating elections
Amy Goodman | nationofchange.org | 2020-01-11
"So was Facebook responsible for Donald Trump getting elected? I think the answer is yes."
nationofchange.org/2020/01/11/democracy-for-sale-cambridge-analytica-big-techs-history-of-manipulating-elections/

Boston area professor fired after anti-Trump Facebook posting
wsws.org | 2020-01-11
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.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/11/babs-j11.html

Study Finds Bots and MAGA Supporters Pushing #IraniansDetestSoleimani Hashtag
Alan Macleod | mintpressnews.com | 2020-01-10
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."
mintpressnews.com/study-bots-maga-supporters-iraniansdetestsoleimani-hashtag/264024/

Study Finds Bots and MAGA Supporters Pushing #IraniansDetestSoleimani Hashtag
Alan Macleod | mintpressnews.com | 2020-01-10
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."
mintpressnews.com/study-bots-maga-supporters-iraniansdetestsoleimani-hashtag/264024/

'HOLY S**T': Deepfake YouTuber 'embarasses' Netflix & Scorsese by de-aging 'The Irishman' better than they ever could
rt.com | 2020-01-10
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

Mexico assumes presidency of CELAC and revives the mechanism of regional integration
Peoples Dispatch | peoplesdispatch.org | 2020-01-10
On January 8, a summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) was held in Mexico City, Mexico. It was attended by ministers and delegates of 29 regional countries. The main objective of the summit was to strengthen the regional integration in the face of current socio-political conflicts in the region. | Under the leadership of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), Mexico assumed the pro tempore presidency of the CELAC for the year 2020-2021. | President AMLO shared the news on his twitter account. "Today, Mexico assumed the presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribb…
peoplesdispatch.org/2020/01/10/mexico-assumes-presidency-of-celac-and-revives-the-mechanism-of-regional-integration/

China mourns native paddlefish after scientists declare it extinct
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-01-10
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…
thecanary.co/discovery/news-discovery/2020/01/10/china-mourns-native-paddlefish-after-scientists-declare-it-extinct/

Study Finds Bots and MAGA Supporters Pushing #IraniansDetestSoleimani Hashtag
Alan Macleod | theantimedia.com | 2020-01-10
The hashtag #IraniansDetestSoleimani has been trending on Twitter this week, as users voiced their opposition to Qasem Soleimani.

Study Finds Bots and MAGA Supporters Pushing #IraniansDetestSoleimani Hashtag

"Democracy For Sale": Cambridge Analytica & Big Tech's History of Manipulating Elections
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-10
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…
www.democracynow.org/2020/1/10/2020_election_digital_manipulation_cambridge_analytica

Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower: Facebook Allows Racist, Sexist Political Ads
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-01-10
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 r…
truthout.org/video/cambridge-analytica-whistleblower-facebook-allows-racist-sexist-political-ads/

'Alien baby': Internet shook by 'pregnancy announcement' from Elon Musk's girlfriend Grimes
rt.com | 2020-01-09
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…
rt.com/usa/477853-grimes-musk-baby-announcement/

Trump Backs Away from Threats to Retaliate for Iranian Missile Strikes, Promises New Sanctions
Whitney Webb | mintpressnews.com | 2020-01-08
Following Iran's military response to the deaths of Soleimani and his Iraqi ally, Trump's tone

Shell-shocked pundits come crawling back to Hillary over Trump's Iran belligerence… forgetting she'd have started war sooner
rt.com | 2020-01-08
Social media sang praises of would-be US President Hillary Clinton as actual President Donald Trump seemed headed for all-out war with Iran

A View from Tehran: Iranian Professor Condemns U.S. Aggression & Warns U.S.-Backed Gulf States
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-08
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…
www.democracynow.org/2020/1/8/mohammad_marandi_iran_us_bases_iraq

"The Great Hack": Big Data Firms Helped Sway the 2016 Election. Could It Happen Again in 2020?
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-07
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…
www.democracynow.org/2020/1/7/the_great_hack_documentary_cambridge_analytica

"The Great Hack": Big Data Firms Helped Sway the 2016 Election. Could It Happen Again in 2020?
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-07
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…
www.democracynow.org/2020/1/7/the_great_hack_documentary_cambridge_analytica

Propaganda Machine: The Military Roots of Cambridge Analytica's Psychological Manipulation of Voters
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-07
We continue our discussion of data harvesting, targeted advertising and voter manipulation

Propaganda Machine: The Military Roots of Cambridge Analytica's Psychological Manipulation of Voters
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-07
We continue our discussion of data harvesting, targeted advertising and voter manipulation

Meet Brittany Kaiser, Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower Releasing Troves of New Files from Data Firm
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-07
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…
www.democracynow.org/2020/1/7/the_great_hack_cambridge_analytica

Meet Brittany Kaiser, Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower Releasing Troves of New Files from Data Firm
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-07
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…
www.democracynow.org/2020/1/7/the_great_hack_cambridge_analytica

More Rockets Fired At US Embassy, US Iranians Detained & Trump Says Twitter Is "Notifying Congress"
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2020-01-06
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 …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/more-rockets-fired-at-us-embassy-us-iranians-detained-trump-says-twitter-is-notifying-congress/