2021-02-03: News Headlines

_____ (2021-02-03). Misinformation market: Money-making tools Facebook hands to Covid cranks. truepublica.org.uk By Jasper Jackson, Alexandra Heal: The video on Facebook opens with a question: "Could this be bio-terrorism?" Talking directly into the camera, the unshaven young man continues in a sarcastic American drawl: "I'm sure that there's no possible way that somebody could play Frankenstein and create the monster that they didn't mean to, or in many cases, …

MEE and agencies (2021-02-03). Turkey: Twitter labels minister's 'LGBT deviants' post hateful amid university protest. middleeasteye.net Turkey: Twitter labels minister's 'LGBT deviants' post hateful amid university protest | Interior minister angered over picture mixing LGBT symbols and Islamic images during protests against Istanbul rector's appointment | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 08: 19 | Police detained 159 students on Monday after breaking up a group planning an all-night vigil outside the rector's office (AFP) | Intensifying…

Lubna Masarwa (2021-02-03). Protests erupt over killing of Palestinian citizen of Israel during police shoot-out. middleeasteye.net Protests erupt over killing of Palestinian citizen of Israel during police shoot-out | The death of Ahmed Hijazi, a 22-year-old nursing student, has reignited anger over Israel's selective policing of Palestinian communities in the country | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 14: 29 | Palestinian protesters in the town of Umm al-Fahm carry a placard saying "We are killed while the police are laughing" (Twitter\@ume…

Staff (2021-02-03). Remdesivir's History Shows How Americans Pay More for Drugs Than Others Globally. truthout.org It was the end of April — just as the U.S. confirmed its millionth covid-19 case and 50,000 deaths — when White House adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci announced "highly significant" news about a drug called remdesivir. | That was surprising because the antiviral drug, owned by Gilead Sciences and developed with investment from the federal government, had languished for years with no apparent commercial use. It had struck out as a treatment for hepatitis C and Ebola. | But early in 202…

yenisafak (2021-02-03). Top Turkish, Norwegian diplomats discuss relations. yenisafak.com Turkish and Norwegian foreign ministers on Wednesday met virtually and discussed bilateral relations, regional and global developments.In a Twitter post, Turkey's Mevlut Cavusoglu said he discussed bilateral relations and recent developments in Nagorno-Karabakh, Syria, Libya, the US, and the East Mediterranean with his Norwegian counterpart Eriksen Soreide.Turkey and Norway maintained its "bilateral trade volume despite the pandemic," Cavusoglu noted, and wished "further cooperation in every field, particularly energy."Meanwhile, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said in a Twitter post that Soreide had a "good and f…

RT (2021-02-03). MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell gets his company banned from Twitter, provokes Newsmax host to WALK OFF SET with election-fraud claims. rt.com Twitter has banished MyPillow after company founder Mike Lindell used the account to reiterate claims of election fraud and accuse the social media platform's chief executive, Jack Dorsey, of being "tied into" the alleged crimes. | "Jack Dorsey is trying to cancel me (Mike Lindell) out," Lindell tweeted through MyPillow's account on Sunday, in a message thanking supporters who ordered pillows after Kohl's and other major retailers stopped carrying the company's products. "We are extremely busy and hiring as fast as we can to handle all the shipping. Jack (Dorsey) will be found out and should be put in prison w…

Andrew Korybko (2021-02-03). Examining The Ethics & Implications Of Twitter's Censorship Policy In India. thealtworld.com Twitter caused a stir by complying with the Indian government's request to temporarily "withhold" access to dozens of accounts for users within the country in response to claims that they were "inciting violence" during the ongoing farmers' protests, which prompts some very important ethical questions that have a few disturbing implications for the freedoms of speech and assembly in Western-style democracies across the world. | Everyone across the world is talking about social media censorship after former US President Trump was deplatformed last month by the world's largest companies in this sphere following the…

yenisafak (2021-02-03). Top Turkish diplomat attends 18th MIKTA meeting. yenisafak.com "Attended 18th FM Meeting of MIKTA with Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea and Australia," Cavusoglu said in a Twitter post.Established in 2013, MIKTA is an informal partnership consisting of Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, and Australia.Cavusoglu "thanked South Korea for her term and congratulated incoming Chair Australia.""MIKTA is a good model for multilateral diplomacy. Will continue our contributions," the top Turkish diplomat added.

yenisafak (2021-02-03). Turkish manufacturing industry starts 'strong' 2021. yenisafak.com All preliminary indicators show that the Turkish manufacturing industry made a "strong start" in 2021, the country's industry and technology minister said Wednesday."We will continue to keep our country's agenda on investment, employment, production, and exports," Mustafa Varank said on Twitter.He added that Turkey would make itself a winner of…

ParkNonymous (2021-02-03). California YIMBY Comms Director Lies About Berkeley Parks. indybay.org Matthew Lewis, the Communications Director for the lobby group California YIMBY, has been spreading disinformation about available park space in Berkeley. The CAYIMBY Communications Director is messaging on social media for the purpose of riling public open against People's Park.

Colin Todhunter (2021-02-03). Viral Inequality and the Farmers' Struggle in India. counterpunch.org According to a new report by Oxfam, 'The Inequality Virus', the wealth of the world's billionaires increased by $3.9tn (trillion) between 18 March and 31 December 2020. Their total wealth now stands at $11.95tn. The world's 10 richest billionaires have collectively seen their wealth increase by $540bn over this period. In September 2020, Jeff Bezos

oneworld.press (2021-02-03). Facebook Is Meddling In Myanmar's Legally Implemented State Of Emergency. oneworld.press Facebook deplatformed the page for the Myanmar military's TV network on the basis that it spread "misinformation that delegitimizes the outcome of November's election" despite the social media giant having no right to arbitrate in a foreign country's domestic political dispute, especially not since the recently announced state of emergency was legally implemented in accordance with Chapter XI of the 2008 Constitution despite some abroad wrongly considering it to be an illegal "coup".

oneworld.press (2021-02-03). Facebook Is Meddling In Myanmar's Legally Implemented State Of Emergency. oneworld.press Facebook deplatformed the page for the Myanmar military's TV network on the basis that it spread "misinformation that delegitimizes the outcome of November's election" despite the social media giant having no right to arbitrate in a foreign country's domestic political dispute, especially not since the recently announced state of emergency was legally implemented in accordance with Chapter XI of the 2008 Constitution despite some abroad wrongly considering it to be an illegal "coup".

oneworld.press (2021-02-03). Examining The Ethics & Implications Of Twitter's Censorship Policy In India. oneworld.press Twitter caused a stir by complying with the Indian government's request to temporarily "withhold" access to dozens of accounts for users within the country in response to claims that they were "inciting violence" during the ongoing farmers' protests, which prompts some very important ethical questions that have a few disturbing implications for the freedoms of speech and assembly in Western-style democracies across the world.

oneworld.press (2021-02-03). Examining The Ethics & Implications Of Twitter's Censorship Policy In India. oneworld.press Twitter caused a stir by complying with the Indian government's request to temporarily "withhold" access to dozens of accounts for users within the country in response to claims that they were "inciting violence" during the ongoing farmers' protests, which prompts some very important ethical questions that have a few disturbing implications for the freedoms of speech and assembly in Western-style democracies across the world.

RT (2021-02-02). Not so Innocent anymore: smoothie maker bends the knee, issues apology for following 'transphobe' pensioner on Twitter. rt.com British smoothie company Innocent Drinks was hauled before the court of social justice and issued a groveling apology for the crime of following one allegedly transphobic pensioner on Twitter. | Innocent Drinks may be guilty of charging an arm and a leg for their smoothies and juices, but the brand was never known for its bigotry. However, one eagle-eyed Twitter user looked through the 31,000 accounts the company follows last month and discovered with horror that 76-year-old Margaret Nelson was among them. | Nelson, the user complained, is a "clear transphobe," and following her was "too political" for a smoot…

RT (2021-02-02). Bill Gates calls for global alert system and 'pandemic fire squads' for post-Covid-19 world. rt.com Social media users are recoiling at Bill Gates' call for a global disease alert system, questioning why a tech billionaire with no medical expertise or elected office is plotting what they fear could become a platform for tyranny. | The Microsoft co-founder, who ranks as the world's third-richest person, took to Twitter on Monday to make his pitch for a new system that he said would help prevent future pandemics. This would include "mega testing diagnostic platforms" that could test 20 percent of the population every week, Gates said in a video promoting his plans. He added that future treatments, such as mono…

RT (2021-02-02). Elon Musk takes Twitter hiatus after publicly backing bitcoin & acknowledging his comments could affect markets. rt.com Elon Musk has announced that he is staying off Twitter for the time being, after a headline-grabbing week in which he made market-shaking comments about cryptocurrencies and the ongoing GameStop stock drama. | "Off Twitter for a while," the world's richest man tweeted, without elaborating on the reason for his social media sabbatical. | Off Twitter for a while— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) Although no stranger to the media limelight, Musk has had an unusually chaotic week, in which he voiced support for…

RT (2021-02-02). Acronyms are 'symptoms of white supremacy', says San Francisco public schools' art dept, after dropping its abbreviation. rt.com The San Francisco Unified School District Arts Department has decided to abandon its acronym, apparently in a bid to end racism — but many Twitter users have failed to appreciate this historic step forward for equality. | Formerly known as 'VAPA', short for 'Visual and Performing Arts', the department announced that going forward it would be referred to as the SFUSD Arts Department because "acronyms are a symptom of white supremacy culture," a local ABC affiliate

RT (2021-02-02). Marjorie Greene Taylor hits back after Mitch McConnell dubs her 'GOP cancer,' says 'weak Republicans' will doom party & country. rt.com Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has responded to a scathing attack by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell — who dubbed her a "cancer" for the GOP — insisting that "weak" Republicans would be the country's downfall. | "The real cancer for the Republican Party is weak Republicans who only know how to lose gracefully," the freshman GOP congresswoman wrote in a tweet on Monday night. | This is why we are losing our country. | The real cancer for the Republican Party is weak Republicans who only know how to lose gracefully. | This is why we are losing our country.— Marjorie Taylor Greene &#…

Chris Dickerson (2021-02-02). West Virginia Newspaper Company Accuses Google, Facebook of Digital Advertising Antitrust Violations. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | The state's largest newspaper company has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit …

teleSUR (2021-02-01). Guaido Prevents the Use of Frozen Funds for Vaccines. anti-empire.com Jan 21 (teleSUR) — The former lawmaker rejected a proposal of the legitimate government to allocate gold blocked in the United Kingdom to anti-COVID-19 vaccines. | Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza denounced Wednesday that former opposition deputy Juan Guaidó rejected a proposal by the legitimate government of the South American nation to allocate 120 million dollars, illegally withheld in the United Kingdom, to the purchase of anti-Covid-19 vaccines. | In a message disseminated through the social network Twitter, Arreaza detailed that this maneuver constitutes "another proof of the cruelty of Guaid…

RT (2021-02-01). Former head of Twitter Europe warns anonymity ban won't stop racism on social media. rt.com Twitter's former Europe boss, Bruce Daisley, has warned social media sites that simply removing the anonymity of users will not solve the problem of racism on their platforms, calling on companies to do more to address the issue. | Speaking to the BBC on Monday, Daisley addressed some of the proposals that have been presented to tackle the growing issue of racism and other abusive behavior on social media, with culprits often accused of hiding behind fake or anonymous profiles. | Calling on social media firms, including Twitter, to do more to address toxic content on their platforms, Daisley warned that a "sim…

Nadda Osman (2021-02-01). Murder of Lebanese model Zeina Kanjo causes uproar online. middleeasteye.net Murder of Lebanese model Zeina Kanjo causes uproar online | Many have called for greater protection of women and improved domestic violence laws | Mon, 02/01/2021 – 13: 58 | Kanjo's death has been condemned online, with many calling for accountability (Screengrab/Twitter) | The murder of a Lebanese model, Zeina Kanjo, on Sunday evening has been condemned online, and reignited conversations about the prot…

WSWS (2021-02-01). Emmy Butlin and Maxine Walker of the UK Committee to Defend Julian Assange oppose Facebook censorship of the Socialist Equality Party/IYSSE. wsws.org The WSWS has been sent letters from Emmy Butlin and Maxine Walker, of the Committee to Defend Julian Assange (JADC) in opposition to the censorship of the World Socialist Web Site and Socialist Equality Parties by Facebook.

Raul Diego (2021-02-01). UK Labour Party's Hiring of Former Israeli Spy Completes the Post-Corbyn Transformation. mintpressnews.com UK Labour is in the throes of a makeover as the new leader of the opposition taps a notorious Israeli Unit 8200 alumnus to lead its social media in the push for a 2024 victory.

Alan Macleod (2021-02-01). "At First I Thought it Was a Joke": Academic Media Censorship Conference Censored by YouTube. mintpressnews.com The entire video record of the conference — estimated at around 24 hours of material — was mysteriously disappeared from YouTube say conference organizers.

yenisafak (2021-02-01). EU to get 75M extra Pfizer/BioNTech virus vaccine doses. yenisafak.com US pharmaceutical company Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech will deliver an additional 75 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the EU until summer, the head of the European Commission said on Monday."BioNTech/ Pfizer will deliver 75 million of additional doses in the second quarter of the year – and up to 600 millions in total in 2021″, Ursula von der Leyen said in a Twitter post.‚Ä®On Sunday, the UK-based AstraZeneca also agreed to deliver 9 million more jabs to the bloc during the first three months of the year, making it 40 million doses for the period.‚Ä®This came as a sign…

RT (2021-02-01). Facebook leak: Zuckerberg admits having TOO MUCH POWER but cheers new administration, seeks to WORK WITH BIDEN on key issues. rt.com Project Veritas has posted leaked videos exposing internal talks at Facebook lamenting the company's admittedly excessive power but at the same time seeking to use its influence to "work with" President Joe Biden's administration. | "These were all important and positive steps," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said of the executive orders on immigration, Covid-19 and other issues that Biden signed right after being inaugurated on January 20. "And I am looking forward to opportunities where Facebook is going to be able to work together with this new administration on some of their top priorities, starting with Cov…

Staff (2021-02-01). 50 House Democrats Back Resolution to Remove Marjorie Taylor Greene From Office. truthout.org Image Credit: Facebook: Marjorie Taylor Greene | Republicans face increasing pressure to strip Georgia Congressmember Marjorie Taylor Greene of her post on the House Education Committee. Greene was elected in November 2020 and is a far-right conspiracy theorist who has promoted QAnon, supported the execution of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and claimed the school shootings in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, and Parkland, Florida, were staged — as was the September 11 attack on the Pentagon. She al…

Mustafa Dahnon (2021-02-01). Syria: Activist's arrest by Turkish-backed forces raises concerns over freedoms. middleeasteye.net Syria: Activist's arrest by Turkish-backed forces raises concerns over freedoms | Hayyan Ibrahim Hababa was detained for nearly two weeks before his release, with relatives fearing for his safety in detention | Mon, 02/01/2021 – 14: 16 | A social media picture of Hayyan Ibrahim Hababa (Facebook) | The arrest of a prominent media activist by Turkish-backed rebel forces has raised concerns about f…

RT (2021-02-01). 'For what?' Alan Dershowitz's nomination of Jared Kushner for Nobel Peace Prize leaves critics bemused. rt.com News that Jared Kushner — former President Donald Trump's son-in-law and ex-senior adviser — has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize provoked outrage and bemusement on social media. | Kushner was nominated for the prize on Sunday by Alan Dershowitz, who worked as a lawyer for Trump, as well as the late serial sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He was put forward for his work setting up the controversial Some on social media compare…

RT (2021-02-01). White House press secretary Psaki finally CIRCLES BACK after trolling from 'conservative Twitter' over repetitive promise. rt.com White House Press Secretary Jen Paski has claimed she doesn't spend "a lot of time" thinking about Donald Trump's absence on social media, but she did turn heads by acknowledging criticism of her from "conservative Twitter." | Psaki addressed a number of issues with the press during a Monday gathering at the White House, but the comment that appeared to stick out most was one directed at what she deemed "conservative Twitter." | "I often note I'm going to circle back, I hate to disappoint conservative Twitter, but I am going to circle back on a number of things," she said before answering a few questions that…

RT (2021-02-01). 13 GOP House members demand AOC apologize to Ted Cruz for accusing him of 'attempted murder'. rt.com Republican members of Congress have sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California), demanding Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) apologize to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) for claiming he tried to have her killed. | "It has come to our attention that Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sent out a tweet in which she accused Senator Cruz, in essence, of attempted murder," the letter, which was obtained and revealed by Washington Examiner on Monday, reads. | The lawmakers are referring to a recent tweet from Ocasio-Cortez in which she said Cruz was among the Republicans who "almost had me murder…

RT (2021-02-01). Former Russian President Medvedev calls Twitter 'politicized' platform, slams ban of Trump & claims site is biased towards Navalny. rt.com Twitter is a "politicized" website, involved with interference in foreign states. That's according to former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who also attacked the platform for blocking former US President Donald Trump's account | Medvedev's comments come after Twitter, along with other social media networks, received blame for allowing Russian opposition figures to advertise protests. | According to the former leader, who now sits on the Russian Security Council, his acquaintance signed up to the popular social network and was immediately recommended to subscribe to Alexey Navalny. When joining Twitter, the…

sputniknews (2021-02-01). 'A True Legend': Tony Bennett Reveals His Struggle With Alzheimer's. sputniknews.com In response to the singer's revelation, numerous social media users rushed to wish him well and to praise him for being a gentleman.

sputniknews (2021-02-01). Video: Chinese Kid Employs 'Drunken' Style Kung Fu. sputniknews.com He protects, he attacks but, most importantly, he does Kung Fu just like in most badass martial arts movies.

ProPublica (2021-02-01). "This Is War": Inside the Secret Chat Where Far-Right Extremists Devised Their Post-Capitol Plans. juancole.com by Logan Jaffe and Jack Gillum | — ( ProPublica ) — When the FBI arrested Edward "Jake" Lang on Jan. 16 for his alleged role in the U.S. Capitol attack, court documents show agents had followed a seemingly straightforward trail from his public social media to collect evidence. "THIS IS ME," Lang wrote over …

Colin Todhunter (2021-02-01). Viral Inequality and the Farmers' Struggle in India. dissidentvoice.org According to a new report by Oxfam, 'The Inequality Virus', the wealth of the world's billionaires increased by $3.9tn (trillion) between 18 March and 31 December 2020. Their total wealth now stands at $11.95tn. The world's 10 richest billionaires have collectively seen their wealth increase by $540bn over this period. In September 2020, Jeff Bezos …

sputniknews (2021-01-31). India's Ruling Party Called Out for Sharing 'Doctored' Video on Benefits of New Farm Laws. sputniknews.com The "doctored" video shared by Sambit Patra, a spokesperson of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), gives the impression that an opposition leader backs Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new farm laws, which have triggered massive protests across the country. Twitter has flagged the video as a result.

sputniknews (2021-01-31). Political Persecution? How US Dems Are Cracking Down on Trump & His Conservative Supporters. sputniknews.com Having taken control over the White House, the House of Representatives and even the Senate in the aftermath of the 2020 election, Democratic politicians appear to still be after private citizen Donald Trump and conservative social media users. A US lawyer known by his nom de plume Techno Fog on Twitter has shed light on Dems' apparent strategy.