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Protecting us from ourselves: Wikipedia founder to fight 'fake news' with new Wikitribune site

Alex Hern
The Guardian
Mon, 24 Apr 2017 16:50 UTC
Jimmie Wales wikipedia
© Felix Clay/Guardian Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia. Photograph:
Crowdfunded online publication from Jimmy Wales will pair paid journalists with army of volunteer contributors

Jimmy Wales, the co-founder of Wikipedia, is launching a new online publication which will aim to fight fake news by pairing professional journalists with an army of volunteer community contributors.

Wikitribune plans to pay for the reporters by raising money from a crowdfunding campaign.

Wales intends to cover general issues, such as US and UK politics, through to specialist science and technology.

Those who donate will become supporters, who in turn will have a say in which subjects and story threads the site focuses on. And Wales intends that the community of readers will fact-check and subedit published articles.

Comment: Nice idea if it were realistic. Anyone who's followed the "editing wars" over controversial subjects on Wikipedia, knows that the loudest voices and a tag-team of editors with an agenda can skew any entry. Why would this latest venture be any different?

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Mr. Potato

Erdogan still can't quite grasp reality: "Assad must go"


RFE/RL
Tue, 25 Apr 2017 17:03 UTC
Erdoğan
© Sputnik
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says there will be no end to the fighting in Syria until President Bashar al-Assad gives up power.

Erdogan told Reuters in an interview in Ankara on April 25 that "Syria should be liberated from Assad so that a solution could emerge" that would end the six-year-old war in the country.

"Assad killed hundreds of thousands of people and I have 3 million refugees in my country, 1.5 million refugees are currently in Lebanon, and there are about 1 million refugees in Jordan and these people have fled their motherlands" because of the Syrian ruler, Erdogan said.

Erdogan also said that "we can no longer speak about a solution with Assad or our efforts will be in vain."


Comment: Erdogan is a bit of a moron. The deaths aren't on Assad's hands, they're on the hands of the terrorists who started the war, and the powers who have supported them for the last six years. That includes Turkey, Mr. Erdogan, in case you have forgotten.

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Briefcase

UK refuses to apologize for disastrous Balfour Declaration, so Palestine plans to sue

Samer Hussein (translator)
Breakingnews.sy / Fort Russ
Tue, 25 Apr 2017 16:55 UTC
Mahmoud Abbas
© Mustafa Yalçın / Anadolu AgencyPalestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attends the 34th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council at the United Nations office in Geneva, Switzerland on February 27, 2017
Palestine's ambassador to Britain, Manuel Hassassian, said that the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas might soon go to the International Court to file a lawsuit against Britain, should the latter not apologize for Balfour Declaration.

"We have asked the British government to give us an answer on this subject and after 3 days of waiting we received a response from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, stating that an apology is unacceptable", Hassassian was heard saying in an interview with the Radio station "Voice of Palestine", on Tuesday.

He also stressed that the Palestinian side will continue its efforts to take legal action against Britain should the latter not apologize for the Balfour Declaration, cancel the planned celebration of its centennial and recognize Palestine as an independent state, adding that the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is ready to resort to such measures if necessary.

He then pointed out that there is a seizable number of British lawyers who follow the issue, saying "This is the only way through which we can close this file permanently." The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not yet responded to the matter.

Previously, the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged Britain to apologize for the Balfour Declaration in a speech that he delivered at the General Assembly of United Nations back in September 2016. The British side did not respond to his calls and decided to organise a celebration in order to mark the centennial of the creation of the Balfour Declaration and which will be held on November 2nd 2017.

Comment: Typical British arrogance. Instead of apologizing, the Brits compound their overbearing pomposity by celebrating one of the worst decisions of the past century. Have they no shame? (Rhetorical question!)

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Handcuffs

Facebook's double standards enable Gestapo-like targeting of Palestinians by Israeli govt


Sputnik
Wed, 26 Apr 2017 16:47 UTC
facebook eye
© Pixabay
Instances of individuals being prosecuted and/or jailed for their social media activities are on the increase the world over. Israel is a world leader in this phenomenon, arresting hundreds annually for their posts - although similar behavior by Israelis is censured neither by Facebook nor the Israeli government.

Data suggests 27 percent of all internet users reside in countries where people can be arrested for publishing, sharing, or even merely "liking" content on Facebook. Authorities in 38 countries made arrests based on social media posts over 2016 — by contrast, people were arrested for content published on news sites or blogs in 21 countries.

Facebookers in Palestine are perhaps the people who need to think most carefully before they post. Between 2015 and 2016, Israeli authorities arrested over 400 Palestinians between 2015 and 2016 because of content they circulated online. Some posted inflammatory remarks, others merely shared news stories. A cursory glance at Facebook's official Requests Report for Israel shows the company responded positively to over 70 percent of the government's 432 requests for user data between January and June 2016 alone. By comparison, Facebook responded positively to just 16 percent of the Jordanian government's (25) requests.
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Chess

Do it! Trump jokingly suggests Nikki Haley can easily be replaced, while sitting right next to her

Dana Eisenberg
Mediaite
Tue, 25 Apr 2017 16:37 UTC
trump haley
Monday, during a lunch meeting with Security Council ambassadors at the White House, President Donald Trump decided to make a joke about firing UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, while sitting right next to ... UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.

"I want to thank Ambassador Nikki Haley for her outstanding leadership, and for acting as my personal envoy on the Security Council. She's doing a good job," he said. "Now, does everybody like Nikki?" he asked. "Because if you don't... Otherwise, she can easily be replaced."

LOL, right? He continued:

"No, we won't do that, I promise. We won't do that. She's doing a fantastic job."

Comment: So is it just a joke, or is there some truth to the comment? It's certainly an odd joke to make about someone who's sitting right next to you. Seems like there might be some subtext to Trump's joke that could be a subtle hint to Haley.

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War Whore

Imperial aggression: US announces THAAD missile system will be operational "in the coming days" on heels of joint military drills with S. Korea


RT
Wed, 26 Apr 2017 15:55 UTC
thaad military vehicle
© Kim Jun-beom / ReutersA U.S. military vehicle which is a part of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system arrives in Seongju, South Korea, April 26, 2017
The THAAD missile defense system will be operational "in the coming days," US Pacific Command Admiral Harry Harris told Congress. It comes amid heightened tensions between the US and North Korea.

Speaking to the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, Harris said the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system will be "operational in the coming days to be able to better defend South Korea against the growing North Korea threat."

He called THAAD "very important," adding that it is a "defensive system that will help protect South Korea from ballistic missile attacks from North Korea."


Comment: It's unlikely the THAAD system is being implemented to deter North Korea, but rather to encircle Russia and China with American imperial weaponry. The US likes to crow about 'Russian aggression', but the reality is that putting these so-called "defensive systems" near Russian borders is an aggressive military act that will only force Russia to respond.


THAAD is designed to intercept short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal flight phase. Equipped with long-range radar, it is believed to be capable of intercepting North Korea's intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
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Yoda

Bolivia President Morales: US is selfish and conceited over North Korea issues


RT
Wed, 26 Apr 2017 15:41 UTC
Evo Morales
© elciudadano.gob.ecBolivian President Evo Morales
The US is among states which have a "selfish and conceited mindset" regarding the North Korean issue, Bolivian President Evo Morales has told RT in an exclusive interview. He also noted that Syria is crucial for gaining control over the Middle East.

"I don't understand how the governments of some countries, the US president, for example, have such a selfish and conceited mindset. Every administration should think of humanity in the first place and respect nation's identity, equality of states," Morales said.

Tensions have been escalating between Washington and Seoul on one side and Pyongyang on the other in recent months.

While the US and its Western allies slammed North Korea over its missile tests, Pyongyang lashed out at Washington over its deployment of the THAAD missile system to South Korea and joint military drills with the South.
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Quenelle - Golden

The French prefer to scuttle their own ship, choose Macron (Vichy France) over Le Pen (la Résistance)

Thierry Meyssan
Voltaire Network
Tue, 25 Apr 2017 15:40 UTC
We are witnessing an historical reversal in France, where the ancient political spectrum is exploding into pieces as new fractures appear. Because of the intensive storm of media propaganda which has recently almost drowned the nation, the French can now perceive nothing more than the essential markers, and cling to red lines which no longer exist. However, the facts are clear, and certain evolutions are predictable.
emmanuel macron
Private soiree at La Rotonde in Paris – congratulated as the new French President after 'winning' the first round, Emmanuel Macron welcomes personalities from the CAC40 and the entertainment world on the evening of the first round of the election. Seen here with his friend, the banker and 'French Brzezinski', Jacques Attali.
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Light Sabers

Ivanka Trump denies influencing Trump to strike Syria after chemical weapons attack false flag


RT
Wed, 26 Apr 2017 15:51 UTC
ivanka and donald trump
© Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
US President Donald Trump's daughter and assistant Ivanka has dismissed claims she inspired her father's decision to launch a barrage of Tomahawk cruise missiles against Syria.

"That's a flawed interpretation," she said during her visit to Germany to participate in a women's summit, according to US media.

The recently appointed Assistant to the US President said the decision to strike Syria was "well-informed and advised at every level," adding that "as a leader of a country you can't make decision based on emotion alone."

Ivanka's comments follow her brother's interview with the Telegraph, which has been interpreted as a hint at her possible influence.

"Ivanka is a mother of three kids and she has influence. I'm sure she said: 'Listen, this is horrible stuff,'" Eric Trump told the Telegraph, adding that his father "will act in times like that."
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Stormtrooper

'Full scale' terrorist attack drill staged around Washington DC ahead of North Korea briefing


RT
Wed, 26 Apr 2017 14:08 UTC
Secret Service Counter Assault Team
© Mike Theiler / ReutersMembers of the Secret Service Counter Assault Team
If you're walking around Washington DC early Wednesday, you may encounter blaring sirens, stressed emergency service personnel, police cordons and utter pandemonium. Not to worry, it's part of a 'full scale' terrorist attack drill.

Hundreds of police, fire, and emergency medical service personnel, as well as volunteer actors, will take part in the exercise, designed to prepare for the possibility of "a complex coordinated terror attack in the National Capital Region."

The drill will be staged at six sites in the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. It occurs just hours before the entire US Senate attend a major White House briefing on North Korea.

The drill will start at 7:30am EST. The public have been reassured that it will take place in a "controlled environment," and that there is no cause for alarm.
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