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☆ Fact Check-Video of snow falling near the Kaaba in Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mosque of Mecca is digitally altered
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A video showing snow falling at the Kaaba in Saudi Arabia’s Masjid al-Haram, the Grand Mosque of Mecca, has been digitally altered, according to the kingdom’s National Center for Meteorology. Similar versions can be seen on Facebook (here and here) and Twitter (here), where it has amassed hundreds of thousands of interactions. However, the video has been manipulated, according to Hussain Al-Qahtani, the official spokesperson of Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Meteorology (NCM). “The rolling video of snow falling on #SacredMosque is not correct and has been processed with additional effects,” he wrote on Twitter (here). Snow did not fall near the Kaaba in Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mosque on Jan. 1, 2023.

☆ Elon Musk slams 'corporate journalism' over its response to the Twitter Files: 'Why is it rushing to defend the state instead of the people?'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk accused "corporate journalism" of failing to side with the people over the Twitter Files. Musk retweeted a Substack article that criticized CNN for a report that denied his accusations. Musk added: "Why is corporate journalism rushing to defend the state instead of the people?" FBI agents then sent emails to Twitter staff suggesting certain accounts be banned for spreading misinformation about issues such as election integrity, per the Twitter Files. But Musk and some freelance journalists are annoyed that the Twitter Files haven't received more support from the press.

☆ Whoopi Goldberg faces backlash after repeating false Holocaust comments
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Julianne Mcshane | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Why believe what they’re saying?”“It wasn’t originally [about race],” Goldberg continued. While the Auschwitz Memorial's tweet did not mention Goldberg by name, several other Jewish leaders used the tweet to call out the inaccuracy of Goldberg's comments. A Holocaust survivor, Lucy Lipiner, condemned Goldberg's comments in a tweet, writing that she "continues to use the Holocaust as her punching bag." "We told her that her comments harm us and she simply doesn't care," Lipiner wrote, referencing Goldberg's comments on "The View" in January. Those earlier comments led ABC News to suspend Goldberg for two weeks, with president Kim Godwin calling the comments “wrong and hurtful.” Goldberg apologized for those comments within hours.

☆ Bloomberg has no interest in acquiring Dow Jones or the Washington Post, spokesman says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Dec 25 (Reuters) - Bloomberg L.P. confirmed on Sunday that it has no interest in acquiring either Dow Jones or the Washington Post, a Bloomberg L.P. spokesman said in a tweet. loading"There have been no conversations with anyone or either organization about an acquisition," spokesman Ty Trippet said in the tweet, which was retweeted by Michael Bloomberg. News website Axios reported on Friday the billionaire owner of Bloomberg L.P. was interested in acquiring either WSJ parent Dow Jones from Rupert Murdoch's News Corp (NWSA.O), or the Washington Post from Amazon.com's (AMZN.O) Jeff Bezos, citing a source familiar with Bloomberg's thinking. Reporting by Lavanya Ahire in Bengaluru; editing by Diane CraftOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Twitter has given new square business badges to some of its staff, news outlets, and a close friend of Elon Musk — but not Musk himself
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Twitter introduced a new square badge to show where company verified accounts are employed. At least 10 Twitter staff have the new badge, but Elon Musk doesn't. Musk himself, however, has not got a square badge, despite owning the company and spearheading the verification changes. Musk retweeted the official announcement for the feature, but is yet to address the poll which saw Twitter users vote for him to step down as CEO. The news outlet Bloomberg also has access to the square badge, which is currently being used for different sections of the outlet's coverage, but not individual journalists.

☆ Elon Musk is tweeting about basically everything — apart from the poll where users said he should give up control of Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Elon Musk polled Twitter users on Sunday about whether he should give up control of the company. Musk, who has run the site since buying it in late October, said he'd abide by the results of the poll. "Should I step down as head of Twitter?," Musk had tweeted. Shortly after posting the poll, Musk tweeted: "As the saying goes, be careful what you wish, as you might get it." Some users and activist groups say there has been a rise in hate speech on the platform since Musk took over.

Sharon Osbourne was hospitalized Friday evening in California following "an unspecified medical emergency," according to the Santa Paula Police Department. The medical emergency was "non-life threatening," a source familiar with the matter told NBC News. “I am with you,” Osbourne tweeted in support of Morgan following the interview. Osbourne also recently spoke out about the new Harry & Meghan docuseries while on Morgan's Talk TV show, "Piers Morgan Uncensored." “I was totally bored by the whining, the whining, the whining."

☆ Twitter suspends multiple journalists who have been covering, criticizing Elon Musk
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Twitter suspended several journalists' accounts on Thursday. Many of the affected writers had been covering or criticizing Elon Musk in the preceding days. But Rupar told Insider that he didn't believe he had tweeted or even retweeted anything about the ongoing private jet saga. Nearly all of them had been reporting on Twitter, covering Musk, or writing critically about the billionaire in the days leading up to their suspension. The flight data Musk is trying to keep off Twitter is available online to anyone and relatively easy to track.

☆ The 'Twitter Files' part 2 claimed to 'reveal' that the platform limited some accounts' reach, but that was already public knowledge — and in line with Elon Musk's new 'freedom of speech, not freedom
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | Erin Snodgrass | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Twitter first announced in 2018 it would effectively hide some tweets from conversations and search results, according to The Washington Post's Will Oremus. Critics, and there were many, especially as prominent Republicans were impacted, referred to Twitter's practice of limiting certain tweets' visibility as "shadowbanning." In her thread, Weiss said Twitter's Strategic Response Team - Global Escalation Team, known as SRT-GET, was the body tasked with deciding which users were marked for "visibility filtering." The description outlined by Weiss of Twitter's internal moderation policy appears to fall in line with Musk's own recently-announced approach to content moderation on the site: "Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom of reach. But Weiss, a former New York Times columnist, is not thought to be a current employee at Twitter.

☆ Elon Musk and Facebook's former chief security officer got into it on Twitter over the release of the 'Twitter Files Part 2'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Elon Musk sparred on Twitter with Facebook's former security chief over "Twitter Files part two." Alex Stamos tweeted "Musk fired the lawyer" who would tell him what happens if non-employees have access to users' DMs. On Thursday, conservative columnist Bari Weiss tweeted the latest thread of "files," an installment about "Twitter's secret blacklists." Journalist Matt Taibbi tweeted the first part of the "Twitter Files" last week, which Musk described as internal communications that would reveal Twitter tried to censor free speech on the platform. Stamos tweeted that he was the target of "a wave of really poorly targeted racist and antisemitic slurs from" Musk's "posse," after Musk's reply.

"Grateful for the long-overdue release of Brittney Griner today from Russian custody. "Thank you to every single person that kept Brittney Griner’s name alive #WEAREBG," tweeted one of her Phoenix Mercury teammates, Brianna Turner. The Biden administration wasn't able to secure Whelan's release because the Russian government is treating his case differently than Griner's, Biden said. “While we celebrate Brittney’s release, Paul Whelan and his family continue to suffer needlessly,” Blinken said. Share this -Link copiedWho is Viktor Bout, Russian arms dealer that the U.S. exchanged for Brittney Griner?

☆ Japanese billionaire Maezawa picks K-pop star TOP, DJ Steve Aoki to join SpaceX moon trip
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa reacts as he speaks with his family after donning space suits shortly before the launch to the International Space Station (ISS) at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, December 8, 2021. REUTERS/Shamil ZhumatovTOKYO, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa on Friday revealed that K-pop star TOP and DJ Steve Aoki will be among the eight crew members he plans to take on a trip around the moon next year, hitching a ride on one of Elon Musk's SpaceX rockets. The picks were announced by Maezawa on Twitter and at a website for what he dubbed the #dearMoon Project. Maezawa used the micro-blogging site to recruit eight crew members from around the world to join him on the moon trip, saying 1 million people had applied. U.S. Olympic snowboarder Kaitlyn Farrington and Japanese dancer Miyu were named as backup crew members.

"Oh FFS (for fuck's sake)," former Estonian president Toomas Hendrik Ilves said on Twitter, encapsulating the general feeling among many of France's eastern allies. The annoyance among eastern allies has undermined Macron's own policy agenda to beef up European "strategic autonomy" separate from the U.S.-led NATO umbrella, with eastern allies now trusting the United States more for their defence. An eastern European diplomat said Macron had "misread" Russia once and the fear was he would do so again. The backbone of Macron's foreign policy since 2017 has been to launch initiatives and go against the grain. However, an increasing number of critics and allies see his thrust on Russia as his major foreign policy mistake.

☆ Fact Check-Food products do not contain human fetal cells
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

There is no evidence that food products contain cells from aborted human fetuses as flavor enhancers, contrary to a social media claim that revives a related, previously-debunked charge about cells used in biomedical research. Research by Senomyx into the use of ‘HEK-293’ aborted human fetal cells as a flavor enhancer was published in Pubmed in 2002, after which several patents were filed by them. Reuters previously factchecked false claims that PepsiCo drinks contained aborted fetal cells. AN OLD CELL LINEThe controversial cell line is derived from fetal cells dating to the 1970s. There is no evidence that any food or beverage products contain cells from human fetuses or derived from fetuses.

☆ Fact Check-1897 New York Journal article did not reveal the earth is flat
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An 1897 article by the New York Journal about believers of the debunked flat earth conspiracy theory is being presented misleadingly online. You are the one that is new to this,” reads a superimposed text in one of the memes shared on social media. It shows segments of an 1897 edition of the New York Journal newspaper with a flat earth map and text that reads, “The earth is flat.” An iteration retweeted nearly 500 times since it was posted on Dec. 4 is viewable (here). Physicists and earth scientists have repeatedly dispelled flat Earth theories with evidence that the planet is round (here), (here), (here). The New York Journal did not report in 1897 that the earth is flat.

☆ In the wake of Kanye West's praise for Hitler, Biden calls on political leaders to condemn anti-Semitism: 'Silence is complicity'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

President Joe Biden targeted antisemitism on Friday after Kanye West, known as Ye, praised Hitler. Hitler was a demonic figure," Biden tweeted from his presidential account and retweeted from his political account. "And instead of giving it a platform, our political leaders should be calling out and rejecting antisemitism wherever it hides. Ye's Twitter account was restricted for two weeks in October after he posted antisemitic remarks, but his account was restored after Musk took control of the platform. "I like Hitler," Ye said at one point, adding, "I love Jewish people, but I also love Nazis."

☆ 'I'm glad Elon is in the fight': Tech CEOs battling Apple's 30% App Store fee get unexpected ammo from Musk
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Shona Ghosh | Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Elon Musk has fueled a prolonged fight between Apple and app developers over App Store fees. One CEO who predicted trouble when Musk bought Twitter said the billionaire would draw attention to a niche issue. The latter has delighted developers and tech CEOs who rely on the App Store for its huge reach. In a separate tweet, Sweeney noted that Apple had blocked "Fortnite" from the App Store. The streaming app remains available through the App Store.

☆ Trolls, propaganda & fear stoke Bukele's media machine in El Salvador
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +23 min

In examining Bukele’s media operation, Reuters interviewed more than 70 people, including former media operatives and social media researchers. It showed Bukele with an 86% approval rating in El Salvador, making him the most popular leader in the region. “The threat in El Salvador used to be from the gangs, now it's from the state,” said Angelica Carcamo, the organization's president. “I found a lot more manipulation in El Salvador than in Mexico,” Escorcia said. A native of Guatemala, Torres has been critical of the governments of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras for creating conditions that spur migration.

Fishtopher, a 5-year-old cat, was reportedly "sad and depressed" as he sat at the Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center in New Jersey waiting to be adopted. While there's only one Fishtopher, the shelter and Folts have been encouraging people to adopt other animals in need of new homes. The Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center also asked the people interested in Fishtopher to save its other rescues. The Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center reported a 96% save rate in 2021. In addition to Fishtopher, the shelter shared on its Facebook page 16 other animals that were adopted this past weekend.

☆ A fired Twitter engineer said he would have come up with 'way cleverer and more devastating jokes' about Elon Musk if he'd known he was getting canned
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Twitter engineer said he believes he was fired for violating for criticizing Elon Musk on Slack. He said he would have come up with "way cleverer and more devastating jokes" if he'd known he'd be fired. then I would have come up with way cleverer and more devastating jokes," Fletcher tweeted. "I had meant to spend my whole career at Twitter," Fletcher added. In addition to the mass layoffs and targeted firings, dozens of Twitter workers have also been opting to leave the company.

☆ Elon Musk reinstates former President Donald Trump’s Twitter account
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( David Ingram | David Ingram Covers Tech For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

"The people have spoken," Musk tweeted Saturday evening. Trump's account returned shortly afterward. Previous tweets from Trump's account were viewable after its reinstatement, with the most recent from Jan. 8, 2021, when he posted that he would not be attending Joe Biden's inauguration. "Twitter will be forming a content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints," Musk tweeted Oct. 28. Twitter, founded in 2006, had its first profitable quarter in late 2017 while Trump was president.

☆ Lauren Boebert declares victory in unexpectedly tight House race, despite no networks calling it and a recount looming
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Lauren Boebert said she won her election despite the vote being in recount territory. No major network has called the race, which Boebert led by 501 votes as of early Friday. Boebert acknowledged the likely recount, but claimed it would not make any difference and therefore she was sure of victory. Despite this Frisch, a conservative Democrat, has provided Boebert with a tough race. In 2020, Boebert was elected to Congress with 51.4% of the vote, ending up 6.2% ahead of her then-opponent.

☆ Elon Musk has used Twitter once per hour on average since buying the company
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Travis Clark | Andy Kiersz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Musk has tweeted, retweeted, or replied on average once per hour since buying Twitter. The chart below shows that his total Twitter actions since the acquisition appear to exceed his total actions in the weeks before. Musk tweeted 65 times from October 6 through October 26; 105 times from October 27 through November 16. Overall: In total, he made 316 total Twitter actions in the three weeks before the purchase; 502 total actions since. His total replies since the purchase even exceeded his total Twitter actions from before.

☆ After Elon Musk fired Twitter staff for criticizing him, some remaining employees are hurriedly deleting Slack messages they fear he won't like
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Twitter staff are removing Slack messages they fear Elon Musk won't like, Platformer reported. This comes after the tech mogul fired some Twitter staff for criticizing him online. Engineers Eric Frohnhoefer, Sasha Solomon, and Ben Leib all appeared to be fired on Sunday and Monday for criticizing Musk. Platformer also reported that some of the fired employees had simply expressed sympathy with Frohnhoefer, Solomon, and Leib. Sources told The Times that some fired staff had shared news of Frohnhoefer's termination in internal chats.

☆ FTX is investigating 'abnormal transactions' of customer funds after the crypto platform filed for bankruptcy: report
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Crypto exchange FTX is investigating abnormal transactions of customer funds after a potential hack. The trading platform filed for bankruptcy and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried resigned on Friday. More than $260 million worth of crypto assets were withdrawn from the platform, analysts estimate, the newspaper reported. when he was asked about the missing funds. FTX, once valued at more than $30 billion, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Friday and Bankman-Fried resigned as CEO after the company failed to secure a rescue deal.

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