Neo-liberalism

Scottish government urged to shun Trump visit

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/scottish-government-urged-shun-trump-visit

A protester wearing a giant Donald Trump head, outside Holyrood, Edinburgh, ahead of a debate in the Scottish Parliament to decide if the government should investigate the former president’s financing of Scottish golf courses, February 3, 2021

SCOTTISH ministers have been urged not to meet with US President-elect Donald Trump if he visits Scotland this year.

Mr Trump plans to visit Scotland in 2025 for the opening of a new golf course at his club in Aberdeenshire — one of the two he owns in the country.

The Scottish Greens have urged the government to have nothing to do with the visit.

Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie made the call on the fourth anniversary of riots in Washington after Mr Trump lost the 2020 presidential election.

Mr Harvie said: “Four years ago Donald Trump was inciting rioters to storm the Capitol and block the democratic process.

“In the time since, he has doubled-down on right-wing conspiracy theories and refused to show even the slightest shred of contrition or regret.

“The prospect of four more years of a racist, climate-wrecking and misogynistic Donald Trump in the White House is one that should concern us all.

“He is a friend of despots, demagogues and dictators, and a threat to migrant communities, LGBTQ+ people and reproductive rights.

“We cannot stand aside or condone the divisive and hateful politics that he represents.

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Article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/scottish-government-urged-shun-trump-visit

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Elon Musk to Host X Event Promoting Neo-Nazi AfD Party Ahead of German Elections

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https://znetwork.org/znetarticle/elon-musk-to-host-x-event-promoting-neo-nazi-afd-party-ahead-of-german-elections

Image in public domain

The billionaire Musk has downplayed the party’s extremist views in posts on X and in an op-ed in a German newspaper.

Mega-billionaire Elon Musk, owner of the social media site X, plans to hold an online audio discussion on the platform with the leader of a far right German party, amplifying the party’s fascist and neo-Nazi ideology.

The discussion between him and Alice Weidel, a leader for Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the party’s candidate for chancellor in the February 23 snap elections, will take place”very soon,” a spokesperson for Weidel said, indicating that it will “definitely” happen before the elections. The German-based newswire agency dpa reported that the talk between Weidel and Musk would occur on January 10.

Musk signaled his support for AfD in mid-December, writing in a post on X that “only the AfD can save Germany.” He also penned an op-ed in a German newspaper last week, describing the party as the “last spark of hope” for the country.

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https://znetwork.org/znetarticle/elon-musk-to-host-x-event-promoting-neo-nazi-afd-party-ahead-of-german-elections

Continue ReadingElon Musk to Host X Event Promoting Neo-Nazi AfD Party Ahead of German Elections

Elon Musk announces change to X algorithm, faces backlash

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https://cointelegraph.com/news/musk-announces-change-x-algorithm-faces-backlash

In response to the planned change, independent journalist James Li asked Musk, “How does the algorithm determine ‘negativity’?”

Elon Musk is facing widespread backlash after announcing upcoming changes to the X social media algorithm that would promote content deemed informative or educational over other types of content.

According to Musk, the planned changes are in response to “Too much negativity” on the social media site. The entrepreneur wrote in a Jan. 3 social media post:

“Our goal is to maximize un-regretted user-seconds. Too much negativity is being pushed that technically grows user time, but not un-regretted user time.”

Users on X characterized the algorithm change as a form of censorship and questioned Musk over who would have a right to determine what constituted ‘negativity’ on the platform.

The upcoming change came days after Musk allegedly removed premium features from several accounts following an online feud over immigrant visas.

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https://cointelegraph.com/news/musk-announces-change-x-algorithm-faces-backlash

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Judge orders Trump to be sentenced in hush money case – but signals he won’t be jailed

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https://news.sky.com/story/judge-orders-donald-trump-to-be-sentenced-in-hush-money-case-but-signals-he-wont-be-jailed-13283373

Donald Trump, pictured during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago in December, says the sentencing should not go ahead. Pic: AP

Donald Trump’s spokesperson called the hush money case “lawless” and a “witch hunt” in a statement released after the sentencing date was announced. “President Trump will continue fighting against these hoaxes until they are all dead,” he added.

A judge has ordered US president-elect Donald Trump to be sentenced next week in his New York hush money case – but has suggested he will not jail him.

In a surprise move, the sentencing has been set for 10 January, just 10 days before the presidential inauguration.

Trump‘s spokesperson called the case “lawless” and a “witch hunt” in a statement released after the date was announced.

He was found guilty in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records, relating to an alleged scheme to hide a hush money payment to adult actress Stormy Daniels in the last weeks of his first campaign in 2016.

Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the trial, has now confirmed sentencing will go ahead, but signalled in a written decision that he would hand down what is known as a conditional discharge, in which a case gets dismissed if a defendant avoids re-arrest.

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https://news.sky.com/story/judge-orders-donald-trump-to-be-sentenced-in-hush-money-case-but-signals-he-wont-be-jailed-13283373

Continue ReadingJudge orders Trump to be sentenced in hush money case – but signals he won’t be jailed

Cartoonist quits Washington Post over rejected sketch mocking owner Jeff Bezos

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Cartoonist quits Washington Post over rejected sketch mocking owner Jeff Bezos

The cartoon depicts Jeff Bezos, as well as Mark Zuckerberg and other media and tech moguls, kneeling and holding up bags of money before a massive Donald Trump. Photo / Ann Telnaes

An award-winning political cartoonist for the Washington Post has announced her resignation after a cartoon depicting the newspaper’s billionaire owner grovelling before United States President-elect Donald Trump was rejected.

Ann Telnaes posted on Substack late Friday local time that this was the first time she “had a cartoon killed because of who or what I chose to aim my pen at”.

The cartoon – which she included in her post – depicts Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos, as well as Facebook and Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and other media and tech moguls, kneeling and holding up bags of money before a massive Trump.

Also shown is a prostrated Mickey Mouse, the symbol of the Disney Company, which owns ABC News. The television network recently reached a US$15 million ($26m) settlement with Trump after he sued for defamation over reporting on his sexual abuse trial in New York.

Telnaes wrote that while previous sketches of hers had been rejected, this was the first time that had happened because of her “point of view”.

“That’s a game changer … and dangerous for a free press,” she said.

The cartoon depicts Jeff Bezos, as well as Mark Zuckerberg and other media and tech moguls, kneeling and holding up bags of money before a massive Trump. Photo / Ann Telnaes

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Amazon and Meta have both announced US$1m donations to Trump’s inauguration fund, as reportedly has Cook in a personal capacity.

Cartoonist quits Washington Post over rejected sketch mocking owner Jeff Bezos

Continue ReadingCartoonist quits Washington Post over rejected sketch mocking owner Jeff Bezos