Thursday, January 29, 2026

Social network UpScrolled sees surge in downloads following TikTok’s US takeover: "The app was founded last year by Issam Hijazi, a Palestinian-Jordanian-Australian technologist, with the aim of giving users a place to “freely express thoughts, share moments, and connect with others,” according to the app’s website. The team behind the app says they’re “building a platform that belongs to the people who use it — not to hidden algorithms or outside agendas.”"

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12:11 PM PST · January 26, 2026

In the wake of TikTok’s U.S. ownership change last week, some users are seeking out alternative platforms. One app gaining traction is UpScrolled, a social network that pledges to remain impartial to political agendas. The app currently ranks 12th overall in Apple’s App Store and second in the social networking category.

UpScrolled blends familiar features from Instagram and X, letting users share photos, videos, and text posts, discover new content, and send direct messages.

The app was founded last year by Issam Hijazi, a Palestinian-Jordanian-Australian technologist, with the aim of giving users a place to “freely express thoughts, share moments, and connect with others,” according to the app’s website. The team behind the app says they’re “building a platform that belongs to the people who use it — not to hidden algorithms or outside agendas.”

“UpScrolled is the foundation for a digital ecosystem that puts power back into the hands of the people — not the corporations,” Hijazi said in a statement on UpScrolled’s website. “It’s more than just an alternative to Meta, X, or TikTok — it’s a reimagining of what social media should be: a space where creators, communities, and businesses thrive independently, with real control, transparency, and accountability.”

The app, available on both iOS and Android, is grappling with a surge of new users but says it’s scaling to keep up with the demand.

According to data... READ MORE https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/26/social-network-upscrolled-sees-surge-in-downloads-following-tiktoks-us-takeover/

AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine, or at least fair and just laws and policies]

Holocaust Remembrance Day 2026 "The genocide did not begin with concentration camps and gas chambers; it started with apathy and silence in the face of injustice, and with the corrosive dehumanization of the other. Today, and always, we need to remember this." Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2026/01/high-commissioner-turk-international-holocaust-remembrance-day-we

International Holocaust Remembrance Day invites us not only to look at our past, but to reflect on our present, and to safeguard our future.

To some, 1945 may seem like distant history. It is difficult to fathom that within living memory, a group of deluded killers inflicted unspeakable atrocities on millions of Jews and members of other minorities. The Nazi regime persecuted them, stripped them of dignity, and ultimately murdered them with the horrific efficiency of an assembly line. Systematically, openly, and without consequences.

The history of the Holocaust offers striking lessons.

This appalling cruelty was not born in medieval darkness, but in the broad daylight of a supposedly modern society. The genocide did not begin with concentration camps and gas chambers; it started with apathy and silence in the face of injustice, and with the corrosive dehumanization of the other.

Today, and always, we need to remember this.

In a disturbing trend, threats and assaults against Jews have risen sharply in recent years. The heinous attacks in Sydney and Manchester made headlines around the world. But countless daily abuses that don’t make the news leave lasting scars on people and communities.

Hatred and dehumanization are creeping into our daily lives, including through our social media feeds.

But here is reason for hope: Today, we are far better equipped to resist these patterns.

We are equipped with the memory of how exclusion can turn into annihilation, if we look away.

We are equipped with education and unprecedented access to information to seek truth and to understand our differences.

And we are equipped with human rights, backed by international law – forged from the ashes of war to protect humanity from repeating its darkest chapters.

We need to use these tools at all times against the plague of racism, antisemitism, and dehumanization.

We need laws that prohibit discrimination in all its forms. We need politicians who do not polarize by calling out difference, but unite by calling out injustice.

We need education about the Holocaust and human rights for all ages. And we need robust, inclusive systems to moderate digital content, so that people can express their concerns without fear.

Above all, we must stand up for our shared humanity – each and every day.

The history of the Holocaust abounds with stories of rescue and selflessness that illuminate the immense power of reason and compassion.

Year after year, the last survivors are leaving us – most recently Eva Schloss, a tireless advocate of tolerance and Holocaust education. But their stories live on. They guide and inspire us.

Together, we must challenge exceptionalism, supremacy, and bigotry wherever we encounter them: at the dinner table; at our workplaces; on social media. Each of us can be an architect of a world free from discrimination and intolerance.

As Eva’s stepsister Anne Frank taught us, nobody needs to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

Promoting and protecting human rights for all

Emmy winning Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda with 1.4m followers reports TikTok ban [2026] ... According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 207 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, with the “vast majority” killed by Israeli forces.

Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda shared daily videos recounting her experiences in Gaza during Israel's genocidal war [File: Hosam Salem/Al Jazeera]

[28 Jan 2026] Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda with 1.4m followers reports TikTok ban

Story by Lyndal Rowlands

Award-winning Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda has said she has been permanently banned from TikTok, days after the social media platform was acquired by new investors in the United States.

Owda, an Emmy Award-winning journalist and contributor to Al Jazeera’s AJ+ from Gaza, shared a video on her Instagram and X accounts on Wednesday, telling her followers that her TikTok account had been banned.

“TikTok deleted my account. I had 1.4 million followers there, and I have been building that platform for four years,” Owda said in the video filmed from Gaza.

“I expected that it will be restricted, like every time, not banned forever,” she added.

Al Jazeera sent a query to TikTok inquiring about Owda’s account and is waiting for a reply... READ MORE https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/palestinian-journalist-bisan-owda-with-14m-followers-reports-tiktok-ban/ar-AA1Vddl3

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/29/palestinian-journalist-bisan-owda-with-1-4m-followers-reports-tiktok-ban

Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda with 1.4m followers reports TikTok ban

Emmy-winning Owda points to changes in TikTok’s US ownership, remarks from Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu to explain ban.

Award-winning Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda has said she has been permanently banned from TikTok, days after the social media platform was acquired by new investors in the United States.

Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda and AJ+ win Emmy for Gaza war documentary

The award comes after a pro-Israel nonprofit organisation criticised the nomination of the short film documenting the initial days of Israel’s war on Gaza.

Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda and Al Jazeera’s AJ+ have won an Emmy in the Outstanding Hard News Feature Story category for their documentary, It’s Bisan From Gaza – and I’m Still Alive.

Owda has been at the forefront of reporting from Gaza since Israel launched its assault on the territory last October, bringing the stories of Palestinians to a global audience amidst 11 months of war and devastation.

“This award is a testament to young Palestinian journalists and their professionalism. Bisan’s reporting has humanised the Palestinian story after decades of mainstream media’s systematic dehumanisation of Palestinians. Winning this Emmy is a win for humanity. We feel extremely proud of this bright moment amidst ongoing genocide, and ... READ MORE https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/26/palestinian-journalist-bisan-owda-and-aj-win-emmy-for-gaza-war-documentary

Bisan Owda, a renowned journalist and influencer, has significantly contributed to bringing news from Gaza to the world with her unique style. Bisan embodies the spirit of resilience and the power of storytelling.

Her captivating storytelling ability has captured the attention of both global audiences and other media institutions. Her work has been cited extensively by international media, and she has worked with international institutions such as the European Union and the United Nations.

These baseless allegations are an attempt to silence Bisan, and present a real threat to her safety on the ground. The call for the Emmy nomination to be rescinded is nothing more than an attempt to deny an important perspective to the global audience on the war and its devastating impact on innocent civilians.

Since October 7, 2023, Bisan has been propelled onto the global stage. Amidst 11 months of war and carnage, she continues to tell the stories of ordinary Palestinians in Gaza who have endured untold suffering, death, and destruction. The Emmy nomination is a testament to her fearless journalism and her ability to narrate the struggles of her people.

The Emmy nomination comes on the heels of other notable recognition, including the Peabody Award and RTDNA’s Edward R. Murrow Award, for her fearless journalistic work with AJ+ in the Gaza Strip.

At Al Jazeera, we stand in solidarity with Bisan and all our journalists who consistently uphold the highest standards of journalistic ethics and professionalism. Despite facing relentless targeting and numerous challenges that with direct threat to their lives, they remain committed to reporting on some of the most devastating situations of modern times.

In the past 11 months, more than 160 journalists, including three from Al Jazeera, have been killed by Israeli forces. We urge the international journalistic community to support Bisan and other media professionals, ensuring they can carry out their essential work without fear of being targeted, intimidated or killed... READ MORE https://network.aljazeera.net/en/press-releases/al-jazeera-stands-bisan-owda-face-efforts-silence-her-reporting-gaza

Bisan Owda

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/23/who-controls-tiktoks-us-platform-under-new-deal

Who owns TikTok US now?

There isn’t one single owner as the company has been created under a joint venture with multiple investors.

ByteDance will retain a 19.9 percent stake in the venture, despite the fact that the 2024 Biden-era law specified that TikTok US cut ties with the company.

Three investor companies each hold a 15 percent stake:

Silver Lake – A US private equity firm focused on tech investments and with branches in London, Hong Kong and Singapore. It is chaired by Kenneth Hao. Egon Durban, a co-executive, is on the TikTok US board.
Oracle – The cloud computing company that has been storing TikTok US data since 2022. It is chaired by billionaire Larry Ellison, a longtime ally of Trump.
MGX – The UAE-owned investment firm specialising in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which is chaired by the country’s national security adviser, Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan

There are eight other investors, including:

Dell Family Office, owned by Michael Dell, founder of Dell Technologies and a Trump ally
Vastmere Strategic Investments, an affiliate of Susquehanna International Group, founded by Trump ally Jeff Yass
Alpha Wave, a global investment company
Revolution, owned by Steve Case, founder of AOL
Merritt Way, managed and controlled by San Francisco-based investment firm Dragoneer
Via Nova
Virgo Li Inc
NJJ Capital

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

On Tuesday's #HolocaustRemembrance Day, we honour the memory of all those who perished in the Holocaust & the enduring legacy of those who survived. Today & every day, we must counter antisemitism, Holocaust denial & distortion and all forms of hatred.

On Tuesday's #HolocaustRemembrance Day, we honour the memory of all those who perished in the Holocaust & the enduring legacy of those who survived.

Today & every day, we must counter antisemitism, Holocaust denial & distortion and all forms of hatred. un.org/en/observances

https://x.com/UN/status/2016013548137181231

https://www.un.org/en/observances/commemoration-holocaust-victims-day

A warning to all people of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice."

- United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/76/250 on Holocaust Denial

Holocaust Remembrance for Dignity and Human Rights

The United Nations was established in response to the horrors of the Second World War and the Holocaust. The Holocaust has had a profound impact on International Human Rights Law, resulting in the United Nations’ adoption of foundational documents in 1948: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

United Nations General Assembly Resolution 60/7 in 2005 designated 27 January as the annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust and established the Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme. This date was chosen as it marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Death Camp on 27 January 1945.

The International Day is a global reminder of the dangers of hatred, bigotry and antisemitism. The Day is a call to remember, reflect and take action to ensure such atrocities never happen again. The International Day is observed with commemorative events and activities at United Nations Headquarters in New York and the United Nations offices around the world.

Anne Frank 1929-1945 Hind Rajab 2018- 2024 ... NEVER AGAIN MEANS NEVER AGAIN FOR ANYONE !

"We call on Israel to immediately cease such actions against UNRWA premises, respect the Agency’s mandate, lift all restrictions imposed on its activities, and fully comply with its obligations under international law, in line with the latest advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 22 October 2025 on the Obligations of Israel in relation to the Presence and Activities of the United Nations, other International Organizations and Third States in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian territory. "

https://x.com/UNRWA/status/2016390890764325140

The Advisory Commission expresses deep concern and deplores actions by the Government of Israel to demolish the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in occupied East Jerusalem. Such actions set a dangerous precedent, threatening to undermine the multilateral system.

Israel must abide by its international obligations to ensure the protection and inviolability of United Nations premises in accordance with the provisions of the Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the UN (1946) and the UN Charter. We urge Israel to comply with its obligations under international law.

We call on Israel to immediately cease such actions against UNRWA premises, respect the Agency’s mandate, lift all restrictions imposed on its activities, and fully comply with its obligations under international law, in line with the latest advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 22 October 2025 on the Obligations of Israel in relation to the Presence and Activities of the United Nations, other International Organizations and Third States in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian territory.

In light of these serious events, the Advisory Commission reaffirms its firm and unwavering support for UNRWA and for the full implementation of its essential mandate to meet the needs of Palestine refugees until a just and lasting peace is reached in the region.

https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/statement-advisory-commission-unrwa

Background Information:

UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The United Nations General Assembly established UNRWA in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency’s area of operations pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.

UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, The Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Tens of thousands of Palestine refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods due to the 1948 conflict continue to be displaced and in need of support, over 75 years on.

UNRWA helps Palestine Refugees achieve their full potential in human development through quality services it provides in education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.

Your support is crucial to help us provide emergency aid
to displaced families in Gaza

UNRWA: Facts Versus Claims

UNRWA has long faced misinformation and disinformation campaigns, including about its staff and operations.

UNRWA Commissioner-General: Gaza’s ban on international journalists fuels disinformation—lifting it is a necessity

Palestinian journalists have been our eyes and ears covering the atrocities of the war on Gaza and bringing a human face to describe the impact. They have worked heroically and against all odds.

Together with humanitarian workers they have paid a heavy ultimate price. More than 230 of them have been killed. Gaza is the deadliest place in the world to be a journalist, just as it is the deadliest place to be a humanitarian worker.

Since the war began, international journalists have been banned from entering Gaza independently - something that is fundamental to media freedom.

The ban fuels disinformation campaigns and polarised narratives. It aims at questioning firsthand data and eyewitness accounts, including the testimony of international humanitarian organisations, as well as at dehumanising Palestinians.

The ban on international journalists has lasted too long, lifting it is overdue.

Gaza City, Gaza: A displaced Palestinian girl looks out from her tent in Gaza City- Photograph: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters- Holocaust remembrance and a tsunami museum: photos of the day –The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world Tuesday 27 January 2026 ... & "“I represent one and a half million children who were murdered and who are not here to speak for themselves,” Friedman told German media. “My story is representative of all their stories because we all had similar experiences. I was simply luckier than them, because I survived.”"

Gaza City, Gaza

A displaced Palestinian girl looks out from her tent in Gaza CityPhotograph: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters

Holocaust remembrance and a tsunami museum: photos of the day – Tuesday

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world

https://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2026/jan/27/holocaust-remembrance-and-a-tsunami-museum-photos-of-the-day-tuesday?CMP=share_btn_url#img-7

‘I was simply luckier’: Holocaust survivors warn against forgetting Nazi atrocities

People urged to stand up against populism and antisemitism as the world marks International Holocaust Memorial Day

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/27/i-was-simply-luckier-holocaust-survivors-warn-against-forgetting-nazi-atrocities

"... Friedman, who emigrated to the US where she became a successful therapist, warned against the rise of the populist far-right in Europe. She said she would directly address the AfD, which is up for election in five states this year and is predicted to do well in at least three of them.

The anti-immigrant party, which backs policies such as the mass deportation of non-naturalised citizens, has repeatedly called for an end to what it calls “Schuldkult” or a “culture of guilt”, to describe the perpetuation of the memory of Nazi crimes.

“I want very much to face up to them, not to hide away from them,” said Friedman.

Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat warned that antisemitism was more rampant than at any time since the Holocaust, and was “taking on new and disturbing forms”. She also warned of AI-generated content which was being deliberately created “to blur the line between fact and fiction, distort historical truth and undermine our collective memory”.

The Frankfurt-based Anne Frank Educational Centre drew attention to a “flood” of AI-generated content being used like propaganda, in which the victims were ridiculed, with the aim of denying or trivialising them.

Representatives of the Jewish community across the world, including Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, urged people to show “civil courage” and stand up for democracy at a time when ...." READ MORE https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/27/i-was-simply-luckier-holocaust-survivors-warn-against-forgetting-nazi-atrocities

Candles were placed at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin. Photograph: Liesa Johannssen/Reuters

Annie's New Letters (& notes)

Labels

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Promoting and protecting human rights for all

Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda with 1.4m followers reports TikTok ban

Recommended Stories

Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda and AJ+ win Emmy for Gaza war documentary

21 Aug 2024

Al Jazeera stands with Bisan Owda in the face of efforts to silence her reporting from Gaza

Who owns TikTok US now?

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

On Tuesday's #HolocaustRemembrance Day, we honour the memory of all those who perished in the Holocaust & the enduring legacy of those who survived. Today & every day, we must counter antisemitism, Holocaust denial & distortion and all forms of hatred.

Holocaust Remembrance for Dignity and Human Rights

Anne Frank 1929-1945 Hind Rajab 2018- 2024 ... NEVER AGAIN MEANS NEVER AGAIN FOR ANYONE !

Gaza City, Gaza

Holocaust remembrance and a tsunami museum: photos of the day – Tuesday

Labels

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Promoting and protecting human rights for all

Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda with 1.4m followers reports TikTok ban

Recommended Stories

26 Sep 2024

Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda and AJ+ win Emmy for Gaza war documentary

21 Aug 2024

Al Jazeera stands with Bisan Owda in the face of efforts to silence her reporting from Gaza

Who owns TikTok US now?

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Holocaust Remembrance for Dignity and Human Rights

Gaza City, Gaza

Holocaust remembrance and a tsunami museum: photos of the day – Tuesday