Russian agents can spread fake news through Canberra Times

Fake news? Michael Grynbaum, The New York Times, December 26:

On Twitter, (Donald Trump) used the term “Fake News” 174 times … (He cancelled the) holiday reception for the Washington press corps … (and on a British visit he) called NBC News “dishonest”.

No fake news at NYT? Steve Eder, The New York Times, December 26:

(In 1968, Trump received a) diagnosis of bone spurs … that led to his medical exemption from the military during Vietnam … Now a possible explanation has emerged … (involving a dead foot doctor and a suggestion) the diagnosis was granted as a courtesy to (Trump’s father Fred) … No paper evidence (corroborates this version of events) …

If true, who’s at fault? Australian Medical Association, 2016:

Doctors who deliberately issue a false, misleading or inaccurate certificate could face … criminal legal action.

AMA, September 1, 2010:

Doctors have a general ethical and legal duty to protect the privacy of their patients’ … medical records.

No fake news? Ullrich Fichtner, Der Spiegel, December 20:

Claas Relotius … winner of multiple awards and a journalistic idol … (admits his articles) were embellished with fudged quotes … made-up facts … (or) entirely fabricated.

No fake news about Trump? Der Spiegel, December 21:

In March 2017, Der Spiegel published … (an article by Relotius set in a small town) supposedly typical of the rural America that made Donald Trump president … (Two residents wrote:) “In 7300 words he really only got our town’s population and average annual temperature correct … (How did) the supposedly world-class Der Spiegel fact-checking team completely … (drop) the ball on this one?”

Incendiary request? Eli Rosenberg, The Washington Post, December 26:

The US ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell … wrote an incendiary letter to Der Spiegel … (asking) for an outside organisation to … (investigate what went wrong, and writing that) “the anti-American bias at the magazine has exploded since the election of President Trump”.

No visit. NBC News, December 26:

Trump … first president since 2002 not to visit troops at Christmastime.

No visit? NBC News, December 27:

Trump made a surprise visit to American troops in Iraq on Wednesday.

Who’s the worst? Laura Kayali, ­politico.eu, December 26:

The (US) President … is the “worst” perpetrator of misinformation on the internet, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion David Kaye said …

Couldn’t happen here. Andrew Clark, The Australian Financial Review, December 22:

No, not fake news: Why truth and trust are still in good shape in Australia … Russell Skelton, the director of RMIT ABC Fact Check, says “the problem with Facebook and Google is that they … (publish) the most outrageous” phony news reports … These “extreme voices” include … Russian government agents.

Couldn’t happen here? Ukrainian World Congress vice-president Stefan Romaniw, The Canberra Times, December 24:

It is unacceptable for … (The Canberra Times on December 21) to carry a paid advertisement from Russia … (mocking) the international findings that a Russian missile downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, killing 298 innocent souls including 38 Australians.