(2020-12-16). U.S. Embassy caught scrubbing Tweets urging Venezuelans not to vote. mronline.org 
It is not clear why the embassy decided to go back and delete its posting history, especially as undermining Venezuela's elections continues to be the official line of the U.S. government.
(2020-12-16). Facebook pleads concern for small businesses in attack ads against Apple privacy move which limits user data tracking. rt.com 
Facebook has slammed Apple, via adverts placed in mainstream US newspapers, over an operating system update that makes it harder for social media companies to harvest data from users in order to hit them with personalized ads. | In full-page adverts carried by the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Facebook claims that new privacy updates for Apple's iOS 14 operating system, which came out on Monday, will be bad for small firms. | The social media giant vows that it is "standing up to Apple for small businesses everywhere," as it attacks changes to the Apple operating system…
(2020-12-16). Turkey: YouTube to appoint local representative after government pressure. middleeasteye.net 
Turkey: YouTube to appoint local representative after government pressure | Critics have warned that the new internet law, which requires such a role, will increase censorship and help silence dissent | Wed, 12/16/2020 – 13: 38 | 'We remain committed to our Turkish users, creators and business partners, and will continue to preserve the platform's vibrance and openness,' YouTube said in a…
(2020-12-16). Dissident former Saudi jockey alleges poison threat and attempt to 'lure' her home. middleeasteye.net 
Dissident former Saudi jockey alleges poison threat and attempt to 'lure' her home | Alya Al-Howeiti, once a celebrated sports star in the kingdom, reveals backlash and death threats since speaking out against Riyadh's policies | Wed, 12/16/2020 – 14: 22 | Alya al-Howeiti was a celebrated Saudi jockey, before becoming a London-based human rights activist (Screengrab/Twitter) | A Saudi dissident and fo…
(2020-12-16). Ecuador: Popular Progressive Alliance Wins Election Certification. indybay.org "#ThePresidentialTicketOfHope will be on the ballot on #7thFebruary. Thanks to everyone who was vigilant and mobilized! Thanks for international solidarity! The Ecuadorian people have enforced their right to choose in democracy," tweeted Andrés Arauz, candidate for President for UNES in response to his ticket being given firm certification by the election authorities. | Photo credit: Wikipedia…
(2020-12-15). The Most Lethal Virus is Not COVID. It is War. counterpunch.org 
In the midst of the greatest health emergency in modern times, with more than 4 million surgical procedures delayed by the National Health Service, Boris Johnson has announced a record increase of £16.5 billion in so-called defence spending — a figure that would restore the under-resourced NHS many times over.
(2020-12-15). Iraqi activist shot dead in Baghdad. middleeasteye.net 
Iraqi activist shot dead in Baghdad | Local media reports that Salah al-Iraqi was shot five times in suburb of Baghdad al-Jadeed | Tue, 12/15/2020 – 17: 02 | A social media picture of Salah al-Iraqi (Facebook) | A well-known Iraqi activist was shot dead in Baghdad on Tuesday evening, the latest in a long line of assassinations in the country. | According to local media, Salah al-Iraqi was shot f…
(2020-12-15). End of an Era: Periscope Will Shut Down in March 2021. sputniknews.com Live streaming video app Periscope was created in 2015 and acquired by Twitter shortly before its launch in March of the same year. Only four months after the launch, the app had over 10 million accounts registered.
(2020-12-14). ALBA-TCP Celebrates XVIII Summit Virtually. telesurenglish.net The XVIII Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People's Trade Agreement (ALBA-TCP), is being held this Monday in a virtual manner and in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic. | RELATED: | Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, coordinator of the event, and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro opened the event by means of vituar interventions transmitted from the Twitter account of the pres…
(2020-12-14). Greta Thunberg: 5 Years After Paris Agreement, World Is "Speeding in the Wrong Direction" on Climate. democracynow.org 
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who launched the global Fridays for Future youth climate movement, issued a stark warning on the fifth anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement that the world is not doing enough to keep global heating below 2 degrees Celsius — the target set in the landmark 2015 deal. "The gap between what we need to do and what is actually being done is widening by the minute. We are still speeding in the wrong direction," Thunberg said in a video message posted on social media.
(2020-12-14). Loujain al-Hathloul: Saudi Arabia uses tweets supporting women's rights as evidence. middleeasteye.net 
Loujain al-Hathloul: Saudi Arabia uses tweets supporting women's rights as evidence | Activist's support for women's right to drive and criticism of kingdom's guardianship system cited by prosecutor in terrorism court | Mon, 12/14/2020 – 14: 29 | Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul is being tried in a terrorism court (AFP) | The Saudi public prosecutor on Monday cited tweets about a campaign to let women drive…
(2020-12-13). Protesters in London march against police atrocity against Black teenager. peoplesdispatch.org On Friday, December 11, anti-racism groups in the UK protested police atrocity against a Black teenager in North London. Video footage which shows a police officer punching the teenager in the head while he was pressed against a police car, was widely circulated on social media on Thursday night and triggered widespread outrage across the UK. Scores of people under the leadership of Black Lives Matter Movement and Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) marched to North London's Tottenham police station and protested the police brutality and demanded punishment for the officers involved in the incident. | According to a Mornin…
(2020-12-13). Will Facebook have to give up WhatsApp and Instagram? peoplesdispatch.org Newsclick's Prabir Purkayastha analyzes the latest antitrust case against Facebook. He looks at the growing global consensus on action against the tech giants, and talks about the situation in the developing countries…
(2020-12-13). Bankrolling blu klux klans? dissidentvoice.org Rhythms of red, white, blue 'party' lights flashing beneath screaming sirens; The rush of warm crimson drawing 2, 4, 6, 8, 10—and then some… Robotic legs, arms—possessed— punching, kicking a fetal fraction— prone red shirt; black face; fractured eye socket, exploding eyeball; broken ribs drowning in swarming blue savagery: The viral video sparks flashbacks to …