(2020-01-11). Merkel in Moscow: As Trump pushes his weight around, Russia-Germany relations defrost. rt.com 
Angela Merkel's visit to Moscow is far from a courtesy call. Germany and Russia's political relations are thawing. It's good news for all Europeans. | As Iran and the United States seemingly limbered up for war, Russia and Germany, as the continent's two most powerful countries, have a special responsibility to protect it from any fallout. | Merkel's decision to travel to the Russian capital may be conceived as a signal to Washington that: | a) Berlin remains capable of mounting an independent foreign policy, if pushed, | b) the Germans won't be cowed by sanctions the US has placed on the Nord Stream 2 pipelin…
(2020-01-11). Instagram Deletes Soleimani-Related Posts, Some Iranian Media Accounts Citing US Sanctions. sputniknews.com Following Washington's designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, Instagram and its parent company Facebook started deleting accounts belonging to prominent members of the IRGC last April under the pretext of American sanctions.
(2020-01-11). Salt Lake denounces war on the homeless and war with Iran at four energetic rallies. fightbacknews.org Salt Lake City, UT – The Trump administration rang in the New Year by putting millions of lives at risk with the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and threatening a war with Iran. Similarly, Salt Lake City police began 2020 with a violent raid on the homeless community and the organizers fighting to protect them. | Salt Lake residents responded fiercely with no less than three anti-war rallies in the last week, as well as a rally in support of unsheltered folks and tenants' rights. | On January 4, 200 gathered at an event organized by supporters of Bernie Sanders, and on January 8, hundreds more…
(2020-01-11). Iranian National Armed With 2 Knives Detained Near Trump's Florida Residence — Reports. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – An Iranian national armed with two knives, a machete, and a pickax was detained by police officers on Friday not far from US President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, media reported.
(2020-01-11). Cutting Off Lifelines of North Koreans is a Siege, Not "Sanctions" zcomm.org The sanctions against North Korea are firmly in place, not because everyone loves Washington and wants to cooperate with them, but because U.S.-based multinational corporations control about half of all the world's wealth…
(2020-01-10). The Critical Role Auditing Plays in the Battle Against Police Surveillance. therealnews.com 
Auditors across the country are turning the tables on police surveillance. The Police Accountability Report spoke to an auditor who was arrested to understand how filming cops ultimately preserves our civil rights.
(2020-01-10). 'Iranian with MACHETE & knives' arrested near Trump resort of Mar-a-Lago, US media report. rt.com 
Palm Beach police have arrested a man armed with a set of knives near President Donald Trump's Florida resort. US media emphasized he is an Iranian national while bringing up a non-existent $80mn Iranian 'bounty' on Trump's head. | The man had no known address and was detained on the Flagler Memorial Bridge on Friday morning. He had "several knives" and an undisclosed amount of cash on him, according to WPTV. | Other local outlets claimed the man's arsenal included a machete, two knives, a pick axe and $22,000 in cash, and that a bomb squad was searching his vehicle, found at the Palm Beach International Airpo…
(2020-01-10). California's New 'Gig Worker' Law Will Hurt Freelancers. thenation.com California's New 'Gig Worker' Law Will Hurt Freelancers…
(2020-01-10). Activists demand overturning of death sentence to Pakistani professor. peoplesdispatch.org The death sentence awarded to 33-year-old professor Junaid Hafeez in Pakistan, on charges of blasphemy has been termed as a travesty of justice by human rights groups who claim that it is blatantly against international law…
(2020-01-10). Delhi police violently repress JNU students' rally. peoplesdispatch.org Delhi police baton-charged and detained students of New Delhi based Jawaharlal Nehru University who were mobilizing near the Ministry of Human Resources and Development (MHRD) on January 9. The students, along with teachers and citizens had organized a protest march from Mandi House to MHRD to demand the removal of university vice-chancellor (VC) M Jagadesh Kumar. The students allege that he was complicit in the attack on students and teachers by right wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi…
(2020-01-10). The continuing ordeal of Ahmad Zahran. peoplesdispatch.org An Israeli court refused to release Palestinian administrative detainee Ahmad Zahran who has been on hunger strike for 109 days. The court said that an investigation into his release could not be conducted until he withdrew his protest…
(2020-01-10). Why Do We Allow This Madness To Continue? commondreams.org Trump's threats a few days ago to put sanctions on Iraq, "sanctions that would make Iran sanctions seem tame," can only be called blasphemous. (Photo: Adrian Dennis/EPA) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-01-10). Venezuela's Guaido Installs Parallel Parliament After US Threatens Sanctions. theantimedia.com Opposition leader Juan Guaido installed a "parallel" parliament in Caracas on Tuesday.
(2020-01-10). Palestinian Militants Not Yet Ready to Avenge Iran. telesurenglish.net Despite the latest conflict between Iran and the U.S., Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, Iran's allies, are not ready to attack Israel, the U.S. ally, in revenge on Iran's behalf, analysts said. | RELATED: | US Announces New Sanctions on Iran, Refuses to Pull Out Troops | The Palestinians are afraid that the Iran-U.S. conflict would lead to a new wave of confrontation between Palestinian militants in Gaza Strip and Israel, as the enclave is ruled by the Islamic Hamas move…
(2020-01-10). Elizabeth Warren Has Made Disability Rights Central to Her Campaign. thenation.com Elizabeth Warren Has Made Disability Rights Central to Her Campaign…
(2020-01-10). Pregnant Workers Are Still Fighting for the Right to Work. aclu.org In 2015, | Michelle Durham, an ACLU client, was faced with an impossible choice: | continue working and risk the health of her pregnancy or give up her paycheck. | She was working | as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for Rural/Metro Corporation, a company | in Alabama that provides emergency medical care to people living in areas that | lack basic medical services. Shortly after joining Rural/Metro Corporation in | Alabama, Michelle learned she was pregnant with her first child and was advised | by her health professional not to lift more than 50 pounds. She was confident | the company would grant her a…
(2020-01-10). US Announces New Sanctions on Iran, Refuses to Pull Out Troops. telesurenglish.net The United States government Friday announced new economic sanctions against Iran's officials and companies in response to the attack with ballistic missiles at two bases with U.S. troops. | RELATED: | Iran Denies 'Illogical Rumors' About Ukrainian Plane Crash | "These sanctions will continue until the regime stops the financing of global terrorism and commits to never having nuclear weapons," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said. | The new punishments will affect eight senior Per…
(2020-01-10). Venezuela: Guaido installs parallel parliament, US threatens more sanctions. greenleft.org.au 
Venezuela Ricardo VazIssue 1248 Venezuela Juan Guaido US Vice President Mike PenceJanuary 10, 2020Opposition leader Juan Guaido installed a "parallel" parliament in Caracas on January 7. | The…
(2020-01-09). Andrew Bacevich: Trump Sparked "Unnecessary Crisis" by Killing Soleimani, Barely Avoiding War. democracynow.org 
President Trump vowed on Wednesday to hit Iran with new sanctions but appeared to pull back from taking any new military action. Tension between the two countries soared after the U.S. assassinated Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani at the Baghdad International Airport last week. Early on Wednesday, Iran retaliated by firing 22 ballistic missiles at military bases in Iraq housing U.S. forces, but no one was injured in the attack. Iran had warned the Iraqi government about the strike in advance. Two small rockets also later hit the Green Zone near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. During a televised address on Wednesda…
(2020-01-09). International Criminal Court Prepares to Try Israelis over War Crimes. therealnews.com 
Shawan Jabarin of the Al-Haq human rights organization discusses the International Criminal Court decision to prepare a lawsuit against the state of Israel regarding war crimes committed against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israeli authorities are already panicking.
(2020-01-09). Unions, civil rights groups join mass NYC march against anti-Semitism. peoplesworld.org 
NEW YORK (PAI)—The Teachers, AFSCME members, and the Jewish Labor Committee teamed up with civil rights groups and a raft of Jewish organizations to lead a mass march on Jan. 5 in New York against anti-Semitism. At least 25,000 people turned out to march from Foley Square in downtown Manhattan over the Brooklyn Bridge, to …
(2020-01-09). Sanctions Are Economic Warfare. thenation.com Sanctions Are Economic Warfare…
(2020-01-09). BDS Concludes 2019 with Remarkable Achievements. imemc.org (photo: Days of Palestine) The National Bureau for Defending Land and Resisting Settlements stated, in its latest periodic-report regarding the boycott of Israel, that the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement achieved remarkable successes, over the past year, at the domestic, regional and international levels, seeking to impose international isolation …
(2020-01-09). Palestinian Prisoner Continues to Suffer Torture in Israeli Prison. imemc.org The Committee of Prisoners and Former Prisoners Affairs said that Samer Arbid, 44, from Ramallah suffers from signs of extreme torture, to which he was subjected during interrogation in Israeli jails, Quds News Network reported. The committee said in a statement on Wednesday that Arbid is held now in the …
(2020-01-09). PCHR Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (02 — 08 January 2020). imemc.org Summary | | This week, PCHR documented 219 violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) and settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory. They were as follows: | As part of the Israeli shooting and excessive use of force:…
(2020-01-09). Spain: Sanchez Names Four VP's in New Coalition Government. telesurenglish.net The Coalition Government, chaired by Pedro Sánchez, will have as Vice Presidents Pablo Iglesias, Carmen Calvo, Nadia Calviño and Teresa Ribera. | RELATED: | Spain: New Government Prepares a Cabinet | Iglesias will occupy the vice presidency of Social Rights and Agenda 2030, in accordance with the confirmation of the Government that occupies the Moncloa Palace. | In addition, for the first time in history, the country will have three female vice presidents: Carmen Calvo, who will occupy the firs…
(2020-01-08). Coast to coast U.S. protests demand: "U.S. out of Iraq! No war or sanctions on Iran!" workers.org 
Just days into the new year and a new decade, on Jan. 4, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in 80 cities across 38 states to demand U.S. out of Iraq and no war or sanctions on Iran. Many activists described the massive turnout as the largest . . . | Continue reading Coast to coast U.S. protests demand: "U.S. out of Iraq! No war or sanctions on Iran!" at Workers.org
(2020-01-08). 'No lives lost': Trump holds fire on 'big missiles,' talks peace after Iran's strikes on US bases in Iraq. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump is delivering an eagerly-awaited address to America, as the country stands on the brink of war with Iran. Trump's speech comes hours after Iranian missiles struck two US bases in Iraq. | Speaking from the White House, Trump backed away from threatening further strikes against Iran, describing Tehran's stand-down as "a good thing for all parties concerned." | Our missiles are big, powerful, accurate, lethal and fast…The fact that we have this great military and equipment, however, does not mean that we have to use it. | Trump did, however, vow to impose new economic sanctions on the…
(2020-01-08). Iranian-American Lawmaker Warns of Rising Xenophobia as U.S.-Iran Tension Escalates. democracynow.org 
In the midst of escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, Border Patrol has been detaining Iranian Americans at the U.S.-Canada border. At least 100 people were delayed at ports of entry along the border over the weekend, following the U.S. assassination of Qassem Soleimani on January 3. For response, we speak with Anna Eskamani, Florida Democratic state representative of Orlando. She is the first Iranian American to be elected to any public office in Florida. "The reality is that when we see the potential war rise in countries like Iran … we'll see xenophobia rise right here locally" in the U.S., Eskamani says.
(2020-01-08). Iranian Americans Have Rights, Too — No Matter What's Happening Abroad. aclu.org Like most Iranian Americans, my family immigrated to the United States in the aftermath of the 1979 revolution in Iran, hoping to find safety and acceptance in a country that prides itself on diversity and freedom of expression. We learned and embraced the principles of the Constitution, including freedom of speech and religion, due process, and equal protection — protections that apply to every person, citizen and non-citizen alike. But what happened at the U.S. border this past weekend was a painful reminder that sometimes, we are still considered outsiders. | In the state of Washington this weekend,…
(2020-01-08). Trump Backs Away from Threats to Retaliate for Iranian Missile Strikes, Promises New Sanctions. mintpressnews.com Following Iran's military response to the deaths of Soleimani and his Iraqi ally, Trump's tone — at least publicly — was dramatically less bellicose than his recent tweets promising to strike Iranian territory should Tehran retaliate against the US.
(2020-01-08). Venezuela: Guaido Installs Parallel Parliament After Washington Threatens More Sanctions. venezuelanalysis.com The Trump administration is reportedly mulling sanctions against opposition deputies who voted against Guaido.
(2020-01-08). Trump Announces Additional 'Punishing' Sanctions on Iran. therealnews.com 
Updated 1: 15 PM ET | U.S. President Donald Trump made a statement Wednesday morning at 11: 30 AM EST and announced that Iran "appears to be standing down" following strikes on U.S. air bases in Iraq. He said there were no American or Iraqi casualties resulting from the attacks. | Trump said that while the U.S. was evaluating its options, it would "immediately impose additional punishing sanctions" against Iran until it "changes its behavior." He called Iran the "leading sponsor of terrorism" and repeatedly said that he would not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons. Since 2017, the Trump administration has impose…
(2020-01-08). Tory government blocks bid to enshrine child refugee rights in Brexit agreement. thecanary.co MPs have voted down proposals to enshrine protections for child refugees as part of the government's Brexit agreement. | Following his election victory, Boris Johnson re-drafted his European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and rowed back on the previous government's acceptance of an amendment from Labour peer Lord Dubs to allow unaccompanied child refugees to continue to be reunited with their families in the UK after exit day. Dubs had fled from the Nazis on the Kindertransport to Britain when he was aged six. | Welcome to the UK in 2020, where Parliament just voted by a large majority to remove protections fo…
(2020-01-07). Iranian Americans Harassed and Detained at US Border. therealnews.com 
Dozens of people, including American citizens, faced hours of questioning at the Washington entry point. Jamal Abdi of the National Iranian American Council says the reports could indicate a directive for heightened screening of people born in Iran.
(2020-01-07). It Is Time for a New Way Forward. aclu.org In 1996, at the height of the "tough on crime" era, President Bill Clinton signed two laws that dramatically changed the criminal legal system and radically altered the U.S. immigration system. Just as the 1994 crime bill instituted unjust mandatory minimum sentences and ballooned the prison population, the immigration bills of that same era led to similarly disastrous consequences for immigrants — an explosion in the growth of detention and unfairly harsh punishments for immigrants, including mandatory deportations for minor…
(2020-01-06). Trump's Killing of Qassem Soleimani Means "Rules of the Game Have Totally Changed" in Middle East. democracynow.org 
The Iraqi Parliament voted Sunday to expel all U.S. military forces from Iraq. President Trump responded by threatening to impose sanctions on Iraq "like they've never seen before." Iraq has already been the target of some of the harshest sanctions the world has even seen. U.S.-backed sanctions killed more than a million Iraqis, including over 500,000 children, between 1990 and 2003. From Baghdad, we talk to Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, correspondent for The Guardian newspaper.
(2020-01-06). Headlines for January 6, 2020. democracynow.org Iraqi Parliament Votes to Oust U.S. Military; Trump Threatens Sanctions, In Dozens of U.S. Cities, Protesters Say No War with Iran, Elizabeth Warren Accuses Trump of Killing Soleimani to Distract from Impeachment, Al-Shabab Kills U.S. Soldier and 2 U.S. Contractors in Attack in Kenya, 17 Killed, Dozens Wounded in Airstrike in Tripoli, Libya, 14 Killed, including 7 Children, in IED Attack in Burkina Faso, Australia Deploys Military as Unprecedented Wildfires Rage, Death Toll in Jakarta Flooding & Landslides Rises to 53, Masked Men Attack Students at Jawaharlal Nehru University in India, 36 Killed in Collapse of Ho…
(2020-01-06). SPLC Statement on the Detainment of Iranians and Iranian Americans. splcenter.org The following statement is by Southern Poverty Law Center Interim President and CEO Karen Baynes-Dunning following reports that Iranians and Iranian Americans are being detained and questioned at U.S. ports of entry:…
(2020-01-06). More Rockets Fired At US Embassy, US Iranians Detained & Trump Says Twitter Is "Notifying Congress" thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (1/5/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2020-01-05). Students learn in the streets: struggle wins release of Connecticut teen from ICE custody. liberationnews.org 
The struggle for Mario's freedom is not over, and neither is the fight for immigrant rights overall.
(2020-01-04). Trump's march to war on Iran aided by Democrats' weakness on sanctions, nuclear deal. thegrayzone.com The US assassination of Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian military commander, is the culmination of three years of Trump administration…
(2019-12-20). Four Lawyers. Four Projects. One Non-Stop Year. aclu.org 
It isn't news that the Trump administration has kept ACLU attorneys working at breakneck speed for the past three years. In 2019 alone, we saw historic moments and victories—from defeating the citizenship question on the 2020 census and bringing the first trans civil rights case to the Supreme Court, to blocking a wave of abortion bans and many of the administration's attempts to dismantle the asylum system. To name a few. | Here are some of our attorneys' takes on 2019 and the year ahead—what's changed for the better and for the worse, and how the outcome of the 2020 presidential election will a…
(2019-12-17). For Many of the World's Children, Education Proves Elusive. progressive.org Especially in countries with widespread human rights abuses, kids—especially girls—don't get the chance to go to school.
(2019-12-12). Perth Pride: LGBTI community challenges corporatisation. greenleft.org.au 
LGBTIQ rights Petrina HarleyIssue 1248 Australia Rainbow Rebellion PerthDecember 12, 2019Perth Pride assembled its biggest parade to date on November 30, with 115 floats. But many in the LGBTIQ comm…
(2019-12-10). Aboriginal leader Sam Watson's farewell draws big numbers. greenleft.org.au 
Aboriginal rights Jim McIlroyIssue 1248 Australia BrisbaneDecember 11, 2019More than 1000 people attended the funeral for Wangerriburra and Birri Gubba leader Sam Watson in Musgrave Park on December 6. | Watson passed away on November 26, just two weeks after his 67t…
(2019-12-06). Anti-Imperialism As An Intellectual Trap. zcomm.org The US-led economic sanctions have caused a great deal of death and destruction in Iranian society, and the IMF policies in Iran, similar to other developing countries, have resulted in a widening of the class gap, poverty, severe marginalization of the peripheries, and a lowering of living standards. Yet, the US sanctions together with IMF Read more…
(2019-12-04). TIAR Countries Blacklist Top Venezuelan Officials as US Slaps New Sanctions. venezuelanalysis.com US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Venezuela of "hijacking" mass anti-neoliberal protests in "our own backyard."
(2019-12-02). Venezuela's PDVSA Secures Temporary Lease Extension for Curacao Refinery. venezuelanalysis.com Despite the extension, refinery owners are looking to end the 34-year cooperation under pressure from US sanctions.
(2019-12-02). Prison By Any Other Name: A Report on South Florida Detention Facilities. splcenter.org …