News and Analysis (5/7/20)

Rejecting the Constitution’s limitation of war making power to Congress, Trump denies his “constitutional authority to use military force [is] limited to defending the United States and its forces against imminent attack”:

• Trump Vetoes Measure to Restrain His Actions Against Iran, Calls It ‘Insulting’ to the Presidency (NBC News)

Iran starts exporting home-produced COVID-19 diagnostic kits that can accurately identify if someone was exposed to the COVID-19 to the West …

• Iran Says It Sent First Exports of Antibody Test Kits to Germany (Bloomberg)

… even as Pompeo hopes UNSC will renew the expiring arms embargo on Iran despite the likelihood of a Russian or Chinese veto and the failure of the policy, which is exacerbated by the Covid crisis:

• Hundreds of Lawmakers Urge Pompeo to Take ‘Increased Diplomatic Action’ to Renew Iran Arms Embargo (The Hill)
• Trump and Pompeo May Finally Succeed in Destroying the Iran Deal, but that Won’t Get Them Success with Iran (Business Insider)
• The Covid-19 Crisis Could Strengthen Iran’s ‘Invisible Government’ (Washington Post)

Iran’s ministry of Industry issues license for bitcoin mining farm with 600 miners that will offer services in the Middle East:

• Iran Licenses $7.3 Million Bitcoin Mining Enterprise, Move Aimed at Easing U.S. Sanctions (Bitcoin News)

Palestinians call Israeli attempt to control the Hebron mosque “a violation of existing agreements and UNESCO resolutions … carried out with the support and encouragement of the US administration” …

• Palestinians Reject Israeli Attempts to Control Hebron Mosque (Arab News)

… but then, “the Palestine-Israel war was never one between two national movements contesting equally over the same land but was always a “settler colonial conquest” by Europe-based Zionists”:

• The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi Review – Conquest and Resistance (The Guardian)

Abu al Qasim al Zahrawi, pioneer of modern surgery and the first compiler of illustrated medical encyclopedia, whose books were used in European universities for over five centuries, “is not given enough credit”:

• How a 10th-Century Muslim Surgeon Revolutionised Surgical Procedures (TRT World)

“In Indian-occupied Kashmir, there is one soldier for every nine people but only one ventilator for every 71,000 people, and one doctor for every 3,900 people” …

• India Uses Coronavirus Pandemic to Exploit Human Rights in Kashmir (The Conversation)

… and new demonstrations have broken out after Indian troops kill a “popular mathematics teacher” turned rebel leader:

• Top Kashmir Rebel Leader Killed as India Claims Major Success (The Diplomat)

“Boats full of Muslim minority Rohingya refugees are being pushed back by Malaysia, in part, the government says, over fears of the coronavirus virus”:

• COVID-19 Pandemic Further Alienates Muslim Minority Rohingya (NPR)

Immigration hardliner Ken Cuccinelli denies Iran’s claims that a deal is in the works for the release of Michael White in Iran and claims the U.S. has been trying to deport Sirous Asgari “for months”:

• US Eyes Deal to Free American in Iran (Progressive Farmer)

To maintain the sense of community and charity of the month of Ramadan during stay-at-home order, the Muslim community of Greater Rockford is offering daily hot meal for iftar regardless of faith:

• Rockford Muslim Association Provides Food During Pandemic (Rockford Register Star)