Self-immolation against our philosophy, says Sikyong Sangay

by Phayul Latest News on May 22, 2013

The democratically elected head of the Tibetan people Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay has said that the exile Tibetan administration discourages self-immolations, calling the act as going “against our philosophy.” Sikyong Sangay was speaking to an Indian daily, DNA upon his return from official visits to the Unites States and Europe.

Ukraine: Allow Equality March, Protect Participants

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by Human Rights Watch May 22, 2013

Kenya: Witnesses Describe Kisumu Killings by Police

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by Human Rights Watch May 22, 2013

Burnside headed back to the Sixth Circuit?

Last week in Burnside v. Walters, the Court took the fairly unusual step of granting cert. without having first received a brief from any of the respondents in the case:  the case’s online docket indicates that the Court called for Continue →

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by Amy Howe May 22, 2013

Petition of the day

The petition of the day is:

Ryan v. Lambright12-1190

Issue: Whether the Ninth Circuit created an improper and unworkable rule by inventing a duty for district courts to sua sponte impose a blanket protective order – absent any request from the privilege holder Continue →

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by Mary Dwyer May 22, 2013

Memorial Day Is A Time To Mourn the Dead … Let’s Not Glorify War

Note: This was initially posted in May 2012.  It is still extremely relevant now, in May 2013.  Memorial Day airshows, glorifying war, will soon be conducted in several locales around the country.  Anti-war demonstrations will be held at many of Continue →
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by Activist Resources May 22, 2013

Sheikh al-Yaqoubi Elected to the NC—its first non-Brotherhood-aligned religious figure

The Rise of the Sufis

by Matthew Barber—This story first appeared on Syria Comment

 

Newly-elected to the Syrian National Coalition, Sheikh Mohammad al-Yaqubi is moderate, influential, and ready to go to work

 

From the beginning of the uprising, mainstream Syrian Sunni ‘ulema—the Continue →

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by Matthew Barber May 22, 2013

Just Who Was Rand Paul’s Apology For?

Yesterday, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) offered a blunt apology to Apple CEO Tim Cook, scolding his fellow senators for criticizing Cook and his company for using offshore havens to avoid billions in tax bills. "I frankly think the committee should apologize Continue →
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by OpenSecrets Blog May 22, 2013

Is Jabhat al-Nosra breaking apart?

by Aron Lund for Syria Comment

There’s been some very interesting reports about conflicts within Jabhat al-Nosra, the salafi-jihadi rebel group that has been designated an al-Qaida-connected terrorist organization by the USA and several other countries.

The background

If you follow Syria, you’re Continue →

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by Aron Lund May 22, 2013

Shape-Shifting by Liberal Dark Money Groups Seems Meant to Confuse

IRS employees who sent overly detailed questionaires to some groups applying for tax-exempt status in recent years used words like "tea party" and "patriot" to try to filter out those that planned to be heavily involved in politics (a big Continue →
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by OpenSecrets Blog May 22, 2013

Did Myanmar President Thein Sein Deserve the Warm Welcome?

The warm White House reception, combined with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s call for the suspension of sanctions on imports from Myanmar, gave President Thein Sein a big boost. Did he deserve it? (Photo Credit: Shawn Thew, Pool/Getty Images).

President Continue →

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by Frank Jannuzi May 22, 2013

POMED Notes: Senate Discusses Syria Transition Act

On Tuesday, May 21, 2013 the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held a business meeting to discuss S.960, a bill relating to the situation in Syria, and S.Res.143, World Press Freedom Day. Senators Corker (R-TN), Boxer (D-CA), Risch (R-ID) Continue →

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by Connor May 22, 2013

Iran’s Guardian Council Chooses Candidates for Presidential Election

Photo Credit: Corbis

Iran’s Guardian Council announced the list of approved candidates for Iran’s June presidential election. The council approved eight candidates, six of which are “ultraconservatives” loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The approved candidates include Saeed Jalili, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator; Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the Continue →

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by Andi May 22, 2013

Cliff Notes on the May 2013 IAEA Report on Iran

By Kelsey Davenport, Daryl G. Kimball, and Greg Thielmann

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) May 2013 quarterly report on Iran’s nuclear program indicates that Tehran is continuing to move forward on its nuclear program, installing more advanced centrifuges and building-up Continue →

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by Tim Farnsworth May 22, 2013

Greenhouse gas case explained

UPDATE:  The D.C. Circuit Court decision at issue in this case can be read here.  The order denying en banc review, together with opinions issued along with that order, can be found here.

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In a flurry of activity at a pace unusual Continue →

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by Lyle Denniston May 22, 2013

5 Points President Obama Should Make in Thursday’s National Security Speech

This Thursday at 1:30p.m. eastern, President Obama will deliver a widely anticipated speech at National Defense University that is expected to address closing Guantanamo, drones and US counterterrorism policy.

If President Obama is serious about ending human rights violations by the Continue →

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by The Editors May 22, 2013

Take Action: Tell the President, “Escalate the Talk, Not the War, in Syria.”

Despite calls to the contrary from unsuccessful presidential candidate John McCain and other “when your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail” know-nothing war-mongers, who apparently thought the disastrous Iraq and Afghanistan wars were just ducky, Continue →
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by KevinMartin May 22, 2013

“Lead Wars” – The politics of prevention and responsibility [The Pump Handle]

By Elizabeth Grossman

What constitutes a disease? If the symptoms are sub-clinical and the cause is an environmental contaminant, what is the appropriate public health response? Once an environmental hazard is identified, who is responsible for removing that hazard to protect Continue →

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by The Pump Handle May 22, 2013

Dear Oklahoma: We Feel for you, we love you, but do us some favors

The immense, mindless violence of a tornado hitting a small Oklahoma town, turning houses into splinters and crushing people under rubble, including children, has rightfully dominated the American airwaves for the past few days. Oklahoma is a great state, Continue →

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by Juan Cole May 22, 2013

Is the Musudan Real?

The other day, I posted an entry at 38North outlining three scenarios for North Korea — that North Korea would eventually test a Musudan, that China has stayed Kim Jong Un’s hand for the moment and that North Korean politics Continue →

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by Jeffrey May 22, 2013

Tales in a Kabul Restaurant

Kabul: Since 2009, Voices for Creative Nonviolence has maintained a grim record we call the “The Afghan Atrocities Update” which gives the dates, locations, numbers and names of Afghan civilians killed by NATO forces. Even with details culled from Continue →

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by Kathy Kelly May 22, 2013

Sec. Kerry Visits Oman; Al-Wefaq Suspends Dialogue Participation

Photo Credit: State Department

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited Oman on Tuesday to help finalize a $2.1 billion defense pact. In a joint statement, the U.S. and the Government of Oman announced ”a deal for the acquisition of a Continue →

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by Bill May 22, 2013

Documentary: Where the war still echoes

Where the war still echoes is a documentary produced by IRIN, a news service run by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs .

The documentary series follows a family of Syrian refugees over the course of a year, Continue →

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by Syria Video May 22, 2013

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