Daily Archives: November 1, 2014

Iran defends human rights record at UN panel

Posted: November 1, 2014 at 11:41 pm

Public executions in Iran are often witnessed by children and are meted out for offenses such as homosexuality and drug possession. (Courtesy: Iran Human Rights)

Iran lashed out at critics of its abysmal human rights record at a U.N. hearing Friday, blaming the West for Saturdays execution of a woman who killed her attempted rapist, and receiving support from a host of countries with dubious records of their own.

The Islamic Republics rebuttal of a damning report from the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Iran came during a three hour review in Geneva of the U.N. Human Rights Council of Tehran's record. The debate was part of the U.N. council's examination of every member state's record every four years.

This idea of, the West and the rest, only the West has good things, this is wrong, Mohammad Javad Larijani, chief of human rights in Irans government, told the world body panel. Please accept the idea that others have a good way of life. Western lifestyle isnt only way of doing things.

Larijani, secretary general of Iran's High Council for Human Rights, a part of its judiciary, lashed out at what he called attempts to "impose your lifestyle under the banner of human rights," including gay rights.

But the panel also heard from Ahmed Shaheed, the world body's special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, who filed a report charging 852 people were executed in the Islamic Republic over the last year, mostly for drug offenses, homosexuality and alleged crimes against sharia law. Western diplomats were appalled at Irans persecution of Christians and disregard for due process.

- Sepideh Pooraghaiee, Iranian dissident

"There are continued reports of government harassment towards members of religious minorities. Journalists have been arrested, detained or prevented from doing their work," U.S. ambassador Keith Harper said in a speech.

Harper urged Iran to release Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post reporter detained since July, "to demonstrate its commitment to freedom of expression."

Rezaian, a dual Iranian-American national, has worked in Tehran since 2008. This month Iran released his wife, an Iranian journalist, on bail after more than two months held without charge

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NTSB Begins Its Investigation Of Virgin Galactic Crash

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Acting Chairman Christopher A. Hart briefs the media. (Credit: NTSB)

The National Transportation Safety Board officially began their investigation of the crash of Virgin Galactics SpaceShipTwo. The craft was destroyed on October 31 during a test flight that claimed the life of one pilot.

That pilot has been identified as Michael Alsbury, 39, who was a test pilot for Scaled Composites, the contractor that is building and testing the spaceship for Virgin.

The NTSB began their investigation this morning. Senior investigator Lorenda Ward will be in charge of the process. She is leading a team of 13-15 investigators with a variety of specialties to determine the cause of the crash.

Acting NTSB chairman Christopher A. Hart gave a briefing this morning to the media.

This has many similarities and some differences to the NTSBs usual investigations, Hart said in response to a question from a reporter. Thisll be the first time we have been in the lead of a space launch that involved persons on board.

Hart didnt have much information yet about the specifics of the crash as the investigation was beginning, but indicated that there should be lots of evidence because test flights are typically very well documented.

Updates to NTSBs investigation will be gathered at its website here.

Virgin Galactics founder, Sir Richard Branson, was also on the scene today and briefly addressed reporters and others in Mojave.

Richard Branson at a press conference at the Mojave spaceport. (Credit: Virgin Galactic)

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NTSB Begins Its Investigation Of Virgin Galactic Crash

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Best 100 Hubble images of cosmos – Video

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Best 100 Hubble images of cosmos
The Hubble Telescope has been active for nearly a quarter of a century. Explore the universe through Hubble #39;s eye, and witness the most dangerous, spectacula...

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Best 100 Hubble images of cosmos - Video

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Cold War Redux: NATO intercepts 19 Russian jets skirting European airspace in one day – Video

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Cold War Redux: NATO intercepts 19 Russian jets skirting European airspace in one day
NATO has recorded an unusually high level of Russian air activity around Europe this week. Jets from eight nations and a NATO air-policing mission over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were scrambled...

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Cold War Redux: NATO intercepts 19 Russian jets skirting European airspace in one day - Video

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Russian jets, bombers circle Europe in unusual incidents ! says NATO with FEAR PORN ! – Video

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Russian jets, bombers circle Europe in unusual incidents ! says NATO with FEAR PORN !
Main Hangout channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3bBf_QixT6omlCwMxEcSUQ https://www.facebook.com/cips.clips.3 https://twitter.com/houstoncraig Plz sub ...

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Russian jets, bombers circle Europe in unusual incidents ! says NATO with FEAR PORN ! - Video

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Poland wants US troops in east Europe: NATO boosts presence in response to Kremlin’s Ukraine war – Video

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Poland wants US troops in east Europe: NATO boosts presence in response to Kremlin #39;s Ukraine war
Poland #39;s Foreign Minister has said in Berlin Europe needs the on-going presence of US forces and intensified efforts by NATO to provide security in the future. Earlier Siemoniak said Poland...

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Poland wants US troops in east Europe: NATO boosts presence in response to Kremlin's Ukraine war - Video

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NATO helps Jordan fend off ISIL cyber threat. – Video

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NATO helps Jordan fend off ISIL cyber threat.
For the first time, NATO and Jordan have launched a cyber defence project in Jordan to help defend Jordanian critical infrastructure, such as energy plants and telecommunications equipment....

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Nato Monkey crash – Video

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Nato Monkey crash

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NATO chief: Russia has tripled military flights along NATO's eastern borders this year

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Published October 30, 2014

Greece's Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, left, shakes hands with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg before their meeting at Maximos Mansion in Athens, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014. Stoltenberg said the alliance is increasing its readiness and air policing following a spike in airforce activity in eastern Europe by Russia, which he urged to end destabilizing actions in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Eurokinissi, Tatiana Bolaris) GREECE OUT(The Associated Press)

Members of Greek Navy special forces operate during a Greek joint military exercise ''Pyrpolitis'' at the Saronic Gulf, south of Athens on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attended the drill as he is in Athens for talks expected to focus on efforts to counter Islamic State militants in Iraq, the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and renewed tension between Greece and Turkey over oil-and-gas exploration off the coast of divided Cyprus. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)(The Associated Press)

Members of Greek Navy special forces operate from a military helicopter during a Greek joint military exercise ''Pyrpolitis'' at the Saronic Gulf, south of Athens on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attended the drill as he is in Athens for talks expected to focus on efforts to counter Islamic State militants in Iraq, the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and renewed tension between Greece and Turkey over oil-and-gas exploration off the coast of divided Cyprus. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)(The Associated Press)

Military helicopters operate during a Greek joint military exercise ''Pyrpolitis'' at the Saronic Gulf, south of Athens on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attended the drill as he is in Athens for talks expected to focus on efforts to counter Islamic State militants in Iraq, the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and renewed tension between Greece and Turkey over oil-and-gas exploration off the coast of divided Cyprus. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)(The Associated Press)

A Greek Navy officer gives directions to a helicopter during a Greek joint military exercise ''Pyrpolitis'' at the Saronic Gulf, south of Athens on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attended the drill as he is in Athens for talks expected to focus on efforts to counter Islamic State militants in Iraq, the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and renewed tension between Greece and Turkey over oil-and-gas exploration off the coast of divided Cyprus. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)(The Associated Press)

ATHENS, Greece NATO's new chief says the alliance is increasing its readiness and air policing following a spike in Russian air force activity in Eastern Europe.

Jens Stoltenberg says while NATO is not back on Cold War terms with its former arch-enemy, recent Russian behavior has severely undermined the trust built up over decades.

Tensions have been running high between NATO and Russia since Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in March.

Speaking Thursday during a visit to Athens, Stoltenberg said the trans-Atlantic military alliance "remains vigilant" in view of this year's tripling of Russian military flights along NATO's eastern borders.

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The Last Time NSA Submitted Secret Authorities, It Was Actively Hiding Illegal Wiretapping – Video

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The Last Time NSA Submitted Secret Authorities, It Was Actively Hiding Illegal Wiretapping

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