5 posts tagged “usa”
As per the Associated Press:
Gay US diplomats to get benefits for partners: report
WASHINGTON (AFP) — In a policy shift, the US State Department will offer equal benefits and protections to same-sex partners of American diplomats, The New York Times reported.
The newspaper said the shift was spelled out in an internal memorandum Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent last week to an association of gay and lesbian foreign service officers.
Clinton said the policy change addressed an inequity in the treatment of domestic partners and would help the State Department recruit diplomats, since many international employers already offered such benefits, the report said.
"Like all families, our foreign service families come in different configurations; all are part of the common fabric of our post communities abroad," Clinton said in the memorandum, a copy of which was provided to The Times by a member of the gay and lesbian association.
"At bottom," the paper quotes Clinton as saying, "the department will provide these benefits for both opposite-sex and same-sex partners because it is the right thing to do."
A senior State Department official confirmed the new policy, but did not say when it would take effect, the paper said.
Among the benefits are diplomatic passports, use of medical facilities at overseas posts, medical and other emergency evacuation, transportation between posts, and training in security and languages, according to the report.
Under current policy, diplomats with domestic partners could be evacuated from a hazardous country by the US government while their partners were left behind, The Times noted.
In the past, the State Department declined to provide some benefits to the partners of diplomats, invoking the Defense of Marriage Act, which limited federal recognition of same-sex unions, The Times noted.
While I'm pretty much enthused by the showing of democracy in America, I can't help but read about the other news stories in the country.
Yeah, the Malaysian actually has time to read stories outside his tiny land, and focuses mostly on America.
If anything, it's Google's fault.
Anyways, while reading of Obama winning Maine and the other 3 before, I've also read of the tornadoes after Tuesday, and also now there are wildfires in the Carolinas and Virginia. Then there was the mention of snowstorms in Maine during the caucus.
Then there's the story of a sugar refinery blowing up in Georgia (Ga. is Georgia, right?).
Is this a normal occurrence in the United States? I've never read of so many natural and man made disasters happening at one time. What the heck is going on there?
In Malaysia, we recently had a case where an 8-year-old girl was kidnapped, raped, murdered, her body stuffed into a gym bag and dropped off in front of a CCTV.
And now, I read this.
Society is indeed devolving into animals.
Why is the US so interested in Kosovo, but have barely shown interest in Sudan?
Both are strategic locations. Sudan having petrol and being close to the Gulf would provide oil and a suitable location for a base there. In the case of Kosovo, it could be used as part of that missile system they wish to put up. Plus, it is also a way to take more land away from Russia.
In terms of population, the Arabs in Sudan are slaughtering and pushing the Africans out of their fertile grounds and further towards dust. The Albanians were victims of the hostile Serbs, which NATO bombed out of there. No action against the Arabs in Sudan, who are connected to the Arabs in Saudi Arabia, though.
Why is that?
Is there anything else to consider?
Americans will be going out to vote in a few hours. This is the mid-term elections, which could determine if the Democrats regain control of the Senate.
I wish the Democrats and Liberals the best of luck.
Go out there and vote.
