US military chaplains can officiate at gay weddings

U.S. military chaplains will be allowed to officiate at same-sex weddings under new guidelines following repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy on gays serving openly in the military, the Pentagon said Friday.

A chaplain may participate in or officiate at any private ceremony on or off a military installation as long as the ceremony is not barred by state and local laws, the Defense Department said in a statement.

Chaplains do not have to officiate at ceremonies that go against their religious tenets, it said.

The repeal of the Defense Department policy that barred homosexuals from serving openly in the military — known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" — took effect on Sept. 20. More than 14,000 U.S. service members were thrown out under the rule, which dated from 1993.

The new guidelines said that decisions on the use of military property should be made on a "sexual-orientation neutral" basis, the statement said.

Six states and the District of Columbia allow same-sex marriage. Thirty-nine states specifically ban it.

China launches its first space laboratory

China has a manned space station scheduled for 2020.

China is the third country to orbit a human being behind the USSR and the USA.

The laboratory module also carries scientific experiments.

China launched on Thursday at 21.16 local time (13.16 GMT) the first module Tiangong Spacelab-1, unmanned , together with the Long March carrier rocket 2FT1 from downtown Jiuquan Satellite Launch (northwest), the agency official Xinhua. China's president, Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao witnessed the launch from the space centers in Beijing and Jiuquan respectively. From 8.5 ton, 10.4 meters and 3.35 meters in diameter, Tiangong-1 spacecraft will dock with the Shenzhou-8, Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 over the next two years, Xinhua news agency reported. The first experimental space docking, two days after the launch of the unmanned Shenzhou-8, is scheduled within a month, in late October or early November, according to spokesman for China's manned space program, Wu Ping. This first space docking to test this technology will be when Tiangong-1 drops from orbit of 350 kilometers of 343 kilometers. The link will last 12 days. The second coupling experimental Shenzhou 9 will occur in 2012, according to official media, while the Shenzhou-8 will return to Earth, and Tiangong-1 return to the original orbit after both tests while awaiting the third link.

Is expected to remain Tiangong-1 into orbit two years

According to Wu, the docking experiments provide valuable information for the construction of a 60-ton space station and permanent manned China, scheduled for 2020 . According to the country's manned space program, the Shenzhou-10, which may be manned including perhaps the first woman astronaut, could be launched in 2012 also to join the laboratory module launched. The Tiangong-1, which is expected to remain in orbit two years, represents an important step in China's efforts to eventually build a manned space station , said the official press. The laboratory module also carries several scientific experiments. China is the third country to put a human into orbit after the Soviet Union and the U.S., first in the Shenzhou -5 on October 15, 2003 and has since sent two manned missions into space

Saudi Arabia Elections Without Women

Saudi Arabia holds its municipal elections without the participation of women

Recently it was announced that women will vote within 4 years.

Election day was conducted without notable incident.

Women shall be entitled to vote in Saudi Arabia after their king so decide.

Saudi Arabia held on Thursday the second elections in its history to elect municipal councils, with a low voter turnout and without the participation of women, who may not vote for another four years. The Saudi authorities said that the election day was uneventful , although there were some observers who gave up their work and make allegations of sending messages to urge to vote for certain candidates participation in these elections, which had registered as voters under a million and a half men, which represents 35% of the voting population, was uneven across regions. While the polling stations in the main cities were no crowds, the turnout was more intense in medium-sized cities. The weak participation was expected due to the lack of confidence in decision-making powers of municipal councils, which responsible for providing recommendations and advice without any power of censorship or control in the internal affairs of the country, ruled by a monarchy with absolute power. Other factors that have affected are the low proportion of residents with voting rights and the prohibition for women , historically marginalized in this country ultraconservative imposed gender segregation in public spaces. Although the past 25 days Saudi King Abdallah bin Abdelaziz , decided to allow women to participate as voters and candidates in municipal elections, this does not apply until the next election in four years. The Minister of Local Government and Villages Saudi Prince Mansour bin Metaab, told reporters that the elections are conducted correctly. Metaab recalled that the first municipal elections in 2005, they turned to the U.S. experience, European countries and the UN, but on this occasion was not necessary. "The (election) is now made entirely with hand Saudis and involving more than 16,000 people and trained people, "he said during an inspection of the electoral process in the Al Darai, near Riyadh.

Not until 2016

He said that his ministry receives comments from the public and the media and expressed his hope that these "proposals to improve the work of municipal councils . " Although the authorities that affect the day passed without incident, there were allegations of sending text messages to mobile phones urging voters to choose and discriminate against certain lists other for religious reasons. A member of the Electoral Commission of Jeddah Abdelaziz Anhari stressed that "this kind of practice is forbidden by Saudi law" and said claims that the committee discuss the matter on Saturday. The absence of international observers was justified by the Electoral Commission Chairman, the Dahmesh Abdelrrahman, who said he has been employed freelancers Saudis "to ensure transparency and good organization of this operation."