Scottish government to back same-sex marriage

-Reuters File Photo

LONDON: Scotland’s government has announced plans to legalize same-sex marriages.          
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Wednesday that legislation permitting the marriages would soon be introduced.
The measure has backing from the major Scottish political parties. It follows a public consultation on the issue.
When enacted, Scotland could become the first part of the UK to allow same-sex marriages.
The UK government has conducted a public consultation on legalizing same-sex marriages, and it has the backing of Prime Minister David Cameron.
But UK officials are waiting for the results of the public consultation before taking further steps.

North Korean TV confirms leader Kim is married

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (2nd L) and his wife, who was named by the state broadcaster as Ri Sol-ju, visit the Rungna People’s Pleasure Ground, in Pyongyang in this undated picture released by the North’s KCNA on July 25, 2012. Kim Jong-un has married, state media said on Wednesday, putting an end to speculation over the relationship with a woman seen at his side during a recent gala. REUTERS Photo

SEOUL: North Korean state media Wednesday confirmed that its new leader Kim Jong-Un is married and named his wife as Ri Sol-Ju.
The announcement ended weeks of speculation about the identity of a stylish young woman pictured accompanying the young leader to official events this month.
State television reported that Kim and Ri took part in a ceremony marking the completion of a Pyongyang amusement park.
“Marshal Kim Jong-Un took part in the opening ceremony of Nungra People’s Amusement Park with his wife, Comrade Ri Sol-Ju,” it reported.
The official news agency also reported that Kim and his wife attended the event and were given an “enthusiastic welcome”.
It was unclear what day Kim and his wife visited the park or how long they have been married.
Kim, believed to be in his late twenties, took over the nuclear-armed nation when his father Kim Jong-Il died last December.
But the intensely secretive state had previously released no details of his private life.
The short-haired woman was first shown with Jong-Un during a concert in Pyongyang on July 5. She was seen walking next to the leader on July 8 when he visited the mausoleum of his grandfather and the nation’s founder Kim Il-Sung.
On July 24, photos aired by state television showed her standing close to the new leader during a visit to a kindergarten.
With other officials staying a few steps behind the pair, the woman was seen smiling while standing immediately behind or next to Jong-Un as he hugged and talked to children.
In contrast to his late father, who spoke just once at a public event during his 17 years in power, the younger Kim has cultivated an outgoing and informal style.
He has been seen hugging soldiers, posing for photos with troops and linking arms with women.
The chubby young man physically resembles his late grandfather, who still commands respect among some North Koreans for his past as an anti-Japanese guerrilla fighter and national founder.
Analysts say Kim appears fully in charge of the nation, despite having had relatively little time to prepare for the succession.
Last week the regime sacked powerful military chief Ri Yong-Ho on the grounds of ill health, in what was seen as a move by the young leader to strengthen his grip on the 1.2 million-strong armed forces.
Kim Jong-Un was later appointed “Marshal” of North Korea, a title previously held by his late father.
The International Crisis Group think-tank, in a report released Wednesday, said Kim appears to be in charge in his own right despite speculation he would have to rely on close advisers.
But it said there was nothing to suggest the young leader would take measures to improve the lot of his people or reduce regional frictions.
Regional tensions have been high since the North launched a long-range rocket on April 13. It said the aim was to launch a peaceful satellite, while the United States and its allies saw a disguised ballistic missile test.

Ashraf constitutes committee to oversee power crisis

PM Raja Pervez Ashraf chairs a meeting. – APP File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has constituted a Load Management Committee headed by the minister for water and power to supervise the distribution of electricity through DISCOs (Distribution of Companies) with a view to ensuring equitable loadshedding in the country by better management of the available supply of electricity.
The prime minister was chairing a meeting of the Energy Committee here at the PM Secretariat on Wednesday.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Water and Power Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Minister for Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Advisor to PM on Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain, Minister for Kashmir Affairs Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, Minister for Textile Makhdoom Shahubuddin, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, senior officials of the relevant ministries, the President of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) and CEOs of DISCOs in the country.
The prime minister directed the committee to ensure the distribution of electricity to each DISCO and its further distribution in the respective regions without deviating from the scheduled loadshedding plan.
He also directed all the CEOs of DISCOs to double their efforts without fail in curtailing the line losses and also speed up the recovery of the receivables from the public and the private sectors in their respective regions.
The prime minister gave full authority to the load management committee to get rid of those who were found responsible for fiddling with the system or did not take their responsibilities seriously or failed to comprehend the gravity of the challenge and correspondingly took no corrective measures to control the situation.
He further directed that there should be no loadshedding at “Iftar and Sehar” timings during the holy month of Ramazan.
The prime minister lauded the textile sector for its contributions in the volume of foreign exchange earnings besides providing tens of thousands of job opportunities to the people.
He took the representatives of APTMA into confidence for appreciating the energy situation in the country and sought their cooperation in this regard till the decline in demand.
The prime minister appreciated the ministry of finance and the ministry of petroleum for ensuring the uninterrupted supply of fuel oil and the available gas to the power sector, so critical to maintain the level of power generation at more than 14000 MW.
The meeting was told that one nuclear power plant has become operational and the other one will also start generating electricity very soon.

Clashes leave 13 dead in Orakzai: officials

More than 30 militants attacked a Frontier Corps checkpost in Dabori area of Orakzai tribal region. – File Photo by Reuters

PESHAWAR: Dozens of armed militants raided a paramilitary checkpoint in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday, sparking clashes that left three soldiers and at least 10 attackers dead, officials said.
The area on the Afghan border, branded by Washington the most dangerous place on Earth and the global headquarters of al Qaeda, is cut off to journalists and aid workers and it was not possible to confirm the death toll.
“More than 30 militants attacked a Frontier Corps checkpost in Dabori area of Orakzai tribal region on Wednesday afternoon and killed three security persons,” a security official told AFP in Peshawar.
“The security forces responded to the attack with full force and used helicopters for shelling on the militants. At least 10 militants were killed in the response.”Seven troops were injured during the firefight.
Orakzai is one of seven districts in Pakistan’s semi-autonomous tribal belt, where Taliban and al Qaeda-linked militants have carved out strongholds used to plot attacks on Pakistani, Afghan and Western targets.

Federal Cabinet forms committee over Balochistan situation

Cabinet Meeting – File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Federal Cabinet on Wednesday formed a committee over Balochistan situation. The committee would present its report in a week, DawnNews reported.
The cabinet meeting, headed by Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, discussed the law and order situation of Balochistan.
The cabinet formed a committee headed by Defense Minister Naveed Qamar.
The committee also includes Minister of Water and power, Minister of Science and technology, Minister of postal services, minister of information and broadcasting and Advisor to the prime minister on Interior.
The committee would present its report to the cabinet in a week.
The cabinet members decided that the next cabinet session will only discuss Balochistan issue.
The federal cabinet also approved the draft which proposed to have a written agreement with the Nato.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ashraf took the cabinet in confidence over his latest visits to Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.
The meeting also discussed the issues of load-shedding, power production and the prices of edibles in Ramazan, sources said.

Cabinet approves MoU on new terms of engagement with US

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman. – File Photo by APP

ISLAMABAD: Federal Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Wednesday approved signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States on new terms of engagements and restoration Nato supply routes.
Briefing media representatives later, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said this is in line with parliamentary committee’s guidelines that there would be no hidden or unwritten agreement with any foreign country and every agreement would be in black and white.
Draft of the MoU was finalised after extensive consultations and input from all relevant ministries, armed forces which reflect transparency in government’s foreign relations, he noted.
He said the cabinet has also allowed petroleum and natural resources ministry to initiate talks with India to explore possibility of purchase of POL products.
“For import of gas from Iran, we will have to lay about 1,000 KM pipeline but for import of natural gas from India, we will have to lay only 60 km pipeline and if it is feasible, it can provide instant relief to the nation,” said the information minister while commenting on gas pipeline issue.
Import of these products could be inexpensive due to proximity factor. There is possibility of Pakistan exporting Naptha to India. Ministry was permitted to initiate talks with India for RLNG import. Final decision will be taken on receipt of terms, conditions and financing feasibility, said the minister.
To a question, Kaira said general elections in the country will be held next year and government will contact the opposition on caretaker set up when that stage comes. He said the prime minister is taking personal interest in resolving power crisis.
Moreover, the cabinet also formed a committee over Balochistan situation. The committee would present its report in a week, said the information minister.