Christmas Wishes

Image: http://www.daisynook.com/blog/

Merry Christmas and best wishes for a Happy New Year to all my dear readers...

Same-sex couples in the UK can tie the knot

Same-sex weddings in England and Wales will take place from March 2014, equalities minister Maria Miller has announced yesterday.

The date for the change in legislation to come into effect, which is March 29, is a few months earlier than expected at the time of the passage of the Marriage Act in July.

In fact, it was thought that same-sex couples would have to wait until next summer to tie the knot .

“This is just another step in the evolution of marriage and I know many couples up and down the country will be hugely excited they can now plan their big day,” Ms Miller said.

Both deputy prime minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband hailed the announcement by equalities minister.

Ms Miller said she is currently working hard to ensure couples wishing to convert civil partnerships into marriages and married people wanting to change their legal gender while married, can do so before the end of 2014.

Westminster Council alone has already received two same-sex wedding bookings and 15 enquiries after the announcement.

Those couples who want to be among the first married will need to give formal notice of their will by March 13.

China's plan to help Britain build HS2

China will help Britain build the controversial high-speed rail link between Surrey and Hertfordshire via central London.
 

Chinese premier Li Keqiang made the announcement after talks with David Cameron, who is back from a three-day trip to promote UK business in China.

The project, also known as High Speed 2 (HS2), is meant to provide extra capacity on the rail network as well as bringing cities closer together with high-speed trains.

The British Prime Minister has declared to welcome any potential Chinese involvement in HS2.

“An open Britain is the ideal partner for an opening China. No country in the world is more open to Chinese investment than the UK,” he said.

Over the past five years China has built the largest high-speed rail network in the world covering nearly 6,000 miles of track and is now attempting to sell its technologies to several foreign countries. 

British transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin had already visited Beijing to hold talks with the Chinese government in October.

Numerous Members of Parliament from both political wings have signalled their opposition to High Speed 2 project on economic, environmental and transport grounds.

They said that the current £ 50 billion plus price tag on HS2 would fund a large number of worthwhile projects if it was scrapped.

The opposition also raised safety concerns following a Chinese railway crash which killed at least 40 people in 2011.

The accident does not appear to be deterrent for the British Government.

Mr Cameron, in fact, is “proud of Chinese investment”.

Moreover, the economic giant, wants to push for progress in the co-operation on nuclear power, willing to purchase equities and stocks in the UK power projects.

British PM added he will be pushing for a comprehensive EU/China trade deal.