BAN URGES UGANDA TO REPEAL ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY LAW

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged Ugandan authorities to revise or repeal the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill, one day after he said it violates basic human rights and endangers lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the country.

“The Secretary-General reiterates that everyone is entitled to enjoy the same basic rights and live a life of worth and dignity without discrimination,” his spokesperson said, adding that this concept is embedded in the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Ugandan Constitution.

President Yoweri Museveni yesterday signed into law the bill which calls for a 14-year jail term for a first conviction and imprisonment for life for the offence of “aggravated homosexuality”.

Mr. Ban convoyed his concerns yesterday about the bill, which was not yet signed at the time, to Ambassador Richard Nduhuura, Permanent Representative of Uganda to the UN, and has expressed the UN’s support “to achieve change on this matter”.

Both he and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay have decried the principles of the law which “could fuel prejudice as well as encourage harassment and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons”.

In today’s statement, Mr. Ban’s spokesperson noted that Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), also spoke out against the law saying it may obstruct effective responses to the virus.

Mr. Ban has appealed for the complete and universal decriminalization of homosexuality, still a criminal offence in some 76 countries, stressing that human rights must always trump cultural attitudes and societal strictures

YOUTH RIGHTS

Youths area very sacrosanct sector of any state, as they constitute the most active force of any population, and as such, are major boosters of a country’s economy. It’s funny how the old ones still tell us that the youths are the leaders of tomorrow; they are the tomorrow. Are they not aware that the “tomorrow” is here? That the “tomorrow” is today? The youths are the today that they have been waiting for, and they have rights.

More often than not, the perception about youths in every society tends towards the negative side, such as oppression, youthful exuberance, uncontrollable outbursts, among other things. But this is not to say that they should be exempted from certain things in the society. With this, we wonder, if the youths are characterised by such negative terms, why then are they given rights like right-to-work laws, voting age, labour laws, youth suffrage, and military conscription? Why are they saddled with such responsibilities? Why is much expected from them? The answer- it’s all on paper, at least, those ones that have to do with governance. The old ones still want to be at the helm because they believe “the beautiful ones are not yet born.”

Having established the fact that the youths are a very important sect of any society, it is paramount to also note that several attempts have been made to increase the level of participation of the youth in every sphere. Campaigns have been planned and executed, and the focus of those campaigns was civic engagements. These campaigns also address the right of a youth to vote and be voted for, and of course, they canvass for the reduction of voting age and the age to be voted for.

Other strategies employed by youth groups to further ensure the security of the rights of the youth include youth activism, youth political participation, youth empowerment, youth and adult partnerships and of course, intergenerational equity.

I believe that if the youths are truly the leaders of tomorrow, if the future of every economy and every political system truly wants a change, the youths should be given a fair chance in making that change; at the higher level of politics, among other civic engagements. If they can be trusted enough to be conscripted into the national army, and if they can also be trusted to be responsible at a certain age (usually 18), then they should also be trusted to do better things for their countries.

The youths have something to offer, let’s hear them out. Let us allow for expression. Their strengths, if properly guarded by the older ones (without the elders overriding them), can turn the globe around. They have the strength, let them use it. Let them rule alongside the older generation. Let intergenerational equity prevail in every sector of the society. The youths have their rights, let those rights be truly expressed and not undermined.

GENDER EQUALITY.

Among other controversial subjects is gender equality. This controversy arises as a result of divergent views about gender, and the inequality between both. But we seem to forget that we are first humans; Humans with equal rights, humans that should be accorded the same level of respect, humans that should not discriminate against one another on the basis of gender or any other basis for that matter.

The issue of gender equality has, one way, or another, led to the rise of certain groups, but in the real sense of it, these groups have over-flogged the issue, as they tend to become too aggressive in expressing their views, causing further imbalance in the society. In fact, if anything, they tend to unknowingly aggravate the level of inequality that is already prevalent in the society. This is what the United Nations’ Rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights is guarding against. With this, the UN seeks to create equality in law, in social situations, in political participations, and also in securing equal pay for all.

Having said these, UNICEF, under the UN, sheds a better and a more healthy light on what gender equality means. According to UNICEF, gender equality “means that men and women, and boys and girls, enjoy the same rights, resources, opportunities and protection. It does not require that men and women, and boys and girls to be the same or that they treated exactly alike.” With this, the United Nations have put certain projects in focus that further buttress the issue of gender equality. One of these projects is the United Nations Millennium Project, which claims that “every single goal is directly related to women’s rights, and societies where women are not afforded equal rights, as men, can never achieve development in a suitable manner.” This means that gender equality, to a very large extent, promotes and maintains economic development. The reason is not far- fetched as the society gets the balance it needs to thrive.

A veritable example of where this project needs to be addressed is the African continent alongside the countries in the Middle-East, where the female folk are treated as “second fiddle”. But if this project is implemented with its claim, the African economy together with the Middle-East, would get the balance it needs to thrive, and this, to a very large extent is linked with political participation, because the super structure (which is the political system) of any state is a perfect reflection of the sub structure (which is the economy).

Be that as it may, we all have a role to play in establishing and maintaining gender equality in every sphere. We have a duty to our economy and our political system.

I strongly recommend that schools could infuse gender equality into the co-curriculum to re-orientate the young minds and spread the holistic truth about gender equality and should also be careful not to sensitise the girls to be violent feminists.
The world would indeed be a better place if we treat each other first as humans, and focus on the strength each gender possesses and harness them to give the globe the balance it needs.

FACEBOOK TO ACQUIRE WHATSAPP FOR $16 BILLION.

Facebook said on Wednesday that it would acquire WhatsApp, a messaging start-up, for $16billion in cash and stock.

The eye-popping price is Facebook’s largest acquisition by far, and marks a new height in the frenzy to acquire popular technology start-ups.

Facebook will pay $4 billion in cash and $12 billion worth of Facebook shares for WhatsApp. An additional $3billion in restricted stock units will be granted to WhatsApp employees and founders. These units will vest over the next four years.

LIVERPOOL 5- ARSENAL 1: Five Star Reds Rout League Leaders Arsenal.

Liverpool produced a stellar performance against Premier League leaders Arsenal, winning 5-1, strengthening their top 4 position and doing no harm to their own title contender credentials. Arsenal raced to a 4-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes after braces from Martin Skrtel and Raheem Sterling, followed by a Daniel Sturridge strike to make it 5, with Mikel Arteta converting a second half penalty for Arsenal in reply

A Premier League fixture that has seen more hat-tricks scored than in any other fixture (five), leaders Arsenal travelled to Anfield seeking their 4th consecutive victory at Liverpool’s home ground, in what was anticipated to be an exciting match. The visitors are also the last side to stop the lethal “SAS” scoring against them in the 2-0 win at the Emirates in November.

It took just over a minute for Liverpool to signal their intent. Arsenal took the kick off and gave the ball away. Liverpool came back at them with Suarez running down a cul de sac wide from a long throw, but Mertesacker brought him down in a dangerous position on the left. Gerrard’s ball in was whipped in with pace, flicked off a Liverpool head before Martin Skrtel connected with the free kick and sent the ball high into the net for the opening goal, despite suspicions of offside during the goal.

Daniel Sturridge started wide on the right and his direct running had kept Monreal on the back foot constantly. He combined with Flanagan to force a corner and Gerrard’s delivery once again was whipped in with quality and Martin Skrtel got the run on Koscielny, turning his header into the top right corner past the diving Szczesny and Oxlade-Chamberlain on the post.

2-0 in under 10 minutes and this performance was certainly demonstrating the home team’s ambition. It was almost 3-0 moments later, when a triangle of passing football started by Gerrard, again, to Coutinho whose clipped ball was flicked into the path of Sturridge. He dinked the ball over the onrushing Szczesny but he narrowly put it wide. Luis Suarez turned and spun a venomous half volley that smashed against the angle of post and bar, but the rebound could not be turned in by Toure, as it hit him before he could really react.

Nobody expected this. Mesut Ozil was caught in possession on the halfway line allowing Henderson to carry the ball with attacking intent. He pushed the ball wide on the right to Suarez and his low cross evaded all Arsenal defenders and found Raheem Sterling at the far post for 3-0. Arsene Wenger and Steve Bould were fuming at the referee for not awarding a foul on Mesut Ozil, but replays showed the German went down from the momentum rather than the challenge.

It was soon 4-0 to Liverpool. Coutinho slipped a through ball around both Arsenal centre backs for Sturridge to stroke it past Szczesny for his 18th goal of the season, his 8th in the last 7 games. The players in yellow looked shell shocked after a nightmare 20 minutes and you began to fear what the final score could be.

Luckily for Arsenal, they managed to get into the game, keeping better possession and not allowing Liverpool as much time and space as before. They made it to half time without conceding anymore, but also without registering a shot on target.

Five minutes after the restart, it was 5-0 to the hosts. Raheem Sterling timed his run ahead of the Koscielny offside trap, chasing a Kolo Toure pass, and in flight, there’s no catching the young English winger. He converted his own rebound after his first tame effort was saved low by Szczesny as the Polish keeper could only knock it back to Sterling for his second try. The fifth goal was heralded by some of the travelling support making for the exits. Sterling almost grabbed his hat-trick, Liverpool’s 6th, but he flicked the ball into the side netting after another Gerrard free kick.

56 minutes were on the clock when Arsene Wenger’s team manufactured their first shots on target but neither effort really tested Mignolet who had had nothing more than the role of spectator this afternoon.

There were chances missed for 6 when Suarez, full on 40 yards, brought the best out of Szczesny to keep the ball out of the top corner before playmaker-in-chief, Coutinho beat his man and split the Arsenal defence to find Henderson but his chip bent wide. Sterling saw Szczesny get down low once again to prevent the hat-trick late on.

With 20 minutes to play, the Gunners did get their consolation goal. Steven Gerrard lunged in on Oxlade-Chamberlain, giving Michael Oliver no choice but to point to the spot. Mikel Arteta strolled up to the ball and side footed it down the middle for 5-1, met by ironic cheers ringing throughout Anfield.

Liverpool took their foot off the pedal and allowed Arsenal back into the game when there was nothing no longer at stake. This big victory has brought them within 5 points of Arsenal whilst offering the opportunity for Chelsea and Man City who play later today, to overtake the North London club. The two sides meet again in the FA Cup on Sunday as important fixtures come thick and fast for Arsenal; how they react from this game will show the character of the squad.

Liverpool: Mignolet; Flanagan, Cissokho, Toure, Skrtel; Gerrard (Ibe 75), Henderson, Sterling, Coutinho; Suarez (Aspas 85), Sturridge (Allen 65)

Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal (Gibbs 59); Wilshere, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Ozil (Rosicky 59); Giroud (Podolski 59)

CHELSEA 3-NEWCASTLE 0: Hazard Hat-Trick Downs Brittle Toon.

Eden Hazard scored a hat-trick to send Chelsea top of the league as they brushed aside Newcastle with a convincing 3-0 win.

Hazard, who shone in the 1-0 victory over Manchester City on Monday night, again stole the limelight with a tremendous individual performance.

The Belgian international opened the scoring in the 27th minute after latching on to a Branislav Ivanovic pass to drive the ball beyond Tim Krul in the Newcastle goal.

Krul had made a string of decent saves in the opening exchanges to keep the score at 0-0 but once the first goal went in, so did all realistic hope of Newcastle salvaging anything from this match.

Aside from Moussa Sissoko’s failed one-on-one effort, Newcastle failed to create any meaningful opening as their attack again looked nothing short of toothless.

Chelsea, though, were just getting in to their groove and Hazard finished off a fine team move to double their advantage six minutes later.

Hazard had the chance to complete his hat-trick just after the hour mark after Samuel Eto’o was fouled in the box. The outcome was never in doubt as he beat Krul for the third time to complete a comprehensive home victory.

With Arsenal losing 5-1 to Liverpool and Manchester City drawing 0-0 at Norwich, Chelsea have now moved one point clear at the top of the table.

Newcastle have now scored in one of their last seven league games which leaves lots of questions for Alan Pardew to answer as he continues to search for a way to take his team forward without Yohan Cabaye.

CHELSEA MAKE LUIS SUAREZ TOP SUMMER TRANSFER TARGET.

Chelsea have reportedly made Luis Suarez their main target in the summer transfer window.

According to the Metro, Jose Mourinho wants to bring in Luis Suarez to solve his striker problems, a move which would complete his squad in the Portuguese manager’s eyes.

Mourinho sat down with Roman Abramovich to discuss the January transfer window exploits, which saw Nemanja Matic, Mohamed Salah and Bertrand Traore come in and Juan Mata, Kevin De Bruyne and Michael Essien depart.

According to several reports in South America, Mourinho made it clear that his main target is to bring in Uruguyan hit-man Luis Suarez from Liverpool.

Suarez signed a new deal just over a month ago with the Reds and if Rodgers gets his men into the top four this season, the chances of Suarez leaving will be severely trimmed down. However, Mourinho is banking on Liverpool not making the Champions League, which in-turn could spell the end of Suarez’s time on Merseyside.

Reports believe that should the Reds not make the top four, Suarez has a clause in his contract which will allow him to leave should a substantial offer be made. A bid of over £55million could trigger that clause, which would have Rodgers and co. seriously considering the offer.

MANUEL PELLEGRINI HITS BACK AT JOSE MOURINHO.

The Premier League race is heating up and so is the war of words between Jose Mourinho and Manchester City boss, Manuel Pellegrini.

Last week, the special one Launched a stinging attack on Pellegrini saying he inherited a powerful team and that the Citizens have been fortunate with referring decisions. The Chilean didn’t take too kindly to these comments and responded by saying:

“That’s given them two points more.(The penalty given to Chelsea against Hull) If he is talking about the decision we had at Tottenham, everyone said Rose touched the ball with his left leg before he tackled Dzeko.

“But we had had six clear chances by that stage, it wasn’t like the game changed in that moment. The other decision at Newcastle, referees at the beginning of the season would not have said offside, now they might say offside, but still we scored a goal more. It was not a goal that decided the match.”

Mourinho also compared the City squad to his own saying when Pellegrini, arrived at the Etihad in the Summer, “The team was there ready for him”.

“We are not a squad like Man City’s with every player in the best moment of their careers of the age of stability between 25 and their 30s, all of them working together for a long time, a manager (Pellegrini) that arrived and the team was there ready for him.

“We are different. We are beginning. Of course we dream to win the Premier League and if we have the chance to win we’re not going to say we don’t want to but we don’t have the same responsibilities.”

Meanwhile, the Manchester City boss shrugged off Mourinho’s comments about Chelsea being a small horse. He said The Blues have the funds and resources available and that they themselves have been one of the Premier League’s heaviest spenders:

“Maybe it is a small horse if the manager thinks like that. It can be a little horse, but very rich.”

“This is the team that has spent most money in the last 10 years, is the team that spent most money this year and the team that spent the most money in the transfer window. So, little – but rich.”

The 60 year old concluded with the Premier League title race, saying Arsenal currently have an “important advantage” but it will be a fight between the three clubs until the end.

“I think it will be very close with Chelsea and Arsenal. Arsenal are the favourites because they have two points’ lead in the table.

“I am sure the three will fight to the end for the title.”

Chelsea host Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge later today whilst Manchester City are away at Norwich.

JOSE MOURINHO: “Everything I Say and Do Are Mind Games”.

You don’t have to be a genius to figure out that Jose Mourinho can talk some rubbish. A prime example of this is his claim that Chelsea isn’t in the title race this season. This comes when the club is tied for second place in the Premier League with Man City, just two points behind league-leading Arsenal.

The Chelsea boss has now admitted that he doesn’t always tell the truth and that’s how it will be for the remainder of the season. He told the press, “Everything I say and do are mind games. The only thing that is not mind games are the results.”

You’d have to be pretty naïve to believe everything that comes out of Mourinho’s mouth. But other than giving reporters something to write about, there’s not really much point in trying to play mind games with professional players and managers. Most of them simply ignore what he has to say.

He recently said, Chelsea was “a little horse that needed milk” while ha called Man City and Arsenal “two big horses.” He reminds many fans of Eric Cantona when the former Man United and French international talked about sardines and fishing trawlers several years ago.

Mourinho is fooling no one when he said Chelsea isn’t in the race, and he’s now stated, “I’m not saying we’re not going to win. I’m saying we are candidates, we’re outsiders. Of course we dream to win the Premier League and if we have the chance to win we’re not going to say we don’t want to.

WE HAVE A REPLACEMENT FOR VIDIC- David Moyes.

Despite the looming departure of Nemanja Vidic in the summer, David Moyes is confident that Manchester United already have the right tools to lead the club defensively over the coming years.

Vidic may also not be the only experienced defender to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season. Rio Ferdinand is expected by many to retire, whilst Patrice Evra is believed to be favouring a return to France. However, it seems the manager would prefer to put his faith in the existing squad, rather than expensively dip into the transfer market.

Speaking at a press conferenc on Friday, Moyes confidently stated: “I think we have got [a replacement for Vidic] in the club already”. He added, “Phil Jones, Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling are already here”, describing the trio as “three really good centre halves.”.

The three certainly have the credentials to succeed, with six Premier League titles between them already, as well as 49 international caps for England and Northern Ireland. Moyes believes that playing in the centre of defence is now the hardest position in football, especially with forward players like Luis Suarez and Sergio Aguero to contend with in the Premier League, but hopes his young trio will be a success:

“With the movement of the centre forwards and the quality of the centre forwards, playing a young centre-half is very difficult. To nurture one along and bring them into the team… we are trying to do that. We will give Smalling, Jones and Evans those opportunities to show what they are capable of.”

Moyes acknowledged that losing Vidic would be tough, though he remained defiant about the future:

“… football clubs keep changing. Everything keeps changing and we keep moving on. If there was ever a club who proved that, it’s this club. That’s what has happened at the right times. I’m hoping the young ones who we’ve already given games to and grounding will step up to the plate. I hope they will become young centre halves with lots of experience, who can be here for the next five or six years. That’s the idea.”

The Scot also remained coy about whether he would be attempting to bring in additional defensive bodies, simply stating “we’ll look at what we need in the summer”.

United will host Fulham at Old Trafford on Sunday, which see will the return of the club’s highly respected former coach Rene Meulensteen for the first time as an opposition manager. Jonny Evans will almost definitely be missing after failing to recover from a calf strain, though Phil Jones has made good progress since suffering a concussion against Stoke. Marouane Fellaini is set to miss out having suffered a further injury setback, picking up a groin problem on top of his existing wrist issues.