Indian judge says pre-marital sex is immoral

Judge Virender Bhat made the remarks after ruling that sex between two adults on the promise of marriage did not amount to rape.

Pre-marital sex remains a cultural taboo in India.

Last year, a court in Delhi said live-in relationships were immoral and an “infamous product of Western culture”.

Judge Bhat presides over a fast-track court set up in the Indian capital to dispose of cases relating to sexual offences against women.

He made his latest remarks while clearing a man employed with a multinational company of charges of rape.

The 29-year-old had been arrested after a woman working in a different company lodged a complaint of rape against him in 2011.

The woman alleged that the man had sex with her after promising marriage.

“In my opinion, every act of sexual intercourse between two adults on the assurance of promise of marriage does not become rape, if the assurance or promise is not fulfilled later on by the boy,” Judge Bhat was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.

Boko Haram will soon be defeated –Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday  described the Boko Haram insurgency in some Northern states as a temporary challenge.

Jonathan, who  vowed that his  administration  would  work hard to ensure that nobody or group held  Nigeria to ransom, assured again that Boko Haram would soon be consigned to the dustbin of history.

He spoke at the first Sunday service of the year he attended at the Church of Christ in Nations, Garki, Abuja.

 The President  said, “Boko Haram insurgency  is a temporary challenge.  Boko Haram will surely go. We will do all our best to ensure it becomes a thing of the past very soon.  A  number of countries have faced similar challenges and they have been able to overcome them. We will surely overcome Boko Haram.

“Life in the North must change. Development must go to all parts of this country and nobody or group can hold this country to ransom.

“We will collectively liberate this country from the hands of any evil person that is trying to set us backward. We will do our best and build a country that our children and our grandchildren will be proud of.”

He also promised to work hard to improve the standard of living of Nigerians during his tenure.

Jonathan, who said he was wary of making a long speech for the fear of being misquoted, however, told the congregation  that  promises made by his administration would not be achieved overnight.

He likened nation building to the planting of crops or the process of building a house which, according to him,   takes  a  period  of time to materialise.

APC begins membership registration this month

The All Progressives Congress has set up  committees to handle the registration of its members in each state of the federation.

Members of the committee will be drawn from the national secretariat, defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, the Congress for Progressive Change and the All Nigeria Peoples Party in each state as well as governors where APC has one.

The ACN, the CPC and ANPP merged to form the APC.

It was learnt in Abuja, on Sunday, that barring any last minute change, the APC National Secretariat would name two members, the chairmen of the defunct ACN, ANPP and CPC as well as the state governor (where APC has a governor), would also be part of the committee.

It was also gathered that the caretaker committees would be inaugurated within two weeks before the commencement of the registration exercise.

A reliable party source confided in our correspondent that the two party officials appointed by the national body would be sent to states other than their states of origin.

Football legend, Eusebio, dies at 71

Portuguese football legend Eusebio has died at the age of 71.

The forward scored an incredible 473 goals in 440 matches for Benfica, the Portuguese giants with whom he spent most of his career and won the European Cup in 1962.

He also scored 41 goals in 64 appearances for the Portugal national team, helping them to third place in the 1966 World Cup in England – a tournament in which he was top goalscorer with nine goals.

He memorably scored four goals in the 5-3 quarter-final win over North Korea at Goodison Park.

A spokesman for Benfica said: “We have just received confirmation of the death of Eusebio. It’s a very sad day for all of us.”

The club were unable to confirm details of Eusebio’s death but reports in Portugal say he died of a cardiac arrest in the early hours of Sunday morning.

He had been in poor health for some time and was hospitalised during Euro 2012 after suffering a heart scare in Poland.

Real Madrid confirmed they will hold a minute’s silence at the Bernabeu ahead of Monday’s league clash with Celta Vigo and that their players will wear black armbands in respect to Eusebio, with coach Carlo Ancelotti paying his respects in his pre-match press conference.

“It’s very sad news,” he said. “We want to send our best wishes to his family and his friends.”

Benfica fans will now be offered the chance to pay their final respects to the player at the Estadio da Luz later on Sunday.

“Eusebio’s body will be brought to the stadium later today and all fans will be able to say goodbye,” the spokesman said.

President open to reconciliation with Obasanjo –Presidency

The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak,  made this known on Sunday just as  The PUNCH  gathered that the  feud between   Jonathan and Obasanjo was   adding to the worries of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The sour relationship between the duo became public knowledge in December 2013 when Obasanjo wrote a letter titled “Before it is too late” to Jonathan.

 In  the letter, he accused the President of condoning corruption, training snipers, putting some persons on a watch list and engaging in other acts capable of destroying the country.

Jonathan replied Obasanjo openly, saying  his  letter  was    designed to incite Nigerians   against him.

There were however  speculations that some former leaders had approached the President and Obasanjo to reconcile them.

Although Gulak, in an exclusive interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja,  said he was not aware of such  moves,   he added that  there was nothing wrong with  it.

He  stated  that  in spite of the   exchange of letters between the two leaders, Jonathan still held  Obasanjo in high esteem.

No divers at Chelsea - Mourinho

Football | FA Cup

 

Chelsea are not a team of divers, according to manager Jose Mourinho, whose side had a player booked for the offence for the second week running on Sunday.
Midfielder Ramires was cautioned by referee Andre Marriner for simulation in the FA Cup third round 2-0 victory over Derby County.
Fellow Brazilian Oscar received the same punishment from referee Martin Atkinson in the Premier League match against Southampton on New Year's Day.
Both decisions came after Mourinho accused Liverpool's Luis Suarez of diving in the Londoners' 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge on December 26.

Juventus move eight points clear

Football | Italy

 

AS Roma's Serie A title challenge imploded against Serie A leaders Juventus on Sunday as they had two players sent off in less than a minute in an emphatic 3-0 defeat which ended their unbeaten run this season.
Roma stalwart Daniele De Rossi was dismissed for a reckless lunging tackle and Leandro Castan followed for punching the ball off the goalline from the resulting free kick in a demoralising defeat, the first since Frenchman Rudi Garcia took over as coach.
Juventus, champions for the last two seasons, stamped their authority on Serie A again as they moved eight points clear of second-placed Roma, threatening to run away with another title with more than half the season still to play.
Roma brought the best defensive record with only seven goals conceded before the match but were undone by uncharacteristically shoddy play at the back which allowed Arturo Vidal and Leonardo Bonucci to put Juventus 2-0 ahead.

World Cup fears for injured Rossi

Football | Italy

 

The World Cup hopes of Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi could be compromised after the Fiorentina player suffered an injury to his troublesome right knee in a 1-0 win over Livorno on Sunday.
Rossi only returned to action earlier this season following a lengthy injury lay-off but has hit 14 goals to become Serie A's top scorer and is firmly in the World Cup plans of Italy coach Cesare Prandelli.
However, the Viola striker could be a doubt for June's showpiece event in Brazil after limping off in the 71st minute at the Artemio Franchi stadium following a foul by Liandro Rinaudo.

Ideye ready for new celebration

Football | Super Eagles

 

Dynamo Kyiv attacker, Brown Ideye says he’s perfected a new act which he’ll unveil the next time he scores a goal in a competitive game.
The 25-year-old hinted supersport.com in December 2013 that he could potentially leave the Ukrainian club in January.
If he does not leave during the January transfer window however, he will likely line-up for the 26-time Ukrainian champions against Romanian club, Steaua Bucuresti in a friendly game on January 27.
Oleg Blokhin’s side won’t play competitively until February 20 when they face Valencia in a first leg, round of 32 fixture in the Uefa Europa League at the Olimpiyskyi.

Mikel strikes gold in Blues win

Football | Nigeria

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Nigerian midfielder, John Obi Mikel scored for Chelsea as the Blues beat Derby County 2-0 in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday.
Mikel rose majestically to power home a header off a free kick by Willian from the left in the 66th minute in a tight contest at the iPro Stadium.
It was a great landmark for the Nigerian midfielder who was making his 300th appearance for Chelsea in all competitions.
Mikel, who has been severely criticised for not scoring often enough, has now netted his second goal of the season for Chelsea.