Fridae

Four men were arrested in a gay sauna in Singapore after police who were reportedly on its premises to conduct a routine fire inspection found the men engaging in sexual activity. In a separate case, a well-known sauna announced its closure on its web site.

Gay groups in the US are disappointed with the newly elected Pope as they see him as the church's most outspoken foe of equal rights. In Hong Kong, police raided a gay party last Saturday as Beijing gears up for its second gay and lesbian film festival this weekend.

Many gay Catholics worldwide are reflecting with mixed emotions on the life and legacy of Pope John Paul II who had staunchly opposed gay rights and same-sex marriage.

In Thailand, organisers of the Phuket Gay Festival are appealing for visitors to return after the tsunami disaster last year while a suggestion to educate primary school students about homosexuality has outraged the Thai public; in the US, a gay Christian group is set to confront Focus On The Family.

A fundraising concert organised by a Singapore Christian support group to promote HIV awareness has been given the axe by licensing authorities citing that the event would be "against public interest."

A San Francisco judge ruled that a California state law banning gay marriage is unconstitutional while in Taipei, gay-rights advocates defend bookstore owner charged with selling erotic magazines and in Saudi Arabia, two men were executed for killing a witness who saw their "shameful" act.

Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Health Balaji Sadasivan defends his remarks; gay group calls for decriminalisation of gay sex acts for safer sex outreach programmes to be more effective.

Malaysia announced that it does not permit gays to join its military; Robin Williams was forced to drop his song spoofing Focus on the Family at the Oscars; in India, three lesbian marriages stir debate, while two lesbian parents has been selected to lead Sydney Mardi Gras parade on Mar 5.

'Conservative' White House accredited reporter outed as gay escort, Bangkok police arrest 31 for drug possession at party and Simpson's sister comes out as anti-gay religious group outs Shrek 2.

A German zoo's attempt to turn gay penguins straight has proved to be unsuccessful; in New Zealand, Christian protesters made themselves heard at Auckland's Big Gay Out and health experts divided on implications of N.Y. AIDS case as some fear the announcement may fuel panic.