GenQ

GLBT

UK – Britain’s military allows soldier uniforms at pride march
Britain Soldiers and airmen will be allowed to wear their uniforms to this year's gay pride march in London, previously having to participate in civilian clothes. Last Saturday the military announced that it would allow British Army and Royal Air Force personnel to show off their military affiliation in the July 5 parade.
The decision brings the forces in line with the Royal Navy, which already allows sailors to participate in uniform and is yet another step forward since allowing gay men and women to serve openly in the military in 2000.

AUSTRALIA – AFL at centre of gay rights dispute
The AFL is at the centre of a gay rights dispute that has pro-gay activists demanding that the AFL implement a code of practice to prevent anti-gay discrimination. Ken Campagnolo was fired after 678 games with Bonnie Doon Football Club in April 2007 after it was reported that he was bisexual.
The country football veteran has made an official complaint to the equal opportunity commission about the AFL and its chief executive, Andrew Demetriou, as well as the Victorian Country Football League, which has agreed to implement a code of conduct by the end of October. The AFL is now being called to state its position on anti-gay discrimination when the commission mediates the dispute on Wednesday.

UK – First Homosexual wedding conducted in Anglican church
An Anglican church has conducted a homosexual "wedding" for the first time in a move that will deepen the rift between liberals and traditionalists, as reported by The Sunday Telegraph. The decision to conduct the ceremony using one of the churches most traditional wedding rites has been considered as blasphemous by conservatives and has broken Church of England guidelines. The "marriage" is judged to revive the war over homosexual clergy that has engulfed the Church since 2003.

World

AFRICA – Mugabe vows to wage war
A defiant President Robert Mugabe has vowed he would 'go to war' if he lost the presidential run-off due to take place in less than a fortnight.
Describing the opposition as 'traitors', he claimed Zimbabwe would never 'be lost' again. Mugabe said he would never accept new take over by the Movement for Democratic Change. 'It shall never happen ... as long as I am alive and those who fought for the country are alive,' he said. 'We are prepared to fight for our country and to go to war for it.'
The threat was seen as an angry response to the increasing pressure on the government from other African leaders over the regime's harassment of the MDC leadership and supporters in the run up to the 27 June election.

SINGAPORE – Armpit sniffer sentenced to 14 years jail
A 36 year old Singapore man with a quirk for sniffing women's armpits was sentenced to 14 years in jail and 18 strokes of the cane for molesting his victims, as reported by a local newspaper. The man has been termed mentally unstable and has previous convictions for drug and sex-related offences.
He reportedly molested 23 women over the course of 15 months, smelling their armpits and touching them in lifts, staircase landings and their homes. He was caught after a housewife reported him to the police.
The court meted out the jail term, normally reserved for hardcore criminals, saying the man was likely to commit crimes again.Caning on the buttocks is an additional punishment for male criminals in Singapore for offences ranging from vandalism to illegal possession of drugs and rape.

Entertainment

AUSTRALIA: Big Brother host has a go at television peers
BIG Brother host Kyle Sandilands has once again become a media target due to his forceful opinion, this time referring to his television peers as "preening midgets" and "googly eyed clowns". He also hit back at commentary Goldman had upstaged him while covering some shows in Sandilands absence.  "We all know that's just s---," Sandilands laughed. "Mike is a nice guy, but we all know he's the googly eyed funny face."

USA – Mariah Carey cans wedding plans after no response from papers
Mariah Carey has reportedly called off her second wedding to new husband Nick Cannon because of a failure to get it funded. The Dream Lover singer was desperate to have a lavish service for friends and family after tying the knot with rapper Nick in a secret Bahamas ceremony in April. However, after discovering no magazines were interested in buying exclusive photographs which would have funded the day, Mariah is said to have axed her plans.

CHICAGO – R Kelly acquitted of Child pornography charges
After the six long years it took for prosecutors to get the R&B star R. Kelly into court on charges of child pornography, only a few hours were required for a jury to declare him not guilty on all 14 counts. Accused of making a 27-minute sex tape with an under-age female, Kelly’s defense team convinced the jury of nine men and three women that the identity of the girl was not conclusive.
As the verdicts were being read on Friday, the singer started crying and whispering “Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus,” over and over again, his lawyers said.

USA – Jolie loving pregnant sex life
According to actress Angelina Jolie being pregnant is great for the sex life, BBC News has reported. Jolie and partner Brad Pitt have been “a lot more creative” in the bedroom, noting it down to Jolie’s preganancy.
Jolie has admitted that with the twins on the way the couple is going to have a lot to cope with, bringing their family number to 8, including the 6 children. Recently the couple had to deny rumors of a premature birth of the twins in France. Pitt and Jolie’s twins are, in fact, due in August.

Sport

AUSTRALIA – Socceroos into next World Cup qualifying stage
Australia came away with a decisive win over Qatar 3-1 in Doha this morning (AEST) to top their group and ensure a spot in the final phase of the World Cup qualifiers from Asia. Socceroos midfielder Brett Emerton scored a double before a 75th-minute strike by Harry Kewell earned the a well-deserved victory in windy conditions at the Al Sadd Stadium.
Qatar scored a consolation goal in the 90th minute, but overall the hosts missed several chances, especially in the first half.

And that is your news in five minutes for today. Stop the clock!

Tags: News in 5 Minutes