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In the Year 1789, the timeline's starting point, homosexuality was illegal in 126 countries. View changing laws over time * with the exception of the Chechen Republic. Note: Where possible, former colonies have been referenced by their current name. Source: UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rightsand the International Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans and Intersex Association For more information on the data behind the map and timeline, see our full notes on the data. For more information on gay rights, visit the UN's Free and Equal campaign website. Share this story Follow @LaNUBlog & @Hon_KingSIMEO on Twitter for Updates

Millions of people continue to live in places that outlaw same-sex relationships and prosecute people for being gay. In five countries and in parts of two others, homosexuality is still punishable with the death penalty, while a further 70 imprison citizens because of their sexual orientation. Even where homosexuality is legal, many countries treat those in same-sex relationships differently, such as having an unequal age of consent or a ban on marriage. In Russia, host of the Sochi Winter Olympics, a law banning the promotion of "non- traditional" sexualityto under-18s was introduced last year. So, where is it illegal to be gay? Which countries allow same-sex marriages? Explore the map of UN member states below to find out.Countries are coloured and categorised by their most anti-gay or pro-equality laws. iFrame Notes on the data:The map shows an overview of the legal status of gay people living in UN member states. They are coloured by their most anti-gay or pro-equality...

The Egyptian authorities have arrested seven men accused of appearing in a video apparently showing a gay wedding. The video, showing a group of men celebrating on a Nile river boat, was widely shared on social media.

The new Application developed by a British psychiatrist aims to cure a fear of spiders. Sadly it's arrived more than a century late for poor James Payn. Author Jeremy Clay tells the shuddersome tale of the man trapped in a darkened train teeming with tarantulas.

Andrew Bush was found dead at a villa in southern Spain A British millionaire's former girlfriend has been arrested in connection with his murder on the Costa del Sol, Spanish police said. Businessman Andrew Bush, 48, from Bristol, was found shot dead early on Saturday at a property near Estepona, west of Marbella.

Would you feel uncomfortable chatting to your boss in your pyjamas? How about brushing your teeth together in the morning, or preparing breakfast with one another? While sleepovers are standard fare when you're a child, spending the night with your boss is a level of intimacy that most people would rather avoid.

TV series Game of Thrones - about to begin its fourth series - is frequently compared to fantasy creations such as the Lord of the Rings, but it owes an equally large debt to a cult French historical novelist. Game of Thrones is "fantasy". The TV series, and the books on which it's based, A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin, is set in mythical Westeros.

Researchers made a modified, non-violent version of Half-Life 2 as part of the study Feelings of aggression after playing video games are more likely to be linked to game play mechanics rather than violent content, a study suggests. Researchers carried out a range of tests, including making a non-violent version of popular game Half-Life 2.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge courted controversy in New Zealand after they used a forward-facing baby seat. Are the seats unsafe, asks Tom de Castella. A minor storm has blown up in New Zealand over the Royal couple's choice of baby seat. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose a forward-facing seat for Baby George, who is eight months old. It was fitted by Plunket, New Zealand's national childcare agency despite Plunket's own advice stating that children should face backwards until the age of two.

Uma Ramalingam was described as a 'fantastic doctor' Two British women have drowned in the sea during a holiday on the Spanish island of Tenerife. Police say consultant obstetrician Uma Ramalingam, 42, and relative Barathi Ravikumar, a GP, were "dragged into the sea by a wave" on Sunday at Playa Paraiso, in the island's south-west.

John Pinette began touring the US comedy club circuit in the 1980s American comedian and actor John Pinette has been found dead in a hotel room in Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. Aged 50, he died of natural causes, the local medical examiner's office told Associated Press.

Mickey Rooney is seen here in 1942 with Ava Gardner - his first of eight wives Mickey Rooney, the child actor who became the world's top box-office star, has died aged of 93, US police say. Born in Brooklyn, he began his career aged 18 months in his parents' vaudeville act, Yule and Carter, and never really retired. By 1965, Mickey Rooney's 200 films had earned more than $3bn (£1.8bn) around the world.

Is this a Cabinet meeting, or a family reunion? The new French government's first meeting includes a man and woman who had four children together, split up in the public eye and are now back together in the political spotlight.

“ MY READING EXPERIENCE ” Reading extensively is a habit that every student has to acquire if he or she has to progress in our present day world. Reading extensively helped me a lot during my primary and secondary school days. I remembered vividly, the Tuesday Night that I read all night in preparation for my mathematics examination. Extensive reading has also helped in widening my reading experience, because I have experienced a lot reading different varieties of books.

What had promised to be a gripping morning in the North Gauteng High Court on Friday fizzled out when Oscar Pistorius's trial was postponed to April 7. The public gallery was packed, as the media had anticipated Pistorius testifying in his own defence. He is accused of the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in his Pretoria house on 14 February last year. Judge Thokozile Masipa, however, walked into court followed by only one of her two assessors, Themba Mazibuko. "We cannot proceed this morning. One of my assessors is not well so this court is not properly constituted," Masipa said. The ill assessor was Janette Henzen du Toit.

The representative of retired policemen in the ongoing National Conference in Abuja , Hamma Misau, 67 is dead, reports Premium Times Misau who representing the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria, ARPON, died of an undisclosed ailment at the National Hospital in Abuja. Misau, a retired assistant inspector-general of police, died a few days after a picture of him taking a nap during plenary sessions circulated online. Read More at Premium Times

Stefano Chuka Okaka continued his goalscoring exploits for Sampdoria as they registered a 2-1 win at Sassuolo in Serie A. Gianluca Sansone gave Sampdoria a first-minute lead on Wednesday with a right-footed shot from the centre of the box. Okaka then forced two saves from Gianluca Pegolo in the ninth and 11th minute respectively before blasting a pass from Gianluca Sassone wide of the post soon after. However, Alessandro Longhi equalised for Saassulo in the 16th minute when his right-footed strike inside the area found the bottom left corner of the goal. Okaka, though, scored the winner in the 66th minute as he drilled the ball into the bottom right corner, with Eder providing the assist in the box eight minutes after stepping off the bench. Okaka, who was born in Italy to Nigerian parents,

The Acting Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr Sarah Alade, has urged African countries to show more commitment toward regional single currency convergence. Alade made the call at the caucus meeting of African Central Bank Governor's at the ongoing 7th joint annual meeting of African union and Finance Ministers of Economy in Abuja. “Most African central banks recorded relative success in keeping inflation within a tolerable threshold which could be attributed to effective and proactive monetary policy stance. “However, there is still room for improvement, especially in the achievement of the primary convergence criteria for sub-regional integration." Alade said the caucus meeting would

Two Islamic courts have secretly released on bail seven men on trial for allegedly breaking the law on homosexuality, a prison official and a court clerk said on Friday. The seven were among a dozen men formally charged by the Bauchi State Sharia Commission on January 6 with belonging to a gay club and having received funding from the United States for an apparent membership drive. Four others were convicted on March 6, fined 20 000 naira each and given 15 lashes with a horse whip as what the judge termed a discretionary "correctional punishment". A Christian suspect is having his case heard before a secular court.

WHAT IS FRIENDSHIP? As someone one’s said, ‘friendship is the cement that holds the world together. ‘It’s a great responsibility and not an opportunity but here are some strange facts you didn’t know about friendship.   1. Friendship is good for one’s heart and soul. According to studies, friendship helps foster good health, longevity and alleviatesstress. When faced with major illnesses like cancer or heart attacks, people with a great social network are in a better position to