Children sired by teenage fathers are more at risk of encountering birth problems, such as pre-term delivery, low birth weight, and even dying, according to a study from the University of Ottawa.

University experts examined about 2.6 million births from 1995 to 2000 in the U.S., studying the collected data related to the research. The conclusions were gathered after comparing births with teenage fathers, to those with fathers aged 40 and over, who posed no threat to the newborns

Despite the liberal times, teaching one's own children about the birds and the bees is still a difficult task for many parents. To help them deal with this embarrassing situation, British Labour MP Chris Bryant is proposing coming out with sex advice packs which fathers and mothers may consult when their sons and daughters reach nine.

A similar booklet that will include the topics sex, relationships and contraception may also be offered to pre-teener Britons as part of the school curriculum. The novel, but potentially controversial proposal, is part of the state's effort to curb teenage pregnancies

China remains baffled on how the bird flu virus was transmitted between its latest victims.

This as the surviving patient, surnamed Lu, 52, was discharged from an undisclosed local hospital on Dec. 26, state-run Xinhua news agency reports

Bird flu has resurfaced in different parts of Asia, with human deaths reported in Indonesia, Burma, Pakistan and China and fresh outbreaks plaguing other countries during the winter months when the virus typically flares, officials and scientists say.

Pakistan confirmed the country's first death from the bird flu virus on Saturday, the health ministry says in a press statement

Smoking in cars with children will be banned in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia starting in 2008, public health officials said Friday.

Beginning in January, smoking will no longer be allowed in vehicles with children under the age of 19