Gays need more protection, says UN chief

Geneva: Gays and lesbians need more support to protect their rights, even if homosexuality raises cultural issues in some parts of the world, the UN chief said.

"We must reject persecution of people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity," said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Voila! Pakistani girl is now a boy

Islamabad: A 17-year-old Pakistani girl, who had been very sick for the past few months and turned into a boy after a sex-change operation, is grateful to be healthy and alive now and said post-operation: "I don't care about whether I am a boy or a girl as long as I am alive."

Farzana, who was critically ill, was taken to a hospital in Lahore from Rahim Yar Khan city in Punjab province.

Canadian man takes sex dolls on world tour

London: A Canadian man is on a tour across the world and imagine who is accompanying him - six sex dolls, each wearing glamorous outfits, lingerie, wigs and stilettos.

Dave Hockey, 57, has taken his 'silicone beauties' on trips across Britain and the US and insists his wife 'doesn't mind'.

Facebook shouldn't replace direct human contact

London: Warning about the dangers of popular social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace, Pope Benedict XVI has said that online communication between people must not stop face-to-face conversations.

"It is important to always remember that virtual contact cannot and should not be a substitute for direct human contact with people at all levels of our society," he said in a message to mark World Communications Day, which was released today.

British kids to be taught about homosexuality

London: Young children in Britain as young as four are to be taught about homosexuality in their maths, geography, science and English textbooks.

As part of a government-backed drive to 'celebrate the gay community', maths problems could be introduced that involve gay characters and in geography classes, students will be asked why homosexuals move from the countryside to cities.

29-year-old to become UK's youngest grandfather?

London: A 29-year-old man, who became a father at the age of 14, is set to create a record by becoming Britain's youngest grandfather, after his 14-year-old daughter has become pregnant, a media report said.

"It's like history repeating itself. I quite like the idea of being the youngest grandad in Britain, but at the same time I'm fuming that she (daughter) is pregnant. I know myself how tough it is being a teenage parent and now she has to go through the same thing.

Thai airline recruits transsexuals as flight attendants

Bangkok: A newly launched Thai airline has adopted a policy of recruiting transsexuals as flight attendants in an effort to offer equal opportunities to the 'third sex', company sources said Tuesday.

PC Air hired three transsexuals, 17 women, and 10 men in its initial recruitment drive.

Briton shot at after Facebook exposure

London: Exposure on Facebook nearly cost a man in Britain his life when he was shot at after he was named as a police informer.

Domenico Masciopinto, 30, had a bullet removed from his chest in hospital, but is said to be in a critical condition after the recent attack, The Sun reported today.

Argentine woman survives fall from 23rd floor

Buenos Aires: An Argentine woman survived after jumping from the 23rd floor of a downtown Buenos Aires hotel on Monday, landing on a taxi moments after the driver dashed to safety, the state news agency reported.

The 33-year-old woman was in the intensive care ward of a Buenos Aires hospital after the suicide attempt, the Telam agency said.

Vampire mania has spawned a subculture

Salmon, Idaho: They work as doctors and lawyers by day but lurk as vampires by night. While they may not wish to suck your blood, there are plenty of willing victims on tap, according to a top US scholar on a subculture that emulates the undead.

Idaho State University sociologist DJ Williams, newly hired as a consultant for a proposed television documentary about "self-identified vampires," said true modern acolytes of Dracula seek consensual blood-sharing relationships.