Tokyo - Japan's key machinery orders recorded the largest fall since 1998 during the July-September period, a government report said Monday.

The key machinery orders fell 10.4 per cent during the three months compared to the previous quarter, indicating that the corporate capital spending has been weakening, the Cabinet Office said.

The core orders, which exclude those for ships and power equipment, amounted to 2.88 trillion yen (29.32 billion dollars).

Hong Kong  - A windsurfer whose sail broke was blown from Chinese waters into a Hong Kong bay after six hours adrift at sea, a news report said Monday.

Businessman Sherman Kwan paddled with his hands through three-metre high waves across some of the world's busiest shipping lanes in a six-hour odyssey, the Hong Kong Standard reported.

A container ship passed within 30 metres of him and a second also nearly hit him before he found his way to safety in a quiet Hong Kong bay on Saturday night, the newspaper said.

Munich - Condoms can help support the healing process of viral infections that affect the cervix, according to the Munich-based professional association for German gynaecologists.

Mutations that occur in cells affected by the human papilloma virus (HPV) are better contained when condoms are used because they the prevent the virus from spreading, the association said. In addition they protect from other sexually transmitted diseases that can slow down the healing process.

Hamburg  - Ventilating a home was no problem in the past because even when windows were kept shut, there was a constant exchange of air through poorly insulated exterior walls, joints, and cracks.

This uncontrolled ventilation wasted a lot of energy, though, and made the home's occupants turn up the heat. To save energy, buildings in Germany have been better insulated and equipped with modern windows in recent years.

But the new, airtight windows with heat-insulating glazing have a negative side. "Unless ventilation methods are changed, air moisture caused by showering, cooking, and washing isn't drawn out of living quarters, kitchens, and bathrooms," noted Dirk Petersen, who works for Hamburg's consumer advice centre.

Cologne, Germany  - A crying baby should never be shaken as this can cause severe brain damage or even death, Germany's professional association for paediatricians said in Cologne.

Parents should first leave the room or count to 10 and take a deep breath before acting hastily and doing something they later bitterly regret, the association advises. A paediatrician could recommend a nearby outpatient clinic that can make the interaction with a difficult infant easier.

Bad Wildungen, Germany  - The most common symptoms of an acute urinary tract infection are a burning sensation during urination, pain in the lower abdomen, and an unusually frequent urge to pass water - with only small amounts passed.

An inflammation confined to the urethra and bladder is not dangerous for an otherwise healthy person. But all cases should be treated to prevent complications.