Seoul - North Koreans are watching South Korean-made film and TV drama DVDs in growing numbers, challenging the iron-fisted media control that has effectively isolated 23 million North Koreans from the outside world.
North Korea observers in Seoul estimate that a trickle of the media influx into the otherwise isolated North Koreans has become a stream, despite harsh penalties for those who violate censorship rules.
Hamburg - There is space for just 160 characters on that little cell phone screen, not much space for recounting disastrous misunderstandings, sleepless nights and awful embarrassments.
Text messages are both a curse and a blessing - above all when they are used in new relationships or to flirt.
Washington - Two school boys are trying to sell lemonade when they get their first lesson in politics in the children's book "Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed."
The picture book features young Tommy and Lou, who have made their own lemonade and are selling it at a makeshift stand to earn a dime or two - as many American youths do during the hot summers. Then along comes the fat mayor, a Democrat, and takes half the boys' income as tax. The book demonstrates to the little ones what spoil sports liberals can be.
Hamburg - Madonna practices yoga and so does Courtney Love. Even the German national football team swears by it.
The word yoga translates from Sanskrit into English roughly as "union with superiors" and originated in India. Through its growing popularity in the United States, it has been making a triumphant advance around the world.
The holistic exercise promises relaxation, flexibility and stability. However, anyone who would like yoga to bring their body, spirit and soul into alignment should pay attention to a few things. This begins with the selection of the right type of yoga the practitioners of which are called yogis.
Bonn, Germany - It's been a tradition in Germany for people to remember the municipal employees who haul away their garbage at Christmas with a bottle of schnapps or other type of alcohol.
But many municipalities no longer approve of their employees receiving gifts of alcohol, Germany's etiquette council in Bonn said. On their daily rounds in the holiday season, it's not unusual for the cab of the truck to become piled up with bottles.
New York (dpa) - Glitzy and glamorous Christmas cards are losing favour
this festive season as the global recession bites ever deeper.
Dire economic straits and rising unemployment have soured the mood
and some people are shying away from cards adorned by a jolly, round
Santa complete with a gift-laden sleigh. Instead, images of people
baking cookies, strolling in a winter wonderland and decorating
Christmas trees are in vogue this year.
Up to 85 per cent of Americans send each other Christmas cards
Seoul - North Koreans are watching South Korean-made film and TV drama DVDs in growing numbers, challenging the iron-fisted media control that has effectively isolated 23 million North Koreans from the outside world.
Hamburg - There is space for just 160 characters on that little cell phone screen, not much space for recounting disastrous misunderstandings, sleepless nights and awful embarrassments.
Washington - Two school boys are trying to sell lemonade when they get their first lesson in politics in the children's book "Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed."
Bonn, Germany - It's been a tradition in Germany for people to remember the municipal employees who haul away their garbage at Christmas with a bottle of schnapps or other type of alcohol.
New York (dpa) - Glitzy and glamorous Christmas cards are losing favour
