Leipzig, Germany - Young adults are taking the offensive against undesirable body hair, according to a study of 314 students conducted by the University of Leipzig.

The study showed that 97 per cent of the women and 79 per cent of the men questioned regularly shave, epilate or otherwise remove hair from at least one part on their body. The average age of the study's participants was 23, and more than two-thirds of the participants were women. The study did not count the shaving of men's beards and moustaches.

Pforzheim, Germany - A watch should give the time, no more, no less.

But which watches will delight women's hearts and capture men's tastes is a question of design - and that changes over time. This year's line-up of watches feature glistening new colours, although some are transparent, prominently displaying the inner life of the timepiece.

This year, the trend in watches includes gold-plated rose-coloured finishes that have a technical look and feel, said Melanie Dummin of the jewellery chain Christ in Hagen, Germany. Alfred Schneider, director of Germany's jewellery and watch association in Pforzheim, agrees. Rose and reddish gold are the trendy colours for watch casings this year, he said, adding that copper alloys are responsible for the colour.

Hamburg - Natural cosmetics can cause skin irritations and allergic reactions similar to ordinary cosmetic products, dermatologists say.

Consumers should thus be careful when selecting a new product, said dermatologist Antje-Ulrike Wagner in an article published in the November edition of a German pharmacy magazine. Generally, contact allergies to herbal ingredients seldom occur, but people with sensitive skin should test a cream on the inside of the arm for three days before using the new product on the face.

Sydney - For billionaire businessman Gerry Harvey, the face of the 100,000 or so homeless in Australia is that of Jhiymy Mhiyles.

Mhiyles, whose age is a secret like his real name, has magnificent views of Bondi Beach from his cliff-top shack. He's been dossing there for eight years, begging from the mostly foreign tourists who obey their Sydney guide books and take the scenic walk from Bondi to Coogee.

Berlin  - Families grow from one generation to the next and frequently pass some problems along in the process.

Grandma's eating disorder can be noticed in one of the grandchildren, fears or compulsions, inclinations toward addictions or depression - and often such individual problems become family problems.

Whether inherited from a distant relative, passed down directly or passively brought out, the traits that grip some families can hardly be comprehended by the those affected. A family therapist can provide help and information about such unknown hereditary processes.

Bulimia, panic attacks, addition to alcohol or violent personalities are some of the difficulties that families face together.

London