Bremen, Germany  - Hiking has long since transformed from a sport for senior citizens to an activity with a cult-like following.

Thanks to a hiking club in Bremen, northern Germany, enthusiasts have a special opportunity in 2009 to practice their hobby and get rid of some of the pounds they may have piled on over Christmas.

The year-long event 10,000,000 Steps - Fit through Germany began

Gitanjali Gems, a leading Mumbai-based diamond and jewellery manufacturer and retailer, has announced that its wholly owned arm named Gitanjali Lifestyle, has clinched a Joint Venture (JV) pact with Kuwait-based Hassan`s Optician Company LLC.

According to sources, the proposed joint venture conglomerate will execute business of purchase, import, retail and wholesale trading of sunglasses, eyewear, contact lenses and opticals.

The JV will distribute other similar products and related accessory under different brand names.

Recent research has shown that socio-emotional meanings, including sexual ones, are conveyed in human sweat. Researchers at the Rice University in Texas found that women can subconsciously sniff out men who are attracted to them.

Research team led by Denise Chen, assistant professor of psychology at Rice studied how the brains of female volunteers processed and encoded the smell of sexual sweat from men.

Hamburg - A bite of food here, an appetizer there and finally a skewer full of grilled meat or vegetables: Finger food is still served at company parties and private gatherings.

But no trend can go on without some backlash, especially from party-goers who have difficulty guiding shrimp cocktail and potato skins into their mouths solely with the help of a napkin or toothpick.

Thus, cutlery is coming out of the shadows gradually - knives, forks and spoons currently are being given a new position of honour on beautifully set tables.

Hamburg - Shoes need special treatment in autumn and winter, more than at any other time of year.

Special treatments help keep boots and shoes waterproof. But before doing any weather-proofing treatment on footwear, do a little test to determine the type of material in the boots or shoes.

Bad Honnef, Germany  - An office at home is no longer unusual and is often used for everything from freelance work, telecommuting to more personal pursuits.

"Some people use these home offices for private correspondence, for online banking, tax returns or just to surf the internet," says Ursula Gieismann of VDM, the German Association for Office Furniture.

Regardless of its purpose, the home office should be planned and carefully furnished.