New York  - Worry lines and creases between the eyes apparently are no longer a sign of virility among men in the US.

More and more men are using botox to get rid of the wrinkles. Demand for the nerve-deadening treatment has risen considerably. In 2001 about 100,000 US men got a shot of botox in their foreheads and their numbers had tripled by 2007.

Munich  - The clock ticks without heeding the loss of youth and vivacity - causing unease especially among women.

"Young" is no longer a description for people who reach important milestones such as their 40th, 50th and 60th birthdays. While some people have difficulty accepting their age, a few things such as a a flirtation test or a new project can help.

Hamburg  - As winter draws near and the temperatures drop and the world becomes cold and dark, fragrances that add a bit of warmth, sensuality and exoticism to the air are usually in fashion.

That's also the case this year. While over the summer light, fresh scents were in, now heavier Asian florals and seductive, sensuous essences are taking over perfumeries.

Hamburg - Have you laughed today? Good thing if you have because most people take life too seriously.

But those who laugh are healthier because laughing helps them loosen up. Though it causes the pulse initially to quicken, its slows down considerably, so that blood pressure sinks.

"The skeletal muscles relax and the overall result is better circulation to the muscles," said psychologist Michael Titze, chairman of an association called HumourCare in Tuttlingen, Germany, and a researcher into laughter.

Cologne, Germany - An Amsterdam museum is set to launch an exhibition in late November highlighting the history of the evening purse or clutch bag - an item deemed essential by women especially those preparing for an upcoming ball or banquet.

Berlin - An armchair made from cement may not look very comfortable at first glance, but design enthusiasts who value stark elegance and extravagant ideas are increasingly turning their attention to concrete furniture.

Whether it be a dining table, kitchen work surface or bathtub - concrete furnishings are becoming more established in the home without appearing boring or sombre.