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Berlin  - The German government's state banking fund Thursday made an offer of 1.39 euros for each share of the troubled mortgage lender Hypo Real Estate (HRE).

The offer was made by the SoFFin fund following Tuesday's signing into law by President Horst Koehler of a controversial bill enabling the state to seize control of HRE.

That measure, described as a last resort to stabilize the German financial market, marks the first time in modern-day Germany that bank shareholders face possible expropriation.

Frankfurt - Pink is the make-up trend colour this season, but women who apply too much can quickly make themselves look like an exotic bird.

"I would recommend that the overall impression created by colourful fashions and make-up is not too wild, gaudy and unsettled," said make-up artist Serdar Vural of Frankfurt. Multicoloured clothing can be wonderfully complemented by neutral lips and smoky eye make-up.

A potent lip colour could detract from the undertones of the clothes. Red, pink and coral go together, Vural said, adding that a subtle eye make-up and eyelashes nicely coated with mascara match well with colourful clothing.

Frankfurt  - When it comes to choosing clothes, even a good friend isn't completely neutral.

Women who can afford it therefore have sought the advice of a personal style consultant. But as men become more style conscious, they too are increasingly enlisting personal shoppers who advise them style matters and support them in their search for the right outfit.

"This is a service that is well-established in the United States," said Andreas Rose, a style consultant and personal shopper in Frankfurt.

Saarbrucken, Germany  - For professional cyclists, track and field athletes and weightlifters the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs is a serious offence.

But amateur athletes and people who are simply dedicated to a chosen sport routinely use pills, powders and injections, according to a German government health report.

Stockholm  - A Swedish district court has criticized the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences for discriminating against women in its selection process for applicants to veterinary studies.

The district court in the university city of Uppsala, north-west of Stockholm, ruled that 44 women were discriminated against by being denied places in veterinary school even though they had the same grades as the male applicants.