Hamburg  - Tanning in a solarium before going into the sun provides no appreciable protection against sunburn. However, it does raise the risk of skin cancer considerably, according to information from a German cancer support association and a German dermatological prevention organization.

As ultraviolet (UV) rays penetrate deep into the skin, they also accelerate the ageing of the skin. Despite these risks, 14 million Germans use solariums, making Germany Europe's top country for artificial tanning, according to a study conducted this year and recently published by the two groups.

Nuremberg, Germany - Japan's Kyocera Mita Corporation has obtained more than 50 per cent of the stock in Triumph-Adler AG, the German office services company said Wednesday.

The Osaka-based company last month said it aims to secure between 60 to 75 per cent of the German firm's share capital and was not planning to squeeze out any shareholders who remain.

Triumph-Adler makes and installs printing, copying and faxing systems for businesses.

Dortmund, Germany  - Borussia Dortmund have extended the contract of South Korean left-back Lee Young-Pyo for another season with an option to keep him for a further year, the German Bundesliga clu

Cairo - Egypt deported on Wednesday five Germans accused of religious extremism, airport sources told Deutsche Presse-Agentur, dpa.

The five Germans, two men and three women, were deported to Frankfurt. Previous media reports stated that Egypt accused the family of Islamic extremism and imprisoned them. The family had torn up its German identification papers, fearing the documents would connect them to an "infidel state," local media reported.

Earlier media reports said the family did not want to return to Germany.

Berlin - Human rights is to remain as a component in German foreign policy, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday.

"We should not remain silent when there is an issue of human rights," said Merkel, whose chancellorship has been marked by friction with some governments on what she sees as rights issues.

Germany would support human rights all over the world, she said, adding that Berlin had a "values-driven" foreign policy.

Berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel added her voice Wednesday to calls for Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to step down.

"Especially in Zimbabwe's case, we must do our very best to attain life without the terrors of President Mugabe," she said in Berlin in a speech marking the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.