Havana - While most Cubans breathed a sigh of relief following the exit of the latest tropical storm to hit the island, a small group of youths was anxiously waiting the arrival of the next such phenomenon.

There are not many surfers in Cuba yet, but they strive to promote a sport that remains underdeveloped in a country where physical exercise is generally highly valued.

Frankfurt - Vases are essentially vessels for flowers, small branches trimmed off trees or bushes or tufts of grass, but they are currently the centre of attention for designers.

Many of the new models, both large and small, are decorative pieces of art that function without flowers. The designs range between two extremes. One takes shapes from nature or day-to-day life, reproduces them or enlarges them. They are sometimes richly adorned, sometimes inventively designed.

In the other extreme, their style is diminished, said Nadine Philipp of Frankfurt's convention centre, which organizes an interior design show. Both styles require a high level of skill to create.

Bad Mergentheim, Germany - Whether a dish tastes good depends not only on its ingredients and preparation, but also on other external factors.

"If the dish is too warm for the person eating it or if it has an aroma that he can't stand, it tastes different," said Juergen Dollase of Germany's culinary academy in Bad Mergentheim near Wuerzburg.

Whether the food tastes good also depends on its aroma, consistency and how it looks.

"If its appearance isn't pleasing or the food smells badly, it's difficult," said Dollase. The taste of the various ingredients of a dish intermingle in the mouth. "We perceive as pleasant things that are similar in texture and aroma," Dollase said.

Washington - It was an especially bloody July weekend in Washington DC, the US capital.

Alfonso Robinson sat with his mother outside his grandparents' home in one of the city's troubled neighbourhoods when he was killed instantly in a drive-by shooting. The 
13-year-old was not the only victim that night. Six other people were either killed or injured in gun battles.

The ensuing sadness after such tragedies is felt across the city, near the place where the victim fell, often a memorial crops up. At a street sign near the spot where Robinson died, colourful teddy bears, plush stuffed hearts and toys soon marked the spot after his demise. All the items were gently attached to the metal pole.

Offenbach, Germany - High fashion is the watchword for women's footwear this autumn and winter. Literally. The heels of boots, half boots, ankle boots, and pumps are generally a few centimetres higher than in previous seasons.

But apart from higher heels, personal style rules supreme. The models on shoe shop shelves fit every occasion and taste, from overknees to ballerinas, from clean looks to folklore style, and from felt to patent leather.

Sydney - Bashings, verbal abuse, taunts and mockery - such is the harsh reality for gays and lesbians in Sydney, Australia's gay capital and the venue for the world's biggest gay pride street parade.

The travails of homosexuals have changed little in the past decade, according to a study of homophobia released by the New South Wales Attorney-General.

A spokesman, Steven Drew, said over half the 600 homosexuals interviewed for the study reported some form of abuse.

In response to complaints about personal safety, city councillors plan to create what they call "homophobia-free zones" they believe will accord more protection.