Munich - Condoms can help support the healing process of viral infections that affect the cervix, according to the Munich-based professional association for German gynaecologists.

Mutations that occur in cells affected by the human papilloma virus (HPV) are better contained when condoms are used because they the prevent the virus from spreading, the association said. In addition they protect from other sexually transmitted diseases that can slow down the healing process.

Munich, Nov 8 : Astronomers have obtained the deepest ever ground-based ultraviolet image of the Universe, which shows millions of distant galaxies of different shapes and colors.

Obtained in part with the ESO’s (European Southern Observatory’s) Very Large Telescope, the image contains more than 27 million pixels and is the result of 55 hours of observations with the VIMOS instrument.

Munich - German sports car manufacturer Porsche announced a huge jump in profits for the 2007/2008 financial year on Friday as Daimler AG and BMW reported a major slump in October sales.

Group profit before taxes in the 12 months up to the end of July soared to 8.57 billion euros (11.2 billion dollars) from 5.85 billion euros the previous year, Porsche said in a statement.

Munich - Bayern Munich defender Martin Demichelis expressed his delight Friday at a visit from new Argentina head coach Diego Maradona.

The former playing great stopped over in Munich for talks with Demichelis and fellow Bayern Argentine Jose Ernesto Sosa Thursday evening as he continues his preparations for his first match in charge.

"You can't ask for more when Argentina's greatest football idol and the last World Cup winning coach (Carlos Bilardo) come to Munich to visit me and Jose," he said.

Munich  - Amid a continuing economic downturn, Germany luxury carmakers Daimler AG and BMW on Friday reported a major slump in sales for October.

Daimler said sales plunged 18.1 per cent to 93,900 vehicles compared to October 2007.

Sales of its core model Mercedes-Benz were down more than 20 per cent to 80,250 vehicles, while those of the subcompact Smart were up 11.3 per cent to 11,300.

The company said the biggest declines were in Western Europe and the United States.

Munich - Boris Becker and his girlfriend have split up after being engaged for three months, the former tennis star told the online edition of the mass-circulation Bild newspaper Tuesday.

"We split up over the weekend," Bild. de quoted the 40-year-old as saying.

Becker became engaged to designer Alessandra Meyer-Woelden, 25, in a ceremony on August 10 at Porto Cervo on the Italian island of Sardinia.

Meyer-Woelden is the daughter of the late Axel Meyer-Woelden, Becker's former manager.