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For many of us, marriage is special. The idea of a lifelong bond between two people is accorded legal, spiritual and cultural significance throughout much of the world. Whether we are religious or secular, a permanent monogamous relationship can feel sacred.

Given the economic downturn, is passion too in recession? Or will couples fling themselves into each other's arms to compensate for their inability to spend, spend, spend?

He said: "Your goal is to make sure she does most of the talking so then you can't mess up."

Rome's left-wing Mayor Walter Veltroni has clashed with the right-wing opposition over padlocks left by lovers on a bridge in the city. He has introduced fines for anyone leaving a padlock on a lamp post on the Ponte Milvio, over the Tiber river. Many young lovers have hung padlocks there, throwing the keys in the Tiber, so the lamp post is laden with them. The padlocks bear lovers' messages.

Adulterers, cohabiting unmarried couples and those who kiss in public could all become criminals if a new Indonesian penal code is approved.

Love really does have a strange effect on people, say scientists. ... They found that men had lower levels of testosterone than normal, while the women had higher levels of the hormone than usual. Men, in some way, had become more like women, and women had become like men.

In relationships, it is well known than men are mostly jealous about sex, while women are mostly concerned about emotional attachments. Psychologists have conflicting explanations for this, believing it comes either from evolution or from culture. The new cross-cultural research suggests the former is more important. It reveals that Brazilian men are the most jealous; Swedish men and women are more concerned about sex than any other nation...

Infidelity may be natural according to studies that show nine out of 10 mamals and birds that mate for life are unfaithful. Experts found animals that fool around are only following the urges of biology. New studies using genetic testing techniques show that even the most apparently devoted of partners often go in search of the sexual company of strangers. Females stray to gather the best possible genes for their offspring, while males are...