Berlin - German Economics Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is to discuss a possible Opel bailout with auto components manufacturer Magna early next week, his ministry confirmed Saturday. The Austrian-Canadian car parts supplier Magna has expressed interest in a majority stake of the stricken General Motors subsidiary, alongside Italian car manufacturer Fiat.

"Magna is potentially an interesting partner," Guttenberg told German Spiegel news magazine. "Of course we will seriously check any involvement."

Guttenberg further criticised the objections to talks with Fiat being voiced by trade unions and the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

Hamburg - German cyclists Andreas Kloeden and Matthias Kessler have been implicated in illegal doping practices following an independent investigation, news magazine Der Spiegel reports. The former T-Mobile cyclists are suspected of having received banned blood transfusions by doctors at Freiburg University Clinic, the magazine reports in its edition to appear Monday, quoting the results of an investigation by an expert commission.

Sakhir, Bahrain - Germany's Timo Glock was fastest in final practice for Sunday's Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix but then developed a problem with his Toyota ahead of qualifying later in the day. Ferrari's Felipe Massa of Brazil was second fastest, ahead of Williams driver Nico Rosberg, who had been quickest in the previous day's second practice.

World champion Lewis Hamilton of Braitain in a McLaren-Mercedes was fourth, with former world champiom Kimi Raikkonen of Finland in a Ferrari fifth.

Sinsheim, Germany  - Hertha Berlin won 1-0 at slumping TSG Hoffenheim on Friday to keep their German Bundesliga football title hopes alive.

Patrick Ebert scored the winner in the 40th minute, taking up a pass from Marko Pantelic and beating goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand from a tight angle with a shot into the near right corner.

Hoffenheim dominated but failed to get the equalizer, with Hertha goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny saving twice from Sejad Salihovic and substitute Boubacar Sanogo heading against the crossbar.

Berlin  - A lost Russian bomb from the Second World War was discovered Friday just outside the Berlin apartment of Chancellor Angela Merkel, triggering a city-centre lockdown as bomb-disposal experts set about defusing it.

The 100-kilogram bomb was discovered just 10 centimetres below the sandy surface of a museum forecourt.

Merkel lives on the Island of Museums, between two arms of the Spree River. The bomb was found in front of the Neues Museum, one of five museums of art and antiquities which have given the central-city island its name.

Olpe, Germany  - Three young children - abandoned in an Italian pizzeria after their mother and her companion ran out of cash - arrived home Friday in Germany, where they have been made wards of court, authorities in the district of Olpe said.

Two child protection officials from Olpe, east of Cologne, had travelled the day before to Aosta in Italy to pick them up.