Berlin - The German government approved a law Wednesday blocking access to child pornography on the internet.

If the law now gets parliamentary approval, German federal police will compile daily surveys of child pornography on the internet and pass them on to internet providers
-who will then block access to the sites.

The move brings Germany into line with similar initiatives in Britain, Italy and Scandinavia.

München  - Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are set to hire Brazilian right back Rafinha from Schalke 04, the Sport Bild weekly said in the run-up to the teams' league match.

Citing Schalke management sources, Sport Bild reported in its latest issue published on Wednesday that Rafinha has agreed terms to terms with Munich.

However, a transfer fee is yet to be determined as Rafinha has a contract at Schalke until 2011. It is also unclear whether Schalke will let him go.

Braunschweig, Germany - US seed manufacturing giant Monsanto took legal action Wednesday against the German government's ban on the company's genetically modified maize.

The lawsuit, filed at the administrative court in the city of Braunschweig, would need to be resolved by mid-May to give farmers time to plant their crop this year.

Dusseldorf  - Four alleged members of the Islamic Jihad Union terrorist organisation went on trial in Germany on Wednesday, amidst tight security at the district court in Dusseldorf.

The men at the centre of Germany's biggest terrorism trial in recent years are accused of having planned massive car bomb attacks in cities across Germany.

Hamburg  - Bayer Leverkusen's progress into the German cup final on Tuesday night has extended the list of absentees for a national team stint to Asia in late May and early June.

Germany coach Joachim Loew will be without Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler, midfielder Simon Rolfes and forwards Patrick Helmes and Stefan Kiessling for the games on May 29 in Shanghai against China and on June 2 against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai.

The German cup final is set for June 30 in Berlin.