Munich, April 22 : Scientists have announced the discovery of the lightest exoplanet found so far, which is only about twice the mass of our Earth.

The planet, "e", lies in the famous star system Gliese 581.

The finding is the outcome of more than four years of observations using the most successful low-mass-exoplanet hunter in the world, the HARPS spectrograph attached to the 3.6-metre ESO telescope at La Silla, Chile.

Manila - A German man convicted of raping a 5-year-old girl in his country has been arrested in the Philippines, a senior immigration official said Wednesday.

Immigration bureau chief Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said Holger Arvid Ingo Becker, 47, was arrested in his rented house in Cavite City, 25 kilometres south of Manila, earlier in the month.

Libanan said Becker, who is the subject of an international warrant, would be deported immediately back to Germany.

Stuttgart - Mercedes is giving its luxury S-Class a makeover with several technical improvements and a hybrid version of the S 400 that will be unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show.

The car maker describes the S 400 as the first standard production hybrid drive fitted with a lithium-ion battery, making it the most economic petrol-engined luxury sedan.

Fuel consumption is listed at 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres which translates to carbon dioxide emissions of 186 grammes per kilometre.

Germany - Opel has revealed pictures of the new Astra well ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show in September where it is to be officially unveiled.

The 2010 model Astra, also sold in Britain under the Vauxhall name, reveals a headlight design similar to the larger Insignia.

A special feature, found already in the Corsa, is an integrated bicycle carrier. A handle in the boot is pulled and the carrier plus registration plate slide out.

The engine range starts with the 80 hp eco-diesel to the top end 270 hp turbo OPC.

Dusseldorf  - Bayer Leverkusen needed extra-time before eventually running out 4-1 winners against second division Mainz 05 in the semi-final of the German Cup.

The victory books Leverkusen's third final place where the club will face SV Hamburg or Werder Bremen, who meet in the other semi- final Wednesday.

Berlin - Juergen Klinsmann has failed in his legal action against the Berlin daily taz newspaper following a photo mock-up showing him in a crucifixion scene for its Easter edition, the newspaper revealed Tuesday.

The Bayern Munich coach took his case before a Munich court after he was shown being crucified on the cross in the paper's edition on April 11. However, the court ruled against the 44-year-old former German international.