Frankfurt/Main  - Agreement was reached late Saturday in negotiations over pay and other issues for 142,000 employees of Deutsche Bahn, according to information from people close to the negotiation

Berlin

Hamburg  - Bayern Munich are to send teenage star Toni Kroos out on loan to Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who is currently building up match fitness following an ankle injury, is to move immediately to Leverkusen until the end of the 2010 season, Bayern media director Markus Hoerwick confirmed to Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa Saturday.

No details were given about the finances of the 18-month deal.

Berlin  - Israel's Minister for Religious Affairs, Yitzhak Cohen, has threatened to suspend relationships with the Vatican following the pardon issued to Holocaust denier Bishop Williamson, German news magazine Spiegel said Saturday.

Cohen said he recommends "completely cutting off connections to a body in which Holocaust deniers and anti-Semites are members."

Hamburg  - TSG Hoffenheim showed no signs of stage fright in their new home stadium as they held the Bundesliga lead with a 2-0 victory against lowly Energie Cottbus on Saturday.

Demba Ba and loan hiring Boubacar Sanogo were on target in the Rhein-Necker stadium after Hoffenheim played their home games in the first half of the season in nearby Mannheim.

Hoffenheim top the table with 38 points, Hertha Berlin and Hamburg have 36 each and champions Munich are fourth on 35. Munich crashed 1-0 in Hamburg on Friday while Hertha defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 on Saturday.

Berlin  - German Chancellor Angela Merkel promised Saturday to support Colombian efforts to strengthen the country's democracy, during a visit to Berlin by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.

Uribe told Merkel at the meeting of significant Colombian achievements in recent years, especially with regards to security.

He said the murder rate had reached its lowest rate in 30 years, and kidnappings were at a 25-year low. The country is welcoming the highest number of tourists in 20 years, and seeing rising rates of investment, Uribe said.