Berlin - Dwindling inflation and a dramatic economic slowdown is likely to pave the way for the European Central Bank (ECB) to deliver another hefty rate cut Thursday, trimming borrowing costs to an historic low of 1 per cent.

Thursday's widely forecast 50-basis-point reduction in the cost of money in the 16-member eurozone will bring the total rate cuts made by the ECB since October to 325 basis points reflecting its effort to spur economic growth.

Hamburg  - Germany defeated Liechtenstein 4-0 in World Cup qualifying on Saturday but group rivals Russia remained on their heels with a 2-0 over Azerbaijan.

Captain Michael Ballack, Marcell Jansen, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski were on target for the three-time world champions Germany in Leipzig.

In Moscow, Roman Pavlyuchenko scored and set up Konstantin Zyrianov for the other as Russia prevailed over Azerbaijan.

Hamburg  - Roman Pavlyuchenko was the man of the match as Russia defeated Azerbaijan 2-0 in 2010 World Cup qualifying on Saturday.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker opened the scoring in Moscow with a curling free-kick in the 32nd minute and fed Konstantin Zyrianov for the other in the 71st.

Russia improved to nine points from four games in qualifying Group 4, one point behind leaders Germany who were due to play minnows Liechtenstein later Saturday in Leipzig.

Hamburg  - Roman Pavlyuchenko was the man of the match as Russia defeated Azerbaijan 2-0 in 2010 World Cup qualifying on Saturday.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker opened the scoring in Moscow with a curling free-kick in the 32nd minute and fed Konstantin Zyrianov for the other in the 71st.

Russia improved to nine points from four games in qualifying group 4, one point behind leaders Germany who were due to play minnows Liechtenstein later Saturday in Leipzig.

Washington  - US President Barack Obama will make his first trip to Europe next week since taking office, hoping his immense popularity on the continent will provide a fresh start in cross- Atlantic relations.

Obama is due to arrive in London to attend Thursday's 20-nation summit on the financial crisis, before heading to France and Germany for a NATO summit April 3-4. Later, he'll stop in Prague for an EU gathering and then Turkey.

Berlin - European leaders travel to London next week for the Group of 20 (G20) summit as signs emerge that the global recession has caused new economic dividing lines to form across Europe.

Indeed, the summit of the world's major economies in the British capital's new trade centre comes amid a continuing stream of disastrous data and plunging economic indicators.