Germany

More details are expected later of the measures aimed at helping the country during what some fear could be its worst recession since World War II.

The initiatives include investments in railways, roads and schools, as well as a number of tax relief measures.

A 23bn euros plan, passed last month, was derided for being too cautious.

In its second attempt to kickstart Europe's largest economy, Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet has gone further, and she is expected to unveil the details of the plan on Tuesday.

"All in all, it is a package that will help get us through the financial crisis and secure jobs," said Christian Democrat parliamentary president Volker Kauder.
The agreement follows squabbles between the Social Democrats and Christian Democrats over how to shore up the German economy and prevent job losses.

The new two-year stimulus package will include investment measures worth around 18bn euros for infrastructure projects, correspondents say.

But, says the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Berlin, this package alone will not solve Germany's biggest problem at the moment: its falling exports.

Due to the global economic downturn, there is less demand abroad for German goods, such as cars and machine tools.

Germany is heavily reliant on exports, which saw their largest fall in November since reunification in 1990.

Last year it unveiled a bail-out for businesses worth up to 500bn euros but its use has been limited due to strict conditions attached to taking the money.

Meanwhile, figures released on Tuesday morning showed that German wholesale prices fell 3% in December from the previous month, and were down 3.3% on a year-on-year basis.

UK Concert

Tickets for the dates on 3 and 4 June will go on general sale on 5 December - although fans who register with her website can buy them 24 hours earlier.

“It’s going to be very special,” said Rob Hallett of tour promoter AEG.

The concert, he said, would take its theme from her latest album The Circus, which is released next week.

“We’re creating a musical circus,” he said. “Expect to see jugglers, dancers, tattooed ladies and acrobats.”

According to the promoter, the concerts will be Spears’ only dates in Europe “for the foreseeable future”.

Spears last performed in the UK in 2004 when her Onyx Hotel tour visited Birmingham, Glasgow, Belfast, Manchester and Wembley Arena in London.

The 26-year-old will be in the capital this weekend to appear on ITV1 talent show The X Factor.

Before that she will travel to Germany to attend the annual Bambi entertainment awards in Dusseldorf.

The singer will be named best international pop star after achieving what organisers have called a “stunning comeback from an absolute low point”.

“Britney Spears is back,” said host Hubert Burda. “Radiant and better than ever, the erstwhile idol has reclaimed her throne.”

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, the performer admitted she felt “like an old person” now her much-documented troubles are behind her.

“I go to bed at, like, 9.30 every night and I don’t go out or anything,” she is quoted as saying. “I just feel like an old fart.”

Spears’ mother Lynne, meanwhile, has been telling the BBC how happy she is that her daughter has got her life back on track.

“Britney wants to do it right,” she told Radio 5 Live’s Colin Paterson, attributing her recent turnaround to having “good people around her” and “lots and lots of prayer”.

X Factor

The 26-year-old bowed out with a final rendition of Bon Jovi’s Always.

Britney Spears also took to the X Factor stage to perform current hit single Womanizer, in her first UK television performance in four years.

Earlier, all of the five remaining contestants sang one of Spears’ hits and an American classic.

Lorenzo said: “I fought with all my heart, with everything I had. And this doesn’t end here.

“This is the beginning of my dream.

“All I can say is thank you so much. I never ever dreamed of this ever.”

Her mentor, Dannii Minogue paid tribute to the Spanish bombshell, saying she had “an incredible vocal”.

“She was the most beautiful person to work with. She’s going to be a friend forever,” she said.

Earlier judge Simon Cowell praised her “determination and effort”.

With the show down to its final weeks, Lorenzo was chosen solely by public vote.

Her exit means Diana Vickers, Eoghan Quigg, Alexandra Burke and boyband JLS have all secured a place in the show’s semi-final.

Burke, 20, is now favourite to win the show, after singing powerful versions of Spears’ Toxic and Beyonce’s Listen.

Simon Cowell told the Londoner her performance of the Dream Girls song was the “best performance of the competition”.

“You make me very proud to be British,” he said.

Spears is on a whistle-stop tour of Europe ahead of the release of her latest album, Circus, on Monday.

She wore an all black outfit, with hotpants, fishnet tights and knee-high boots during her mimed performance - which received a standing ovation from the judges and studio audience.

Afterwards she said: “I love being here in London, it’s awesome.”

She told the remaining contestants: “Good luck and just keep doing it.”

On Thursday she performed at an awards ceremony in Germany, where she was named best international pop star. On Friday, she sang on French TV show Star Academy.

Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus also appeared on this week’s X Factor to play her latest single, 7 Things.