Vossische Zeitung - News from Berlin, Brandenburg, Europe and the whole world

It was supposed to be the World Cup weighed down by problems: sky-high prices, geopolitical tension, the shadow of conflict and the threat of brutal summer heat across the three host nations.

England beat France 6-4 in a high-scoring World Cup romp on Saturday to seal third place as Kylian Mbappe became the competition's all-time leading scorer with 22 goals.

Coach Dave Rennie says he's "really excited" by the All Blacks' upward trajectory early in his tenure but warns a four-Test series against South Africa will be a "different beast".

The United States launched new airstrikes Saturday to "punish" Iran after reporting the first US military deaths since renewing its hostilities with the Islamic republic.

Thomas Tuchel said England had taken their first step in closing the gap on the top football nations after edging a 10-goal thriller against France to finish third at the 2026 tournament.

Coach Eddie Jones said he was excited about Japan's future after some "absolutely outstanding" performances from young newcomers to his team in the Nations Championship.

England beat France 6-4 in a chaotic World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday as Kylian Mbappe became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.

Prominent Cuban dissident artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara flew to exile Saturday in the United States after serving a five-year sentence on the island, as Washington urged Havana to release more than 700 political prisoners.

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus said the seven-try 43-0 Nations Championship third-round victory over Wales in Durban on Saturday was more difficult than it may have looked on the surface.

England No 8 Ben Earl scored twice as England beat Argentina 31-24 in the Nations Championship on Saturday in an ill-disciplined affair overshadowed by off-field matters.

Lionel Messi will become the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup final on Sunday as Spain's Lamine Yamal seeks to join an elite group of teenage winners.

Sam Burns was not even planning to tee off at Royal Birkdale until his daughter was born early, but now stands on the brink of his first major at the British Open.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday hinted at potential changes in the army, as rare wartime protests over the removal of a popular defence minister rocked the country for a third day.

Sam Burns will take a two-shot lead into Sunday's final round of the British Open as Rory McIlroy launched a scathing attack on Bryson DeChambeau after his third round on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger said Saturday he accepted that the hydration breaks used at this year's World Cup were not universally popular and said FIFA will assess whether to implement them in the same way in the future.

Argentina are one game away from becoming just the third team to successfully defend the World Cup, with European champions Spain standing in their way.

Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign England World Cup midfielder Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, according to several reports on Saturday.

NBA star Victor Wembanyama is set to make his return to the French national team for the first time since the 2024 Olympics, the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) announced on Saturday.

Iran's supreme leader vowed to teach the United States "unforgettable lessons" on Saturday, as Washington reported its first military deaths since renewing its hostilities with the Islamic republic.

Debutant wing Jaco Williams scored a try and created another as South Africa thumped Wales 43-0 on Saturday to reclaim first place in the Nations Championship southern hemisphere standings.

French teenage prodigy Paul Seixas underlined his potential with a third place finish on the 14th stage of the Tour de France on Saturday, which moved him up to fourth overall.

Lewis Hamilton thanked his Ferrari crew for their rapid work on his badly-damaged car on Saturday after he bounced back to qualify sixth for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is in talks over whether to try to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an upcoming UN summit, he said in an interview published Saturday -- prompting a sharp rebuke from Netanyahu's camp.

Ryan Fox matched the record low score at a major of 62 to move into a share of the British Open lead on Saturday as Rory McIlroy launched a scathing attack on Bryson DeChambeau's antics after receiving a two-shot penalty.

Kimi Antonelli aims to start fast and have fun on Sunday as he bids to convert his sixth pole position of the season into victory at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Argentina and Spain fine-tuned preparations for Sunday's World Cup final in New Jersey as a persistent, choking smog blanketed the eastern United States.

Rory McIlroy said Bryson DeChambeau tried to hold the British Open "hostage" and was begging for attention after the American reacted angrily to being given a two-shot penalty.

Injury-prone Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova said on Saturday she would miss "a few weeks" of competition after undergoing "a small surgery".

Heavy, acrid smoke blanketed the eastern United States on Saturday, marring preparations for the weekend's highly awaited World Cup final to be held in an open stadium in New Jersey.

Tadej Pogacar won an "unforgettable" mountainous 14th stage of the Tour de France amidst huge crowds in the Vosges on Saturday to extend his lead over Jonas Vingegaard to four and a half minutes.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli roared to pole position for Mercedes on Saturday when he beat Red Bull's four-time champion Max Verstappen in the final seconds of Belgian Grand Prix qualifying.

Waves of Ukrainian explosive-laden drones on Saturday pounded e-commerce warehouses in the Moscow and Tambov regions, killing eight people and causing large fires that blackened the skies with thick smoke for hours.