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

Germany is ready to take a leading role in ensuring Europe's security, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Friday, vowing to transform the country's military into the "best equipped" on the continent.

Around 1,000 flights to and from France were cancelled Friday as the country's air traffic controllers went on strike, with their action also causing delays across European airspace.

Consumers and businesses around the world are facing steeper prices for everything from Mexico's beloved tortillas to the aluminium cans used by beer companies.

King Charles III headed to Wales Friday for the last of his visits to the UK's four nations, including a meeting with its republican leader, as miles-long queues to see his late mother's coffin reached capacity.

Outgoing South Africa coach Mark Boucher will lead the Mumbai Indians in the next Indian Premier League season, the franchise said on Friday, days after his shock resignation from the Proteas.

Indian industrialist Gautam Adani briefly became the world's second-richest person on the Forbes real-time billionaire tracker on Friday, weeks after becoming the first Asian to break into the top three.

Armenia said Friday that at least 135 of its troops died in border clashes with Azerbaijan this week, bringing the overall toll to more than 200 following the countries' worst fighting in two years.

When the volcano erupted in La Palma last year, Teodoro Gonzalez Perez rushed to the Spanish island to see the lava flows with his own eyes -- now he's back for another look.

Asian markets dropped on Friday, tracking Wall Street losses as investors continue to show concern over persistently high global inflation and the likelihood of further interest rate hikes.

President Joe Biden on Friday will welcome South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa to the White House, part of a renewed US courting of the developing world power after its caution in condemning Russia.

Berlin on Friday took control of the German operations of Russian oil firm Rosneft to secure energy supplies which have been disrupted after Moscow invaded Ukraine.

"Our plan now is... there are no plans," said a tearful Leticia Sanchez Garcia, a year after her house was buried under lava from a volcano that erupted on the Spanish island of La Palma.

South Korea repatriated on Friday the remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed during the Korean War, the first such ceremony since South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol took office in May.

Bernard Foley denied Friday trying to deliberately waste time in the dying seconds of Australia's thrilling clash with New Zealand that saw French referee Mathieu Raynal make a controversial call that cost the Wallabies victory.

From China to India, and France to the United States, world media hailed Roger Federer as one of the finest sportsmen ever on Friday after the Swiss legend announced he will retire from tennis.

Hundreds of foreign royals and leaders are expected to attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London on Monday in one of the biggest diplomatic gatherings in decades.

Sitting on the side of a Jakarta road anxiously waiting for his phone to ping, driver Muhammad Ridwan says it is now barely worth hurtling through thick smog every day to ferry passengers.

Inside the bowels of a Hong Kong industrial building, Eric Pun was among two dozen people crammed into a classroom learning to drill holes -- acquiring a new set of skills before heading abroad.

Julian Alaphilippe faces a huge test in Australia in his bid for a third consecutive road race title at cycling's world championships after a chaotic build-up of crashes, injuries and Covid.

The United Arab Emirates did not qualify for the Qatar World Cup but it will be a winner anyway if an overspill of fans floods its hotels, restaurants and planes.

Roger Federer's decision to retire provoked an emotional reaction from current and former tennis players as well as stars in other sports.

Roger Federer will retire following next week's Laver Cup after admitting his battles with a knee problem had forced him to call time on his historic tennis career.

King Charles III has in the last week faced the difficult task of handling his own grief at the death of his mother, giving voice to the nation's loss and taking on the job of royal figurehead.

Asian markets dropped at the open on Friday, tracking Wall Street losses as investors continue to exhibit concern over persistently high global inflation and the likelihood of further interest rate hikes.

American Justin Lower fired a bogey-free nine-under par 63 to seize a two-stroke lead when darkness halted Thursday's first round of the PGA's season-opening Fortinet Championship.

When Michael Cheika took over as coach of Argentina he said his main aim was to build a team for next year's Rugby World Cup, yet ahead of Saturday's clash with South Africa in Buenos Aires, he is still dreaming of winning The Rugby Championship.

The outpouring of tributes in the week since Queen Elizabeth II's death has underlined her status as a figure of constancy, straddling two centuries of seismic social, political and technological change.

Japan's Ayako Uehara fired a seven-under par 65 to seize a one-stroke lead after Thursday's opening round of the LPGA Portland Classic.

Italy's Francesco Bagnaia bids to extend his extraordinary winning run to five successive races in the Aragon MotoGP this weekend which also features the return of six-time top-class world champion Marc Marquez.

Serena Williams welcomed Roger Federer to the tennis "retirement club" on Thursday, saying she has always admired and looked up to the Swiss legend.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed on Thursday the discovery of a mass grave in the recently recaptured town of Izyum, likening it to deaths seen in the cities of Bucha and Mariupol, which have become symbols of Russian atrocities.

King Charles III heads to Wales Friday for the last of his visits to the four nations of the United Kingdom as preparations for the queen's state funeral gather pace.