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

Rory McIlroy, chasing his first major title since 2014, seized the early clubhouse lead in Thursday's opening round of the PGA Championship while Tiger Woods struggled in his second comeback event after severe leg injuries.

Coats and scarves have come out prematurely in Brazil, as the south of the tropical country experiences a record-breaking cold spell, a menace for both homeless people and crops.

Downtown crowds cheered Italy's Stefano Oldani home as he broke clear for his first professional win on stage 12 of the Giro d'Italia on Thursday, while surprise Spaniard Juan Pedro Lopez held the leader's pink jersey.

Carlos Sainz faced the prospect of his lifelong dream turning into a painful nightmare on Thursday when he revealed his fears about the back problems caused by this year's 'ground effect' Formula One cars.

Superstar Rihanna and rapper A$AP Rocky have reportedly welcomed a baby boy, according to pop industry news website TMZ.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic, 13-time winner Rafael Nadal and new teenage star Carlos Alcaraz were drawn in the same half of the French Open on Thursday.

Nobel laureate Jose Ramos-Horta was inaugurated as East Timor's president on Friday, pledging to break a longstanding political deadlock in Southeast Asia's youngest country as it celebrated its 20th independence anniversary.

Twitter on Thursday said it will put warning labels on demonstrably false posts about Russia's war in Ukraine under a new "crisis misinformation policy."

"Blade Runner" and "Chariots of Fire" composer Vangelis, the electronic music pioneer and sole Greek to win an Academy Award for best original score, died late Tuesday aged 79.

A 21-year-old gunman opened fire at a secondary school in northern Germany on Thursday, badly injuring a female member of staff before being arrested, police said.

A crowd of Jewish worshippers broke through police barriers on Thursday at an annual pilgrimage in Israel's Mount Meron, a year after 45 people were crushed to death in a stampede.

A headline-grabbing libel case over an online spat between two England footballers' wives wrapped up on Thursday, after lifting the lid on tabloid double-dealing and the lives of the rich and famous.

Spain's former king made his first trip home on Thursday after nearly two years in exile following a string of financial scandals, sparking widespread criticism.

"Blade Runner" and "Chariots of Fire" composer Vangelis, the electronic music pioneer and sole Greek to win an Academy Award for best original score, has died at the age of 79.

Harley-Davidson suspended most assembly operations and shipments for two weeks due to an unspecified supply chain problem, the motorcycle maker announced Thursday.

Ukrainians donned colourful embroidered shirts on Thursday for a normally light-hearted annual celebration that this year is being viewed as a symbol of national unity against Russia's invasion.

Jordan's King Abdullah II said Thursday his half-brother Prince Hamzah, accused of involvement in a coup plot last year, is in a state of "delusion" and will remain under house arrest.

Newly-appointed England Test coach Brendon McCullum says improving the team's flagging fortunes will also help secure the red-ball game's international future.

President Joe Biden left Thursday for South Korea and Japan to cement US leadership in Asia at a time when the White House's attention has been pulled back to Russia and Europe -- and amid fears of a North Korean nuclear test during his trip.

Russian movie director Kirill Serebrennikov on Thursday said that boycott of his country's cultural activities in reaction to the ongoing war in Ukraine were understandable, but could go too far.

Sudanese security forces arrested leading anti-coup figures on Thursday, their party said, during protests by thousands against last year's military takeover.

American aerospace giant Boeing is making a third attempt to reach the International Space Station Thursday in a critical uncrewed test flight for its Starliner capsule, which has been beset by numerous failures and false starts.

European and Asian markets took a beating Thursday after Wall Street suffered one of its worst batterings in two years over recession fears after decades-high inflation.

US President Joe Biden on Thursday strongly backed Finland and Sweden's bid to join NATO in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as the Nordic nations' leaders promised to address concerns raised by Turkey.

Italy's Stefano Oldani claimed his first professional win after a sprint finish on stage 12 of the Giro d'Italia on Thursday as Spaniard Juan Pedro Lopez held the leader's pink jersey.

Streaming services have cracked open a door for communities long shut out of Hollywood, Oscar winner Viola Davis told the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday, but more imagination is still needed around black roles.

As Europe struggles to decarbonise its economy and wean itself off Russian oil and gas, one of the world’s sunniest and most arid nations is pitching itself to the continent as an answer to its problems.

US President Joe Biden on Thursday strongly backed NATO membership bids by Finland and Sweden in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine as the two leaders promised to address concerns raised by Turkey.

Ukrainians at the Cannes Film Festival said Thursday that all Russians should have been banned from the event -- even those who have spoken out against the war.

Italy's Stefano Oldani made it two stage wins in a row for the hosts as he sprinted to victory on stage 12 of the Giro d'Italia in Genoa on Thursday.

"If we come and there is only a hill of rocks, where will we go back with family?" worries Galina Chistyakova, whose village of Ruska Lozova, north of Kharkiv, is now on the frontline, trapped between Russian and Ukrainian artillery fire.

The roar of fighter jets over Cannes to welcome "Top Gun: Maverick" was far from welcome by the team behind a documentary about the Ukraine war, they said Thursday.