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

As Russian troops approach the Ukrainian capital in an all-out offensive, here are five facts about the country that has long been disputed by great empires.

Tyson Fury will have his first bout on home soil in nearly four years when he defends his World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title in an all-British clash against Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium on April 23.

Stuart Hogg says Scotland have the firepower to deny France a Grand Slam even though he rates the Six Nations leaders as one of the best teams in world rugby.

Ukrainian authorities warned Friday that radiation levels had increased in the Chernobyl exclusion zone since it was seized by invading Russian troops, however the UN's nuclear watchdog said it currently "posed no danger".

Former rugby union and rugby league star Va'aiga Tuigamala, who died aged 52 on Thursday, was one of "those people who touch you the first time you meet them", said Ireland rugby union coach Andy Farrell.

David Beckham insists patience is key as the former England captain enters his third season as an owner this weekend following a difficult start in Major League Soccer for his Inter Miami franchise.

Anett Kontaveit reached her seventh WTA final since August on Friday when she breezed past Jelena Ostapenko 6-1, 6-4 at the Qatar Open.

Andrey Rublev made a plea for peace after notching an eighth consecutive victory on Friday to move into his second final in as many weeks with a 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) win against Hubert Hurkacz in Dubai.

Former international prop Jason Leonard said he would be "clapping harder than anyone" if Ben Youngs breaks his England caps record at Twickenham on Saturday.

As the Kremlin's forces unleash devastating firepower in Ukraine, some Russians living near the frontier are buying the government's line portraying the invasion as righteous and necessary.

Ukrainian forces fought off Russian troops in the capital Kyiv on Friday on the second day of a conflict that has claimed dozens of lives, as Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the Ukrainian army to remove the country's leadership.

Antonio Conte on Friday underlined his commitment to Tottenham after hinting this week that he was on the verge of quitting the under-performing Premier League club.

President Joe Biden joined an emergency NATO summit Friday to strengthen the frantic Western response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and fears for the security of Europe.

President Joe Biden picked Ketanji Brown Jackson on Friday to be the first Black woman in US history to serve on the nation's highest court.

Brazilian coach Tite said Friday he would step down after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, for which his five-time world champions are among the favorites.

The International Olympic Committee, angry at the Russian invasion of Ukraine breaching the 'Olympic Truce', on Friday urged all international sports federations to cancel their forthcoming events in Russia.

Brentford manager Thomas Frank has confirmed Christian Eriksen will make his first competitive appearance since suffering a cardiac arrest last year when the Dane is given his debut against Newcastle on Saturday.

Global stocks rebounded Friday, one day after slumping as Russia invaded Ukraine, while oil declined from 2014 peaks.

US manufactured goods orders increased far more than expected in January, according to government data released Friday, driven by a big increase in aircraft sales.

Americans saw their incomes climb slightly in the first month of 2022, but the gain was overtaken by rising prices, which increased at their fastest rate in 40 years, according to government data released Friday.

As Super Bowl fans devoured tons of guacamole in the United States, soldiers in the world's biggest avocado-producing region in Mexico were deactivating makeshift landmines left by warring drug traffickers.

Czech teenager Mathias Vacek, who rides for the Russian team Gazprom, won the sixth and penultimate stage of the UAE Tour in Dubai on Friday but Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (UAE) did enough to retain the leader's jersey.

Manchester United said Friday they had ended their sponsorship deal with Russia's flagship airline Aeroflot after President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Johnson & Johnson and three large drug distributors said Friday that opioid settlements worth nearly $25 billion had garnered enough support from opposing litigants to be finalized in court.

Liton Das struck a hundred and shared a record 202-run stand with Mushfiqur Rahim to set up an 88-run win for Bangladesh in the second one-day international against Afghanistan in Chittagong on Friday.

The Russian Grand Prix scheduled for September 25 has been cancelled in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the sport's owners Formula One announced on Friday.

Ukrainian authorities said Friday that radiation levels had increased in the Chernobyl exclusion zone and warned the seizure of the nuclear plant by invading Russian troops could have "terrible consequences."

Joey Carbery gets his second successive Six Nations start for Ireland in the home game against Italy on Sunday despite talismanic fly-half and captain Johnny Sexton being fully fit after a hamstring problem.

Ukrainian forces fought off Russian troops in the streets of the capital Kyiv on Friday as President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of targeting civilians and called for more international sanctions.

A number of prominent Russians are echoing a chorus of global celebrities condemning Moscow's war on Ukraine, with some already beginning to suffer the consequences for defying the Kremlin line.

The West has agreed an onslaught of sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but resistance from key EU nations fearful of severing their power sources has resulted in them holding off on banishing Moscow from the SWIFT banking transfer system.

British Airways has suspended flights to Moscow and re-routed planes flying over Russia after Moscow banned UK carriers due to the Ukraine crisis, parent group IAG said Friday.