Berliner Tageszeitung - News from Berlin, Brandenburg and the world

The United States outslugged Canada 4-2 on Saturday in an Olympic clash of hockey heavyweights that lacked none of the intensity of their long rivalry despite the absence of NHL superstars.

Turkmenistan's autocrat Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who has signalled his intention to step down as president, went from personal dentist of the country's eccentric former leader to head of state, before recreating much of his predecessor's personality cult.

The Netherlands' short track speed skaters hope to bring Beijing Olympic gold home in Sunday's women's 3000 metres relay for their tragic team-mate who died suddenly aged just 27.

US President Joe Biden and France's Emmanuel Macron prepared to sound out Russia's Vladimir Putin on Saturday and Ukraine urged its citizens not to panic after Washington warned that an all-out invasion could begin "any day".

The 15-year-old Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva will learn on Monday whether she can remain at the Beijing Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said, as questions grew over why it took six weeks for her failed drug test to come to light.

A French "freedom convoy" of cars and vans began arriving in Paris on Saturday for a protest over coronavirus restrictions, but the police moved quickly to prevent a Canadian-style blockade of the capital by issuing hundreds of fines.

Three key opposition figures in Nicaragua including a former deputy foreign minister have been found guilty of "undermining national integrity," a rights group said Friday, in a continuing crackdown on opponents of President Daniel Ortega.

In central Portugal, a sustained drought has revealed the ruins of a village that was totally submerged underwater when a large reservoir was created nearly 70 years ago.

Truckers snarling a key bridge between Canada and the United States over vaccination rules defied a judge's order to leave Friday night, with snowballing protests piling pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Ukrainian captain Oleksandr Surkov looks askance at his patrol boat's machine guns and laments how futile they would be fending off an attack from Russian warships now steaming across the Black Sea.

Thousands of opponents of coronavirus rules encamped on the outskirts of Paris early Saturday resumed their way to the French capital in convoys of vehicles, defying a ban by authorities who are determined to prevent any blockade of the city.

The United States will re-establish an embassy in the Solomon Islands, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday, in an effort to counter China's influence in the politically troubled Pacific island.

"It's put us on the map," says Richard Williams as he reflects on an eventful year since Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney made a small Welsh town international news by buying Wrexham football club.

New Olympic snowboard halfpipe champion Ayumu Hirano says that riders are "putting their lives on the line" but not being scored "accurately", calling for better judging.

The United States outslugged Canada 4-2 on Saturday in a pivotal Olympic clash of hockey heavyweights lacking none of the intensity of their long rivalry despite the absence of NHL superstars.

Olympic veteran Edson Bindilatti says it's high time that Brazil's bobsleigh team finally ditched its nickname 'Frozen Bananas' and earned some respect on the ice track at the Winter Games.

For many American football fans, going to a Super Bowl is a once-in-a-lifetime special event.

US snowboarders at the Beijing Olympics strongly defended Saturday their long-serving head coach Peter Foley against "super upsetting" allegations of sexual misconduct and other inappropriate behaviour, saying the accusations damaged "team energy".

Myanmar's junta on Saturday announced an amnesty for more than 800 prisoners to mark the country's Union Day, as it held a parade and show of force in the capital.

Questions grew Saturday over why it took six weeks for Kamila Valieva's failed drug test to come to light, as the 15-year-old Russian figure skater fights to stay at the Beijing Olympics.

Experimentation, play, and glitter: a coronavirus-impacted New York Fashion Week got under way Friday with Fall/Winter 2022 shows by Proenza Schouler and Christian Cowan.

US President Joe Biden will speak to Vladimir Putin on Saturday after the United States warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could begin in days.

Sofia Goggia's chances of defending her Olympic downhill title took a nose dive when she crashed heavily last month -- but she showed Saturday she has gone through the pain barrier to give herself a fighting chance.

Thousands of opponents of Covid rules were encamped on the outskirts of Paris early Saturday after driving in convoys from across France, intent on entering the city in defiance of a ban by authorities who are determined to prevent any blockade of the capital.

Luckless Australian batting prodigy Will Pucovski suffered another concussion Saturday in his comeback match after an extended break out of the game.

Joel Embiid poured in 25 points and 19 rebounds to power the Philadelphia 76ers to a 100-87 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.

The United States plans to re-establish an embassy in the Solomon Islands, a senior State Department official said Saturday, as Washington seeks to beef up its presence in a region where China is rapidly expanding its influence.

The Beijing Olympics are the most gender-balanced Winter Games ever, with competitors saying the expansion of mixed team events "means a lot" and helps drive up standards in women's sport.

The coaching team surrounding Kamila Valieva has come under fierce scrutiny after the 15-year-old Russian figure skater was engulfed by a doping controversy at the Beijing Olympics -- and none more so than Eteri Tutberidze.

Sahith Theegala fired a seven-under par 64 on Friday to lead the Phoenix Open, with former world number one Brooks Koepka and Xander Schauffele on his heels.

Carrie Johnson, the wife of Britain's prime minister, is an experienced political operative in her own right who has been thrust from the shadows as allegations of sleaze and scandal envelop Downing Street.

A Los Angeles Rams team bristling with star-power will seek to deny the giant-killing Cincinnati Bengals a Hollywood ending in the Super Bowl on Sunday as an NFL season full of plot twists reaches its climax.