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German auto giant Volkswagen said on Friday it had approved a 2 billion euro investment in a new electric car plant, as it seeks to overhaul its business in the face of stiff competition from US rival Tesla.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that the suffering of Ukrainians will likely worsen but defended the West's focus on sanctions and limited military support as an effective way to stop Russia's invasion.

Thousands of delegates will gather for the annual meeting of China's rubber-stamp parliament Saturday, a week of highly choreographed sessions that will lay out the leadership's blueprint for the year ahead.

On a runway near the Ukrainian border, 14 wide-body aircraft arrive on average each day -- a carefully calibrated operation mounted at top speed to deliver tons of Western military assistance to Kyiv.

Thousands of Sufi Muslim pilgrims gathered in Dakar on Friday for the first time 2019 without restrictions related to Covid-19.

Former top 20 player Varvara Lepchenko was handed a four-year doping ban on Friday, the International Tennis Federation announced, a suspension which will only end close to her 40th birthday.

The United States on Friday called an attack attributed to Russian forces against a nuclear power plant in Ukraine a possible war crime.

Facebook attacked Russia's block on Friday of the dominant social media network, saying the move will cut millions off from reliable information and a forum to share their views.

Teenager Carlos Alcaraz made a stunning start to his Davis Cup career on Friday when he helped six-time champions Spain to a comfortable 2-0 lead over Romania on the first day of their qualifying tie.

Turkish billionaire Muhsin Bayrak is the latest bidder to enter the race to buy Chelsea, according to widespread reports in the British press on Friday.

Russia's "reckless" overnight attack on a nuclear power plant in Ukraine is a dangerous escalation that "represents a dire threat to all of Europe and the world," the US ambassador to the United Nations said on Friday.

Californians filling up their cars on Friday winced at the spiraling cost of gasoline, but largely shrugged as residents of the state that has long had the highest gas prices in the United States.

Russia on Friday blocked Facebook and moved to impose harsh jail terms for publishing "fake news" about the army as part of efforts to muffle dissent over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The BBC announced Friday that it was halting its journalists' work in Russia after lawmakers moved to impose harsh jail terms for publishing "fake news" about the army as part of efforts to muffle dissent over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The United States has already delivered more than two thirds of the arms it promised in late February to Ukraine, whose forces are "effectively" using them to push back the Russians, a Pentagon official said Friday.

Global stock markets fell across the board Friday and energy prices soared as investors feared the risk of an escalation after Russia attacked the largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

On the ninth day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine Friday, Russian forces pressed an advance into the country but are still facing resistance in their bid to seize major cities.

Alex Rins topped the timesheets through the first two practice sessions Friday at the season-opening Qatar MotoGP as reigning champion Fabio Quartararo struggled to hit top gear.

A retired Argentine bishop seen as close to the Pope was on Friday sentenced to four and a half years in prison for sexual abuse.

Christian Eriksen could make his first start on Saturday since he suffered a cardiac arrest during Denmark's Euro 2020 match with Finland, said Brentford manager Thomas Frank.

Following similar moves by Republican-led states across America, Florida's legislature has passed a ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy with only limited exceptions.

Antonio Conte said Friday that no manager in the world would be able to deliver a quick fix at Tottenham, highlighting the club's inconsistencies over the past two decades.

British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeon ran attended London's High Court Friday as a copyright trial opened over allegations that his hit song "Shape of You" lifted musical phrases from another track.

Cricketers past and present around the world from Sachin Tendulkar to Brian Lara and Ben Stokes paid shocked tribute on Friday to Australian spin maestro Shane Warne who died of a suspected heart attack at 52.

Norwegian cross-country skier Therese Johaug has announced she is to retire at the end of the season after winning three Olympic gold medals at last month's Beijing Winter Games.

Ukraine accused the Kremlin of "nuclear terror" and the West expressed fury on Friday after Europe's largest atomic power plant was attacked and seized by invading Russian forces, who continued to shell major cities.

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick says the club need to develop the kind of "clear identity" established by rivals Manchester City and Liverpool as he prepares to take charge of his first derby.

Global stock markets fell across the board Friday and energy prices soared as investors feared the risk of an escalation after Russia attacked the largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

Yevghen Sboromyrskiy's body shook so violently that he couldn't place his cigarette in his lips as he watched his house burn to the ground after it was shelled in a Russian attack.

After getting snarled up in German red tape, US electric car pioneer Tesla got the final go-ahead from authorities Friday, paving the way for production to begin shortly at its "gigafactory" outside Berlin.

Mike Gatting said he was "happy" to have been bowled by the "ball of the century" that kick-started Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne's career as one of cricket's greatest bowlers.

Even during the darkest days of the Cold War in the 20th century, Russian opera and ballet stars still came regularly to the West for performances.