Berliner Tageszeitung - News from Berlin, Brandenburg and the world

In a crowded Kathmandu restaurant far from Nepal's famed icy peaks, Billi Bierling questions climbers about their ascents, preserving each triumph in the Himalayan Database, mountaineering's revered 60-year-old register of success.

The EU executive is set for much-heralded talks Friday on ramping up Europe's trade defences to shield critical industries from Chinese rivals -- with a growing chorus pressing for a crackdown.

Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga has urged his financially stricken team to go out on a high as the Super Rugby club prepare to play their final match, barring a last-minute reprieve.

New Zealand's World Cup-bound Tim Payne said Friday it was "pretty crazy" to have become the country's most followed football account after an influencer identified him as the "least known" player in the competition and called for fans to boost his posts.

The United States on Thursday designated two well-known Brazilian crime groups, the so-called Red Command (CV) and First Capital Command (PCC), as terrorist organizations, despite opposition from Brasilia.

Lionel Messi will captain Argentina at the World Cup, national coach Lionel Scaloni announced Thursday as he unveiled his 26-man squad.

The United States and Iran closed in on a framework for a ceasefire extension detail Thursday but President Donald Trump has yet to approve any agreement, US officials said.

Serena Williams' reported future doubles partner Victoria Mboko says it is up to the tennis great to announce a potential comeback to the sport next month.

US and Iranian negotiators edged toward a deal to extend their fragile ceasefire for 60 days, but the potential breakthrough was still hanging on President Donald Trump's approval, US sources told AFP on Thursday.

The Golden Trailer Awards, which recognize the people behind Hollywood's best-made movie previews, returns for its 26th edition Thursday.

NBA teams on Thursday approved reforms intended to discourage teams from deliberately losing games in order to receive better players in the following season's draft.

Tunisian international Ali Abdi on Thursday received the backing of his French club Nice amid a "barrage of threats" for joining his national team before the Ligue 1's side crucial play-off.

The UN health chief said Thursday the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo which has claimed over 200 lives can be stopped, as he arrived to oversee the fight against the highly infectious disease.

Two of the nine artists who were announced as headliners for a concert series celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States have publicly backed out of the event, a day after the lineup was released.

Oil prices diverged and global stock markets were mixed Thursday as a ceasefire extension deal between United States and Iranian negotiators awaited the green light from President Donald Trump.

Israel pounded south Lebanon with deadly strikes and widened its offensive with the first raid near Beirut in weeks where authorities said a woman and two children were killed despite a ceasefire.

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic said Thursday it had raised $65 billion in a new funding round that values the Claude maker at $965 billion, more than its archrival OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT.

An Austrian court on Thursday sentenced a 21-year-old who admitted plotting a foiled jihadist attack on a Taylor Swift concert to 15 years in jail.

The head of the UN health agency landed in the Democratic Republic of Congo late on Thursday, in a show of support for the African country as it battles its latest deadly Ebola outbreak.

Naomi Osaka said she would be "entertained" by a return to tennis from Serena Williams, after reports claimed the American great could play doubles at the Queen's tournament in London next month.

Israel pounded south Lebanon and struck the Beirut area on Thursday, widening its offensive with the first strike near the country's capital in weeks despite a fragile ceasefire.

US and Iranian negotiators have agreed on a framework for a 60-day ceasefire extension deal but it still needs President Donald Trump's approval, US sources told AFP on Thursday.

The head of the UN health agency was heading to the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday, in a show of support for the African country as it battles its latest deadly Ebola outbreak.

President Donald Trump could soon appear on a new $250 bill, in the Republican's latest move to shatter US traditions by putting his personal stamp on national institutions.

French AI startup Mistral would not weigh in on choices about how its technology is used by defence customers, its chief executive told AFP Thursday, laying out a clear position in an ethical debate stirring up the sector.

Jannik Sinner succumbed to illness and a remarkable Juan Manuel Cerundolo comeback to crash out of the French Open on Thursday, blowing the men's tournament wide open, as Aryna Sabalenka safely avoided a similar fate to progress.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stressed his country's importance to the US economy on Thursday, urging closer cooperation as talks on revising the North American free trade agreement face roadblocks.

Syria's energy ministry warned on Thursday of rising water levels on the Euphrates River after flooding in the north and east following increased flows from neighbouring Turkey and recent rains.

Coco Gauff continued her French Open title defence with a straight-sets victory over Egyptian qualifier Mayar Sherif in the second round on Thursday.

Elon Musk insists that his artificial intelligence venture xAI remains a serious competitor, pushing back against mounting doubts after revelations that the supercomputing facilities built to power his own AI models are being rented out to a rival.

The scorching weather that has smashed temperature records across Europe this week shows the growing number and intensity of heatwaves on the continent.

Israel is breaking all contact with United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, the country's ambassador announced Thursday, saying it was "outrageous" Israel is being blacklisted over alleged sexual violence in conflict zones.