Berliner Tageszeitung - News from Berlin, Brandenburg and the world

In the skies above Los Angeles, air tankers and helicopters silhouetted by the setting California sun dart in and out of giant wildfire plumes, dropping much-needed flame retardant and precious water onto the angry fires below.

Months of dry weather and recent strong winds created optimal conditions for the deadly wildfires engulfing Los Angeles, but narratives on social media falsely single out "liberal" policies -- including those to increase diversity in the city's fire force -- as the culprit.

Naomi Osaka declared Friday that she would "for sure" play her first-round match at the Australian Open after suffering an abdominal injury last week.

Daniil Medvedev said Friday he had one of his best pre-seasons ever in a bid to finally win an Australian Open, pledging to be a "disruptor" against Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

With Spanish champions Real Madrid and their arch-rivals Barcelona in Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup, Atletico Madrid's sights are firmly set on top spot in La Liga.

A Russian court was to issue guilty verdicts Friday in an "extremism" trial against three lawyers who worked for Alexei Navalny, escalating a crackdown against the Kremlin critic's allies even after his death.

World number one Jannik Sinner said Friday he had done nothing wrong as ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi stressed the Italian's doping case was "run by the book" with no preferential treatment.

Organisers of India's Kumbh Mela have prepared to host a staggering 400 million devotees at the six-week Hindu festival that starts Monday and is expected to be the largest human gathering in history.

The world's largest gathering of humanity begins in India on Monday with the opening of the Kumbh Mela, a six-week Hindu festival organisers expect to attract up to 400 million pilgrims.

The world experienced its hottest year in 2024 since records began, but in the small South American country of Uruguay, global warming was counteracted by bouts of "near-historic" cold.

The last two years exceeded on average a critical warming limit for the first time as global temperatures soar "beyond what modern humans have ever experienced", an EU agency said Friday.

Equities fell again in Asia on Friday as traders prepared for the release of US jobs data that could play a key role in the Federal Reserve's decision-making on interest rate, with several officials indicating the cutting has finished for now.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka said Friday she wants to "put my name into history" by winning a third straight Australian Open title, but is aware she "has a target on her back".

Croatia votes in a presidential runoff on Sunday, with the opposition-backed incumbent Zoran Milanovic expected to win a second term, in a fresh blow to the scandal-hit ruling party.

The 38-year-old Gael Monfils swept aside an opponent half his age on Friday to reach the final of the Auckland Classic, setting up a shot at his 13th title.

Massive wildfires that engulfed whole neighborhoods and displaced thousands in Los Angeles raged out of control Thursday, authorities said, as California's National Guard soldiers readied to hit the streets to help quell disorder.

When nature calls, Masana Izawa has followed the same routine for more than 50 years: heading out to the woods in Japan, dropping his pants and doing as bears do.

Australia violated the rights of asylum seekers arbitrarily detained on the island of Nauru, a UN watchdog ruled Thursday, in a warning to other countries intent on outsourcing asylum processing.

Andy Murray says he is ready to be on the receiving end of Novak Djokovic's ire in pressure moments at the Australian Open, with the "unique opportunity" to coach him worth it.

From laptops to EVs, lithium-ion batteries have fueled phenomenal growth in the 21st century, but businesses struggle with a significant downside: increased fire risk.

South Korea's presidential security chief said Friday there must be no bloodshed if another arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol is executed by investigators over his failed martial law bid.

Nick Kyrgios claimed Friday tennis was getting mundane without him as he prepares for his Grand Slam comeback at the Australian Open, saying he was feeling "pretty good" after an injury scare.

The US Supreme Court is to hear TikTok's appeal on Friday of a law that would force its Chinese owner to sell the wildly popular online video-sharing platform or shut it down.

The Los Angeles Rams home playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings has been moved to Arizona due to raging wildfires in the city, the National Football League said Thursday.

People forced to flee their homes by massive wildfires tearing through Los Angeles were taking turns to patrol their streets to ward off looters on Thursday.

A man notorious for shooting up a pizzeria in the US capital where he wrongly believed Hillary Clinton and other Democrats were running a child sex ring has been killed in a traffic stop police shooting, local media reported Thursday.

ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi has insisted Jannik Sinner's doping case was "run by the book" with no preferential treatment, and expressed confidence that tennis would survive should the Italian be banned.

Venezuela pro-democracy figurehead Maria Corina Machado emerged from months of hiding to lead a mass protest in Caracas Thursday, before conflicting claims that she was briefly detained by state security agents.

AML Incubator (AMLI), a leading compliance consultancy, has introduced a new service package to assist European Money Service Businesses (MSBs) and Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) in establishing operations in Canada. The service is designed to help businesses manage complex regulatory challenges arising from the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.

Massive wildfires that engulfed whole neighborhoods and displaced thousands in Los Angeles remained totally uncontained Thursday, authorities said, as US National Guard soldiers readied to hit the streets to help quell disorder.

Armed men tried to storm Chad's presidential palace when President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno was inside but 18 attackers and two soldiers were killed in the failed attack, the national prosecutor said Thursday.

US tech billionaire Elon Musk doubled down Thursday on his full-throated support for the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD), promoting its leader Alice Weidel during a livestream on X in his latest intervention in European politics.