Berliner Tageszeitung - News from Berlin, Brandenburg and the world

US sprint star Noah Lyles has withdrawn from Friday's Monaco Diamond League meeting in order to finetune his preparations for the Paris Olympics, his management team said Wednesday.

The lawyer of an Argentine woman who has accused two French international rugby players of rape said her client was savagely beaten and locked in a hotel room during an incident that the men claim was consensual.

India captain Shubman Gill led his team to what he described as a "crucial" 23-run win in the third T20 international against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Wednesday.

Elina Svitolina said Elena Rybakina's serve was in the "top five" she has faced after she was crushed by the former Wimbledon champion in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Climate change combined with pollution from farming and forestry could flip northern Europe's Baltic Sea from being a sponge for CO2 to a source of the planet-warming gas, scientists studying told AFP.

Armenia and Azerbaijan are on the brink of an agreement for a "dignified" peace, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday, as he brought the arch-foes' foreign ministers together for talks.

Actor George Clooney, one of the Democratic Party's leading fundraisers, on Wednesday made an impassioned plea for US President Joe Biden to end his faltering reelection campaign.

Jonas Vingegaard edged overall leader Tadej Pogacar as a battle between the four Tour de France favourites played out over a series of hills in the central Cantal region on Wednesday.

President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday put responsibility on parliament to negotiate a broad coalition reflecting France's "republican institutions" to break the stalemate following an inconclusive snap election.

European and US equities pushed higher on Wednesday, with Wall Street striking fresh records, as comments by US Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell rekindled hopes of interest-rate cuts later this year.

US President Joe Biden suffered a stunning blow Wednesday when actor and leading Democratic supporter George Clooney urged him to drop his reelection bid, while party heavyweight Nancy Pelosi declined to back his candidacy.

Newcastle minority shareholders Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi are set to sell their stake in the Premier League club, according to reports on Wednesday.

Alec Baldwin was accused of playing "make believe" with a deadly weapon, as the Hollywood star's trial for involuntary manslaughter over a fatal shooting on the set of Western movie "Rust" began Wednesday.

Actor George Clooney, one of the Democratic Party's leading fundraisers, on Wednesday made an emotional and heartfelt plea for President Joe Biden to end his faltering reelection campaign.

Jonas Vingegaard edged Tadej Pogacar as a battle between the four Tour de France favourites played out over a series of hills in the central Cantal region on Wednesday.

Former Jamaica boss Heimir Hallgrimsson was hired as the Republic of Ireland's new manager on Wednesday.

Novak Djokovic progressed to a record-equalling 13th Wimbledon semi-final without hitting a ball on Wednesday after Alex de Minaur pulled out injured as former champion Elena Rybakina eased through.

French centrists were looking for an alliance with the right on Wednesday, after an inconclusive snap election left the European Union's second-largest economy with a hung parliament.

Israel's army dropped thousands of leaflets over war-torn Gaza City on Wednesday urging all residents to flee a heavy offensive through the main city of the besieged Palestinian territory.

The United States unveiled stricter rules Wednesday on steel and aluminum imports from Mexico, moving to prevent China-origin goods from avoiding tariffs.

Kylian Mbappe will be officially presented as a Real Madrid player at the Santiago-Bernabeu stadium next Tuesday, the Spanish giants announced.

Barbora Krejcikova reached the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time on Wednesday with a straight-sets victory over fellow former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko as the Czech turned the corner on a testing season.

NATO allies announced Wednesday they had started the long-promised transfer of F-16 jets to Ukraine as leaders meet for a summit in Washington clouded by political uncertainties in the United States.

A large sample of European drinking water has detected a substance linked to "forever chemicals" used in pesticides and refrigeration, a coalition of non-governmental organisations said Wednesday.

Former champion Elena Rybakina crushed Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday to set up a Wimbledon semi-final against Barbora Krejcikova.

Aid group Doctors Without Borders has warned of "critical" shortages of medical supplies in Gaza, with no resupply for more than two months as fighting between Israel and Hamas wears on.

New Wales boss Craig Bellamy wants to banish the perception that he is a volatile character as he steps into his first managerial role.

European and US equities mostly pushed higher on Wednesday, with Wall Street striking fresh records, as comments by US Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell rekindled hopes of interest-rate cuts later this year.

England debutant Gus Atkinson completed a memorable five-wicket haul by taking three wickets in an over as the West Indies collapsed to 88-6 in the first Test at Lord's on Wednesday.

Manchester United recorded a net loss of £71.4 million ($91.4 million) between January and March this year, the club's latest financial results revealed on Wednesday.

The room behind Buckingham Palace's famous balcony opens to the public for the first time next week, giving a rare glimpse into one of the royal residence's inner sanctums.

England great James Anderson was kept waiting for a wicket in his international farewell as debutant Gus Atkinson struck twice against the West Indies on the opening morning of the first Test at Lord's on Wednesday.