Berliner Tageblatt

Syria's Assad visits China seeking funds

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad begins on Thursday his first official trip to China in almost two decades, where he will ask a longtime ally for financial support to help rebuild his devastated country.

Israel, Saudi Arabia see progress on ties as Iran sounds warning

Saudi Arabia and Israel voiced optimism Wednesday that they were moving closer to a historic normalization of ties as Iran -- their common foe -- accused the kingdom of betraying the Palestinians through the US-led effort.

Italian PM urges UN to wage 'war without mercy' on migrant trafficking

Italy's prime minister on Wednesday urged the United Nations to launch a "global war without mercy" against migrant smugglers, after a surge of arrivals on the island of Lampedusa.

Top US military officer approved after abortion dispute delay

US senators voted Wednesday to confirm General Charles Brown as the country's next top military officer, one of hundreds of nominations that have been stalled by a lawmaker's protest against Pentagon abortion access policies.

Poland no longer arming Ukraine: Polish PM

Poland said Wednesday it will no longer arm Ukraine and instead focus on its own defense, as the two allies clashed at a key moment in Kyiv's fightback against invasion by Russia.

France regrets Poland's ban on Ukrainian grain

French Foreign Minister Catherina Colonna said Wednesday that Poland's decision to ban Ukrainian grain imports was unjustified, amid rising tensions between the two eastern European countries over the dispute.

Biden, Netanyahu mend fences with Saudi deal in mind

Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu met Wednesday to smooth over months of tension, eyeing a deal to normalize Israel's ties with Saudi Arabia despite US concerns over the state of Israeli democracy.

Crown prince says Saudi 'closer' to Israel normalization

Saudi Arabia's de facto leader said Wednesday that a historic normalization of relations with Israel is getting "closer," as he also warned that the kingdom will seek a nuclear weapon if foe Iran gets one first.

US Fed pauses rate hikes but predicts long fight against inflation

The US Federal Reserve voted Wednesday to hold interest rates at a 22-year high while predicting that lending rates will need to remain higher for longer to definitively cool inflation.

Biden, Lula launch workers' rights pact

President Joe Biden and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva unveiled a pact on workers' rights Wednesday, as the pro-union US leader grapples with a major auto employees' strike at home.

US Fed pauses rate hikes but expects another rise this year

The US Federal Reserve voted Wednesday to hold interest rates at a 22-year high while forecasting an additional hike before the end of the year to bring down inflation.

Biden, Netanyahu finally meet to smooth over 'concerns'

US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to smooth over tensions at talks Wednesday, hailing "unbreakable" ties despite Biden's concerns over the state of Israeli democracy.

Azerbaijan claims victory after Karabakh separatists surrender

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said Wednesday his country had regained control over breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh, after separatist Armenian fighters agreed to lay down their arms in the face of a military operation.

Biden finally hold talks on 'hard issues' with Netanyahu

US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to smooth over months of tensions as they met for the first time on Wednesday since the Israeli's reelection in December.

'Big shoes to fill': Paris crowd greets Charles III

As thousands lined the famed Champs-Elysees to catch a glimpse of Charles III on Wednesday, many said they wondered how the king would follow in the footsteps of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, who was much loved in France.

Teen's classroom arrest on bullying claims riles France

The French government on Wednesday defended the arrest of a teenage boy in the middle of class over claims of bullying a transgender classmate, a rare move that angered many pupils and parents despite widespread support for a crackdown on harassment.

Venezuela civic space crackdown 'intensifying': UN probe

Venezuela's government has been intensifying efforts to reduce civic and democratic space, UN experts said Wednesday, voicing alarm at the situation in the run-up to elections next year.

UNESCO puts Rwanda genocide memorials on World Heritage list

Four memorials to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda of more than 800,000 people, mainly Tutsi, were added to UNESCO's World Heritage list on Wednesday, the UN cultural body said.

EU, Germany press Poland over 'serious' cash-for-visas scandal

The European Union and Germany on Wednesday pressed the Polish government to clear up allegations about "serious" visa fraud in a scandal with politically sensitive ramifications for Warsaw's partners in the bloc.

Biden launches 'climate corps' for green jobs

US President Joe Biden launched a new "Climate Corps" on Wednesday to help young people get green jobs, as he tries to sell voters on his plans for a clean energy economy.

India's lower house votes to reserve third of seats for women

India's lower house of parliament passed a bill Wednesday that would more than double the number of women lawmakers in its ranks, following several failed attempts to enact the measure stretching back decades.

Azerbaijan halts Karabakh operation after separatists surrender

Azerbaijan on Wednesday announced it had ended its military operation in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, after separatist Armenian forces agreed to lay down their arms and hold reintegration talks.

India's lower house votes to reserve third of seats for women: speaker

India's lower house of parliament passed a bill Wednesday that would more than double the number of women lawmakers in its ranks, following several failed attempts to enact the measure stretching back decades.

US pledges new investment to support democracies

The United States on Wednesday announced $225 million in investments to support emerging democracies in the face of a rise in autocracies around the world.

Armenia's Pashinyan: from revolutionary to embattled war-time leader

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan swept to power promising change, but a humiliating military defeat to Azerbaijan and a dramatic escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh tarnished his reputation in the poor ex-Soviet country.

UK set to backtrack on net zero policies

The UK looked set to backtrack Wednesday on policies aimed at achieving net zero emissions by 2050 with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expected to water down some of the government's green commitments.

Azerbaijan halts Karabakh operation as separatists vow to disarm

Azerbaijan on Wednesday announced it had halted its military operation in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, after separatist Armenian forces agreed to lay down their arms and hold reintegration talks.

Rwanda's Kagame says he will run for fourth term

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has said for the first time that he plans to run for a fourth term in elections due to be held next year.

Azerbaijan halts Karabakh operation as separatists lay down arms