Berliner Tageblatt - News from Berlin, Europe and the whole world

Jury selection kicked off on Wednesday in a California courtroom where Instagram and Facebook owner Meta will defend itself against allegations of harming children in a new trial which experts describe as social media's big tobacco moment.

Dozens of protesters rallied Wednesday outside a hotel hosting political transition talks in Venezuela's capital, demanding greater transparency from the authorities and opposition, AFP journalists observed.

The total eclipse plunged a vast swathe of Spain from broad daylight into darkness Wednesday, drawing awed gasps and applause from spectators gathered in parks and cities across the country.

Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith on Wednesday regained his European 400m title at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium track where he honed his talent as a youth.

Xavi Hernandez has been named as the successor to Ronald Koeman as head coach of the Netherlands national team, becoming their first foreign boss in 48 years, the country's football association announced on Wednesday.

The son of legendary US film director Rob Reiner denied new charges of killing both his parents when he appeared in court on Wednesday after grand jury indictments were unsealed.

Former NBA Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook, the league's triple-double king, has "decided to step away" after 18 seasons in the league.

Day briefly turned to night in Spain on Wednesday, as the country witnessed its first total solar eclipse in more than a century, plunging it into eerie darkness in one of nature's greatest spectacles.

A benchmark US report on the fast-changing state of the Arctic has been canceled. The nation's top research body has removed a chapter on global warming from a reference manual for judges.

One of nature's greatest spectacles –- a rare total solar eclipse –- cast its shadow on Wednesday, briefly turning day into night in Russia's remote Arctic north and western Iceland before heading towards mainland Europe.

Eurovision Song Contest organisers announced rule changes Wednesday excluding any country in an armed conflict from hosting the competition and increasing the mininum age of competitors.

Dozens of protesters rallied Wednesday outside a hotel hosting transition talks in the Venezuelan capital, demanding greater transparency from the authorities and the opposition, AFP journalists observed.

Italian teenager Sara Curtis broke the women's 50m backstroke world record at the European championships with a blistering swim in Paris on Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most successful teams in NBA history, are being sold to former Disney CEO Bob Iger and investor Joshua Kushner in a deal valued at a reported $12.5 billion.

A year after giving birth to her first child, Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom was crowned European champion in the 50m butterfly for the sixth time on Wednesday.

Former Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku has joined Fenerbahce, the Turkish Super Lig club announced on Wednesday.

One of nature's greatest spectacles –- a rare total solar eclipse –- began casting its shadow on Wednesday, briefly turning day into night in Russia's remote Arctic north before heading towards mainland Europe.

Colombia on Wednesday declared three days of mourning for victims of an earthquake that killed 239 people, as rescuers entered what officials called the final phase of the search for survivors.

The Russian economy rebounded in the second quarter thanks to consumer demand, official data showed Wednesday, despite mass Ukrainian drone strikes on the country's e-commerce and oil industries.

Brazil's data protection agency on Wednesday ordered Discord to suspend livestreams, accusing the messaging platform of failing to protect children and adolescents after a teen girl was allegedly incited to commit suicide during a broadcast.

The Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most successful teams in NBA history, are being sold to former Disney CEO Bob Iger and investor Joshua Kushner in a deal valued at $12.5 billion, ESPN reported Wednesday.

Spectacular images of lava flowing down the slopes of an erupting Mount Etna have drawn flocks of tourists to the Italian volcano -- to the worry of local guides.

Two US media groups on Wednesday sued President Donald Trump over his move to charge for early access to his often market-moving Truth Social posts.

Knot, the leading merchant connectivity platform, today announced they are partnering with Venmo to make it easy for millions of users to set Venmo as their saved payment method wherever they shop. Knot lets Venmo users make Venmo the way they pay at some of their favorite merchants, directly from the Venmo app and without manually entering their details.

Millions of people will turn their gaze towards the heavens on Wednesday to witness one of nature's greatest spectacles -- a rare total solar eclipse -- as it sweeps towards mainland Europe to briefly turn day into night.

The Russian capital braced Wednesday for a possible fresh wave of fuel shortages as drivers queued nervously to fill up tanks after recent Ukrainian strikes.

Search and rescue operations continued Wednesday after a government passenger ferry capsized on Zimbabwe's Lake Kariba, claiming at least 44 lives, authorities said.

Astronomers announced Wednesday they had discovered a new type of astronomical object called a "black hole star", potentially solving a mystery involving strange red dots spotted in the early universe.

Argentina superstar and inspiration behind his country's 2022 World Cup victory Lionel Messi said Wednesday he has "serious doubts" about continuing to play football for "much longer" after the death of his father Jorge Messi.

Joe Root said Wednesday there would be no curfew in place during his second spell as England Test captain.

Visibly frail and malnourished children and women lay on rows of hospital beds, their bodies bearing the scars of six months of captivity deep in the Nigerian bush.

US consumer inflation slowed slightly in July, government data showed, with a virtual stalemate in the US-Iran war giving consumers some respite from sharp price increases at the gasoline pump.