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

World number one Aryna Sabalenka stepped up her bid for a maiden Wimbledon title with an impressive straight-sets victory over Jelena Ostapenko on Friday.

Serena and Venus Williams team up in the women's doubles at Wimbledon on Saturday for the first time since winning their sixth title 10 years ago, while reigning singles champion Iga Swiatek faces Filipina history-maker Alexandra Eala.

A brutal heatwave hit peak temperatures across the eastern United States on Friday, straining power grids, threatening World Cup matches and playing havoc with celebrations for America's 250th independence anniversary.

A beaming Lewis Hamilton rolled back the years with a vintage display for Ferrari at Silverstone on Friday as he topped every session and took pole position for Saturday's sprint at the British Grand Prix.

Rich Paul, the agent for NBA superstar LeBron James, said Monday his 41-year-old client has 10 realistic destinations next season after saying he will leave the Los Angeles Lakers.

England must confront a fanatical home crowd and the weight of World Cup history when they enter the lion's den of Mexico's Azteca Stadium for one of the ties of the tournament on Sunday.

President Donald Trump kicks off America's 250th birthday weekend on Friday with a trip to a landmark upon which many suspect he would like to see his own face carved in rock -- Mount Rushmore.

Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position for Saturday's sprint race at the British Grand Prix with a supreme qualifying lap in his Ferrari to beat Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli by 0.011 seconds.

Toulouse, who have just won their fourth straight French title, have been fined 2.88 million euros (3.3mn dollars) for violations of the Top 14 "salary cap", the National Rugby League (LNR) said Friday.

Novak Djokovic earned another slice of Wimbledon history as the seven-time winner advanced to the fourth round, while defending champion Jannik Sinner powered past Jenson Brooksby on Friday.

Novak Djokovic equalled Roger Federer's record for most match wins at Wimbledon as the seven-time champion battled past French 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech to reach the fourth round on Friday.

Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur on Friday quelled speculation when he confirmed that seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton would stay with the Italian team next year.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner powered into the Wimbledon fourth round on Friday with a ruthless 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 win over American Jenson Brooksby.

Global excitement over America's "royal wedding" between pop queen Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce reached fever pitch Friday with reports the couple had already tied the knot ahead of their A-list extravaganza at New York's famed Madison Square Garden.

Harry Kane says he feels "as good as I've ever felt" as he hunts more World Cup goals for England to extend his remarkable season.

Three men were on Friday found not guilty of murdering Northern Irish journalist Lyra McKee six years ago, in a high-profile killing that attracted global attention.

Toulouse, who have just won their fourth straight French title, have been fined 2.88 million euros (3.3mn dollars) for violations of the Top 14 "salary cap", the National Rugby League (LNR) said Friday.

Ben Stokes posted one last farewell to international cricket on Friday, thanking fans and team-mates alike for a "mad 15 years".

Several thousands more foreign nationals clamoured to leave South Africa Friday, many of them gathered near the Zimbabwe border after a push that has already seen around 35,000 go home.

Europe is still taking stock of a powerful heatwave in late June but experts are already confident it ranks among the worst ever recorded -- even rivalling a freak 2003 episode.

Australia are increasingly optimistic that "ultimate professional" Ellyse Perry will be fit for the Women's T20 World Cup final against arch-rivals England at Lord's on Sunday.

The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) said Friday it had filed a complaint to the public prosecutor over racist messages posted in the wake of the country's exit from the World Cup.

NATO's European members and Canada will pledge to give Ukraine 70 billion euros ($80 billion) in military aid both this year and next at the alliance's summit in Ankara next week, diplomats said Friday.

Thousands of workers demonstrated outside Mercedes-Benz factories in Germany Friday over the premium carmaker's cost-saving plans, kicking off an expected wave of protests in the country's crisis-wracked auto industry.

Spanish climber Juan Ayuso said on Friday that he is happy to shun the limelight as he begins his quest for a Tour de France podium finish.

Top Iranian officials on Friday paid their final respects to the country's slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei at the start of a week of funeral ceremonies, with allies and mourners converging on Tehran where his body is lying in state.

Sam Curran said Friday he is ready to fill the huge gap left in England's Test side by the international retirement of former captain Ben Stokes if called upon to replace the outstanding all-rounder.

UN rights chief Volker Turk issues a "red alert" Friday on the unfolding "catastrophe" in the Sudanese city of El-Obeid, where the United Nations fears an imminent paramilitary assault.

Novak Djokovic can earn his latest slice of Wimbledon history with a third-round win on Friday, while Jannik Sinner and world number one Aryna Sabalenka aim to step up their title bids.

Former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas said he wants his Netcompany Ineos team to "start with a bang" when the Grande Boucle launches this weekend in Barcelona with an intriguing team time-trial.

Lewis Hamilton, a record nine-time winner at Silverstone, topped the free practice at the British Grand Prix fo Ferrari on Friday ahead of Mercedes' championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

Japan's Naomi Osaka ended her long wait to reach the Wimbledon fourth round for the first time with a 6-1, 6-3 win against Australian Daria Kasatkina on Friday.