Sawt Falasteen - News from Ramallah, the political, economic and cultural centre of Palestine, as well as the West Bank and the whole world

A 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan Monday, shaking large buildings in Tokyo hundreds of kilometres away and prompting a warning for tsunami waves of up to three metres (10 feet).

Pope Leo XIV heads to Angola's remote and diamond-rich northeast on Monday in the latest stop on an Africa tour during which he has spoken out against the country's glaring poverty.

Thousands of American and Philippine troops, joined for the first time by a significant contingent of Japanese forces, began annual military exercises Monday set against the backdrop of the Middle East war.

Bulgarian ex-president Rumen Radev, an EU critic who has called for renewing ties with Russia, took an absolute majority in parliamentary elections that could spell an end to the country's half-decade of political uncertainty, according to near complete vote results on Monday.

Thousands of American and Philippine troops, joined for the first time by a significant contingent of Japanese forces, began annual military exercises Monday set against the backdrop of the Middle East war.

When falling bombs shattered the usual calm of his Kashmir village, Mohammad Rashid set his mind to building a shelter for his family, ready in case fighting erupts again in the divided Himalayan region.

Sporting towering Elvis-style hair and a school uniform modified into a rebellious silhouette, 15-year-old Reona worships Japan's classic bad-boy subculture recently taken global by a hit Netflix dating show.

North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles that tested the power of its cluster munitions, its government news agency said on Monday, confirming the latest in a flurry of launches by the nuclear-armed state.

Oil prices surged Monday on a re-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East war after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz at the weekend, just a day after reopening it, citing the United States' blockade of its ports.

Australia's in-form Hannah Green birdied the first hole of a three-way playoff to capture her third LA Championship title on Sunday on the LPGA Tour.

Over a feverish few days of diplomacy, Pakistan's military and civilian politicians successfully divided the Middle East between them to push for a second round of US-Iran peace talks expected to take place in Islamabad this week.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Boston Celtics launched their NBA playoff campaigns with big wins on Sunday as Orlando shocked the Detroit Pistons.

Thousands of American and Philippine troops, joined for the first time by a significant contingent of Japanese forces, began annual military exercises Monday set against the backdrop of the Middle East war.

A new Michael Jackson biopic will shortly arrive in cinemas telling the story of the King of Pop's early career, but it's a tightly controlled story that avoids any reference to the child sex abuse allegations that dogged his later life.

More than 50 nations are attending a world-first conference on phasing out fossil fuels in Colombia next week as the Iran war underscores how dependent countries remain on planet-heating coal, oil and gas.

When the international community agreed to transition away from fossil fuels at the 2023 COP28 global climate summit, some hailed the moment as the beginning of the end for oil.

Billionaire Elon Musk has been summoned for a voluntary interview in Paris on Monday as part of a French probe into his social media platform X, though it remains unclear if he will appear.

Four contenders are squaring up to succeed Antonio Guterres as leader of the United Nations, which faces unprecedented global instability, wars and its own crushing budget crisis.

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander headlines the finalists announced Sunday for this year's award alongside San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and Denver's three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.

Israel said its military had been instructed to use "full force" against threats in Lebanon despite a truce, and vowed to level homes allegedly used by Hezbollah, with state media reporting demolitions were underway on Sunday.

Jon Rahm cruised to a six-stroke victory with a final round of 64 Sunday at a LIV Golf event in Mexico City overshadowed by reports of behind-the-scenes tour turmoil.

North Korea has test-fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles, the government news agency reported Monday, the latest in a recent flurry of launches by the nuclear-armed state.

Matt Fizpatrick survived a nail-biting playoff with Scottie Scheffler to win his second RBC Heritage title Sunday, as the world number one's late charge fell just short.

The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder launched their NBA playoff campaign with a 119-84 thrashing of the Phoenix Suns on Sunday as the Boston Celtics underscored their contender status with a lopsided opening win.

Bulgarian ex-president Rumen Radev -- an EU critic who has called for renewing ties with Russia -- on Sunday hailed a "victory of hope" after his formation topped the eighth parliamentary elections in five years.

Defending champion John Korir returns to the Boston Marathon on Monday aiming for a fourth straight marathon crown after adding victories in Chicago and Valencia last year.

AC Milan and Juventus both took a big step towards qualification for next season's Champions League with respective victories over Verona and Bologna on Sunday.

France full-back Max Spring crossed twice as Racing 92 beat Parisian rivals Stade Francais 47-20 on Sunday to remain in the hunt for the Top 14 play-offs.

Brazilian prodigy Endrick scored one goal and set up another as Lyon claimed a surprise 2-1 win away to Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, denting the reigning European champions' bid for another Ligue 1 title.

The spectre of a charging Manchester City haunts Arsenal once more after a 2-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday put a huge dent in the Gunners' hopes of a first Premier League title in 22 years.

AC Milan and Juventus both took a big step towards qualification for next season's Champions League with respective victories over Verona and Bologna on Sunday.

Iran is not currently planning to attend talks with the United States on Monday, state media said, after President Donald Trump ordered US negotiators to Pakistan just days before a ceasefire in the Middle East expires.