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

The outcome of England's World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday remains uncertain but one result appears far more predictable in Benidorm: a sharp decline in local beer stocks.

Ireland coach Andy Farrell on Wednesday named the uncapped Connacht trio of Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Sean Jansen in his 36-man squad for the start of the Nations Championship.

The youngest player in this week's US Open in high school teenager Miles Russell is getting an up close and personal look at the stars he idolized when picking up golf.

Crucial negotiations ahead of the COP31 summit have been frustrated by a "small group of fossil fuels interests" attacking the science of climate change behind closed doors, envoys said Wednesday.

World champion Tadej Pogacar sent out an ominous warning to his Tour de France rivals with a stunningly dominant victory on the opening stage of the Tour of Switzerland on Wednesday.

Sonny Baker struck on his Test debut as England looked to put the Ben Stokes saga behind them against New Zealand at the Oval on Wednesday.

The plague was causing deadly outbreaks among communities of hunter-gatherers in Siberia around 5,500 years ago, according to a study on Wednesday that sheds light on how humans could have first caught this scourge.

Dutch club Feyenoord Wednesday appointed former captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst as manager, replacing Robin van Persie after a frustrating season that saw them well adrift of rivals PSV Eindhoven.

Australian top seed Alex De Minaur raced into the Queen's Club quarter-finals with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Denis Shapovalov on Wednesday.

England boss Steve Borthwick said on Wednesday that he will rest captain Maro Itoje for their forthcoming Nations Championship matches -- unless injuries in the second row derail his plan.

Cuba's communist leaders were set to meet Wednesday to discuss plans to revive the collapsing economy in the face of a devastating US blockade.

The US Golf Association, R&A and the PGA and DP World tours will examine options to limit driving distance among elite players, they said in a joint statement on Wednesday.

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will visit the UK next month with their two children, their first family trip back to the country since 2022, British media reported Wednesday.

Former France centre Virimi Vakatawa has been called up to the Barbarians team to face South Africa this weekend, the Babaas announced on Wednesday.

A Belgian driver was sentenced Wednesday to 27 years in jail after being found guilty of killing seven people by ploughing his car into a carnival procession while filming himself at the wheel.

Jim Hiller, fired three months ago by the Los Angeles Kings, was named on Wednesday as the new coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the NHL club announced.

A Ukrainian drone hit a bus carrying a children's football team from Belarus in Russia's border Bryansk region, killing a woman who accompanied the team, local authorities said on Wednesday.

Markets were giving little away on Wednesday, with small gains and losses across the main stocks and moderate increases in oil prices, ahead of the start of US-Iran peace talks and a rate decision from the Federal Reserve.

US retail sales surged past expectations in May, government data showed Wednesday, boosted by higher spending at gas stations as energy costs remained elevated amid fallout from the Middle East war.

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he had suspended a Senate hearing on his own nominee for intelligence chief, in a fresh effort to push Congress to back his bill on voting restrictions.

Cooper Connolly struck a rapid-fire 47 off 27 balls to steer Australia to a four-wicket win over Bangladesh in the opening T20 international on Wednesday.

Matthew Fisher and Jofra Archer each took a wicket as England looked to put the Ben Stokes saga behind them in the second Test against New Zealand at the Oval on Wednesday.

From open-mic moments to photos taking leaders off guard, the G7 summit in France provided a rare chance to see how world leaders behave behind closed doors.

Spain registered its third-warmest year on record in 2025, with 25 single-day heat records set during the period, national weather agency AEMET said Wednesday.

Selwyn Cobbo bagged a hat-trick as Queensland forced a decider in the best-of-three State of Origin rugby league series on Wednesday after a comprehensive 44-24 victory over New South Wales.

G7 leaders on Wednesday hailed the US-Iran deal to end the Middle East war as a "historic opportunity" and hosted AI bosses for an unusual meeting to discuss greater protection for children online.

Government workers in different parts of Afghanistan have started switching off their smartphones, following an order imposed Wednesday that they told AFP came from Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.

Skipper Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan smashed brisk centuries as India posted 402 all out against Afghanistan in the second one-day international in sweltering Lucknow on Wednesday.

US astronaut Christina Koch, the first woman to take part in a lunar mission, was on Wednesday named the winner of a top Spanish prize for having "helped extend the frontiers of humanity".

The BBC will axe some programming and may impose compulsory redundancies to deliver hundreds of millions of pounds of previously announced savings, its new Director-General Matt Brittin told staff Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned Iran he was ready to resume military action if Tehran did not abide by its obligations, two days ahead of the signing of an accord to end the war between the foes.

European lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to tougher migration rules that will grant authorities much broader detention powers and allow for the creation of deportation centres outside the bloc.