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

Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele could make his latest comeback in an injury-stunted season when Paris Saint-Germain face Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The European Union must ramp up efforts to break its dependence on China for rare earths faced with export curbs that amount to a "racket" by Beijing, the bloc's industry chief Stephane Sejourne said Tuesday.

Parents of dozens of children kidnapped last week from a Catholic school in Nigeria are desperate for their release, with one father crying out that his son is so young he has not yet learned to speak.

The US push to ram through a lopsided plan for Ukraine has amped up calls for the EU to take a decision soon on using Russian frozen assets to fund Kyiv -- as Europe frets it risks losing key leverage.

The sacred flame for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy will be lit in ancient Olympia, Greece on Wednesday, with poor weather forcing last-minute changes by the organisers.

South Africa had India tottering at 27-2 after setting the hosts a mammoth target of 549 in the second Test on Tuesday, moving to the brink of a first series win in the country for 25 years.

Kyrgyzstan said Tuesday it had arrested the Chinese CEO of a gold mining firm accused of causing "large-scale" environmental damage, amid growing public scrutiny over Beijing's influence in the Central Asian country.

European leaders sought to put some meat on the bones of pledges to boost ties with Africa on Tuesday as an Angola summit with their African counterparts entered its final stage.

European and Asian stock markets mostly rose Tuesday following a tech-led rally on Wall Street that soothed fears of an AI bubble.

Afghanistan's Taliban government vowed Tuesday to "respond appropriately" to overnight strikes it blamed on neighbouring Pakistan that killed 10 people, as tensions spiked the day after a suicide bombing in a Pakistani city.

A top European court on Tuesday ruled that an EU nation had to recognise a gay marriage recorded in another member state, following a complaint by two Poles married in Germany.

South Africa had India tottering at 27-2, after declaring their innings and setting a mammoth target of 549, to be on the brink of a series win in the second Test on Tuesday.

Russia rained missiles and drones on Kyiv overnight, killing six people, as frantic diplomatic efforts over a draft US plan to end the war intensified.

Residents of southern Thailand waded through waist-deep floods on Tuesday, with a main tourist town left inundated by days of heavy rain, stranding people in homes and hotels, and killing at least 13 in the region.

In a town near Jerusalem, a growing number of houses and businesses are receiving demolition and evacuation notices, and Palestinian residents link the drive to Israel's approval of a major new settlement project.

Tristan Stubbs made 94 as South Africa declared their second innings on 260-5 to set India a record victory target of 549 and close in on a series win in the second Test on Tuesday.

Rugby Australia threw its support behind embattled Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt on Tuesday, saying it had "absolute confidence" in the New Zealander despite leading the team to a record 10 defeats in a calendar year.

Afghanistan's Taliban government vowed Tuesday to "respond appropriately" to overnight border strikes it blamed on Pakistan that killed 10 people, as tensions soar following a suicide bombing in Peshawar a day earlier.

Investors on Tuesday welcomed more dovish comments from Federal Reserve officials reinforcing hopes it will cut interest rates next month, while a tech-led rally on Wall Street soothed recent AI bubble worries.

Tristan Stubbs scored an unbeaten half-century as South Africa extended their second-innings lead over India to an imposing 508 and closed in on a series win in the second Test on Tuesday.

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane returns to north London on Wednesday to face old rivals Arsenal arguably in the best form of his career after dropping into a deeper position.

Inter Milan head into Wednesday's match at Atletico Madrid still reeling from a derby defeat to AC Milan and with doubts about their ability to handle big games under new coach Cristian Chivu.

After 20 hours and 56 minutes of non-stop swimming, Simon Holliday hauls himself up the steps of Disneyland pier, knees almost buckling, to claim a world first.

England have been slammed as "amateurish" after their main stars opted to skip a pink-ball tour game despite being crushed by Australia in the first Ashes Test at Perth.

Charbel Matar says a Lebanese saint saved his life when he was a child. Now, he is among pilgrims of all faiths who visit Saint Charbel's tomb, soon to be graced by Pope Leo XIV.

India's Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets but South Africa extended their lead to a formidable 395 as they closed in on a series win in the second Test on Tuesday.

Pub landlord James Fitzgerald will wait a while longer to switch on the outside Christmas lights at the Thatched House in London, as high energy bills cause financial pain across Britain.

Some of the world's best-known chocolate, from Mars to KitKat, is likely linked to deforestation in Liberia's rainforest despite many brands' claims of sustainability, according to research published by NGO Global Witness Tuesday.

Injured pace spearheads Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins bowled in the nets on Tuesday in a major boost for Australia ahead of the day-night second Ashes Test against England next week.

China conducted an urgent unmanned spacecraft launch on Tuesday, after damage to a previous mission's return capsule left the crew on its space station without a means of getting back to Earth.

Cade Cunningham scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to spark the Detroit Pistons to their franchise record-tying 13th consecutive victory, a 122-117 triumph at Indiana on Monday.

Nick Kyrgios signed up for the Kooyong Classic on Tuesday in a signal that the injury-wracked star is planning a competitive comeback at the Australian Open.