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

The crimson flags on Nanjie village's "East is Red" Square hang limp in the sweltering summer heat as a trickle of tourists take photos with a towering statue of Chairman Mao Zedong, still gleaming white almost 50 years after he died.

Lionel Messi set up both goals for Inter Miami as the Major League Soccer champions drew 2-2 with Atlanta United on Saturday in the Argentina star's first match since announcing his retirement from international football.

American envoys discussed "substantive plans" for next steps to end the Ukraine war during their meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the White House said, before they headed to Kyiv on Sunday.

World number two Elena Rybakina avenged her French Open defeat to Yuliia Starodubtseva on Saturday, beating the unseeded Ukrainian 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 to reach the US Open last 16.

Zheng Qinwen won the last seven games to stun Madison Keys and reach the US Open last 16 on a Saturday of upsets that dented American hopes at Flushing Meadows.

At his shop in northeast Syria, Ayaz Ibrahim wiped the dust off bottles of alcohol he said had become too pricey for customers following new regulations from the Islamist authorities.

American teen Iva Jovic outlasted Philippines star Alexandra Eala in an epic three-hour showdown on Saturday to reach the fourth round of the US Open, where fourth seed Coco Gauff awaits.

Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka survived another erratic outing, beating Belgian Elise Mertens 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 on Saturday to reach the US Open fourth round.

In the historic Japanese city of Kanazawa, craftsmen painstakingly shape and slice blocks of ice destined to chill negronis in some of the world's trendiest bars.

Indian filmmaker Shaunak Sen's new documentary began as a "coping" mechanism after a shock cancer diagnosis, but continues the motifs of environmental degradation and caregiving that drove his previous work.

Rajendra Dawadi was inside his school near Nepal's Trishuli River with around 900 students last week when a colleague delivered an urgent warning.

Wallabies coach Les Kiss lamented Saturday his side letting Argentina "off the hook" as his four-match win streak came to an end with Australia failing to exploit a late two-man advantage in a 28-28 draw.

Australia's four-match winning run came to an end in Mendoza on Saturday as the Wallabies failed to exploit a late two-man advantage in a 28-28 draw with Argentina.

Argentina has announced that it will investigate and sanction oil companies working near the Falkland Islands without authorization, after President Javier Milei said the "winds of change" favor his country's claim to the archipelago.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz will be under the microscope again on Sunday taking on 20th-seeded American Tommy Paul for a place in the US Open quarter-finals.

US envoys proposed a "number of ideas" on how to end the Ukraine war in "frank" talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin late Saturday, Moscow said, ahead of their first trip to Kyiv.

Fourth-seeded Coco Gauff advanced to the fourth round of the US Open on Saturday, turning back Spain's Cristina Bucsa in straight sets.

Britain's Prince William will attend the funeral of Norway's late King Harald next week in place of his father King Charles III, Buckingham Palace said on Saturday.

Champions Cup holders Bordeaux-Begles started the new Top 14 season with a 10-try bang as star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey signed a contract extension before the team hammered ill-disciplined Racing 92 64-5.

A last-gasp winner from Lautaro Martinez sealed a breathless win for Inter as the Serie A champions fought back from two goals down to edge visiting Napoli 3-2, while Roma also pulled off a late turnaround to beat Atalanta 2-1.

Zheng Qinwen rallied from 0-5 down in the final set to stun Madison Keys and reach the US Open last 16 as American hopes took a knock on a Saturday of surprises.

Thousands of Queen fans sang, cheered and partied at the Freddie Mercury statue in Montreux on Saturday to celebrate what would have been the legendary British singer's 80th birthday.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin held around three hours of late-night talks in the Kremlin with US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff on ending over four years of war with Ukraine on Saturday, ahead of their first visit to Kyiv on Sunday.

Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek reached the US Open fourth round on Saturday with a tight two-set victory over Czech Maria Bouzkova.

Agence France-Presse photographer Luis Tato on Saturday won the top prize at the Visa Pour l'Image photojournalism festival in Perpignan, France.

In-form Swiss Audrey Werro was forced into a dip for victory in the 800m, while newly-minted world record holders Masai Russell and Alison dos Santos also raced to meet records on the second and final day of the Diamond League finals in Brussels on Saturday.

Former Australian Open champion Madison Keys felt "scared" and as though "I couldn't play tennis anymore," she said Saturday after losing at the US Open.

A new film about Oasis's historic 2025 world tour, which premiered Saturday in Venice, captures the frosty reunion of the British band's Gallagher brothers -- and shows how their children have become the "cement" in their volatile relationship.

Star South Africa back Cheslin Kolbe broke his jaw in a 29-24 third Test victory over New Zealand, head coach Rassie Erasmus said on Saturday.

Joe Simmonds's steady boot helped Pau stun last season's beaten finalists Montpellier 27-19 in their Top 14 opener on Saturday.

The United States said it destroyed three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday in response to attempted missile attacks on naval vessels, prompting Iran's military to warn of tougher reprisals if the strikes continued.

A last-gasp winner from Lautaro Martinez sealed a breathless win for Inter as the Serie A champions fought back from two goals down to edge visiting Napoli 3-2.