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

The United States and European Union on Wednesday promised a fresh wave of sanctions against Russia for its relentless invasion of Ukraine, with Washington accusing Russian leader Vladimir Putin of not being "honest" in responding to its peace efforts.

Chief US diplomat Marco Rubio was due in Israel on Thursday, the latest Washington official to visit as President Donald Trump's administration kept up efforts to cement the fragile truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

A street market in a Buenos Aires working-class neighborhood bustles with desperate Argentines who have taken to hawking their belongings to make ends meet as the economy sputters.

The Moroccan team were greeted by thousands of fans in Rabat on Wednesday for a parade to celebrate their historic victory in the Under-20 World Cup last week.

National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday stood by the choice of Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny to headline next year's Super Bowl halftime show, a decision President Donald Trump has branded "absolutely ridiculous."

The Shohei Ohtani-powered Los Angeles Dodgers will attempt to become the first team in 25 years to win back-to-back World Series on Friday when they face a Toronto Blue Jays side determined to end a decades-long title drought.

A new US strike on an alleged drug-smuggling boat killed two people, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday, announcing Washington's first such attack on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean.

American pop star Lizzo is being sued in a California court over a snippet of an unreleased song that went viral because of a reference to Sydney Sweeney.

Sean Dyche said Nottingham Forest have to get back to basics if he is to turn around a disastrous start to the season that has already seen Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou sacked.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday downplayed concerns about tensions between Donald Trump and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, while reiterating his belief that "only" the US president could achieve peace between Moscow and Kyiv.

Under the blazing Mexican sun, Maria Couoh dusts off the skull of her late uncle Tomas.

Germany's Volkswagen warned Wednesday that its car production could be hit by a shortage of Nexperia semiconductors amid a deepening row between China and the Netherlands over the chipmaker.

Vice President JD Vance warned Wednesday that the United States and allies face a tough task disarming Hamas and building a peaceful future for Gaza, as Washington sought to reassure Israel over the next steps in its ambitious ceasefire deal.

The director of the Louvre museum Wednesday admitted there was inadequate security camera coverage of the outside walls of Louvre, three days after a brazen daytime heist stunned the French capital.

Britain on Wednesday sanctioned Balkans-based gangs and financiers helping facilitate small boat crossings, as migrant arrivals this year via the Channel were set to surpass the 2024 totals.

The rules-based international trade system is in danger, UN chief Antonio Guterres warned Wednesday, amid spiralling debt, heavy tariffs and financial insecurity for emerging nations.

The International Court of Justice said Wednesday that Israel was obliged to ease the passage of aid into Gaza, stressing it had to provide Palestinians with the "basic needs" to survive.

The US government shutdown entered its fourth week Wednesday, becoming the second longest in history, as Donald Trump's Republicans and the opposition Democrats faced increasing pressure to end a stalemate that has crippled public services.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday signed a letter of intent with Sweden to acquire 150 Gripen fighter jets, hours after fatal Russian attacks battered Ukraine's energy grid and spurred nationwide outages.

The grandchildren of the last woman to be executed in Britain have called for Ruth Ellis to be pardoned, 70 years after she was sent to the gallows for murdering her "abusive" lover, their lawyers said Wednesday.

The International Court of Justice said Wednesday that Israel was obliged to ease the passage of aid into Gaza, stressing it had to provide Palestinians with "basic needs" essential to survival.

A flagship US climate-disaster database killed by President Donald Trump's administration has been brought back to life by its former lead scientist -- revealing that extreme weather inflicted a record $101 billion in damages in just the first half of 2025.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday it was now clear that efforts to cap global warming at 1.5 Celsius above pre-industrial levels would fail in the short term.

Simon Harmer grabbed three early wickets to boost South Africa's chances of securing a series-levelling victory over a faltering Pakistan in the second Test in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

Gold prices sank further Wednesday and major stock markets mostly fell on fresh economic jitters caused by China-US trade uncertainty and a batch of weak company earnings.

SpaceX has cut service to more than 2,500 Starlink internet devices at Myanmar scam centres, a company executive said Wednesday, after AFP revealed that their use had exploded in the illicit industry.

Lithuania's Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene resigned Wednesday following a dispute with the prime minister over military spending in the key NATO member.

Simon Harmer grabbed three early wickets to push South Africa closer to a series-levelling victory over a faltering Pakistan in the second Test in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

Former England centre Manu Tuilagi has signed a contract extension to stay at Bayonne until 2027, the French Top 14 club announced on Wednesday.

The cancellation of La Liga's plan to hold a Barcelona match in Miami in December is a "missed opportunity" for Spanish football, the league's president said Wednesday, while elsewhere its collapse was celebrated.

SpaceX has cut service to more than 2,500 Starlink internet devices at Myanmar scam centres, a company executive said Wednesday, after AFP revealed that their use had exploded in the illicit industry.

Like in Beijing in 2022, three-time Olympic champion Ester Ledecka calls next year's Olympic Games "a friendly" to ease the pressure, despite a rather unfriendly schedule thwarting her medal hopes.