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

Hollywood reacted Monday with skepticism to US President Donald Trump's announcement of 100 percent tariffs on foreign films, with movie insiders calling it a policy made up on the fly by a president who fails to understand how the industry works.

The first day of jury selection wrapped Monday in New York in the blockbuster federal sex trafficking trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, who stands accused of years of harrowing abuse.

The Dominican Republic has deported more than 119,000 Haitians so far in 2025, an increase of 71 percent over the same period last year, immigration authorities said Monday.

When they saw men with arrows and machetes bearing down on them, Daniel Braun and other Mennonites living in the Peruvian Amazon fled across rice paddies, some of their barns ablaze behind them.

The Dominican Republican has deported more than 119,000 Haitians so far in 2025, an increase of 71 percent over the same period last year, immigration authorities said Monday.

It's the first Monday in May, which means the stars are hitting the red carpet for the Met Gala, the extravagant Manhattan charity ball that this year spotlights Black style through the lens of dandyism's subversive history.

Leinster captain Caelan Doris could miss the British and Irish Lions' tour of Australia as he prepares for a "procedure" on his shoulder injury.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Monday ordered at least a 20 percent reduction in the number of active-duty four-star generals and admirals in the US military, a memo from the defense secretary said.

Zhao Xintong was hailed as snooker's "new superstar" after winning the World Championship with an 18-12 victory against Mark Williams that heralded a Chinese revolution in the sport.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced Monday that the company behind ChatGPT will continue to be run as a nonprofit, abandoning a contested plan to convert into a for-profit organization.

Ford reported a 65 percent drop in first-quarter profits Monday, citing a near-term drag on auto sales from new vehicle launches, as it withdrew its forecast amid tariff uncertainty.

In 2015 a teenage Zhao Xintong told a documentary he wanted to be like Chinese snooker trailblazer Ding Junhui.

Zhao Xintong became the first Chinese player to win the World Snooker Championship as the qualifier completed his stunning march to the title with a 18-12 victory against Mark Williams in the final on Monday.

Long used in Indigenous Brazilian rituals, the jurema preta plant, which contains a potent psychedelic, is gaining ground as a potential treatment for depression.

Israel's military said on Monday that expanded operations in Gaza approved by the government would include displacing "most" residents of the Palestinian territory, with the UN chief expressing alarm at the plan.

Israel struck Yemen on Monday in what the Huthis said was a joint raid with the United States, a day after the Iran-backed rebels claimed missile fire at Israel's main airport.

Former San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said on Monday his health was improving following a stroke but said the time had come for him to pass the reins to assistant Mitch Johnson.

Pat Cummins' figures of 3-19 went in vain after rain ended his and Sunrisers Hyderabad's chances of reaching the playoffs as their clash against Delhi Capitals was called off on Monday.

Yemen's Huthis said the United States and Israel struck the port of Hodeida on Monday, hours after a reported US air raid on Sanaa and a day after the Iran-backed rebels targeted Israel's main airport.

Robert Lewandowski will start on the bench for Barcelona's Champions League semi-final decider with Inter Milan after recovering from a hamstring injury, coach Hansi Flick said on Monday.

Could farmers get money for protecting birds or plants? That's the hope of the European Union, which is seeking to monetise biodiversity by creating a market for "nature credits".

Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed on Monday that Germany will keep supporting Ukraine in his final call with President Volodymyr Zelensky, a day before stepping aside to make way for Friedrich Merz.

A military parade, fly-past and balcony appearance by the royal family on Monday kicked off four days of UK celebrations marking 80 years since the end of World War II.

The cinema industry is reeling after US President Donald Trump announced 100-percent tariffs on foreign films, casting uncertainty over the future of international productions.

All 133 Catholic cardinals who will vote for a new pope have arrived in Rome, the Vatican said Monday, two days before they gather in conclave to elect the next head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

Canadian tech firm Telus International, tasked by Meta to moderate content on its social media networks Facebook and Instagram, will slash over 2,000 jobs in Barcelona, a Spanish union said Monday.

Pakistan conducted a second missile test and India ordered civil defence drills in an escalating stand-off over contested Kashmir that the UN said on Monday has brought the two nations to the brink of war.

Shares in US film studios slid on Monday following a threat by US President Donald Trump to impose 100 percent tariffs on foreign-made productions.

Pro-EU Romania is facing a possible foreign policy shift, with a far-right leader -- and fan of US President Donald Trump -- topping the first round of a tense election rerun and now up against a centrist mayor for president.

Award-winning German director Wim Wenders has revisited the French school where Nazi Germany signed its initial 1945 surrender for a short film released Monday, days before Europe marks 80 years since the end of World War II.

A French court on Monday found seven people guilty of bullying the chief choreographer of last year's Paris Olympics opening ceremony online, handing down fines and suspended prison terms.

After comfortably topping Sunday's rerun of Romania's presidential election first round, far-right leader George Simion -- a fervent fan of US President Donald Trump -- will face off against a centrist mayor in the second round on May 18.