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

Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis and American gymnast Simone Biles shared the top honours on Monday at the annual Laureus World Sport Awards ceremony in Madrid.

US government attorneys urged a federal judge Monday to make Google spin off its Chrome browser, arguing artificial intelligence is poised to ramp up the tech giant's online search dominance.

His predecessor loved Mozart, but Pope Francis's passion was football -- for him "the most beautiful game" and also a vehicle to educate and spread peace.

The death of Pope Francis silences arguably the most powerful moral voice on the world stage critical of Donald Trump, with the pontiff taking the lead against the US president's mass deportations of migrants.

Pope Francis died of a stroke, the Vatican announced hours after the death on Monday of the 88-year-old reformer who inspired devotion but riled traditionalists during 12 years leading the Catholic Church.

There was emotion across the United States following the death of Pope Francis, with many mourners contrasting the Argentine pontiff's gentle touch with the harshness of the current US administration.

Leeds United and Burnley won promotion to the Premier League on Monday as faltering Sheffield United were forced to settle for a place in the Championship play-offs.

Pope Francis died of a stroke, the Vatican said on Monday, amid widespread mourning for the 88-year-old reformer who inspired devotion but riled traditionalists during 12 years leading the Catholic Church.

The racist gunman who killed 23 people at a crowded supermarket near the Mexico border was sentenced to life in prison without parole Monday after admitting capital murder in one of the deadliest shootings in US history.

President Donald Trump stood behind his controversial Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth Monday despite a new scandal over his reported use of messaging app Signal to discuss US strikes on Yemen with his wife and others.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced a three-billion-euro package over six years to finance a plan to "rebuild" Mayotte, France's poorest department, which was devastated by a cyclone in December.

Shubman Gill led from the front with his 55-ball 90 to help Gujarat Titans hammer holders Kolkata Knight Riders by 39 runs on Monday and consolidate their top spot in the IPL.

Argentine football great Lionel Messi thanked Pope Francis Monday for "making the world a better place" as the late pontiff's favorite club, San Lorenzo, hailed his decades-long "passion" for the team.

Leeds are on the cusp of promotion to the Premier League after Joel Piroe scored four goals in a 6-0 demolition of Stoke on Monday.

In Lourdes, a place of pilgrimage for Christians worldwide, faithful caught by surprise by the death Monday of Pope Francis, prayed for the "pope of the poor".

Kenya's John Korir stormed to victory in the Boston Marathon on Monday, while compatriot Sharon Lokedi trumped defending champion Hellen Obiri in the women's race.

Chinese battery giant CATL launched on Monday a new sodium-ion battery it says will restructure the electric car industry, and a new system to combine two battery technologies into one car.

Kenya's John Korir stormed to victory in the Boston Marathon on Monday, while compatriot Sharon Lokedi trumped defending champion Hellen Obiri in the women's race.

As an at-times unwitting star on social media, Pope Francis knew how to exploit the internet to preach the gospel, broadening the Church's appeal while modernising its communications.

Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Shiite Islam's highest authority in Iraq, offered his condolences on Monday for the death of Pope Francis, praising his work promoting "peace and tolerance".

As the news of Pope Francis's death broke, Christians and non-believers alike made their way towards churches across the world, paying tribute to a pontiff renowned as a champion of the vulnerable.

President Donald Trump and his White House predecessor Joe Biden led the way in paying respects from the United States to Pope Francis, who died Monday at 88.

Sri Lankan Catholics offered prayers for Pope Francis on Monday, the sixth anniversary of the Easter bombings that killed 279 people, recalling his "deep empathy" for the victims.

Pope Francis, who died on Monday aged 88, inspired International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach to create the Olympic refugee team, the German said in a tribute.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says Trent Alexander-Arnold will be remembered for "a lot of good things" even if he decides to leave Anfield at the end of the season.

US Vice President JD Vance met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a red carpet welcome in New Delhi on Monday, as India bids for an early trade deal to stave off punishing tariffs.

Pope Francis died on Monday aged 88, prompting mourning across the Christian world for the energetic reformer who inspired devotion from Catholics but riled traditionalists during a 12-year papacy.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday dismissed new allegations that he shared information about military strikes in Yemen via a Signal chat group that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer.

The April 21 death of Pope Francis triggered a period of mourning in the Catholic Church, but also kick-started the race for his successor.

The April 21 death of Pope Francis triggered a period of mourning in the Catholic Church, but also kick-started the race for his successor.

Zhao Xintong became the first amateur to reach the second round of the world snooker championships after beating last year's finalist Jak Jones 10-4 on Monday.

Jelena Ostapenko stunned world number one Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets to win the WTA event in Stuttgart on Monday, securing the ninth title of her career.