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

US senators were set to vote Saturday on unlocking trillions of dollars for sweeping tax cuts promised by President Donald Trump, despite bitter infighting among the majority Republicans over the savings that will be needed to fund them.

Long before Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" announcement, the United States had toyed with imposing high tariffs throughout its history, with inconclusive -- and sometimes catastrophic -- results.

US President Donald Trump's widest-ranging tariffs to date took effect Saturday, in a move which could trigger retaliation and escalating trade tensions that could upset the global economy.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has test-fired a newly developed sniper rifle, state media said Saturday, as he inspected special forces whose training he said bolstered "actual war capability for guaranteeing victory".

Championship leader Lando Norris went fastest ahead of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in Saturday's final practice for the Japanese Grand Prix as small trackside fires again disrupted the session.

Opportunities and investment have surged for European defence startups since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, industry players say, with shifts by governments and investors shaking up a sector long a byword for ponderous development.

Mel May only realised she was different while reading a news article one day.

Rhys Mariu scored a maiden half-century as New Zealand posted 264-8 off 42 overs Saturday in the rain-shortened third one-day international against Pakistan in Mount Maunganui.

US agricultural exports, fuels and manufactured goods are set to take a hit from China's blanket retaliation against President Donald Trump's sharp tariffs, with both sets of measures due to take effect next week.

Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun combined for 65 points as the Houston Rockets halted Oklahoma City's 11-game winning streak on Friday with a statement 125-111 victory.

Ariya Jutanugarn defeated world number one and defending champion Nelly Korda 1-up on Friday to send the American packing at the LPGA Match Play in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Alex Ovechkin scored twice to tie Wayne Gretzky's record of 894 NHL career goals on Friday, matching a mark that once seemed unassailable.

Under-pressure Alpine rookie Jack Doohan vowed to learn from his mistake after a heavy crash in practice at the Japanese Grand Prix that left him lucky to walk away unharmed.

Former British Open champion Brian Harman had eight birdies in a six-under-par 66 to surge to a four-shot lead on Friday midway through the PGA Tour Texas Open in San Antonio.

Two-time Olympic 400m hurdles champion and world record-holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone cruised to victory as the opening leg of the new Grand Slam Track athletics circuit got under way in Jamaica on Friday.

A Russian ballistic missile strike on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's home city of Kryvyi Rig killed 18 people on Friday, among them nine children, authorities said.

The first cardinal to be defrocked by the Pope over allegations of sexual abuse has died in the United States, a senior US churchman said Friday.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva admitted Friday that his government "still has a lot to do" for Indigenous communities battling for survival in the Amazon rainforest.

England and Germany cruised and World Cup champions Spain downed Portugal on matchday three in the women's Nations League on Friday.

Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala will miss next week's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Inter Milan with a hamstring injury, sporting director Max Eberl said on Friday.

A federal judge on Friday ordered the return to the United States of a Salvadoran migrant who was mistakenly deported last month to a notorious prison in El Salvador.

England No 8 Henry Pollock said Tommy Freeman was "class" after the in-form winger scored three times as Northampton Saints hammered Clermont 46-24 on Friday to reach the Champions Cup quarter-finals.

Guitarist and singer Amadou Bagayoko of the star Malian music duo Amadou & Mariam has died aged 70 following an illness, his family told AFP on Friday, paying tribute to the Grammy-nominated blind musician.

In-form England winger Tommy Freeman scored three times as Northampton Saints hammered Clermont 46-24 on Friday to reach the Champions Cup quarter-finals.

President Donald Trump goaded China on Friday after the US's chief economic rival retaliated against his tariffs, and he dismissed falling stock markets over the growing global trade war, touting it as a chance to "get rich."

Bayern Munich's 3-1 win at 10-man Augsburg on Friday put them nine clear of Bayer Leverkusen but came at a cost with midfielder Jamal Musiala subbed off injured.

First they came for shop owners and bus drivers, ordering them to pay protection money on pain of death.

World number four Jessica Pegula rallied from a set and a break down to beat defending champion Danielle Collins 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 on Friday and reach the semi-finals of he WTA clay court tournament in Charleston, South Carolina.

Guitarist and singer Amadou Bagayoko of star Malian music duo Amadou & Mariam has died aged 70 following an illness, his family told AFP on Friday, paying tribute to the Grammy-nominated blind musician.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said Friday that he will seek agreements with the rest of the world to avoid the expected retaliations against US President Donald Trump's tariffs.

Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala was replaced as he clutched his hamstring against Augsburg in the German Bundesliga on Friday, days out from the Champions League quarter-final against Inter Milan.

A Russian ballistic missile strike on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's home city of Kryvyi Rig killed 16 people on Friday, six of them children, authorities said.