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

UK premier Keir Starmer said Saturday Russian President Vladimir Putin would "sooner or later" have to "come to the table" as he opened a virtual summit to drum up support for a coalition willing to protect any eventual ceasefire in Ukraine.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk said Saturday its massive Starship rocket would leave for Mars at the end of 2026 with Tesla humanoid robot Optimus onboard, adding that human landings could follow "as soon as 2029."

World champion Max Verstappen admitted he was "surprised" after qualifying third fastest for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix Saturday, but said he was feeling increasingly confident.

Lando Norris hailed the "perfect way" to start the year Saturday after securing pole at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, but said he was cautious about forecast wet weather for the race.

The US decision to expel South Africa's ambassador was "regrettable," the office of the South African president said Saturday, after Washington's top diplomat accused the envoy of hating America and President Donald Trump.

Lando Norris clinched pole position on Saturday for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri as McLaren fired a warning shot to their rivals.

Despite the risks from deadly armed groups roaming the countryside, Judith Kahindo walks alone every day to her isolated cocoa plantation in the war-torn North Kivu region of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Sri Lanka carried out a nationwide census Saturday of nuisance wildlife, including monkeys and peacocks, in a bid to prepare countermeasures to protect crops, officials said.

The Cleveland Cavaliers romped to a franchise record 16th straight victory on Friday, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 133-124 to extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference.

Aryna Sabalenka avenged her Australian Open loss to Madison Keys on Friday, thrashing the American 6-0, 6-1 to book an Indian Wells title showdown with teen sensation Mirra Andreeva.

Cuba suffered a general blackout on Friday caused by a crash of its national electricity grid, officials said, the fourth major power outage on the cash-strapped communist island in five months.

McLaren's Oscar Piastri edged Mercedes' George Russell in an ultra-competitive third and final practice for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Saturday, with Lewis Hamilton eighth in his Ferrari.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka overwhelmed Madison Keys 6-0, 6-1 to reach the Indian Wells WTA 1000 final on Friday, avenging her loss to the fifth-ranked American in the Australian Open final.

Haiti's lawless capital Port-au-Prince was in the grip of a new wave of gang violence on Friday, according to an AFP correspondent on the ground, as more families fled their homes.

UK premier Keir Starmer will prod fellow leaders Saturday to sign up to a coalition willing to protect any eventual ceasefire in Ukraine, having said Russian President Vladimir Putin was "not serious about peace".

Cuba suffered a general blackout on Friday caused by a crash of its national electricity grid, officials said, the latest major power outage in the island country.

France head into Saturday's final round of the Six Nations knowing the title is theirs to lose.

Arrested for sexually harassing a Bangladeshi university student, Asif Sardar Arnab was soon released -- greeted by a cheering crowd who presented him with flower garlands and a Koran.

The Unification Church has come under intense scrutiny in Japan since a former prime minister was assassinated, but it could soon fall even further from grace.

Russian teen Mirra Andreeva ended defending champion Iga Swiatek's bid for an unprecedented third Indian Wells women's title, toppling the world number two 7-6 (7/1), 1-6, 6-3 on Friday to reach the final.

Liverpool can win the first trophy of the Arne Slot era in Sunday's League Cup final against a Newcastle side desperate to end the club's 56-year wait for major silverware.

Formula One boss Stefano Domenicali will travel to Bangkok next week following the Australian Grand Prix for talks over a potential race in the Thai capital, he told Sky Sports.

Facebook parent company Meta is seeking to silence a former employee who has made scandalous allegations in a new tell-all book, obtaining a ruling to temporarily bar her from promoting the memoir or bad-mouthing the tech giant.

Justin Thomas matched the TPC Sawgrass course record with a 10-under-par 62 on Friday while Min Woo Lee and Akshay Bhatia each fired 66s to share the second-round lead at The Players Championship.

England manager Thomas Tuchel said he must "earn" the right to sing the national anthem after the German revealed he will not join in during his opening matches in charge.

Pep Guardiola has slammed Fabio Capello's claim that he is "arrogant" by insisting Manchester City's success in his reign has raised standards in the Premier League.

The United States averted a government shutdown with hours to spare Friday as lawmakers already reeling from President Donald Trump's radical federal spending cuts voted to keep the lights on through September.

Virgil van Dijk won't "panic" about his Liverpool future as the Reds captain admits he is willing to let his contract run down until the end of the season.

Six-time world champion Marc Marquez was fastest in practice for the Argentina MotoGP on Friday, continuing the blistering form which saw him storm to victory in the season-opener in Thailand.

Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is bracing for a tough semi-final test from "ambitious" British lefty Jack Draper on Saturday as he aims to take the next step toward a rare Indian Wells ATP Masters three-peat.

Brazil star Neymar was on Friday ruled out of upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina after a thigh injury scuppered his recall to the national team.

Former Australia rugby union captain Rocky Elsom was handed a two-year prison sentence by a French court on Friday after being found guilty of misusing corporate funds.