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

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened further destruction of Gaza if all remaining hostages are not released, and issued an ultimatum to Hamas leaders to flee.

A prominent Iranian pop singer who made a song urging women to remove their headscarves said Wednesday that he was willing to pay "a price for freedom" after being flogged 74 times by the authorities as part of his sentence.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, on the comeback trail seven months after giving birth to a son, was ousted in the first round at Indian Wells on Wednesday by France's 70th-ranked Varvara Gracheva.

Global stocks rallied on Wednesday, buoyed by Germany's plan to massively boost spending on defense and a move by the White House to pause tariffs on auto imports from Mexico and Canada.

Harvey Elliott scored with his first touch after coming on as a late substitute to give Liverpool an unlikely 1-0 win away to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their heavyweight Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday.

Raphinha claimed Barcelona a 1-0 Champions League last-16 first leg win at Benfica on Wednesday, despite the Catalan giants playing most the game with 10 men.

A Harry Kane brace, including his 30th spot kick in a row, took Bayern Munich to a 3-0 home win over a 10-man Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, putting them on track for the Champions League last eight.

LeBron James may never be able to settle the eternal debate over whether he deserves to be recognized as the greatest basketball player in history ahead of Michael Jordan.

The French League's disciplinary commission on Wednesday banned new Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca until November after an angry altercation with a referee.

An Islamic State operative who allegedly helped carry out the 2021 suicide bombing outside Kabul airport during the chaotic US military withdrawal from Afghanistan appeared in a Virginia court Wednesday.

Rangers' interim boss Barry Ferguson is looking forward to going up against a "top-class manager" when he leads the Glasgow giants into a Europa League tie with Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce.

Automakers received temporary reprieve Wednesday from US President Donald Trump's tariffs targeting Canada and Mexico, as concerns mounted over consumer impacts and talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yielded no immediate breakthrough.

Enzo Maresca is ready to deploy Cole Palmer in the UEFA Conference League in a sign of just how seriously the London club are taking the tournament.

Kane Williamson stressed New Zealand must take lessons from their group-stage defeat by India when they meet again in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday.

Tom Ford and Dries Van Noten revealed the first collections from their new chief designers at Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday, with the two labels among many in the luxury clothing industry that are in transition.

For decades, Mexico's industrial borderlands boomed thanks to growing trade with the world's largest economy next door. Today, US tariffs cast a long shadow over a region home to thousands of factories employing armies of workers.

Ange Postecoglou believes the Europa League provides Tottenham Hotspur with a "great opportunity" to revive a faltering campaign, with key players set to return for Thursday's last-16 first-leg tie at Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.

Consumer items ranging from avocados and strawberries to electronics and gasoline look poised for price hikes in the wake of President Donald Trump's tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China.

FIFA on Wednesday announced it will pay total prize money of one billion dollars to participants in the Club World Cup taking place in the United States this year.

The United States on Wednesday confirmed unprecedented direct talks with Hamas on hostages, as Israel threatened to renew its military campaign in Gaza despite a fragile ceasefire.

South African head coach Rob Walter refused to admit his team lacked in effort during Wednesday's 50-run defeat in the Champions Trophy semi-final against New Zealand in Lahore.

England coach Steve Borthwick insists Marcus Smith can remain a "game-changer" despite dropping him to the bench for Sunday's Six Nations clash against Italy at Twickenham.

Inter Milan's powerful strike duo of Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez combined to give the Italians a handy 2-0 advantage over Dutch side Feyenoord after an absorbing Champions League last-16 first leg Wednesday.

Automakers received a temporary reprieve Wednesday from US President Donald Trump's tariffs targeting Canada and Mexico, as concerns mounted over consumer impacts and talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yielded no immediate breakthrough.

Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim said Wednesday winning the Europa League could make a "massive difference" to his team's disappointing season, but was not vital in the big picture of the club's future.

Pope Francis celebrated the start of the Lent religious season from his hospital suite on Wednesday, the 88-year-old's condition stable but still complex as he undergoes treatment for double pneumonia, the Vatican said.

A divided US Supreme Court handed a legal defeat to President Donald Trump on Wednesday, rejecting his bid to freeze some $2 billion in foreign aid payments.

Twelve Chinese nationals, including two public security ministry officers, have been indicted for a series of hacking attacks, including a 2024 breach of the US Treasury, the Justice Department said Wednesday.

Ukraine said Wednesday it planned to hold new talks with the United States after Washington suspended its intelligence sharing, delivering a fresh blow to Kyiv as it battles Russia's invasion.

An Islamic State operative who allegedly helped carry out the 2021 suicide bombing outside Kabul airport during the chaotic US military withdrawal was to appear in a Virginia court Wednesday, the Justice Department said.

Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson struck hundreds as New Zealand eased to a 50-run win over South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday to set up a rematch with India in the Champions Trophy final.

World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe said on Wednesday he was satisfied with the progress made by Kenya in fighting doping which had threatened to make the country a sporting pariah.