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

Several top teams on Friday pulled out of the Etoile de Besseges cycling race in France citing safety concerns over traffic management on the course for a second straight day.

Manchester City women's star striker Khadija Shaw pulled out of her side's League Cup semi-final win over Arsenal after being subjected to racist and misogynistic abuse online.

Russia said Friday its forces had seized the mining town of Toretsk in east Ukraine after months of heavy fighting, the biggest town Moscow claims to have taken in recent months.

A senior US official visiting Beirut warned Friday against any Hezbollah presence in Lebanon's new government, saying the Iran-backed group was "defeated" in its war with Israel.

The United States added fewer jobs than expected in January while unemployment ticked down, government data showed Friday, marking resilience in the labor market heading into President Donald Trump's new term.

Israel and Hamas are due to exchange more hostages and prisoners Saturday, but the backlash over President Donald Trump's proposal for a US Gaza takeover casts doubt over the fragile truce's future.

China kicked off the ninth Asian Winter Games in Harbin on Friday with a flashy opening ceremony attended by President Xi Jinping and other dignitaries in sub-zero conditions.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis insisted Friday there was no "immediate danger" from an unprecedented wave of quakes on the tourist island of Santorini that has forced thousands of residents to leave.

Two people were killed Friday when a small plane crashed on a major avenue in Brazil's economic capital Sao Paulo and skidded into a bus, authorities said.

Ecuador's dueling presidential campaigns fell silent Friday, as a ban entered into force ahead of Sunday's keenly fought election.

London's Grenfell Tower -- where 72 people died in 2017 in Britain's worst residential fire since World War II -- is to be demolished, the UK government confirmed on Friday.

England captain Maro Itoje has revealed he turned down lucrative offers from French rugby clubs in order to fulfil his international ambitions.

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt delivered a skiing masterclass to live up to his top-dog billing and claim super-G gold at the World Ski Championships in Saalbach on Friday.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot refused to shy away from the possibility of completing an unprecedented quadruple in his first season in English football on Friday as he lavished praise on captain Virgil van Dijk.

The International Criminal Court slammed sanctions Friday slapped by US President Donald Trump over its probes targeting America and Israel and pledged to press on with its aim to fight for "justice and hope" around the world.

Under-fire Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou defended his injury-hit squad after stinging criticism for their meek League Cup semi-final exit to Liverpool.

The United Nations warned Friday that the worst may be yet to come if the violence engulfing the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo spreads throughout the wider region.

Russia reported strong economic growth for 2024 on Friday as record spending on the military offensive against Ukraine outweighed the impact of Western sanctions.

England defence coach Joe El-Abd said the talent of Antoine Dupont was there "right away" after observing the outstanding scrum-half up close when the France captain was a teenager.

Commanding centuries from Steve Smith and Alex Carey gave Australia a dominating lead at stumps on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Friday.

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt delivered a skiing masterclass to live up to his top-dog billing and claim super-G gold at the World Ski Championships in Saalbach on Friday.

Actor Karla Sofia Gascon appeared to step back Friday from the Oscar campaign for her hit Netflix narco-musical "Emilia Perez" after her offensive past social media posts hit its chances of glory.

A stream on the outskirts of Buenos Aires turned blood red on Thursday, causing anxiety among residents who blamed it on pollution.

Global stock markets and the dollar diverged Friday as investors awaited US jobs data for signs of possible cuts to interest rates in the world's biggest economy.

US President Donald Trump's decision to slap sanctions on the International Criminal Court, set up to rule on humanity's worst crimes, sent shock waves around the world.

Olympic champions Gabriella Papadakis and Madison Hubbell on Thursday took to the ice at a figure skating gala in Zurich trying to "push the limit" of the sport as a first same-sex pair to skate together in an elite event.

An Israeli campaign group urged the government on Friday to stick with the Gaza truce ahead of a fifth hostage-prisoner swap, after explosive comments by US President Donald Trump raised questions over the future of the deal.

The United Nations warned Friday that the worst may be yet to come if the violence engulfing the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo spreads throughout the wider region.

Germany logged a record trade surplus with the United States last year, data showed Friday, news that could stoke tensions with US President Donald Trump as he threatens the EU with tariffs.

Tracey, an American fighting in Ukraine, got angry at social media posts from his friends back home calling for Washington to cut its support to Kyiv.

US star Lindsey Vonn gets her chance to bounce back from her super-G flop in the women's downhill at the World Ski Championships in Saalbach on Saturday.

A batting masterclass from Steve Smith took Australia to 197-3 at tea on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Friday, leaving the visitors just 60 runs behind.