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

South Africa on Monday said it accepted a conservative envoy highly critical of Pretoria as the new US ambassador to the country, amid frayed relations with President Donald Trump.

The leading candidate to become Iraq's next prime minister, former premier Nouri al-Maliki, told AFP on Monday that he will not withdraw his nomination after pressure from the US, while also seeking to allay Washington's concerns.

UEFA on Monday suspended midfielder Gialuca Prestianni from Benfica's Champions League play-off second leg against Real Madrid this week after he was accused of racially abusing Vinicius Junior.

A new Dutch government took power on Monday, with 38-year-old centrist Rob Jetten sworn in as the country's youngest-ever prime minister and the first openly gay one.

Italian power giant Enel said Monday it was boosting investment in renewables, with planned spending of 20 billion euros ($23.6 billion) by 2028 focused on Europe and the United States.

The BBC apologised Monday for not editing out a racial slur during the BAFTA awards, saying it was an "involuntary" verbal tic by a Tourette's sufferer who inspired a winning film.

Kristen Bell returns to host Hollywood's premier acting awards next month for the third time with a single goal: to entertain everyone equally.

Iran warned the United States on Monday that any attack would be met "ferociously" in response to President Donald Trump's threat of limited strikes, while students staged new protests against the Islamic republic.

Venezuela's Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto on Monday demanded the immediate release of Nicolas Maduro, who was ousted as president in a January 3 raid by the United States.

Two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard announced on Monday that he will begin his 2026 season next month at the Paris-Nice stage race.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday backed calls to remove Andrew from the royal line of succession amid investigations into the disgraced former prince's ties with Jeffrey Epstein.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, unleashing the deadliest war in Europe since World War II.

Police said Monday they are investigating "abhorrent" racist abuse directed online at four Premier League footballers last weekend.

Fiji will begin rugby union's inaugural Nations Championship with a 'home' game against Wales in Cardiff on July 4, officials announced Monday.

European Union lawmakers were set Monday to freeze their approval of a key trade deal with the United States after a Supreme Court ruling struck down many of President Donald Trump's tariffs.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will take part in a summit of Caribbean nations on Wednesday, the State Department said, as he seeks a common line on Venezuela and pressure on Cuba.

England are yet to catch fire at the T20 World Cup, but they won't mind one bit if another "ugly" win secures Harry Brook's side a semi-final berth with a game to spare.

The Nigerian government paid Boko Haram militants a "huge" ransom of millions of dollars to free up to 230 children and staff the jihadists abducted from a Catholic school in November, intelligence sources told AFP.

Igor Tudor believes there is still enough time for his Tottenham Hotspur side to avoid relegation from the Premier League provided they "stay humble".

Mexico was on high alert Monday with schools closed and travelers stranded, as members of a powerful drug cartel went on a violent rampage across parts of the country after the army announced it had killed its leader.

Emmanuel Meafou has everything he needs to be the best second row in the world, his France team-mate Thomas Ramos believes.

Global equities traded mixed and the dollar fell slightly Monday as uncertainty over Donald Trump's tariffs gripped markets after the US Supreme Court struck down a large part of the president's upending trade policy.

World champions South Africa will play eight Test matches at home in the 2026/27 season, Cricket South Africa announced on Monday.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot believes Alexis Mac Allister is regaining his best form following the attacking midfielder's last-gasp winning goal at Nottingham Forest.

India unveiled a bust of an independence-era nationalist icon at the presidential palace on Monday, replacing a monument to British architect Edwin Lutyens in a symbolic break from its colonial past.

Pakistan on Monday warned England's inconsistent batting line-up to expect a trial by spin when the teams clash in the T20 World Cup Super Eights.

Rodrigo Duterte personally authorised murders and hand-picked some of the victims of his "war on drugs", the International Criminal Court heard on Monday, as proceedings against the former Philippines president kicked off.

Iran said Monday that a US attack of any scale would spur the Islamic republic to respond "ferociously", after President Donald Trump said he was considering limited strikes against the country.

A new Dutch government took power on Monday, with 38-year-old centrist Rob Jetten sworn in as the country's youngest-ever prime minister and the first openly gay one.

Violence swept across Mexico Sunday after the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), who had a $15 million US bounty on his head, was killed in a military shoot-out.

The International Criminal Court opened hearings Monday to decide whether former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte should stand trial for crimes against humanity linked to his deadly anti‑drug crackdown.

The United Nations leader warned Monday that "the rule of force" was spreading, as the powerful trample on international law and wield artificial intelligence and other technologies to attack human rights.