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

Most Asian markets turned lower Tuesday after a negative lead from Wall Street fuelled by profit-taking, while traders try to ascertain the outlook for US interest rates.

Frustrated with the dwindling prospect of reaching a ceasefire deal in the year-long Gaza war, some Israeli entrepreneurs have sought a different avenue to release hostages -- offering a financial reward for those who choose to free them.

China's military began a live-fire exercise near Taiwan on Tuesday, maintaining pressure on the self-ruled island after staging large-scale drills and President Xi Jinping called for troops to prepare for war.

Two dozen world leaders are gathering in Russia on Tuesday for the opening of a summit of the BRICS group, an alliance of emerging economies that the Kremlin hopes will challenge Western "hegemony".

Prolific New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson was on Tuesday ruled out of the second Test against India as he continues to recover from a groin strain.

Rugby league convert Joseph Suaalii was named Tuesday for the Wallabies northern hemisphere tour next month after just two training sessions with the squad.

The untold story of how around 1,000 children were rescued from Rwanda during the bloodiest and most chaotic days of its genocide is finally coming to light three decades after they were saved from the slaughter.

Jeanne Allaire Kayigirwa was sure she was going to die three times during the Rwandan genocide in which most of her friends and family were massacred.

Brest are one of the most modest clubs ever to take part in the Champions League, so their supporters will still be rubbing their eyes when they look at the table and see their team in second place in Europe's elite club competition.

Hansi Flick has rapidly moulded a ragged Barcelona into a potent threat to Europe's elite and the visit of his former Bayern Munich side in the Champions League on Wednesday is their first acid test.

Hurricane Oscar left six people dead after hitting Cuba over the weekend during a major power blackout, authorities said Monday, as electricity was restored to most of the capital.

A Peruvian court on Monday sentenced former president Alejandro Toledo to more than 20 years in prison for accepting multimillion-dollar bribes from scandal-hit Brazilian construction conglomerate Odebrecht.

Chile has launched a vaccine described as the first of its kind that sterilizes dogs for a year and is expected to be sold in several dozen countries.

Pop star Liam Payne had multiple drugs including crack cocaine and methamphetamine in his system when he fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Argentina, according to initial toxicology reports cited by US media on Monday.

The Women's NBA players union said on Monday it has voted to opt out of its current collective bargaining agreement, sparking talks for a new deal before the 2025 season ends.

US Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris made a push to woo moderates in her rival's camp in three swing states Monday, while Donald Trump slammed the government's response to Hurricane Helene as he toured the devastated state of North Carolina.

Electricity has been restored to almost 90 percent of Havana, the Cuban capital's energy supplier reported Monday, but several provinces remained without power four days after the start of a nationwide blackout.

Dean Henderson's error against his former club cost Crystal Palace as Chris Wood's second-half strike moved Nottingham Forest up to eighth in the Premier League with a 1-0 win on Monday.

Two of Major League Baseball's oldest and most storied clubs, the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, will meet in the World Series for the first time since 1981.

Major stock markets mostly retreated Monday on profit-taking as oil prices jumped and traders weighed fresh interest-rate cuts from China's central bank.

Relatives of Venezuelan minors detained in connection with protests against President Nicolas Maduro's disputed reelection on Monday appealed to the United Nations children's agency to seek their release.

The NBA and Women's NBA announced a 12-year contract extension with global partner Nike Inc. through 2037 to provide uniforms, apparel, merchandising, marketing and content for the leagues.

Israel said Monday it struck around 300 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon over 24 hours, ramping up its offensive to hit the group's finances, as the United States called for the war to end "as soon as possible".

The world's biggest nature protection conference opened in Colombia on Monday with calls for urgent action and financing to reverse humankind's rapacious destruction of biodiversity.

Roberto Jimenez was hoping for a dream vacation in Cuba, but instead found himself among the tourists whose visits turned into a nightmare due to an island-wide blackout.

Italy's hard-right government passed a new law Monday to overcome legal opposition to a migrant deal with Albania, as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni accused judges of political bias.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returns to practice on Wednesday for the first time since suffering a concussion last month and could play this weekend, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Monday.

US infant mortality surged in the months following the Supreme Court decision to overturn the national right to abortion, driven by a rise in the number of babies with birth defects, a study said Monday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken left for the Middle East Monday on a new push for an elusive Gaza ceasefire two weeks before US elections, seeing a new opportunity from Israel's killing of Hamas's leader.

Brazil superstar Neymar returned to action on Monday following more than a year out, with the Al Hilal forward appearing as a second-half substitute in his side's gripping 5-4 win against Asian champions Al Ain in the UAE.

The technology-driven TGL, an indoor golf league with PGA Tour talent, will debut January 7 under a schedule unveiled on Monday that could see Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods meet on January 27.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc claimed victory at the Circuit of the Americas, while Max Verstappen and Red Bull demonstrated they have recovered some form after a mid-season dip but still have much to do to retain their titles.