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

A decade of selling diapers and baby products earned Nguyen Thi Huong a modest savings of $20,000 but her earnings vanished in Vietnam's biggest-ever scam that has seen the tycoon responsible sentenced to life in prison.

Migration was at the top of the agenda as EU leaders met in Brussels on Thursday, with most governments keen to display a tough stance after hard-right gains in several countries, but little agreement on a course of action.

European and US stock markets rose Thursday as the European Central Bank cut interest rates and results from key chip maker TSMC calmed fears that the tech sector was struggling.

US President Joe Biden took off Thursday on a swift farewell trip to Germany, for talks with allies to shore up Ukraine's increasingly desperate fight against Russia.

Retail sales in the United States accelerated in September, according to government data released Thursday, a positive sign for consumption as the election approaches.

Pakistan were in a strong position to win the second Test and level the series after removing both England openers on a tricky Multan pitch on Thursday with spinner Sajid Khan their hero.

The impeachment trial of Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was thrown into disarray on Thursday after his lawyer said he had fallen ill and was in hospital.

Kylian Mbappe, linked by media to being the target of a rape investigation in Sweden, is to keep any explanations for Swedish justice, "if necessary", his lawyer said on Thursday.

Some 345,000 Gazans face "catastrophic" levels of hunger this winter due to falling aid deliveries, UN agencies said Thursday, warning of the persistent risk of famine across the Palestinian territory.

The European Central Bank cut interest rates again Thursday, upping the tempo at which it is lowering borrowing costs as inflation in the eurozone cools faster than expected.

The family holding company of France's richest man, the luxury goods tycoon Bernard Arnault, on Thursday said it was entering into "exclusive negotiations" to buy a majority stake in Ligue 2 football side Paris FC.

The UN's climate chief said Thursday that money from rich countries "must be at the core" of a new deal to increase funding for poorer nations to combat global warming.

Russian MPs on Thursday approved the first reading of draft legislation banning the "propaganda" of childless lifestyles, the latest measure targeting what Moscow depicts as Western liberal ideas.

New Zealand powered into a lead of 134 after fast bowlers Matt Henry and William O'Rourke combined to devastating effect to dismiss India for 46 in the weather-hit first Test on Thursday.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy will visit China this week, Beijing and Downing Street said Thursday, marking the first by a senior UK official since the election of Prime Minister Keir Starmer in July.

Following media reports that French football star Kylian Mbappe is being investigated for rape in Sweden, all eyes have turned to the Nordic country's legal system to know what happens next.

Nestle's new CEO lowered sales growth expectations for 2024 and announced a leadership reshuffle on Thursday in what one analyst described as a "painful reset" for the global food giant.

The United States on Wednesday conducted multiple B-2 bomber strikes on weapons storage facilities in areas of Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, according to the US military and defense department.

Paris and Frankfurt stock markets climbed and the euro traded mixed Thursday before an expected interest-rate cut from the European Central Bank as the eurozone faces weakening economic activity and falling price pressures.

Lebanese data scientist and volunteer rescue worker Bachir Nakhal started a crowdfunding effort to buy new ambulances for south Lebanon months ago, fearing Israel's war in Gaza could spread to his country.

Author Han Kang, the first South Korean to win the Nobel Prize for Literature said Thursday that she hoped her daily life would not change too much after her historic honour.

Pakistan rebuilt to extend their lead to 209 as they reached 134-5 at tea in the second Test after a three-wicket burst by England spinner Shoaib Bashir on Thursday.

Liam Payne, who died aged 31 after plunging from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, spent more than half his life in the public eye as a member of one of the world's most successful boy bands.

President Volodymyr Zelensky told allies Thursday Ukraine must be in a position of strength before any peace talks with Russia, as he explained his "victory plan" to EU leaders and NATO defence chiefs in Brussels.

A Vietnamese property tycoon sentenced to death for fraud totalling $27 billion was jailed for life Thursday in a related trial on money laundering charges, state media said.

Plans to tighten rules on migration dominated the agenda as EU leaders headed into summit talks Thursday in Brussels that were set to crystallise a rightward shift in the bloc's rhetoric.

David Beckham is hopeful that minority owner Jim Ratcliffe will turn Manchester United's fortunes around but says it will take time to return to the "good old days".

Opener Devon Conway powered New Zealand to 82-1 after the tourists bowled out India for their lowest-ever home total of 46 on day two of the weather-hit first Test in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Japan's new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Thursday sent a ritual offering to a shrine honouring the country's war dead that has long angered neighbouring countries, a spokesman for the site said.

A South Korean court has recognised misogyny as a motive for a hate crime, its spokesperson told AFP Thursday, a decision activists hailed as a breakthrough for women's rights.

Executives from Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard are in Japan in a bid to overcome resistance to their $47-billion takeover of 7-Eleven's parent but are being given the cold shoulder, according to interviews published Thursday.

Championship leader Jorge Martin said Thursday a mistake-free weekend at the Australian MotoGP was his priority as he looks to fend off rival Francesco Bagnaia.