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

From Hurricane Helene to Typhoon Yagi, powerful storms are battering the globe, and scientists warn that a warming planet is amplifying their destructive force to unprecedented levels.

US dockworkers picketed for a second day Wednesday, garnering support from other labor groups as the Biden administration urged shippers to boost their offer to end a damaging strike weeks before the presidential election.

Several thousand Argentines joined major student-led protests in Buenos Aires on Wednesday over President Javier Milei's cuts to free university education.

Israel carried out a deadly air raid Thursday on a Hezbollah rescue facility in central Beirut, Lebanese sources said, after multiple Israeli ground troops were killed near the border.

Donald Trump launched a "private criminal effort" to subvert the 2020 US election and should not be shielded by presidential immunity, Special Counsel Jack Smith said in a court filing unsealed on Wednesday.

Andy Ibanez smashed a three-run double in the eighth inning and the Detroit Tigers defeated Houston 5-2 on Wednesday to advance in the Major League Baseball playoffs.

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday witnessed Hurricane Helene's catastrophic destruction firsthand and Vice President Kamala Harris distributed aid to needy families, as thousands of federal responders joined all-out efforts to rescue residents and care for millions in the disaster.

Australia's most capped player, Clare Polkinghorne, announced her retirement from international football Thursday after a career spanning almost two decades and five World Cups.

Bayern Munich had not lost a Champions League group game since 2017 until a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Wednesday that hinted at a new era of European glory for the English side.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said criticism of his team was well deserved after their long unbeaten run came to an end in a 1-0 defeat against Lille in France in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic said his side played like they were "possessed" in Wednesday's 3-2 come-from-behind Champions League win at RB Leipzig.

Holders Real Madrid suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday, while Aston Villa defeated Bayern Munich 1-0 in a repeat of the 1982 European Cup final.

The United States knows Israel will retaliate after Iran's major missile attack, and even says it supports such a move, but is trying to influence the nature of the response, warning against targeting Tehran's nuclear facilities.

Andy Ibanez smashed a three-run double in the eighth inning and the Detroit Tigers defeated Houston 5-2 on Wednesday to advance in the Major League Baseball playoffs.

The Los Angeles Dodgers said legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela has stepped away from team broadcasting duties to "focus on his health" but hopes to return in 2025.

Atletico Madrid fell to a humiliating 4-0 Champions League defeat at Benfica on Wednesday.

A superb solo goal from Francisco Conceicao with eight minutes remaining claimed 10-man Juventus a 3-2 win at RB Leipzig in a wild match on Wednesday.

Aston Villa repeated their famous 1982 European Cup final win over Bayern Munich as Jhon Duran's winner beat the German giants 1-0 on Wednesday.

A rally in oil prices faded Wednesday as worries over Middle Eastern tensions appeared to recede somewhat while US stock indices eked out gains following solid US jobs data.

Atletico Madrid fell to a humiliating 4-0 Champions League defeat at Benfica on Wednesday.

Lille claimed the scalp of Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday as a Jonathan David penalty just before half-time gave the French club a famous 1-0 home win over the reigning European champions.

Arne Slot became the first Liverpool manager to win eight of his opening nine matches as Mohamed Salah's brilliant strike sealed a 2-0 victory against Bologna in the Champions League on Wednesday.

US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday witnessed first-hand the catastrophic destruction wrought by Hurricane Helene, as several thousand responders joined all-out efforts to rescue residents and care for millions impacted by the storm.

One of two doctors charged in connection with the drug overdose death of "Friends" star Matthew Perry pleaded guilty in a US court on Wednesday.

Skygazers on the tip of South America were treated Wednesday to a spectacular "ring of fire" solar eclipse that was visible from Chile's Easter Island before heading to mainland Patagonia.

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic will miss a week of pre-season preparation after suffering a left calf contusion during a workout, the NBA team said on Wednesday.

Shippers and striking US dockworkers are closer to agreeing on economic terms than they realize, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said Wednesday.

Karl-Anthony Towns was traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves to New York in a three-team NBA trade on Wednesday that sent Julius Randle from the Knicks to the T-wolves in return.

Leicester head coach Michael Cheika has been hit with a two-week suspension after being found guilty of disrespecting an independent match-day doctor.

Like thousands of other pilgrims, Rony Eli-Ya travelled from his home in Israel to the Ukrainian city of Uman this week for Rosh Hashanah, one of the most important holidays in the Jewish calendar.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum offered an official apology Wednesday for the massacre of students by the army in 1968, in one of her first acts after taking office.

Erik ten Hag said Manchester United's poor start to the season is nothing "to panic about" despite speculation his days in charge at Old Trafford could be numbered.