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

Hollywood's A-list stars are convening in Toronto for North America's largest film festival -- a 10-day extravaganza of Oscar bait movies, timely documentaries and glamour that opens Thursday.

Women's groups in Kenya are calling for long overdue action to tackle rampant gender-based violence in the East African country after the death of another athlete at the hands of her partner.

The roots of war, its harrowing realities and aftermath are explored in a host of offerings at the Venice Film Festival this year, including a remarkable documentary going behind the lines with Russian soldiers.

Japan's out-of-favour Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo said Thursday he believes he still has a future at Anfield.

Global footballers' union FIFPro believes the sport's governing bodies are "failing to meet their duty of care" towards players, denying them sufficient rest and imposing extra games with the expansion of tournaments such as the Champions League and Club World Cup.

More than 20 top French DJs are set to feature at the closing ceremony of the Paris Paralympics on Sunday that will give pride of place to electronic music.

The UK's competition watchdog said Thursday it has launched an investigation into Ticketmaster over how it handled ticket sales for next year's sold-out Oasis reunion tour.

Japan made a rampant start to the decisive third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup by hammering China 7-0 but Australia suffered a shock home defeat to Bahrain.

Biniam Semay was on a boat carrying dozens of migrants across the Channel from France to England when the fragile vessel ripped apart, leaving his younger sister and 11 others dead.

German police shot and killed a man who opened fire on them with a vintage rifle near the Israeli consulate in Munich Thursday in what they treated as a foiled attack on the diplomatic mission.

The United States said Thursday it had secured the release of 135 political prisoners from Nicaragua, the latest mass transfer by President Daniel Ortega's increasingly authoritarian government.

Italian Paralympic superstar Bebe Vio has a chance for redemption on Thursday as she goes for gold in the wheelchair fencing team event after failing in her individual title defence, while the USA must beat Canada to reach the men's wheelchair basketball final.

French drinks firm Pernod Ricard said Thursday it has scrapped a proposed sponsorship deal with soccer giants Paris Saint Germain after fans of bitter rivals Marseille threatened a boycott.

Palestine gave South Korea a major scare in an entertaining 0-0 away draw on Thursday as they attempt to reach the World Cup for the first time.

Britain on Thursday finished building its longest-ever rail bridge after fitting the final segment of the Colne Valley Viaduct for the new high-speed HS2 train line, company bosses announced.

Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen said Thursday the end of a 12-year wait to succeed Manuel Neuer as Germany's number one goalie felt like "a balm for the soul".

The Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicentre of an mpox outbreak, on Thursday received its first vaccines -- almost half of 200,000 doses donated by the European Union and due to arrive by the end of the week to fight its spread.

Hiring in the US private sector markedly undershot analyst expectations in August, said payroll firm ADP on Thursday, as the health of the labor market comes under scrutiny.

The European Union's aviation safety agency (EASA) said Thursday it will require the inspection of at least some of the Airbus A350s in operation after an engine fire on a Cathay Pacific aircraft.

Premier League stars Kaoru Mitoma and Wataru Endo both scored as Japan thrashed China 7-0 on Thursday to start the third round of Asian World Cup qualifiers with a statement win.

Bahrain stunned Australia 1-0 away on Thursday thanks to an 89th-minute Harry Souttar own goal in a major upset to start the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

An ex-Taipei mayor and former presidential candidate was detained on Thursday for alleged corruption after a Taiwanese court reversed a decision to release him, citing the risk of him destroying evidence and colluding with witnesses.

Dmytro Kuleba -- whose resignation as Ukraine's top diplomat was approved on Thursday -- tirelessly toured the world pleading for more military support and for Kyiv to be given the green light to strike targets deep inside Russia.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed Thursday to violence-ravaged Haiti to evaluate progress in wresting control from gangs that have taken over much of the impoverished Caribbean nation.

UK prosecutors on Thursday said they were dropping a sexual assault case against Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein as there was no "realistic prospect of conviction".

Test coach Brendon McCullum says he is ready to be judged on results when he takes charge of England's white-ball teams in a major leadership shake-up.

The Democratic Republic of Congo was Thursday awaiting almost 100,000 mpox vaccine doses from the European Union, with 200,000 due to arrive by the end of the week.

Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior has called for Spain to be stripped of its 2030 World Cup hosting duties unless it makes progress on the issue of racism in stadiums.

Outrage and sorrow greeted the death on Thursday of Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei, who succumbed to severe burns after being doused with petrol and set on fire by her boyfriend.

The Dutch government announced a multi-billion-euro boost in its defence spending Thursday, investing in tanks, jet fighters, and frigates to bolster the NATO alliance against "ruthless Russian aggression."

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday named the European Union's former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as new prime minister, following almost two months of political deadlock after snap polls, the presidency said.

Veteran French politician Michel Barnier has held a collection of top jobs as minister, European Union commissioner and negotiator on Brexit during a half-century political career that has seen him tack further to the right in recent years.