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

Rhythmic drums and spirited dancing are once again bringing life to the shrines of Pakistan's saints, where festivals were long stifled by jihadist violence.

Influential Ethiopian women's rights activist Betelehem Akalework says she has been forced to move home twice in two years after enduring a barrage of online abuse, death threats and physical harassment.

The Euclid space telescope has discovered seven more rogue planets, shining a light on the dark and lonely worlds floating freely through the universe untethered to any star.

The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday raised its yearly growth forecast for China, but warned that Beijing's industrial policy risks a "misallocation" of resources and could harm trade.

Most equities fell Wednesday on lingering worries about the outlook for US interest rates, while oil prices extended their rally after an attack on a ship in the Red Sea stoked fresh worries about supplies from the Middle East.

Supplies of food and medicine were beginning to arrive at the scene of a deadly landslide in Papua New Guinea Wednesday, with aid workers discovering children rendered mute by the shock of the disaster.

Rohingya mother Sofura Begum has spent years in a squalid refugee camp after fleeing Myanmar. Now her teenage son has been taken to fight alongside the troops that put her there.

One runs an aerospace parts maker, the other works in a restaurant near a major new oil refinery -- both women will vote in Mexican elections this weekend, but they could be from different countries.

When entrepreneur Lee Hee-tae told his parents he was going into the porn business, he urged them not to worry about social disapproval in conservative South Korea and to think about the money instead.

The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday raised its 2024 growth forecast for China to five percent, citing recent policy moves by Beijing to boost its struggling economy.

South Africans vote on Wednesday in what may be the most consequential election in decades, as dissatisfaction with the ruling ANC threatens to end its 30-year political dominance.

Haiti's transitional government council on Tuesday named a new prime minister to lead the violence-hit Caribbean nation, council members said, choosing Garry Conille, who briefly served in that role from 2011 to 2012.

Karsten Warholm will make his long-awaited outdoor debut just 57 days out from the Paris Olympics when he takes to his home track in Oslo on Thursday in the sixth meeting on the 15-meet Diamond League circuit.

It is heaping a lot on to the shoulders of a player who has only played three T20 internationals but West Indies' hopes of triumphing in their home World Cup may just rest with young fast bowler Shamar Joseph.

A key goal of new Twenty20 captain Mitchell Marsh is to keep Australia "nice and relaxed" as they strive for an unprecedented triple crown of titles across the game's three formats at the World Cup.

ExxonMobil investors will have a chance to weigh in at Wednesday's annual meeting on the company's hardball approach to the latest shareholder challenge from environmentalists over climate change.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Moldova on Wednesday with plans to show robust support for the frontline country's Western aspirations amid alarm over Russian gains elsewhere.

Major League Baseball's record books are set to be rewritten as the sport formally incorporates statistics from the racially segregated Negro Leagues of 1920-1948 into its official history, reports said on Tuesday.

Naomi Osaka says she is "really excited" to face red-hot tournament favourite Iga Swiatek in the French Open second round on Wednesday, when men's title contenders Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are also in action.

Private sector entrepreneurs in Cuba will be able to establish US bank accounts which they can remotely access, US officials said Tuesday, in announcing an update to the country's Cuba policy.

Prosecutors pleaded with jurors Tuesday to use their "common sense" and find Donald Trump guilty, as the first ever criminal trial of a former president reached its dramatic final phase.

Colombia's congress passed a bill Tuesday banning bullfighting, a controversial yet popular pastime in the South American country with hundreds of events drawing thousands of spectators every year.

Philanthropist Melinda French Gates, who was previously married to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, said Tuesday she was giving $1 billion to people and organizations working to promote women's issues.

Cases of bird flu have been detected in alpacas at a US farm, authorities said Tuesday, as the disease spreads widely among dairy cattle and has infected two humans.

Venezuela said Tuesday it has withdrawn an invitation to the European Union to observe its July presidential election, accusing the bloc of "interventionist practices" through sanctions.

A rocket carrying a sophisticated satellite blasted off Tuesday from California on a mission to investigate what role clouds could play in the fight against climate change.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic reached the French Open second round for the 20th time on Tuesday but insisted he "won't get too excited" after enduring a worrying decline in form and achievements this season.

Joe Biden's red lines over Israel's assault on Rafah have kept shifting, but the US president faces growing pressure to take a firmer stance after a deadly strike in the Gazan city.

Israel's military offensive in Rafah is already taking a dire health toll in southern Gaza, and if it continues, "substantial" increases in deaths can be expected, a top WHO official warned Tuesday.

President Joe Biden's administration announced new "guardrails" to help ensure carbon offset markets are actually effective, in a big boost for the controversy-dogged schemes intended to reduce planet-warming emissions.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic shrugged off his recent troubles to sweep to his 93rd career win at the French Open on Tuesday, extending his run of first round Roland Garros victories to a perfect 20.

Donald Trump engaged in "conspiracy and a cover-up" to hide from voters that he had paid hush money to a porn star, prosecutors told a jury Tuesday in closing arguments at the first ever criminal trial of a former US president.