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

A fire that ripped through a small apartment block in central Hanoi early Friday has killed at least 14 people and injured three others, state media said.

The world cannot look to UN peacekeepers as a way of stopping wars, whether in Gaza or other active conflict zones, the department chief told AFP, citing the famous Blue Helmets' inherent limitations.

Ukrainian opera singer Yurii Ivaskevych traded his tuxedo for military fatigues to fight the Russian invasion. When he lost his leg in a mine explosion last year, music called him again.

Maria Paez feels relieved after receiving a package of food items including eggs, ham, and yogurt from her children in Miami -- bought online and shipped to Havana.

In the rural Mexican town where opposition presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez grew up, the smiling face of her ruling party rival looks out from posters plastered around the streets.

It was 6:00 in the morning when Brazilian farmer Vernei Kunz heard the roar of water as the Forqueta river overflowed its banks and swept away most of his 5,000 pigs.

Olympic gold medallist Chelsea Hodges retired from swimming Friday aged 22 and just two months before the Paris Games, saying too many surgeries had left her with "the hips of a 60-year-old".

Record eight-time winners Lyon face holders Barcelona in a tantalising Champions League final on Saturday in Bilbao, pitting the established elite against the new women's football powerhouse.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag hopes to bolster his chances of avoiding the sack by ruining Manchester City's history bid in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

Beijing on Friday said ongoing drills encircling Taiwan were testing the military's ability to seize power over the self-ruled island, days after a new president was sworn in.

Veteran Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu announced Friday he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the current Super Rugby season, ending a glittering 19-year career.

The pace of Japanese inflation slowed in April to 2.2 percent as gas bills fell, government data showed Friday, with the figure remaining above the Bank of Japan's two percent target.

The United States was imposing new visa restrictions and reviewing relations with Georgia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday, after it pushed forward a Russian-style "foreign influence" law that triggered mass protests.

Charley Hoffman fired five birdies in a five-under par 65 to break free atop a crowded leaderboard at the US PGA Tour Charles Schwab Challenge, where world number one Scottie Scheffler struggled.

Countries trying to thrash out a global agreement on handling future pandemics are hoping to seal the deal Friday after weeks of creeping progress in exhausting talks.

Stand-in captain Brandon King made 79 as West Indies defeated South Africa by 28 runs in the first Twenty 20 international of a three-game series in Kingston on Thursday.

Countries are trying to finalise a global agreement on how to prepare for and avert pandemics by Friday evening, after two years of negotiations triggered by the horrors of Covid-19.

The roof of a restaurant in Spain's popular tourist island of Mallorca collapsed Thursday, killing four people and injuring more than 20 others, local rescuers said.

Claudio Ranieri waved goodbye to Cagliari and brought the curtain down on a near four-decade club coaching career with Thursday's 3-2 defeat to Fiorentina cruelly inflicted in the 13th minute of added time.

World Cup-winning South Africa loose forward Jasper Wiese was banned for six matches on Thursday, ruling him out of Tests against Wales, Ireland, Portugal and Australia.

Wall Street stocks finished firmly lower Thursday after blowout Nvidia earnings failed to ignite a rally in a market struggling to digest gains from recent weeks.

Stand-in captain Brandon King top-scored with 79 as West Indies made 175-8 against South Africa in the first Twenty20 international of a three-game series in Kingston on Thursday.

Africa's vast potential in the global fight against climate change is at risk due to the heavy burden of debt and lack of international investment, Kenyan President William Ruto said Thursday.

US President Joe Biden said he would make Kenya a major non-NATO ally Thursday as he hosted Kenyan counterpart William Ruto for a lavish state visit aimed at competing with Russia and China for influence in Africa.

Georgia's prime minister on Thursday said an EU commissioner had hinted he could face an assassination bid over a controversial law but the official said the conversation had been distorted.

Singer Casandra Ventura said Thursday -- in her first comments since video emerged of her being beaten by rap mogul and former partner Sean "Diddy" Combs -- that domestic violence "broke" her.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and far-right party leader Jordan Bardella locked horns Thursday in a TV debate ahead of European elections, as the ruling party of President Emmanuel Macron seeks to narrow a yawning gap in polls.

The US Department of Justice filed a major antitrust lawsuit Thursday seeking to break up an alleged monopoly in the live music industry between concert promoter Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary, bookings website Ticketmaster.

Republican lawmakers in the southern US state of Louisiana gave final approval Thursday to a bill that would criminalize possession of abortion pills without a prescription.

The United States defeated Bangladesh by six runs on Thursday to win the second Twenty20 international and claim a shock victory in the three-match series at Houston.

Veteran Swiss star Stan Wawrinka told AFP on Thursday that Rafael Nadal is "still as strong as ever" as the 14-time French Open champion prepares to play his final Roland Garros.

Ailing Dutch giants Ajax on Thursday named Italian Francesco Farioli their new manager as the club seeks to turn the page on a horror season in which they trailed in fifth.