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

China's economy grew at its weakest pace in more than three years during the second quarter, data showed Wednesday, missing expectations even as strong exports driven by the global AI boom helped offset trade disruptions caused by the Middle East war.

Robotic transporters carrying silicon wafers whizz by on overhead rails at a new factory that Kioxia, one of Japan's most valuable companies, hopes can help it meet overwhelming AI-driven demand.

Seoul led gains across Asian equity markets Wednesday as tech firms bounced back following a softer-than-expected US inflation print that soothed worries about a possible interest rate hike this month.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) filed a lawsuit Tuesday to block Paramount Skydance's proposed takeover of Hollywood studio Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing the $110 billion acquisition would violate federal antitrust law and harm writers.

She thought she was leaving Nigeria to work at a mobile phone shop in Mali to save money for university.

The UK government said Tuesday it will introduce an overnight social media curfew for children aged 16 and 17, after Prime Minister Keir Starmer last month announced an under-16 social media ban.

France arrived in the World Cup semi-finals hailed as the most scintillating attacking force to grace the tournament since Brazil's fabled 1982 side.

An Italian court is set to rule Thursday in the case of a bridge collapse eight years ago which killed 43 people and shone a spotlight on Italy's crumbling infrastructure.

A new era began between Spain and the tiny British territory of Gibraltar on Wednesday, as border checks that have long been a source of tension and frustration were finally lifted.

Thomas Tuchel said he did not feel burdened by the weight of history as he bids to lead England to a first World Cup final in 60 years by beating Argentina on Wednesday.

The UK climate is profoundly different compared to typical British weather last century, with constantly rising temperatures and frequent extreme events, the nation's meteorological office said in a report Wednesday.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said he was not concerned about fatigue or his team's performances on the way to another World Cup semi-final as they prepare to renew their rivalry with England on Wednesday.

England coach Thomas Tuchel confirmed Tuesday that Declan Rice is fit to start in the World Cup semi-final against reigning champions Argentina.

Argentina's Alexis Mac Allister has urged his team to take inspiration from Diego Maradona as they seek to get the better of England in their World Cup semi-final on Wednesday.

Kylian Mbappe rued the end of France's World Cup dream on Tuesday, blaming tactical and technical blunders for his side's 2-0 semi-final defeat to France.

England are eyeing a first appearance in a World Cup final in 60 years as they take on Lionel Messi's reigning champions Argentina in the last four in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Roars of joy and honking car horns reverberated through Madrid on Tuesday as Spaniards celebrated their team overcoming France and moving to the cusp of a second World Cup crown.

France coach Didier Deschamps said his players were left "devastated" by their World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain on Tuesday before aiming a barb at match referee Ivan Barton from El Salvador.

Janice McNair, who co-founded the NFL's Houston Texans in 2002, died on Tuesday at age 89, the team announced.

IBM shares plunged 25 percent Tuesday after the US tech giant released disappointing preliminary second-quarter results, blaming a shift in spending by customers due to expected higher prices for memory chips and other AI-related infrastructure.

Spain snuffed out France's dream of a third World Cup triumph on Tuesday, taming their galaxy of forwards to win 2-0 and progress to a final against England or Argentina.

Spain stunned tournament favourites France 2-0 to reach the World Cup final on Tuesday, producing a tactical masterpiece to shatter Les Bleus' dreams of winning the title for the third time.

Harry Brook was adamant England's white-ball cricket was "heading in the right direction" after another chastening one-day international loss saw India enjoy a six-wicket success at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

Wall Street stocks rose following strong earnings from large US banks and an unexpectedly benign inflation report that weighed on the dollar.

US forces carried out strikes against Iran for a fourth day in a row on Tuesday and reimposed a naval blockade to prevent ships from sailing to or from the country's ports.

A record-smashing heat wave was spreading Tuesday from the Mountain West toward the eastern United States and Canada, placing more than 100 million people under heat alerts.

New world record holder Ja’Kobe Tharp impressed on Tuesday by blazing to a 12.85sec clocking in the 110m hurdles at the Budapest meet, even though he eased up in the final metres.

Hundreds of French firefighters on Tuesday managed to contain two fires that have burned over 2,000 hectares of the historic Fontainebleau forest near Paris over the last two days.

Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, the world's leading two golfers, both brushed aside questions about their places in sporting history with some black humour just two days out from their respective quests to win a second British Open title.

New York became the first US state to halt construction of new large-scale data centers on Tuesday, with the governor signing an executive order pausing permits for up to one year.

India captain Shubman Gill continued his Edgbaston love-affair as his side beat England by six wickets in the first one-day international on Tuesday.

England will face Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, renewing a bitter rivalry in the tournament that stretches back to the early 1960s.