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

FIFA President Gianni Infantino's hopes of securing re-election as the head of world football received a massive boost on Thursday after pledges of support from the African and Asian regional confederations.

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis believes local Dutch players will be the "secret sauce" for his Rotterdam franchise in a new European Twenty20 competition.

Waddling across a Warsaw expressway, a brood of wild sea ducks brought traffic to a halt as volunteers held motorists at bay -- an annual ritual to protect the bustling Polish capital's famous ducklings.

Long an emblem of the summer road trip, squashed bugs on the car have become less numerous over the years, many people say -- causing concern about the health of the world's insect populations.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is cutting funding for the breakaway LIV Golf league after the 2026 season, a spokesperson from the fund told AFP on Thursday.

From the safety of Mauritania, Mali refugee Mosso said he would only return home if Russian mercenaries leave his country, something he is more hopeful of following large-scale attacks by jihadists and separatists last weekend.

Oil prices struck a four-year high on Thursday on worries over a resumption of hostilities in the Middle East, while US and European stock markets mostly rose as investors turned to central bank decisions and corporate earnings.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer was booed and heckled with shouts of "Jew harmer" Thursday as the Jewish community in London accused him of doing too little to protect them, a day after a knife attack.

King Charles III was set to pay his respects to fallen US troops at a military cemetery on Thursday, the final day of a state visit aimed at healing ties between Britain and the United States strained by the war in Iran.

US economic growth rebounded less than expected in the first quarter as consumer spending cooled, while inflation surged in March with fallout from the Middle East war beginning to bite, government data showed Thursday.

Up-and-coming Belgian Alexander Blockx ended the title defence of Casper Ruud by defeating the former world number two 6-4, 6-4 to reach the Madrid Open semi-finals on Thursday.

Filipino ferry dispatcher Dave Delos Reyes has been handing out N95 masks for nearly three weeks to protect passengers against the smoke that a landfill fire has sent billowing above a stretch of Manila Bay.

The European Central Bank held interest rates steady on Thursday and warned of growing risks to the growth and inflation outlook thanks to the war in the Middle East.

A large statue has appeared on a plinth in central London with Banksy's name scrawled on the base, prompting speculation Thursday that it may be the famously enigmatic street artist's latest work.

Iran's supreme leader declared Thursday that the United States had suffered a shameful defeat, defiantly rejecting a warning from President Donald Trump that an economically-punishing US naval blockade could be enforced for months to come.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said Kyiv would seek details from Washington about a Kremlin offer for a ceasefire on May 9, when Russia holds large-scale World War II commemorations.

LIV Golf said on Thursday it was seeking to secure "long-term financial partners", amid rumours Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund will stop financing the series at the end of the 2026 season.

Cambodia deported more than 600 Thais allegedly involved in online scams on Thursday, the information minister said, part of a crackdown against the multibillion-dollar illicit industry that has ballooned in the country in recent years.

Kobbie Mainoo has signed a new contract at Manchester United that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2031, bringing an end to months of uncertainty over his future.

Europe's most powerful rocket Ariane 6 successfully released 32 satellites into orbit Thursday for Amazon's internet constellation, which is bidding to rival Elon Musk's giant Starlink.

Kobbie Mainoo has signed a new contract at Manchester United that will keep him at the club until 2031, bringing an end to months of uncertainty over his future.

The White House is opposing Anthropic's plans to expand access to its new artificial intelligence model Mythos to 120 companies, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

Oil prices struck a four-year high on Thursday on worries over a resumption of hostilities in the Middle East, while global stock markets diverged as investors turned to central bank decisions and corporate earnings.

Organisers of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla on Thursday said Israel's army had "kidnapped" 211 activists including a Paris city councillor in a raid in international waters off Greece.

The oil crisis triggered by the Middle East war has underscored the need for the world to accelerate the clean energy transition, the COP31 president-designate and the UN's climate chief said Thursday.

Europe's most powerful rocket Ariane 6 launched on Thursday carrying a second batch of 32 satellites into space for Amazon's internet constellation, which is bidding to rival Elon Musk's giant Starlink.

Nigerian airlines continued flying on Thursday despite threatening a shutdown over sky-high jet fuel prices roiling the industry in Africa's top crude producer and most populous nation.

Eurozone economic growth dropped to near zero in the first three months of 2026 as surging energy costs triggered by the Middle East war pushed inflation sharply up in April, data showed on Thursday.

Press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in a quarter of a century, Reporters Without Borders warned on Thursday.

Steel giant ArcelorMittal said Thursday that while first-quarter sales had risen, adverse exchange rates hit net profits, but added that it was well placed to benefit from European restrictions on imports.

A FIFA rule change allowing Afghanistan's women footballers to compete in official matches is a "historic moment" and "basic human right", former captain Khalida Popal told AFP on Thursday.

Scott Parker has left his position as head coach of Burnley by mutual consent following the club's relegation from the Premier League, it was announced on Thursday.