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

Russia banned the Nobel Prize-winning human rights group Memorial and raided the offices of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta Thursday, in fresh blows to already diminished civil liberties in the country.

The Pentagon on Thursday denied a report that the Vatican's US envoy was summoned in January for a "bitter" dressing down over remarks by Pope Leo that were seen as criticizing the Trump administration’s use of military force.

Ollie Watkins scored twice as Aston Villa beat Bologna 3-1 in their Europa League quarter-final, first leg on Thursday, while Nottingham Forest held Porto 1-1 thanks to a comical own goal from Martim Fernandes.

Aston Villa have one foot in the Europa League semi-finals after a hard-fought 3-1 win at Bologna on Thursday.

Venezuelan police fired tear gas on Thursday to disperse around 2,000 protesters who marched towards the presidential palace to demand salary and pension increases, AFP reporters saw.

The president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Thursday rejected accusations of corruption by the Senegalese government after the body's shock decision to strip Senegal of its AFCON title and award it to Morocco.

Israel and Lebanon will hold talks next week in Washington, a State Department official said Thursday, as concerns grow that fighting involving Hezbollah could cause the fragile US-Iran truce to unravel.

Wall Street stocks finished higher Thursday after a shaky start, adopting an optimistic view of the Middle East ceasefire despite largely stalled traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which boosted oil prices.

The International Monetary Fund's chief urged governments on Thursday to "do no harm" as they face the massive economic shocks caused by the Middle East war, calling for "targeted" and disciplined fiscal actions.

Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis and was scheduled for surgery in Houston on Thursday, the team said hours before their NBA game against the Rockets.

Russian law enforcement agents on Thursday raided the offices of the Novaya Gazeta independent media outlet, the paper said, adding that a reporter was detained by the police.

Tyson Fury insisted "I've still got it" as the former world heavyweight champion prepared for his latest return to the ring.

Iran's imposition of a toll for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz looks set to be a key point of contention at talks opening in Pakistan Friday.

Rory McIlroy reeled off three consecutive back-nine birdies to fire a five-under par 67 and seize a share of the lead in Thursday's opening round of the 90th Masters with top-ranked Scottie Scheffler lurking two adrift.

US First Lady Melania Trump made a surprise statement on Thursday denying any knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse, or that she herself was a victim of the convicted sex offender.

Boston star Jayson Tatum will try to set aside the emotions of his Madison Square Garden return on Thursday and help the Celtics lock up the NBA Eastern Conference second seed with a win over the New York Knicks.

Just 10 vessels have passed through Strait of Hormuz since the Middle East war ceasefire took effect, according to maritime tracking data, amid lingering fears about using the strategic waterway.

US First Lady Melania Trump on Thursday made a surprise statement denying unspecified allegations about her and Jeffrey Epstein, a scandal that her husband President Donald Trump has long downplayed.

Meg Jones is confident England will give supporters value for money when she leads the all-conquering world champions for the first time in their Women's Six Nations opener against Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday.

American Airlines said Thursday it will restore service to Venezuela as soon as April 30, making it the first US airline to return to the country since Washington captured leader Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuelan police fired tear gas on Thursday to disperse around 2,000 protesters who marched towards the presidential palace to demand salary and pension increases, AFP reporters saw.

Andy Robertson will bring down the curtain on his nine-year career at Liverpool at the end of the season, the faltering Premier League champions announced on Thursday.

Youngster Mukul Choudhary played the innings of his life, smashing seven sixes on his way to an unbeaten 54 to haul Lucknow Super Kings to a dramatic, last-ball, three-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL on Thursday.

Lawyers for Sean "Diddy" Combs urged an appeals court Thursday to overturn the US hip-hop mogul's prison term of more than four years for prostitution-related crimes.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen's future in Formula One was again cast in doubt on Thursday after it was confirmed that his long-time race engineer will leave Red Bull for McLaren.

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived Thursday in Rome on the eve of his first meeting with Pope Leo XIV, almost one year after the election of the US pontiff.

The Angolan football federation said Thursday it had hired Senegalese Africa Cup of Nations winner Aliou Cisse as the new head coach of the national team.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz both suffered second-set stumbles on Thursday in their race for the number one ranking but recovered to reach the last eight of the Monte Carlo Masters.

Patrick Reed eagled two of the first eight holes to seize a one-stroke lead in Thursday's opening round of the 90th Masters as defending champion Rory McIlroy battled at level par.

US President Donald Trump's Republicans on Thursday blocked an attempt by the opposition Democrats to curb his authority to wage war in Iran, amid mounting frustration in Congress over his handling of the Middle East conflict.

France prop Rabah Slimani will join Toulon from Irish province Leinster next season on a one-year deal, the French Top 14 club announced on Thursday.

Thousands of Iranians rallied Thursday in a tribute to former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, killed on the first day of the war with the United States and Israel, expressing criticism of talks expected in Pakistan this week.