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

Preparations for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics ratcheted up Thursday on the eve of the opening ceremony while the start of the ice hockey was hit by an outbreak of norovirus.

British-Australian miner Rio Tinto said Thursday that it was dropping talks to merge with smaller Swiss resources giant Glencore, a deal that would have created the world's largest mining firm.

The World Economic Forum, which organises the Davos summit, said Thursday that it would conduct an independent review into its chief executive's interactions with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The European Central Bank warned Thursday a stronger euro could push inflation down too far after recent gains in the single currency, but sought to downplay any immediate threat to the eurozone economy.

Famine is spreading in Sudan's western Darfur region, UN-backed experts warned on Thursday, as a grinding war between the army and paramilitary forces has left millions hungry, displaced and cut off from aid.

Power was restored Thursday to eastern Cuba after an electricity grid failure plunged three provinces and part of a fourth into darkness the previous evening, authorities said.

Russia and the United States have agreed to resume high-level military contacts at two-day Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, in a major step of rapprochement between the world's top nuclear powers.

Greece's culture ministry on Thursday unveiled a new portal to handle bookings to visit more than 100 archaeological sites and museums including the world-renowned Acropolis.

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior said he will have to continue to assess Cole Palmer's fitness "game-by-game" after an injury disrupted season for the England international.

Stocks fell across the board Thursday, pulled down again by growing worries that hefty AI investments by tech heavyweights may not pay dividends as soon as hoped.

The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee gave strong backing to the Los Angeles 2028 Games leadership on Thursday, following calls for LA28 Chairman Casey Wasserman to resign after his name appeared in the Epstein files.

Germany forward Serge Gnabry has extended his contract at Bayern Munich by two years until 2028, the club announced Thursday.

England Test captain Ben Stokes has suffered a severe facial injury after being struck by a cricket ball.

Captain Michele Lamaro and backs Juan Ignacio Brex and Paolo Garbisi will earn their 50th caps for Italy against Scotland in the Azzurri's Six Nations opener after being named in coach Gonzalo Quesada's starting XV on Thursday.

Just a month before the Formula One season gets rolling again in Australia, McLaren's Oscar Piastri said he got a "fair shot" at the 2025 title and there were no hard feelings about his titanic tussle with teammate Lando Norris.

The European Central Bank held interest rates steady for its fifth straight meeting Thursday, saying the eurozone economy remained "resilient" despite mounting worries about the impact of a stronger euro.

Spanish rescuers on Thursday desperately searched for a woman missing after a new storm hit the Iberian peninsula while Portugal warned of a heightened flood risk after several months' worth of rain fell in a few hours.

The European Union is close to concluding a long-sought trade agreement with Australia, as US President Donald Trump's tariffs accelerate Europe's push to seal deals with other global partners.

The German Cup final is to remain at Berlin's Olympic Stadium until at least 2030 after an extension was agreed with state authorities, the German FA (DFB) announced on Thursday.

Iran and the United States are holding talks on Friday in Oman, with Tehran pushing to focus squarely on its nuclear programme, while Washington's demands go beyond that.

The Stelvio course in Bormio that will stage the men's alpine skiing events at the 2026 Winter Olympics has a reputation for being tough, unrelenting and dangerous.

Denmark's Vestas, Europe’s leading wind turbine manufacturer, on Thursday posted an all-time high revenue, but noted that regulatory changes in the United states had made wind power investments less attractive.

Italy's Mattia Casse topped the second men's training for the Olympic downhill in Bormio on Thursday.

The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency said on Thursday he was "uncomfortable" with the presence at the 2026 Winter Olympics of the coach of the doped Russian skater Kamila Valieva.

Bitcoin, the world's biggest cryptocurrency, extended its price slump Thursday to trade under $70,000 for the first time since Donald Trump's presidential election victory in November 2024.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, battling for his political future, apologised Thursday to victims of Jeffrey Epstein for appointing disgraced Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.

England captain Harry Brook said on Thursday that he believes it could be a record-breaking T20 World Cup, with fans treated to a batting blitz and 300-plus scores.

Ukraine and Russia swapped over 300 prisoners following "productive" talks in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, as a US mediator conceded that "significant" work lay ahead in the quest for a broader deal to end the war.

Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit has been moved to full-back from the wing for his Six Nations return against England at Twickenham on Saturday.

A morose horse, rice cakes, and a Harry Potter villain have become surprise hits in China ahead of the country's Lunar New Year holiday.

A pro-democracy student organisation in Hong Kong said Thursday its members had decided to dissolve, citing "increasingly severe pressures".

Germany's competition watchdog ordered Amazon on Thursday to stop implementing price controls for retailers on its marketplace and told the US tech giant to return 59 million euros ($70 million) in what it deemed unfair gains.