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

A US naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier has deployed to Middle Eastern waters, the United States said Monday, as Tehran warned it was ready to hit back at any American attack launched in response to a crackdown on anti-government protests.

Hundreds of migrants may be missing at sea or feared dead following reports of multiple deadly shipwrecks in the central Mediterranean in recent days, the UN's migration agency warned Monday.

The horrific knife attack that almost killed Salman Rushdie was an example of violence unleashed by unscrupulous political leaders, the author said Sunday, warning that "everybody's in danger now" in the increasingly febrile United States.

The man faces the camera with his face blurred as dramatic music pounds in the background.

The Israeli military said on Monday that the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza, Ran Gvili, had been identified and were being repatriated to Israel for burial.

A group of northern European nations vowed Monday to build up climate-friendly wind power in the North Sea to achieve greater energy independence from Russia and other foreign suppliers.

Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday downplayed US President Donald Trump's latest tariff threat against Canada, saying the comments should be viewed with an eye toward an upcoming trade deal review.

Captain Dewi Lake insisted on Monday that Wales will use the turmoil and uncertainty engulfing the domestic club game as "fuel" to ignite their Six Nations campaign.

The Irish players still "have a lot of belief" in themselves and their ability to regain the Six Nations title despite mixed results last year, captain Caelan Doris said on Monday.

Gunmen opened fire on football fans after a match in central Mexico, killing 11 people and injuring a dozen more in a region plagued by violence blamed on organized crime, local authorities said.

Gregor Townsend believes that Scotland can put a chastening end to 2025 behind them to compete with anyone in the Six Nations this season.

US President Donald Trump announced Monday he is sending a top official to Minnesota as outrage grew over his administration's militarized immigration raids and the shooting dead of a second protester in Minneapolis.

WhatsApp is set to face greater EU scrutiny after the European Commission on Monday added the platform to its list of digital firms big enough to face stricter content rules.

Snow has fallen in the Italian Alps just in time for the start of the Winter Olympics, dispelling fears of artificially-covered tracks winding through lush green mountainsides.

England have to raise the bar once more if they are to win a first Six Nations title in six years, according to Jamie George, after an 11-game winning run.

Investors nervous about geopolitics, tariff threats and domestic US budgetary issues flocked to buy gold Monday, pushing the safe-haven precious metal well into record territory.

Australia under-20 international forward Tom Staniforth was on France's radar three years ago, head coach Fabien Galthie revealed on Monday.

Irish no-frills airline Ryanair on Monday announced an 80 percent drop in net profit for its third quarter, impacted by a hefty fine from Italy's competition authority.

Hundreds of truck drivers began blockading freight border crossings across several Balkan countries on Monday, demanding changes to the European Union visa system that restricts their time in the bloc.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer travels to China late Tuesday for the first official visit by a British premier since 2018 as he bids to boost trade ties despite frictions.

Real Madrid are aiming to seal direct passage to the Champions League last 16 at Benfica on Wednesday, but standing in their way is their divisive former coach Jose Mourinho.

Thousands rallied for Indigenous peoples' rights on Australia Day on Monday but one protest was interrupted when police found a suspicious device containing screws and ball bearings.

A Russian drone and missile attack has damaged parts of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, Ukraine's most famous religious landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ukraine's culture ministry said Monday.

Ethiopia declared the end of an outbreak of Marburg, a virus in the same family as Ebola, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.

Top of both the Premier League and Champions League and still in both domestic cup competitions, Arsenal fans should be relishing what could yet turn out to be the greatest season in the Gunners' history.

The corruption trial in London of Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Nigerian oil minister and the first woman president of OPEC, had its start delayed Monday for legal and technical reasons, lawyers said.

Nine European nations vowed Monday to build up North Sea offshore wind power with the aim of boosting climate-friendly energy while reducing dependence on Russia and other foreign powers.

Holders Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Liverpool are among the clubs battling for direct passage to the last 16 of the Champions League going into the final round of the league phase this week.

Jannik Sinner sent an Australian Open statement in rolling into the quarter-finals on Monday but fellow champion Madison Keys was dethroned as Melbourne braced for forecast 45C heat.

A monster storm barreling across the United States had killed at least 11 people on Monday, prompting warnings to stay off the roads, mass flight cancelations and power outages after a weekend of misery.

Nepali sexual and gender minorities unveiled their candidates in a new political party on Monday ahead of March elections, challenging an ageing political elite ousted in last year's mass uprising.

Nepal has arrested six people after an investigation into fraudulent helicopter rescues of travellers in the Himalayan nation in a $1.69 million insurance scam, police said Monday.