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

Snow and heavy rain have killed 61 people in Afghanistan in the past three days, disaster officials said on Saturday, with a major road and power also cut in several provinces.

England rang the changes and spun a web around Sri Lanka, bowling the hosts out for a modest 219 in 49.3 overs in the second one-day international of the three-match series on Saturday.

Italy's Giovanni Franzoni set himself up perfectly for next month's Winter Olympics on home snow by winning Saturday's World Cup downhill in Kitzbuehel, considered the Holy Grail of alpine skiing.

Record-shattering Novak Djokovic said he was "hanging in there" after becoming the first player to win 400 Grand Slam matches Saturday on his way into the last 16 at the Australian Open.

Fugitive Ugandan opposition figure Bobi Wine said on Saturday that his wife was rushed to hospital after soldiers held her at gunpoint and strangled her during a violent raid on their home.

Record-shattering Novak Djokovic became the first player to win 400 Grand Slam matches Saturday on his way into the last 16 at the Australian Open.

Ukraine on Saturday accused Russia of undermining negotiations to end their almost four-year war by launching fresh deadly strikes, as officials from both countries and the United States met for a second day of direct talks in Abu Dhabi.

Stan Wawrinka reflected on an "amazing journey" as the 40-year-old said a heroic final farewell to the Australian Open on Saturday in a battling third-round loss to Taylor Fritz.

US star Mikaela Shiffrin clocked the fourth fastest time after the first run of the World Cup giant slalom at Spindleruv Mlyn on Saturday with Sweden's Sara Hector leading the way.

Brutal heat triggered a five-hour suspension of matches on outside courts at the Australian Open on Saturday while Naomi Osaka pulled out injured and Jannik Sinner wilted before battling into the last 16.

Six-time major champion Iga Swiatek endured a roller-coaster ride before sealing her place in the Australian Open last 16 on Saturday.

The 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka said a heroic final farewell to the Australian Open on Saturday as he bowed out of Melbourne in the third round in a battling loss to Taylor Fritz.

Two-time champion Naomi Osaka pulled out of the Australian Open injured ahead of her third-round clash on Saturday, saying "it breaks my heart".

China said on Saturday the senior vice chairman of its powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) and another high-ranking official were under investigation for suspected "serious violations of discipline", a common euphemism for corruption.

Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine's lawyer has urged the UN and the international community to seek guarantees for his safety after deadly threats following elections marred by repression and an internet blackout.

Extreme heat triggered the suspension of matches on outside courts at the Australian Open on Saturday and briefly held up champion Jannik Sinner before he battled into the last 16.

A misfiring and cramping Jannik Sinner admitted Saturday he "got lucky" after dropping a rare set before taming American underdog Eliot Spizzirri in furnace-like heat to make the last 16 at the Australian Open.

Extreme heat triggered a suspension of play on outside courts at the Australian Open on Saturday and briefly held up champion Jannik Sinner before he battled into the last 16.

Top players spoke of "zapping" temperatures and used bags of ice to try and cool down in brutal heat touching 40C at the Australian Open on Saturday.

Brazil's latest Oscar-nominated thriller "The Secret Agent" has resonated with audiences around the world as a universal tale of authoritarian regimes using their power "to crush people," director Kleber Mendonca Filho told AFP in an interview.

The closing and opening bells of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) may become a ringing ritual of yesteryear, as the market moves toward nonstop trading.

A misfiring Jannik Sinner dropped a rare set before taming American underdog Eliot Spizzirri in a drama-filled clash in wilting heat to make the last 16 at the Australian Open on Saturday.

Negotiators from Russia, Ukraine and the United States will meet in Abu Dhabi on Saturday for the second day of negotiations on a plan being pushed by US President Donald Trump to end the almost four-year-long war.

The Indiana Pacers toppled the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder 117-114 on Friday, withstanding a 47-point performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to win an NBA Finals rematch.

Defending champion Madison Keys will face close friend Jessica Pegula in the Australian Open last 16 -- but first they will record a podcast together.

Ethan Vernon won a shortened fourth stage of the Tour down Under in brutal heat on Saturday with Jay Vine remaining on track to win the overall title.

NSW Waratahs forward Miles Amatosero was Saturday slapped with a four-game ban for punching a teammate and leaving him with a facial fracture ahead of the Super Rugby season.

As a million Syrians fled their country's devastating civil war in 2015, directors Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes headed to Turkey where they would meet a young girl who encapsulated the contradictions of this enormous migration.

Extreme heat triggered a suspension of play on outside courts at the Australian Open on Saturday and briefly held up the match involving champion Jannik Sinner before his encounter resumed under a closed roof.

The US military will prioritize protecting the homeland and deterring China while providing "more limited" support to allies in Europe and elsewhere, a Pentagon strategy document released on Friday said.

India and Europe hope to strike the "mother of all deals" when EU chiefs meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi next week, as the two economic behemoths seek to forge closer ties.

Bangladesh is preparing for the first election since the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina, but supporters of her banned Awami League (AL) are struggling to decide whether to shift their allegiance.