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

Three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka said Monday he was "at peace" with his decision to make 2026 his last year on tour but insisted there were still goals to meet.

Asian equities were mixed Monday in quiet post-Christmas trading as investors look ahead to the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's policy meeting this month, while precious metals retreated from record highs.

New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is set to become the US city's first Muslim mayor, and the youthful optimism of his Democratic Socialist platform will be put to the test as he takes office Thursday for a four-year term that faces high expectations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet Donald Trump in Florida on Monday, with the US president pushing to move to the next stage of the fragile Gaza truce plan.

Chet Holmgren scored 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead reigning champion Oklahoma City over Philadelphia 129-104 on Sunday, snapping a two-game losing streak.

China launched live-fire drills around Taiwan on Monday that it said would simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island's key ports, prompting Taipei to condemn Beijing's "military intimidation".

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers lost on Sunday to miss out on clinching NFL playoff berths, setting up a pair of showdowns next week for post-season spots.

Myanmar's dominant pro-military party is "winning a majority" in the first phase of junta-run elections, a party source told AFP Monday, after democracy watchdogs warned the poll would entrench military rule.

Families of the victims of Australia's Bondi Beach mass shootings called Monday for a national inquiry into antisemitism and alleged failures in policing, intelligence and policy they blame for the attack.

For eight days, Sudanese farmer Ibrahim Hussein led his family through treacherous terrain to flee the fighting in southern Kordofan -- the latest and most volatile front in the country's 31-month-old conflict.

Australia coach Andrew McDonald came to the defence of the Melbourne Cricket Ground's under-fire curator Monday and warned against authorities meddling in pitch preparation.

South Korea's former first lady was alleged by prosecutors Monday to have accepted lavish bribes totalling over $200,000, including fine art, jewellery and a handbag, as well as meddling in state affairs.

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado was suspended two games and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams was suspended one game by the NBA on Sunday for roles in an on-court fight.

China announced "major" military exercises around Taiwan on Monday, saying it would conduct live-fire drills the following day across five zones in waters and airspace near the island.

Asian equities mostly rose Monday in quiet post-Christmas trading as investors look ahead to the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's policy meeting this month, while precious metals retreated from record highs.

England pace spearhead Gus Atkinson was Monday ruled out of the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia with a hamstring injury, their third fast bowler to head home early during the series.

Film legend Brigitte Bardot in her later decades raised eyebrows calling far-right leader Marine Le Pen a modern "Joan of Arc", but she always maintained she was merely doing what was best for animals.

Growing Chinese auto giant BYD stands poised to officially surpass Tesla as the world's biggest electric vehicle company in annual sales.

Alex de Minaur has muscled up in a bid to bridge the gap on Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, with the Australian aiming to be a "disruptor" to the pair's tennis dominance.

North Korea test-fired two strategic long-range cruise missiles, state media reported on Monday, hailing the drill as a show of "combat readiness" against foreign threats.

Chet Holmgren scored 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead reigning champion Oklahoma City over Philadelphia 129-104 on Sunday as the NBA's winningest team snapped a two-game losing streak.

Veteran England batsman Joe Root has said it would be "silly" to change England's management team after losing the Ashes, with players "absolutely committed" to the current set-up.

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that a deal was closer than ever to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine but reported no apparent breakthrough on the flashpoint issue of territory after new talks with the warring countries' leaders.

Algeria on Sunday became the third country after Egypt and Nigeria to qualify for the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations by edging Burkina Faso 1-0 in Rabat through a Riyad Mahrez penalty.

Manchester United winger Amad Diallo scored for Africa Cup of Nations defending champions Ivory Coast in a 1-1 draw with Cameroon on Sunday that left them sharing top spot in Group F.

Antoine Dupont scored his first Top 14 try in more than 14 months and quickly added a second as he led a spectacular Toulouse display as they routed La Rochelle 60-14 Sunday and moved top of the standings.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers lost on Sunday to miss out on clinching NFL playoff berths, setting up a pair of winner-take-all showdowns next week for post-season spots.

Inter Milan stayed at the Serie A summit on Sunday after beating Atalanta 1-0 to maintain their slender lead over local rivals AC Milan.

Protesting students in Serbia on Sunday swapped massive street demonstrations for a push to collect citizens' signatures, to gauge whether they had support to demand snap parliamentary elections.

Algeria secured their place in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations after a Riyad Mahrez penalty gave them a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso on Sunday.

"Avatar: Fire and Ash" retained the top spot at the North American box office after it debuted the week before, reeling in $64 million during the weekend after Christmas, industry estimates showed Sunday.

People gathered in several towns in the breakaway region of Somaliland on Sunday to celebrate its recognition by Israel -- a decision condemned by the Somali president as a "threat" to stability in the Horn of Africa.