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

The final round of European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup takes place on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Britain will drastically reduce protections for refugees and end automatic benefits for asylum seekers, the Labour government announced late Saturday, under new plans aimed at slashing irregular immigration and countering the hard-right.

Thomas Tuchel said records are not on his mind as he prepares England for their final World Cup qualifier against Albania on Sunday to round off a remarkable campaign.

Centre Nicolas Depoortere scored twice as France bounced back from defeat to South Africa by holding off spirited Fiji 34-21 in the Autumn Nations Series in Bordeaux on Saturday.

Scotland face a winner-takes-all shootout against Denmark on Tuesday with an automatic World Cup berth at stake despite a 3-2 defeat against Greece.

Australia-born Mack Hansen's hat-trick of tries inside half an hour of the first-half inspired Ireland to a 46-19 victory over Australia at Lansdowne Road on Saturday in their Autumn Nations Series Test.

Carlos Alcaraz said Saturday that Jannik Sinner is the favourite to retain his ATP Finals title at home after the new world number one set up a blockbuster finale with his Italian rival in the prestigious season-ending tournament.

Britain will drastically reduce protections for refugees under plans to overhaul its asylum system, the Labour government said on Saturday.

Spain all but mathematically booked their ticket to the World Cup with a 4-0 thrashing of Georgia on Saturday, with Turkey delaying their celebrations by edging Bulgaria 2-0.

Sweden's Linn Grant fired five birdies in a five-under par 65 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Jennifer Kupcho after three rounds of the LPGA Annika at Pelican tournament in Belleair, Florida.

Scotland's chances of automatic World Cup qualification are still alive despite a 3-2 defeat in Greece on an evening of compelling drama in their European qualifying group.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will face off for the ATP Finals title after tennis' two biggest stars cruised into the final of the prestigious season-ending tournament on Saturday.

Maro Itoje said England had achieved something "special" after a 33-19 win over New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday secured a rare Red Rose defeat of the All Blacks.

Jarrod Evans's penalty with the last kick of the match gave Wales a 24-23 victory in their Autumn Nations Series Test over Japan on Saturday, denying the valiant visitors their first ever win in Cardiff.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday renewed his plea for more air-defence systems a day after Russian strikes on Kyiv killed seven people.

The New Orleans Pelicans have fired coach Willie Green after a dismal 2-10 start to the NBA season, club executive vice president Joe Dumars announced on Saturday.

A senior French official said Saturday legal action would be taken over comments made praising Philippe Petain, France's wartime head of state convicted of treason after World War II.

Spain all but mathematically booked their ticket to the World Cup with a 4-0 thrashing of Georgia on Saturday, with Turkey delaying their celebrations by edging Bulgaria 2-0.

Spain made almost certain of qualification for the 2026 World Cup with a comfortable 4-0 win in Georgia on Saturday.

The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwanda-backed M23 militia signed a new peace framework on Saturday in Qatar aimed at ending the fighting that has devastated eastern DRC.

Brazil beat fellow World Cup qualifiers Senegal 2-0 at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium on Saturday thanks to goals from teenager Estevao and veteran Casemiro.

George Ford inspired an England revival as they came from 12 points behind to beat New Zealand 33-19 at Twickenham on Saturday for just their ninth win in 120 years of Tests against the All Blacks.

Tens of thousands of people thronged the streets of the Amazonian city hosting COP30 talks on Saturday, dancing to thumping speakers in the first large-scale protest at a UN climate summit in years.

Spanish police announced on Saturday they had raided a unlicensed animal sanctuary and rescued hundreds of exotic creatures including leopard tortoises, iguanas and geckos.

A large blaze ignited by powerful explosions at an industrial park near Argentina's capital has been contained, local authorities reported on Saturday.

World champions South Africa beat a spirited Italy 32-14 on Saturday, coming out on top despite having to play a huge chunk of the match a man down, just as they did in last weekend's win over France.

Jannik Sinner continued his mastery over Alex de Minaur on Saturday with a straight-sets win to reach the ATP Finals championship match for the third year in a row.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday announced an overhaul of state-owned energy companies, after a corruption scandal at the heart of a sector battered by Russian attacks sparked a public outrcy.

South Africa beat spirited Italy 32-14 on Saturday, coming out on top despite having to play a huge chunk of the match a man down just as they did in last weekend's win over France.

Alex Marquez claimed victory in the final sprint of the MotoGP season in Valencia on Saturday, his third such triumph of 2025.

Rory McIlroy took another step closer to a seventh Race to Dubai crown when he broke through a logjam at the top of the DP World Tour Championship leaderboard with a flurry of late birdies on Saturday.

Thousands of people marched through the streets of Belem on Saturday to press for action from negotiators holding tough talks at the UN's COP30 climate conference in the Amazonian city.