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

BTS, the world's biggest boy band, reunites on stage on Saturday in a K-pop extravaganza watched by hundreds of thousands of fans in downtown Seoul and by millions around the planet online.

Almost all life-saving fire safety measures failed on the day a devastating blaze tore through a Hong Kong housing complex last year, killing 168 people, a public hearing was told on Thursday.

US President Donald Trump threatened to "massively blow up" a vast Iranian gas field unless Tehran stops striking Qatari energy facilities, which sustained extensive damage Thursday.

In a supermarket in Bahrain, Mahmoud Ali fills his cart as usual. The shelves remain stocked despite the war in the Middle East, but the blockade of the main shipping routes into the Gulf is now being felt at checkout.

In the Danish city of Kolding, voters are worried about rising prices, the welfare state and immigration ahead of the country's general election, reflecting nationwide concerns reinforced by worries about Greenland and global uncertainty.

A wild possum joined stuffed furry friends in an Australian airport gift shop this week, surprising travellers in an adorable case of hide and squeak.

Iranian missile attacks have killed three Palestinian women in the occupied West Bank and a foreign worker in central Israel, medics said Thursday.

Athletes at the Asian Games in Japan will have "a unique experience" staying on a cruise ship and in wooden containers, an organising official told AFP six months out from the event, but acknowledged there were concerns about the plan.

Qatar's main gas facility has suffered extensive damage after several rounds of Iranian strikes, causing new energy supply fears as the Middle East war grinds on.

Leaders of Samoa and Tonga appealed for help this week as the import-reliant Pacific nations raised fears over possible fuel shortages and escalating costs caused by war in the Middle East.

Armand Duplantis and Keely Hodgkinson headline the world indoor athletics championships that kick off in Torun, Poland, on Friday.

Oil surged more than five percent Thursday and stocks sank as Iran carried out a series of attacks on Gulf energy facilities and warned of more following a strike on one of its key gas fields, while warnings of higher US inflation also soured the mood.

EU leaders converge on Brussels Thursday hoping to unlock a massive loan for Kyiv, with the much-needed funding ensnared in a standoff between Hungary's Viktor Orban and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.

The energy shock unleashed by the Middle East war will top the agenda at Thursday's European Central Bank meeting, as fears grow of a major hit to the eurozone economy.

Clark Laidlaw extended his coaching contract with New Zealand's Wellington Hurricanes into a fourth year Thursday with the Scot saying, "there's loads to develop".

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi bagged the 900th goal of his glittering career on Wednesday but could not prevent Inter Miami from crashing out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on away goals after a 1-1 draw with Nashville.

Japan coach Nils Nielsen insists hosts Australia will be "massive favourites" in Saturday's Women's Asian Cup final, but his team's near-flawless progress to the title match suggests otherwise.

Iran targeted energy facilities across the Gulf and threatened further destructive attacks after a key gas field was hit, raising fears Thursday of a wider assault on fuel supplies that could jolt already rattled global markets.

The late American film star Val Kilmer could soon be "acting" on the big screen again after allowing a director to use AI tools to produce his likeness for an upcoming film, media reports said Wednesday.

Jurors will return to court here on Thursday to continue deliberations in a civil trial accusing Meta and YouTube of harmfully hooking young internet users.

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi bagged the 900th goal of his glittering career on Wednesday, scoring for Inter Miami in their CONCACAF Champions Cup clash with Nashville.

Barcelona hit Newcastle United for seven to reach the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, while Liverpool overturned a first-leg deficit to beat Galatasaray in their last-16 tie and both Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid advanced to the next round.

Igor Tudor claimed Tottenham's spirited Champions League exit against Atletico Madrid showed they have improved enough to win their fight for Premier League survival.

Arne Slot believes Liverpool fired a warning shot to Paris Saint-Germain of what they are capable of in a 4-0 thrashing of Galatasaray on Wednesday which set up a Champions League quarter-final against the holders.

Harry Kane said Bayern Munich had nothing to fear in taking on Real Madrid after setting up a quarter-final clash with the European giants by beating Atalanta on Wednesday.

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodriguez announced the sacking Wednesday of defense minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, who headed the military for almost a decade under ousted leader Nicolas Maduro.

Harry Kane scored in each half as Bayern Munich thumped Atalanta 4-1 at home in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday, winning 10-2 on aggregate to book a quarter-final date with Real Madrid.

Thailand's new parliament is set to elect Anutin Charnvirakul as prime minister Thursday, keeping the conservative in the top office after his party routed its election rivals with a nationalist campaign.

Atletico Madrid held off Tottenham's bid for an epic Champions League escape as they reached the quarter-finals despite a 3-2 defeat in the last-16 second leg on Wednesday.

Liverpool shrugged off their Premier League malaise to storm into the Champions League quarter-finals by thrashing Galatasaray 4-0 at Anfield on Tuesday.

Costa Rica on Wednesday cut diplomatic ties with Cuba and President Rodrigo Chaves declared that the "hemisphere must be cleansed of communists."

Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am is putting artificial intelligence agents to work in three-wheel vehicles tailored for modern urban life.