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

An in-form Lando Norris set the pace ahead of McLaren team-mate, title rival and championship leader Oscar Piastri in Friday's eventful and red flag-punctuated opening practice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Norway striker Elisabeth Terland scored a hat-trick as Manchester United hammered Brann 3-0 on Thursday to reach the main draw of the Women's Champions League for the first time.

Hollywood director Tim Burton and Italian actress and model Monica Bellucci are separating, they announced Friday in a statement to AFP.

Dozens of countries are expected to announce new climate targets before the UN COP30 summit in November, but none will be as closely scrutinised as the pledges made by China and the EU.

Asian markets were mixed Friday at the end of a strong week for investors following a US interest rate cut, with attention now turning to a call between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping due later in the day.

India are targeting a record medal haul at next year's Asian Games in Japan as part of a long-term plan to boost their prospects at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

A cloud of dust escapes from an excavation site in the sand of Chad's arid north, where scientists are looking for signs of human habitation in an area once humid and called the "Green Sahara".

Asian markets mostly fell Friday at the end of a strong week for investors following a US interest rate cut, with attention now turning to a call between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping due later in the day.

Late-night TV comics skewered President Donald Trump and denounced "blatant censorship" after Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show was pulled off air over his comments on the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

Chinese consumer tech giant Xiaomi will remotely fix a flaw in the assisted driving system on over 110,000 of its popular SU7 electric cars, the firm and regulators said Friday, months after a deadly crash involving the model.

At dawn, bleary-eyed workers pour into a traditional teahouse in Kosovo nestled under the minarets of the local mosque, seeking a rich amber brew that has outlived empires and continues to draw devotees.

Borussia Dortmund's early promise is already being eroded by familiar failings in crucial moments just three games into the Bundesliga season.

The Bank of Japan kept interest rates on hold Friday amid lingering political uncertainty and economic concerns but said it would start offloading funds bought as part of its earlier monetary easing campaign.

Real Madrid have made a perfect start to life under new coach Xabi Alonso and are aiming to extend that run on Saturday in La Liga when they host an Espanyol side who have also begun the season in impressive form.

Georgia full-back Davit Niniashvili said his coaches at new club La Rochelle want him to remain "crazy" as they prepare to head to Toulon in the Top 14 on Sunday.

There is a mixed crowd lining up outside the ICE recruitment fair in Utah, where hundreds of people are eager to join US President Donald Trump's vast deportation effort.

President Donald Trump, who recently accused Xi Jinping of working to "conspire" against the United States, hopes to finalize the fate of video-sharing app TikTok and make progress on trade talks in a phone call with the Chinese leader on Friday.

Depopulated towns in Germany's ex-communist east have come up with a novel scheme to bring back life: offering people several weeks of super-cheap housing to give would-be residents a taste of the place.

Premier League leaders Liverpool will aim to cut out the late drama against Everton on Saturday, while Arsenal seek to prove they are title challengers against Manchester City.

Australia skipper Pat Cummins said Friday he hoped to play in all five Ashes Tests against England but conceded he will need to see how his back injury holds up, local media said.

China cautioned Papua New Guinea against "undermining" its interests and sovereignty in signing a mutual defence pact with Australia widely seen as a counter to Beijing's growing influence in the Pacific.

The Australian state of Queensland has banned the testing of drugs for recreational use, sparking warnings from health providers on Friday that the move could put lives at risk.

The dike meant to protect the Philippine town cost taxpayers nearly $2 million, but when a minister visited this month he found little more than dirt hastily dumped along the river's banks.

Asian markets swung Friday at the end of a strong week for investors following the US interest rate cut, with attention now turning to a call between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a test of an attack drone and ordered greater use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the technology, state media said Friday.

Kenya are hoping legend Faith Kipyegon and Emmanuel Wanyonyi deliver two gold medals on the penultimate day of the World Athletics Championships on Saturday.

The leaders of Canada and Mexico on Thursday defended their three-way free-trade deal with the United States, while agreeing to try and make it "fairer" in the face of tariff pressure from President Donald Trump.

Tapanuli orangutans are the world's most endangered great ape. Fewer than 800 remain, all previously thought to be in their native Indonesia. But now an Indian zoo says it has one.

Clayton Kershaw is ready to call time on his 18-year Major League Baseball career, but the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching legend has work to do first.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitching great Clayton Kershaw tearfully insisted he was "not sad" as he announced Thursday he will retire after the Major League Baseball season.

In a cavernous studio outside Madrid teeming with TV industry stars, Netflix is blending old knowledge with modern technology to try to concoct a successor to its global hit "Money Heist".

Taiwan's space chief Wu Jong-shinn says the "clock is ticking" for the democratic island to launch its own satellites to secure internet and phone services during a potential conflict with China.