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

Oil prices held around $100 Friday and most equity markets dropped after Iran's leader called for the blocking of the crucial Strait of Hormuz and opening up of new fronts in the war against the United States and Israel.

Lens are enjoying a remarkable season in France and can seize top spot in Ligue 1 this weekend as they look to take the title fight to a Paris Saint-Germain side whose main focus is the Champions League.

Unpredictable Bayer Leverkusen host Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday, still battling the inconsistency which threatens to derail their top-four hopes.

Elina Svitolina sent two-time champion Iga Swiatek spinning out at Indian Wells on Thursday to line up a semi-final meeting with Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina.

A French soldier was killed in an attack in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday, confirming the first French military death in the Middle East war.

Canadian, German and Norwegian leaders will meet in the Norwegian Arctic on Friday to discuss the region's fragile security situation, against the backdrop of a large NATO exercise.

Troubled Tottenham head to Liverpool on Sunday searching for salvation in their increasingly desperate fight against relegation.

For Sahar Saidian, past and present collide every day on the airwaves as she hosts a Persian-language show on Israeli public radio for listeners in Israel and in Iran, the country she left behind years ago.

At a massive shipyard in North Vancouver, Canadian workers grind metal beams for a powerful new icebreaker crucial to cementing the country's presence in the increasingly contested Arctic.

The northeastern Brazilian city of Recife, where the Oscar-nominated movie "The Secret Agent" is set, is revelling in its moment in the limelight as tourists flock to film locations and a classic local shirt flies off the shelves.

When a film stays with you, it is often because of the magical chemistry among the actors. You can thank casting directors for that, and finally, the Academy is honoring them too.

A red fox that managed to slip onto a US-bound ship in Britain was discovered by customs officers in the Port of New York, a zoo in the city has said.

Austria's Sepp Straka and American Sahith Theegala were among five players sharing the lead at five-under par 67 when darkness halted Thursday's opening round of the US PGA Players Championship.

Saudi forces intercepted more than two dozen drones Friday after Iran vowed to attack oil resources in the Middle East and said it would maintain a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz that has sent crude prices soaring.

US President Donald Trump warned Iran's football team Thursday their "life and safety" would be at risk if they took part in the upcoming World Cup in North America.

Jury deliberations are set to begin Friday in a landmark social media addiction trial accusing Meta and YouTube of intentionally trying to hook young internet users.

The first foreign visit of Venezuela's US-backed interim leader since taking power was abruptly canceled on Thursday, just hours before she was due to arrive in Colombia.

Nottingham Forest suffered a shock 1-0 defeat against Midtjylland in the Europa League last-16 first leg, while Ollie Watkins ended his goal drought as the Aston Villa striker sealed a 1-0 win at Lille on Thursday.

World number two Jannik Sinner powered past Learner Tien 6-1, 6-2 to book a semi-final showdown with fourth-ranked Alexander Zverev at Indian Wells on Thursday.

Iran vowed Thursday to make the United States regret attacking the Islamic republic and said it would keep up a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz that has sent oil prices soaring.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday the war against Iran was moving "very rapidly," even as Tehran's new leader vowed defiance in his first public message.

NASA said Thursday that the long-delayed launch of Artemis 2, the first crewed flyby mission to the Moon in more than 50 years, could come as soon as April 1.

Italian fashion house Valentino returned to its roots Thursday with a 1980s-inspired catwalk show in one of Rome's most spectacular venues, two months after the death of founder Valentino Garavani.

Milan prosecutors have requested a criminal trial for Amazon and four of its executives over alleged tax fraud worth more than one billion euros, Italian media reported Thursday.

Poland's ferocious dispute over EU defence loans reached a fever pitch on Thursday as nationalist president Karol Nawrocki vetoed a multi-billion-euro plan that parliament had already approved.

Israel renewed its strikes on Beirut on Thursday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning that if the Lebanese government did not disarm Hezbollah, Israel would do the job "on the ground".

Oil prices jumped Thursday with Brent crude settling above $100 a barrel for the first time since August 2022, as Iran vowed to make the United States regret launching its war against the country.

Armand Duplantis broke the pole vault world record on Thursday for the 15th time at the meet that bears his name in Uppsala, Sweden, clearing 6.31 meters on his first attempt.

Tinder said Thursday that it is testing a "Chemistry" option that uses artificial intelligence to help with matchmaking in the popular dating app.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka kept her bid for a first Indian Wells title on track, holding off Canadian teen Victoria Mboko 7-6 (7/0), 6-4 to reach the semi-finals on Thursday.

Ollie Watkins ended his goal drought as the Aston Villa striker sealed a 1-0 win against Lille in the Europa League last-16 first leg on Thursday.

What does it take to rocket down an icy sheet of Dolomite rock at over 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) when missing a limb or suffering visual impairment?