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

Global stock markets diverged on Thursday as investors assessed the latest corporate earnings with tech firms back under pressure, while awaiting developments over a potential US-Iran deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile over the Sea of Japan on Thursday, Seoul's military said, with the launch coming after Pyongyang lambasted Japan's military build-up in the Pacific.

England have recalled Dan Lawrence from two years of Test exile to face Pakistan, with the batsman pencilled in to fill the middle-order vacancy created by the retirement of captain Ben Stokes.

Next to a mound of black earth, Myanmar refugees feed soil and rice seed into a clacking conveyor machine that arranges them into ready-made planting trays for Thai farms.

German industrial giant Siemens on Thursday raised its profit outlook for the second time this year after a quarter boosted by AI spending, but its shares plunged after the forecast fell short of investors' hopes.

Most Asian markets were mixed Thursday with tech firms back under pressure after a four-day rebound amid lingering AI worries, while oil rose even as Iran said it was finalising a deal with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz.

Les Kiss handed lock Miles Amatosero and prop Aidan Ross their first starts for Australia as the new coach named his first team Thursday since taking over from Joe Schmidt.

Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell believes his standing up to the stumps in England -- a move that helped kill off the "Bazball" era -- was a case of New Zealand shelving their egos for the good of the team.

At the weekly market in the southern Romanian town of Calarasi, Florica Vasile goes from vendor to vendor loading her shopping trolley with vegetables the locals say are cheaper than anywhere else in the city.

Israel reported on Thursday its first military fatalities in southern Lebanon in more than a month, after carrying out fresh strikes despite ongoing US-backed talks in Rome aimed at ending hostilities.

Iran and Oman have agreed a route for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and were finalising arrangements for jointly managing the strategic waterway, Tehran said Wednesday, even as fresh security incidents highlighted continued risks for regional shipping.

Second seed Elena Rybakina, third seed Jessica Pegula and fourth-seeded Coco Gauff all advanced to the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi scored twice on Wednesday to become the Leagues Cup's record goalscorer as Inter Miami beat Atletico San Luis 4-2 at home in the 2026 edition's opening group matches.

Police raided South Korea's football association on Thursday as part of an investigation into the appointment of the coach in charge during their dismal World Cup campaign.

Most Asian markets sank on Thursday with tech firms back under pressure after a four-day rebound amid lingering AI worries, while oil rose even as Iran said it was finalising a deal with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz.

Dwindling water levels on some of Germany's major rivers worsened by heat and drought are raising fears that badly constrained riverboat cargo traffic may deal yet another blow to the struggling economy.

Hosts South Africa and visitors New Zealand are going back to the future with a rugby tour that begins in Cape Town on Friday and ends 12,700 kilometres away in the United States.

Former Wallabies Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps signed for the NSW Waratahs Thursday with the veteran duo returning home after long stints in Japan.

Journalists covering last month's youth-led protests in India became targets of public anger and attacks over their perceived support for the government, exposing a deepening crisis of trust in traditional broadcasters.

A crocodile basks in the sunshine on the roof of a submerged conference hall at a holiday resort in central Kenya, in a visible sign of how rising lake waters are endangering thousands of families and local businesses.

A Pacific island leader says there were "no consultations" before the US announced swathes of nearby ocean could be auctioned for deep-sea mining exploration, telling AFP the industry faced strong opposition among his people.

The rhythmic clanging of hammers on bronze echoes through the Istanbul workshop where three craftsmen are landing blows with astonishing precision to transform featureless metal discs into highly prized handcrafted cymbals.

Climate adaptation has reached the world of fine dining: At Tuju, a three-Michelin-star restaurant in Brazil, erratic rainfall keeps its owners on their toes.

Myanmar's ex-junta chief Min Aung Hlaing makes his first visit to Thailand as civilian leader on Thursday, as he seeks a return to the diplomatic fold for his pariah state.

The ATP Montreal Masters lost its top two seeds in the space of a few hours on Wednesday as Germany's Alexander Zverev and Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime both exited the field.

Oman is facing an impending environmental catastrophe as an alleged Russian shadow fleet tanker leaks oil across hundreds of square kilometres near a nature reserve, NGOs warn.

Google's head of AI, Demis Hassabis, will step down from his current role to become Alphabet's chief scientist amid a reshuffling at DeepMind that will also include a key engineer's departure.

Embattled FIFA president Gianni Infantino watched outsiders Malawi lose 2-1 to Zambia in Rabat on Wednesday, but still secure a Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-finals place.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has received the "full support" of senior directors on Wednesday but world football's governing body apologised for the controversy of the now-shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment.

Second seed Elena Rybakina, third seed Jessica Pegula and fourth-seeded Coco Gauff advanced to the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto on Wednesday.

Second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime withdrew on Wednesday from his home ATP Montreal Masters tournament due to a back injury sustained during practice.

The ATP Montreal Masters lost its top two seeds in the space of a few hours on Wednesday as Germany's Alexander Zverev and Canadian Felix Auger-Alliassime both exited the field.