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 jumped and equities fell Thursday as investors tracked developments in the Middle East amid hopes that US and Iranian officials will bring an end to a conflict that has ramped up fears of an unprecedented global energy crisis.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was involved in a flashpoint ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix on Thursday when he refused to start his press conference until an English journalist had left the room.

A Nepal commission has recommended the prosecution of ex-prime minister KP Sharma Oli in connection to the deadly September 2025 uprising that toppled his government, according to a leaked report.

A despondent Max Verstappen said Thursday that a last-minute tweak to energy-saving rules at this week's Japanese Grand Prix qualifying would help "a tiny bit, but the basics are the same".

Oil prices rose and equities fell Thursday as investors tracked developments in the Middle East amid hopes that US and Iranian officials will bring an end to a conflict that has ramped up fears of an unprecedented global energy crisis.

European Union lawmakers are on track to give a green light -- with conditions -- Thursday to the bloc's tariff deal with US President Donald Trump, which Europe hopes to salvage while also racing to diversify its trade ties around the globe.

Hundreds of Somali spectators cheered as they watched two teams of young women play football in a Mogadishu stadium -- an unimaginable scene in the conservative, conflict-hit country just a few years ago.

North Korea and Belarus's strongmen leaders signed a "friendship and cooperation" treaty on Thursday after Kim Jong Un gave a lavish welcome to President Alexander Lukashenko on his maiden visit.

President Donald Trump's administration is pushing to open Venezuela's untapped natural resources to US investment but the oil-rich Latin American country's outdated infrastructure ismaking energy giants think twice about going all-in.

A rejuvenated Lewis Hamilton said Thursday that he was more committed to Formula One "than ever" aged 41 and believes he trains harder than any other driver.

A runner who stopped during a marathon in China to pose doing the splits and another who hoarded energy gels have been banned for two years, the local athletic association said Thursday.

The gaping holes torn in a road to Mandalay by last year's devastating earthquake have been filled in, and the route in northern Myanmar partly resurfaced.

North Korea and Belarus's strongmen leaders signed a "friendship and cooperation" treaty on Thursday, state media reported, after Kim Jong Un "warmly" welcomed President Alexander Lukashenko to Pyongyang for a maiden visit.

Denver's Jamal Murray scored 53 points and teammate Nikola Jokic added a monster triple-double as the Nuggets topped the Dallas Mavericks 142-135 on Wednesday.

Israel launched strikes across Iran on Thursday, hours after US President Donald Trump said Tehran wanted a deal to end the nearly four-week war despite its top diplomat rejecting any talks with Washington.

Former England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson believes Steve Borthwick's outfit needs to find consistency in their results and performances if they hope to be contenders at next year's Rugby World Cup.

Formula One world champion Lando Norris said Thursday he was confident he could still get into title contention after a disastrous start to the season, starting this week in Japan.

Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout said Thursday he was "ready to rock and roll" as the teenager targets a lightning-fast 200m time in Melbourne this weekend.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said negotiations with Israel under fire would amount to "surrender", as the Iran-backed group launched attacks and Israel said it was expanding a "buffer zone" inside Lebanon.

Taiwan has been targeted by a wave of online disinformation claiming the self-ruled island's gas supplies will soon be completely depleted due to disruptions from the Middle East war -- a narrative officials say could cause panic and undermine confidence in the government.

The IPL roars back into action on Saturday super-charged by India's home T20 World Cup triumph, but with sombre memories of the 11 fans who died in a stampede celebrating Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru's title last season.

Walking on the Moon by 2030, building a lunar base, and then perhaps on to Mars: after 30 years of honing its expertise, China is challenging the United States' supremacy in spaceflight.

A month after banning raw lithium exports, Zimbabwe is tightening its regulations and ramping up its crackdown on mineral smuggling in a major shake-up that is winning local praise even as it stirs concerns.

Philadelphia 76ers stars Joel Embiid and Paul George made triumphant returns Wednesday, combining for 63 points in the Sixers' 157-137 NBA victory over the Chicago Bulls.

North Korea's Kim Jong Un "warmly" welcomed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on his maiden visit to the fellow Russia ally, with the two strongmen set to sign a friendship and cooperation treaty, state media reported Thursday.

Oil prices rose and equities were mixed Thursday as investors tracked developments in the Middle East warafter Iranian officials were said to have replied to US demands to end a conflict that has sparked warnings of an unprecedented energy crisis.

A ship carrying more than 700,000 barrels of Russian crude oil has arrived in the Philippines, a source with knowledge of the matter told AFP Thursday, days after the country declared a national energy emergency over the Middle East war.

Foreign ministers from the G7 meet outside Paris from Thursday with European nations and allies seeking to narrow differences with the US on the Middle East war while keeping other crises like Ukraine and Gaza high on the agenda.

The World Trade Organization's 166 members appeared deeply divided as ministers gathered in the Cameroonian capital for a key conference starting Thursday, amid global economic turmoil linked to the Middle East war.

A former Australian Rules player has come out as the sport's first openly gay man, with Leigh Ryswyk praised Thursday for "challenging our idea of who a footballer is supposed to be".

NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar has called on his side to "roll our sleeves up and be hungry" as they bid to halt a run of three straight Super Rugby defeats on Friday.

US President Donald Trump is ready to "unleash hell" if Iran does not accept a deal to end the nearly four-week Middle East war, the White House warned Wednesday, but a defiant Tehran said it did not intend to negotiate.