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

A 10-day ceasefire deal agreed between Lebanon and Israel took effect on Thursday, as US President Donald Trump said he was trying to set up the first-ever meeting between the leaders of the two countries.

Diego Maradona's personal physician, on trial over the 2020 death of the Argentine football legend, said Thursday he was innocent of any wrongdoing in relation to his "idol."

Crystal Palace went down to a 2-1 defeat at Fiorentina on Thursday but nonetheless progressed 4-2 on aggregate to the semi-finals of the UEFA Conference League, where they will meet Shakhtar Donetsk.

Aston Villa demolished Bologna and Nottingham Forest beat Porto in the Europa League on Thursday to set up an all-English showdown in the semi-finals.

Victor Wembanyama, whose rapid rise from teen phenom to superstar has transformed the San Antonio Spurs into legitimate title contenders, is relishing his first shot at NBA playoff glory.

Netflix shares plummeted more than 8 percent on Thursday as the TV streaming titan reported quarterly revenue of $12.25 billion, which slightly topped expectations.

If you still feel the need for speed, Paramount Pictures has good news for you -- "Top Gun 3" is officially happening, with Tom Cruise back as daring pilot Pete "Maverick" Mitchell.

Spain's Vice President Carlos Cuerpo said Thursday that the resumption of relations between the International Monetary Fund and Venezuela should take place shortly.

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday criticised the "tyrants" ransacking the world, on a high-security visit to a "bloodstained" region of Cameroon, as his war of words with US President Donald Trump continued.

French Finance Minister Roland Lescure told reporters Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz needs to reopen "but not at any price," adding that G7 leaders stand ready to mitigate the economic fallout from war.

Italian second seed Lorenzo Musetti eased into the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open on Thursday with a straight-sets victory over Frenchman Corentin Moutet.

Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest is asking a US federal court in Silicon Valley to hold Meta accountable for scam ads using his likeness without permission.

Ellie Kildunne was named on the wing, rather than in her usual full-back position, as John Mitchell announced a much-changed side on Thursday for England's Women's Six Nations match away to Scotland.

Top seed Elena Rybakina beat Diana Shnaider in straight sets to qualify for the quarter-finals of the WTA clay-court event in Stuttgart on Thursday as reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff also advanced.

Where once there was ice, only rock remains.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran has agreed to hand over its store of enriched uranium and that the two sides were "close" to a peace deal to end the war that has engulfed the Middle East.

The European Union expects to start releasing a new 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine in the second quarter, the bloc's economy chief told AFP on Thursday.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States and Iran were "very close" to a peace deal and that he would consider going to Pakistan to sign an agreement.

UK opposition leaders Thursday called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign after the government confirmed that an associate of Jeffrey Epstein failed a background security check before becoming envoy to Washington.

Shakhtar Donetsk drew 2-2 at AZ Alkmaar on Thursday as the Ukrainian side progressed to the UEFA Conference League semi-finals with a 5-2 aggregate win.

Freiburg made history as they swept into the Europa League semi-finals for the first time with a 3-1 win against Celta Vigo on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund announced Thursday the sale of its majority stake in Saudi Pro League football club Al-Hilal, where French striker Karim Benzema plays.

France's social security is to reimburse the cost of reusable menstrual cups and underwear for women under the age of 26 or battling poverty, the government said Thursday.

Tiger Woods's lawyer is fighting the demand for the golf superstar's prescription drug records, which were subpoenaed by the prosecution after Woods was charged with driving under the influence in Florida.

South African Quinton de Kock's record third century was to no avail as Prabhsimran Singh and skipper Shreyas Iyer hauled Punjab Kings back to the top of the IPL table with a commanding seven-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians on Thursday.

The top United Nations official in Sudan told AFP on Thursday that the country, facing the world's largest humanitarian crisis, has been "abandoned" as the war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) enters its fourth year.

US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a ceasefire Thursday, and said he was trying to set up the first-ever meeting between the leaders of the two countries.

The Middle East war has created an "unprecedented shock" for the region's economies with no guarantee of a quick recovery, a senior International Monetary Fund official has told AFP.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Thursday his country was "ready" for a possible US attack on the communist island following months of mounting pressure from President Donald Trump.

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday criticised the "tyrants" ransacking the world, on a high-security visit to a "bloodstained" region of Cameroon following a war of words with US President Donald Trump.

Two sanctioned cargo vessels have crossed the Strait of Hormuz, apparently bound for Iranian ports despite Washington's blockade in the Middle East war, tracking data indicated Thursday.

Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham have been ruled eligible for the NBA's Most Valuable Player race despite not meeting the 65-game minimum to enter the running for the honor, the league said Thursday.