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

Asia and Europe's oil reserves can soften the immediate impact of the Middle East war sparked by US and Israeli strikes on Iran, but a prolonged conflict could trigger major disruptions and sharp price increases, analysts warn.

Tens of thousands of Afghans have been forced from their homes by fighting with Pakistani forces along the border in recent days, the United Nations said Tuesday.

South Africa captain Aiden Markram on Tuesday said his team's win over New Zealand in the group phase will count for nothing in the T20 World Cup semi-final, which will be a "completely fresh start".

Iran stepped up its attacks on economic targets and US missions across the Middle East on Tuesday as President Donald Trump warned it was "too late" for the Islamic republic to seek talks to escape the war.

Underdogs New Zealand back themselves against anyone in "one-off games", declared captain Mitchell Santner Tuesday on the eve of their T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa in Kolkata.

The UK government cut its 2026 growth forecast on Tuesday, as Britain's finance minister delivered a fiscal update overshadowed by concerns over the economic fallout from the Iran war.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said teams must adapt to deal with set pieces after Liverpool manager Arne Slot spoke about how they were sucking some of the "joy" out of the Premier League.

The war in the Middle East triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran has raised the question of whether the Iranian national team will take part in the World Cup later this year, during which it is due to play group games in the United States.

His hopes of reaching Turkey dashed by the Middle East war, Rashid Nazari fled back to Afghanistan where he described the search in neighbouring Iran for food, fuel and safety.

Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy and other stars have descended on Birmingham for the "Peaky Blinders" movie world premiere, with England's so-called second city in raptures over its signature show getting the Hollywood treatment.

Flamengo shocked Brazilian football by sacking coach Filipe Luis just hours after an 8-0 win in the Campeonato Carioca semi-finals.

England will go into their T20 World Cup semi-final against India with no fear, said all-rounder Sam Curran on Tuesday, adding that their first job would be to silence a raucous home crowd.

Global stock markets dived, energy prices surged and the dollar gained Tuesday as the Iran war drove volatility across global financial markets and roiled companies worldwide.

Drones hit the US embassy in Riyadh and more explosions rang out in Gulf cities Tuesday as Iran hit back at industrial and diplomatic targets across the Middle East and governments sought to evacuate their nationals from the region.

Jon Rahm accused the DP World Tour on Tuesday of "extorting players" as he explained why he did not sign a deal to settle his fines for playing on the breakaway LIV tour.

More than 8,000 Afghans have been forced from their homes by fighting with Pakistani forces along the border in recent days, the Taliban government said Tuesday.

China kicked off their Women's Asian Cup title defence with a battling 2-0 win over resilient tournament debutants Bangladesh in Group B on Tuesday, courtesy of Wang Shuang and Zhang Rui hitting the target.

Asylum applications to the EU dropped by almost 20 percent in 2025, the bloc's asylum agency said Tuesday -- warning however that a crisis in Iran could result in refugee movements of "unprecedented magnitude".

Jon Rahm accused the DP World Tour on Tuesday of "extorting players" as he explained why he did not sign a deal to settle his fines for playing on the breakaway LIV tour.

Drones hit the US embassy in Riyadh on Tuesday as Iran hit back at industrial and diplomatic targets across the Middle East and Washington warned its citizens to evacuate the entire region.

As in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, the new war in the Middle East is exposing once again how far Europe and others lag in replacing imported fossil fuels with domestic solar and wind power, specialists say.

Just four of the 20 teams are now left standing as the T20 World Cup semi-finals take place this week.

Oil prices extended gains while the dollar and equities tumbled Tuesday as investors kept tabs on the widening war in the Middle East.

The warming El Nino weather phenomenon could return later this year as its cooling opposite La Nina fades away, the United Nations said Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump said the historical relationship between his country and Britain was "not like it used to be", in an interview to British daily newspaper The Sun, amid a major transatlantic fall out over US-Israeli strikes against Iran.

Argentina opens a trial on Tuesday into a submarine implosion that killed 44 sailors in November 2017, the country's worst naval disaster in decades, and whose circumstances remain unclear.

China's top political advisory body voted to remove three generals, state media said, a week after nine military officials were ousted from its legislature.

Oil prices extended gains while the dollar and equities tumbled Tuesday as investors kept tabs on the Middle East where the United States and Israel continued to bombard Iran, while Tehran launched further strikes on its neighbours.

It has been nearly 50 years since the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini recorded speeches calling for an Islamic revolution from a country home in an affluent village west of Paris.

Unbeaten South Africa continue their quest for a maiden World Cup title in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup against New Zealand in Kolkata on Wednesday, with a potential repeat of the 2024 final against India awaiting.

US President Donald Trump hosts Germany's Friedrich Merz on Tuesday for his first visit with a foreign leader since joining Israel in strikes on Iran that have dragged the Mideast into war

The second-hand market for smartphones has surged in recent years, borne up by lower prices as well as interest in eco-friendly consumption even as some still fear buying a dud.