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

For weeks, Iranians had been nervously anticipating another attack by the United States and Israel, despite Tehran and Washington holding negotiations aimed at averting a violent showdown.

Across Israel, city streets stood deserted on Saturday as residents took cover in shelters, while the blasts from Iranian missiles being intercepted reverberated overhead.

Bournemouth were held to a 1-1 draw by Sunderland as the Cherries missed a chance to bolster their bid to qualify for Europe on Saturday.

VAR's scope has been extended to cover second yellow cards and corners in time for the World Cup after a meeting of football's lawmakers on Saturday.

"War is no good but it's better than the regime killing our children," said a 39-year-old Iranian in Istanbul, confessing he was "happy" that US and Israeli warplanes were attacking Iran.

Congo-Brazzaville's 82-year-old President Denis Sassou Nguesso promised to extend his decades-long time in power on Saturday as campaigning kicked off for next month's presidential election in the oil-rich central African nation.

The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Saturday, with Israel's public broadcaster reporting that supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been targeted, as the Islamic republic retaliated with barrages of missiles at Gulf states and Israel.

Germany's Emma Aicher powered to her third World Cup win of the season in the women's super-G in Soldeu on Saturday, boosting her hopes of winning the season discipline crown.

The latest attacks by the US and Israel on military and political targets in Tehran have shaken the Islamic Republic's regime. Under the code names ‘Operation Epic Fury’ (US) and ‘Call of the Lion’ (Israel), missiles were fired on 28 February 2026 at the office of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the Ministry of Defence, the nuclear facilities in Isfahan and other strategic bases. The strike was intended to destroy Iran's nuclear programme and ballistic research, while also hitting the nerve centres of the mullah regime, which has been considered a sponsor of terrorism and the greatest threat to regional stability for decades. Observers report thick clouds of smoke over Tehran, people in panic on the streets and a state that felt compelled to close its airspace and shut down communication services.In an eight-minute video address on Truth Social, the US president laid out his strategy: ‘To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the armed forces and the police: Lay down your weapons and secure full immunity, or you will face certain death,’ he said. Those who surrender will be treated fairly, while those who continue to fight will face ‘devastating force.’ These words were directed at the militias responsible for torture, shootings and the bloody suppression of protests within the country. The regime describes its own citizens as ‘terrorists and insurgents,’ while international human rights organisations report thousands of protesters killed, tens of thousands detained and systematic torture. The new protests against rising inflation, corruption and religious paternalism are said to be the largest since the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement in 2022/2023; estimates speak of up to 2,600 to over 12,000 deaths and more than 16,000 arrests since the unrest began. The decline of the national currency and the collapse of purchasing power have finally caused the situation to reach a boiling point.The president emphasised that the US had no interest in ground operations but was determined to destroy the regime's nuclear ambitions. ‘Iran must never possess a nuclear bomb,’ he stressed. He announced plans to ‘wipe out’ the country's ballistic missile industry and neutralise the Iranian navy. At the same time, he encouraged the population: ‘The hour of your freedom has come. Stay safe, don't leave your homes – bombs are falling outside. When we are done, take over your government. It will belong to you.’ This call to revolt is unprecedented in recent international politics and reflects the deep mistrust of a regime that has been chanting ‘Death to America’ since 1979, spreading anti-Semitic propaganda and financing terrorist groups in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen and Syria through its Revolutionary Guards.

The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Saturday, with Israel's public broadcaster reporting that supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been targeted, as the Islamic republic retaliated with barrages of missiles at Gulf states and Israel.

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, a pillar of its theocratic system since the Islamic revolution, has seen off a succession of crises throughout his rule with a mixture of repression and strategic manoeuvring but now could be facing his biggest challenge.

Launching a major attack alongside Israel against Iran, US President Donald Trump is pursuing the goal he once adamantly rejected -- regime change.

Michelangelo's famous The Last Judgment fresco in the Sistine Chapel is getting its biggest facelift in more than three decades to remove a light whitish residue left by sweaty visitors.

US President Donald Trump announced a major attack against Iran on Saturday, vowing to "annihilate" the country's navy and missile sites, and urging Iranians to overthrow their government.

Pedro Acosta won the season-opening MotoGP sprint in Thailand on Saturday after defending champion Marc Marquez was forced to drop a place because of a penalty.

The United States and Israel launched a wave of strikes against targets in Iranian cities on Saturday triggering explosions and columns of smoke in the capital Tehran.

A Pakistani fighter jet crashed in Jalalabad in Afghanistan's east, the Afghan military and police said on Saturday, after Islamabad launched air strikes on at least three cities in a flare-up of cross-border fighting.

Australia captain Sam Kerr admitted Saturday she was still only "85 percent" fit leading into the Women's Asian Cup, but the Chelsea striker warned she was starting to hit her peak again.

Inter Miami will visit the White House in March to mark the club's 2025 MLS Cup triumph, with Argentine superstar Lionel Messi expected to attend, the Miami Herald reported Friday.

The Oklahoma City Thunder celebrated star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's injury return with a hard-fought 127-121 NBA overtime victory over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Friday.

A group of Zimbabwe superfans told AFP "it felt surreal" to be watching their team in the Super Eights in India -- days after the colourful group had returned home thinking their T20 World Cup odyssey was over.

Perched on the edge of the rugged Yorkshire moors that inspired Emily Bronte to write her masterpiece "Wuthering Heights", the quaint village of Haworth has long been a place of literary pilgrimage.

At least 20 people were killed when a Bolivian military cargo plane carrying banknotes crashed while landing near the capital city La Paz, police said Friday, as crowds attempted to loot the site.

Pakistan air strikes on Afghanistan drew diplomatic support from Washington as Islamabad said on Saturday it would not stop military operations pressuring the Afghan government, which it accuses of backing militancy.

Marco Bezzecchi took pole position for the MotoGP season-opening sprint and grand prix in Thailand on Saturday, with defending world champion Marc Marquez starting from second on the grid.

OpenAI said Friday it struck a deal for the Pentagon to use its models in the US defense agency's classified network, with "safeguards," after President Donald Trump blacklisted AI rival Anthropic.

How do you transport a movie audience to a racetrack, recreating the visceral experience of roaring engines, the ear-splitting squeal of tires on pavement and the screeching of brakes?

At least 15 people were killed Friday when a Bolivian military cargo plane carrying banknotes crashed while landing near the capital city La Paz, authorities said, prompting police to repel bystanders grabbing cash.

Rebeca Grynspan is upbeat about her chances of becoming the next head of the United Nations, which she insists must become more agile in tackling the world's crises.

Western Force coach Simon Cron says new recruit George Bridge is an "amazing leader" after the former All Blacks winger starred in the Australian team's first win of the Super Rugby season.

To find the inspiration that would allow him to painstakingly transform the humans of "Sinners" into bloodthirsty vampires, makeup artist Mike Fontaine immersed himself in the study of wild animals.

Stellan Skarsgard likes audiences to chew over his films, savoring every mouthful -- and then telling their friends about the delicious meal.