De la Fuente Stays as Spain's Coach Until 2032

That is a long stay, especially in top-level sport. What changed here?

His old deal was due to end in 2028. Spain has now pushed that date four years further.

He is 65. He will stay in charge through Spain’s World Cup defence on home soil in 2030.

So this is not just about reward after success. It is also about the next big tournament.

Exactly. The federation is showing trust in him after a very strong run.

Spain won the European Championship in 2024. They also won the World Cup this summer.

Since he took over in 2022, they have lost only twice in 41 competitive matches.

That record is hard to ignore. And the timing matters too, because 2030 is such a big year for Spain.

Yes, because Spain will co-host the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Morocco.

Some matches will also be played in South America as part of the centenary celebration.

So this extension gives the team one clear leader for that whole build-up.

What did the football federation president say about the decision?

Rafael Louzan said De la Fuente’s results and his work speak for themselves.

He also said the public loves and admires him.

He said the new deal improves his financial terms.

Stability is a useful word here. In football, a coach can disappear quickly if results dip.

That is true, but De la Fuente’s path has been steady for years.

He spent nine years working with Spain’s youth teams before this senior job.

So this extension also rewards long service, not only the trophies.

And Spain’s next match is coming soon, right?

Yes, they play England at Wembley in their Nations League opener on 26 September.

So the new contract is not the end of the story.

It just gives Spain a longer plan, and the next test comes very soon.

Thanks, Ethan.

In Syria, a sharp rise in fuel prices has pushed more pressure onto people already struggling.

Now we go to Sophie, our LinguaWire correspondent for business.

Thanks, Daniel. The government raised fuel prices overnight, and the reaction was fast.

Fast and angry, from the sound of it. What exactly changed?

A decree took effect at midnight on Sunday.

Diesel went up by 40 percent, and petrol rose by 28 percent.

By Monday morning, people were already in the streets.

For many families, this is not just a price change. It is a direct hit to daily life.

That helps explain why the reaction came so quickly. Fuel is tied to almost everything else.

Yes, especially transport and food.

The United Nations says nearly 90 percent of people live below the poverty line.

A rise in fuel costs can push up the cost of getting to work and buying basic food.

So the effect spreads very quickly.

And the protests were not just in one place.

No, they spread across several cities.

People gathered in Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, and Deraa.

In some places, they burned tyres and blocked roads.

One of the biggest moves was on the main highway between Damascus and Aleppo.

That is a serious sign of anger. Did the protests stop after the first day?

Not really. The first wave eased in some areas, but the anger stayed.

On Wednesday, protesters in the northeast blocked the M4 highway near Tal Tamr.

That left hundreds of oil tankers stuck.

They said they would not reopen the route unless the price rises were reversed.

So the road block became part protest, part pressure on the state.

Exactly. And there is another side to the problem: the black market for diesel is growing.

Security units have started stopping tankers heading to unlicensed refineries.

That shows how price changes can also push more illegal trade into the shadows.

The government is trying to repair the economy, though. Is that making a difference?

It is trying. It has worked to remove most of the international sanctions.

Those sanctions had been in place for years.

But people are seeing prices rise again and again.

Since February, petrol has risen by about 86 percent.

Diesel has more than doubled.

That is a hard balance: reform on one side, and immediate pain on the other.

Yes, and that is why this price hike matters beyond fuel itself.

It is a test of whether the government can improve daily life quickly enough for people to notice.

Thanks, Sophie.

Let’s look at a few words from the Syria report.

the hike

A hike is a sudden increase, especially in price. In the report, it meant "The fuel price hike hit at midnight on Sunday." Example: The hike in bus fares made the trip more expensive.

the tanker

A tanker is a large vehicle or ship that carries liquid, like fuel. In the report, it was used in “hundreds of oil tankers.” Example: A tanker blocked the road after the accident.

the refinery

A refinery is a place where oil is changed into fuel. In the report, it was used in “unlicensed refineries.” Example: The refineries work day and night near the coast.

Now for a grammar point: rise by.

We use rise by to say how much something goes up. It is a common pattern in news and daily life.

The report said “diesel prices up by 40 percent.”

Petrol prices rose by 28 percent overnight.

Repeat after me: rose by 28 percent