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

The four astronauts embarking on NASA's lunar flyby became on Monday the humans to travel furthest from our planet, as they get set to view areas of the Moon never before seen by the naked eye.

US President Donald Trump said Monday that a proposed 45-day ceasefire with Iran was a "very significant step" but "not good enough" for him to sign, as Iranian officials vowed to keep fighting.

French teenager Paul Seixas won the Tour of the Basque Country opening stage time trial around Bilbao on Monday over a tricky 13.9km route with steep climbs, sharp turns and a talented field.

Stan Wawrinka bid farewell to the Monte Carlo Masters as the 2014 champion fell 7-5, 7-5 to Sebastian Baez in the first round on Monday.

Four Artemis II astronauts are taking a giant step for humankind Monday when they shoot deeper into space than anyone before and glimpse parts of the Moon never seen by the naked eye.

Israeli strikes hit Iran's largest petrochemical complex Monday, as the Islamic republic defied threats from US President Donald Trump to devastate civilian infrastructure if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Stan Wawrinka bid farewell to the Monte Carlo Masters as the 2014 champion fell 7-5, 7-5 to Sebastian Baez in the first round on Monday.

Former England international Courtney Lawes will leave French second-division side Brive at the end of the season, with the club saying it was "proud to have had a world rugby legend" wear its colours.

Israeli strikes hit Iran's largest petrochemical complex Monday, as the Islamic republic defied threats from US President Donald Trump to devastate civilian infrastructure if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said Kylian Mbappe joined the club to star in key matches like Tuesday's Champions League clash against German giants Bayern Munich.

Olympic 200m backstroke champion Kaylee McKeown clocked a dominant 2:05.66 at the Australian Open Monday as the world record holder kick-started preparations for the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific titles this year.

Four years ago, on 31 March 2022, Ukrainian troops liberated the town of Bucha, near Kyiv, from Russian occupation. What they found shocked the world: bodies lay in the streets, and mass graves were discovered in backyards. Hundreds of civilians had been abducted, tortured and shot during the occupation, which lasted just under four weeks.Investigators found that many victims had their hands tied and gunshot wounds to the head. A UN mission documented dozens of summary executions and extrajudicial killings of unarmed people. Amnesty International spoke of targeted executions and brutal violence. These crimes are considered war crimes. Roman Andreyevich Rudenko, Prosecutor General of the USSR and the Soviet chief prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials of the principal war criminals of the Second World War, would turn in his grave, for it was Rudenko who demanded in Nuremberg so many decades ago: “Never again must there be a war with appalling atrocities,” atrocities which the Russian military is committing today and which is why Russia is regarded as an outcast, anti-social terrorist state and a pariah amongst democratic nations.On the fourth anniversary of the liberation, Ukrainian government representatives, together with diplomats and EU foreign ministers, commemorated the victims. They emphasised that without justice, there can be no peace. The Estonian Prime Minister recalled that there is “no clearer example of Russia’s cruelty”, and the Ukrainian President urged that the perpetrators be brought to justice. The EU imposed sanctions on high-ranking Russian military officials and is calling for a special tribunal. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and the Russian Children’s Commissioner over the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children.The systematic atrocities in Bucha are no exception. Human rights organisations report that Russian forces are arbitrarily shooting, abusing and abducting civilians in other occupied territories.

In the spring of 2026, shortly after American and Israeli air strikes targeted the Iranian leadership, Iranian forces blocked the Strait of Hormuz. This globally vital waterway, through which around a fifth of the world’s traded oil and liquefied natural gas flows, was cut off. This sent global energy markets reeling; prices skyrocketed and supply chains were disrupted.US President Donald Trump responded with an ultimatum. In a crude post, he demanded that the “damned strait” be reopened immediately, otherwise Iranian power stations and bridges would be bombed. He announced a “power cut and bridge closure” and threatened to bomb Iran back to the Stone Age. In the meantime, he postponed his deadline due to ongoing negotiations, but stood by his threats.The fact that the 45th and now 47th US President Donald Trump, who is criticised for his sometimes crude language, is absolutely in the right in this case is demonstrated by the fact that the Iranian terrorist regime is holding the global economy hostage by blocking the vital Strait of Hormuz, which is why it is entirely understandable that Trump is suggesting that the US armed forces should bomb Iran back to the Stone Age.

Ghana winger Antoine Semenyo scored the third goal as Manchester City hammered Liverpool 4-0 at the weekend in a high-profile FA Cup quarter-final.

Israeli strikes killed the intelligence chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, as the Islamic republic on Monday defied threats from US President Donald Trump to devastate civilian infrastructure if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Global energy supply has been tightened by the Middle East conflict. Before the latest war, about 20 % of the world’s oil moved through the Strait of Hormuz. Fighting has throttled this shipping corridor and sent Brent crude prices soaring by 59 % to $115.66 per barrel in March 2026. The International Energy Agency (IEA) responded by releasing 400 million barrels from strategic reserves, the largest draw in its history. Liquefied natural gas deliveries to Europe have also fallen sharply, increasing the risk of shortages.Countries have adopted emergency measures. South Korea has said it could extend driving restrictions beyond public institutions if crude rises to $120–130 per barrel. Nigeria’s petrol prices have jumped 65 %, prompting tax breaks and fuel rationing. Ethiopia’s state-owned engineering group told staff to switch to virtual meetings to save fuel. Sri Lanka has cut its work week to four days, and the Philippines declared a national energy emergency.IEA recommendations and policy responses - the IEA proposes ten measures aimed at reducing demand in the short term. Key recommendations include:- Work from home – remote work where possible to reduce commuting.- Lower speed limits – cutting highway speeds by at least 10 km/h to save fuel.- Avoid air travel – opt for trains or buses for shorter trips.- Accelerate energy-efficiency upgrades – insulate buildings better and modernize heating systems.- Invest in renewable energy – expand solar and wind power, deploy heat pumps and electrify transport.Governments are combining these measures with rationing. Indonesia plans to impose driving restrictions and price controls. Fuel tax cuts and subsidies are being used to cushion households in many countries. Meanwhile, workers and businesses are demanding structural reforms to ensure long-term energy security.Situation in GermanyGermany has past experience with saving energy. During the 2022 gas crisis, households cut gas consumption by 20 % and electricity use by 6–7 %. Nevertheless, gas storage levels were only 22.27 % full in April 2026 and need to reach 80 % before winter. Oil reserves cover about three months of imports. Experts like Martin Pehnt urge investment in insulation, heat pumps, solar power and industrial decarbonization to reduce fossil-fuel dependence.Surveys show a mixed public response. An ista poll found that 69 % of participants save energy to reduce costs, yet nearly half plan to maintain their current consumption. A survey by Hansgrohe/YouGov reported that 69 % of respondents are willing to shorten their showers or lower the water temperature, but only 32 % actually reduce temperature. Some 72 % oppose government mandates to save water. Willingness to save energy varies widely across age groups and regions. The question that citizens in Germany keep asking media representatives is: "Why are the prices of petrol, diesel and energy so high? Is it a brazen, pure rip-off by the state, perpetrated by completely incompetent politicians, or what are the reasons?"

US sprint star Sha'Carri Richardson surged through the field Monday to win Australia's prestigious Stawell Gift race, clocking the fastest time in its history.

The Houston Rockets spoiled Golden State star Stephen Curry's sparkling return from a 27-game injury absence, thwarting a late Warriors rally for a 117-116 NBA victory on Sunday.

The Artemis astronauts entered the final phase of their run-up to a lunar loop on Monday, a tipping point of sorts that means the Moon's gravity is now having a stronger pull on the spacecraft than Earth's.

Israeli firefighters were searching for two missing people in the rubble of a residential building in the northern city of Haifa after it was struck by an Iranian missile that killed two others, authorities said Monday.

Iran launched fresh attacks across the Middle East on Monday and threatened "devastating" retaliation, after US President Donald Trump's expletive-laced warning that Tehran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

For generations, a Saudi oasis town has been a favoured spot for stressed visitors from the nearby capital Riyadh to come and decompress.

Tadej Pogacar was coy about his chances of making history after winning a fourth successive Monument with his record-equalling third Tour of Flanders success.

Vincent Kompany's Bayern Munich visit Real Madrid on Tuesday in the Champions League quarter-finals high on confidence and looking like Europe's most complete side, bolstered by the likely return of superstar striker Harry Kane.

Mikel Arteta has urged shell-shocked Arsenal to embrace a major test of their character as they seek to recover from a pair of devastating defeats in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final at Sporting Lisbon.

At a roadside cafe in downtown Cairo, Abu Ali was mid domino throw when the lights snapped off under new early-closing orders enacted to curb Egypt's soaring energy bill due to the US-Israel war on Iran.

Oil opened higher on Monday as the war in the Middle East squeezes energy supplies, with fresh threats from both sides quashing any hope of de-escalation for now.

The Artemis astronauts on Sunday were approaching a key milestone in their journey to slingshot around the Moon, a historic NASA mission that will see the first woman and first person of color perform a lunar flyby.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret to Pyongyang Monday over drones sent into North Korea earlier this year, actions he called "irresponsible".

Lauren Coughlin carded an even-par 72 on Sunday to complete a wire-to-wire victory in the Aramco Championship, capturing her third LPGA title by five strokes.

For the first time in more than half a century, astronauts will fly around the Moon on Monday, marking the high point of the Artemis 2's lunar mission.

The Masters green jacket, the symbol of supremacy at Augusta National, is among the most coveted items of clothing in sport -- and one of the hardest to obtain.