Marc Marquez was "super happy" to claim his first-ever win at the Red Bull Ring as he raced to victory in the Austrian MotoGP on Sunday (Aug 17).It was his ninth win of the season and stretched his lead at the top of the championship standings. The Ducati rider, who started fourth on the grid, swept past pole-sitter Marco Bezzecchi on lap 20 and pulled away for his sixth successive victory. Rookie Fermin Aldeguer closed on him in the final laps but had to settle for second, the best result of his fledgling career, with Bezzecchi completing the podium.&nbsp;"Yes, super, super happy to finally take the first victory here in Austria, I'm wearing the red bike (Ducati) and it was working super good," said Marquez.&nbsp;Victory in the 1000th MotoGP race completed a perfect weekend for the Spaniard, who, after a poor qualifying that saw him slide off the track, also won his 12th sprint of the season on Saturday.&nbsp;It also moves the 32-year-old one step closer to a seventh world title, his first since 2019.&nbsp;After 13 rounds of the 22-race season, Marquez is now 142 points clear of his brother Alex Marquez (Ducati-Gresini) in the standings.<h3>Patience pays off</h3>&nbsp;Marc Marquez made an excellent start, passing his brother on the first turn and sweeping past teammate Francesco Bagnaia, unbeaten here since 2022, on the second lap. That then set up a cat-and-mouse battle with Bezzecchi (Aprilia). Marquez had to wait until eight laps from the end before he could make the decisive move.&nbsp;Bezzecchi was then caught by the flying Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini), who briefly threatened to press Marquez for the chequered flag. In the end, the 20-year-old dropped off to secure second.&nbsp;"In the first part, he (Bezzecchi) was super strong, but then I just waited," said Marquez. "I tried in the beginning, but it was too risky; I preferred to wait and attack near the end.&nbsp;"But a new outsider arrived, and it was Aldeguer this time, and he was arriving super fast. But yes, I'm very happy for six victories in a row."&nbsp;In spite of starting second, Alex Marquez was always an outsider for the race win as he needed to serve a long-lap penalty for wiping out Honda's Joan Mir in an accident last time at the Czech MotoGP. He took it on lap three, which saw him drop from fourth to 11th, and he never recovered, finishing 10th.&nbsp;Reigning champion Jorge Martin's nightmare season continued when he crashed out in last place on turn 7 on lap 15.&nbsp;The Spaniard, who has said he will stay at Aprilia next season, sat out the first three races following two pre-season crashes. When he returned at Qatar in April, he crashed heavily again and missed the next seven races, only returning to the track in the last round in Brno.&nbsp;The next round of the championship takes place in Hungary next weekend.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The Ducati rider, Marc Marquez, who started fourth on the grid, swept past pole-sitter Marco Bezzecchi on lap 20 and pulled away for his sixth successive victory. 

Marc Marquez was "super happy" to claim his first-ever win at the Red Bull Ring as he raced to victory in the Austrian MotoGP on Sunday (Aug 17). It was his ninth win of the season and stretched his lead at the top of the championship standings. The Ducati rider, who started fourth on the grid, swept past pole-sitter Marco Bezzecchi on lap 20 and pulled away for his sixth successive victory. Rookie Fermin Aldeguer closed on him in the final laps but had to settle for second, the best result of his fledgling career, with Bezzecchi completing the podium. "Yes, super, super happy to finally take the first victory here in Austria, I'm wearing the red bike (Ducati) and it was working super good," said Marquez. Victory in the 1000th MotoGP race completed a perfect weekend for the Spaniard, who, after a poor qualifying that saw him slide off the track, also won his 12th sprint of the season on Saturday. It also moves the 32-year-old one step closer to a seventh world title, his first since 2019. After 13 rounds of the 22-race season, Marquez is now 142 points clear of his brother Alex Marquez (Ducati-Gresini) in the standings. Patience pays off Marc Marquez made an excellent start, passing his brother on the first turn and sweeping past teammate Francesco Bagnaia, unbeaten here since 2022, on the second lap. That then set up a cat-and-mouse battle with Bezzecchi (Aprilia). Marquez had to wait until eight laps from the end before he could make the decisive move. Bezzecchi was then caught by the flying Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini), who briefly threatened to press Marquez for the chequered flag. In the end, the 20-year-old dropped off to secure second. "In the first part, he (Bezzecchi) was super strong, but then I just waited," said Marquez. "I tried in the beginning, but it was too risky; I preferred to wait and attack near the end. "But a new outsider arrived, and it was Aldeguer this time, and he was arriving super fast. But yes, I'm very happy for six victories in a row." In spite of starting second, Alex Marquez was always an outsider for the race win as he needed to serve a long-lap penalty for wiping out Honda's Joan Mir in an accident last time at the Czech MotoGP. He took it on lap three, which saw him drop from fourth to 11th, and he never recovered, finishing 10th. Reigning champion Jorge Martin's nightmare season continued when he crashed out in last place on turn 7 on lap 15. The Spaniard, who has said he will stay at Aprilia next season, sat out the first three races following two pre-season crashes. When he returned at Qatar in April, he crashed heavily again and missed the next seven races, only returning to the track in the last round in Brno. The next round of the championship takes place in Hungary next weekend. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The Ducati rider, Marc Marquez, who started fourth on the grid, swept past pole-sitter Marco Bezzecchi on lap 20 and pulled away for his sixth successive victory.&nbsp;

Ducati’s Marc Marquez extends winning run with Austrian MotoGP win

Pakistani rescuers dug homes out from under massive boulders on Sunday as they searched for survivors of flash floods that killed at least 344 people, with more than 150 still missing.&nbsp;Since Thursday, torrential rains across the country have caused flooding, rising waters and landslides that have swept away entire villages and left many residents trapped in the rubble.&nbsp;Most of the deaths, 317, were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where monsoon rains that are only expected to intensify in the days ahead drove flooding and landslides that collapsed houses.&nbsp;More than 150 people are missing in hardest-hit Buner district, where at least 208 people were killed and "10 to 12 entire villages" were partially buried, officials told AFP.&nbsp;"They could be trapped under the rubble of their homes or swept away by floodwaters," said Asfandyar Khattak, head of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Provincial Disaster Management Authority.&nbsp;"Separately, in Shangla district, dozens of people are also reported missing," Khattak added.&nbsp;"There is no electricity or mobile signal in Buner, as power lines and mobile towers were damaged," he added.&nbsp;The spokesman for the province's rescue agency told AFP that around 2,000 rescue workers were involved across nine districts, where rain was still hampering efforts.&nbsp;"The operation to rescue people trapped under debris is ongoing," said Bilal Ahmad Faizi.&nbsp;"The chances of those buried under the debris surviving are very slim," he added.&nbsp;AFP journalists in Buner saw half-buried vehicles and belongings lying strewn in the sludge, with mud covering houses and shops.A grave digger, Qaiser Ali Shah, told AFP he dug 29 burial places in the last two days.&nbsp;"I have also dug six graves for children. With each grave, it felt as though I was digging it for my own child," he told AFP.&nbsp;"For the first time, my body simply refused to carry me through. That's why today I apologised and said I cannot do this work anymore."&nbsp;Flooded roads hampered the movement of rescue vehicles, as a few villagers worked to cut fallen trees to clear the way after the water receded.&nbsp;"Our belongings are scattered, ruined and are in bad shape," shopkeeper Noor Muhammad told AFP as he used a shovel to remove mud.&nbsp;"The shops have been destroyed along with everything else. Even the little money people had has been washed away," he added.The provincial government has declared the severely affected mountainous districts of Buner, Bajaur, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra and Battagram as disaster-hit areas.&nbsp;"We were trapped in our homes and could not get out," another Buner resident, Syed Wahab Bacha, told AFP.&nbsp;"Our entire poor community has been affected... This road was our only path, and it too has been washed away," he added.<h2>Mass funerals</h2>&nbsp;On Saturday, hundreds gathered for mass funerals, where bodies wrapped in blood-stained white shawls were laid out on the village ground.&nbsp;Fallen trees and straw debris were scattered across nearby fields, while residents shovelled mud out of their homes.&nbsp;Pakistan's meteorological department has forecast "torrential rains" with monsoon activity "likely to intensify" from Sunday onwards.The monsoon season brings South Asia about three-quarters of its annual rainfall, vital for agriculture and food security, but also brings destruction.&nbsp;"The intensity of this year's monsoon is around 50 to 60 per cent more than last year," said Lieutenant General Inam Haider, chairman of the national disaster agency.&nbsp;"Two to three more monsoon spells are expected until the first weeks of September," he told journalists in Islamabad.&nbsp;Landslides and flash floods are common during the season, which usually begins in June and eases by the end of September.&nbsp;The torrential rains that have pounded Pakistan since the start of the summer monsoon have killed more than 650 people, with more than 920 injured.&nbsp;Pakistan is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change and is contending with extreme weather events with increasing frequency.&nbsp;Monsoon floods in 2022 submerged a third of the country and killed around 1,700 people.&nbsp;Another villager in Buner told AFP on Saturday that residents had spent the night searching through the rubble of their former homes."The entire area is reeling from profound trauma," said 32-year-old schoolteacher Saifullah Khan.&nbsp;"I helped retrieve the bodies of the children I taught. I keep wondering what kind of trial nature has imposed on these kids," he said.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

More than 150 people are missing in hardest-hit Buner district, where at least 208 people were killed and "10 to 12 entire villages" were partially buried, officials told AFP.

Pakistani rescuers dug homes out from under massive boulders on Sunday as they searched for survivors of flash floods that killed at least 344 people, with more than 150 still missing. Since Thursday, torrential rains across the country have caused flooding, rising waters and landslides that have swept away entire villages and left many residents trapped in the rubble. Most of the deaths, 317, were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where monsoon rains that are only expected to intensify in the days ahead drove flooding and landslides that collapsed houses. More than 150 people are missing in hardest-hit Buner district, where at least 208 people were killed and "10 to 12 entire villages" were partially buried, officials told AFP. "They could be trapped under the rubble of their homes or swept away by floodwaters," said Asfandyar Khattak, head of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Provincial Disaster Management Authority. "Separately, in Shangla district, dozens of people are also reported missing," Khattak added. "There is no electricity or mobile signal in Buner, as power lines and mobile towers were damaged," he added. The spokesman for the province's rescue agency told AFP that around 2,000 rescue workers were involved across nine districts, where rain was still hampering efforts. "The operation to rescue people trapped under debris is ongoing," said Bilal Ahmad Faizi. "The chances of those buried under the debris surviving are very slim," he added. AFP journalists in Buner saw half-buried vehicles and belongings lying strewn in the sludge, with mud covering houses and shops. A grave digger, Qaiser Ali Shah, told AFP he dug 29 burial places in the last two days. "I have also dug six graves for children. With each grave, it felt as though I was digging it for my own child," he told AFP. "For the first time, my body simply refused to carry me through. That's why today I apologised and said I cannot do this work anymore." Flooded roads hampered the movement of rescue vehicles, as a few villagers worked to cut fallen trees to clear the way after the water receded. "Our belongings are scattered, ruined and are in bad shape," shopkeeper Noor Muhammad told AFP as he used a shovel to remove mud. "The shops have been destroyed along with everything else. Even the little money people had has been washed away," he added. The provincial government has declared the severely affected mountainous districts of Buner, Bajaur, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra and Battagram as disaster-hit areas. "We were trapped in our homes and could not get out," another Buner resident, Syed Wahab Bacha, told AFP. "Our entire poor community has been affected... This road was our only path, and it too has been washed away," he added. Mass funerals On Saturday, hundreds gathered for mass funerals, where bodies wrapped in blood-stained white shawls were laid out on the village ground. Fallen trees and straw debris were scattered across nearby fields, while residents shovelled mud out of their homes. Pakistan's meteorological department has forecast "torrential rains" with monsoon activity "likely to intensify" from Sunday onwards. The monsoon season brings South Asia about three-quarters of its annual rainfall, vital for agriculture and food security, but also brings destruction. "The intensity of this year's monsoon is around 50 to 60 per cent more than last year," said Lieutenant General Inam Haider, chairman of the national disaster agency. "Two to three more monsoon spells are expected until the first weeks of September," he told journalists in Islamabad. Landslides and flash floods are common during the season, which usually begins in June and eases by the end of September. The torrential rains that have pounded Pakistan since the start of the summer monsoon have killed more than 650 people, with more than 920 injured. Pakistan is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change and is contending with extreme weather events with increasing frequency. Monsoon floods in 2022 submerged a third of the country and killed around 1,700 people. Another villager in Buner told AFP on Saturday that residents had spent the night searching through the rubble of their former homes. "The entire area is reeling from profound trauma," said 32-year-old schoolteacher Saifullah Khan. "I helped retrieve the bodies of the children I taught. I keep wondering what kind of trial nature has imposed on these kids," he said. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

More than 150 people are missing in hardest-hit Buner district, where at least 208 people were killed and "10 to 12 entire villages" were partially buried, officials told AFP.

Hopes for survivors grow grim as landslides, floods devastate Pakistan villages

Spanish champions Barcelona opened their Liga campaign on Saturday with an island cruise as they played almost an hour against nine men on their way to a 3-0 victory in Mallorca. Barcelona's second-half stroll did not please coach Hansi Flick.&nbsp;"They're three important points, but I didn't like the match," he told broadcaster Movistar. "After going two goals up and following Mallorca's two red cards, I think the team only gave 50 percent and I didn't like that."&nbsp;"Playing at 50 or 60 per cent is not possible against nine players."&nbsp;Two of Barcelona's Ballon d'Or nominees combined to put the visitors ahead after seven minutes, Lamine Yamal crossing for Raphinha to head in.&nbsp;Yamal played a key role in the second goal after 23 minutes. Mallorca defender Antonio Raillo headed away the teenager's shot and then fell to the ground.&nbsp;As the referee waved play on and Mallorca failed to clear, the ball fell to Ferran Torres. He fired home from the edge of the box.&nbsp;"If I would be on the other side of the decision I also would be not happy but I always say to my team until the referee stops the match we have to continue," said Flick speaking in English at the post-match press conference.&nbsp;"The referee didn't stop the match so there you go. That they are unhappy with that decision I can also imagine."&nbsp;Manu Morlanes was one of two Mallorca players booked for dissent as they told the referee he should have stopped the game.&nbsp;Ten minutes later, Morlanes received a second yellow for a challenge on the rampant Yamal and was sent off.&nbsp;In the 39th minute, as Barcelona's debutant goalkeeper Joan Garcia jumped to head a ball clear, Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi challenged with his boot so high he planted his studs on Garcia's cheek. Muriqi also saw red.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-virat-kohli-here-is-a-look-at-five-indian-batters-with-most-runs-in-asia-cup-odis-t20is-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-dhawan-1754123070628">From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is)</a>&nbsp;Barcelona strolled through the second half. Flick brought on summer loan signing Marcus Rashford, whose league registration only cleared on Saturday morning, for his Liga debut.&nbsp;Deep into injury time Yamal picked up the ball on the right, left three defenders trailing as he cut across the top of the penalty area and curled a left-foot shot into the top corner with the final kick of the game.&nbsp;"He surprises you every day. He's a spectacular player," said Flick.&nbsp;In the evening's late games Valencia drew 1-1 at home to Real Sociedad. Diego Lopez gave the hosts a 57th-minute lead, Takefusa Kubo replied three minutes later.&nbsp;In Vitoria, Argentine centre back Facundo Tenaglia fired home from close range after a free kick in added time to give hosts Alaves a 2-1 victory over promoted Levante.&nbsp;Atletico Madrid start their campaign on Sunday at home to Sevilla. Real Madrid close the opening round on Tuesday against Osasuna.&nbsp;On Friday, Jorge de Frutos scored the first goal of the new La Liga season to set Rayo Vallecano on their way to a 3-1 win over 10-man Girona.&nbsp;Real Oviedo's return to the top flight after a 24-year absence began on a flat note with a 2-0 defeat at Villarreal.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Two of Barcelona's Ballon d'Or nominees combined to put the visitors ahead after seven minutes, Lamine Yamal crossing for Raphinha to head in.

Spanish champions Barcelona opened their Liga campaign on Saturday with an island cruise as they played almost an hour against nine men on their way to a 3-0 victory in Mallorca. Barcelona's second-half stroll did not please coach Hansi Flick. "They're three important points, but I didn't like the match," he told broadcaster Movistar. "After going two goals up and following Mallorca's two red cards, I think the team only gave 50 percent and I didn't like that." "Playing at 50 or 60 per cent is not possible against nine players." Two of Barcelona's Ballon d'Or nominees combined to put the visitors ahead after seven minutes, Lamine Yamal crossing for Raphinha to head in. Yamal played a key role in the second goal after 23 minutes. Mallorca defender Antonio Raillo headed away the teenager's shot and then fell to the ground. As the referee waved play on and Mallorca failed to clear, the ball fell to Ferran Torres. He fired home from the edge of the box. "If I would be on the other side of the decision I also would be not happy but I always say to my team until the referee stops the match we have to continue," said Flick speaking in English at the post-match press conference. "The referee didn't stop the match so there you go. That they are unhappy with that decision I can also imagine." Manu Morlanes was one of two Mallorca players booked for dissent as they told the referee he should have stopped the game. Ten minutes later, Morlanes received a second yellow for a challenge on the rampant Yamal and was sent off. In the 39th minute, as Barcelona's debutant goalkeeper Joan Garcia jumped to head a ball clear, Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi challenged with his boot so high he planted his studs on Garcia's cheek. Muriqi also saw red. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) Barcelona strolled through the second half. Flick brought on summer loan signing Marcus Rashford, whose league registration only cleared on Saturday morning, for his Liga debut. Deep into injury time Yamal picked up the ball on the right, left three defenders trailing as he cut across the top of the penalty area and curled a left-foot shot into the top corner with the final kick of the game. "He surprises you every day. He's a spectacular player," said Flick. In the evening's late games Valencia drew 1-1 at home to Real Sociedad. Diego Lopez gave the hosts a 57th-minute lead, Takefusa Kubo replied three minutes later. In Vitoria, Argentine centre back Facundo Tenaglia fired home from close range after a free kick in added time to give hosts Alaves a 2-1 victory over promoted Levante. Atletico Madrid start their campaign on Sunday at home to Sevilla. Real Madrid close the opening round on Tuesday against Osasuna. On Friday, Jorge de Frutos scored the first goal of the new La Liga season to set Rayo Vallecano on their way to a 3-1 win over 10-man Girona. Real Oviedo's return to the top flight after a 24-year absence began on a flat note with a 2-0 defeat at Villarreal. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Two of Barcelona's Ballon d'Or nominees combined to put the visitors ahead after seven minutes, Lamine Yamal crossing for Raphinha to head in.

Barcelona open La Liga title defence strolling past nine-man Mallorca

World number one Jannik Sinner and hot rival Carlos Alcaraz will face off in a major final for the fourth time this season after both booked straight-set wins into the title match at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Saturday.&nbsp;Defending champion Sinner ruthlessly subdued 136th-ranked qualifier Terence Atmane 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 while Spanish second seed Alcaraz defeated an ailing Alexander Zverev, who was suffering badly from the 32 Celsius heat and humidity, by 6-4, 6-3.&nbsp;Alcaraz and Sinner have played for trophies this season in Rome, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, with the Italian winning their most recent at the All England Club last month.&nbsp;Sinner, celebrating his 24th birthday, ended Frenchman Atmane's dream run and will now try to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2014-15 to win back-to-back titles in Cincinnati.&nbsp;Sinner, tuning up for the US Open in his first tournament since winning Wimbledon, hasn't dropped a set en route to the final.&nbsp;"It's a very, very tough challenge every time you play a new opponent," Sinner said. "In the later stages of the tournament,the pressure is on, they deserve to be there."&nbsp;Alcaraz will also be playing in his second Cincy final after losing to Novak Djokovic in 2023.&nbsp;The Spaniard increased his ATP season match win lead to 53 in a year of five titles.&nbsp;Alcaraz broke Zverev once in the opening set to claim it before the German, who is diabetic, began feeling poorly and took a medical timeout off court after the third game of the second set.&nbsp;Zverev, who has retired in only two matches since 2014, came back out to finish what was a patchy match from Alcaraz, who double-faulted for times in the second game of the second set but won the last 12 points with Zverev running on fumes.&nbsp;"We started well with good rallies, a good level," Alcaraz said. "All of a sudden he felt bad and I was thinking more about how he was feeling instead of playing good tennis."It was tough and I just wish him all the best."&nbsp;Alcaraz said he is keen to try and take his Wimbledon revenge on Sinner in the unorthodox Monday final.&nbsp;"We always bring our best tennis. We raise each other's level. I'm ready to take the challenge," Alcaraz said.&nbsp;"I will try and adjust my game better and correct what I did wrong in our last match. I want to be ready with my 100%. Mentally I'll be ready -- I'm excited for Monday."&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-virat-kohli-here-is-a-look-at-five-indian-batters-with-most-runs-in-asia-cup-odis-t20is-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-dhawan-1754123070628">From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is)</a><h2>Pressure was on me</h2>Atmane gave birthday boy Sinner a Pokemon card shortly before they went on court, but he was in a less giving mood once they were underway.&nbsp;But Sinner surrendered just three points in his first six service games as they went to the tiebreaker with neither man facing a break point.&nbsp;Atmane double faulted on the first point of the decider and Sinner was away, powering to a 5-2 lead and pocketing the set at his second opportunity.&nbsp;"My experience helped in the first set," he said. "I'm very happy to go through to another final.&nbsp;"I tried to focus on myself, how I usually play, and then try to adapt a little bit to his game style," Sinner said. "And that's exactly what I did today.&nbsp;"The pressure was on me. That's normal in the position where I am in -- he was ready to fight."&nbsp;"My goal has always been the US Open, But we have put in the work here, in the gym and in practice. I just hope to be ready for New York."&nbsp;Sinner showed a first sign of vulnerability as he needed five game points to hold serve in the opening game of the second set.&nbsp;But that was the closest look Atmane got at his serve, and Sinner broke the Frenchman for a 3-1 lead and again to seal the match.&nbsp;Atmane, who is projected to crack the top 70 in the world rankings, became Sinner's 22nd straight French victim since May 2021, when he lost to Arthur Rinderknech in Lyon.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner ruthlessly subdued 136th-ranked qualifier Terence Atmane 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 while Spanish second seed Carlos Alcaraz defeated an ailing Alexander Zverev, who was suffering badly from the 32 Celsius heat and humidity, by 6-4, 6-3.

World number one Jannik Sinner and hot rival Carlos Alcaraz will face off in a major final for the fourth time this season after both booked straight-set wins into the title match at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Saturday. Defending champion Sinner ruthlessly subdued 136th-ranked qualifier Terence Atmane 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 while Spanish second seed Alcaraz defeated an ailing Alexander Zverev, who was suffering badly from the 32 Celsius heat and humidity, by 6-4, 6-3. Alcaraz and Sinner have played for trophies this season in Rome, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, with the Italian winning their most recent at the All England Club last month. Sinner, celebrating his 24th birthday, ended Frenchman Atmane's dream run and will now try to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2014-15 to win back-to-back titles in Cincinnati. Sinner, tuning up for the US Open in his first tournament since winning Wimbledon, hasn't dropped a set en route to the final. "It's a very, very tough challenge every time you play a new opponent," Sinner said. "In the later stages of the tournament,the pressure is on, they deserve to be there." Alcaraz will also be playing in his second Cincy final after losing to Novak Djokovic in 2023. The Spaniard increased his ATP season match win lead to 53 in a year of five titles. Alcaraz broke Zverev once in the opening set to claim it before the German, who is diabetic, began feeling poorly and took a medical timeout off court after the third game of the second set. Zverev, who has retired in only two matches since 2014, came back out to finish what was a patchy match from Alcaraz, who double-faulted for times in the second game of the second set but won the last 12 points with Zverev running on fumes. "We started well with good rallies, a good level," Alcaraz said. "All of a sudden he felt bad and I was thinking more about how he was feeling instead of playing good tennis. "It was tough and I just wish him all the best." Alcaraz said he is keen to try and take his Wimbledon revenge on Sinner in the unorthodox Monday final. "We always bring our best tennis. We raise each other's level. I'm ready to take the challenge," Alcaraz said. "I will try and adjust my game better and correct what I did wrong in our last match. I want to be ready with my 100%. Mentally I'll be ready -- I'm excited for Monday." ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) Pressure was on me Atmane gave birthday boy Sinner a Pokemon card shortly before they went on court, but he was in a less giving mood once they were underway. But Sinner surrendered just three points in his first six service games as they went to the tiebreaker with neither man facing a break point. Atmane double faulted on the first point of the decider and Sinner was away, powering to a 5-2 lead and pocketing the set at his second opportunity. "My experience helped in the first set," he said. "I'm very happy to go through to another final. "I tried to focus on myself, how I usually play, and then try to adapt a little bit to his game style," Sinner said. "And that's exactly what I did today. "The pressure was on me. That's normal in the position where I am in -- he was ready to fight." "My goal has always been the US Open, But we have put in the work here, in the gym and in practice. I just hope to be ready for New York." Sinner showed a first sign of vulnerability as he needed five game points to hold serve in the opening game of the second set. But that was the closest look Atmane got at his serve, and Sinner broke the Frenchman for a 3-1 lead and again to seal the match. Atmane, who is projected to crack the top 70 in the world rankings, became Sinner's 22nd straight French victim since May 2021, when he lost to Arthur Rinderknech in Lyon. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner ruthlessly subdued 136th-ranked qualifier Terence Atmane 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 while Spanish second seed Carlos Alcaraz defeated an ailing Alexander Zverev, who was suffering badly from the 32 Celsius heat and humidity, by 6-4, 6-3.

Cincinnati Open: Carlos Alcaraz to face defending champ Jannik Sinner in final

Lionel Messi returned from injury as a reserve and scored in the 84th minute to spark Inter Miami over the defending MLS champion Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 on Saturday. The iconic 38-year-old Argentine striker was back on the field for Miami after suffering what Inter coach Javier Mascherano had called a "minor muscle injury" -- an apparent hamstring strain -- in Inter's August 2 Leagues Cup victory over Mexican side Necaxa.&nbsp;"It had been something very small," Mascherano said of his injury after the match. "The three training sessions we had were good. The important thing is that the match ended. As the minutes went by, I saw him better. We have to see how he feels tomorrow."&nbsp;Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, who missed a Leagues Cup win over Pumas UNAM and last weekend's MLS loss at Orlando City, was on the bench as a reserve before entering in the second half, replacing Telasco Segovia.&nbsp;"We had planned the match to give minutes to Leo. The idea was to give him 45 minutes so that he can find sensations," Mascherano said. "I didn't see him after the game. Tomorrow we'll see what feelings he had.&nbsp;"He's an extraordinary player. I saw that he was clearly not 100 percent comfortable but as the minutes went by he was loosening up more and more. We will have to see how he ended with the fatigue."&nbsp;Jordi Alba scored for Miami in the 43rd minute but Joseph Paintsil equalized for the Galaxy in the 59th minute.&nbsp;Messi scored in the 84th and Luis Suarez added an insurance tally in the 89th off an assist from Messi to produce the final victory margin.&nbsp;Messi, the reigning MLS Most Valuable Player, has 19 goals and 10 assists in 19 MLS appearances for Miami this season.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-virat-kohli-here-is-a-look-at-five-indian-batters-with-most-runs-in-asia-cup-odis-t20is-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-dhawan-1754123070628">From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is)</a>&nbsp;He also has the Herons into the quarter-finals of the Leagues Cup, which they won in 2023 just after Messi's arrival. Miami will play Tigres in a Cup quarter-final on Wednesday.&nbsp;"He wants to play every single game," Mascherano said. "You have to understand why Leo is Leo. He always wants to be on the pitch. He's happy there. Sometimes we try to explain him that we have to go slowly but when he feels good he knows himself like no one. In the end we tried to give him some minutes today to start having good feelings for Wednesday."&nbsp;Inter Miami rank fourth in the MLS Eastern Conference, six points behind MLS leaders Philadelphia but with three matches in hand.&nbsp;South Korean international and former Tottenham Hotspur striker Son Heung-min picked up his first MLS victory in his first MLS start as LAFC won 2-0 at New England.&nbsp;Son, who helped LAFC take a draw in Chicago last week as a reserve in his league debut, assisted on the LAFC win-clinching goal by Mathieu Choiniere in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time.&nbsp;Marco Delgado scored LAFC's first goal in the 51st minute.&nbsp;LAFC rank fifth in the Western Conference, nine points adrift of pace-setting San Diego with two matches in hand.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi, who missed a Leagues Cup win over Pumas UNAM and last weekend's MLS loss at Orlando City, was on the bench as a reserve before entering in the second half, replacing Telasco Segovia.

Lionel Messi returned from injury as a reserve and scored in the 84th minute to spark Inter Miami over the defending MLS champion Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 on Saturday. The iconic 38-year-old Argentine striker was back on the field for Miami after suffering what Inter coach Javier Mascherano had called a "minor muscle injury" -- an apparent hamstring strain -- in Inter's August 2 Leagues Cup victory over Mexican side Necaxa. "It had been something very small," Mascherano said of his injury after the match. "The three training sessions we had were good. The important thing is that the match ended. As the minutes went by, I saw him better. We have to see how he feels tomorrow." Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, who missed a Leagues Cup win over Pumas UNAM and last weekend's MLS loss at Orlando City, was on the bench as a reserve before entering in the second half, replacing Telasco Segovia. "We had planned the match to give minutes to Leo. The idea was to give him 45 minutes so that he can find sensations," Mascherano said. "I didn't see him after the game. Tomorrow we'll see what feelings he had. "He's an extraordinary player. I saw that he was clearly not 100 percent comfortable but as the minutes went by he was loosening up more and more. We will have to see how he ended with the fatigue." Jordi Alba scored for Miami in the 43rd minute but Joseph Paintsil equalized for the Galaxy in the 59th minute. Messi scored in the 84th and Luis Suarez added an insurance tally in the 89th off an assist from Messi to produce the final victory margin. Messi, the reigning MLS Most Valuable Player, has 19 goals and 10 assists in 19 MLS appearances for Miami this season. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) He also has the Herons into the quarter-finals of the Leagues Cup, which they won in 2023 just after Messi's arrival. Miami will play Tigres in a Cup quarter-final on Wednesday. "He wants to play every single game," Mascherano said. "You have to understand why Leo is Leo. He always wants to be on the pitch. He's happy there. Sometimes we try to explain him that we have to go slowly but when he feels good he knows himself like no one. In the end we tried to give him some minutes today to start having good feelings for Wednesday." Inter Miami rank fourth in the MLS Eastern Conference, six points behind MLS leaders Philadelphia but with three matches in hand. South Korean international and former Tottenham Hotspur striker Son Heung-min picked up his first MLS victory in his first MLS start as LAFC won 2-0 at New England. Son, who helped LAFC take a draw in Chicago last week as a reserve in his league debut, assisted on the LAFC win-clinching goal by Mathieu Choiniere in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time. Marco Delgado scored LAFC's first goal in the 51st minute. LAFC rank fifth in the Western Conference, nine points adrift of pace-setting San Diego with two matches in hand. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi, who missed a Leagues Cup win over Pumas UNAM and last weekend's MLS loss at Orlando City, was on the bench as a reserve before entering in the second half, replacing Telasco Segovia.

Lionel Messi scores in Inter Miami win while Son's LAFC beat New England

The US government said Saturday it is suspending visitor visas for Gazans after a far-right influencer with the ear of President Donald Trump complained that wounded Palestinians had been allowed to seek medical treatment in the United States.&nbsp;The announcement came one day after a series of furious social media posts by Laura Loomer, who is known for promoting racist conspiracy theories and claiming that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were an inside job.&nbsp;"All visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped while we conduct a full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days," the State Department, which is led by Marco Rubio, wrote on X.&nbsp;In a series of posts on X Friday, Loomer called on the State Department to stop giving visas to Palestinians from Gaza who she said were "pro-HAMAS... affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and funded by Qatar," without providing evidence.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/no-trump-putin-breakthrough-in-alaska-india-s-dilemma-over-russian-oil-deepens-1755380637418/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/no-trump-putin-breakthrough-in-alaska-india-s-dilemma-over-russian-oil-deepens-1755380637418/embed</a>&nbsp;Loomer's target was the US-based charity HEAL Palestine, which said last week it had helped 11 critically wounded Gazan children -- as well as their caregivers and siblings -- arrive safely in the US for medical treatment. It was "the largest single medical evacuation of injured children from Gaza to the US," the charity said on its website.<h2>'Dangerous and inhumane'&nbsp;</h2>"Truly unacceptable," Loomer wrote in another X post. "Someone needs to be fired at @StateDept when @marcorubio figures out who approved the visas."&nbsp;"Qatar transported these GAZANS into the US via @qatarairways," she said. Qatar is "literally flooding our country with jihadis," she added. Loomer said she had spoken to the staff of Republican Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate intelligence committee, adding that they were "also looking into how these GAZANS got visas to come into the US."&nbsp;Republican Congressman Randy Fine explicitly commended Loomer after the visa change was announced, in a sign of her sway over some US policy. "Massive credit needs to be given to @LauraLoomer for uncovering this and making me and other officials aware. Well done, Laura," Fine wrote on X. The Palestine Children's Relief Fund, a US-based charity, called on the Trump administration to “reverse this dangerous and inhumane decision.” Over the last 30 years, the charity has evacuated thousands of Palestinian children to the US for medical care, it said in a statement.&nbsp;"Medical evacuations are a lifeline for the children of Gaza who would otherwise face unimaginable suffering or death due to the collapse of medical infrastructure in Gaza."Though Loomer holds no official position, she wields significant power and is reported to have successfully pushed for the dismissal of several senior US security officials she deemed disloyal to Trump.&nbsp;In July, Loomer took aim at a job offer made to a highly qualified Biden-era official for a prestigious position at the West Point military academy. The Pentagon rescinded the offer one day later. Trump also fired the head of the highly sensitive National Security Agency, Timothy Haugh, and his deputy, Wendy Noble in April at the apparent urging of Loomer, after she met with the president at the White House. "No other content creator or journalist has gotten as many Biden holdovers fired from the Trump admin!" Loomer posted on X Saturday.

The announcement came one day after a series of furious social media posts by Laura Loomer, who is known for promoting racist conspiracy theories and claiming that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were an inside job.

The US government said Saturday it is suspending visitor visas for Gazans after a far-right influencer with the ear of President Donald Trump complained that wounded Palestinians had been allowed to seek medical treatment in the United States. The announcement came one day after a series of furious social media posts by Laura Loomer, who is known for promoting racist conspiracy theories and claiming that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were an inside job. "All visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped while we conduct a full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days," the State Department, which is led by Marco Rubio, wrote on X. In a series of posts on X Friday, Loomer called on the State Department to stop giving visas to Palestinians from Gaza who she said were "pro-HAMAS... affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and funded by Qatar," without providing evidence. https://www.wionews.com/videos/no-trump-putin-breakthrough-in-alaska-india-s-dilemma-over-russian-oil-deepens-1755380637418/embed Loomer's target was the US-based charity HEAL Palestine, which said last week it had helped 11 critically wounded Gazan children -- as well as their caregivers and siblings -- arrive safely in the US for medical treatment. It was "the largest single medical evacuation of injured children from Gaza to the US," the charity said on its website. 'Dangerous and inhumane' "Truly unacceptable," Loomer wrote in another X post. "Someone needs to be fired at @StateDept when @marcorubio figures out who approved the visas." "Qatar transported these GAZANS into the US via @qatarairways," she said. Qatar is "literally flooding our country with jihadis," she added. Loomer said she had spoken to the staff of Republican Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate intelligence committee, adding that they were "also looking into how these GAZANS got visas to come into the US." Republican Congressman Randy Fine explicitly commended Loomer after the visa change was announced, in a sign of her sway over some US policy. "Massive credit needs to be given to @LauraLoomer for uncovering this and making me and other officials aware. Well done, Laura," Fine wrote on X. The Palestine Children's Relief Fund, a US-based charity, called on the Trump administration to “reverse this dangerous and inhumane decision.” Over the last 30 years, the charity has evacuated thousands of Palestinian children to the US for medical care, it said in a statement. "Medical evacuations are a lifeline for the children of Gaza who would otherwise face unimaginable suffering or death due to the collapse of medical infrastructure in Gaza." Though Loomer holds no official position, she wields significant power and is reported to have successfully pushed for the dismissal of several senior US security officials she deemed disloyal to Trump. In July, Loomer took aim at a job offer made to a highly qualified Biden-era official for a prestigious position at the West Point military academy. The Pentagon rescinded the offer one day later. Trump also fired the head of the highly sensitive National Security Agency, Timothy Haugh, and his deputy, Wendy Noble in April at the apparent urging of Loomer, after she met with the president at the White House. "No other content creator or journalist has gotten as many Biden holdovers fired from the Trump admin!" Loomer posted on X Saturday.

The announcement came one day after a series of furious social media posts by Laura Loomer, who is known for promoting racist conspiracy theories and claiming that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were an inside job.

Trump suspends Gazans’ visitor visas after far-right influencer posts

Hurricane Erin on Saturday strengthened to a "catastrophic" Category 5 storm as it barrelled towards the Caribbean, with weather officials warning of possible flash floods and landslides. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest report the storm's maximum sustained winds had increased to 160 miles (255 kilometers) per hour by 11:20 am (1520 GMT). Erin, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season this year, was located about 105 miles (170 kilometers) northeast of Anguilla in the northern Leeward Islands, an area that includes the US and British Virgin Islands. "Erin is now a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane," the NHC said. Tropical storm watches remained in effect for St Martin, St Barthelemy and Sint Maarten.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-s-future-on-the-line-zelensky-and-trump-to-meet-in-washington-on-monday-european-leaders-invited-all-you-need-to-know-1755371420179">Ukraine’s future on the line? Zelensky and Trump to meet in Washington on Monday; European leaders invited - All you need to know</a> The hurricane's center is expected to move over the weekend just north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The storm could drench the islands with as much as six inches (15 centimeters) of rain in isolated areas, the NHC said. "Continued rapid strengthening is expected today, followed by fluctuations in intensity through the weekend," the agency said in an earlier report. It also warned of "locally considerable flash and urban flooding, along with landslides or mudslides." Swells generated by Erin will affect portions of the northern Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and the Turks and Caicos Islands through the weekend. Those swells will spread to the Bahamas, Bermuda and the US East Coast early next week, creating "life-threatening surf and rip currents," the NHC said. The hurricane is forecast to turn northward by late Sunday. While meteorologists have expressed confidence that Erin will remain well off the US coastline, they said the storm could still cause dangerous waves and erosion in places such as North Carolina. The Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June until late November, is expected to be more intense than normal, US meteorologists predict. Several powerful storms wreaked havoc in the region last year, including Hurricane Helene, which killed more than 200 people in the southeastern United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration which operates the NHC has been subject to budget cuts and layoffs as part of US President Donald Trump's plans to greatly reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy, leading to fears of lapses in storm forecasting. Climate change namely, rising sea temperatures caused by the burning of fossil fuels has increased both the possibility of the development of more intense storms, and their more rapid intensification, scientists say.

Hurricane Erin has intensified into a "catastrophic" Category 5 storm, becoming the first hurricane of the Atlantic season. The storm is currently heading towards the Caribbean, raising fears of flash floods, mudslides, and dangerous surf across several islands.

Hurricane Erin on Saturday strengthened to a "catastrophic" Category 5 storm as it barrelled towards the Caribbean, with weather officials warning of possible flash floods and landslides. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest report the storm's maximum sustained winds had increased to 160 miles (255 kilometers) per hour by 11:20 am (1520 GMT). Erin, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season this year, was located about 105 miles (170 kilometers) northeast of Anguilla in the northern Leeward Islands, an area that includes the US and British Virgin Islands. "Erin is now a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane," the NHC said. Tropical storm watches remained in effect for St Martin, St Barthelemy and Sint Maarten. Also read: Ukraine’s future on the line? Zelensky and Trump to meet in Washington on Monday; European leaders invited - All you need to know The hurricane's center is expected to move over the weekend just north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The storm could drench the islands with as much as six inches (15 centimeters) of rain in isolated areas, the NHC said. "Continued rapid strengthening is expected today, followed by fluctuations in intensity through the weekend," the agency said in an earlier report. It also warned of "locally considerable flash and urban flooding, along with landslides or mudslides." Swells generated by Erin will affect portions of the northern Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and the Turks and Caicos Islands through the weekend. Those swells will spread to the Bahamas, Bermuda and the US East Coast early next week, creating "life-threatening surf and rip currents," the NHC said. The hurricane is forecast to turn northward by late Sunday. While meteorologists have expressed confidence that Erin will remain well off the US coastline, they said the storm could still cause dangerous waves and erosion in places such as North Carolina. The Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June until late November, is expected to be more intense than normal, US meteorologists predict. Several powerful storms wreaked havoc in the region last year, including Hurricane Helene, which killed more than 200 people in the southeastern United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration which operates the NHC has been subject to budget cuts and layoffs as part of US President Donald Trump's plans to greatly reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy, leading to fears of lapses in storm forecasting. Climate change namely, rising sea temperatures caused by the burning of fossil fuels has increased both the possibility of the development of more intense storms, and their more rapid intensification, scientists say.

Hurricane Erin has intensified into a "catastrophic" Category 5 storm, becoming the first hurricane of the Atlantic season. The storm is currently heading towards the Caribbean, raising fears of flash floods, mudslides, and dangerous surf across several islands.

Erin becomes 'catastrophic' Category 5 hurricane: Here’s what we know so far

Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli attacks killed at least 39 people on Saturday, warning that intensifying strikes on a Gaza City neighbourhood were placing its remaining residents in mortal danger.&nbsp;The latest toll comes more than a week after Israel's security cabinet approved plans to capture the Palestinian territory's largest city, following 22 months of war that have created dire humanitarian conditions.&nbsp;Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said conditions in Gaza City's Zeitun neighbourhood were rapidly deteriorating, with residents having little to no access to food and water amid heavy Israeli bombardment.&nbsp;He said that about 50,000 people were estimated to be in that area of Gaza City, "the majority of whom are without food or water" and lacking "the basic necessities of life".&nbsp;Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing swaths of the Palestinian territory mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency or the Israeli military.&nbsp;In recent days, Gaza City residents have told AFP of more frequent air strikes targeting residential areas, including Zeitun, while earlier this week, militant group Hamas denounced "aggressive" Israeli ground incursions.&nbsp;To Bassal, Israel was carrying out "ethnic cleansing" in Zeitun.&nbsp;Israeli officials have dismissed similar accusations before, and the military insists it abides by international law.&nbsp;The military is "committed to mitigating civilian harm during operational activity, in strict accordance with international law," it said in a statement, questioning the reliability of the death tolls provided by the civil defence agency.&nbsp;Earlier this month, the Israeli government approved plans to seize Gaza City and neighbouring camps, some of the most densely populated parts of the territory.On Friday, the Israeli military said its troops were operating in Zeitun.&nbsp;Ghassan Kashko, 40, who shelters with his family at a school building in the neighbourhood, said: “We don't know the taste of sleep.”&nbsp;He said air strikes and tank shelling were causing "explosions... that don't stop".&nbsp;Later Saturday, Hamas said in a statement that Israeli forces had been carrying out a "sustained offensive in the eastern and southern neighbourhoods of Gaza City, particularly in Zeitun".&nbsp;The group said the military was targeting the area with warplanes, artillery and drones.COGAT -- the Israeli defence ministry body responsible for civil affairs in the Palestinian territories -- said that, starting from Sunday, the military would supply more tents and shelter equipment ahead of the offensive.&nbsp;"As part of the preparations to move the population from combat zones to the southern Gaza Strip for their protection, the supply of tents and shelter equipment to Gaza will resume," it said in a statement.&nbsp;The Israeli plan to expand the war has sparked an international outcry as well as domestic opposition.&nbsp;UN-backed experts have warned of widespread famine unfolding in the territory, where Israel has drastically curtailed the amount of humanitarian aid it allows in.&nbsp;According to the civil defence agency, at least 13 of the Palestinians killed on Saturday were shot by troops as they were waiting to collect food aid near distribution sites in the north and in the south.&nbsp;The war was triggered by Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.&nbsp;Israel's offensive has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, which the United Nations considers reliable.

Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli attacks killed at least 39 people on Saturday, warning that intensifying strikes on a Gaza City neighbourhood were placing its remaining residents in mortal danger.

Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli attacks killed at least 39 people on Saturday, warning that intensifying strikes on a Gaza City neighbourhood were placing its remaining residents in mortal danger. The latest toll comes more than a week after Israel's security cabinet approved plans to capture the Palestinian territory's largest city, following 22 months of war that have created dire humanitarian conditions. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said conditions in Gaza City's Zeitun neighbourhood were rapidly deteriorating, with residents having little to no access to food and water amid heavy Israeli bombardment. He said that about 50,000 people were estimated to be in that area of Gaza City, "the majority of whom are without food or water" and lacking "the basic necessities of life". Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing swaths of the Palestinian territory mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency or the Israeli military. In recent days, Gaza City residents have told AFP of more frequent air strikes targeting residential areas, including Zeitun, while earlier this week, militant group Hamas denounced "aggressive" Israeli ground incursions. To Bassal, Israel was carrying out "ethnic cleansing" in Zeitun. Israeli officials have dismissed similar accusations before, and the military insists it abides by international law. The military is "committed to mitigating civilian harm during operational activity, in strict accordance with international law," it said in a statement, questioning the reliability of the death tolls provided by the civil defence agency. Earlier this month, the Israeli government approved plans to seize Gaza City and neighbouring camps, some of the most densely populated parts of the territory. On Friday, the Israeli military said its troops were operating in Zeitun. Ghassan Kashko, 40, who shelters with his family at a school building in the neighbourhood, said: “We don't know the taste of sleep.” He said air strikes and tank shelling were causing "explosions... that don't stop". Later Saturday, Hamas said in a statement that Israeli forces had been carrying out a "sustained offensive in the eastern and southern neighbourhoods of Gaza City, particularly in Zeitun". The group said the military was targeting the area with warplanes, artillery and drones. COGAT -- the Israeli defence ministry body responsible for civil affairs in the Palestinian territories -- said that, starting from Sunday, the military would supply more tents and shelter equipment ahead of the offensive. "As part of the preparations to move the population from combat zones to the southern Gaza Strip for their protection, the supply of tents and shelter equipment to Gaza will resume," it said in a statement. The Israeli plan to expand the war has sparked an international outcry as well as domestic opposition. UN-backed experts have warned of widespread famine unfolding in the territory, where Israel has drastically curtailed the amount of humanitarian aid it allows in. According to the civil defence agency, at least 13 of the Palestinians killed on Saturday were shot by troops as they were waiting to collect food aid near distribution sites in the north and in the south. The war was triggered by Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's offensive has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, which the United Nations considers reliable.

Israeli officials have dismissed similar accusations before, and the military insists it abides by international law.

Gaza civil defence says Israeli fire kills 39

Kishane Thompson eclipsed Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles at the Silesia Diamond League meet on Saturday and Keely Hodgkinson made an impressive comeback over 800m a year since winning gold at the Paris Games. A host of world and Olympic champions headlined by the likes of Karsten Warholm -- with an incredible performance in the 400m hurdles -- Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis, Faith Kipyegon and Femke Bol shone in hot and humid conditions in front of more than 40,000 fans in the Polish city of Chorzow.&nbsp;&nbsp;In their first meeting since Lyles won Olympic gold by just five-thousandths of a second in Paris last year, Thompson made an electric start and led from gun to tape for victory in 9.87sec.&nbsp;"My job is to get the job done," said Thompson. "I enjoyed competition against Noah today... nobody is perfect, but I am working on improving my strengths and improving on my weaknesses.&nbsp;"Paris last year was a big learning factor. I learned it is me against myself."&nbsp;Lyles had to be content with second in 9.90sec as the athletes fine-tune preparations for the September 13-21 world championships in Tokyo.&nbsp;"It makes me really excited for not only today, but also for next week and Tokyo," the American said. "The more I run, the better I am getting. I get more excited each day and it is working. I need to keep competing."&nbsp;There was a timely return for Hodgkinson as the 23-year-old Briton showed no sign of the lingering hamstring problems that had sidelined her for months as she clocked 1min 54.74sec, the fastest in the world this year.&nbsp;"I was just happy to step on the track after more than a year," Hodgkinson said. "I planned to run a fast time because I don't have five races anymore before Tokyo, I only have today and the meeting in Lausanne next week. So it had to be fast and I'm happy that it worked."&nbsp;Kenya's serial world record breaker Kipyegon missed out on the long-standing world record in the women's 3,000m.&nbsp;Six weeks after improving her own world 1,500m record in Eugene, Kipyegon clocked 8:07.04 over the non-Olympic distance, falling just short of the 8:06.11 world record set by China's Wang Junxia in 1993.&nbsp;"I am so happy. I wanted to run a longer distance," Kipyegon said. “It is all about Tokyo now, but Tokyo is a championship race, so anything can happen!”&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

In their first meeting since Lyles won Olympic gold by just five-thousandths of a second in Paris last year, Thompson made an electric start and led from gun to tape for victory in 9.87sec.

Kishane Thompson eclipsed Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles at the Silesia Diamond League meet on Saturday and Keely Hodgkinson made an impressive comeback over 800m a year since winning gold at the Paris Games. A host of world and Olympic champions headlined by the likes of Karsten Warholm -- with an incredible performance in the 400m hurdles -- Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis, Faith Kipyegon and Femke Bol shone in hot and humid conditions in front of more than 40,000 fans in the Polish city of Chorzow. In their first meeting since Lyles won Olympic gold by just five-thousandths of a second in Paris last year, Thompson made an electric start and led from gun to tape for victory in 9.87sec. "My job is to get the job done," said Thompson. "I enjoyed competition against Noah today... nobody is perfect, but I am working on improving my strengths and improving on my weaknesses. "Paris last year was a big learning factor. I learned it is me against myself." Lyles had to be content with second in 9.90sec as the athletes fine-tune preparations for the September 13-21 world championships in Tokyo. "It makes me really excited for not only today, but also for next week and Tokyo," the American said. "The more I run, the better I am getting. I get more excited each day and it is working. I need to keep competing." There was a timely return for Hodgkinson as the 23-year-old Briton showed no sign of the lingering hamstring problems that had sidelined her for months as she clocked 1min 54.74sec, the fastest in the world this year. "I was just happy to step on the track after more than a year," Hodgkinson said. "I planned to run a fast time because I don't have five races anymore before Tokyo, I only have today and the meeting in Lausanne next week. So it had to be fast and I'm happy that it worked." Kenya's serial world record breaker Kipyegon missed out on the long-standing world record in the women's 3,000m. Six weeks after improving her own world 1,500m record in Eugene, Kipyegon clocked 8:07.04 over the non-Olympic distance, falling just short of the 8:06.11 world record set by China's Wang Junxia in 1993. "I am so happy. I wanted to run a longer distance," Kipyegon said. “It is all about Tokyo now, but Tokyo is a championship race, so anything can happen!” Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

In their first meeting since Lyles won Olympic gold by just five-thousandths of a second in Paris last year, Thompson made an electric start and led from gun to tape for victory in 9.87sec.

Kishane Thompson beats Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles at Silesia Diamond League

Richarlison scored twice to give Tottenham manager Thomas Frank a dream home debut with a 3-0 win over Burnley on Saturday (Aug 16), while Sunderland shocked West Ham 3-0 on their return to the Premier League. Frank was seconds away from launching his era in charge with a trophy until a late Paris Saint-Germain revival won the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday. The former Brentford boss replaced Ange Postecoglou despite the Australian ending Spurs' 17-year trophy drought by lifting the Europa League. However, Postecoglou was undone by a miserable return of six home league wins last season as Tottenham finished just above the relegation zone in 17th.&nbsp;Richarlison made the most of the faith shown in him by Frank as the Brazilian turned in Mohammed Kudus' cross to open the scoring. The pair combined again on the hour in more spectacular fashion as Richarlison's bicycle kick crashed in the Ghanaian's delivery from the right.&nbsp;Brennan Johnson was Tottenham's hero of the Europa League final with the only goal against Manchester United, and he began the new season by racing clear to slot in the third.&nbsp;Burnley racked up 100 points in their Championship promotion campaign last season, &nbsp;but did little to suggest they will buck the trend of sides being relegated straight back to the second tier.&nbsp;For the past two seasons, all three promoted teams have gone down.&nbsp;However, big-spending Sunderland enjoyed a dream return to the top-flight with a second-half demolition of West Ham.&nbsp;Former Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka is among the pool of new signings attracted to the Stadium of Light. But it was three players key to their promotion back to the Premier League for the first time since 2017 who scored. Eliezer Mayenda's looping header gave the Black Cats lift off on the hour mark. Centre-back Dan Ballard headed in the second before Wilson Isidor rounded off a huge win in stoppage time.<h3>Newcastle miss Isak&nbsp;</h3>&nbsp;Newcastle missed the unsettled Alexander Isak as they failed to find the breakthrough against 10-man Aston Villa in a 0-0 draw at Villa Park. The Magpies were the dominant side even before Ezri Konsa's red card for bringing down Antony Gordon 24 minutes from time. Isak had not been involved during Newcastle's pre-season as he appears determined to force through a move to Liverpool, who reportedly saw a £110 million ($149 million) offer for the Swedish striker rejected.&nbsp;The two clubs face off in their next league match at St. James' Park on August 25.&nbsp;Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said he wants an end to the saga one way or another.&nbsp;"From my perspective, you want a resolution quickly. It's taking away the focus of the players and the supporters," said Howe “We want to be united together. We'd like a resolution, but we're not in control of that.”&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Richarlison made the most of the faith shown in him by Frank as the Brazilian turned in Mohammed Kudus' cross to open the scoring.

Richarlison scored twice to give Tottenham manager Thomas Frank a dream home debut with a 3-0 win over Burnley on Saturday (Aug 16), while Sunderland shocked West Ham 3-0 on their return to the Premier League. Frank was seconds away from launching his era in charge with a trophy until a late Paris Saint-Germain revival won the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday. The former Brentford boss replaced Ange Postecoglou despite the Australian ending Spurs' 17-year trophy drought by lifting the Europa League. However, Postecoglou was undone by a miserable return of six home league wins last season as Tottenham finished just above the relegation zone in 17th. Richarlison made the most of the faith shown in him by Frank as the Brazilian turned in Mohammed Kudus' cross to open the scoring. The pair combined again on the hour in more spectacular fashion as Richarlison's bicycle kick crashed in the Ghanaian's delivery from the right. Brennan Johnson was Tottenham's hero of the Europa League final with the only goal against Manchester United, and he began the new season by racing clear to slot in the third. Burnley racked up 100 points in their Championship promotion campaign last season, but did little to suggest they will buck the trend of sides being relegated straight back to the second tier. For the past two seasons, all three promoted teams have gone down. However, big-spending Sunderland enjoyed a dream return to the top-flight with a second-half demolition of West Ham. Former Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka is among the pool of new signings attracted to the Stadium of Light. But it was three players key to their promotion back to the Premier League for the first time since 2017 who scored. Eliezer Mayenda's looping header gave the Black Cats lift off on the hour mark. Centre-back Dan Ballard headed in the second before Wilson Isidor rounded off a huge win in stoppage time. Newcastle miss Isak Newcastle missed the unsettled Alexander Isak as they failed to find the breakthrough against 10-man Aston Villa in a 0-0 draw at Villa Park. The Magpies were the dominant side even before Ezri Konsa's red card for bringing down Antony Gordon 24 minutes from time. Isak had not been involved during Newcastle's pre-season as he appears determined to force through a move to Liverpool, who reportedly saw a £110 million ($149 million) offer for the Swedish striker rejected. The two clubs face off in their next league match at St. James' Park on August 25. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said he wants an end to the saga one way or another. "From my perspective, you want a resolution quickly. It's taking away the focus of the players and the supporters," said Howe “We want to be united together. We'd like a resolution, but we're not in control of that.” Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Richarlison made the most of the faith shown in him by Frank as the Brazilian turned in Mohammed Kudus' cross to open the scoring.

Richarlison rewinds clock to see Spurs through in their PL opener; Sunderland win on return

Glenn Maxwell took a brilliant catch before smashing a half-century under pressure to help Australia overcome a dogged South Africa by two wickets and seal the three-match Twenty20 series in Cairns on Saturday (Aug 16). In response to South Africa's 172-7, Australia were in trouble at 122-6 in the 14th over before Maxwell stepped up with an unbeaten 62 off 36 balls. There was a late twist when South Africa quick Corbin Bosch dismissed Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis with consecutive deliveries. But Maxwell crunched a boundary on the penultimate ball of the match before celebrating with gusto.&nbsp;Hot favourites Australia won the first match but were stunned by a 52-run defeat in game two before moving to Cairns in northern Queensland, which hosted its first T20 international.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-does-the-unthinkable-introduces-like-for-like-replacement-rule-in-case-of-serious-injury-during-game-1755350227768">BCCI does the unthinkable, introduces ‘like-for-like replacement’ rule in case of ‘serious injury’ during game</a>&nbsp;"It was a little nerve-racking," Maxwell said. “I tried to stay on strike as much as I could and cash in on anything loose.”&nbsp;Australia captain Mitchell Marsh elected to field in helpful conditions for seam bowlers, a contrast to the batting-friendly surfaces used in the opening two games in Darwin. Veteran quick Josh Hazlewood rebounded from an errant performance in game two by dismissing captain Aiden Markram for one in the first over.&nbsp;Lhuan-dre Pretorius hit a quick-fire 24 before falling to Ellis, bringing to the crease Dewald Brevis, who smashed a South African T20 record of 125 not out in game two. He crunched his sixth delivery onto the roof before a diving Maxwell dropped a tough one-handed chance at long-on.Brevis motored to his half-century off 22 balls.&nbsp;Maxwell, a brilliant fielder, redeemed himself in the 12th over with a superb diving catch in the outfield to halt Brevis' charge on 53.&nbsp;South Africa's innings ran out of steam, and their total appeared well short when Marsh dominated a 66-run opening partnership with Travis Head. But South Africa hit back with the quick wickets of Head (19) and Josh Inglis for a first-ball duck.&nbsp;Marsh made 54 before holing out to 19-year-old quick Kwena Maphaka, who later in the 11th over dismissed Cameron Green (nine). Australia's collapse of 6-56 was complete when in-form Tim David (17) and Aaron Hardie (one) were dismissed before Maxwell took over. The Australian players wore black armbands in honour of former captain and coach Bob Simpson, who died at the age of 89.&nbsp;The three-match One-Day International series between the teams starts in Cairns on Tuesday (Aug 19).&nbsp;&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

There was a late twist when South Africa quick Corbin Bosch dismissed Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis with consecutive deliveries. But Maxwell crunched a boundary on the penultimate ball of the match before celebrating with gusto.

Glenn Maxwell took a brilliant catch before smashing a half-century under pressure to help Australia overcome a dogged South Africa by two wickets and seal the three-match Twenty20 series in Cairns on Saturday (Aug 16). In response to South Africa's 172-7, Australia were in trouble at 122-6 in the 14th over before Maxwell stepped up with an unbeaten 62 off 36 balls. There was a late twist when South Africa quick Corbin Bosch dismissed Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis with consecutive deliveries. But Maxwell crunched a boundary on the penultimate ball of the match before celebrating with gusto. Hot favourites Australia won the first match but were stunned by a 52-run defeat in game two before moving to Cairns in northern Queensland, which hosted its first T20 international. Also read | BCCI does the unthinkable, introduces ‘like-for-like replacement’ rule in case of ‘serious injury’ during game "It was a little nerve-racking," Maxwell said. “I tried to stay on strike as much as I could and cash in on anything loose.” Australia captain Mitchell Marsh elected to field in helpful conditions for seam bowlers, a contrast to the batting-friendly surfaces used in the opening two games in Darwin. Veteran quick Josh Hazlewood rebounded from an errant performance in game two by dismissing captain Aiden Markram for one in the first over. Lhuan-dre Pretorius hit a quick-fire 24 before falling to Ellis, bringing to the crease Dewald Brevis, who smashed a South African T20 record of 125 not out in game two. He crunched his sixth delivery onto the roof before a diving Maxwell dropped a tough one-handed chance at long-on. Brevis motored to his half-century off 22 balls. Maxwell, a brilliant fielder, redeemed himself in the 12th over with a superb diving catch in the outfield to halt Brevis' charge on 53. South Africa's innings ran out of steam, and their total appeared well short when Marsh dominated a 66-run opening partnership with Travis Head. But South Africa hit back with the quick wickets of Head (19) and Josh Inglis for a first-ball duck. Marsh made 54 before holing out to 19-year-old quick Kwena Maphaka, who later in the 11th over dismissed Cameron Green (nine). Australia's collapse of 6-56 was complete when in-form Tim David (17) and Aaron Hardie (one) were dismissed before Maxwell took over. The Australian players wore black armbands in honour of former captain and coach Bob Simpson, who died at the age of 89. The three-match One-Day International series between the teams starts in Cairns on Tuesday (Aug 19). Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

There was a late twist when South Africa quick Corbin Bosch dismissed Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis with consecutive deliveries. But Maxwell crunched a boundary on the penultimate ball of the match before celebrating with gusto.

‘Big Show’ Maxwell steps up for Australia to win T20I series against South Africa

Rescuers were struggling to retrieve bodies from debris after flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains across northern Pakistan killed at least 321 people in the past 48 hours, authorities said on Saturday.&nbsp;The majority of deaths, 307, were reported in mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority said.&nbsp;Most were killed in flash floods and collapsing houses, with the dead including 15 women and 13 children. At least 23 others were injured.&nbsp;The provincial rescue agency told AFP that around 2,000 rescue workers were engaged in recovering bodies from the debris and carrying out relief operations in nine affected districts where rain was still hampering efforts.&nbsp;"Heavy rainfall, landslides in several areas, and washed-out roads are causing significant challenges in delivering aid, particularly in transporting heavy machinery and ambulances," Bilal Ahmed Faizi, spokesman for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's rescue agency, told AFP.&nbsp;"Due to road closures in most areas, rescue workers are travelling on foot to conduct operations in remote regions," he added.&nbsp;"They are trying to evacuate survivors, but very few people are relocating due to the deaths of their relatives or loved ones being trapped in the debris."&nbsp;The provincial government has declared the severely affected mountainous districts of Buner, Bajaur, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra and Battagram as disaster-hit areas.&nbsp;The meteorological department has issued a heavy rain alert for Pakistan's northwest for the next few hours, urging people to take "precautionary measures".&nbsp;Nine more people were killed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, while five died in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, the national disaster authority said.&nbsp;Another five people, including two pilots, were killed when a local government helicopter crashed due to bad weather during a relief mission on Friday.<h2>'Doomsday' monsoon</h2>&nbsp;The monsoon season brings South Asia about three-quarters of its annual rainfall, vital for agriculture and food security, but it also brings destruction.&nbsp;Landslides and flash floods are common during the season, which usually begins in June and eases by the end of September.&nbsp;Syed Muhammad Tayyab Shah, a representative of the national disaster agency, told AFP that this year's monsoon season began earlier than usual and was expected to end later.&nbsp;"The next 15 days... the intensity of the monsoon will further exacerbate," he said.&nbsp;One resident likened the disaster to "doomsday".&nbsp;"I heard a loud noise as if the mountain was sliding. I rushed outside and saw the entire area shaking, like it was the end of the world," Azizullah, a resident of Buner district, where there have been dozens of deaths and injuries, told AFP.&nbsp;"I thought it was doomsday," he said.&nbsp;"The ground was trembling due to the force of the water, and it felt like death was staring me in the face."&nbsp;In Bajaur, a tribal district abutting Afghanistan, a crowd gathered around an excavator digging through a mud-soaked hill.&nbsp;On Friday, funeral prayers began in a paddock nearby, with people grieving in front of several bodies covered by blankets.&nbsp;The torrential rains that have pounded Pakistan since the start of the summer monsoon, described as "unusual" by authorities, have killed more than 600 people.&nbsp;In July, Punjab, home to nearly half of Pakistan's 255 million people, recorded 73 percent more rainfall than the previous year and more deaths than in the entire previous monsoon.&nbsp;Pakistan is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change, and its population is contending with extreme weather events with increasing frequency.&nbsp;Monsoon floods in 2022 submerged a third of the country and killed around 1,700 people.&nbsp;Another villager in Buner told AFP locals kept on searching through the rubble throughout the night.&nbsp;"The entire area is reeling from profound trauma," 32-year-old local schoolteacher Saifullah Khan told AFP.&nbsp;"We still have no clear idea who in this small village is alive and who is dead," he added.&nbsp;"I help retrieve the bodies of the children I taught, I keep wondering what kind of trial nature has imposed on these kids."

Most were killed in flash floods and collapsing houses, with the dead including 15 women and 13 children. At least 23 others were injured.

Rescuers were struggling to retrieve bodies from debris after flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains across northern Pakistan killed at least 321 people in the past 48 hours, authorities said on Saturday. The majority of deaths, 307, were reported in mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority said. Most were killed in flash floods and collapsing houses, with the dead including 15 women and 13 children. At least 23 others were injured. The provincial rescue agency told AFP that around 2,000 rescue workers were engaged in recovering bodies from the debris and carrying out relief operations in nine affected districts where rain was still hampering efforts. "Heavy rainfall, landslides in several areas, and washed-out roads are causing significant challenges in delivering aid, particularly in transporting heavy machinery and ambulances," Bilal Ahmed Faizi, spokesman for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's rescue agency, told AFP. "Due to road closures in most areas, rescue workers are travelling on foot to conduct operations in remote regions," he added. "They are trying to evacuate survivors, but very few people are relocating due to the deaths of their relatives or loved ones being trapped in the debris." The provincial government has declared the severely affected mountainous districts of Buner, Bajaur, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra and Battagram as disaster-hit areas. The meteorological department has issued a heavy rain alert for Pakistan's northwest for the next few hours, urging people to take "precautionary measures". Nine more people were killed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, while five died in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, the national disaster authority said. Another five people, including two pilots, were killed when a local government helicopter crashed due to bad weather during a relief mission on Friday. 'Doomsday' monsoon The monsoon season brings South Asia about three-quarters of its annual rainfall, vital for agriculture and food security, but it also brings destruction. Landslides and flash floods are common during the season, which usually begins in June and eases by the end of September. Syed Muhammad Tayyab Shah, a representative of the national disaster agency, told AFP that this year's monsoon season began earlier than usual and was expected to end later. "The next 15 days... the intensity of the monsoon will further exacerbate," he said. One resident likened the disaster to "doomsday". "I heard a loud noise as if the mountain was sliding. I rushed outside and saw the entire area shaking, like it was the end of the world," Azizullah, a resident of Buner district, where there have been dozens of deaths and injuries, told AFP. "I thought it was doomsday," he said. "The ground was trembling due to the force of the water, and it felt like death was staring me in the face." In Bajaur, a tribal district abutting Afghanistan, a crowd gathered around an excavator digging through a mud-soaked hill. On Friday, funeral prayers began in a paddock nearby, with people grieving in front of several bodies covered by blankets. The torrential rains that have pounded Pakistan since the start of the summer monsoon, described as "unusual" by authorities, have killed more than 600 people. In July, Punjab, home to nearly half of Pakistan's 255 million people, recorded 73 percent more rainfall than the previous year and more deaths than in the entire previous monsoon. Pakistan is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change, and its population is contending with extreme weather events with increasing frequency. Monsoon floods in 2022 submerged a third of the country and killed around 1,700 people. Another villager in Buner told AFP locals kept on searching through the rubble throughout the night. "The entire area is reeling from profound trauma," 32-year-old local schoolteacher Saifullah Khan told AFP. "We still have no clear idea who in this small village is alive and who is dead," he added. "I help retrieve the bodies of the children I taught, I keep wondering what kind of trial nature has imposed on these kids."

Most were killed in flash floods and collapsing houses, with the dead including 15 women and 13 children. At least 23 others were injured.

More than 320 killed in Pakistan after flash floods triggered by monsoon rains

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