US President Donald Trump on Wednesday named "Rocky" star Sylvester Stallone and country music great George Strait among the recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors, as he pursues a controversial overhaul of the storied arts institution.&nbsp;Disco diva Gloria Gaynor, rock band KISS and British theatre star Michael Crawford, known for his indelible turn in the lead role of Broadway staple "Phantom of the Opera," will also receive the Honors, one of the nation's highest arts awards.&nbsp;Trump announced he himself would host the Honors gala, which usually takes place in early December and is later broadcast on CBS.&nbsp;"I did not insist, but I think it will be quite successful," he told reporters at the stately white marble complex overlooking the Potomac River.&nbsp;He also joked that he wanted an honor himself but was "never able to get one."&nbsp;Stallone, who at 79 is the same age as Trump, is a three-time Oscar nominee: for best actor and screenplay for the 1976 classic boxing flick "Rocky," and for best supporting actor, again in the Rocky Balboa role, in the 2015 follow-up "Creed."&nbsp;He is also a major Trump supporter and one of the president's "Hollywood ambassadors" along with Jon Voight and Mel Gibson.&nbsp;Strait, 73, is one of the best-selling musicians of all time, known for huge hits like "All My Exes Live in Texas" and "Amarillo by Morning." Gaynor, 81, is the singer behind the monster disco anthem "I Will Survive."&nbsp;KISS, formed in the 1970s in Trump's hometown of New York City, gained fame with its shock rock performances and outlandish black and white face paint.&nbsp;Crawford, 83, made his mark on British television in the 1970s before achieving international success by originating the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "Phantom of the Opera," thrilling audiences with his powerful tenor voice.<h2>‘Not going to be woke’</h2>&nbsp;The Kennedy Center, one of the nation's top performing arts venues, is a living monument to the late John F. Kennedy. Opened in 1971, it has long enjoyed bipartisan support.&nbsp;But in February, shortly after returning to the Oval Office, Trump ousted the center's leadership and installed himself as board chairman, vowing to purge any programming he deems objectionable.&nbsp;"A few short months ago, I became chairman of the Kennedy Center," Trump said Wednesday.&nbsp;"We ended the woke...political programming."&nbsp;In his first term, from 2017 to 2021, the Republican president skipped the Kennedy Center Honors gala, the biggest fundraiser of the year, because some of the artists receiving awards criticised him or said they would not attend in his presence.&nbsp;The Kennedy Center is home to the National Symphony Orchestra and also offers theatre, opera, comedy and other productions.&nbsp;Many artists associated with the center, including opera singer Renee Fleming and musician Ben Folds, have cut ties with the institution. Others including comedian Issa Rae cancelled performances.&nbsp;The producers of the smash hit historical musical "Hamilton" opted to cancel a scheduled 2026 run timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, citing the end of "neutrality" at the center.&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.

The Kennedy Center, one of the nation's top performing arts venues, is a living monument to the late John F. Kennedy. Opened in 1971, it has long enjoyed bipartisan support.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday named "Rocky" star Sylvester Stallone and country music great George Strait among the recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors, as he pursues a controversial overhaul of the storied arts institution. Disco diva Gloria Gaynor, rock band KISS and British theatre star Michael Crawford, known for his indelible turn in the lead role of Broadway staple "Phantom of the Opera," will also receive the Honors, one of the nation's highest arts awards. Trump announced he himself would host the Honors gala, which usually takes place in early December and is later broadcast on CBS. "I did not insist, but I think it will be quite successful," he told reporters at the stately white marble complex overlooking the Potomac River. He also joked that he wanted an honor himself but was "never able to get one." Stallone, who at 79 is the same age as Trump, is a three-time Oscar nominee: for best actor and screenplay for the 1976 classic boxing flick "Rocky," and for best supporting actor, again in the Rocky Balboa role, in the 2015 follow-up "Creed." He is also a major Trump supporter and one of the president's "Hollywood ambassadors" along with Jon Voight and Mel Gibson. Strait, 73, is one of the best-selling musicians of all time, known for huge hits like "All My Exes Live in Texas" and "Amarillo by Morning." Gaynor, 81, is the singer behind the monster disco anthem "I Will Survive." KISS, formed in the 1970s in Trump's hometown of New York City, gained fame with its shock rock performances and outlandish black and white face paint. Crawford, 83, made his mark on British television in the 1970s before achieving international success by originating the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "Phantom of the Opera," thrilling audiences with his powerful tenor voice. ‘Not going to be woke’ The Kennedy Center, one of the nation's top performing arts venues, is a living monument to the late John F. Kennedy. Opened in 1971, it has long enjoyed bipartisan support. But in February, shortly after returning to the Oval Office, Trump ousted the center's leadership and installed himself as board chairman, vowing to purge any programming he deems objectionable. "A few short months ago, I became chairman of the Kennedy Center," Trump said Wednesday. "We ended the woke...political programming." In his first term, from 2017 to 2021, the Republican president skipped the Kennedy Center Honors gala, the biggest fundraiser of the year, because some of the artists receiving awards criticised him or said they would not attend in his presence. The Kennedy Center is home to the National Symphony Orchestra and also offers theatre, opera, comedy and other productions. Many artists associated with the center, including opera singer Renee Fleming and musician Ben Folds, have cut ties with the institution. Others including comedian Issa Rae cancelled performances. The producers of the smash hit historical musical "Hamilton" opted to cancel a scheduled 2026 run timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, citing the end of "neutrality" at the center. 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.

The Kennedy Center, one of the nation's top performing arts venues, is a living monument to the late John F. Kennedy. Opened in 1971, it has long enjoyed bipartisan support.

Trump announces Kennedy Center honorees, names Stallone, Strait among recipients

Russia announced curbs on calls on the WhatsApp and Telegram messenger apps on Wednesday, saying that this was necessary to fight criminality, state media reported.&nbsp;"In order to combat criminals, measures are being taken to partially restrict calls on these foreign messaging apps (WhatsApp and Telegram)," communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said, as quoted by the RIA and TASS news agencies.&nbsp;The messenger apps have become "the main voice services used for fraud and extortion, and for involving Russian citizens in subversive and terrorist activities," the watchdog added.&nbsp;Russian security services have frequently claimed that Ukraine was using Telegram to recruit people or commit acts of sabotage in Russia.&nbsp;Moscow wants the messengers to provide access to data upon request from law enforcement, not only for fraud probes but also for investigating activities that Russia describes as terrorist ones.&nbsp;"Access to calls in foreign messengers will be restored after they start complying with Russian legislation," Russia's digital ministry said.&nbsp;In a statement sent to AFP, Telegram said it "actively combats misuse of its platform, including calls for sabotage or violence, as well as fraud" and removes "millions of pieces of harmful content every day".&nbsp;Since launching its offensive in Ukraine, Russia has drastically restricted press freedom and freedom of speech online.

Russia announced curbs on calls on the WhatsApp and Telegram messenger apps on Wednesday, saying that this was necessary to fight criminality, state media reported.

Russia announced curbs on calls on the WhatsApp and Telegram messenger apps on Wednesday, saying that this was necessary to fight criminality, state media reported. "In order to combat criminals, measures are being taken to partially restrict calls on these foreign messaging apps (WhatsApp and Telegram)," communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said, as quoted by the RIA and TASS news agencies. The messenger apps have become "the main voice services used for fraud and extortion, and for involving Russian citizens in subversive and terrorist activities," the watchdog added. Russian security services have frequently claimed that Ukraine was using Telegram to recruit people or commit acts of sabotage in Russia. Moscow wants the messengers to provide access to data upon request from law enforcement, not only for fraud probes but also for investigating activities that Russia describes as terrorist ones. "Access to calls in foreign messengers will be restored after they start complying with Russian legislation," Russia's digital ministry said. In a statement sent to AFP, Telegram said it "actively combats misuse of its platform, including calls for sabotage or violence, as well as fraud" and removes "millions of pieces of harmful content every day". Since launching its offensive in Ukraine, Russia has drastically restricted press freedom and freedom of speech online.

Russian security services have frequently claimed that Ukraine was using Telegram.

Russia imposes curbs on WhatsApp, Telegram calls; here's why

Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis bettered his pole vault world record by a centimetre on Tuesday, clearing 6.29 metres at the athletics meet in Budapest. Sweden's Duplantis broke the world record for the 13th time as he soared over the bar at the second attempt to improve on his 6.28m from Stockholm in June.&nbsp;It was the 25-year-old's third record of 2025 having also cleared 6.27m in Clermont-Ferrand in February.&nbsp;Duplantis notched up his 33rd competition victory, clearing 6.11m on his first attempt to finish ahead of Greece's Emmanouil Karalis (6.02m) and Australia's Kurtis Marschall (5.83m).&nbsp;On his second attempt at 6.29m, Duplantis touched the bar with one leg and his stomach, but it held, and the jump was validated.&nbsp;Since Ukrainian Sergey Bubka became the first athlete to clear 6 metres on July 13, 1985 in Paris, the world record has been broken 26 times, including 12 times by Bubka, 13 times by Duplantis and once by Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie.&nbsp;The US-born Duplantis first broke the world record in 2020 with 6.17m.&nbsp;Duplantis is favourite for a third consecutive outdoor world title in a month's time in Tokyo.&nbsp;On the track Jamaican sprinter Bryan Levell laid down a marker for those championships by posting the third quickest time this year to win the men's 200m.&nbsp;The 21-year-old, who reached the semi-finals at last year's Olympics, headed into the race with a season's best of 20.10.&nbsp;He pulled away from the field in the home straight to win in 19.69 to clock the third best time of the year behind the Americans Noah Lyles (19.63sec) and Kenneth Bednarek (19.67sec).&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;Levell smashed Erriyon Knighton's meeting record by 0.19sec leaving South African veteran Wayde van Niekerk a distant runner-up in 20.07.&nbsp;Olympic bronze medallist Muzala Samukonga held off Jereem Richards and Khaleb McRae to win the men's 400m in a season's best of 44.11 while Laban Kipkorir Chepkwony, who finished fourth at Kenya's World Trials last month, won the men’s 800m in a personal best of 1min 42.96sec, breaking David Rudisha's meeting record from 2016.&nbsp;Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce only managed a fourth-placed finish in the women's 100m as Ivorian sprinter Marie-Josee Ta Lou Smith held off Tina Clayton and world 200m champion Shericka Jackson.&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.

Armand Duplantis notched up his 33rd competition victory, clearing 6.11m on his first attempt to finish ahead of Greece's Emmanouil Karalis (6.02m) and Australia's Kurtis Marschall (5.83m).

Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis bettered his pole vault world record by a centimetre on Tuesday, clearing 6.29 metres at the athletics meet in Budapest. Sweden's Duplantis broke the world record for the 13th time as he soared over the bar at the second attempt to improve on his 6.28m from Stockholm in June. It was the 25-year-old's third record of 2025 having also cleared 6.27m in Clermont-Ferrand in February. Duplantis notched up his 33rd competition victory, clearing 6.11m on his first attempt to finish ahead of Greece's Emmanouil Karalis (6.02m) and Australia's Kurtis Marschall (5.83m). On his second attempt at 6.29m, Duplantis touched the bar with one leg and his stomach, but it held, and the jump was validated. Since Ukrainian Sergey Bubka became the first athlete to clear 6 metres on July 13, 1985 in Paris, the world record has been broken 26 times, including 12 times by Bubka, 13 times by Duplantis and once by Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie. The US-born Duplantis first broke the world record in 2020 with 6.17m. Duplantis is favourite for a third consecutive outdoor world title in a month's time in Tokyo. On the track Jamaican sprinter Bryan Levell laid down a marker for those championships by posting the third quickest time this year to win the men's 200m. The 21-year-old, who reached the semi-finals at last year's Olympics, headed into the race with a season's best of 20.10. He pulled away from the field in the home straight to win in 19.69 to clock the third best time of the year behind the Americans Noah Lyles (19.63sec) and Kenneth Bednarek (19.67sec). ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) Levell smashed Erriyon Knighton's meeting record by 0.19sec leaving South African veteran Wayde van Niekerk a distant runner-up in 20.07. Olympic bronze medallist Muzala Samukonga held off Jereem Richards and Khaleb McRae to win the men's 400m in a season's best of 44.11 while Laban Kipkorir Chepkwony, who finished fourth at Kenya's World Trials last month, won the men’s 800m in a personal best of 1min 42.96sec, breaking David Rudisha's meeting record from 2016. Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce only managed a fourth-placed finish in the women's 100m as Ivorian sprinter Marie-Josee Ta Lou Smith held off Tina Clayton and world 200m champion Shericka Jackson. 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.

Armand Duplantis notched up his 33rd competition victory, clearing 6.11m on his first attempt to finish ahead of Greece's Emmanouil Karalis (6.02m) and Australia's Kurtis Marschall (5.83m).

Armand Duplantis sets new pole vault world record of 6.29m at athletics meet

An inspired Jayden Seales led the West Indies to a crushing 202-run victory over Pakistan in the third and deciding one-day international in Trinidad on Tuesday. The fast bowler blew away the Pakistan top order en route to figures of 6-18 as the tourists were bundled out for just 92 in a chase of 295 to win.&nbsp;The Windies had reached 294-6 in their 50 overs batting first, powered by captain Shai Hope's brilliant unbeaten hundred. The Caribbean side sealed a much-needed first ODI series win against Pakistan since 1991, after being swept aside 3-0 and 5-0 in Test and T20 series respectively by Australia earlier in the summer.&nbsp;"We stress on negatives a lot in West Indies," said Hope. "So many positives to shout about. Great to see the guys pulling off history.&nbsp;"Seales is a quality bowler... He's a class act. Anything you ask him to do, he puts his hands up."&nbsp;Pakistan's reply got off to a horrendous start as Seales removed Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan inside the first three overs to reduce them to 8-3.Seales then trapped Babar Azam lbw for just nine to leave Pakistan's hopes of a 2-1 series win in tatters.&nbsp;"Seales made it difficult for us. Done so throughout the series. But we lost three early wickets, that's what cost us," said Pakistan skipper Rizwan.&nbsp;Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie took two wickets through the middle overs, before Seales returned to remove tailenders Hasan Ali and Naseem Shah and complete a six-fer.The hosts, who lost the opening game of the series, wrapped up the win when Pakistan number 11 Abrar Ahmed was run out by Roston Chase.&nbsp;Pakistan had started strongly with the ball after winning the toss and electing to field, as the West Indies struggled to find the boundary.&nbsp;The home side were 68-3 when Keacy Carty was dismissed lbw by Abrar for a 45-ball 17.The usually big-hitting Sherfane Rutherford also never got going and crawled to 15 from 40 deliveries before falling to Ayub.&nbsp;But Chase helped revive the innings with a quickfire 36, giving Hope some much-needed assistance.&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;Chase was bowled by Naseem and Motie was caught and bowled by Mohammad Nawaz as the West Indies' batting effort threatened to peter out.&nbsp;But Hope and Justin Greaves plundered 110 runs from the final 8.1 overs in a blistering assault to get their team close to 300.&nbsp;Hope finished on 120 not out, with 10 fours and five sixes, completing his 18th one-day international century.&nbsp;He now sits behind only Brian Lara and Chris Gayle on the all-time list for most ODI tons for the Windies.&nbsp;Greaves more than played his part, clubbing an unbeaten 43 from just 24 balls.&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.

The Caribbean side sealed a much-needed first ODI series win against Pakistan since 1991, after being swept aside 3-0 and 5-0 in Test and T20 series respectively by Australia earlier in the summer.

An inspired Jayden Seales led the West Indies to a crushing 202-run victory over Pakistan in the third and deciding one-day international in Trinidad on Tuesday. The fast bowler blew away the Pakistan top order en route to figures of 6-18 as the tourists were bundled out for just 92 in a chase of 295 to win. The Windies had reached 294-6 in their 50 overs batting first, powered by captain Shai Hope's brilliant unbeaten hundred. The Caribbean side sealed a much-needed first ODI series win against Pakistan since 1991, after being swept aside 3-0 and 5-0 in Test and T20 series respectively by Australia earlier in the summer. "We stress on negatives a lot in West Indies," said Hope. "So many positives to shout about. Great to see the guys pulling off history. "Seales is a quality bowler... He's a class act. Anything you ask him to do, he puts his hands up." Pakistan's reply got off to a horrendous start as Seales removed Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan inside the first three overs to reduce them to 8-3. Seales then trapped Babar Azam lbw for just nine to leave Pakistan's hopes of a 2-1 series win in tatters. "Seales made it difficult for us. Done so throughout the series. But we lost three early wickets, that's what cost us," said Pakistan skipper Rizwan. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie took two wickets through the middle overs, before Seales returned to remove tailenders Hasan Ali and Naseem Shah and complete a six-fer. The hosts, who lost the opening game of the series, wrapped up the win when Pakistan number 11 Abrar Ahmed was run out by Roston Chase. Pakistan had started strongly with the ball after winning the toss and electing to field, as the West Indies struggled to find the boundary. The home side were 68-3 when Keacy Carty was dismissed lbw by Abrar for a 45-ball 17. The usually big-hitting Sherfane Rutherford also never got going and crawled to 15 from 40 deliveries before falling to Ayub. But Chase helped revive the innings with a quickfire 36, giving Hope some much-needed assistance. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) Chase was bowled by Naseem and Motie was caught and bowled by Mohammad Nawaz as the West Indies' batting effort threatened to peter out. But Hope and Justin Greaves plundered 110 runs from the final 8.1 overs in a blistering assault to get their team close to 300. Hope finished on 120 not out, with 10 fours and five sixes, completing his 18th one-day international century. He now sits behind only Brian Lara and Chris Gayle on the all-time list for most ODI tons for the Windies. Greaves more than played his part, clubbing an unbeaten 43 from just 24 balls. 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.

The Caribbean side sealed a much-needed first ODI series win against Pakistan since 1991, after being swept aside 3-0 and 5-0 in Test and T20 series respectively by Australia earlier in the summer.

WI vs PAK: Jayden Seales leads West Indies to ODI series victory over Pakistan

&nbsp;Germany international defender Malick Thiaw on Tuesday completed a permanent move to Premier League club Newcastle from AC Milan. The 24-year-old centre-back agreed a long-term deal for an undisclosed fee reported to be worth an initial 35 million euros ($40 million).&nbsp;"I'm really excited to join this massive club. I can't wait to start training and to get to know my new teammates and all the staff," said Thiaw.&nbsp;"The gaffer (Eddie Howe) showed me his vision and what he wants to do with me as a player and the club itself, which is really exciting.&nbsp;"I think Newcastle speaks for itself. It's a great club, a big club with passionate fans who I can't wait to see at St James' Park."&nbsp;Thiaw -- capped three times for Germany -- joined AC Milan from Schalke 04 in 2022 and made 85 appearances in all competitions during his three years at the Serie A club.&nbsp;He becomes Newcastle's third summer signing after Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga and Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.&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;"We're really pleased to have Malick on board," said manager Howe.&nbsp;"He's a player I've admired for a long time and somebody who will add real quality to our defensive options.&nbsp;"Malick is still young but brings valuable experience of Champions League football, as well as playing in the Bundesliga and Serie A, which is a major positive for us as we return to Europe this season."&nbsp;Newcastle finished fifth in the Premier League last season and open their latest campaign at Aston Villa on Saturday.&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.

Malick Thiaw -- capped three times for Germany -- joined AC Milan from Schalke 04 in 2022 and made 85 appearances in all competitions during his three years at the Serie A club.

Germany international defender Malick Thiaw on Tuesday completed a permanent move to Premier League club Newcastle from AC Milan. The 24-year-old centre-back agreed a long-term deal for an undisclosed fee reported to be worth an initial 35 million euros ($40 million). "I'm really excited to join this massive club. I can't wait to start training and to get to know my new teammates and all the staff," said Thiaw. "The gaffer (Eddie Howe) showed me his vision and what he wants to do with me as a player and the club itself, which is really exciting. "I think Newcastle speaks for itself. It's a great club, a big club with passionate fans who I can't wait to see at St James' Park." Thiaw -- capped three times for Germany -- joined AC Milan from Schalke 04 in 2022 and made 85 appearances in all competitions during his three years at the Serie A club. He becomes Newcastle's third summer signing after Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga and Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) "We're really pleased to have Malick on board," said manager Howe. "He's a player I've admired for a long time and somebody who will add real quality to our defensive options. "Malick is still young but brings valuable experience of Champions League football, as well as playing in the Bundesliga and Serie A, which is a major positive for us as we return to Europe this season." Newcastle finished fifth in the Premier League last season and open their latest campaign at Aston Villa on Saturday. 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.

Malick Thiaw -- capped three times for Germany -- joined AC Milan from Schalke 04 in 2022 and made 85 appearances in all competitions during his three years at the Serie A club.

Newcastle United sign Germany defender Malick Thiaw from AC Milan

In a dense urban landscape, with likely thousands of Hamas fighters lying in wait, taking Gaza City will be a difficult and costly slog for the Israeli army, security experts say.&nbsp;On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu laid out his vision of victory in Gaza following 22 months of war, with the military ordered to attack the last remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza City and the central camps further south.With a pre-war population of some 760,000, according to official figures, Gaza City was the biggest of any municipal area in the Palestinian territories.&nbsp;But following the unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel in 2023 that sparked the war, its population has only swelled, with thousands of displaced people fleeing intensive military operations to the north.&nbsp;Gaza City itself has come under intense aerial bombardment, and its remaining apartment buildings now rub shoulders with tents and other makeshift shelters.&nbsp;Amir Avivi, a former Israeli general and head of the Israeli Defense and Security Forum think tank, described the city as the “heart of Hamas’s rule in Gaza.”&nbsp;“Gaza City has always been the center of government and also has the strongest brigade of Hamas,” he said.&nbsp;The first challenge for Israeli troops relates to Netanyahu’s call for the evacuation of civilians — how such a feat will be carried out remains unclear.&nbsp;Unlike the rest of the Strip, where most of the population has been displaced at least once, around 300,000 residents of Gaza City have not moved since the outbreak of the conflict, according to Avivi.&nbsp;Israel has already tried to push civilians further south to so-called humanitarian zones established by the military, but there is likely little space to accommodate more arrivals.&nbsp;“You cannot put another one million people over there. It will be a horrible humanitarian crisis,” said Michael Milshtein, an Israeli former military intelligence officer.&nbsp;According to Avivi, humanitarian aid would be mainly distributed south of Gaza City in order to encourage residents to move toward future distribution sites managed by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).&nbsp;Up from just four currently, the GHF plans to operate 16 sites.&nbsp;However, Gaza’s civil defense agency says Israeli troops are firing at and killing civilians daily around the sites.&nbsp;Human Rights Watch has called them a “death trap,” while the UN and other groups have lashed out at what they call a militarization of aid.&nbsp;According to Michael Milshtein, who heads the Palestinian Studies Program at Tel Aviv University, Hamas’s military wing could have as many as 10,000 to 15,000 fighters in Gaza City, many of them freshly recruited.&nbsp;“It’s very easy to convince a 17, 18, 19-year-old Palestinian to be a part of Al-Qassam Brigades,” Milshtein told AFP, referring to Hamas’s armed wing as he cited a lack of opportunities for much Gaza’s population.&nbsp;“While (Israel’s army) prepares itself, Hamas also prepares itself for the coming warfare, if it takes place,” he added, predicting that the battle could end up being “very similar to Stalingrad.”&nbsp;He was referring to the battle for the city now known as Volgograd, one of the longest and bloodiest in World War II.&nbsp;The Israeli army will encounter obstacles including a vast network of tunnels where Israeli hostages are likely being held, along with weapons depots, hiding places and combat posts.&nbsp;Other obstacles could include improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and the use of civilians as human shields in a dense urban maze of narrow alleys and tall buildings, according to press reports.&nbsp;“It’s almost impossible to go in there without creating both hostage casualties and a large humanitarian disaster,” said Mairav Zonszein of the International Crisis Group.The material destruction, she added, will be enormous.&nbsp;“They will simply destroy everything, and then nothing will be left,” she said.&nbsp;Despite rumored disagreements over the plan by the chief of the army Eyal Zamir, the general said his forces “will be able to conquer Gaza City, just as it did in Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south,” according to a statement on Monday.&nbsp;“Our forces have operated there in the past, and we will know how to do it again.”

In a dense urban landscape, with likely thousands of Hamas fighters lying in wait, taking Gaza City will be a difficult and costly slog for the Israeli army, security experts say.

In a dense urban landscape, with likely thousands of Hamas fighters lying in wait, taking Gaza City will be a difficult and costly slog for the Israeli army, security experts say. On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu laid out his vision of victory in Gaza following 22 months of war, with the military ordered to attack the last remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza City and the central camps further south. With a pre-war population of some 760,000, according to official figures, Gaza City was the biggest of any municipal area in the Palestinian territories. But following the unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel in 2023 that sparked the war, its population has only swelled, with thousands of displaced people fleeing intensive military operations to the north. Gaza City itself has come under intense aerial bombardment, and its remaining apartment buildings now rub shoulders with tents and other makeshift shelters. Amir Avivi, a former Israeli general and head of the Israeli Defense and Security Forum think tank, described the city as the “heart of Hamas’s rule in Gaza.” “Gaza City has always been the center of government and also has the strongest brigade of Hamas,” he said. The first challenge for Israeli troops relates to Netanyahu’s call for the evacuation of civilians — how such a feat will be carried out remains unclear. Unlike the rest of the Strip, where most of the population has been displaced at least once, around 300,000 residents of Gaza City have not moved since the outbreak of the conflict, according to Avivi. Israel has already tried to push civilians further south to so-called humanitarian zones established by the military, but there is likely little space to accommodate more arrivals. “You cannot put another one million people over there. It will be a horrible humanitarian crisis,” said Michael Milshtein, an Israeli former military intelligence officer. According to Avivi, humanitarian aid would be mainly distributed south of Gaza City in order to encourage residents to move toward future distribution sites managed by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Up from just four currently, the GHF plans to operate 16 sites. However, Gaza’s civil defense agency says Israeli troops are firing at and killing civilians daily around the sites. Human Rights Watch has called them a “death trap,” while the UN and other groups have lashed out at what they call a militarization of aid. According to Michael Milshtein, who heads the Palestinian Studies Program at Tel Aviv University, Hamas’s military wing could have as many as 10,000 to 15,000 fighters in Gaza City, many of them freshly recruited. “It’s very easy to convince a 17, 18, 19-year-old Palestinian to be a part of Al-Qassam Brigades,” Milshtein told AFP, referring to Hamas’s armed wing as he cited a lack of opportunities for much Gaza’s population. “While (Israel’s army) prepares itself, Hamas also prepares itself for the coming warfare, if it takes place,” he added, predicting that the battle could end up being “very similar to Stalingrad.” He was referring to the battle for the city now known as Volgograd, one of the longest and bloodiest in World War II. The Israeli army will encounter obstacles including a vast network of tunnels where Israeli hostages are likely being held, along with weapons depots, hiding places and combat posts. Other obstacles could include improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and the use of civilians as human shields in a dense urban maze of narrow alleys and tall buildings, according to press reports. “It’s almost impossible to go in there without creating both hostage casualties and a large humanitarian disaster,” said Mairav Zonszein of the International Crisis Group. The material destruction, she added, will be enormous. “They will simply destroy everything, and then nothing will be left,” she said. Despite rumored disagreements over the plan by the chief of the army Eyal Zamir, the general said his forces “will be able to conquer Gaza City, just as it did in Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south,” according to a statement on Monday. “Our forces have operated there in the past, and we will know how to do it again.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently revealed his country's plan to take the Gaza City.

'Nothing will be left': Israel prepares for Gaza City battle

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will continue to develop film and TV projects for Netflix but on more limited terms, the streaming giant announced Monday. The estranged British royal and his wife have worked with Netflix since 2020, producing documentary "Harry &amp; Meghan" and lifestyle series "With Love, Meghan."&nbsp;The latter showcased the Duchess of Sussex as a thriving domestic maven, hosting guests, harvesting honey and mixing bath salts against an idyllic California backdrop. It has been extended for a second season, and a holiday special due in December, Netflix said.&nbsp;But while the pair's previous Netflix deal bought the streamer exclusive rights to their output, the new multi-year agreement is a "first look deal"&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/weapons-zach-cregger-s-horror-film-tops-box-office-beats-marvel-s-fantastic-four-first-steps-1754883785990">Weapons: Zach Cregger's horror film tops box office, beats Marvel's Fantastic Four: First Steps</a>&nbsp;In Hollywood parlance, this means Netflix has the right to say yes or no to a project before Harry and Meghan's media company Archewell Productions can shop it around other studios.&nbsp;Typically, first-look deals are less lucrative than exclusive deals, though they also provide producers with more flexibility."We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the 'As ever' brand," said Meghan, referring to her recently re-branded line of lifestyle products including rose wine and apricot spreads.&nbsp;Bela Bajaria, Netflix's chief content officer, described Harry and Meghan as "influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere," in the statement.&nbsp;Also read:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/sebastian-stan-birthday-captain-america-to-the-martian-7-best-performances-of-marvel-star-1755008539691">Sebastian Stan birthday: 8 best performances of Marvel star</a>&nbsp;Harry and Meghan wed in a fairytale ceremony in 2018, before splitting from the British royal family and moving to California two years later. Cut off from the royal purse, the pair signed their first Netflix deal in 2020 for a reported $100 million.That figure was never confirmed, and no financial terms have been revealed for the extension.&nbsp;The New York Times reported Monday that the new deal is worth less for Harry and Meghan than the previous agreement, citing a person familiar with the terms.&nbsp;"Harry &amp; Meghan," a six-episode tell-all about their relationship and exit from the House of Windsor, drew 23 million views in its first four days -- a record for a Netflix documentary.&nbsp;Despite withering reviews from critics, "With Love, Meghan" had over five million views in the first half of 2025, making it Netflix's most-watched cooking show.&nbsp;The upcoming holiday special will feature Meghan hosting "friends and family" as they "deck the halls, create holiday feasts, craft heartfelt gifts, and share lots of laughs," the statement promised.&nbsp;Later this year, Netflix will release a short documentary from Archewell Productions about a small orphanage in Uganda.The couple are also producing a "romance feature adaptation" of Carley Fortune's novel "Meet Me At The Lake," though no Netflix release has been confirmed.

Harry and Meghan wed in a fairytale ceremony in 2018, before splitting from the British royal family and moving to California two years later. Cut off from the royal purse, the pair signed their first Netflix deal in 2020 for a reported $100 million.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will continue to develop film and TV projects for Netflix but on more limited terms, the streaming giant announced Monday. The estranged British royal and his wife have worked with Netflix since 2020, producing documentary "Harry & Meghan" and lifestyle series "With Love, Meghan." The latter showcased the Duchess of Sussex as a thriving domestic maven, hosting guests, harvesting honey and mixing bath salts against an idyllic California backdrop. It has been extended for a second season, and a holiday special due in December, Netflix said. But while the pair's previous Netflix deal bought the streamer exclusive rights to their output, the new multi-year agreement is a "first look deal" Also read: Weapons: Zach Cregger's horror film tops box office, beats Marvel's Fantastic Four: First Steps In Hollywood parlance, this means Netflix has the right to say yes or no to a project before Harry and Meghan's media company Archewell Productions can shop it around other studios. Typically, first-look deals are less lucrative than exclusive deals, though they also provide producers with more flexibility. "We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the 'As ever' brand," said Meghan, referring to her recently re-branded line of lifestyle products including rose wine and apricot spreads. Bela Bajaria, Netflix's chief content officer, described Harry and Meghan as "influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere," in the statement. Also read: Sebastian Stan birthday: 8 best performances of Marvel star Harry and Meghan wed in a fairytale ceremony in 2018, before splitting from the British royal family and moving to California two years later. Cut off from the royal purse, the pair signed their first Netflix deal in 2020 for a reported $100 million. That figure was never confirmed, and no financial terms have been revealed for the extension. The New York Times reported Monday that the new deal is worth less for Harry and Meghan than the previous agreement, citing a person familiar with the terms. "Harry & Meghan," a six-episode tell-all about their relationship and exit from the House of Windsor, drew 23 million views in its first four days -- a record for a Netflix documentary. Despite withering reviews from critics, "With Love, Meghan" had over five million views in the first half of 2025, making it Netflix's most-watched cooking show. The upcoming holiday special will feature Meghan hosting "friends and family" as they "deck the halls, create holiday feasts, craft heartfelt gifts, and share lots of laughs," the statement promised. Later this year, Netflix will release a short documentary from Archewell Productions about a small orphanage in Uganda. The couple are also producing a "romance feature adaptation" of Carley Fortune's novel "Meet Me At The Lake," though no Netflix release has been confirmed.

Harry and Meghan wed in a fairytale ceremony in 2018, before splitting from the British royal family and moving to California two years later. Cut off from the royal purse, the pair signed their first Netflix deal in 2020 for a reported $100 million.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle extend Netflix partnership, here's what new deal is

The La Liga match between Villarreal and Barcelona in December was moved to Miami by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) on Monday, pending approval from UEFA and FIFA.&nbsp;While the Spanish Super Cup has been played abroad, notably in Saudi Arabia, it would be a first for a game in one of Europe's leading domestic leagues.&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;The RFEF said in a statement that it would forward the request to the governing bodies of European and world football to stage the game at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, December 20, in the last round before La Liga's winter break.&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.&nbsp;

The Spanish Super Cup has been played abroad, notably in Saudi Arabia, it would be a first for a game in one of Europe's leading domestic leagues.

The La Liga match between Villarreal and Barcelona in December was moved to Miami by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) on Monday, pending approval from UEFA and FIFA. While the Spanish Super Cup has been played abroad, notably in Saudi Arabia, it would be a first for a game in one of Europe's leading domestic leagues. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) The RFEF said in a statement that it would forward the request to the governing bodies of European and world football to stage the game at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, December 20, in the last round before La Liga's winter break. 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.

The Spanish Super Cup has been played abroad, notably in Saudi Arabia, it would be a first for a game in one of Europe's leading domestic leagues.

Spanish football federation shifts Barcelona-Villarreal La Liga game to Miami

Jannik Sinner ignored power failure interruptions and a blaring alarm to defeat Gabriel Diallo 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) on Monday's day of distractions at the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Open.The top seeded defending champion got down to business against a Canadian ranked 35th who was plagued by eight first-set double-faults and 49 unforced errors in the match as he faced the best in the world.&nbsp;Sinner recovered smoothly from an early break down and had his hands full on his way into the fourth round, sending over an ace on match point after saving a set point in the tiebreaker.&nbsp;Play was stopped briefly with Sinner leading 4-2 as the audio portion of the electronic line-calling system suddenly failed.&nbsp;Earlier, both players had to deal with flickering LED screens directly behind them courtside.&nbsp;The pair agreed to soldier on without the system, with the chair umpire temporarily relaying the algorithm's decisions -- which he saw on his chair's tablet -- to the players when necessary as a re-boot was undertaken.&nbsp;That minor malfunction came two hours after the chaos of a widespread power outage which completely stopped play around the grounds for 75 minutes.&nbsp;Five minutes later, with Sinner leading 1-0 in the second set after winning the first, the chaos continued with an alarm going off somewhere in the stadium and play suspended for the third time.&nbsp;Sinner and Diallo continued to carry on with the distraction blaring somewhat faintly in the background before it finally halted after another game.&nbsp;Sinner polished off victory for his 23rd consecutive hardcourt win in under two hours."It was a very difficult day at the office," the Italian said. "You have to find the balance against these big servers. I struggled with that at times today.&nbsp;"But I need tough matches like this, I'm happy I got one before the Grand Slam... I'm happy about today, but I know I can do things better."&nbsp;US fourth seed Taylor Fritz endured a one-hour delay after the first set before defeating Lorenzo Sonego 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 for a 21st win in 25 matches.&nbsp;"I can play better, but there has been no time to really train and get ready," Fritz said. "I'm looking forward to fine tuning the week before the US Open."&nbsp;Compatriot Frances Tiafoe advanced past Ugo Humbert of France 6-4, 6-4 in 82 minutes and lines up next against Holger Rune, who beat Alex Michelsen 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.<h2>No.1 Sabalenka wins</h2>In the WTA event, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka fought through a three-hour battle to hold off an inspired Emma Raducanu 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/5) for a fourth-round spot in a repeat of a victory from the Wimbledon third round in July.&nbsp;Defending champion Sabalenka endured a struggle but finished with two aces in the closing stages.&nbsp;"I'm happy to get through this difficult match," Sabalenka said. "I just hope tomorrow is a day off. I need time to recover from such a great battle."&nbsp;British number one Raducanu survived a 25-minute eighth game of the final set, which went to 13 deuces, with Raducanu saving four break points before finally holding for 4-all and eventually into a tiebreaker.&nbsp;Sabalenka squeezed out victory with a sixth ace for 5-4 in the breaker and delivered her seventh on her second match point to win in three hours and nine minutes.&nbsp;"It was all about momentum," Sabalenka said. "I took some risks at the end, went for crazy shots, went to the net."&nbsp;Sabalenka is bidding for her 10th trophy at the 1000 level and second this season after winning at Madrid.&nbsp;"I can take lessons from this," Raducanu said. "With work and practice I think I can hold my level higher for longer.&nbsp;"She's world number one for a reason. We had a three-hour match and I felt pretty good out there for the most part."&nbsp;Raducanu was called out by the chair umpire on unauthorized conversations with new Spanish coach Francisco Roig.&nbsp;Australian Open champion Madison Keys lost just four games in defeating Japan's Aoi Ito.Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro ousted American wild card Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-1 and faces Sabalenka on Wednesday.&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.

Jannik Sinner recovered smoothly from an early break down and had his hands full on his way into the fourth round, sending over an ace on match point after saving a set point in the tiebreaker.

Jannik Sinner ignored power failure interruptions and a blaring alarm to defeat Gabriel Diallo 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) on Monday's day of distractions at the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Open. The top seeded defending champion got down to business against a Canadian ranked 35th who was plagued by eight first-set double-faults and 49 unforced errors in the match as he faced the best in the world. Sinner recovered smoothly from an early break down and had his hands full on his way into the fourth round, sending over an ace on match point after saving a set point in the tiebreaker. Play was stopped briefly with Sinner leading 4-2 as the audio portion of the electronic line-calling system suddenly failed. Earlier, both players had to deal with flickering LED screens directly behind them courtside. The pair agreed to soldier on without the system, with the chair umpire temporarily relaying the algorithm's decisions -- which he saw on his chair's tablet -- to the players when necessary as a re-boot was undertaken. That minor malfunction came two hours after the chaos of a widespread power outage which completely stopped play around the grounds for 75 minutes. Five minutes later, with Sinner leading 1-0 in the second set after winning the first, the chaos continued with an alarm going off somewhere in the stadium and play suspended for the third time. Sinner and Diallo continued to carry on with the distraction blaring somewhat faintly in the background before it finally halted after another game. Sinner polished off victory for his 23rd consecutive hardcourt win in under two hours. "It was a very difficult day at the office," the Italian said. "You have to find the balance against these big servers. I struggled with that at times today. "But I need tough matches like this, I'm happy I got one before the Grand Slam... I'm happy about today, but I know I can do things better." US fourth seed Taylor Fritz endured a one-hour delay after the first set before defeating Lorenzo Sonego 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 for a 21st win in 25 matches. "I can play better, but there has been no time to really train and get ready," Fritz said. "I'm looking forward to fine tuning the week before the US Open." Compatriot Frances Tiafoe advanced past Ugo Humbert of France 6-4, 6-4 in 82 minutes and lines up next against Holger Rune, who beat Alex Michelsen 7-6 (7/4), 6-3. No.1 Sabalenka wins In the WTA event, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka fought through a three-hour battle to hold off an inspired Emma Raducanu 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/5) for a fourth-round spot in a repeat of a victory from the Wimbledon third round in July. Defending champion Sabalenka endured a struggle but finished with two aces in the closing stages. "I'm happy to get through this difficult match," Sabalenka said. "I just hope tomorrow is a day off. I need time to recover from such a great battle." British number one Raducanu survived a 25-minute eighth game of the final set, which went to 13 deuces, with Raducanu saving four break points before finally holding for 4-all and eventually into a tiebreaker. Sabalenka squeezed out victory with a sixth ace for 5-4 in the breaker and delivered her seventh on her second match point to win in three hours and nine minutes. "It was all about momentum," Sabalenka said. "I took some risks at the end, went for crazy shots, went to the net." Sabalenka is bidding for her 10th trophy at the 1000 level and second this season after winning at Madrid. "I can take lessons from this," Raducanu said. "With work and practice I think I can hold my level higher for longer. "She's world number one for a reason. We had a three-hour match and I felt pretty good out there for the most part." Raducanu was called out by the chair umpire on unauthorized conversations with new Spanish coach Francisco Roig. Australian Open champion Madison Keys lost just four games in defeating Japan's Aoi Ito. Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro ousted American wild card Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-1 and faces Sabalenka on Wednesday. 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.

Jannik Sinner recovered smoothly from an early break down and had his hands full on his way into the fourth round, sending over an ace on match point after saving a set point in the tiebreaker.

Cincinnati Open: Jannik Sinner advances amid power-failure chaos against Gabriel Diallo

Power was out on Monday across Iraq as scorching summer temperatures pushed demand on the electricity grid to unprecedented levels, authorities said. The electricity ministry said the grid suffered a "total outage" as heat reached 48-50 °C in Baghdad and central and southern regions.&nbsp;It said two transmission lines were shut down "due to a record rise in temperatures, increased consumer demand, and increased electrical load in the provinces of Babylon and Karbala, which are experiencing an influx of millions of pilgrims" for a major Shiite Muslim religious commemoration.&nbsp;The transmission lines shutting down caused "a sudden and accidental loss of more than 6,000 megawatts on the grid", the ministry added, with power plants also halting operations.&nbsp;The outage comes amid a heatwave that Iraqi meteorological services expect to last more than a week.&nbsp;"Our teams are currently mobilised on the ground to gradually restore the grid over the next few hours," the electricity ministry said.&nbsp;Electricity shortages are a frequent complaint in Iraq, which is sometimes rocked by protests when outages worsen in the hot summer months.&nbsp;In July 2023, a fire at a transmission station in the south caused a widespread power outage.&nbsp;While the vast majority of Iraqis rely on private generators, it is often not sufficient to power all household appliances, especially air conditioners.&nbsp;To survive without power outages, Iraq needs to produce approximately 55,000 megawatts during periods of peak demand.&nbsp;This month, for the first time, Iraq's power plants reached the 28,000 megawatt threshold.&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.

The transmission lines shutting down caused "a sudden and accidental loss of more than 6,000 megawatts on the grid", the ministry added, with power plants also halting operations.

Power was out on Monday across Iraq as scorching summer temperatures pushed demand on the electricity grid to unprecedented levels, authorities said. The electricity ministry said the grid suffered a "total outage" as heat reached 48-50 °C in Baghdad and central and southern regions. It said two transmission lines were shut down "due to a record rise in temperatures, increased consumer demand, and increased electrical load in the provinces of Babylon and Karbala, which are experiencing an influx of millions of pilgrims" for a major Shiite Muslim religious commemoration. The transmission lines shutting down caused "a sudden and accidental loss of more than 6,000 megawatts on the grid", the ministry added, with power plants also halting operations. The outage comes amid a heatwave that Iraqi meteorological services expect to last more than a week. "Our teams are currently mobilised on the ground to gradually restore the grid over the next few hours," the electricity ministry said. Electricity shortages are a frequent complaint in Iraq, which is sometimes rocked by protests when outages worsen in the hot summer months. In July 2023, a fire at a transmission station in the south caused a widespread power outage. While the vast majority of Iraqis rely on private generators, it is often not sufficient to power all household appliances, especially air conditioners. To survive without power outages, Iraq needs to produce approximately 55,000 megawatts during periods of peak demand. This month, for the first time, Iraq's power plants reached the 28,000 megawatt threshold. 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.

The transmission lines shutting down caused "a sudden and accidental loss of more than 6,000 megawatts on the grid", the ministry added, with power plants also halting operations.

Iraq gripped with nationwide power outage amid 'record' heat

Eight people were killed and two others wounded when a group of gunmen opened fire on a crowd outside a nightclub in a town in southwestern Ecuador, police said Sunday (August 10). Law enforcement arrived on the scene following an emergency call alerting them to a shooting, and found "several people wounded and seven bodies," police colonel Javier Chango told a press conference, adding an eighth person died in hospital.&nbsp;The gunmen arrived in two pickup trucks and opened fire on people drinking outside the nightclub at 1:15 am local time (0615 GMT) in Santa Lucia, which has a population of 38,000 in the Guayas Province. Among the dead was the nightclub owner Jorge Urquizo, who was the brother of Santa Lucia's mayor. Police found 800 cartridge cases at the scene.&nbsp;After the attack the gunmen got back in their trucks and fled along an "unknown route," Chango said. The local police picked up a man driving a truck who was carrying a revolver, but were not able to determine whether he was involved in the attack.&nbsp;The police said they have yet to work out a motive for the shooting. The bodies of the dead were taken to a morgue in the neighboring city of Daule. The office of Santa Lucia's mayor Ubaldo Urquizo expressed condolences on Sunday.&nbsp;"We unite in sorrow and prayer for this violent attack that has struck our community," the office said on social media. Ecuador, once a peaceful haven between the world's two top cocaine exporters Colombia and Peru, has seen violence erupt in recent years as gangs with ties to Mexican and Colombian cartels vie for control.&nbsp;More than 70% of all cocaine produced in the world now passes through Ecuador's ports, according to government data. Guayas is one of four provinces where President Daniel Noboa recently declared a two-month state of emergency to combat gang violence.&nbsp;However, despite a stepped-up military presence authorities have not stemmed the bloodshed. More than 4,051 homicides were recorded between January and May, according to official figures. Analysts believe it is the most violent start to a year in the country's recent history. &nbsp;

Eight people were killed and two others wounded when a group of gunmen opened fire on a crowd outside a nightclub in a town in southwestern Ecuador, police said Sunday (August 10). 

Eight people were killed and two others wounded when a group of gunmen opened fire on a crowd outside a nightclub in a town in southwestern Ecuador, police said Sunday (August 10). Law enforcement arrived on the scene following an emergency call alerting them to a shooting, and found "several people wounded and seven bodies," police colonel Javier Chango told a press conference, adding an eighth person died in hospital. The gunmen arrived in two pickup trucks and opened fire on people drinking outside the nightclub at 1:15 am local time (0615 GMT) in Santa Lucia, which has a population of 38,000 in the Guayas Province. Among the dead was the nightclub owner Jorge Urquizo, who was the brother of Santa Lucia's mayor. Police found 800 cartridge cases at the scene. After the attack the gunmen got back in their trucks and fled along an "unknown route," Chango said. The local police picked up a man driving a truck who was carrying a revolver, but were not able to determine whether he was involved in the attack. The police said they have yet to work out a motive for the shooting. The bodies of the dead were taken to a morgue in the neighboring city of Daule. The office of Santa Lucia's mayor Ubaldo Urquizo expressed condolences on Sunday. "We unite in sorrow and prayer for this violent attack that has struck our community," the office said on social media. Ecuador, once a peaceful haven between the world's two top cocaine exporters Colombia and Peru, has seen violence erupt in recent years as gangs with ties to Mexican and Colombian cartels vie for control. More than 70% of all cocaine produced in the world now passes through Ecuador's ports, according to government data. Guayas is one of four provinces where President Daniel Noboa recently declared a two-month state of emergency to combat gang violence. However, despite a stepped-up military presence authorities have not stemmed the bloodshed. More than 4,051 homicides were recorded between January and May, according to official figures. Analysts believe it is the most violent start to a year in the country's recent history.

Eight people were killed and two others wounded when a group of gunmen opened fire on a crowd outside a nightclub in a town in southwestern Ecuador, police said Sunday (August 10).&nbsp;

Eight dead in shooting outside Ecuador nightclub: Police

Weapons, a new horror film about the mysterious disappearance of a group of children from the same school class, opened atop the North American box office with $42.5 million in ticket sales, industry estimates showed Sunday."This is an outstanding opening for an original horror film," analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research said of the Warner Bros. movie starring Julia Garner (Ozark) and Josh Brolin (Avengers: Infinity War).Debuting in second place was Disney's Freakier Friday starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, the much-anticipated sequel to the 2003 family film in which body-switching leads to amusing hijinks, at $29 million, Exhibitor Relations said.&nbsp;"This is an excellent opening. The estimated weekend figure is well above average for a comedy follow-up sequel, and it's also well above the first film's opening 22 years ago," Gross said.&nbsp;Also read: &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/south-korean-director-park-chan-wook-and-actor-don-mckellar-ousted-from-hollywood-s-writers-guild-of-america-know-why-1754838098364">South Korean director Park Chan-wook and actor Don McKellar ousted from Hollywood's Writers Guild of America, Know why</a>&nbsp;The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Disney's debut of the rebooted Marvel Comics franchise, dropped to third place at $15.5 million. Its overall take in the United States and Canada stands at $230.4 million.&nbsp;Actor-of-the-moment Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Emmy-winner Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn star as the titular team of superheroes, who must save a retro-futuristic world from the evil Galactus.

Universal's family-friendly animation sequel The Bad Guys 2, about a squad of goofy animal criminals actually doing good in their rebranded lives, dropped to fourth, earning $10.4 million.&nbsp;Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/the-crow-reboot-arrives-on-ott-when-and-where-to-watch-the-movie-1754834741154">The Crow reboot on OTT: When and where to watch the movie</a>&nbsp;Finishing out the top five was Paramount's reboot of Naked Gun, a slapstick comedy starring Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr, son of the bumbling police lieutenant from the original 1980s movie and related television series "Police Squad!"&nbsp;The film, which co-stars Pamela Anderson, pulled in $8.4 million in its second weekend in theaters.&nbsp;Rounding out the top 10 were:&nbsp;Superman ($7.8 million)&nbsp;Jurassic World: Rebirth ($4.7 million)&nbsp;F1: The Movie ($2.8 million)&nbsp;Together ($2.6 million)&nbsp;Sketch ($2.5 million)

The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Disney's debut of the rebooted Marvel Comics franchise, dropped to third place at $15.5 million. Its overall take in the United States and Canada stands at

Weapons, a new horror film about the mysterious disappearance of a group of children from the same school class, opened atop the North American box office with $42.5 million in ticket sales, industry estimates showed Sunday. "This is an outstanding opening for an original horror film," analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research said of the Warner Bros. movie starring Julia Garner (Ozark) and Josh Brolin (Avengers: Infinity War). Debuting in second place was Disney's Freakier Friday starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, the much-anticipated sequel to the 2003 family film in which body-switching leads to amusing hijinks, at $29 million, Exhibitor Relations said. "This is an excellent opening. The estimated weekend figure is well above average for a comedy follow-up sequel, and it's also well above the first film's opening 22 years ago," Gross said. Also read: South Korean director Park Chan-wook and actor Don McKellar ousted from Hollywood's Writers Guild of America, Know why The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Disney's debut of the rebooted Marvel Comics franchise, dropped to third place at $15.5 million. Its overall take in the United States and Canada stands at $230.4 million. Actor-of-the-moment Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Emmy-winner Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn star as the titular team of superheroes, who must save a retro-futuristic world from the evil Galactus.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Disney's debut of the rebooted Marvel Comics franchise, dropped to third place at $15.5 million. Its overall take in the United States and Canada stands at

Weapons:  Zach Cregger's horror film tops box office, beats Marvel's Fantastic Four: First Steps

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.

Afp