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The leaders of Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye and the United States have released a joint statement backing the Gaza ceasefire deal and committing to “enduring peace” in the region.

The statement, released on Monday after an international summit in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh, is a rare acknowledgement by the administration of US President Donald Trump that Palestinians and Israelis deserve equal rights.

The proclamation also does not point the finger at Palestinians as the cause of the conflict in the way that successive US administrations have.

Notably, it reframes the struggle in Gaza as part of the broader Palestinian question. The Trump administration has previously avoided even describing the residents of Gaza as Palestinian.

However, the statement does not explicitly acknowledge Palestinians’ right to statehood and self-determination.

It was signed by Trump, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Palestine and Israel were not part of the proclamation despite being its subject matter.

Here’s the full text of the joint statement:

The Trump Declaration for Enduring Peace and Prosperity

We, the undersigned, welcome the truly historic commitment and implementation by all parties to the Trump Peace Agreement, ending more than two years of profound suffering and loss – opening a new chapter for the region defined by hope, security, and a shared vision for peace and prosperity.

We support and stand behind President Trump’s sincere efforts to end the war in Gaza and bring lasting peace to the Middle East. Together, we will implement this agreement in a manner that ensures peace, security, stability, and opportunity for all peoples of the region, including both Palestinians and Israelis.

We understand that lasting peace will be one in which both Palestinians and Israelis can prosper with their fundamental human rights protected, their security guaranteed, and their dignity upheld.

We affirm that meaningful progress emerges through cooperation and sustained dialogue, and that strengthening bonds among nations and peoples serves the enduring interests of regional and global peace and stability.

We recognize the deep historical and spiritual significance of this region to the faith communities whose roots are intertwined with the land of the region – Christianity, Islam, and Judaism among them.  Respect for these sacred connections and the protection of their heritage sites shall remain paramount in our commitment to peaceful coexistence.

We are united in our determination to dismantle extremism and radicalization in all its forms. No society can flourish when violence and racism is normalized, or when radical ideologies threaten the fabric of civil life. We commit to addressing the conditions that enable extremism and to promoting education, opportunity, and mutual respect as foundations for lasting peace.

We hereby commit to the resolution of future disputes through diplomatic engagement and negotiation rather than through force or protracted conflict. We acknowledge that the Middle East cannot endure a persistent cycle of prolonged warfare, stalled negotiations, or the fragmentary, incomplete, or selective application of successfully negotiated terms. The tragedies witnessed over the past two years must serve as an urgent reminder that future generations deserve better than the failures of the past.

We seek tolerance, dignity, and equal opportunity for every person, ensuring this region is a place where all can pursue their aspirations in peace, security, and economic prosperity, regardless of race, faith, or ethnicity.

We pursue a comprehensive vision of peace, security, and shared prosperity in the region, grounded in the principles of mutual respect and shared destiny.

In this spirit, we welcome the progress achieved in establishing comprehensive and durable peace arrangements in the Gaza Strip, as well as the friendly and mutually beneficial relationship between Israel and its regional neighbors. We pledge to work collectively to implement and sustain this legacy, building institutional foundations upon which future generations may thrive together in peace.

We commit ourselves to a future of enduring peace.

Moscow and Minsk insist, however, that the drills are defensive, adding that Western security concerns are ‘nonsense’.

Russia has showcased some of its advanced weapons while conducting a joint military drill with Belarusian troops amid heightened tensions with NATO countries following alleged violations of the airspaces of Poland and Romania by Moscow.

Approximately 7,000 troops, including 6,000 Belarusian soldiers, participated in exercises held at locations in Belarus and Russia.

Russia conducted a test strike with a Kalibr missile from the nuclear submarine named Arkhangelsk in the Barents Sea during the joint Russia-Belarus “Zapad” military drills, Russian news agency Interfax reported on Monday. The strike on the designated target was carried out by the submarine from an underwater position, Interfax reported.

Moscow and Minsk insisted on Tuesday that the drills are defensive, meant to simulate a response to an invasion.

But NATO states along the alliance’s eastern flank see them as a threat, particularly after alleged Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace last week. Warsaw has since warned that “open conflict” is closer now than at any point since World War II. Romania on Sunday accused Russia of drone incursion during its attacks on Ukraine.

Britain’s Labour Party-led government on Monday announced its fighter jets will fly air defence missions over Poland to counter aerial threats.

Russia has been at war with Ukraine since it launched a ground invasion in 2022.

Belarus’s Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin dismissed the NATO concerns.

“We have heard a lot of things … that we are threatening NATO, that we are going to invade the Baltic states,” he told reporters at the Barysaw base, east of Minsk. “Simply put, all kinds of nonsense.”

Still, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania have stepped up security, closing borders and carrying out counter-drills.

Belarus invites international observers

Belarus allowed rare media access, inviting foreign journalists, TV crews and even US army officers.

“Thank you for the invitation,” Bryan Shoupe, the US military attache, said as he shook hands with the Belarusian defence minister.

“Give the American guests the best places and show them everything that interests them,” the defence minister said. Cameras captured Khrenin shaking hands with two US Army officers, thanking them for attending.

The drills were a tightly choreographed show of force. Camouflaged armoured vehicles splashed across a river, helicopters swooped low over treetops, and young conscripts loaded shells into artillery systems. Others prepared drones for mock strikes.

Reporters were excluded from the naval manoeuvres in the Barents and Baltic seas, as well as the exercises near Grodna, close to the Polish and Lithuanian borders.

Minsk highlighted the limited scale of the drills, stressing that only 7,000 troops were involved. By comparison, the 2021 Zapad exercises included about 200,000 personnel, just months before Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Khrenin said the reduced numbers reflected Minsk’s efforts to ease tensions. “We have nothing to hide,” he insisted. “We are only preparing to defend our country.”

Belarus also pointed to the international presence, saying observers from 23 countries attended, many of them long-standing allies of Minsk and Moscow.

SEOUL, Aug. 18 (UPI) — The United States and South Korea kicked off their annual summertime joint military exercise on Monday, amid efforts by Seoul to improve relations with North Korea.

The 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, which runs through Aug. 28, includes live field maneuvers, computer simulation-based command post exercises and related civil defense drills. Some 21,000 troops will be mobilized, including 18,000 South Korean personnel.

Pyongyang, which routinely condemns the allies’ joint drills as rehearsals for an invasion, last week warned of “negative consequences” and held its own artillery firing contest.

The North will “strictly exercise the sovereign right of the DPRK at the level of the right to self-defense in a case of any provocation going beyond the boundary line,” Defense Minister No Kwang Choi said in a statement.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea.

The joint exercise comes as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung makes a push to improve inter-Korean relations.

In a speech Friday marking the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule, Lee vowed to “respect” North Korea’s political system and said Seoul would not pursue “unification by absorption.”

“We have no intention of engaging in hostile acts,” Lee said. “Going forward, our government will take consistent measures to substantially reduce tensions and restore trust.”

Among the measures Lee has called for is the restoration of the 2018 inter-Korean military pact, which was suspended in 2024 amid growing hostility between Seoul and Pyongyang.

The pact established buffer zones along the border and included measures such as the removal of some guard posts in the DMZ and the banning of live-fire exercises in certain areas

At a Cabinet meeting Monday, Lee instructed relevant ministries to “prepare for a phased implementation of existing inter-Korean agreements, starting with those that are possible.”

He also chaired a National Security Council meeting and emphasized that Ulchi Freedom Shield is defensive in nature, a presidential spokeswoman said.

The exercise is meant “to protect the lives and safety of our citizens and is not intended to attack North Korea or escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula.” Lee said, according to spokeswoman Kang Yu-jung.

Seoul has already made conciliatory gestures since Lee took office in June, such as removing its propaganda loudspeakers from border areas and calling on activists to stop floating balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the North.

Half of Ulchi Freedom Shield’s 44 planned field training exercises have been rescheduled to next month, with U.S. military officials citing a heatwave and flooding damage to training areas as the primary reasons. Local media have reported that the move is also being made in an effort to avoid provoking the North.

A spokesman for Seoul’s Defense Ministry said at a briefing on Monday that there were no plans to suspend live-fire drills near the de facto maritime border in the Yellow Sea, which has long been a source of dispute with Pyongyang.

US President Trump and Russian President Putin began talks on the war in Ukraine at a US military base in Anchorage, Alaska, meeting with aides in front of a “Pursuing Peace” backdrop. They ignored reporters’ questions during a photo opportunity ahead of a joint press conference.

SEOUL, Aug. 12 (UPI) — North Korea conducted artillery firing drills to boost combat readiness, state-run media reported Tuesday, as the United States and South Korea prepare to kick off a large-scale joint military exercise.

A firing practice contest of tactical artillery sub-units was held on Monday under a “combat drill plan of the [Korean People’s Army] General Staff for perfecting the capability to fight a war and battle readiness of the entire army,” the official Korean Central News Agency reported.

The KCNA report said the participants hit and destroyed targets “in the course of mastering rapid mobile and surprise operations and … steadily increasing the efficiency and operation of the artillery weapon systems.”

The drills “served as an occasion to demonstrate the strong will of the army to thoroughly contain military gangsters in the land adjacent to the border,” KCNA said.

Pak Jong Chon, vice chairman of the ruling party’s Central Military Commission, oversaw the contest. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who usually supervises the military’s artillery firing drills, did not attend.

The contest came a week before Seoul and Washington are scheduled to launch their summertime Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercise, set for Aug. 18-28. Pyongyang regularly denounces the allies’ joint drills as rehearsals for an invasion.

North Korea’s defense chief on Monday condemned Ulchi Freedom Shield and warned of “negative consequences.”

The North will “strictly exercise the sovereign right of the DPRK at the level of the right to self-defense in a case of any provocation going beyond the boundary line,” Defense Minister No Kwang Choi said in a statement.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea.

The allies have repeatedly stressed that the exercises are defensive in nature.

On Monday, a representative of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command said that No’s statement was relatively restrained.

“If you actually look at North Korea’s statement, it’s a little bit tame compared to historical norms,” the representative told reporters in a background briefing.

The administration of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has been making efforts to improve frayed relations with Pyongyang.

Last week, the South’s military removed loudspeakers that had been installed along the DMZ to blast anti-Pyongyang messages across the border. On Saturday, North Korea began removing its own speakers in some forward areas, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

Half of Ulchi Freedom Shield’s 44 planned field training exercises have been rescheduled to next month, with military officials citing a heatwave and flooding damage to training areas as the primary reasons. Local media have reported that the move was also made to help Seoul’s bid to mend ties with the North.

Russian Pacific Fleet says joint patrol with China in the Asia Pacific will follow naval drill in the Sea of Japan.

Russian and Chinese naval vessels plan to conduct a joint patrol in the Asia Pacific region, following recent exercises in the Sea of Japan, Russia’s official Interfax has reported.

Citing a statement on Wednesday from the Russian Pacific Fleet’s press service, Interfax said that ships from the Russian Navy and China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy “will form a new task group to carry out joint patrol missions in the Asia-Pacific region”.

“After replenishing supplies from logistics vessels, the crews of the Russian Navy and the PLA Navy will form a new detachment to carry out joint patrol tasks in the Asia-Pacific region,” the news agency said.

Russia is conducting a series of military exercises with China in response to the build-up of US military potential in the Asia Pacific region, Interfax said, citing Russia’s chief of staff, Valery Gerasimov, in 2022.

Moscow and Beijing have already conducted joint air patrols in the Asia Pacific region since 2019, it added.

The joint patrol announcement comes as the two countries conclude five days of joint naval drills in the Sea of Japan that focused on anti-submarine and air defence missions.

During the final phase of the exercises, Russia’s large anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs and the corvette Gromky, together with the Chinese destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, carried out live-fire drills while crews practised searching for and neutralising a mock enemy submarine, Interfax reported.

Russia’s Pacific Fleet earlier said that the drills were defensive in nature and not directed against any other countries.

The reported formation of the Asia Pacific joint patrol comes as China modernises and upgrades its naval fleet to become a “blue water” force, capable of carrying out long-range operations in the world’s oceans, similar to the United States and other Western forces.

Russia and China, which signed a “no-limits” strategic partnership shortly before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, conduct regular exercises to rehearse coordination between their armed forces and send a deterrent signal to adversaries.

The exercise coincided with President Ferdinand Marcos’s departure for a five-day trip to India, where he said he would look to deepen maritime ties.

India and the Philippines have staged their first joint sail and naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea.

The two-day joint military deployment that kicked off on Sunday is likely to anger China, which claims nearly the entire key waterway and has separate territorial disputes with the two Asian countries.

Philippine Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr said on Monday that the joint sail took place inside his country’s exclusive economic zone.

“We did not experience any untoward incidents, but there are still those shadowing us – as we had already expected,” Brawner told reporters, without naming China.

In past joint patrols with other foreign navies, Chinese navy and coastguard ships have kept watch from a distance, according to the Philippine military.

Indian navy ships that took part included guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, tanker INS Shakti and corvette INS Kiltan. The Philippines deployed two frigates, BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Jose Rizal.

The exercise coincided with President Ferdinand Marcos’s departure for a five-day trip to India, where he said he would look to deepen maritime ties and seek cooperation on sectors including defence, pharmaceuticals and agriculture.

Brawner, meanwhile, expressed hope that Filipino forces could engage India’s military in more joint manoeuvres in the future.

The drill “sends a powerful signal of solidarity, strength in partnership and the energy of cooperation between two vibrant democracies in the Indo-Pacific”, he said.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that territorial and maritime disputes should be resolved between the countries directly involved, and no third party should intervene.

In response to a question last week about the Philippines’ plans to build up military cooperation, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense called the country a “troublemaker” that has aligned itself with foreign forces to stir up trouble, in what China deems its own territorial waters.

“China never wavers in its resolve and will safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and take resolute countermeasures against any provocations by the Philippine side,” spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang had told reporters.

The South China Sea is a strategic shipping route where $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce takes place.

A 2016 ruling of an international arbitral tribunal found China’s sweeping claims have no basis under international law, a decision Beijing rejects.

Sean McVay won’t have to worry about Matthew Stafford catching a twice-tipped pass and stumbling over the goal line during a joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys.

That anxiety-inducing event occurred last year when the Rams practiced against the Cowboys.

On Tuesday, the Rams again travel to Oxnard to practice against the Cowboys before Saturday’s preseason game at SoFi Stadium.

But the back issue that sidelined Stafford throughout training camp will keep him off the field.

When the Rams go through a jogthrough on Monday, Stafford will continue to work out on his own, McVay said Sunday after the final public workout at Loyola Marymount.

“He is able to do a little bit more, which is good, and things are progressing well,” McVay said. “But he won’t take part in the jogthrough because he’ll be doing some other stuff during that time.”

McVay said Stafford’s workouts with trainers have included some static throwing exercises, running on a treadmill, light cardio and core work.

“It’s more just functional strength surrounding the area while making sure that you don’t do anything to set yourself back, based on the trajectory that he’s doing,” McVay said. “But we are looking forward to getting him and easing him back to football hopefully in the near future.”

Joint Sea-2025 exercises begin in waters near Russian port of Vladivostok and will last for three days, China’s Defence Ministry says.

China and Russia have begun joint naval drills in the Sea of Japan as they seek to reinforce their partnership and counterbalance what they see as a United States-led global order.

The Chinese and Russian governments have deepened their ties in recent years, with China providing an economic lifeline to Russia in the face of Western sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Joint Sea-2025 exercises began in waters near the Russian port of Vladivostok and will last for three days, China’s Ministry of National Defence said in a statement on Sunday.

The two sides will hold “submarine rescue, joint anti-submarine, air defence and anti-missile operations, and maritime combat”.

Four Chinese vessels, including guided-missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, are participating in the exercises, alongside Russian ships, the ministry said.

After the drills, the two countries will conduct naval patrols in “relevant waters of the Pacific”.

China and Russia have carried out annual drills for several years, with the “Joint Sea” exercises beginning in 2012.

Last year’s drills were held along China’s southern coast.

With this year’s drills in the Sea of Japan, in its annual report last month, Japan’s Ministry of Defence warned that China’s growing military cooperation with Russia poses serious security concerns.

“The exercise is defensive in nature and is not directed against other countries,” the Russian Navy Pacific Fleet said earlier this week, according to a report by the US Naval Institute’s online news and analysis portal.

On Friday, the Chinese Defence Ministry said this year’s exercises were aimed at “further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership” of the two countries.

China has never denounced Russia’s more than three-year war nor called for it to withdraw its troops, and many of Ukraine’s allies, including the US, believe that Beijing has provided support to Moscow.

European leaders asked China last month to use its influence to pressure Russia to end the war, now in its fourth year, but there was no sign that Beijing would do so.

China, however, insists it is a neutral party, regularly calling for an end to the fighting while also accusing Western countries of prolonging the conflict by arming Ukraine.

NoName057(16) had carried out thousands of attacks on Ukraine and its supporters.

An international operation spanning North America and Europe has taken down a pro-Russian cybercrime group linked to thousands of attacks on Ukraine and its allies.

In recent days, law enforcement working together in 19 countries jointly dismantled the operations of cybercrime network NoName057(16), according to a statement issued by Europol on Wednesday.

The pro-Russian group, which has been operating since 2022, initially targeted Ukraine but expanded to countries across Europe. They carried out attacks on Swedish authorities and bank websites, more than 250 German companies and institutions, and on the latest NATO meeting in the Netherlands, Europol said.

The police agency said the international operation “led to the disruption of an attack-infrastructure consisting of over one hundred computer systems worldwide, while a major part of the group’s central server infrastructure was taken offline”.

Law enforcement and judicial authorities from France, Finland, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and the United States took simultaneous actions against offenders and infrastructure belonging to the pro-Russian cybercrime network, it said.

The group had used the Telegram messaging app to enlist more than 4,000 volunteers, who made their systems available for swamping critical institutions’ servers with so-called distributed denial of service attacks, German prosecutors said.

The premises searched included those linked to volunteers in the Telegram group, they said.

Judicial authorities in Germany issued six arrest warrants for suspects in Russia, two of them accused of being the main leaders of the group, Europol said. Five of them were identified on Europol’s Europe’s Most Wanted website.

One suspect was placed under preliminary arrest in France and another detained in Spain, Europol said. The Paris prosecutor’s office said one person is in custody in France and communications equipment has been seized. No charges have yet been filed. In the United States, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was involved in the operation.

The attorney general’s office in Switzerland, which is not an EU member country, said in a statement on Wednesday that joint investigations between Europol and Swiss federal police helped identify three leading members of the group, which is alleged to have targeted more than 200 Swiss websites.

Swiss prosecutors opened a criminal case over the incidents in June 2023, and since then, identified several other denial-of-service attacks attributed to the activist group. The attacks included a video address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the Swiss parliament and the popular Eurovision Song Contest, held in Basel earlier this year.

In recent years, the collective, known for promoting Russian interests, has allegedly carried out successful cyberattacks in Ukraine and on government, infrastructure, banking, health services and telecom websites in European countries that have opposed Russia’s invasion.

European authorities are increasingly concerned at the scale of the hybrid threats they say emanate from Russia, which is in the third year of its invasion of Western ally Ukraine.

Those threats, which have included killings and alleged bomb plots against institutions and cargo aircraft, have largely been attributed to state actors. Russia has denied the accusation.

Europol said that people recruited by the group were paid in cryptocurrency and motivated using online-gaming dynamics like leader boards and badges.

“This gamified manipulation, often targeted at younger offenders, was emotionally reinforced by a narrative of defending Russia or avenging political events,” Europol said.

June 30 (UPI) — The Trump administration on Monday threatened more funding cuts to Harvard University after a federal task force claimed the Ivy League school was in “violent violation” of the Civil Rights Act over a perceived failure to protect Jewish students.

“Harvard holds the regrettable distinction of being among the most prominent and visible breeding ground for race discrimination,” read the letter in part to University President Alan Garber from the federal government’s Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism.

The letter, signed by four federal officials from the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, the U.S. General Services Administration, and Assistant U.S. Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet K. Dhillon, cited the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling on Harvard’s admission practices.

It said that its Title VI investigation via the 1964 Civil Rights Act — which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin — concluded that Harvard allegedly failed to suppress anti-Semitism on its Boston-based campus.

“That legacy of discrimination persists with Harvard’s continued anti-Semitism,” it stated, adding that any institution refusing to “meet its duties under federal law may not receive a wide range of federal privileges.”

The task force listed in its examples a series of allegations that it says Harvard “did not dispute our findings of fact, nor could it.”

It indicated a quarter of Harvard’s Jewish students felt unsafe, saw negative bias and reported alleged assaults during campus demonstrations that federal officials claimed violated university policy, among a number of other issues.

In their letter, it went on to express how the Holocaust engulfed Europe “due to the ‘[d]isbelief, incredulity, and denial on the part of both victims and onlookers’ which ‘worked to the advantage of those who wanted to eradicate the Jews.'”

“Failure to institute adequate changes immediately will result in the loss of all federal financial resources and continue to affect Harvard’s relationship with the federal government,” the letter continued. “Harvard may of course continue to operate free of federal privileges, and perhaps such an opportunity will spur a commitment to excellence that will help Harvard thrive once again.”

On Monday, the university pointed to “substantive, proactive steps” officials took to address “the root causes of antisemitism” on campus, saying Harvard is “far from indifferent on this issue and strongly disagrees with the government’s findings.”

“In responding to the government’s investigation, Harvard not only shared its comprehensive and retrospective Anti-Semitism and Anti-Israeli Bias Report but also outlined the ways that it has strengthened policies, disciplined those who violate them, encouraged civil discourse, and promoted open, respectful dialogue,” a university spokesman told The Hill in a statement.

Harvard previously refused to give in to the administration’s demands to end its diversity, equity, inclusion and other policies, leading to a lawsuit over a pause in more than $3 billion in federal funds and Trump’s order to rid Harvard’s long-existing right to enroll foreign students.

This month, the president in a social media post said a deal with Harvard could arrive but offered no other detail and has not spoken of it since.

Manager: Xabi Alonso
Star player: Kylian Mbappe
Club World Cup record: Five-time winners
Fixtures: Al Hilal (June 18), Pachuca (June 22), FC Salzburg (June 26)

For most teams, second place in their domestic league, runners up in both domestic cups and reaching the quarterfinals of the Champions League would mark a season of relative success.

For Real Madrid, it means it is time to change the manager.

Following two successful spells in charge of Los Blancos, a trophyless season, and not making the last four of the Champions League, marked the end for Carlo Ancelotti – the most successful manager in history.

The Italian’s boots are big ones to fill, but that is the task that former Real midfielder Xabi Alonso has taken on.

A title winner in Germany, in his first managerial job with Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso was always hot favourite to replace Ancelotti when the time came.

What is Alonso’s greatest challenge at Real?

The 43-year-old is hardly walking into a minefield in Madrid with the Spanish giants claiming a league and European double only a season ago.

Added to that squad last year was the latest Galactico, Kylian Mbappe. In the French forward, Alonso may face his biggest challenge – not due to Mbappe’s personality or work rate, but purely his position in the side.

In the words of Alonso’s predecessor, Real are unbalanced but also lack “collective commitment”.

In short, the squad had too many attackers that Ancelotti felt he had to cram onto the field, while injuries left the defence in tatters, and Madrid did not sign someone to replace midfielder Toni Kroos, who retired last year.

Veteran midfielder Luka Modric’s departure after the Club World Cup means Alonso will be losing yet more poise, technique and wisdom from the midfield.

Two seasons ago, prior to the retirement of Kroos, Real swept all before them with their then-new signing, Jude Bellingham, playing in an advanced role through the middle, flanked by Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.

The arrival of Mbappe forced Bellingham deeper, and something of a false-nine formation was changed to a straight 4-3-3 set up. The chemistry didn’t blend easily.

Mbappe ended up as the leading scorer in La Liga, helped in some part by a late-season injury to his closest competitor, Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski. The former PSG striker netted 43 goals across all competitions with his new club.

That did not mask the fact that the team was not as fluid as the one that glided through the previous campaign to finish 10 points clear of Barcelona. Ancelotti’s final season saw his side trail their fierce rivals from Catalonia by only four points.

Still, the conundrum of making Madrid tick again, with a side that has no choice but to pick Mbappe, Bellingham and Vinicius for all the big games, is Alonso’s great challenge – and that begins at the FIFA Club World Cup.

How important is the Club World Cup for Real Madrid?

On the eve of the final El Clasico of the season, and what would be the last of Ancelotti’s career, the Italian politely reminded everyone that Real Madrid would be competing in FIFA’s showpiece club event and not their rivals, Barcelona.

The pressure was growing on Real’s then-manager, and the speculation was mounting that his time at Santiago Bernabeu was coming to an end, potentially before the end of the season.

Real would lose the match at Barcelona 4-3, and with it any final realistic chance of retaining their La Liga title, having already seen their Champions League defence ended by Arsenal. Ancelotti was not one to be pushed quietly aside after a glittering career across Europe.

“Playing Barcelona is special,” Brazil’s new national manager said on the eve of the game. “And this will be the last El Clasico of the season, because Barca are not in the Club World Cup.”

Whatever the merits of FIFA’s Club World Cup, long term, there is little doubt that, short term, the importance off the field far outweighs the significance of the tournament on the field.

The prize pot is all that matters to the clubs, with the winner set to earn a football record $125m as part of the $1bn prize money fund.

The announcement marks the first time direct Libyan involvement in Sudan’s ongoing war has been alleged.

The Sudanese army has accused the forces of eastern Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar of attacking Sudanese border posts, the first time it has accused its northwestern neighbour of direct involvement in the country’s civil war, now in its third year.

The war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), whom the military also accused of joint involvement in the recent attack, has drawn in multiple countries, while international attempts at bringing about peace have so far failed.

Early in the war, Sudan had accused Haftar of supporting the RSF via weapons deliveries. It has long accused Haftar’s ally the United Arab Emirates of supporting the RSF as well, including via direct drone strikes last month. The UAE denies those allegations.

Egypt, which has also backed Haftar, has long supported the Sudanese army.

In a statement, Sudanese army spokesman Nabil Abdallah said the attack took place in the Libya-Egypt-Sudan border triangle, an area to the north of one of the war’s main front lines, el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.

He said the attack constitutes “a blatant aggression against Sudan”.

“We will defend our country and our national sovereignty, and will prevail, regardless of the extent of the conspiracy and aggression supported by the United Arab Emirates and its militias in the region,” Abdallah added.

Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the UAE of backing the assault, describing it as a “dangerous escalation” and a “flagrant violation of international law”.

“Sudan’s border with Libya has long served as a major corridor for weapons and mercenaries supporting the terrorist militia, funded by the UAE and coordinated by Haftar’s forces and affiliated terrorist groups,” it said in a statement.

There was no immediate response from Haftar’s forces.

The RSF has not issued an official statement, but a source within the group said that its fighters had taken control on Monday of the entrance to Jebel Uweinat, a remote mountain area that sits where the three countries meet, according to the AFP news agency.

MEGAN McKenna and Oliver Burke looked loved-up in pics from their joint stag and hen party ahead of their upcoming wedding.

The former Towie star and country singer, 32, and her footballer fiancée Oliver, 27, decided to have joint celebrations. 

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Sharing an update to her Instagram fans, Megan wore a gorgeous white shirt dress, alongside a veil and a bride-to-be sash. 

Oliver wore a black top with a pair of white trousers and both of them held glasses of what looked like sparkling bubbly.

In another snap, Oliver lovingly held her in his arms as he twirled her in front of a swimming pool.

She captioned the post: “It’s nearly time, also my family are to cute, thanks guys I love you.

“Me & Oli came downstairs for the evening to ‘chapel of love’ playing… video will be posted soon.”

Fans were quick to leave comments supporting the couple and one said: “The most beautiful bride to be.”

“So cute,” said another.

And a third said: “Stop it sooo cute so excited for the wedding pictures seeing your dress and little Landons suit.”

While a fourth added: “I hope we get to see u in ur wedding dress, I bet u will look beautiful!.”

Earlier in the year, Megan teased details about the couple’s wedding as she went for a wedding dress fitting after spending three weeks apart from Oliver.

Megan captioned the Instagram post: “Hadn’t seen Oli in 3 weeks, this is how our day went… don’t worry guys Oli hasn’t seen my wedding dresses.

“They are in Italy atm being made! Eeek. I had to pop in to get my measurements taken again as my baby weight is dropping off me!!!! Not long now.”

Her latest update comes after Megan was left heartbroken after a devastating loss to her family. 

The star shared that her beloved dog, who she referred to as her “first baby” has died, after 17 years as her trusty sidekick. 

Sharing a slideshow of photographs of her beloved pooch, she wrote: “I’ve been putting this post off for a few weeks because it becomes real when I do. But I lost my first baby Daisy and it hit me so hard. 

“She passed away with me holding her in my arms. My sister and mum next to me. I sang her to sleep like I always did when she needed comforting.” 

“It breaks my heart even typing this out,” Megan said. “Daisy, Thankyou for being by my side through every tear, every laugh and every milestone from my teenage years into my 20’s and even 30’s. 

“Thankyou for teaching me how to be a mummy. I’m a pro with Landon because of you, your little dinners, bath time, walkies and cuddles. 

“You was the best Daisy. You was my baby. You will always be in my heart. I will miss you forever.” 

Loved ones and followers quickly flocked to her comments section to pay tribute and share their condolences to Megan after her heartbreak. 

MAFS star Ella Morgan said: “I’m so sorry Meg. Sending you all my love, thoughts and hugs in what I can only imagine is an incredibly emotionally tough time for you all” 

“I miss her so much. She’ll be loved forever,” added her sister Milly. 

Friend Lauren added: “She really was the best, what an amazing mummy you were to her! Love you so much I know how hard this has hit you. But she’ll always be with you xx” 

Her fiancé Oliver also shared his condolences, posting two love hearts. 

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A POPULAR burger branch has finally reopened its doors after nearly two years – and locals couldn’t be happier to see it back.

Wimpy has returned to Tufton Street in Ashford, Kent, after shutting in late 2023 when the previous franchisee stepped down following 30 years in charge.

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The iconic burger spot was originally expected to reopen at the start of 2024, but a series of delays, including unforeseen issues before Christmas, left customers fearing the restaurant might never return.

Now, to the delight of fans, the branch is back in business, with customers already queuing up for their fix of Wimpy classics.

The company, famous for menu staples like the Bender in a Bun and thick shakes, confirmed: “Wimpy Ashford is now open under new ownership with a fresh team and great vibe.

“We will still be serving your favourite Wimpy burgers, chips and thick shakes.”

News of the reopening has spread quickly among locals, with many taking to social media to share their excitement and memories of the eatery.

Several residents said the restaurant had been a regular haunt in their youth, and they were eager to return with their own children.

One customer wrote: “So glad Wimpy is back! Nothing beats a proper burger and chips with that classic taste. We’ve really missed it.”

Another added: “Ashford just hasn’t been the same without it. It’s not just the food, it’s the memories that come with it.”

Wimpy, once a major player on the UK’s fast-food scene, has been undergoing a gradual revival in recent years, with several branches refurbished or reopened under new management.

The Ashford branch’s relaunch is seen as a positive step for the town centre, which has faced a number of retail closures in recent years.

The new owners say they’re committed to maintaining the traditional feel of the restaurant while bringing in modern touches to enhance the customer experience.

Early visitors have already praised the updated décor and friendly atmosphere, saying it retains the charm of the old Wimpy while feeling fresh and inviting.

Staff say they’ve been overwhelmed by the warm welcome and steady flow of diners since opening, and hope to build on that momentum in the months ahead.

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Shane Lowry will go into the final day of the Truist Championship in the joint lead with his European Ryder Cup team-mate Sepp Straka.

Irishman Lowry carded a three-under par 67 in a third round that included five birdies and two bogeys.

The last of his five birdies came on the 17th and moved him level with Austrian Straka, who hit a 66, on 14 under at the Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course.

“I’m driving the ball pretty straight, not very far but it’s going on the fairway, and once I get myself on the fairway I can be dangerous,” said Lowry.

“If I can hole a few putts [on Sunday] you never know.”

He added: “This is a tough game and a tough tour and it’s hard to win out here. You just have to keep putting yourself in position week after week and do your best. I’m going to give it my best.

“I’m playing a good friend of mine in Sepp, my Ryder Cup partner. Hopefully, one of us can get the job done.”

Defending champion Rory McIlroy, who has won this event four times when it has been played at Quail Hollow, the venue for next week’s US PGA Championship, is six off the lead after an up and down 69.

McIlroy beat England’s Justin Rose in a play-off to complete the career Grand Slam with victory at the Masters last month.

Rose played the first two rounds of this event and was seven over par but withdrew prior to the third round of the no-cut tournament.

“After becoming progressively ill over the past few days, I have made the unfortunate decision to withdraw,” he said.

“It’s best for me to focus on a quick recovery prior to next week.”

Fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood went round in a three-under par 67 as he moved onto seven under.

Japan’s Hideki Matsyama hit one of the rounds of the day, a 63 which included nine birdies and two bogeys, as he improved to 10 under.