World News: Huge protests in Israel calling for hostage deal and end to Gaza war

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe.

In Israel, Tel Aviv's Hostage Square was filled with hundreds of thousands of people on Sunday demanding an end to the Gaza war and a deal to bring home the remaining hostages.

On the same day, a nationwide strike swept the country, bringing much of Israel to a standstill.

In one of the largest protests since the conflict began, approximately 500,000 people reportedly participated in the Tel Aviv demonstration alone, with other protests around Israel bringing the nationwide total to an estimated one million people.

The protests were organized by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, and included a one-day national strike on Sunday morning.

This strike involved blocking roads and halting work nationwide.

Israeli police made dozens of arrests during the day.

The protests coincided with the Israeli military's finalization of plans for a major ground operation aimed at capturing Gaza City.

Despite the growing public pressure, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the protests and defended the ongoing military offensive.

In Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, flash floods and landslides have killed more than 300 people, with over 200 still missing.

According to Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority, by Sunday morning, the death toll had risen to at least 337 people, with most killed in flash floods.

In Buner District, a three-and-a-half-hour drive from the capital Islamabad, 207 people died after the area saw more than 150 millimeters of rain in just one hour on Friday.

Rescue efforts are underway, but heavy rainfall is forecast to continue until August 21.

While the region typically experiences monsoon rains between June and September, scientists say that climate change is intensifying and increasing the frequency of flash floods and landslides.

Air Canada cabin crew have defied a government-mandated return-to-work order and are continuing their strike.

This comes despite a binding arbitration directive issued by the Canada Industrial Relations Board, which requires more than 10,000 flight attendants to resume their duties by 2 PM on Sunday.

Now entering its third day, the strike has grounded 700 flights daily, affecting travel for up to 130,000 passengers each day.

Leaders of the Canadian Union of Public Employees have condemned the order as "unconstitutional" and are demanding a fair contract that includes compensation for unpaid ground duties.

British Actor Terence Stamp, who played the role of villain General Zod in the original Superman films, died on Sunday aged 87.

Throughout his six-decade career, Stamp earned an Oscar nomination in 1963 for his first film, "Billy Budd", and delivered standout performances, including "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert", in which he portrayed a transgender woman.

Stamp's final screen appearance was in "Last Night in Soho" in 2021.

His family stated, "He leaves behind an extraordinary body of work, both as an actor and as a writer, that will continue to touch and inspire people for years to come."

Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.