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On this version of Hot off the Wire:

NEW YORK (AP) — When Donald Trump takes the stand Monday in a Manhattan courtroom to testify in his civil fraud trial, it will be an undeniable spectacle. He'll be a former president and the leading Republican presidential candidate defending himself against allegations that he dramatically inflated his net worth. The charges cut to the very heart of the brand Trump spent decades carefully crafting and put him at risk of losing control of much of his business empire. But the appearance will also mark the beginning of what will likely be a defining feature of the 2024 election: a major candidate, on trial, using the witness stand as a campaign platform.

Israeli troops have divided the northern and southern parts of Gaza, as communications across the besieged territory were temporarily cut Monday for a third time since the war started. Israeli media reported the troops are expected to enter Gaza City on Monday or Tuesday. The developments came after Israeli airstrikes hit two refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing scores of people, health officials said. Israel has so far rejected U.S. suggestions that it take a humanitarian pause from its relentless bombardment of Gaza and the rising civilian deaths. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says the Palestinian death toll has reached 9,700. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine has confirmed that 19 service members were killed by a Russian missile strike in Zaporizhzhia during a military awards ceremony. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says it's a “tragedy that could’ve been avoided” and the defense minister has ordered an investigation into why the event was held so close to front lines. The announcement came as officials say Russian drone and missile strikes wounded eight people in Odesa and damaged an art museum that is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press show damage done by a Ukrainian missile strike on a Russian naval ship.

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Two senators from Maine are asking the U.S. Army inspector general to provide a full accounting of interactions with a reservist before he killed 18 people at a bowling alley and bar. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King told Lt. Gen. Donna Martin in a letter Monday that it’s important to understand “what occurred, or failed to occur” at the federal level, including the Army. The senators posed several questions including under what circumstances the Army reports personnel to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Fellow soldiers expressed concerns about Robert Card’s mental health before the Oct. 25 shootings. It was the deadliest shooting in Maine history.

Universal and Blumhouse's video game adaptation “Five Nights at Freddy's” topped the North American box office in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” placed second. The weekend had plenty of high-profile films opening or expanding, including Sofia Coppola's “Priscilla” and Meg Ryan's “What Happens Later.” But in aggregate it's also one of the slowest weekends of the year. Before the SAG-AFTRA strike, this was the weekend “Dune: Part Two” was supposed to open. When Warner Bros. and Legendary pushed that opening back to March 2024 and no other blockbuster stepped in to take its spot.

NEW YORK (AP) — The National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, expects shoppers will spend more this year than last year, but their spending pace will slow given all the economic uncertainty. The group said Thursday that it expects holiday sales to be 3% to 4% for November through December, compared with 5.4% growth of a year ago. Sales for the two-month period will increase to between $957.3 billion and $966.6 billion. The pace is consistent with the average annual holiday increase of 3.6% from 2010 to pre-pandemic 2019. Americans ramped up spending during the pandemic, which accounted for some outsized sales numbers. For the holiday 2021 season, sales for the two-month period surged 12.7%.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ruth Glenn knows from personal experience the danger of putting a gun in the hands of a violent spouse or partner. That's the issue at the heart of a case before the Supreme Court this week. Glenn was shot three times and left for dead outside a Denver car wash in 1992. The shooter was her estranged husband, Cedric, who was under a court order to stay away from Glenn. Two years later Congress enacted a law to keep people like Cedric Glenn from having a gun. The high court is hearing arguments Tuesday in a challenge to the 1994 law. It's the first case involving guns to reach the justices since last year's landmark decision expanding gun rights.

The Eagles win an NFC East showdown, the Chiefs defense shines in Germany, NASCAR has a first-time champion, while the NBA and NHL featured light schedules.

NEW YORK (AP) — Sheryl Crow and Olivia Rodrigo kicked off the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday night and Missy Elliott closed the show more than four hours later with a roof-shaking set, as the hall celebrated a strong representation of women and Black artists. Chaka Khan, Kate Bush, “Soul Train” creator Don Cornelius, The Spinners and DJ Kool Herc were also inducted in a celebration of funk, art-rock, R&B and hip-hop, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Country music was represented by Willie Nelson, punk had Rage Against the Machine, the late George Michael repped pure pop and Link Wray defined guitar heroes.