Latest from ARN News Center
ARN News Center
13 hours ago
- Health
- ARN News Center
Israeli attacks kill 140 in Gaza in 24 hours, medics say, as focus shifts to Iran
Israeli gunfire and strikes killed at least 140 people across Gaza in the past 24 hours, local health officials said, as some Palestinians in the Strip said their plight was being forgotten as attention has shifted to the air war between Israel and Iran. At least 40 of those killed over the past day due to Israeli gunfire and airstrikes on Wednesday, Gaza's health ministry said. The deaths included the latest in near daily killings of Palestinians seeking aid in the three weeks since Israel partially lifted a total blockade on the territory. Medics said separate airstrikes on homes in the Maghazi refugee camp, the Zeitoun neighbourhood and Gaza City killed at least 21 people, while five others were killed in an airstrike on an encampment in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Fourteen more people were killed in Israeli fire at crowds of Palestinians awaiting aid trucks brought in by the UN along the Salahuddin road in central Gaza, medics said. Asked about the Salahuddin road incident, the Israel Defense Forces said that despite repeated warnings that the area was an active combat zone, individuals approached troops operating in the Nuseirat area in the central Gaza Strip in a manner that posed a threat to forces. Troops fired warning shots, it said, adding that it was unaware of injuries. Regarding other strikes, the IDF said it was "operating to dismantle Hamas military capabilities" while taking "feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm". On Tuesday, Gaza's health ministry said 397 Palestinians among those trying to get food aid had been killed and more than 3,000 wounded since aid deliveries restarted in late May. Some in Gaza expressed concern that the latest escalations in the war between Israel and Hamas that began in October 2023 would be overlooked due to the new Israel-Iran conflict. 'FORGOTTEN' Israel is now channelling much of the aid into Gaza through a new US- and Israeli-backed group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which uses private US security and logistics firms and operates a handful of distribution sites in areas guarded by Israeli forces. Israel has said it will continue to allow aid into Gaza, home to more than 2 million people, while ensuring it doesn't get to Hamas. Hamas denies seizing aid, saying Israel uses hunger as a weapon. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, called the current system for distributing aid "a disgrace & a stain on our collective consciousness", in a post on X on Wednesday. The war in Gaza was triggered when Hamas fighters attacked Israel in October 2023, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli allies. Israel's subsequent military assault has killed nearly 55,600 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, displaced almost all the territory's residents, and caused a severe hunger crisis. The World Food Programme called for a big increase in food distribution in Gaza, saying that the 9,000 metric tonnes it had dispatched over the last four weeks inside Gaza represented a "tiny fraction" of what was needed. "The fear of starvation and desperate need for food is causing large crowds to gather along well-known transport routes, hoping to intercept and access humanitarian supplies while in transit," the WFP said in a statement. "Any violence resulting in starving people being killed or injured while seeking life-saving assistance is completely unacceptable," it added. Palestinians in Gaza have been closely following Israel's air war with Iran, long a major supporter of Hamas.
ARN News Center
13 hours ago
- Business
- ARN News Center
Saudi PIF launches new company to deliver Expo 2030
Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund PIF has launched a new unit that will be responsible to build and operate the facilities of Expo 2030 Riyadh – Saudi Arabia's first World Expo. Expo 2030 Riyadh Company (ERC) will develop Expo as a model for sustainable tourism and preserve the event's legacy. The masterplan for Expo 2030 Riyadh covers an area of 6 million square metres, making it one of the biggest World Expo sites. It will be located to the north of the city, near the future King Salman International Airport, and with direct connections to the Saudi capital's landmarks. Expo 2030 Riyadh is projected to attract more than 40 million visits. After the event, ERC plans to lead the transformation of the Expo's gated area into a global village to serve as a multicultural hub for retail, food and beverage, surrounded by an international residential community, and setting new standards in sustainable tourism. ERC is swiftly launching operations to fulfill its mandate, and will partner with the local and global private sector to achieve its goals for construction, cultural programming and event management. Expo 2030 Riyadh runs from October 1, 2030 to March 31, 2031 and will further strengthen the city's attractiveness to international businesses. Riyadh was awarded the hosting rights for Expo 2030 in November 2024, winning the vote in the first round. During its construction phases, Expo 2030 Riyadh and its legacy are projected to contribute around $64 billion to Saudi GDP and generate approximately 171,000 direct and indirect jobs. #PIF today announced the launch of Expo 2030 Riyadh Company (ERC), #aPIFcompany to build and operate the facilities of #Expo2030Riyadh - Saudi Arabia's first World Expo - as well as preserving the legacy of the event. Learn more: — Public Investment Fund (@PIF_en) June 19, 2025
ARN News Center
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- ARN News Center
US Open champ JJ Spaun carries momentum to Connecticut
JJ Spaun's news conference Wednesday ahead of the Travelers Championship might have been the longest he has sat still since winning the US Open on Sunday. "It's been pretty hectic but also very fun," said Spaun, whose dramatic birdie-birdie finish at Oakmont Country Club gave him a two-stroke win over Scotland's Robert MacIntyre and his first major championship. "It's been nice to be given the opportunity to express my feelings, my emotions. A lot of people want to hear from me. I was really grateful to have the opportunity to tell everyone about it," he said. "So I enjoyed it. It was a fun time." Spaun celebrated with a stopover Monday night in New York City, where he had dinner with his family, but said he didn't get to catch up on his sleep until Tuesday night. He received congratulations from several celebrities, including actor and comedian George Lopez and Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts, and from golfing greats Curtis Strange and Hale Irwin. Spaun, 34, said he was looking forward to carrying his momentum into the PGA Tour season's final signature event, which starts on Thursday in Cromwell, Conn. "Super excited," he said. "I didn't get to play here last year. I love the area. I love the course. Such a great course that they have here at TPC River Highlands. Looks like we're going to have some pretty good weather too, so that's nice. Just excited to get the week going." Spaun, who missed the cut the last two times he was at the Travelers in 2022 and 2023, said he's still getting used to the idea of being a major champion. "I still haven't really been able to enjoy it and not have any responsibilities," he said. "It would be nice to just sit on my couch at home and have the trophy sitting right next to me and watch some 'SportsCenter' or something, but that's kind of how I like to enjoy things, just kind of vegging out, especially after long weeks on the road and big tournaments." Spaun said he wants to savor his breakthrough win without becoming complacent. "I definitely need to keep the hunger there. I think I will have the hunger just because I want to continue to prove myself, but not prove myself to anybody other than myself, I feel like, and that's kind of been my biggest barrier throughout my entire career is just trying not to be so hard on myself and not ruining any sort of confidence that I've built from all these experiences on my journey as a golfer," he said. "As long as I keep that up, I think I'll continue to play well, and obviously winning the US Open is going to be a huge boost to that sort of inner ego, I guess you could say, to keep that self-belief alive and burning."
ARN News Center
21 hours ago
- Sport
- ARN News Center
Young guns shine as Juventus hammer Al-Ain 5-0 at Club World Cup
Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao both scored twice as the young guns of Juventus made a statement in their Club World Cup opener with a dominant 5-0 win over Emirati club Al-Ain on Wednesday. Kolo Muani grabbed both of his goals in the first half, Conceicao scored either side of the break while Turkey forward Kenan Yildiz also found the net as Juventus dazzled the crowd at Audi Field with some mesmeric football. "I'm very happy to win the game, the team played a great game so we're happy and now we'll get ready for the next game," said Kolo Muani. "I finished last season well and we've started this good as well." The convincing victory sent Juventus top of Group G level on three points with England's Manchester City, who beat Wydad Casablanca 2-0 earlier on Wednesday. Twice Asian champions Al-Ain conceded two thirds of the pitch for much of the first half and Juventus midfielder Khephren Thuram ran the show from about 35 metres out with Conceicao and Yildiz buzzing around in front of him. A neat exchange of passing in the 11th minute set Alberto Costa free on the edge of the box and the young Portuguese right back lofted over a cross which Kolo Muani met with a powerful header at the far post for the opening goal. Costa's fine work down the right flank 10 minutes later set up the second goal for Conceicao, who ghosted across the box before unleashing a shot which took a deflection and flew over the outstretched arms of Rui Patricio in the Al-Ain goal. A further 10 minutes on and the lively Yildiz took the ball on the left before cutting inside, taking two touches and firing a shot into the net off the post. Al-Ain had to push forward if they were going to get anything out of the game but they paid the price for their ambition in stoppage time at the end of the first half. A through ball from Thuram found Kolo Muani peeling off the last defender and the French striker slotted the ball into net with the outside of his right foot to take his tally to five goals in his last six games for The Old Lady. The Emirati side had a goal ruled out for offside at the start of the second half and skipper Kodjo Laba drew a fine save out of Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio in the 49th minute. Conceicao, however, put the game well beyond them in the 58th minute when he skipped into the box from the right wing and beat Portuguese Patricio for the second time with a fine low strike. Patricio finally showed the quality that earned him 108 Portugal caps to deny Kolo Muani a hat-trick in the 66th minute and Juventus substitute Douglas Luiz came close to further blowing out the scoreline in the last couple of minutes. Juventus next play Morroco's Wydad in Philadephia on Sunday, while Al-Ain, who lost to Real Madrid in the 2018 Club World Cup final, face City in Atlanta later the same day.
ARN News Center
21 hours ago
- Sport
- ARN News Center
Man City show squad depth in 2-0 Club World Cup win over Wydad
Phil Foden's second-minute strike sparked Manchester City's 2-0 victory over Morocco's Wydad AC in the Club World Cup opener for both teams on Wednesday in Philadelphia. The Premier League powerhouse added a goal by Jeremy Doku in the 42nd minute off a corner kick from Foden. Foden converted from inside the box for the fastest goal in Club World Cup history. His left-footed shot came after Wydad goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid blocked a shot by Savinho directly into Foden's path. It was the first goal in 20 matches for club and country for the 25-year-old English midfielder. Before the break, Foden's corner kick found Doku's right foot for a close-range goal to double the Manchester City advantage. Man City will face Al Ain on Sunday in Atlanta, while Wydad will remain in Philadelphia to face Juventus on Sunday. Manchester City will be without defender Rico Lewis, who drew a red card in the 88th minute.
