Global gold prices fell sharply on Thursday, with spot gold dropping 0.3 percent to 4,066.24 dollars per ounce in Asian trading, according to Reuters. The decline followed renewed military tensions between the United States and Iran, after US President Donald Trump declared that the memorandum to halt war with Iran was no longer valid. Shortly afterward, the US military announced new strikes against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.

The conflict pushed oil prices higher, with crude rising about 5 percent on Wednesday and continuing upward on Thursday. Analysts warned that prolonged Middle East tensions could further raise oil prices and global inflation, prompting the US Federal Reserve to keep interest rates elevated for longer. The dollar and global stock markets also came under pressure.

The International Monetary Fund reduced its 2026 global growth forecast to 3 percent, while Bank of America cut its average gold price forecast for 2026 by 14 percent to 4,360 dollars per ounce, citing the likelihood of tighter US monetary policy.

Global oil prices increased following new US airstrikes in Iran that killed eight Iranian soldiers. According to Reuters, as of 12:54 a.m. GMT, Brent crude rose by 78 cents, or 1 percent, reaching 78.80 dollars per barrel. The US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also climbed 74 cents, or 1.01 percent, to 74.26 dollars per barrel.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA confirmed that the US strikes occurred early Wednesday in southern Iran, targeting areas near Bandar Abbas and Bushehr. The casualties included members of Iran’s air and naval forces. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks on key US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.

The IRGC stated through state broadcaster IRIB that the attacks marked the first phase of a “punitive response,” targeting Camp Arifjan and Ali Al Salem bases in Kuwait, as well as Juffair and Sheikh Isa bases in Bahrain.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has intensified global debate over Egypt’s 3-2 loss to Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 16, claiming the North African team was “robbed.” His remarks came a day after the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) lodged a formal complaint with FIFA against French referee François Letexier, citing controversial decisions and the use of VAR during the match.

The most disputed moment occurred when Egypt’s Mostafa Zizo’s goal was disallowed after a VAR review found a foul 20 seconds earlier. Argentina later came from behind to win 3-2 and secure a quarterfinal spot. Mamdani made his comments during a New York bus service event, linking time-saving benefits for residents to having time to agree that “Egypt was robbed.”

The EFA stated that the refereeing and VAR errors undermined the integrity of the World Cup. An unnamed Egyptian player also told The Athletic that the tournament was “fixed,” alleging referee pressure from Argentina. The controversy continues to draw scrutiny from football analysts worldwide.

FIFA has provided an official explanation regarding two controversial VAR decisions during the World Cup round of 16 match between Egypt and Argentina. Egypt’s goal by Mostafa Zizo was disallowed after a VAR review found a foul by defender Marwan Attia on Argentina’s Lisandro Martínez during the buildup. The French referee Letexier agreed with the VAR assessment and canceled the goal. Later, Argentina’s winning goal by Enzo Fernández was upheld after VAR determined there was no foul on Mohamed Salah by Julián Álvarez inside the penalty area.

The report clarified that VAR reviews only four types of incidents: goals, penalties, direct red cards, and cases of mistaken identity. The system checks every frame at 50 frames per second, while the match ball transmits tracking data 500 times per second, ensuring no incident is missed. In Egypt’s case, the foul in the buildup led to the goal being ruled out, while Argentina’s goal stood because the contact between Salah and Álvarez was deemed incidental.

The explanation aimed to address widespread confusion over why one goal was canceled and the other allowed to stand.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has reported that around 6,000 sailors are stranded aboard hundreds of ships in the Gulf amid rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement cited by Al Jazeera, Dominguez condemned recent attacks on several vessels crossing the strait over the past two days, warning that such incidents have placed innocent seafarers’ lives at severe risk.

He stressed that no sailor should face danger merely for performing their duties and urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and work to de-escalate the situation. Dominguez called on flag states, shipowners, and operators to avoid transiting the strait if crew safety cannot be guaranteed.

According to the IMO chief, the recent attacks have intensified fear, uncertainty, and psychological stress among the roughly 6,000 sailors unable to leave the Gulf. He reaffirmed that ensuring the safety of seafarers must remain the top priority.

Global oil prices rose sharply after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the ceasefire with Iran was over. The declaration came following overnight retaliatory attacks between the United States and Iran, triggering volatility in energy markets. On Wednesday, international benchmark Brent crude increased by 6 percent to reach 78 dollars per barrel, while U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 5.95 percent to 74.60 dollars per barrel. In contrast, European share prices fell by 1.6 percent.

Earlier, oil prices had already climbed more than 2 percent on Wednesday following renewed U.S. strikes and the reinstatement of trade sanctions against Iran. On Tuesday, prices had risen by nearly 3 percent. The developments reflect heightened geopolitical tensions affecting global energy markets.

Speaking at the NATO summit alongside Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump said the memorandum of understanding with Iran was “over” and described it as a waste of time, signaling a further deterioration in U.S.-Iran relations.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to end all trade relations with Spain, a move that Madrid has described as a normal business occurrence. According to Spain’s Prime Minister’s Office, the country views such comments as part of regular commercial interactions. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera on July 8, 2026.

In an official statement, the Prime Minister’s Office emphasized that Spain maintains excellent social, cultural, and economic relations with the United States and has no intention of altering them. The response came after Trump’s remarks during a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where he told reporters that he had instructed U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besent to immediately sever all trade and commercial ties with Spain.

Trump justified his position by criticizing Spain’s role in NATO, claiming the country neither participates adequately nor contributes financially. Madrid’s calm response suggests it does not expect immediate disruption in bilateral relations despite the U.S. president’s comments.

On Wednesday, July 8, 2026, nearly 99 percent of the global population will experience daylight at the same time due to the Earth's tilt and the ongoing summer in the Northern Hemisphere. For about one minute, most of the planet’s densely populated regions will be illuminated by the sun, leaving only a small fraction of people in darkness. Around 5:10 p.m. Bangladesh time (11:10 a.m. GMT), approximately 8.2 billion people will be under daylight or twilight.

Daylight will cover most parts of North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, where the majority of the world’s population resides. Nighttime will prevail only in Australia, New Zealand, parts of Southeast Asia, Antarctica, and nearby oceanic areas.

This phenomenon is not unique to this year. Between May 18 and July 17 each year, there is a brief daily period when about 99 percent of people on Earth experience daylight or twilight simultaneously, coinciding with the Northern Hemisphere’s longest days in June before the sun gradually shifts southward.

An international law enforcement operation has led to the arrest of 24 individuals linked to India-based organized crime networks. U.S. officials announced the arrests on Tuesday, noting that several suspects were also accused of involvement in the killing of a prominent Sikh leader in Canada. The operation was jointly conducted by agencies from the United States, Canada, and Europe following a long-running investigation into transnational criminal groups engaged in extortion, contract killings, shootings, assaults, forced payments, and drug trafficking.

According to the charges, two of the accused allegedly directed their criminal empires from prisons in India. Among those named are Lawrence Bishnoi, accused of ordering the 2023 murder of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, a rival gang leader with an alleged network spanning multiple countries. Another accused, Ravinder Singh Dhandar from Vancouver, was charged with trafficking large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine from the U.S. to Canada.

Officials described the coordinated action as a major strike against three violent transnational organizations that have spread fear and violence across several continents.

Global oil prices climbed again after the United States launched airstrikes on Iran and reinstated trade sanctions. According to a Reuters report, oil prices rose more than 2 percent on Wednesday, with Brent crude increasing by 1.92 dollars to 76.08 dollars per barrel and West Texas Intermediate rising by 1.82 dollars to 72.26 dollars per barrel. The renewed sanctions on Iranian oil sales and the breakdown of a temporary truce between the two countries have fueled market instability.

Analysts noted that while the decision may not cause major structural changes in the oil market, investor anxiety has increased. The United States said its strikes followed Iranian attacks that damaged three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Experts warned that the incident underscores ongoing risks to shipping in the region, and prolonged tensions could reduce global oil supply if vessel traffic falls below half of normal levels.

Oil prices had previously declined after a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran last month, which had raised expectations of increased Middle Eastern oil supply.

A major controversy erupted at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after U.S. President Donald Trump personally requested FIFA to review a red card given to American striker Folarin Balogun during a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The card had ruled Balogun out of the crucial round-of-16 match against Belgium. Following Trump’s appeal, FIFA’s independent disciplinary committee suspended the one-match ban, allowing Balogun to play.

The decision triggered widespread debate across global football. UEFA accused FIFA of crossing a line, warning that such actions could undermine the sport’s disciplinary integrity. Belgium’s football authorities also appealed against Balogun’s eligibility, but their challenge was rejected. FIFA President Gianni Infantino insisted that all disciplinary decisions were made independently and denied any political influence, while Trump maintained he had only sought a fair review.

The incident has ignited discussions worldwide about political interference in sports, with some viewing Trump’s move as a call for fairness and others as a dangerous precedent. The term “Trump card” has since become a symbol of the controversy dominating the 2026 World Cup.

Egypt exited the World Cup after a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the round of 16, despite leading 2-0 until the 79th minute in Atlanta. Following the match, Egypt’s head coach Hossam Hassan strongly criticized the refereeing and questioned the fairness of the tournament. He expressed frustration over a disallowed goal by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and the referee’s failure to award a penalty for a foul on Mohamed Salah before Argentina’s winning goal.

Hassan alleged that commercial interests influenced the competition, claiming that organizers wanted Lionel Messi to remain in the tournament as long as possible. Despite his anger over officiating, the coach praised his players for their performance, saying Egypt had built a foundation for future success and upheld the pride of African and Arab football.

He concluded by apologizing to Egyptian fans, stating that the team had aimed to bring joy to the nation but some factors were beyond their control.

Egyptian forward Mostafa Zizo expressed strong dissatisfaction after Egypt’s 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the World Cup round of 16 on July 8, 2026. Egypt had led 2-0 before conceding three goals, ending their campaign in heartbreak. Speaking to the media after the match, Zizo alleged that the referee’s decisions consistently went against Egypt, claiming the official did not want them to win. He recited a Quranic verse and said a referee had destroyed the hard work of a nation.

Zizo further argued that the match was unfair and suggested the tournament seemed destined for Argentina. The Egyptian camp’s frustration centered on several controversial calls, including a disallowed goal by Zizo after a VAR review and a denied penalty appeal. These decisions, according to Zizo and his teammates, changed the course of the match.

FIFA and the match referee did not issue any immediate response to Zizo’s comments, while Argentina secured a dramatic comeback to reach the quarterfinals.

Switzerland advanced to the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals after defeating Colombia 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a goalless 120-minute match in Vancouver, Canada. The Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel delivered an outstanding performance, making several crucial saves and earning the player of the match award. Despite Colombia’s early attacking dominance, both teams failed to score in regular and extra time, leading to a tense shootout that Switzerland managed to win.

The victory marks Switzerland’s first World Cup quarter-final appearance since 1954. Colombia’s efforts, led by players such as Gustavo Puerta and James Rodríguez, were repeatedly denied by Kobel’s sharp reflexes. Switzerland also created several scoring chances through Fabian Rieder and Dan Ndoye but could not convert during open play.

With this result, Switzerland will face Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the quarter-finals. Argentina had earlier secured their place by overturning a 0-2 deficit to defeat Egypt 3-2. The match between Argentina and Switzerland is scheduled for Sunday at 7 a.m. Bangladesh time.

Belgium reached the World Cup quarterfinals after defeating the United States 4-1 in the round of 16. Following the match, Belgian midfielder Nicolas Raskin expressed frustration over FIFA’s controversial decision to suspend the red-card ban of U.S. forward Folarin Balogun, allowing him to play despite disciplinary rules. Raskin said the result proved that justice ultimately prevails in life.

The controversy began when Balogun received a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which should have led to a one-match suspension. However, FIFA’s disciplinary committee lifted the ban, drawing criticism from multiple sides. The Belgian Football Federation filed an official complaint before the match, which was rejected. FIFA President Gianni Infantino later stated that the judicial body acted independently, though reports of his phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump fueled further debate.

Belgium’s victory, powered by goals from Charles De Ketelaere, Hans Vanaken, and Romelu Lukaku, secured a quarterfinal clash with Spain, who advanced after defeating Portugal.