A major controversy has arisen during the World Cup match between Brazil and Scotland after Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior’s goal in the 25th minute was disallowed. Although Brazil went on to win 3–0, the decision by Mexican referee Cesar Ramos and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team to cancel the goal has sparked widespread debate. The referee ruled that Vinicius had fouled Scottish defender Jack Hendry just before scoring, following a VAR review that showed slight contact between the players.

BBC rules expert and former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann sharply criticized the decision during the live broadcast. He stated that referee Ramos made a clear mistake, arguing that the contact was minimal and did not constitute a foul. According to Cann, Vinicius merely held his position while the defender initiated the contact. He added that Scotland was fortunate to benefit from the call, describing the outcome as lucky for the team.

The incident has fueled ongoing discussions about the consistency of VAR decisions and their impact on key World Cup moments.

Elon Musk has lost his trillionaire status within just two weeks, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. As of Wednesday’s U.S. market close, his net worth fell to 957 billion dollars, down from 1.11 trillion dollars less than 14 days earlier. The decline followed a sharp global stock market downturn that heavily impacted technology shares, including those of SpaceX and Tesla.

Despite the loss, Musk remains the world’s richest individual, with wealth still far exceeding that of his closest competitors. He had become the first person to surpass one trillion dollars in net worth after the stock market debut of his rocket, satellite, and artificial intelligence company. The blockbuster initial public offering was priced at 135 dollars per share and opened trading at 150 dollars, giving the company a market value of over 1.77 trillion dollars.

Musk’s 42 percent ownership in SpaceX had initially pushed his paper wealth beyond the trillion-dollar mark, but the recent market slump reversed that milestone.

Three powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, Japan, and the United States on June 25, 2026, causing widespread damage and triggering emergency responses. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), Venezuela experienced two major quakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude near San Felipe and Yumar, west of Caracas. The tremors caused severe destruction across several states, with buildings collapsing in multiple areas. The USGS estimated a 44 percent chance of 10,000 deaths and a 30 percent chance of fatalities exceeding 100,000. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency, closing Simón Bolívar International Airport, suspending schools, metro, and rail services, and halting nonessential activities.

In Japan, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck northeast of Kuji, but no tsunami warning was issued. Authorities reported no immediate casualties or major damage. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ordered an urgent assessment of losses, while Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara confirmed no abnormalities at nuclear facilities. East Japan Railway Company suspended bullet train services between Shin-Aomori and Tokyo.

In northern California, a 5.6 magnitude quake hit near Redwood Valley, cutting power to about 7,400 homes and businesses. The USGS’s ShakeAlert system successfully warned residents through the MyShake app.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that he will jointly present the World Cup trophy with U.S. President Donald Trump at the final on July 19. The decision marks a break from FIFA’s long-standing protocol, under which the FIFA President alone hands the trophy to the winning team’s captain. Infantino disclosed the plan during an interview with Fox & Friends, saying, “We are always together.”

The move has sparked renewed debate in the football world about Infantino’s close relationship with Trump. The FIFA chief had previously drawn criticism for awarding Trump the “FIFA Peace Prize” during a World Cup draw event. Trump also broke protocol last season by handing the Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James, which caused confusion among players and widespread criticism. Historically, only FIFA presidents such as Sepp Blatter or Infantino have presented the trophy, though exceptions occurred when Queen Elizabeth II and King Juan Carlos did so in 1966 and 1982 respectively.

Infantino’s latest decision has reignited controversy over the blending of politics and football ceremonies.

Ghana held England to a goalless draw but controversy erupted over a late penalty appeal that was not reviewed by VAR. Ghana’s coach Carlos Queiroz expressed frustration, sarcastically suggesting that the video assistant referee might have been on a coffee break. The incident occurred when Ghana’s Prince Kwabena Adu was challenged by England defender Ezri Konsa inside the box, with replays showing contact on Adu’s knee rather than the ball.

Queiroz questioned whether VAR was functioning properly and argued that the foul warranted both a penalty and a red card. BBC analysts, including former England captain Wayne Rooney and ex-defender Micah Richards, agreed that the challenge could easily have been penalized. Former assistant referee Darren Cann also said the referee should have been advised to review the incident.

Analysts noted that FIFA’s current VAR policy under chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina gives more authority to on-field referees, reducing VAR intervention in borderline cases. Ghana, despite earning one point, left the match questioning whether VAR had truly seen the incident.

Meta Platforms and eyewear manufacturer EssilorLuxottica have jointly announced the launch of a new line of AI-powered smart glasses priced at 299 US dollars. The product, named 'Meta Glasses', will be significantly more affordable than last year’s 800-dollar 'Ray-Ban Display' model, aiming to make AI-integrated wearables accessible to a wider consumer base.

Although developed in partnership with Luxottica, this marks the first eyewear series released under Meta’s own branding rather than Luxottica’s well-known labels such as Ray-Ban or Oakley. The glasses will be available in multiple colors and shapes, including a rectangular design and a slim oval frame created in collaboration with media personality Kylie Jenner. The devices will feature Meta’s first in-house AI model, 'Muse Spark', developed by its Superintelligence Labs to deliver advanced Meta AI services.

Unlike Snap’s smart glasses that overlay digital content on real-world views, Meta’s new glasses focus on text display and direct AI interaction, highlighting the company’s continued investment in personal artificial intelligence technologies.

Google has begun rolling out a new feature for Gemini in Chrome called “Select from screen,” allowing users to highlight specific text or images from a webpage and send them directly to the AI assistant. The tool appears in Gemini’s “+” menu and functions like a built-in screenshot utility. Once activated, users can select any visible content in the current browser tab, which is automatically attached to a Gemini prompt. The feature is part of Chrome version 149, and some users may need to restart their browser to see it.

The update is part of Google’s broader effort to make Gemini more integrated with user activity rather than a standalone chatbot. On the same day, Google also announced that developers can now access computer use capabilities through Gemini 3.5 Flash, enabling AI agents to see, reason, and act across browsers, mobile apps, and desktop environments. The company says this integration enhances complex, multi-step automation tasks.

By enabling Gemini to understand and interact directly with on-screen content, Google aims to reduce friction and move toward an AI assistant that can anticipate user intent and assist with tasks more intuitively.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has turned into a dramatic contest among three football superstars—Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland—each chasing records and goals. In Dallas, Messi scored twice against Austria, surpassing Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup record with 18 goals. All five of Argentina’s goals so far have come from the 38-year-old captain, underscoring his dominance and longevity on the world stage.

Mbappé, France’s captain, scored twice against Iraq in his 100th international match, bringing his World Cup tally to 16 goals across three tournaments. Analysts note his rapid rise and potential to challenge Messi’s new record. Meanwhile, Norway’s Haaland, in his debut World Cup, has scored four goals in two matches, equaling Mbappé’s total and setting new milestones for his country. Former players and commentators have praised the trio’s contrasting styles and relentless pursuit of goals.

After two matches, Messi leads with five goals, followed by Mbappé and Haaland with four each. This marks only the second time in World Cup history that three players have scored four or more goals after the first two games, setting the stage for an intense Golden Boot race.

South Africa and South Korea are set to meet in a crucial Group A match at the Monterrey Stadium on Thursday at 7 a.m. Bangladesh time. The game will determine which team advances to the knockout stage of the ongoing World Cup, as it marks the final group fixture for both sides.

South Africa, returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2010, began their campaign with a 2–0 loss to Mexico and a 1–1 draw with the Czech Republic, where Teboho Mokoena scored from a penalty. However, Mokoena will miss this match due to suspension, forcing coach Hugo Broos to find a midfield replacement. The team has not won in its last six international matches, drawing three and losing three.

South Korea, after defeating the Czech Republic in their opener, lost 1–0 to Mexico. A win in this match would secure their place in the round of 32. Despite criticism of coach Hong Myung-bo, the team relies on captain Son Heung-min and midfielder Lee Kang-in, both expected to start. The encounter is seen as one of the most decisive in the group stage.

The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) has begun an operation to evacuate more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the Strait of Hormuz due to recent Middle East conflicts. The initiative follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States aimed at achieving a ceasefire and restoring peace. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the effort is being carried out with cooperation from Iran, Oman, other Gulf coastal states, the United States, and maritime industry stakeholders.

According to the IMO, necessary security measures have been ensured for the safe relocation of the sailors, and maritime safety conditions have been thoroughly assessed. The crisis began after U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28 triggered regional hostilities, prompting Iran to close the strategic strait and trapping numerous commercial vessels. Following last week’s peace memorandum, shipping activity has gradually resumed.

Data from monitoring firm Kpler showed at least 36 commercial ships crossed the strait on Monday, marking a rare level of traffic since the conflict began. Oman’s defense ministry confirmed that discussions on the evacuation plan had been ongoing for months and are now being implemented in phases.

England were held to a 0-0 draw by Ghana in a World Cup group match played in Boston on June 24, 2026. Despite dominating possession and creating multiple chances, England failed to break through Ghana’s solid defense. Both teams had won their opening matches, but the result was more disappointing for England, who controlled nearly 79 percent of possession yet could not score.

Ghana adopted a defensive strategy from the start, building a two-layered backline led by Thomas Partey. England’s attacks through Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice were repeatedly denied by Ghana’s goalkeeper Benjamin Asare and a resilient defense. The match marked the first goalless draw of the tournament, which had already seen a record number of goals.

The draw was historic for Ghana, who kept clean sheets in consecutive World Cup matches for the first time. England, meanwhile, set unwanted records for their 23rd World Cup draw and 13th goalless match, both tournament highs. With four points each, both teams remain in contention for the round of 32.

Former Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has claimed that Lionel Messi’s record-breaking goal in Argentina’s 2–0 victory over Austria was illegal. The match, held on June 23, 2026, saw Messi surpass Miroslav Klose’s 16-goal record to become the top scorer in World Cup history. The Argentine captain, aged 39, scored in the 38th minute after missing a penalty earlier in the match. He later added another goal in injury time, bringing his total to 18 World Cup goals.

Schmeichel, serving as an analyst for Fox Sports, argued that the first goal should have been disallowed because Argentina’s Alexis Mac Allister fouled Austria’s midfielder Xaver Schlager just before the goal. He said the incident was a clear free-kick and that VAR should have intervened to cancel the goal, calling it a clear referee mistake. Despite the controversy, Messi’s second goal secured Argentina’s win and cemented his place as the all-time leading World Cup scorer.

The match also marked Messi’s third missed penalty in World Cup history, the most by any player in the tournament.

Pope Leo XIV, in his first encyclical ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ published on May 15, 2026, warned that artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping human life, work, politics, and identity, raising moral questions similar to those of the industrial revolution. His message has resonated across the Muslim world, where scholars in Qatar, Malaysia, and Indonesia are increasingly engaging with the ethical and social implications of AI.

Islamic ethicists are exploring how concepts such as ‘takrim’ (human honor), ‘khilafah’ (stewardship), and ‘amanah’ (moral responsibility) define human dignity and accountability in the age of automation. They emphasize that moral responsibility cannot be transferred to machines and that AI should not be treated as an ultimate power, given the Islamic principle of ‘tawhid’ (oneness of God). The debate also extends to political and economic concerns over data ownership, algorithmic control, and profit concentration.

Experts warn that AI’s growing centralization in a few private corporations could deepen global inequality, particularly affecting the Middle East, Africa, and the Global South. They call for a coordinated ethical dialogue across Muslim societies to ensure that technology upholds justice and human dignity.

SpaceX’s stock price fell sharply for three consecutive days following its announcement to issue investment-grade bonds. The company, led by Elon Musk, saw its share price drop by 16 percent on Monday to close at $154.60, marking its lowest level since trading began. Over the three-day period, SpaceX’s shares declined by a total of 23 percent, erasing more than $600 billion in market value. Despite the losses, the company remains the world’s sixth-largest by market capitalization, now slightly above $2 trillion.

The sell-off followed SpaceX’s plan to raise at least $20 billion through its first bond issuance to fund its artificial intelligence ambitions. The company also signed a multibillion-dollar deal with AI startup Reflection AI to provide computing resources. Analysts noted that while SpaceX continues to lead in space-launch and related sectors, much of its long-term value is already reflected in its current share price.

Retail investors have shown strong interest since the record $75 billion IPO, purchasing $405 million worth of shares in the first five trading days, though inflows slowed this week.

A feature article published on June 23, 2026, by Rehana Parvin Ruma in 'Amar Desh' profiles several world-renowned individuals who achieved remarkable success despite living with disabilities. The piece emphasizes that physical limitations did not deter these figures from excelling in their respective fields, offering inspiration to those who lose hope after minor failures.

The article recounts the lives of Miguel de Cervantes, who lost a hand in battle but continued writing; composer Ludwig van Beethoven, who created timeless music despite deafness; and Louis Braille, who invented the Braille reading system for the blind. It also highlights French actress Sarah Bernhardt, who continued acting after losing a leg, and inventor Thomas Alva Edison, who became deaf yet produced over two hundred inventions. Helen Keller, both blind and deaf, earned academic degrees and fought for the rights of disabled children, while U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt led his nation effectively despite being paralyzed by polio.

Through these examples, the article underscores resilience and determination as the driving forces behind extraordinary human achievement.