Argentine defender Facundo Medina has rejected rumors and conspiracy theories circulating on social media following Argentina’s loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. Returning to his hometown Villa Carasa after the tournament, the Olympique Marseille player urged supporters not to believe claims or videos suggesting internal discord in the team’s dressing room. Medina emphasized that the squad remained united throughout the competition and asked fans to avoid spreading baseless stories.

He acknowledged the pain of losing the final but reminded supporters that football is not everything in life, stressing the importance of being a good person above all. Medina also explained that some players stayed in the United States after the final because they were dealing with disappointment, not because of any internal conflict. River Plate forward Flaco López, a longtime friend of Medina, agreed with his remarks, saying that spending time with familiar faces was helping them recover from the emotional setback.

Their comments come amid ongoing online speculation about the team’s unity and the circumstances following the World Cup final.

The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has unanimously passed new regulations to prevent satellite collisions and strengthen space safety as the number of satellites in Earth's orbit continues to rise sharply. The rules require satellite operators to share real-time tracking data, a move aimed at reducing the growing risk of orbital debris. The decision has sparked a jurisdictional dispute in Washington over which agency should oversee space traffic management.

Currently, more than 18,000 active and inactive satellites orbit the Earth, with most located in low-Earth orbit. The FCC’s new role has been questioned by members of Congress, who argue that the agency lacks clear legal authority for space traffic control. Lawmakers from both parties urged FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to delay the vote, but the commission proceeded without public response.

Despite the legal debate, the satellite industry has welcomed the FCC’s broader 2,000-page reform package, which simplifies and lowers the cost of satellite licensing. The new performance-based system is expected to benefit startups by removing bureaucratic barriers and reducing financial burdens.

Bollywood actor Salman Khan has voiced support for students protesting in India over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 question paper leak, while expressing deep sorrow that the initially peaceful demonstrations have turned violent. In an emotional Instagram post, he called the leak a very serious issue and conveyed sympathy for affected students and their families.

Khan urged that the movement remain centered on students’ rights and educational reform rather than political motives. His comments came as thousands of students continued protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar under the banner of the CJP (Cockroach Janata Party), demanding an investigation into the leak, examination reforms, and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Education reformer Sonam Wangchuk had begun an indefinite hunger strike in solidarity but was hospitalized due to health deterioration, after which CJP founder Abhijit Deep continued the fast.

Khan expressed hope that the protests would return to a peaceful path and praised students’ unity and awareness as inspiring in their pursuit of a stronger education system.

Mass protests are underway across India demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over allegations related to the NEET-UG question paper leak. Before becoming a minister, Pradhan was a prominent student leader who first gained attention in 1997 for leading protests in Odisha against exam paper leaks when Congress leader Janaki Ballabh Patnaik was the state’s chief minister.

According to a 2021 report by The New Indian Express, Pradhan, then a leader of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), led around 1,500 students in Bhubaneswar to protest the leak. During the demonstration, police baton-charged the crowd, leaving Pradhan seriously injured. His activism during that period helped him later establish a strong position within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He became Union Education Minister in 2021 after previously holding portfolios in Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Skill Development.

The 1997 protest has resurfaced in public discussion amid the current NEET-UG controversy. While opposition parties are calling for Pradhan’s resignation, the government has stated it is ready to discuss the issue in Parliament.

The July uprising in Bangladesh marked a rare moment of unity among student organizations from across the political spectrum. According to Akram Hossain CF, a member of the National Citizen Party’s political council, leftist, centrist, and right-wing student groups—including those linked to BNP, Jamaat, and progressive fronts—joined forces in a nationwide movement that led to the fall of the ruling Awami League’s dominance on campuses, particularly at Dhaka University and Dhaka College.

The movement’s organizers coordinated discreetly to avoid government surveillance, with multiple liaison efforts ensuring participation from diverse groups such as the Student Union, Student Front, and Shibir. The campaign began with efforts to remove the ruling party’s student wing from university halls, starting with female dormitories where opposition influence was stronger. The Dhaka University Debating Club also played a key role in mobilizing non-political students.

The uprising’s stated goal extended beyond political change, aiming to end authoritarian governance and restore democratic rights and a secure future for Bangladesh’s youth.

The Pentagon has requested an additional $70 billion in emergency funding to continue the ongoing war with Iran, according to a statement by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The request, submitted on Tuesday, cites the need to sustain extended military operations as the conflict shows no sign of ending. The United States has already spent more than $37.5 billion on the war, and the new demand would significantly increase total expenditures.

Meanwhile, U.S. forces carried out airstrikes across Iran for the twelfth consecutive night, targeting multiple military installations. Iranian media reported that American forces struck a military site in Bushehr twice, followed by missile attacks near Andimeshk in Khuzestan province. The U.S. Central Command confirmed the strikes, stating that naval, missile, drone, and air defense facilities were among the targets. It also reported redirecting nine commercial ships and disabling one to enforce a maritime blockade.

The conflict has intensified despite the earlier “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding” signed by Iran and the United States to ease tensions, which has now collapsed as both sides continue reciprocal attacks.

Bangladesh is marking the anniversary of the July uprising through public events, media discussions, and artistic expressions. Yet, despite widespread remembrance, the article warns that the most vital task—preserving the living memories of ordinary people who made the uprising possible—remains dangerously neglected. The author calls for an urgent national oral history archive to document the experiences of those who participated in or witnessed the events across neighborhoods, campuses, and communities.

The piece argues that the July uprising was not merely a political transition but a profound civic awakening involving students, workers, and families who faced violence and repression. It stresses that official histories often overlook the human depth of such movements, while unrecorded memories risk distortion or erasure by vested interests. The author proposes a professional, collaborative effort involving ministries, universities, historians, journalists, and survivors to collect and preserve testimonies.

According to the article, this archive would safeguard the uprising’s democratic and reformist spirit, ensuring that future generations understand it as a people’s movement rather than a partisan event. The author concludes that Bangladesh must act now, while witnesses and memories are still alive.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has carried out another attack on a US military installation in Kuwait, according to a report published on July 23, 2026. The IRGC stated that the strike targeted American facilities at Ali Al-Salem Air Base, destroying a large warehouse of military equipment, a Patriot missile defense system, and a hangar containing MQ-9 drones.

The report added that Iran also attacked Al-Adiri Barracks, where US troops are housed, along with two helicopter hangars. The IRGC claimed that the assault resulted in casualties and significant damage to helicopters and drones. The group emphasized that the operation was not directed against the Kuwaiti people but was intended as retaliation for what it described as US aggression against Iran.

According to the IRGC, Iranian fighters also struck a telecommunications tower in response to a US attack on a similar facility inside Iran. The report cited Al Jazeera as its source.

A delegation from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), led by Chief of Mission Laura Tom Bonde, visited flood-affected areas in Katharia Union of Banshkhali upazila, Chattogram, on Wednesday afternoon. The team met with residents impacted by the severe flooding, listened to their experiences, and distributed tarpaulins provided through IOM’s partner organization, the Sustainable Development Organization (IPSA).

During the visit, Laura Tom Bonde said the IOM had been closely monitoring the flood situation caused by heavy rainfall and hill torrents. She expressed sympathy for those who lost homes and shelter, emphasizing that the visit aimed to understand their problems firsthand. Bonde stated that the current assistance was an initial step and that IOM intended to continue working on larger-scale support for flood victims in the future.

Local officials, including the Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Ruhul Amin, IPSA Director Mohammad Shahjahan, and other representatives from IOM and IPSA, were present during the visit.

Mercantile Bank PLC has inaugurated a new ATM booth at Noakhali Club, Dhaka Limited to provide round-the-clock transaction services. The inauguration ceremony was attended by the bank’s Executive Committee Chairman M A Khan Belal as the chief guest. With this addition, the total number of Mercantile Bank’s ATM booths has reached 200.

The event also featured remarks from Md. Abdul Hai, General Secretary of Noakhali Club, Dhaka Limited, as a special guest. Senior executives and officers of Mercantile Bank, along with directors and members of the club, were present at the ceremony.

According to the bank, this expansion reflects its commitment to enhancing digital banking coverage and delivering modern financial services to customers across the country.

Mohammad Adil, a 16-year-old student of Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasa, was shot dead during a student-led protest on the Dhaka–Narayanganj link road on July 19, 2024. According to the report, Adil joined the demonstration after hearing that police and ruling party supporters were firing at protesters. Despite his parents’ attempts to stop him, he went to the protest site and was struck by two bullets in the chest, dying on the spot. He was later declared dead at a private hospital in the Signboard area.

The protest was part of a broader anti-government movement against what the report described as the “fascist Sheikh Hasina government.” Adil was affiliated with the Dhaka Metropolitan South unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir’s Millat Campus branch. His family described him as a bright and courageous student who had participated in math olympiads and dreamed of joining the Bangladesh Army. His mother, Ayesha Akter, demanded justice for her son’s killing, warning that failure to ensure accountability would allow fascism to return.

The incident highlights the deadly escalation of student protests and the growing calls for justice from victims’ families.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the constitution allows a president to resign for any reason, including health issues, but the government has not made any official statement on the matter. He made the comment on Thursday afternoon after a meeting at the Ministry of Finance, responding to questions about rumors of the president’s possible resignation.

According to Bangabhaban sources, President Md. Shahabuddin Chuppu has decided to step down this month due to serious health problems and intends to travel to Singapore for advanced treatment. He previously underwent bypass surgery and cardiac care there. The president has reportedly informed senior officials and close associates of his personal decision. However, the government has not issued any formal comment on his reported intention.

Sources said the president’s recent medical tests at the Combined Military Hospital revealed concerning results, including cardiac weakness and neurological complications, making it difficult for him to continue his duties.

Students of Khulna University have locked the administrative building and boycotted all classes and examinations, demanding justice and improved campus security. The protest follows allegations that a mobile phone was secretly placed in the women’s washroom of Bijoy Ekattor Hall to record videos. The students announced a rally at Hadi Chattar on Thursday noon to press their demands.

Earlier, on Wednesday, general students declared the suspension of all academic and administrative activities. They detained Imam Hasan, a 24-year-old canteen worker and son of the hall’s canteen manager, in connection with the incident. Students stated that all campus operations would remain closed until the culprits are punished.

According to the protesters, the university administration has not taken effective action despite the passage of time. They also alleged that previous complaints of sexual harassment involving teachers were not properly investigated, intensifying their frustration and calls for accountability.

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the welfare and bright future of the country's youth remain the Modi government's highest priority and commitment. In a message posted on social media platform X, he said the decision to establish fast-track courts for quick trials and strict action against those involved in exam paper leaks reflects this commitment.

Shah added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s move to act against those destroying the future of young people through question leaks would be a milestone. Earlier, on Thursday, Prime Minister Modi also emphasized that protecting the welfare and future of the youth is his government’s top priority, warning that no one attempting to harm young people’s prospects would be spared.

The statements highlight the government’s focus on addressing exam-related misconduct and ensuring accountability to safeguard the interests of students across India.

Indian actress Ayesha Khan was detained by police on Wednesday while participating in a protest in Mumbai’s Dadar area. The demonstration was part of a wider movement demanding the resignation of the education minister over a question paper leak scandal. Police took Khan into custody from the protest site and released her after questioning at the station.

In a video shared on social media, the actress from the film “Dhuran­dhar” said she was standing peacefully near the protest when she was detained. She claimed she had not shouted slogans or initiated the protest but was present because her brother and friends had already been detained. The video also showed another young man alleging he was held without reason despite having a mathematics exam.

The incident has drawn attention to the ongoing protests across India over the paper leak issue and the police response to demonstrators.