Uncertain World Cup for Paraguay’s Almiron, sent off for covering his mouth
By Reuters Published On 20 Jun 202620 Jun 2026 It was unclear what Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron said to Turkiye’s Mert Muldur under the cover of his hand, but it may have been his last gesture in this World Cup. On Friday, Almiron became the first player to be sent off at the World Cup for violating a strict new rule that forbids the covering of mouths during on-field confrontations, leaving Paraguay with 10 men to fend off an entire half of unrelenting Turkish attacks. The FIFA-proposed law, approved by the International Football Association Board in April, came after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni was accused of making discriminatory slurs to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr under the cover of his shirt during a Champions League game that the referee halted, invoking UEFA’s anti-discrimination protocol. Prestianni, who denied the accusation, was given a six-match suspension by UEFA for discriminatory conduct that was deemed homophobic. In an ill-tempered match fraught with heated exchanges, Almiron’s red card before half-time was eclipsed by Paraguay’s stunning 1-0 victory in the San Francisco Bay Area, which kept their faltering World Cup alive and condemned Turkiye to a miserable early exit. The dismissal for the former Newcastle United player means he will miss Paraguay’s decisive final Group D match against Australia on June 22. Almiron made a post on Instagram of his team celebrating their 1-0 win, but made no mention of his dismissal. “I want to thank the effort of my teammates today, giving everything in each ball, thank you, thank you, thank you, I’m proud to be part of this squad,” he posted alongside an image of ecstatic Paraguay players piling on top of each other at the final whistle. Advertisement “I know Miggy personally, so I think it’s more habit with Miggy,” said England defender Dan Burn, who played with Almiron at Newcastle. “I’ve seen him do that a lot over the years in games, and I do think it’s one of those things where … it’s going to take a little while for some players to get used to that. “The refs spoke about it at the [pre-World Cup] referees meeting, so everyone knew the rules, so it wasn’t a massive surprise, but it is obviously something that’s quite hard to get out of the habit of doing.” Miguel Almiron argues with referee Ivan Barton along with teammate Juan Jose Caceres [Darren Yamashita/Reuters] ‘Slaves to the rulebook’ Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro, who hailed the fighting spirit of his players, said he accepted the rules had been applied. “The first thing I told him when he came into the dressing room was, ‘Change that face, we won, don’t feel guilty about anything. What happened brought out even more of your teammates’ fighting spirit,’” he said. Alfaro has been on a mission to shield his players from the heavy criticism endured after their opening game 4-1 trouncing by cohosts the United States, who are now group winners. “He was in a lot of pain because he felt that, for a player of his experience, those things can’t happen,” he said of Almiron. “But it happened. That’s it. We’re here to support him, to carry him, to push him.” The new measure does have exceptions, however, such as allowing players to cover their mouths during friendly conversations with club teammates on opposing teams. The rule was among several introduced ahead of the showpiece event, including five-second countdowns on throw-ins and goal kicks, time limits for substituted players to exit the field, and players made to stay on the sidelines for one minute after receiving on-field medical treatment. Alfaro said some of the new rules could hurt the game, and a yellow card for Almiron would have sufficed. “The fear I have is that football loses its essence,” he added. “Let’s not become slaves to the rulebook.” Adblock test (Why?)
Undav injury-time goal sees Germany beat Ivory Coast to top World Cup group
Germany come from behind to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in Group E, sealing FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout place. By Reuters Published On 20 Jun 202620 Jun 2026 Deniz Undav scored two goals off the bench as Germany pulled off a thrilling comeback to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in their World Cup Group E match, securing their place in the knockout stage for the first time since they won the title in 2014. After having two goals disallowed in the first half on Saturday, Germany did not lose focus and used intricate passing to find their way, while the West Africans produced their dynamic brand of attacking football in a wild Group E clash. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Undav levelled the score with a controlled, volleyed finish in the 68th minute and struck again when he received a pass on the turn, before swivelling and firing home a ball that Yahia Fofana had no chance at stopping. The versatile striker now has nine goals in his last eight matches. Simon Adingra had a late chance for Ivory Coast, but he failed to get a shot off in the area before Germany charged back down the field and Fofana blocked a low shot from Nathaniel Brown. Ivory Coast had opened the scoring in the first half when Franck Kessie slotted home a rebound off a shot by Amad Diallo on a play created when Yan Diomande charged down the left side and sent in a cross. With more than 100,000 people of German ancestry living in Toronto, Julian Nagelsmann’s men enjoyed plenty of support but were a frustrated group at the interval with nothing to show for their eight attempts on goal. Germany looked to have opened the scoring when midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic rose to meet a short corner in the 25th minute but was deemed to have fouled Fofana in the process. Advertisement The ruling left Pavlovic with his hands atop his head in disbelief while Fofana received some attention after the collision, and the partisan German crowd made their disdain for the referee’s decision known. Shortly after, it was Ivory Coast who finally broke through with Kessie’s goal. The West Africans have scored in their last seven matches at the tournament – the longest such sequence on the global stage in their history. Germany once again put the ball in the back of the net, but their celebrations were cut short as the referee determined that Jamal Musiala had fouled Odilon Kossounou in the buildup. Germany top Group E with six points and are through to the last 32, while Ivory Coast remain on three after two matches. Ecuador and Curacao meet in Kansas City later on Saturday. Germany will close out the group stage against Ecuador on Thursday in New Jersey, while Ivory Coast face Curacao in Philadelphia. Adblock test (Why?)
Trump vows Iran will not charge Strait of Hormuz tolls, but says US might
United States President Donald Trump has pledged there will be no tolls for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, unless they are collected by his own country. Trump’s statement, made in a Saturday afternoon post on Truth Social, is the latest sign that a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) may be unravelling. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list “There will be NO TOLLS in the Hormuz Strait for 60 days during the Cease Fire Period, and there will be NO TOLLS after the 60 day period has expired,” Trump wrote, “unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America.” Since the US and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28, Iran has successfully used the Strait of Hormuz as a pressure point, closing the strategic waterway to traffic. But under the terms of Wednesday’s ceasefire memorandum, the strait is supposed to reopen for an interim period of 60 days. During that time, Iran is barred from charging vessels for passage. On Saturday, however, Iran’s joint military command said it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, citing a “clear breach” of the memorandum’s commitments. US Central Command (CENTCOM), the agency that oversees military operations in the region, denied that report and maintained that the traffic continues to flow through the waterway. The Strait of Hormuz has long been a flashpoint in the conflict between the US and Iran. Nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil and natural gas is transported through the strait, as well as about 30 percent of the global fertiliser trade. Closure of the strait has caused global fuel costs to soar and has tested agricultural sectors across the world. Trump had responded to Iran’s chokehold over the strait by imposing a US naval blockade on Iran’s ports in the region. Advertisement But that naval blockade was lifted under the terms of Wednesday’s memorandum. The deal also paused fighting on all fronts in the regional conflict, including in Lebanon. The memorandum, though, was not intended as a long-term deal. It serves as a launching point for negotiations on key issues, including the future of Iran’s nuclear programme. Several points of divergence also went unaddressed in the memorandum. Nowhere does the memo say that future tolls cannot be collected from the strait after the 60-day period expires. Before the war, there was no charge for passage through the strait. Trump himself said in an interview with The New York Times that the waterway should remain “permanently toll-free”. But he appeared to reverse course in Saturday’s post, once again floating the possibility that the US could extract tolls in the strait, while barring Iran from doing so. No fees should be levied, Trump wrote, “unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America, should the deal not be completed”. He explained that such a charge would compensate the US “for services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East for purposes of both past, present, and future reimbursement of costs”. Trump used similar language in his New York Times interview earlier this week, floating the US becoming “the guardian of the Middle East” in exchange for 20 percent of its revenue. Saturday’s post is not the first time Trump has mused about the US imposing tolls in the strait, either. In April, for instance, he discussed the idea with reporters, saying, “What about us charging tolls? I’d rather do that than let them have them. Why shouldn’t we? We’re the winner. We won.” There has been no indication that Trump’s plans have been officially presented to countries in the region, many of whom have struck a careful balance in their dealings with both the US and Iran during the war. Iranian officials, meanwhile, have repeatedly said they will not rule out imposing tolls in the strait, framing the issue as a matter of sovereignty and regional negotiation. The strait sits between Iran and Oman. Further discussions are expected on the matter in the coming weeks. But such negotiations have been thrown into jeopardy amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Lebanon, which threaten to violate Wednesday’s ceasefire memorandum. Iran claimed that Saturday’s closure of the strait was a result of new Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon, which killed dozens of people after the ceasefire was announced. Advertisement Iranian officials have also said that any upcoming talks should focus on proper implementation of the initial memorandum, and that the 60-day negotiating period stipulated in Wednesday’s deal would begin after that was settled. Pakistan, a top mediator between the US and Iran, has said that follow-up talks are set to begin in Switzerland on Sunday. Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that an Iranian delegation, led by parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, has already arrived for the negotiations. On the US side, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Vice President JD Vance are expected to attend. Vance departed for Switzerland late Saturday. Adblock test (Why?)
PM Modi condoles loss of lives in temple roof collapse in Parbhani: ‘Deeply saddening’
The incident occurred during ongoing construction at the temple. At least four people were killed and several others have been injured in the tragedy. The wounded persons have been shifted to hospitals for treatment.
Pawanraje Nimbalkar murder case: Son Om Raje to move High Court after all accused acquitted
Om Raje said the verdict has left key questions unanswered about who actually committed the crime. Speaking to reporters in Pune, Om Raje said the case exposed serious shortcomings in the initial investigation and noted that the matter was transferred to the CBI only after a delay.
‘Unwarranted’: India slams Pakistan President Zardari’s comments on threats to Muslim religious sites
Responding to media queries on the statement from the Pakistani president, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India “categorically rejects” the comments and described them as unwarranted interference in the country’s internal affairs.
Former Olympian among those charged with vandalizing Reflecting Pool, Trump vows immediate repairs: report
Multiple people have been arrested this weekend after allegedly vandalizing the newly refurbished Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, prompting a strong response from President Donald Trump and an increase in security at the site. Journalist Emily Miller posted a two-minute video on X Friday showing a man in lime-green racing gear questioning a National Guardsman before being handcuffed by U.S. Park Police. The Washington Post later identified the man in Miller’s video as David Hearn, 67, a former three-time Olympian who was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of destruction of government property. TRUMP SAYS VANDALS USED CHEMICALS TO DAMAGE NEWLY RENOVATED REFLECTING POOL NEAR LINCOLN MEMORIAL Hearn told the outlet he had just finished a 52-mile bike ride when he noticed a “partially detached piece” of the new pool liner and “reached into the water to see what it felt like.” While Miller claimed in her post that Hearn “grabbed” a hose that National Park Service workers were using to remediate algae growth, Hearn told The Washington Post the hose “may” only have been touched by his bike tire. “I didn’t vandalize anything,” Hearn told the outlet. TRUMP TAKES MOTORCADE INTO REFLECTING POOL, BLASTS PAST ‘$38M DISASTER’ FIX UNDER OBAMA Hearn, who was arrested in 1996 on charges of canoeing on the Potomac River, but later had them dropped, said, “I didn’t destroy, break, or peel anything. By the time I realized what was happening, I was already being handcuffed.” Miller reported Saturday that seven people were detained in separate incidents on Friday for getting into the pool, which has led to a major security surge. Trump addressed the recent incidents Saturday afternoon on Truth Social, confirming Park Police arrested “multiple” people for vandalizing “our Nation’s magnificent Reflecting Poll.” “Who would do such a thing?” the president wrote in the post. “These are very serious crimes having to do with the destruction of National Monuments. Years in jail! Work will begin immediately on its repair.” Trump on Friday noted Park Police has had “real problems” with vandalism at the Reflecting Pool, as the administration faces scrutiny over peeling paint and algae growth just weeks after a $14.8 million restoration project was completed. The White House, U.S. Park Police and Miller did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment. Fox News Digital’s Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.
Obama Presidential Center follows widely-mocked ‘stolen land’ acknowledgment with Native American dance show
CHICAGO — After officials kicked off the opening weekend of the Barack Obama Presidential Center with a widely mocked “land acknowledgment” — a nod to the political far-left that believes the United States was built on “stolen land” — a traditional Native American dance show was featured during Saturday’s scheduled events. The Black Hawk Performance Company is a Native American dance troupe based in the Chicago area, composed of dancers from several Indigenous tribes. Saturday marked the third day of the Obama Presidential Center’s grand opening, which featured musical and cultural performances ranging from international superstars like John Legend to local drum lines. The lively Native American display, held in John Lewis Plaza on the center’s campus, featured a drum circle, several traditional dances and songs, including one honoring a Native American flag. The performance lasted for about an hour, and toward the end, included many of the hundreds of people who watched in the plaza. OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER’S OPENING CEREMONY RIDICULED FOR ‘LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT’ BEFORE STAR-STUDDED SHOW But Thursday night, the opening ceremony for the center began with an awkward admission that the center itself rests on land that rightfully belongs to Native Americans. Valerie Jarrett, the former senior advisor to Obama when he was president and the current CEO of the Obama Foundation, kicked things off. “We’d also like to take a moment to recognize the original inhabitants of the land upon which we are gathered today,” she said. “We honor the Anishinaabe, the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, the Odawa and the Potawatomi nations.” WATCH: DNC OPENS SUMMER MEETING WITH LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT, CLAIMS THAT US SUPPRESSES INDIGENOUS HISTORY Some of Saturday’s performers were from the Ojibwe tribe. Land acknowledgments like Jarrett’s are sometimes criticized as woke performative gestures that often ring hollow, as noted by a huge number of X users after Jarrett’s speech. “Obama Presidential Center grand opening begins with acknowledging they’re on stolen land. And then they kept the land,” one X commenter said. “Pretty sure Indians would remove the apocalyptic looking Soviet bloc style dumpster building from their land first thing.” CARVILLE REBUKES DNC OVER WOKE ‘LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT’ LAMENTING TREATMENT OF NATIVE AMERICANS Conservative commentator Glenn Beck unleashed on the hypocrisy. “The sheer arrogance of the Obama Foundation using the $850 million Obama Presidential Center to lecture us about standing on ‘stolen land’ is HILARIOUS,” he said. “They’re basically saying, ‘Yeah, we acknowledge we stole this land. IT’S SO WRONG. But the gift shop is to your left, and tickets are 30 bucks.’ If they genuinely believe they’re holding stolen property, they should either GIVE IT BACK or shut the hell up.” Town hall senior strategist Siraj Hashmi roasted Obama and company with a reference to infamous Chicago rapper Chief Keef. “Pretty disrespectful for the Obama Presidential Center to not acknowledge the current tribe leader of the South Side of Chicago: Chief Keef,” Hashmi quipped. Further, the center features a placard recognizing that the land actually belongs to “indigenous peoples.” The sign says that the Obama Foundation acknowledges “the sovereign Indigenous peoples who have, since time immemorial, inhabited and stewarded the lands many of us call home.” It also says that “Indigenous peoples” have worked to “combat and rightfully reverse the forces of settler colonialism” and features a 2009 Obama quote reflecting on broken treaties, lost lands and the treatment of Native Americans. “Treaties were violated. Promises were broken,” Obama said at the time. Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
Obama Center embeds ‘Indigenous’ land message on controversial site
Following its Juneteenth opening, the Obama Presidential Center is embracing a message tied to one of the modern left’s most contentious ideas that America was built on land “stolen” from Indians. During Thursday’s dedication ceremony, Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett opened proceedings by acknowledging the American Indian tribes who originally inhabited the land where the center now stands. But the acknowledgment extends well beyond the opening ceremony. Just a few feet from the center’s landmark museum tower and near the Obama statue, visitors encounter a permanent display, “Acknowledging Indigenous Peoples’ Land and Territory.” OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER’S OPENING CEREMONY RIDICULED FOR ‘LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT’ BEFORE STAR-STUDDED SHOW The sign states that the Obama Foundation acknowledges “the sovereign Indigenous peoples who have, since time immemorial, inhabited and stewarded the lands many of us call home.” Another section of the sign states that “Indigenous peoples” have worked to “combat and rightfully reverse the forces of settler colonialism” and features a 2009 Obama quote reflecting on broken treaties, lost lands and the treatment of Native Americans. “Treaties were violated. Promises were broken,” Obama said. Land acknowledgments have become common at universities, museums and public events, but critics often mock them as performative exercises associated with the view that America was built on “stolen land.” Supporters argue they serve as an important recognition of the history of American Indians and their connection to the land. SUBCONTRACTORS SAY THEY’RE OWED MILLIONS, FACE FINANCIAL RUIN, AFTER HELPING BUILD OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER But the land acknowledgment also underlines a glaring irony, one that was largely absent from Thursday’s opening ceremony, according to some critics. The Obama Presidential Center, operated by the private Obama Foundation, sits on public land transferred to the foundation by the city of Chicago for just $10 under a controversial agreement. “People here in future years are going to hear about how this land was stolen from the Native Americans,” Illinois GOP Chair Bob Grogan told Fox News Digital outside the center last week. “But, underneath, you should all be reading into this, that it was actually stolen from the citizens of Illinois, not from the Native Americans.” The criticism stems from a yearslong legal and political battle over the transfer of 19.3 acres of Jackson Park public land to the Obama Foundation under a 99-year agreement requiring the one-time $10 payment. Critics also argue that what was originally presented as a presidential library evolved into a campus that serves as the home of the Obama Foundation. Grogan said visitors should view the display through the lens of the center’s own history. He argued the land was created after the Great Chicago Fire through landfill and public works projects and belongs to Chicago taxpayers. “This land actually was recaptured from the Great Chicago Fire. They took a bunch of rubble and actually created this land,” he said. “So, it has nothing to do with the Native Americans, but it has everything to do with stealing it from the taxpayers of the city of Chicago.” Grogan argued the land fight cannot be separated from the broader controversy surrounding the center, which has seen construction costs approach $1 billion and required millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded infrastructure improvements around Jackson Park. He also pointed to the Obama Foundation’s unfulfilled pledge to build a $470 million endowment fund intended to protect taxpayers from future operating costs. Critics point to another irony. In addition, the center was promoted as a catalyst for economic opportunity on Chicago’s South Side and a vehicle for supporting minority-owned businesses. Yet a recent Fox News Digital investigation found several subcontractors — including minority-owned firms — claiming they are owed millions of dollars for work on the project. The Obama Foundation did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Fox News’ Peter D’Abrosca contributed to this report.
Dem who sued to remove Trump’s name from Kennedy Center now says venue becoming ‘lifeless husk’ in fresh fight
Those in charge at the Kennedy Center have been accused by Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, of purposely allowing the Washington, D.C., venue to languish into a “lifeless husk” by not resuming regular shows and programming. Beatty, an ex officio board member of the Kennedy Center, initially filed the lawsuit against President Donald Trump in December 2025, when the board decided to install signage displaying his name alongside Kennedy’s on the building. According to a court filing Friday, Beatty’s legal team argued the current board, with Trump as chairman, is in violation of a May court order by “refusing to take any steps to maintain the Center’s operations, and will effectively close the Center as a performing arts venue come July 5, 2026.” “They plan to turn the Kennedy Center into a lifeless husk,” Beatty’s lawyers wrote. JONATHAN TURLEY: TRUMP’S KENNEDY CENTER NAME CHANGE WILL KEEP LAWYERS BUSY FOR YEARS Lawyers for the Kennedy Center responded by saying, “The Court’s order did not affirmatively require the Board to reschedule programming that had previously been canceled or to seek new programming.” Fox News Digital reached out to the Kennedy Center and the White House for additional comment. The order from U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper prevented the Kennedy Center from initiating its planned two-year closure for renovations. Cooper also ordered Trump’s name taken off the building, which happened last weekend. Cooper’s 94-page order last month did not explicitly say that shows must immediately resume, given that there are “at least some plans to restart rehearsals, performances and educational programming.” FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS TRUMP’S NAME REMOVED FROM KENNEDY CENTER, SAYS ONLY CONGRESS CAN RENAME IT He did say that the board “bears an affirmative duty to carry out the Center’s programming and maintain a memorial to President Kennedy. It may not simply stop putting on shows altogether.” The Kennedy Center said its management would begin presenting recommendations for plans to reopen. The venue’s lawyers said the board is considering several options, including a full closure with no programming, a partial closure that would keep some areas open to the public and allow performances in unaffected spaces and a phased repair plan that would revive a full programming schedule. A vote on these options, which they say have not been finalized, will be held in mid-July, Kennedy Center lawyers said. TRUMP FIRES KENNEDY CENTER BOARD MEMBERS CITING DRAG SHOWS, APPOINTS HIMSELF CHAIRMAN The battle over the Kennedy Center began in February 2025, shortly after Trump was inaugurated for a second time as president. He replaced several trustees on the board, while also appointing himself a trustee. The new Trump-allied board then elected him chair, enabling him to fire the previous president of the center, Deborah Rutter. In a speech in May 2025, he claimed that, under Rutter’s leadership, the board “wasted millions and millions of dollars and handed us a budget deficit of $26 million.” “In addition, the programming was out of control with rampant political propaganda, DEI, and inappropriate shows. We had some very inappropriate shows, to put it — I think, to put it very nicely,” Trump added. Also in May 2025, the new board stripped all 23 ex officio members of voting rights. Members of this category include notable Democrats, such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, as well as Trump administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Education Secretary Linda McMahon among them. In February, Trump announced the two-year closure on Truth Social, which was later blocked as a result of Beatty’s lawsuit. The saga culminated on June 13, when workers began removing Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center. The sign previously said “The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts.”