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• IBM shares experienced a historic decline of approximately 25% on July 18, 2026. • Following the crash, market analysts issued a "Hold" rating for the company, reflecting a split in sentiment regarding its valuation. • This significant drop indicates a period of high volatility for the tech giant and may signal shifting investor confidence in its current strategy.

• England and France are facing off in the third-place play-off match of the 2026 World Cup, held in Miami. • The match highlights Harry Kane's struggle to impact major tournament knockout stages, having scored only two goals across four semi-finals and two finals for England. • Analysis suggests Kane's low scoring rate in these high-stakes games is due to England's tactical lack of adventure and failure to utilize their primary attacking threat.

• Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada will participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest held in Bulgaria to enhance national pride and cultural outreach. • The decision has sparked scrutiny over a $150 million investment by the CBC to facilitate the country's involvement in the competition. • This expenditure is drawing criticism as the public and policymakers question the allocation of significant public funds toward a global entertainment event.

Husband of Nancy Pelosi has traffic infractions in California stretching back at least to 2011, according to public recordsPaul Pelosi, husband of US congresswoman and former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, is facing a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge after he allegedly crashed into a parked vehicle and left the scene in early July, the Napa county district attorney announced on Friday.No passengers were in the struck car, authorities said, but the vehicle was left with “major” damage. A spokesperson for the Pelosi family told several outlets in a statement that Paul Pelosi apologized to the owner of the vehicle and was assuming responsibility for the damage. Continue reading...

Fears of light charges in case of Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles and four other travellers confirmed by Laos courtThe distillery owner linked to the deaths of Australian backpackers Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles could serve just three months in jail after a court in Laos announced charges over the case.The teenagers, who were both 19, were travelling through south-east Asia when they were fatally poisoned with methanol while drinking at Nana backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng. Continue reading...

East Midlands Railway cancels trains on Midland mainline, as drivers on LNER and Avanti West Coast ballotIntercity rail travellers face potential disruption this summer across Great Britain’s three north-south mainlines, with drivers voting on strike action on two lines and timetables slashed on the other owing to malfunctioning trains.East Midlands Railway announced it will cancel hundreds of services in the coming weeks from its intercity timetable on the Midland mainline, because of continued problems with its fleet of Hitachi trains. Continue reading...

• Jay Clayton faced intense scrutiny during his confirmation hearing for Director of National Intelligence (DNI) after refusing to acknowledge Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. • The controversy centers on whether a candidate for a top intelligence role can be trusted to lead 18 agencies and manage national secrets if they question the legitimacy of the democratic process. • This tension highlights a critical debate over the political neutrality and objectivity required for officials advising the president on war and national security.