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Senedd members reject motion calling for new funding model for Welsh Goverment

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The Welsh Goverment was seeking support for motion calling on the UK Goverment to provide fairer funding mechanism

A wide shot of the Senedd chamber

The Senedd chamber.

Senedd Members have narrowly rejected a Welsh Government bid to reform the way Wales receives money from Westminster.

A motion calling for “fair funding for Wales”, put forward by Welsh Government Trefnydd Heledd Fychan, was beaten by 46 votes to 45. The motion called on MSs to back the Welsh Government as it seeks changes to the Barnett Formula.

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The Barnett Formula is used by the UK Treasury to calculate changes in the funding provided to the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

According to the Institute for Government, the Barnett Formula “calculates devolved budgets by using the previous year’s block grant as a starting point (or ‘baseline’), and then adjusts it based on increases or decreases in ‘comparable’ spending per person in England, meaning spending by the UK government on services in England that are devolved to one or more of the other nations.

“Changes to the devolved block grants are calculated by multiplying the change in spending by UK government departments by the comparability factor and the population proportion of each nation.”

Though initially intended to be used as a temporary solution for determining funding allocations between the UK nations, the formula has remained in used since its introduction in 1979. Each of the opposition parties tabled an amendment to the motion.

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Labour’s amendment called to delete all of the Plaid Cymru motion and instead recognise “that redistribution of wealth is a major benefit of being part of the United Kingdom”.

It also stated that Scottish resistance to Barnett formula reform should be the “primary focus” in the Welsh Government’s engagement with the Scottish Government.

Reform’s amendment similarly proposed to delete the entirety of the Plaid Cymru motion and called for the Welsh Government to focus spending on devolved areas, noting that, according to analysis from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, reforming the Barnett formula could result in Wales receiving £1 billion less a year.

It also called on the UK Government to cut international spending to deliver fairer funding for Wales.

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The Conservative amendment meanwhile called on the Welsh Government to use its existing budgets to deliver “better value for money for Welsh taxpayers”. It also noted the work of previous Conservative UK governments, including the 2016 introduction of a “need-based factor into the funding formula for Wales”. First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth told the Siambr that fair funding for Wales is “more than just politics or political party rhetoric”.

He said: “It relates to Wales, which has the tools in its hands to build a better future for ourselves.

“The current fiscal arrangements in the United Kingdom aren’t just unfair to Wales, they make economic failure more likely, and through reforming the current system we will ensure that the Welsh Government has the resources and the powers… to invest in public services, in infrastructure and in economic growth.”

Mr ap Iorwerth vowed to work “constructively” with the UK Government, noting Andy Burnham – the likely next Prime Minister – has experience of devolution from his time as Mayor of Manchester.

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He urged Labour MSs to vote for his party’s motion, noting their manifesto committed to fair funding.

Taking an intervention shortly before closing his speech, the First Minister was questioned by Tory MS Andrew RT Davies on whether he had reached out to opposition parties to find a consensus.

Noting the “simplicity” of the Plaid Cymru motion, Mr ap Iorwerth said it was “worrying” that Mr Davies believes it is something consensus needs to be found on.

He said: “This is the fundamental of what we are here as a Senedd to do. This is the fundamental of us being able to speak with one voice as a nation.”

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Concluding, the First Minister added: “This Senedd has voted unanimously in favour of fairer funding for Wales before.

“It’s my sincere hope that we can do so once more today, in the interest of the wellbeing and prosperity of our people.

“And this is bringing to the Senedd that pursuit of consensus right here in our national parliament today..”

Caerdydd Penarth MS Huw Thomas spoke of Welsh Labour’s belief that Wales “benefits from being part of a union”.

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Describing Wales and the UK as “stronger together”, Mr Thomas said: “The Welsh Government continues to receive over 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK.

“That means that, for every £1 spent by the UK Government in devolved policy areas, the Welsh Government is able to spend at least £1.20 on devolved priorities like health and education.

“On the most basic level, this is redistributive. It brings a material benefit to public services and communities in Wales and I would urge those members, who cheerfully advocate leaving such an arrangement by exiting the United Kingdom, to consider those impacts extremely carefully.”

Acknowledging the Barnett Formula is not “perfect”, the Labour finance spokesperson said reforming it requires negotiation between all four nations.

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He said: “Fundamentally reforming the Barnett formula in favour of a needs-based system will require negotiation, and ultimately agreement between all four nations. No single nation can do this alone, and yet, that agreement between nations is not forthcoming”.

Mr Thomas, the former leader of Cardiff Council, said the Scottish Government “stops short” of calling for a needs based system because “the current system benefits Scotland further”.

Quoting the Institute for Fiscal Studies, he said: “’No needs-based factor has been introduced for Scotland, likely reflecting the fact that it currently receives more funding per person than Wales, despite assessments suggesting it has lower needs’.” Reform’s Welsh leader Dan Thomas described the debate as more about “Plaid’s unfunded manifesto” than securing fair funding.

He said: “The First Minister is taking his begging bowl to London not because Wales doesn’t get enough funding, but because Plaid, in my opinion, misled voters when they said that their manifesto was fully costed.”

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Similarly to Welsh Labour, the Casnewydd Islwyn MS said Plaid Cymru’s first step in calling for changes to the funding formula should be to “align with their sister nationalist party”.

But the opposition leader said the Welsh Government confirmed to him in writing that no discussions have yet been held with the Scottish Government.

He told the government it should “turn their attention” instead to the “huge amount of waste within the Welsh public sector”.

Mr Thomas, a former leader of Barnet Council in London, said: “Standing up for Wales is not about taking a begging bowl to London, asking for more money when we already receive more than England.”

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He called on the Welsh Government to make “solid business cases” for investment in Wales, to focus on the M4 relief road and A45 upgrades, and to seek private sector and UK Government money to build houses in Wales.

He added: “Make no mistake, Reform is in favour of making the case for capital investment above and beyond our block grant.

But we need to do some of the heavy lifting ourselves, and we need to be much more ambitious. “So, it’s time to end the blame, the excuses, the platitudes, the begging. Let’s stand up for Wales by taking action and taking our ambition to another level.”

Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar described the Barnett Formula as “beyond its shelf life” and “out of date”.

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He said there is a need for a new funding mechanism for the UK, but said the “big issue” with the fair funding debate is there is “always a risk” when asking for a review of the funding arrangements.

Mr Millar also criticised what he described as the “political game” played by Plaid Cymru where “it has lots of disagreements with the government down the other end of the M4”. Responding to the debate, Mr ap Iorwerth said: “There’s a straightforward question at the heart of this debate. Should we always seek to stand up for Wales and stand up for fairness? […] Or do you believe Westminster is being generous to Wales and we should be grateful for what we get?

“That is clearly Reform’s position. To seek fairness for Wales is to hand out a begging bowl. That is their level of respect for Wales.

“They are happy for Wales to languish. Pitching people against each other is what they do, creating divisions within our communities that deepen the challenges that face us as a nation, and blaming some of the most vulnerable people, rather than being willing to stand up against the deep inequalities within the UK.”

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Mr ap Iorwerth also criticised Labour’s position on the debate, describing it as a “remarkable” shift in tone.

Addressing calls for the Welsh Government to tackle Scottish resistance to reforming the Barnett Formula, the First Minister said: “It is not the position of Welsh Government versus Scottish Government that is important here.”

He continued: “It is not Scottish Government that will block the devolution of rail or will block the devolution of the Crown Estate, which is essential to bringing about fair funding for Wales.

“It is not Scottish Government that is blocking Wales from being able to get the consequentials of HS2 that can transform our infrastructure and lead to the improvement in Welsh productivity that we should all strive for.”

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Mr ap Iorwerth stressed the need for a “fair” and “transparent” funding system reflecting Welsh needs.

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US stocks today: Dow falls 500 points after Trump says Iran deal is ‘over’

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US stocks today: Dow falls 500 points after Trump says Iran deal is 'over'
The S&P 500 ended lower on Wednesday after U.S. President ​Donald Trump said an interim deal aimed at ending the war with Iran was “over,” while Broadcom led gains among recently battered chip stocks.

Speaking at a NATO summit in Turkey, Trump said he had no interest in further talks with Iran and warned that Washington would likely carry ‌out additional strikes on ⁠Wednesday ⁠night.

Trump’s comments marked the latest setback in the back-and-forth talks that have swung between threats of escalation and hopes for diplomacy, leaving investors wrong-footed by several ​false starts toward a peace deal.

“Duration is the key here. How long does this go on?” said Rob Haworth, senior investment strategist ​at U.S. Bank Wealth Management in Seattle. “If we see damage to Iranian infrastructure, the market may have to respond more seriously to that because there’s likely Iranian retaliation.” AI heavyweights Microsoft, Amazon and Alphabet each fell, weighing on the S&P 500. Broadcom gained ​after Apple said it plans to spend more than $30 billion as part of ⁠a chip-supply ‌agreement reached earlier this week with the chipmaker.

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“Any time you get an announcement from Apple about ​using your equipment, it’s ​pretty positive — especially when you have 2.5 billion Apple devices in people’s hands around the ⁠globe,” said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley Wealth. Nvidia rose after ​the Information reported that China plans to allow its top AI firms to buy ​a limited number of the company’s H200 chips.


According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 lost 22.57 points, or 0.30%, to end at 7,481.28 points, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 52.52 points, or 0.19%, to 25,868.29. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 592.43 points, or 1.12%, to 52,332.72.
Oil prices jumped following Trump’s remarks, with Brent crude futures settling up 5.2%. Treasury yields also rose as the selloff spread to bonds.The latest escalation in the conflict threatened to unsettle the equities rally that has ‌carried the benchmark S&P 500 up about 9% so far this year, despite sharp declines after the Mideast war started.

A renewed jump in oil prices could revive inflation concerns and further complicate the ​Federal Reserve’s path. Energy ​price-sensitive travel stocks fell as ⁠higher oil prices stoked concerns over fuel costs and demand. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines both lost ground.

Cruise operators also slipped, with Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line both down.

The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday once again lowered its 2026 global growth ​forecast to 3%, warning of ongoing risks posed by the war in the Middle East.

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Inflation worries mounted at the U.S. central bank’s meeting last month, as officials followed Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh’s lead to a more stripped-down policy statement, minutes of the session showed on Wednesday.

Traders project a likely rate hike by the Fed’s December meeting, according to CME’s Fedwatch.

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Premium Chauffeur and Airport Transfers in Boston and Los Angeles

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Premium Chauffeur and Airport Transfers in Boston and Los Angeles

For executives and frequent business travelers, transportation is more than a way to get from one location to another. It is an important part of the overall travel experience that influences productivity, comfort, and professionalism.

In major business destinations such as Boston and Los Angeles, premium transportation services help travelers navigate busy schedules while maintaining a high standard of service.

Whether arriving at Boston Logan International Airport for a corporate conference or attending executive meetings across Southern California, reliable chauffeur-driven transportation can make business travel significantly more efficient. Professional airport transfers and executive car services provide the consistency and convenience that modern professionals require.

Why Luxury Transportation Matters for Business Travel

Corporate travelers often face demanding itineraries that include airport transfers, client meetings, networking events, and multiple appointments throughout the day. Transportation delays or unreliable service can create unnecessary stress and disrupt carefully planned schedules.

Luxury transportation services address these challenges by offering experienced chauffeurs, executive-class vehicles, and dependable scheduling. Rather than worrying about navigation, parking, or transportation availability, travelers can focus entirely on their professional responsibilities.

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For organizations hosting clients or visiting executives, premium transportation also reinforces a positive and professional brand image.

Boston Airport Car Service for Executive Arrivals

Boston remains one of America’s leading centers for finance, healthcare, education, technology, and biotechnology. Thousands of executives travel through Boston Logan International Airport every year to attend meetings, conferences, and industry events.

A professional Boston airport car service provides seamless transportation between the airport, hotels, business districts, and corporate offices. Pre-arranged transportation helps eliminate uncertainty while ensuring timely arrivals and departures.

Many business travelers choose Detailed Drivers Boston because executive transportation requires reliability, professionalism, and attention to detail. Experienced chauffeurs understand local traffic patterns and can help travelers move efficiently throughout the city.

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For visitors unfamiliar with Boston, premium airport transportation offers both convenience and peace of mind.

LA Chauffeur Service for Corporate Mobility

Los Angeles presents unique transportation challenges due to its size, traffic conditions, and diverse business districts. Executives frequently travel between airports, production studios, technology hubs, corporate headquarters, and event venues located throughout the region.

A professional LA chauffeur service provides a practical solution for managing these travel demands. Dedicated chauffeurs allow executives to remain productive while traveling, turning commute time into valuable working time.

Many organizations trust Detailed Drivers Los Angeles because professional transportation providers understand the expectations of executive travelers. From punctual pickups to personalized service, chauffeur-driven transportation supports both efficiency and comfort.

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For executives meeting clients or attending important corporate functions, luxury transportation also contributes to a polished and professional appearance.

Key Benefits of Premium Chauffeur Services

Greater Productivity

Travelers can focus on emails, presentations, conference calls, and meeting preparation while in transit.

Reliable Scheduling

Professional transportation services prioritize punctuality and efficient route planning.

Comfort and Privacy

Executive vehicles provide a comfortable environment suitable for confidential conversations and focused work.

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Enhanced Corporate Image

Premium transportation creates a strong impression during client visits and executive engagements.

Planning Transportation for Multi-City Business Travel

As business travel becomes increasingly interconnected, many executives travel between multiple cities during a single trip. Coordinating reliable transportation in each destination can improve efficiency and reduce travel-related stress.

Professionals researching regional travel solutions may also find resources such as best NYC to boston car services useful when comparing transportation options for business travel between major metropolitan markets.

Evaluating transportation solutions in advance helps organizations create more effective travel strategies.

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Choosing the Right Transportation Partner

When selecting a transportation provider, business travelers should consider factors such as reliability, chauffeur experience, fleet quality, customer support, and scheduling flexibility. Providers that specialize in executive transportation are often best equipped to meet the expectations of corporate clients.

A trusted transportation partner can become an important extension of a company’s broader travel management strategy.

Conclusion

Luxury transportation plays a vital role in successful business travel. Whether utilizing a Boston airport car service for efficient airport transfers or arranging an LA chauffeur service for executive mobility throughout Southern California, professionals benefit from transportation solutions designed around reliability, comfort, and professionalism.

By incorporating premium transportation into their travel plans, executives can improve productivity, maintain schedules, and create a seamless experience from arrival to departure.

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IBM Shares Decline 1.64 Percent as Tech Sector Faces AI Valuation Concerns and Market Rotation

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ServiceNow Stock Edges Higher as AI Platform Momentum Builds After

Shares of International Business Machines Corp. fell more than 1.6 percent Tuesday, closing at $301.10 as broader technology sector pressures and profit-taking weighed on the stock amid ongoing debates about artificial intelligence investment returns and enterprise spending trends.

The decline of $5.03 per share marked a modest pullback for the blue-chip technology company, which has navigated a complex environment of AI opportunities, legacy system modernization challenges and macroeconomic uncertainty. IBM’s performance reflected mixed investor sentiment across the sector, where enthusiasm for generative AI capabilities has at times clashed with questions over near-term monetization and competitive dynamics.

IBM has positioned itself as a leader in hybrid cloud, enterprise AI through its Watsonx platform and quantum computing initiatives. Recent announcements highlighted continued innovation, including new compact z17 and LinuxONE systems designed to address data center space and cost constraints, as well as advancements in quantum research collaborations.

Despite these developments, the stock faced headwinds Tuesday. Market participants cited broader rotation away from some technology names, valuation concerns in the AI space and sector-wide caution following recent volatility in chipmakers and software providers. IBM’s shares have experienced periods of strength tied to its software and infrastructure growth but remain sensitive to shifts in enterprise IT spending.

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Analysts have pointed to IBM’s stable business model, anchored by recurring revenue from software, consulting and infrastructure, as a source of resilience. The company’s focus on mission-critical systems for large enterprises provides a moat, though emerging AI tools capable of accelerating legacy code modernization have raised questions about long-term demand for certain services.

IBM’s latest financial performance showed solid execution in key areas. Software and infrastructure segments have delivered growth, supported by hybrid cloud adoption and AI-related offerings. However, some observers noted moderating momentum in parts of the business amid competitive pressures and cautious client spending in an uncertain economic backdrop.

The company’s dividend remains attractive to income-focused investors, contributing to its appeal as a defensive technology play. With a consistent payout history, IBM continues to draw long-term holders even as growth-oriented investors debate its positioning relative to pure-play AI companies.

Tuesday’s trading volume was in line with recent averages, suggesting the move was part of normal market mechanics rather than a reaction to company-specific news. IBM shares have traded within a 52-week range that reflects both optimism around its strategic initiatives and periodic concerns over execution and competition.

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Broader market context played a role. Technology stocks showed uneven performance as investors assessed the sustainability of AI-related capital expenditures. While leaders in semiconductors and cloud computing posted mixed results, concerns about high valuations and return timelines rippled through the sector.

IBM has responded to the evolving landscape with significant investments in emerging technologies. Its commitment to quantum computing, including partnerships with national laboratories and healthcare organizations, aims to establish leadership in a field with potential long-term transformative impact. Recent milestones include computations related to fusion materials, underscoring progress in practical applications.

Enterprise clients continue to prioritize modernization of critical infrastructure, where IBM’s expertise in secure, reliable systems provides differentiation. The company’s Red Hat acquisition has strengthened its hybrid cloud capabilities, enabling organizations to balance on-premises and public cloud environments while addressing security and compliance needs.

Challenges persist in the consulting and services segments, where AI tools promise to automate tasks traditionally handled by human experts. IBM is adapting by integrating AI across its offerings, but the pace of disruption remains a focal point for investors evaluating future growth trajectories.

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Wall Street analysts maintain a range of views on IBM. Some highlight its valuation as reasonable given stable cash flows and dividend yield, while others call for clearer evidence of AI-driven acceleration in revenue and margins. Consensus price targets reflect a mix of optimism and measured expectations.

Looking forward, IBM’s upcoming earnings and strategic updates will be closely watched. Investors seek signs of sustained momentum in high-margin software, successful integration of AI capabilities and progress on quantum and infrastructure innovations. Macroeconomic factors, including interest rates and corporate budgets, will also influence performance.

The session’s decline comes after periods of strength for IBM, during which the stock benefited from its reputation for reliability amid broader market volatility. As one of the original members of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, IBM often serves as a proxy for mature technology leadership in an industry dominated by younger, high-growth names.

Market strategists note that rotations between growth and value stocks can create short-term pressure on established players like IBM even when fundamentals remain sound. The company’s diversified revenue streams provide a buffer compared with more concentrated peers.

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In the competitive landscape, IBM continues to face pressure from hyperscale cloud providers and specialized AI firms. However, its emphasis on enterprise-grade solutions, security and regulatory compliance positions it favorably for clients in finance, healthcare and government sectors where trust and reliability are paramount.

Tuesday’s close leaves IBM shares in a consolidation phase within their yearly range. Technical indicators suggest potential support levels near recent lows, with resistance tied to prior highs achieved during periods of positive sentiment around AI and cloud initiatives.

As the technology sector navigates the intersection of innovation and valuation realities, IBM’s path reflects the broader challenges and opportunities facing established technology giants. Its ability to translate research breakthroughs and strategic investments into consistent growth will determine whether it can outperform in an increasingly AI-centric market.

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Form 4 Kodiak Gas Services Inc For: 8 July

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Form 4 Kodiak Gas Services Inc For: 8 July

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Levi Strauss (LEVI) Q2 2026 earnings

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Levi Strauss (LEVI) Q2 2026 earnings

A view of Levi Strauss & Co. headquarters on July 8, 2026 in San Francisco, California.

Heather Diehl | Getty Images

Levi Strauss beat Wall Street’s quarterly expectations on the top and bottom lines on Wednesday, leading the retailer to increase its guidance and its dividend. 

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The denim maker is now expecting full-year adjusted earnings per share to be between $1.46 and $1.52, up from a prior range of between $1.42 and $1.48. At the high end, that’s ahead of expectations of $1.50 per share, according to LSEG. 

Levi also raised its top line outlook and is now expecting full-year sales to rise between 7% and 7.5%, compared to a prior range of between 5.5% and 6.5%. That’s ahead of expectations of 6.6%, according to LSEG. About half of that growth is expected to come from higher prices and the other half is expected to come from unit sales, said finance chief Harmit Singh. 

Here’s how Levi did in its second fiscal quarter compared with what Wall Street was anticipating, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:

  • Earnings per share: 28 cents adjusted vs. 24 cents expected
  • Revenue: $1.56 billion vs. $1.52 billion expected

Despite the results, Levi’s shares dropped more than 5% in extended trading.

The company’s reported net income for the three-month period that ended May 31 was $87.3 million, or 22 cents per share, compared with $67 million, or 17 cents per share, a year earlier. 

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Sales rose to $1.56 billion, up about 8% from $1.45 billion a year earlier.

In an interview with CNBC, CEO Michelle Gass said the company’s core consumer is proving to be resilient – even in the face of higher gas prices. She said about two-thirds of the quarter’s sales growth came from units – not just higher prices – giving the company the confidence to raise guidance and its dividend.

“Our demand remains healthy,” said Gass. “We’re seeing strength across our key segments of consumers, so we have our core Levi’s, but we’re also seeing strength in signature, as well as our new premium blue tab.” 

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Honda recalls over 325,000 Odyssey vehicles over rearview camera defect

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Honda recalls over 325,000 Odyssey vehicles over rearview camera defect

Honda is recalling more than 325,000 vehicles over faulty rearview image displays, which could increase the risk of a crash, according to federal regulators.

The recall affects 2018-2020 Odyssey vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Wednesday.

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A total of 325,588 vehicles are covered by the recall effort.

HONDA RECALLS MORE THAN 880,000 VEHICLES OVER REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE RISK

grey honda odyssey outside

Honda is recalling more than 325,000 vehicles over faulty rearview image displays. (Honda / Fox News)

The NHTSA said the recall was issued due to rearview cameras that may not display properly.

“Water may enter into the rearview camera, which can cause the rearview camera image to fail to display when the vehicle is in reverse,” the recall notice reads.

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A display malfunction could increase the risk of a crash, the NHTSA said.

Odyssey logo on a car.

The recall affects 2018-2020 Odyssey vehicles. (Scott Olson/Getty Images / Getty Images)

The announcement expands a previous recall, which affected certain 2019-2020 Honda Odyssey vehicles.

Owners affected by the recall may take their cars to Honda dealers, so the rearview camera can be replaced free of charge, according to the NHTSA.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on Aug. 24.

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HONDA RECALLS 99,000 VEHICLES OVER FLAW THAT COULD TRIGGER UNINTENDED AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT

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A total of 325,588 vehicles are covered by the recall effort. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images / Getty Images)

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This comes after Honda issued two separate recalls in recent months that included other car models.

This included more than 880,000 vehicles being recalled because a key rear suspension part can rust and fail, and nearly 99,000 cars that were recalled over a defect that could cause airbags to deploy unexpectedly during a crash.

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Yuri Milner’s Breakthrough Prize Just Honored the Scientists Who Spent 40 Years Curing Inherited Blindness

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Yuri Milner's Breakthrough Prize Just Honored the Scientists Who Spent 40 Years Curing Inherited Blindness

Jean Bennett and Albert Maguire are married. They are also the reason several hundred people who were going blind have retained their sight.

Their lab at the University of Pennsylvania spent the better part of the 1990s working out the technical details of a gene therapy for Leber congenital amaurosis — a genetic disease that strips away retinal function in childhood, usually ending in total blindness before adulthood. They tried it first in dogs. A group of Swedish Briard puppies, born with the same genetic defect, had their sight restored. Bennett and Maguire adopted them.

In 2007, Maguire administered the first injection into a human patient — a 26-year-old woman at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. A decade later, in December 2017, the FDA approved Luxturna: the first gene replacement therapy for an inherited disease in US history. At the April 2026 Breakthrough Prize ceremony in Los Angeles, Bennett, Maguire, and their longtime collaborator Katherine High shared the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for that work. Some of the patients who received Luxturna have since qualified for driver’s licenses.

What the Disease Does, and What the Therapy Fixes

Leber congenital amaurosis is caused by a mutation in the RPE65 gene, which produces a protein the retina needs to complete its visual cycle — the process by which light hitting the eye becomes an electrical signal sent to the brain. Without functional RPE65, that cycle breaks. The retina can still receive light but cannot convert it into anything the brain can read. Patients lose light sensitivity progressively, typically experiencing severe vision loss before 18 and total blindness shortly after.

The therapy developed by Bennett, High, and Maguire uses a modified adeno-associated virus — a delivery vehicle that can carry genetic material without triggering immune rejection — to insert a working copy of the RPE65 gene directly into retinal cells via subretinal injection. One treatment per eye, administered days apart. The corrected cells begin producing the protein, the visual cycle resumes, and patients who could previously see only in very bright light start perceiving details they had never been able to make out.

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Patients in early clinical trials described seeing snow for the first time. One described seeing the moon. Another saw stars. The disease affects an estimated 1,000 to 3,000 people in the United States — a population small enough that commercial development alone would never have funded the three decades of research required to reach them. Katherine High, who served as the founding director of the Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics at CHOP and is now CEO of RhyGaze, a gene therapy company based in Philadelphia and Switzerland, helped bridge the gap between academic science and the regulatory pathway that eventually made Luxturna approvable. Bennett, 71, and Maguire, 66, remain emeritus professors at Penn. The therapy they built together has been approved not just by the FDA but by regulators in Europe, where Novartis licensed it for distribution outside the US.

Why Forty Years Is the Point

Bennett joined Penn’s faculty in 1992. The first human clinical trial ran in 2007. FDA approval came in 2017. The prize arrived in 2026. That timeline — three-plus decades from academic lab to pharmacy — accurately describes how foundational biomedical research moves when it is not being chased by a commercial deadline.

This is the argument Yuri Milner has made consistently in designing the Breakthrough Prize. Most private funding in science rewards proximity to an application. Grants chase outcomes. Venture capital chases returns on timescales measured in years, not decades. The researchers who spend thirty years on a disease affecting fewer than 3,000 Americans are working outside the incentive structures that normally sustain scientific careers. They are building a cathedral, in Milner’s phrase from the 2026 prize announcement — “on foundations laid down by the giants who came before them..”

The Prize was designed to recognize exactly that kind of researcher: contributors whose work is foundational rather than immediately monetizable, operating on timescales that most institutional funding structures struggle to sustain. Milner’s own training as a theoretical physicist shaped the conviction directly. He spent years in a discipline where the gap between discovery and application is routinely measured in generations — where the mathematics developed in one century becomes the engineering of the next.

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What the Prize adds to recognition is visibility. A $3 million award, handed out on a Hollywood stage in front of an audience that includes the CEOs of Nvidia and OpenAI alongside film and music performers, reaches a different public than a journal publication or a tenure committee commendation. That visibility matters because public understanding of what science produces determines, over time, what science gets funded.

The 2026 Life Sciences Class, Taken Together

Bennett, High, and Maguire shared the ceremony with two other Life Sciences prizes that, read alongside theirs, trace a consistent pattern in how Milner and the Breakthrough Prize Foundation think about which research deserves recognition.

Stuart Orkin and Swee Lay Thein received a prize for decades of work that eventually led to gene-editing treatments for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia — two inherited blood disorders that together affect millions of people globally, with the heaviest burden falling on populations in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Mediterranean. Thein identified a genetic region linked to elevated fetal hemoglobin production in adults, a trait that naturally softens the severity of both conditions. Orkin identified BCL11A, the specific gene that suppresses fetal hemoglobin after birth. Their combined findings gave researchers a precise molecular target: silence BCL11A, allow protective fetal hemoglobin to persist, and the disease becomes dramatically more manageable. Gene-editing therapies built on exactly that logic have since reached patients and received regulatory approval.

Rosa Rademakers and Bryan Traynor were recognized for identifying the C9orf72 gene mutation as the most common known genetic cause of both ALS and frontotemporal dementia — two conditions that had long resisted genetic explanation and had largely been treated as separate diseases. The discovery that a single mutation could drive both redirected an entire research field toward a testable, actionable target. Clinical trials targeting C9orf72 are now running.

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Each of the three prizes honored research that required patience measured in decades, produced results that could not have been commercially predicted at the outset, and has since moved from academic publication toward patients who had no other options.

What the Eureka Manifesto Said About Biology

In his Eureka Manifesto, Milner identified life sciences as one of the deepest mismatches in all of science — research that is profound in its importance to human welfare and chronically underfunded relative to that importance. The book makes the case that directing serious capital toward fundamental biological research is one of the highest-return investments a civilization can make, precisely because the downstream benefits cannot be predicted from the research itself at the time it is being done.

Luxturna illustrates this directly. Bennett’s early work in the 1990s was about understanding how a specific protein interacts with the retina. It was a basic science question about a poorly understood mechanism. It became a therapy because the science pointed there, because the researchers followed it long enough, and because the clinical and regulatory infrastructure existed to translate the findings. The Giving Pledge commitment Milner made alongside his wife Julia in 2012 formalized this philosophy at the level of personal wealth: invest in scientists, not just projects. Trust the researchers building foundations before the applications are visible.

That framing has practical consequences for how the Prize is structured. It does not restrict its recognition to research that has already produced a commercial product. It recognizes the discovery, the mechanism, the molecular target — the work that makes products possible years or decades later. The 2026 Life Sciences class is evidence that this distinction is not semantic. All three prize-winning programs produced fundamental knowledge long before they produced clinical outcomes.

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The Cathedral and the Patient

At the 2026 ceremony, Anne Hathaway and Alex Honnold presented a video about Baby KJ — KJ Muldoon, a child born with carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 deficiency, a rare metabolic disease in which the liver cannot process ammonia properly. Without treatment, the ammonia buildup becomes toxic to the brain. KJ was only days old when he was diagnosed and spent his first ten months at the hospital. His doctors at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia developed a personalized CRISPR-based gene therapy using base-editing techniques pioneered by previous Breakthrough Prize laureate David Liu — a one-time treatment designed specifically around KJ’s individual mutation. He has since been walking, talking, and meeting developmental milestones that were once uncertain.

The connection between KJ’s treatment and the research honored at the same ceremony runs through the logic of the entire evening. Liu’s base-editing work, recognized by a prior Breakthrough Prize, made KJ’s therapy possible. Bennett, High, and Maguire’s gene therapy work, recognized this year, established the delivery mechanisms and regulatory precedents that personalized gene therapies now build on. The cathedral metaphor Milner used in his statement holds: each laureate’s work is a section of a structure that no single researcher could complete alone, and whose full dimensions no single generation could see.

Milner has described the Prize as a public claim about value — about what a society decides deserves recognition and therefore resources. A researcher who spends forty years on a disease affecting a few thousand people, without a commercial path in sight, is making a bet that the science matters more than the return. The Prize says that bet was right. Baby KJ, walking and talking at a Hollywood ceremony that his existence helped explain, is what it looks like when that bet pays out.

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Eli Lilly Shares Dip Slightly After Hitting Record High as Even Analysts Keep Raising Price Targets Today

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FTSE 100 Surges 0.8% Today as Oil Eases and Markets

Shares of Eli Lilly and Company fell modestly Wednesday, trading at $1,228.75, down $6.81, or 0.55 percent, pulling back slightly after the pharmaceutical giant closed at a fresh all-time high in the previous session amid a wave of increasingly bullish analyst commentary.

Note: This article is intended to provide factual context and does not constitute financial advice. Readers should consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Eli Lilly shares closed Tuesday at $1,235.56, up 2.96 percent, or $35.50, after touching an intraday high of $1,249.45, extending a rally that has now pushed the company’s market capitalization to approximately $1.16 trillion. According to The Motley Fool, Tuesday’s gains were driven primarily by upbeat analyst commentary, with JPMorgan analyst Chris Schott reiterating his Overweight rating on the stock while raising his price target from $1,300 to $1,400, a forecast that implied more than 13 percent additional upside even after Tuesday’s gains.

JPMorgan’s revised target was one of several price target increases issued for Eli Lilly in recent days. According to CNN, RBC Capital raised its price target on the stock to $1,500 from $1,250, while Morgan Stanley bumped its target modestly to $1,347 from $1,344. Cantor Fitzgerald had earlier raised its own target to $1,350 from $1,230 while maintaining an Overweight rating, and RBC Capital had previously reiterated an Outperform rating with a target of $1,250 before its more recent revision. The wave of upward revisions reflects broadly strengthening Wall Street sentiment toward the company heading into its next earnings report.

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Eli Lilly’s continued rally has been underpinned by strong underlying financial performance tied largely to its GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes drug franchise. According to Yahoo Finance, the company reported $19.8 billion in first-quarter revenue, driven primarily by its blockbuster drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound, and subsequently raised its full-year revenue guidance to a range of $82 billion to $85 billion. According to Investing.com, the company’s trailing revenue growth stands at 47 percent, with a price/earnings-to-growth ratio of 0.33, a figure some analysts view as attractively valued relative to the company’s growth trajectory despite its already elevated share price.

A significant regulatory tailwind has also factored into recent investor optimism. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program officially launched July 1, 2026, expanding insurance coverage for GLP-1 medications and capping patient out-of-pocket costs for Zepbound and a related drug at $50 per month for eligible Medicare beneficiaries. According to TradingKey, the program’s launch has helped ease investor concerns about broader drug-pricing pressure by demonstrating that expanded insurance access can significantly widen the pool of patients able to afford the company’s flagship treatments, offsetting some of the downward pressure on net realized drug prices that Eli Lilly has faced in recent quarters.

Despite the largely positive tone surrounding the stock, some analysts have flagged risks worth monitoring. TradingKey’s analysis noted that Eli Lilly continues to experience systemic declines in net realized drug prices, a trend expected to weigh on top-line revenue growth in the low-to-mid teens percentage range going forward, with that pricing pressure expected to intensify following the Medicare Bridge program’s rollout. The analysis also pointed to regulatory friction tied to the company’s policy restricting safety-net hospital access to the federal 340B drug discount program and its request for proprietary insurance claims data, a stance that has drawn pushback from healthcare trade associations and could expose the company to federal dispute-resolution actions, administrative penalties or litigation. Additionally, the analysis flagged heightened regulatory scrutiny tied to an FDA request for additional safety data regarding potential liver injury risk associated with one of the company’s products.

Eli Lilly has also continued advancing its broader drug pipeline and regulatory approvals in recent weeks. The company’s cancer treatment Jaypirca received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia, with formal European Union approval expected within roughly two months. Separately, Health Canada approved Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro for use in children as young as 10 years old, expanding the drug’s approved patient population in that market. The company also entered into a distribution and promotion agreement with Swiss market-expansion firm DKSH Holding for operations in Hong Kong and Macau, and separately reached a distribution agreement with Innovent Biologics for its drug Verzenios in certain markets.

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Not all recent news has been favorable for Eli Lilly. According to CNN, the company’s stock retreated in late June amid emerging concerns tied to China-related developments, and generic drugmaker Sandoz has submitted applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking approval for generic versions of tirzepatide, the active ingredient in both Mounjaro and Zepbound, a development that could eventually introduce lower-cost competition to Eli Lilly’s core weight-loss and diabetes franchise. According to Investing.com, Eli Lilly’s U.S. patent protection for tirzepatide is set to expire in 2036, providing the company with a substantial runway before generic competition could meaningfully affect its market position domestically.

Eli Lilly, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, and founded in 1876, is currently ranked as the most valuable pharmaceutical company in the world and the fourth-largest biomedical company by revenue globally, according to Google Finance. The company reached a $1 trillion market capitalization in November 2025, becoming the first health care company in history to achieve that milestone. Eli Lilly’s stock carries a Piotroski Score of 9, according to InvestingPro analysis cited by Investing.com, reflecting strong overall financial health, and the company has raised its dividend for 11 consecutive years, with a current quarterly dividend of $1.73 per share.

Despite the stock’s dramatic year-over-year gain of nearly 59 percent, according to Investing.com, some analysis has suggested the shares may currently be trading above their calculated fair value, even as the company maintains strong underlying fundamentals. With Eli Lilly’s next earnings report still pending and multiple analysts continuing to raise their price targets in anticipation of continued strong results, investors are likely to keep close watch on how the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program’s early rollout affects patient volumes and pricing dynamics, along with any further developments tied to generic competition and ongoing regulatory scrutiny of the company’s drug-pricing and access policies.

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