WASHINGTON — Sen. Mitch McConnell has spent more than three weeks in the hospital, and his office still has not disclosed what led to his admission, his current condition, or when he might be able to return to the Senate floor.

McConnell, 84, a Kentucky Republican who has served in the Senate since 1985 and led Senate Republicans from 2007 until 2025, has not cast a vote since June 11. His extended absence comes at a delicate moment for Senate Republicans, who are navigating a narrow majority in the chamber, and it has already contributed to delays in the Appropriations Committee’s work on spending legislation.

McConnell was admitted to the hospital on the morning of June 14, according to a statement from his office at the time, which said only that he was “receiving excellent care.” EMS dispatch audio from that morning indicates emergency medical personnel were sent to McConnell’s home to respond to an unconscious person in cardiac arrest. According to the recording, a call went out at 8:36 a.m. reporting an unconscious person at McConnell’s address, prompting the dispatch of an ambulance with an advanced life support crew. Within six minutes, a medic radioed that CPR was in progress, and by 8:43 a.m., a dispatcher had relayed the emergency as a cardiac arrest. McConnell is not named anywhere in the recording, though the address matches his residence.

The following day, Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming, the chamber’s top two Republicans, told reporters they had spoken with McConnell directly.

In the weeks since, McConnell’s office has offered only sparse updates on his condition. On June 22, eight days after his hospitalization began, his office said he would not be voting that week “as he continues his recovery.” Thune, speaking to reporters the same day, said he had spoken with McConnell “toward the end of last week” and that McConnell “sounded good and was anxious to get back.”

A subsequent statement from McConnell’s office on July 2 offered little additional detail but confirmed he remained hospitalized. “The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session,” the office said. McConnell’s office has not provided further updates since that statement and did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.

McConnell’s continued absence carries practical consequences for Senate Republicans. Any extended absence would temporarily shrink the party’s working majority to 52-47 in the chamber, complicating efforts to advance legislation that requires a simple majority. His absence has also added further strain to the Senate Appropriations Committee, which was already behind schedule due to disagreements over defense funding and had not advanced any spending bills for the 2027 fiscal year as of early July. Without McConnell present, the committee is evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, meaning any vote that falls along party lines would fail to advance. According to a Republican aide who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the committee had already postponed plans to mark up spending bills during the week of June 22, in part because of McConnell’s absence.

McConnell announced earlier this year that he would not seek reelection and is set to retire from the Senate in January, at the conclusion of his current term, bringing an end to a legislative career that has spanned four decades.

McConnell’s health has drawn public attention on multiple occasions in recent years. He contracted polio as a child, a bout of illness that has long affected his mobility and made climbing stairs difficult. In March 2023, he was hospitalized after a fall at a Washington hotel and remained away from the Senate floor for several weeks. Later that year, he experienced two widely covered episodes in which he abruptly stopped speaking during televised news conferences and had to be assisted by colleagues before regaining his composure. He was injured again in December 2024 after tripping outside a Senate Republican lunch, and earlier this year he spent more than a week in the hospital after his office attributed the stay to flu-like symptoms.

The current hospitalization, now stretching beyond three weeks, represents McConnell’s longest known absence from the Senate due to health concerns during his time in office. His office’s limited public disclosures have left colleagues, constituents and observers largely reliant on secondhand accounts from Senate leadership regarding his condition and prognosis.

As of this report, no additional details have emerged regarding the nature of McConnell’s underlying medical condition, the treatment he has received during his hospitalization, or a specific timeline for his return to the Senate. His office has continued to describe his condition only in general terms, emphasizing ongoing improvement without elaborating on the circumstances that led to his initial hospitalization on June 14.

With the Senate’s spending process already delayed and McConnell’s continued absence further narrowing the chamber’s Republican majority, his colleagues in Senate leadership are likely to continue facing questions about the practical impact of his hospitalization on the chamber’s legislative agenda in the weeks ahead, even as his office maintains a limited public accounting of his health status heading into the final months of his Senate career.

This is the forum for daily political discussion on Seeking Alpha. A new version is published every market day.

Please don’t leave political comments on other articles or posts on the site.

The comments below are not regulated with the same rigor as the rest of the site, and this is an ‘enter at your own risk’ area as discussion can get very heated. If you can’t stand the heat… you know what they say…

More on Today’s Markets:

Moderation Guidelines:

We remove comments under the following categories:

• Personal attacks on another user account
• Anti-Vaxxer or covid related misinformation
• Stereotyping, prejudiced or racist language about individuals or the topic under discussion.
• Inciting violence messages, encouraging hate groups and political violence.

Regardless of which side of the political divide you find yourself, please be courteous and don’t direct abuse at other users.

For any issue with regards to comments please email us at : moderation@seekingalpha.com.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

This article was written by

Follow

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Sensex rose more than 150 points, while Nifty 50 was above 24,450 during Tuesday’s session. Broader markets also opened in the green, with Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 indices gaining around 0.2% each.

Eternal and HDFC Bank shares were the top gainers on the Sensex, rising more than 1% each. Zudio-parent Trent shares however, sharply tumbled more than 9% to lead losses. This came as India VIX, which measures volatility in the market, inched slightly higher to near 12.

Sectorally, Nifty IT gained over 0.7% to lead gains, while Nifty Metal and Nifty Realty slipped into the red. Around 1,180 stocks advanced on NSE, while 1,165 declined and 124 remained unchanged.

Oil prices

Live Events

Oil prices inched slightly higher after reports said that a tanked in the Strait of Hormuz was struck by a projectile. Brent crude futures gained around 1% to trade near $73 per barrel, while WTI Crude futures rose to $69 per barrel.
Despite the gains, oil prices continue to remain in the range of pre-war levels, after soaring to as high as $120 per barrel during the raging conflict between Iran and US that sparked a massive global energy crisis.FII remain net buyers

Foreign investors remained net buyers of Indian equities for the fourth consecutive session, net purchasing shares worth Rs 243 crore on Monday, according to provisional data available on NSE.

“The FPI buying is not yet a strong trend, but the fact that they have stopped selling and turned buyers is a significant shift, which is likely to be supported by fundamentals,” said VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments.

What lies ahead?

There are distinct signs of an uptrend in the market, according to Vijayakumar. Two factors which were weighing on Indian markets – the crude price hike and sustained FPI selling- are now behind us and have reversed, he said, noting that crude is back to the pre-war level and FPIs have turned buyers.

“The auto retail sales numbers in June coming at an impressive 22% indicates that the growth momentum in the economy is intact. The sharp decline in crude will keep inflation in check, which, in turn, will enable the RBI to continue with the low interest regime. This means, the uptrend in the auto industry and financials, particularly banking, will continue supported by the low interest regime and impressive credit growth running above 17%. These two sectors have the potential to lead the next leg of the rally, which is likely to be driven more by large caps. Apart from autos and financials, oil and gas and telecom majors also will support the rally. Retail buying will lift the broader market, too,” he added.

Technical view on Nifty

Yesterday’s close above 24,400 has improved the chances of the much anticipated 24,800-25,250 move, said Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit Investments. He however cautioned that spikes to 24,600 regions might attract some rejection trades.

“With the prospects of volatility and upside objectives thus outlined, we will go in today with a downside marker placed at 24,360 until 24,600 is seen,” he added.

(With inputs from agencies)
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

ARLINGTON, Texas — Cristiano Ronaldo’s storied World Cup journey concluded in heartbreak on Monday as Spain eliminated Portugal with a dramatic stoppage-time goal in the round of 16 at Dallas Stadium.

Mikel Merino, a substitute, scored in the first minute of added time to secure a 1-0 victory for Spain, sending the European champions into the quarterfinals and bringing down the curtain on Ronaldo’s sixth and final World Cup appearance. The 41-year-old Portuguese superstar walked off the pitch with a stoic expression, acknowledging fans with a brief wave amid the disappointment of another early exit for his nation.

In the mixed zone after the match, Ronaldo reflected on the defeat with measured composure. “I’m sad to be leaving the World Cup like this,” he said. “I gave it my all. I did my best and I’m leaving with a clear conscience. It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll now have time to reflect and be with my family. I won’t be making any rash decisions.”

He emphasized that Spain had enjoyed “a bit of luck” on Merino’s winner, describing a tightly contested match that “could have gone either way.” Ronaldo declined to confirm whether the game marked his final appearance in a Portugal shirt, preferring not to overshadow the team’s efforts with a personal announcement made “in the heat of the moment.”

The loss also coincided with the end of Roberto Martinez’s tenure as Portugal manager. Ronaldo offered praise for the Spaniard, calling him “a great manager, a great human being” and commending his contributions to the national team.

Portugal entered the tournament with high expectations, bolstered by Ronaldo’s leadership and a squad featuring a blend of veterans and emerging talents. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had spoken beforehand about this being his last World Cup, a declaration that added emotional weight to every moment on the field. Despite Portugal’s strong group stage showing, the knockout clash against their Iberian rivals proved one step too far.

Ronaldo’s international legacy with Portugal remains secure. He helped the Selecao win the 2016 European Championship — their first major trophy — followed by Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025. “I’ve won three titles for Portugal; before Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal hadn’t won a single title,” he noted proudly. He equated the significance of the 2016 Euros triumph to a World Cup.

The match itself was a tense, tactical battle befitting two of Europe’s football powerhouses. Spain controlled much of the possession and created several threatening moments, but Portugal’s defense, marshaled effectively in the absence of key absences, held firm for long stretches. Ronaldo himself was denied a potential goal in the first half by a stunning save from Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon.

As the game wore on, fatigue appeared to set in for both sides. Spain’s bench ultimately made the difference. Ferran Torres provided the assist for Merino’s late header or close-range finish — accounts vary slightly on the exact execution — in a moment that stunned the Portuguese contingent. The goal silenced large sections of the crowd that had been roaring in support of Ronaldo and his teammates throughout.

For Ronaldo, the evening represented the end of a remarkable chapter that began with his World Cup debut in 2006. Over six tournaments, he established himself as one of the competition’s greatest performers, though the elusive World Cup title always remained just out of reach. His longevity at the elite level is unparalleled; at 41, he continues to compete at the highest level with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia while carrying the weight of national expectations.

Portugal’s campaign was not without bright spots. The team demonstrated resilience and moments of quality that suggested a promising future. Younger players gained valuable experience on the grandest stage, potentially paving the way for a new era once Ronaldo’s international future is clarified. Manager Martinez’s departure opens the door for fresh leadership as Portugal rebuilds.

In the broader context of the 2026 World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the match highlighted the intense competition in a stacked European field. Spain, seeking to add to their 2010 triumph, advanced with a disciplined performance emblematic of their current style under their coaching staff. Their quarterfinal opponent will await, while Portugal must now shift focus to recovery and the next cycle of qualifiers.

Ronaldo’s post-match comments struck a tone of acceptance mixed with pride. “It’s always sad to be knocked out of a major tournament. It’s a World Cup. The team was really coming into its own. We played well, in my view,” he said. “It’s frustrating to go out like this, but we can hold our heads high.”

The football world reacted swiftly to the result. Tributes poured in for Ronaldo’s career, acknowledging his unmatched dedication, goal-scoring records, and influence on the sport. Fans in Arlington and back home in Portugal expressed a mixture of sorrow and gratitude for the memories he provided across two decades.

As the tournament progresses without Portugal, questions linger about Ronaldo’s next steps. Will he continue with the national team for upcoming European qualifiers or Nations League campaigns? Or has Monday’s match marked the final page of his international story? True to his words, those decisions can wait. For now, the focus remains on a career that transcended borders and inspired generations.

Spain’s victory sets up intriguing possibilities in the knockout stages. With talents like Lamine Yamal shining and a solid squad depth, they present a formidable challenge for any remaining contenders. The Iberian derby, long anticipated, delivered drama until the final whistle, living up to its billing despite the narrow margin.

For Portuguese supporters, the pain of elimination is tempered by the knowledge that their icon departed with dignity and a clear conscience. Ronaldo’s contribution to Portugal’s football identity is indelible. From the streets of Madeira to the world’s grandest stadiums, his journey has been one of relentless pursuit of excellence.

As night fell over Dallas Stadium, the echoes of chants for Ronaldo likely lingered. The 2026 World Cup continues, but one of its defining figures has taken his final bow on this particular stage. The sport moves forward, as Ronaldo himself acknowledged, but his shadow will loom large over future tournaments for years to come.

The two-wheeler major launched its share buyback on July 1 as it aimed to buyback 46.94 lakh shares or 1.68% of the total paid-up share capital, with the record date being fixed on June 24.

Key things to know about Bajaj Auto’s buyback

Under Bajaj Auto’s buyback offer, eligible shareholders (those who held the shares as on the record date) in the reserved category for small shareholders are entitled to tender 17 equity shares for every 61 equity shares held as on the record date (June 24). For shareholders in the general category, the buyback entitlement is fixed at 17 equity shares for every 525 equity shares held on the record date.

A buyback of shares refers to a corporate action where a company repurchases its own shares from existing shareholders. Usually, the company purchases the shares at a higher price than current levels, encouraging investors to participate. Notably, Bajaj Auto has said that its promoters and promoter groups have indicated their intention not to participate in the buyback.

Eligible Bajaj Auto shareholders can participate in the offer by placing a bid through a stock broker registered with either the BSE or the NSE via a separate window on the stock exchanges. The registrar will complete the verification of tendered shares by July 10, 2026. Thereafter, the final acceptance or rejection of shares tendered under the buyback will be communicated to the stock exchanges by July 13.

After the buyback, Bajaj Auto will return the unaccepted shares by July 14, as per the schedule shared by the two wheeler maker in its exchange filing. “The Buyback reinforces the Company’s commitment to its shareholders by returning surplus cash to them in an effective and efficient manner, and is expected to improve its earnings per share and return on equity,” it added.

Also read: Bajaj Auto buyback opens July 1; shareholders can tender shares till July 7

How much profit can you make from Bajaj Auto’s buyback?

For example, let’s take an investor who bought 20 shares of Bajaj Auto at 9,750 apiece before the record date and is planning to tender shares in the buyback. The total value of her shareholding in the two-wheeler major as of the record date stood at Rs 1,95,000, making her eligible for Bajaj Auto’s reserved category for small shareholders (less than Rs 2 lakh).

Live Events

As per the entitlement ratio, she is entitled to tender around 6 shares out of her 20 stock holding (nearly 27.9%). It is important to note that not all shares she tenders may be accepted in the buyback process.
Each accepted share would fetch ₹12,000, resulting in a profit of ₹2,250 per share over the assumed purchase price.Also read: Bajaj Auto’s Rs 5,633 crore share buyback | Key things to know

Should you participate in Bajaj Auto’s buyback?

All shareholders who held Bajaj Auto shares in their demat accounts as of the record date (June 24) will be eligible to tender shares in the buyback. Sunny Agrawal, Head of Fundamental Research at SBI Securities, explained that the entitlement ratio for small shareholders stands at 27.9% (17 shares for every 61 shares held) with the record date price of Rs 9,750 apiece.

“Assuming an acceptance ratio between 45% and 65%, a small shareholder is likely to get a return of 9.5% to 14.9% on his total holding. The return potential can be higher if the acceptance ratio is higher or the stock appreciates above Rs 9,750,” he said, advising investors to participate in the buyback.

Harshal Dasani, Business Head at INVasset PMS, also said that the reserved-category mechanics make participation a worthwhile arithmetic exercise even on a post-tax basis for retail shareholders already holding the stock. “Retail shareholders (holdings up to Rs 2 lakh value) sit in a reserved 15% pool of 7.04 lakh shares worth Rs 845 crore, and historically Bajaj Auto’s 2024 buyback delivered final retail acceptance ratios near 26%. If a similar acceptance pattern holds, a retail shareholder tendering all eligible shares can expect roughly 25-26% of holdings to be accepted at the Rs 12,000 price, with the residual returning at market price,” he said.

Vaqarjaved Khan, Senior Analyst of Fundamental at Angel One, meanwhile highlighted that with only 1.68% of equity being repurchased, the theoretical entitlement ratio works out to just 4.5–5%.

“That means most retail shareholders will see only a small slice of their tendered shares accepted, with the rest sold back at prevailing market price. The effective blended gain is far lower than the headline premium implies. Still, tendering costs nothing and any acceptance is pure upside so shareholders should tender their full entitlement regardless of the ratio,” he added.

Also read: Bajaj Auto total sales increase 28% in June

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)