Business
Thick Wildfire Smoke Chokes Nation’s Capital and Mid-Atlantic as Severe Storms Threaten Region Saturday
Dense wildfire smoke continued blanketing the Mid-Atlantic region early Saturday, pushing Washington, D.C., to the brink of becoming the world’s most polluted major city, as forecasters warned the smoky conditions would soon collide with a separate threat of severe thunderstorms moving through the region.
Air quality readings in Washington registered at 175 between 4 and 5 a.m. Saturday, placing the city in the unhealthy to very unhealthy range for the 30th consecutive hour. As of 5 a.m., the nation’s capital ranked as the second most polluted major city in the world, trailing only Toronto, according to tracking data cited by meteorologist Ben Noll.
The smoke originated from massive wildfires burning across Canada, which have spread across large portions of the United States in recent days. Forecasters expected the dense smoke to linger across the Mid-Atlantic through Saturday morning before gradually clearing during the afternoon, as southerly winds ahead of an approaching storm system began pushing the smoke back toward the Northeast and New England. Cities including Philadelphia, New York and Pittsburgh all reported unhealthy or very unhealthy air quality conditions early Saturday, with forecasters projecting the smoke would reach Boston by late morning.
Complicating the situation further, strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to develop across the region beginning Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center issued an enhanced risk rating, a Level 3 out of 5, covering a stretch of the country that includes Buffalo, Cleveland, Washington, Philadelphia and New York. While damaging winds represent the primary threat from the approaching storms, forecasters also flagged some potential for tornadoes within the risk area.
The combination of smoke and severe weather is expected to create what forecasters described as a double dose of hazardous conditions. Rainfall can initially intensify the smell of wildfire smoke by dragging smoky air down from higher levels of the atmosphere toward the ground, and can also leave a sooty residue coating cars, windows and other outdoor surfaces. Once steadier rain develops, however, it typically begins washing smoke particles out of the air entirely, offering eventual relief even as the storms themselves bring their own risks.
By Saturday night, forecasters expect much of the current smoke plume to have cleared out of the eastern United States, though new plumes are not expected to be far behind. A separate batch of smoke from the same Canadian fires, currently drifting toward Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin on Saturday, is forecast to reach Chicago and Detroit sometime between Saturday night and Sunday. That smoke is projected to continue drifting eastward into Sunday, though near-ground concentrations are expected to remain relatively low along the corridor stretching from Washington to New York.
That includes East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the World Cup final is scheduled to kick off Sunday at 3 p.m. Forecasters currently expect largely dry conditions in the area for the match, with smoke concentrations near the ground anticipated to stay comparatively low despite the broader regional smoke event still unfolding through the weekend.
Looking further ahead, changing wind patterns and additional stormy weather expected early next week could help keep the worst of the smoke away from the eastern United States. Several rounds of rain are forecast across the primary wildfire zone in western Ontario in the coming days, a development that should help reduce smoke concentrations at the source and potentially limit the intensity of future smoke plumes reaching the U.S. compared with what the region has experienced this week. Even so, forecasters noted that portions of the current smoke plume may continue drifting as far as Greenland, Iceland and the Azores through early next week, underscoring just how widely this particular smoke event has spread.
The connection between this wildfire season and the broader effects of climate change has drawn attention from researchers tracking Canada’s fire activity. A wildfire analysis posted Friday by climate scientist Zeke Hausfather found that while lightning strikes are responsible for the majority of Canada’s burned forest area, accounting for roughly 71% of the area burned between 1990 and 2023, surges in Canadian wildfire activity have tracked closely alongside rising temperatures.
Hausfather explained that warming plays a direct role in fire risk because warmer air pulls more moisture out of vegetation, drying out trees and grasses and making it easier for fires to both ignite and spread rapidly once started. He noted that the same fuel-drying dynamic has also been linked to a doubling of forest area burned across the western United States. “The biggest fire years are almost universally hotter and drier,” Hausfather wrote.
Hausfather also addressed the role of fire fuel management strategies, commonly known as prescribed burns, in mitigating wildfire risk. While he said such strategies hold real value in areas surrounding populated communities, he argued they offer little practical benefit across the vast, remote boreal forests where much of Canada’s current wildfire activity is concentrated, since those forests have largely never been logged, thinned or actively managed, and instead experience infrequent but high-intensity fires that occur in natural cycles. “You cannot have a fuel-buildup from forest mismanagement in a forest you were never managing,” he said.
Despite the severity of the smoke’s impact on air quality across North America this summer, Hausfather noted that this year’s Canadian fire season currently appears unlikely to surpass the record set in 2023 for total land area burned. Even so, he emphasized that the season has still produced a serious impact on air pollution across the continent, largely because of how weather patterns have directed the smoke toward densely populated areas. “While overall area burned is the climate-linked trend, who breathes the smoke on a given week in July is mostly driven by the weather,” Hausfather said.
With additional smoke plumes expected to continue drifting into the U.S. from Canada’s ongoing fires in the days ahead, meteorologists said they will continue monitoring both the wildfire activity itself and the shifting weather patterns that determine which parts of the country bear the brunt of the resulting smoke on any given day.
Business
Kylian Mbappe Leads World Cup Golden Boot Race Heading Into Sunday’s Final
Kylian Mbappé has taken a commanding lead in the race for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot, scoring twice in France’s 6-4 third-place playoff win over England on Friday to push his tournament tally to 10 goals, putting him two clear of Argentina’s Lionel Messi with only Sunday’s final remaining on the tournament calendar.
Mbappé’s brace against England, coming in the 48th and 66th minutes of a wild, back-and-forth match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, extended his tournament-leading total and effectively completed his scoring campaign for the summer, since France’s elimination in Tuesday’s semifinal loss to Spain means Friday’s third-place playoff marked the French star’s final match of the tournament. Messi, by contrast, still has one match left to add to his total when Argentina faces Spain in Sunday’s championship final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Heading into that final, Messi sits on eight goals, tied for second on the tournament’s scoring list alongside no other player at that exact total, with England’s Jude Bellingham sitting third after his own dramatic stoppage-time goal against France pushed his tally to seven. To catch Mbappé and claim the Golden Boot outright, Messi would need to score at least two goals in Sunday’s final to draw level with Mbappé’s total of 10, and a third goal would be required to move ahead of the French forward outright. Should the two finish tied on goals, FIFA’s official tiebreaker rules would then come into play, first counting total assists across the tournament, and if still tied, awarding the honor to whichever player logged fewer total minutes on the field.
Messi currently holds an edge in that assist tiebreaker regardless of Sunday’s outcome, having recorded four assists so far in the tournament compared with three for Mbappé. That means if Messi manages to score exactly two goals in the final to draw level with Mbappé at 10, Messi would likely still claim the Golden Boot on the strength of his superior assist total, barring a change in either player’s underlying statistics before FIFA finalizes the award. If Messi finishes with fewer than 10 goals, however, Mbappé’s two-goal cushion built up in Friday’s third-place match would be enough to secure the award outright regardless of the assist tiebreaker, since Golden Boot rules prioritize total goals scored above all secondary criteria.
Mbappé’s tournament has featured a mix of clinical finishing and high-profile moments throughout France’s run to the semifinals. He opened his account with two goals against Sweden in the round of 32, converted a penalty in a 1-0 win over Paraguay in the round of 16, and scored again in France’s quarterfinal win over Morocco before Tuesday’s semifinal loss to Spain, in which he was held scoreless as Spain’s defense limited France to just two shots on target across the match. Friday’s third-place playoff against England proved to be Mbappé’s most productive single match of the tournament, with his two goals sandwiched around goals from teammates Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé, as France briefly erased a 4-2 deficit before England’s Bukayo Saka completed a hat-trick and Bellingham delivered the winning goal with the last kick of the match.
Messi’s path to eight goals has been built around a mix of early tournament dominance and clutch, late-match contributions during Argentina’s more difficult knockout-round tests. He scored a hat-trick against Algeria in the group stage, added a brace against Austria that pushed his career World Cup goal total past Germany’s Miroslav Klose to make him the tournament’s all-time leading scorer, and continued contributing throughout the knockout rounds, including a crucial equalizer against Egypt in the round of 16 as Argentina rallied from a two-goal deficit to win 3-2. Notably, Messi did not add to his goal total in Wednesday’s semifinal against England, instead recording two assists as he set up both of Argentina’s late goals in a dramatic 2-1 comeback win, a performance that boosted his assist total and, by extension, his current tiebreaker advantage over Mbappé.
A Golden Boot win Sunday would mark a first for Messi’s decorated career, adding a new honor to a trophy case that already includes eight Ballon d’Or awards and the 2022 World Cup title. Mbappé, by contrast, has already claimed the Golden Boot once before, winning the award at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after scoring a hat-trick in that tournament’s final against Argentina, even though France ultimately lost that match to Messi’s Argentina side on penalties.
Prediction markets tracking the tournament’s individual awards have generally favored Mbappé to claim this year’s Golden Boot given his current two-goal cushion and the fact that his tournament has already concluded, removing any uncertainty about further scoring opportunities. Messi’s path to the award now depends entirely on his performance in a single match against a Spanish defense that has conceded just once across seven games this tournament, the stingiest defensive record of any team remaining in the competition.
Beyond the two frontrunners, no other player realistically remains in contention for the Golden Boot heading into the final. Norway’s Erling Haaland finished his tournament with seven goals following his team’s earlier elimination, while Bellingham’s seven goals from Friday’s third-place match leave him mathematically tied with Haaland but with no further matches remaining to add to his total. France’s Ousmane Dembélé and Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal round out the next tier of contenders with five goals apiece, both already finished for the tournament as well.
With Mbappé’s tournament now complete and his total locked in at 10 goals, Sunday’s final effectively serves as a one-man race for Messi, who will need a big performance against Spain not only to help Argentina defend its title but also to have any realistic chance of adding the Golden Boot to what is widely expected to be his final World Cup appearance.
Business
Kuwait International Airport Is Open Today, but Terminal 1 Stays Closed After Drone Strike Damage
Kuwait International Airport is open and operating today, with Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways running flights out of Terminals 4 and 5, though Terminal 1 remains closed indefinitely following structural damage sustained during a drone strike earlier this year.
The airport’s current status reflects the tail end of a turbulent recovery that began on February 28, when all flights to and from Kuwait International Airport were suspended following the closure of Kuwaiti airspace amid the broader outbreak of conflict between the United States and Iran. That closure lasted for months as the region navigated repeated waves of military escalation, before airlines began a phased return to service in the spring.
Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways resumed operations from Terminals 4 and 5 on April 26, restoring a baseline level of connectivity even as the airport’s broader infrastructure remained under repair. Terminal 1 briefly reopened on June 1, allowing some non-Kuwaiti carriers to resume flying through the facility for the first time since the closure began. That reopening, however, proved short-lived. Terminal 1 suffered more serious structural damage, including a partial roof collapse, during a subsequent strike on June 3, rendering the facility unsafe for passenger operations and forcing officials to close it once again. That second closure has remained in effect since, and no confirmed reopening date has been announced.
The damage to Terminal 1 traces back to a broader campaign of drone and missile strikes that targeted Kuwait International Airport between late February and June, part of Iran’s wider pattern of strikes against Persian Gulf states during the conflict. Those attacks caused damage across multiple parts of the airport’s infrastructure, including its radar installation, according to reporting on the airport’s recovery. Terminal 3 at the airport remains permanently closed, unrelated to the recent conflict, while Terminal 2, a separate facility under construction, was also targeted during the strikes, though officials have said the damage did not affect that project’s planned completion timeline.
Kuwait’s civil aviation authorities have emphasized a cautious, staged approach to restoring full airport operations rather than rushing to reopen all facilities simultaneously. Sheikh Hamoud Mubarak Al Sabah, chairman of Kuwait’s General Civil Aviation Authority, said earlier this year that the phased reopening process was being coordinated closely with domestic and international authorities to ensure operations resumed in line with the highest safety and security standards.
With Terminal 1 out of service, Terminals 4 and 5 have absorbed additional passenger traffic that would normally flow through the closed facility. Officials have described the airport’s overall trajectory as positive despite the setback, with foreign carriers gradually resuming Kuwait service even as Terminal 1’s closure continues limiting the airport’s total capacity. Renewed regional tension has continued to complicate that recovery at points. Kuwait reported fresh air-defense activity amid renewed missile and drone threats on July 9, a reminder that the broader security situation in the Gulf, while significantly calmer than earlier in the year, has not been entirely free of additional scares even as the airport has worked to stabilize operations.
Looking further ahead, Kuwait continues advancing a major long-term expansion of its aviation infrastructure separate from the immediate Terminal 1 repair effort. A new Terminal 2, designed by the architecture firm Foster + Partners, remains under construction and is targeted for completion in the final quarter of 2026. The project, structured around a triangular building design, is expected to add dozens of additional gates, thousands of new parking spaces and an air-side hotel once finished, significantly expanding the airport’s overall passenger handling capacity to more than 25 million travelers annually. That expansion has faced its own delays over the years, initially tied to disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and, more recently, to an Iranian drone strike that caused minor damage to the construction site without affecting the project’s planned completion timeline.
Travelers with flights booked through Kuwait International Airport are strongly advised to confirm their specific flight details directly with their airline before heading to the airport, given how frequently conditions have shifted throughout 2026. Passengers flying with Kuwait Airways should expect to depart from Terminal 4, while those flying with Jazeera Airways will use Terminal 5. Anyone whose itinerary was originally booked through Terminal 1 should check with their airline regarding rebooking, alternate terminal arrangements, or refund options, since that facility remains offline with no confirmed date for restoring passenger operations.
Kuwait’s aviation authorities have continued monitoring the security situation closely, particularly given the renewed air-defense alerts reported earlier this month. While the airspace closure that grounded flights for much of the spring has long since been lifted, and the region has moved from an initial ceasefire toward what officials describe as a broader, more durable peace following the conflict, the continued closure of Terminal 1 stands as the most visible remaining sign of the disruption Kuwait’s aviation sector experienced earlier this year.
For now, the practical answer for travelers is straightforward: Kuwait International Airport is open today, and flights are operating through Terminals 4 and 5 without disruption tied to the earlier conflict. But the airport has not yet returned to its full pre-conflict capacity, and the continued uncertainty surrounding Terminal 1’s reopening, combined with the possibility of renewed regional tension affecting operations on short notice, means travelers should treat any planned trip through Kuwait with the same degree of caution and flexibility that has characterized air travel across much of the Gulf region throughout 2026.
Business
Molina Healthcare: The Market Has The Story Backwards (NYSE:MOH)
I am a dedicated Finance professional with a Post-Graduate degree in Finance, specializing in independent market analysis and equity trading. My background is rooted in a deep understanding of macroeconomic trends and their direct impact on asset valuation. As an independent trader, I have developed a disciplined approach to the markets, focusing on capital preservation and a strict risk-to-reward ratio (typically 1:2 or higher). My areas of specialization include technical analysis, momentum trading, and fundamental research, particularly within the technology and financial sectors. On Seeking Alpha, I intend to provide readers with actionable, data-driven investment theses that bridge the gap between complex economic data and practical market execution. My sector focus primarily includes global tech and emerging market financials, where I utilize quantitative grounding to identify growth opportunities. My investing approach is a blend of “Growth At A Reasonable Price” (GARP) and momentum-based strategies, ensuring a rigorous margin of safety in every recommendation. I am motivated to write for Seeking Alpha to contribute high-quality, professional-grade analysis to a community of serious investors. By leveraging modern AI-enhanced research tools alongside traditional fundamental analysis, I aim to deliver clarity and strategic insights that help investors navigate volatile market cycles. My goal is to provide a fresh, expert perspective on market dynamics, helping readers make more informed and strategic investment decisions.
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.
Business
China’s Memory Chip Giants Are Going Public. How to Play Them.
China’s Memory Chip Giants Are Going Public. How to Play Them.
Business
Hewlett Packard Enterprise – Demand Is Not The Question, Timing Is (Rating Downgrade)
Hewlett Packard Enterprise – Demand Is Not The Question, Timing Is (Rating Downgrade)
Business
Harry Kane Says He Is Not Retiring From England Just Yet, Despite Devastating Argentina World Cup Exit
Harry Kane is not retiring from the England national team, at least not yet. The Three Lions captain pushed back firmly on speculation about his international future after England’s heartbreaking 2-1 semifinal loss to Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, telling reporters it was too early to make any decision about whether he had played his final match on the sport’s biggest stage.
England had held a 1-0 lead through the 84th minute of Wednesday’s semifinal in Atlanta, thanks to an Anthony Gordon goal, before Argentina scored twice in the closing minutes to complete a stunning comeback. Enzo Fernández equalized in the 85th minute, and Lautaro MartÃnez headed home the winner two minutes into stoppage time, with Lionel Messi assisting on both goals. The result marked England’s second semifinal exit at the same stage in the last three World Cups and ended the team’s hopes of reaching its first final since winning the tournament in 1966.
Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone following the match, Kane, 32, was asked directly whether the loss might have marked his final World Cup appearance for England. “It’s too early to talk about that,” Kane said. “Me as a person, it’s always about taking it year by year and how I feel. The national team is my pride and joy. It’s what I love to do most, more than anything.” Kane went on to acknowledge the scale of the time commitment involved in playing at another World Cup, while pointing to Messi’s continued excellence at an advanced age as a source of inspiration. “Obviously, four years is a long way away. I’m 33 in the summer. But, as you see on the other end with Leo (Messi) there, he’s still performing at the highest level,” Kane said. “I never want to put a limit on these things. I’ll address every situation as they come, but for now, it’s about processing another tough loss with this team.”
Kane’s comments echoed similar sentiments he expressed in interviews before this year’s tournament, when he was already fielding questions about whether the 2026 World Cup might represent his final appearance on that stage given his age. Speaking to the Press Association last year ahead of England’s Nations League matches, Kane dismissed the idea that he was nearing the end of his international career, pointing to his club form with Bayern Munich as evidence he remains at the peak of his abilities. “I think there’s a perception when you get to your thirties that you’re coming to an end but for me I’m performing at the highest level I’ve ever performed and feel as good as I’ve ever felt,” Kane said at the time. “I don’t like to look too far ahead and in my career I never have, the World Cup is going to be exciting. In America it will be an incredible occasion and ultimately it’s about trying to win that, looking at where you are, where to improve and it will be no different in a couple of years.”
The retirement speculation surrounding Kane carries added weight given the timeline involved. Kane turns 33 on July 28 and would be 36 or 37 by the time the next World Cup arrives in 2030, an age at which questions about a striker’s continued international involvement become increasingly common. Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who played at this year’s tournament at age 41, and Messi’s own continued dominance at 39, have both been cited by observers, and by Kane himself, as evidence that elite players can continue performing well into their late 30s and beyond, complicating any assumption that Kane’s international career is nearing its natural end.
Kane’s performance throughout this year’s tournament offered little indication of a player in decline. He scored six goals during England’s run to the semifinals, matching his tally from the 2018 World Cup and becoming his country’s all-time leading World Cup goalscorer in the process, having already set the outright England appearance record among outfield players earlier in the tournament. His semifinal appearance against Argentina marked his 121st cap for England. Along with teammate Jude Bellingham, Kane was widely credited with carrying much of England’s attacking output throughout the tournament, and he had entered the World Cup in what many pundits described as career-best form for Bayern Munich, having scored 20 times in 21 appearances for club and country in the lead-up to the tournament.
Beyond the immediate question of his World Cup future, Kane also addressed the emotional toll of Wednesday’s loss, describing a locker room in shock after coming so close to a first World Cup final appearance in six decades. “There’s not much to say for now,” Kane said. “Everyone has to process what’s just happened. Everyone’s gutted. I’m gutted for all the boys, all the staff, everyone behind the scenes, because we know how much everyone puts into being a successful national team.” He added that the manner of the defeat, with victory slipping away in the match’s final minutes, made the loss especially difficult to absorb. “And when you’re so close, when you’re 10-plus minutes away, and it slips out of your hands like that, obviously the lads are devastated. Now we just have to take it on the chin. There’s nothing we can do.”
England went on to play France in Friday’s third-place playoff in Miami, closing out the tournament with a 6-4 win built around a Bukayo Saka hat-trick and a dramatic last-kick goal from Bellingham. Kane’s involvement in that fixture, and his broader role in England’s plans heading toward the next major tournament cycle, remain open questions the team and its new manager, Thomas Tuchel, are expected to address in the months ahead. For now, based on Kane’s own comments in the immediate aftermath of England’s exit, there is no indication that his time as England’s captain and primary goal-scoring threat is coming to a close, even as the four-year gap before the next World Cup leaves plenty of uncertainty about whether he will ultimately make it back to the tournament stage in 2030.
Business
SBI Mutual Fund among 6 AMCs with over Rs 7,000 crore AUM jump in June. Check details
Six AMCs saw their AUM rise by over Rs 7,000 crore in June, according to ACE MF data. SBI Mutual Fund led the pack with an increase of Rs 14,192 crore, followed by Aditya Birla Sun Life, HDFC, Invesco, Nippon India and HSBC Mutual Fund.
Business
Is Andy Burnham promising a new dawn for North Sea oil and gas?
Other options for Burnham include scrapping the Energy Profits Levy (EPL), or windfall tax. This was introduced when prices spiked at the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
It has a headline rate of 78%, which is taken whether oil and gas prices are high or low.
The industry says it makes the North Sea one of the least favourable in the world for investors and there is strong evidence that investment has certainly dried up in those years.
It’s due to be replaced in 2030 by another windfall tax, which operators like more because it’s only triggered when prices are high and falls back when they are low.
While politicians have been arguing furiously over Jackdaw, Rosebank, and new exploration licences, it’s the EPL which the industry would most like the new prime minister to focus on.
It’s also the one which is likely to face the least opposition from environmentalists.
It does fit in with one of Andy Burnham’s missions of reindustrialisation by encouraging the kind of investment that brings and secures jobs.
But it’s the least politically sexy option to take.
So what he does there may help define whether the new PM is about grabbing headlines or making genuine moves to stimulate the economy.
Business
England Beats France 6-4 in World Cup Bronze Final as Saka Scores Hat-Trick and Bellingham’s Late Goal
MIAMI — England defeated France 6-4 in a stunning third-place playoff Friday, with Bukayo Saka scoring a hat-trick and Jude Bellingham netting a dramatic goal with the last kick of the match to secure the bronze medal in one of the most entertaining games of the entire 2026 World Cup.
The match, played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, saw England race to an early lead before France stormed back in the second half, only for Bellingham to deliver a stoppage-time winner that capped an extraordinary end-to-end contest. Declan Rice opened the scoring for England in the third minute, with Ezri Konsa adding a second in the 18th. Saka then struck twice before halftime, in the 37th and 46th minutes, putting England firmly in control. But France responded with a wave of second-half goals, with Kylian Mbappé scoring in the 48th and 66th minutes, Bradley Barcola adding one in the 54th, and Ousmane Dembélé leveling the match at 4-4 in the 96th minute of stoppage time. Just two minutes later, Saka completed his hat-trick to restore England’s lead in the 87th minute before the match’s decisive moment: Bellingham, picking up the ball at midfield in the 98th minute, raced toward France’s goal, danced past several defenders inside the box, and slotted home the winner with the very last kick of the game.
The result marked one of the more chaotic and high-scoring matches of the tournament, with commentators covering the game describing it as an all-time classic. According to Al Jazeera’s live coverage of the match, England were magnificent in the first half while France were subdued, before the roles reversed entirely after the break, with France turning electric and England struggling defensively, setting up the frantic finish that ultimately swung back in England’s favor.
The victory offered a measure of consolation for England following its gut-wrenching semifinal defeat to Argentina earlier in the tournament, a match the Three Lions lost 2-1 after conceding twice in the closing minutes. England manager Thomas Tuchel made a notable gesture after Friday’s match, giving his bronze medal to a member of his backroom staff as a thank-you for her contributions throughout the tournament, a moment captured as the England squad and coaching staff posed for photos on the pitch following the final whistle.
England players took a lap around the stadium after the match to acknowledge the fans who had followed the team across both the United States and Mexico throughout the tournament, a gesture that was warmly received by supporters despite the earlier semifinal heartbreak. Among those taking part was midfielder Jordan Henderson, who played through the tournament’s later stages while wearing a large cast on his arm following an injury, though he appeared in good spirits during the postgame celebrations.
For France, the match marked the final appearance of longtime manager Didier Deschamps in charge of the national team. French supporters inside the stadium held up a banner reading “Merci Didier” as Deschamps walked down the tunnel for the last time in his role. Deschamps is one of only three men in history to have won the World Cup as both a player and a head coach, and he departs the position having overseen a record 19 World Cup match victories during his tenure leading Les Bleus.
Friday’s result also had significant implications for the tournament’s individual Golden Boot race. Mbappé’s brace against England pushed his tournament tally to 10 goals, moving him two clear of Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who remains on eight goals heading into Sunday’s championship final. Jude Bellingham’s dramatic late strike moved him into third place in the tournament scoring standings with seven goals. Messi will have one final opportunity to close the gap on Mbappé when Argentina faces Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final in New Jersey, though matching Mbappé’s tournament-leading total would require a two-goal performance in the championship match itself.
With the third-place playoff now complete, all attention turns to Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain, a matchup billed around the individual duel between Messi and Spain’s 19-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, alongside the broader team stakes of Argentina’s bid to become the first nation in more than six decades to win consecutive World Cup titles. Al Jazeera and other outlets covering the tournament indicated they would provide extensive coverage of the buildup to Sunday’s final, along with live coverage of the match itself and its aftermath.
Friday’s third-place playoff, often viewed as one of the World Cup’s less consequential fixtures given that neither team wanted to be playing in it after falling short of the final, instead delivered one of the tournament’s most memorable individual performances in Saka’s hat-trick, paired with a finish few could have anticipated in Bellingham’s last-kick winner. The result offered England a small measure of redemption following its agonizing semifinal exit, while closing out Deschamps’ long and decorated tenure as France’s head coach with one final, if ultimately unsuccessful, chase for a podium finish.
Both teams will now turn their attention toward the future. England, still searching for its first World Cup title since 1966, will look ahead to the next major tournament cycle with a young core led by Bellingham and Saka. France, meanwhile, enters a period of transition as it prepares to appoint Deschamps’ successor following his departure after a tenure that included a World Cup title in 2018 and a runner-up finish in 2022, alongside Friday’s ultimately unsuccessful bid for a third-place finish in what proved to be one of the most dramatic matches of the entire 2026 tournament.
Business
Bonus, dividends and stock splits: Bharti Airtel, Hero MotoCorp among 88 stocks turning ex-date this week. Do you own any?
As many as 88 companies, including Bharti Airtel, Hero MotoCorp, Abbott India, Info Edge and others, have fixed their record dates for corporate actions such as stock splits, bonus issues and dividends this week.
Investors must hold shares of these companies in their demat accounts on the respective record dates to be eligible for the announced corporate actions. The list remains tentative, as more companies may announce record dates for dividends, bonus issues and stock splits during the week.
Here is a day-wise list of corporate actions to watch out for:
July 20 (Monday)
Monday will see 12 stocks turn ex-record date for their respective dividends, while one stock will turn ex-record date for a stock split. Heavy engineering components maker Simplex Castings has fixed July 20 as the record date for its 1:5 stock split.
Graphite India will pay a final dividend of Rs 7 per share, with the record date fixed on Monday. Textile player KPR Mill will pay a dividend of Rs 2.5 per share. Other companies that have fixed Monday as the record date for their respective dividends include AccelerateBS India (Rs 0.1 per share), Aditya Infotech (Rs 1.64 per share), Fairchem Organics (Rs 1 per share), Happy Forgings (Rs 4 per share), NDR Auto Components (Rs 4 per share), Nelcast (Rs 0.7 per share), Nesco (Rs 7 per share), Pokarna (Rs 0.6 per share), Quest Capital Markets (Rs 2.5 per share) and SPR Auto Technologies (Rs 5 per share).July 21 (Tuesday)
Lead, lead alloys and plastic additives producer Pondy Oxides & Chemicals has fixed July 21 as the record date for its 2:5 stock split. Apart from this, eight companies have fixed Tuesday as the record date for their respective dividends.
These include Angel One (Rs 1 per share), Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company (Rs 0.7 per share), Indo Borax & Chemicals (final dividend of Rs 10 and special dividend of Rs 30), Jaro Institute of Technology Management and Research (Rs 3 per share), Ksolves India (Rs 4 per share), Laxmi Organic Industries (Rs 0.3 per share), Punjab & Sind Bank (Rs 0.39 per share) and Rainbow Children’s Medicare (Rs 3.5 per share).
Also read: Wall Street’s chip index enters bear market! Is the AI bubble finally going bust?
July 22 (Wednesday)
Wednesday will see 11 stocks turn ex-record date for their respective dividends. Pressure cooker and kitchen appliances manufacturer Hawkins Cookers stands out with a hefty final dividend of Rs 140 per share, while mutual fund house Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC will pay a final dividend of Rs 25.5 per share.
Apart from these, nine other companies have fixed Wednesday as the record date for their respective dividends. These include Cosmo First (Rs 4 per share), Goodricke Group (Rs 2 per share), HEG Ltd (Rs 3.4 per share), Menon Bearings (interim dividend of Rs 2 per share), Ram Ratna Wires (Rs 2.5 per share), Sanco Trans (Rs 4.5 per share), Sarla Performance Fibers (Rs 2 per share), Thangamayil Jewellery (Rs 18 per share) and Wires & Fabriks (S.A.) (Rs 0.1 per share).
Notably, Triveni Engineering & Industries has also fixed Wednesday as the record date for the demerger of its power transmission business.
July 23 (Thursday)
Thursday will see 13 stocks turn ex-record date for their respective dividends. Credit rating agency ICRA Ltd stands out by rewarding shareholders with a final dividend of Rs 70 per share and a special dividend of Rs 35 per share, while welding and cutting equipment manufacturer Esab India will pay a final dividend of Rs 25 per share.
Apart from these, 11 other companies have fixed Thursday as the record date for their respective dividends. These include ABM Knowledgeware (Rs 1.25 per share), Afcons Infrastructure (Rs 2 per share), Banswara Syntex (Rs 1 per share), Bhagiradha Chemicals & Industries (Rs 0.15 per share), D.B. Corp (interim dividend of Rs 5 per share), Mangalam Worldwide (Rs 0.3 per share), Oriental Hotels (Rs 0.65 per share), Paushak Ltd (Rs 2.5 per share), Pidilite Industries (Rs 11.5 per share), Precision Camshafts (Rs 1 per share) and Sudeep Pharma (Rs 1.5 per share).
July 24 (Friday)
Friday will see 34 stocks turn ex-record date for their respective dividends, one stock for its stock split, and one company executing both a bonus issue and a stock split. Pharma heavyweight Abbott India stands out by rewarding shareholders with a dual payout — a final dividend of Rs 525 per share and a special dividend of Rs 131 per share.
Voltamp Transformers will pay a substantial final dividend of Rs 100 per share, while telecom major Bharti Airtel will distribute Rs 24 per share. Software and IT services player Sasken Technologies will pay Rs 13 per share. Intellect Design Arena has also lined up a double reward, offering a final dividend of Rs 4 per share and a special dividend of Rs 3 per share.
Apart from these, 28 other companies have fixed Friday as the record date for their respective dividends. These include Advanced Enzyme Technologies (Rs 1.35 per share), Bhageria Industries (Rs 2.5 per share), Birla Corporation (Rs 12.5 per share), Bombay Cycle & Motor Agency (Rs 5 per share), Chembond Chemicals (Rs 1.25 per share), Concord Biotech (Rs 7.55 per share), Cravatex Ltd (Rs 13 per share), Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals (Rs 3 per share), Data Patterns (India) (Rs 10 per share), Divi’s Laboratories (Rs 30 per share), Elcid Investments (Rs 25 per share), Fiem Industries (Rs 40 per share), Hero MotoCorp (Rs 75 per share), Info Edge (India) (Rs 3.6 per share), Joindre Capital Services (Rs 2 per share), Jubilant Ingrevia (Rs 2.5 per share), Jubilant Pharmova (Rs 5 per share), Karur Vysya Bank (Rs 2.6 per share), Kirloskar Brothers (Rs 7 per share), Lakshmi Electrical Control Systems (Rs 3 per share), Mitsu Chem Plast (Rs 0.2 per share), Neuland Laboratories (Rs 34 per share), Nitta Gelatin India (Rs 7 per share), Nocil Ltd (Rs 1.5 per share), Orient Bell (Rs 1 per share), PDS Ltd (Rs 1.65 per share), Radico Khaitan (Rs 9 per share), Refex Industries (Rs 1 per share), Rishabh Instruments (Rs 2 per share), Shetron Ltd (Rs 1 per share), SIL Investments (Rs 2.5 per share), Siyaram Silk Mills (Rs 5 per share), Steelcast Ltd (Rs 0.54 per share) and Swelect Energy Systems (Rs 3.5 per share).
Moving beyond cash payouts, structural share adjustments will also close out the week. Kalind has fixed Friday as the record date for a dual corporate action: a 1:2 bonus issue along with a stock split, reducing the face value of shares from Rs 10 to Rs 2. Meanwhile, PS Raj Steels has also fixed Friday as the record date for its stock split, subdividing equity shares from a face value of Rs 10 to Rs 2.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
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