PRESS DIGEST - Wall Street Journal - July 18

July 18 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Wall Street Journal. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

- The U.S. Federal Trade Commission reopened and set aside prior consent orders for Exxon Mobil's XOM.N acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources and Chevron's CVX.N purchase of Hess HES.N, citing a lack of evidence for antitrust violations in the initial complaints.

- China is threatening to block a sale of over 40 ports, including two at the Panama Canal, owned by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison 0001.HK to BlackRock BLK.N and MSC unless Chinese shipping giant Cosco secures a stake.

- Union Pacific UNP.N is in early-stage talks to acquire Norfolk Southern NSC.N, aiming to create North America's largest railroad, though no deal is certain.

- CBS will end "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" and its entire late-night franchise in May 2026 when host Stephen Colbert's contract expires.

- The U.S. Congress approved a $9 billion cut to federal spending on foreign aid and public broadcasting, passing President Trump's rescissions package in a 216-213 House vote.

- U.S. President Donald Trump ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of grand jury testimony in the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking case, following a Wall Street Journal report about a 2003 birthday letter bearing Trump's name.