WORLDTrump rips Canada as wildfire smoke spreads, says U.S. will add pollution cost to tariffsThe smoke coming from active wildfires in Canada has led to unhealthy air quality in swaths of the U.S., which could affect the World Cup final in New Jersey.CNBC·July 17, 2026
WORLDI took a month of unpaid leave to look after my daughter for the summer holidayLike many parents, Natalie and her husband had to combine organised childcare and annual leave to cope with the six-week break.BBC News·July 17, 2026
WORLDEx-wife says ICE agent who killed man in Maine had racist beliefs, violent tendenciesAshley Brouillette has identified her ex-husband, David Brouillette, as the officer who fatally shot Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine, on Monday. She said she learned he was the officer responsible when he called her on Wednesday.NPR·July 17, 2026
WORLDCuban dissident artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara cleared to travel to US<p>Whereabouts of artist imprisoned after 2021 protests had been unknown following end of his prison term in July</p><p>Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, a prominent Cuban dissident artist whose whereabouts remained unknown after his prison sentence ended last week, has been given permission to travel toThe Guardian·July 17, 2026
WORLDKim Jong Un was meant to be their only idol - then North Koreans discovered K-popDefectors tell the BBC that despite restrictions, K-pop has cut through in the stifling dictatorship.BBC News·July 17, 2026
WORLDWhite House defends Argentina team over Falklands bannerThe comments could further fuel the row over the incident, which has seen Downing Street back calls for Fifa to investigate.BBC News·July 17, 2026
WORLDDozens of Wildfires Are Suddenly Burning in OregonThe state told thousands of people to be ready to evacuate.NY Times·July 17, 2026
WORLDWar Between U.S. and Iran Expands, With Strikes Across the RegionVideos and reports in Iranian state media showed damage to bridges, railways and other infrastructure. U.S. allies in the region reported retaliatory strikes by Iran.NY Times·July 17, 2026
WORLDThe Zoom hack that says, ‘Don’t record me’If every meeting, watercooler conversation, and date gets transcribed and summarized, who's actually reading any of it?TechCrunch·July 17, 2026
WORLDThe Zoom hack that says, ‘Don’t record me’If every meeting, watercooler conversation, and date gets transcribed and summarized, who's actually reading any of it?TechCrunch·July 17, 2026
WORLDLabour pins hopes on Burnham reboot as he plans policy blitzThere is belief in the party that the new leader could put Labour back in the political match, political editor Chris Mason writes.BBC News·July 17, 2026
WORLDWhen Will the Smoke End? Our Meteorologist Explains Why It’s Complicated.The interplay between the burning fires, the smoke itself and quickly changing weather patterns is making the next few days more uncertain than usual.NY Times·July 17, 2026