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Jul 17, 2026 - World

Whereabouts of artist imprisoned after 2021 protests had been unknown following end of his prison term in JulyLuis 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 to the US, according to his official Facebook page.Otero Alcántara, designated a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2022 for insulting national symbols, contempt and disturbing the public order. Continue reading...

Jul 17, 2026 - World

Distillery owner could face only three months in jail over alleged poisoning of Australian teenagersGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian government has increased its travel alert level for Laos, advising travellers to “exercise a high degree of caution” due to the risk of methanol poisoning.It comes as a distillery owner in Laos was charged after a mass methanol poisoning incident killed six foreign nationals, including the Australian backpackers Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles. Continue reading...

Jul 17, 2026 - World

Trump's tariff threats against Canada because of its wildfires drew online outrage as critics jumped to the neighboring country's defense.On Friday, Trump went after Canada in a Truth Social post because of smoke from its wildfires, which he said is "costing the United States Billions of Dollars." He warned that the "cost of this pollution must of necessity be added to the TARIFFS Canada is currently paying."Trump's attack drew swift condemnation on social media."Such a neighborly thing to do," reacted Democratic strategist Leslie Marshall."America's mad king is now threatening Canada with additional tariffs because of the wildfire smoke," Canadian journalist Geoffrey P. Johnston wrote. "America is kicking us when we are down. This is unforgivable. Canada & USA will never be friends again after this. Too many Americans are going along with Trump's insanity.""He is such a d— embarrassment!" national opinion columnist Sophia A. Nelson described Trump."Trump is a climate science denier," writer Matthew Todd pointed out. "He's aggressively heating the planet - and then blaming Canada. This is all so intolerable. How are we meant to exist in this hell?""Man you gotta be kidding me," reporter Mike Freeman reacted.The popular account Republicans against Trump pointed out, "higher tariffs on Canadian goods mean higher prices for American consumers."Others pointed out that Canada has sent firefighters to the U.S. to help combat wildfires. MeidasTouch, a political news network, noted, "When fires ravaged Southern California, Canada sent firefighting crews to help battle the blazes.""When wildfires hit America, Canada sends firefighters," wrote journalist Aaron Parnas. "When wildfires hit Canada, America sends tariffs."

Jul 17, 2026 - World

Women amputees from several South American countries are training in Bolivia for the 2027 Women's Amputee Football World Cup

Jul 17, 2026 - World

President Donald Trump was furious with Canada on Friday as wildfires and smoke prompted major air quality concerns for the Midwest and Northeast.Trump dropped threats in a post on his Truth Social platform."We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein, and the United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!" Trump wrote. He said he planned to call Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to "find out what they are going to do about it." "The cost is incalculable! Canada has refused to engage in basic Forest Management and Debris Removal, knowing that such refusal will lead to exactly this result," Trump wrote. "This is Willful Negligence, and becoming a yearly occurrence, costing the United States Billions of Dollars, which cost of this pollution must of necessity be added to the TARIFFS Canada is currently paying. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"Trump wasn't the only Republican leader to lob frustration at America's northern neighbor.Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) took to X Thursday to complain about poor air quality as more than 890 fires burned across Canada. Her frustration was met with backlash, as critics online pointed out how Canada had offered the United States help in January 2025 as wildfires ravaged southern California.