Wildfires Spread Smoke, and Anxiety, Across Canada to the U.S.

By Dan Bilefsky, Liam Stack and Vjosa Isai | The New York Times

Canada on Wednesday was struggling to fight an extraordinary outbreak of wildfires across the country that sent smoke pouring over the border and forced millions of Canadians and Americans to stay indoors as skies darkened over large portions of both nations.

More from WPR: The Climate Crisis Is Also a Global Health Crisis

UK’s Sunak Seeks Stronger Economic Ties With US on Washington Trip

Reuters (registration required)

Britain wants to put its economic ties with the United States on the same footing as the two countries’ defense and security cooperation to help both counter global threats, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will tell President Joe Biden this week.

El Salvador Slashes Size of Congress Ahead of Elections

By Nelson Renteria | Reuters (registration required)

El Salvador’s president signed into law an electoral reform on Wednesday that reduces the size of Congress by nearly a third, a move the ruling party says will reduce spending and critics say consolidates power ahead of elections.

More from WPR: El Salvador’s Opposition Eyes a Long-Shot Coalition to Unseat Bukele

EU, US Tell Kosovo to Back Down in Serb Standoff or Face ‘Consequences’

By Fatos Bytyci and Andrew Gray | Reuters (registration required)

The warnings came as U.S. and EU envoys concluded visits to Kosovo and Serbia to calm tensions that flared into violence last week, wounding dozens of NATO peace-keeping soldiers and Serb protesters in northern Kosovo.

USAID Cuts Food Aid Supporting Millions of Ethiopians Amid Charges of Massive Government Theft

By Katharine Houreld | The Washington Post (free)

The U.S. government is suspending food aid to Ethiopia after an investigation uncovered a widespread scheme to steal donated food. Officials have been diverting aid from those who need it to feed the military and ex-combatants, and selling it on the open market to millers who reexported the flour, according to an investigation by USAID.

More from WPR: With the Tigray War Over, the U.S. Moves to Mend Ties With Ethiopia

The Week Saudi Arabia Tightened Its Grip on Global Sports

By Joshua Robinson and Andrew Beaton | The Wall Street Journal (free)

On Tuesday, the LIV Golf circuit backed by the country’s sovereign-wealth fund agreed to merge with the PGA Tour, putting its vast riches behind one of the U.S.’s preeminent sports institutions through sheer force of wealth. After an ugly public brawl, the Kingdom’s money won out and the governor of the country’s Public Investment Fund now sits as the chairman of their joint venture.