NPR News: 07-17-2026 4PM EDT
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh.
What are health officials saying about the cyclospora outbreak linked to Taco Bell lettuce?
Federal health officials investigating the cyclospora outbreak are advising people to avoid eating shredded iceberg lettuce at Taco Bell locations in these five states, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Indiana. The parasite has sickened thousands of people. California supplier Taylor Farms writes on social media that it is voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, but it adds that none of its branded salads or kits are associated with the outbreak.
How are communities responding to dangerous wildfire smoke and poor air quality?
Millions of people from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic are enduring a third straight day of unhealthy air quality because of the thick smoke from the wildfires burning in Canada. It's affecting people like Laura Shapiro in New York.
You can feel, you know, you're smelling terrible things. You can feel it a little bit in your breathing. And you just know that it's not good to breathe in all these toxins. And Samuel Etienne in Chicago. I do have asthma, but it rarely comes out. But something like this will definitely trigger it. So I wanted to be 100% certain I wouldn't have to run to the ER or anything like that.
What details explain recent U.S.-Iran strikes and regional retaliations?
Many people are opting to wear masks today, even with temperatures peaking in the 90s. U.S. strikes targeted an Iranian-controlled tower for the third time, according to Iranian state media. NPR's Hadil Alshalchi has the latest.
Iranian state media said the maritime-controlled tower at Shahid Kalantari Port in Chobahor was targeted for the third time in an attack by U.S. fighter aircraft. It said that the tower was completely destroyed, while the equipment and operational infrastructure was not. The U.S.
What is China’s new World AI Cooperation Organization and what did Xi Jinping propose?
said it targeted six bridges in a southern Iranian province along the Strait of Hormuz and electrical installations. Iran responded with its own strikes targeting U.S. bases in the Gulf and Jordan. Kuwaiti officials said an Iranian strike hit a power and desalination plant, causing a fire that was quickly contained. Kuwait depends on desalination for its drinking water. Hadil Alshalchi, NPR News, Istanbul.
China has launched a new multilateral organization on artificial intelligence, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping says countries need to collaborate to improve AI governance worldwide.
Who will perform at the World Cup halftime show and why is it significant?
Here's NPR's John Ruich.
Speaking at the start of the World AI Conference in Shanghai, Xi Jinping did not mention the U.S. by name, but made some targeted comments. He said AI development should not be a solo performance by a single country. Rather, he said it should be a symphony of global collaboration. While the U.S. has pulled back from multilateral organizations under the Trump administration, China has stepped up, and on Friday, it launched the World AI Cooperation Organization, with the participation of nearly 30 other countries, including Brazil, Indonesia, and Russia.
What is the legacy of actress Brenda Fricker and what stories followed in this episode?
Xi pledged support from China for AI development in the developing world through training and other programs, and urged the creation of laws as well as monitoring and warning systems around AI to keep it safe. John Rewich, NPR News.
This is NPR. The World Cup is debuting a new feature at its final game Sunday. There will be a halftime show featuring superstar artists from six continents, including BTS, Madonna, and Shakira. NPR's Anastasios Youkles reports.
The halftime show is meant to have very wide appeal. It will also feature Justin Bieber, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, and Coldplay. This show will also include a handful of social media viral stars, including the Ugandan dance group Ghetto Kids and a school group from Staten Island, the PS22 Chorus. FIFA seems to be taking a valuable page out of the NFL's playbook. Whether or not you care about the game, you may be tempted to check out the halftime show. FIFA is expecting huge viewership numbers worldwide for the Spain vs. Argentina game, saying World Cup content has already logged well over 20 billion video views globally. Anastasia Tsiloukas, NPR News, New York.
Brenda Fricker, the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award, has died.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–0:04
2
What are health officials saying about the cyclospora outbreak linked to Taco Bell lettuce?
0:04–0:35
3
How are communities responding to dangerous wildfire smoke and poor air quality?
0:35–1:09
4
What details explain recent U.S.-Iran strikes and regional retaliations?
1:09–1:38
5
What is China’s new World AI Cooperation Organization and what did Xi Jinping propose?
1:38–2:13
6
Who will perform at the World Cup halftime show and why is it significant?
2:13–2:44
7
What is the legacy of actress Brenda Fricker and what stories followed in this episode?
2:44–5:04