NPR News Now - NPR News: 07-06-2026 1AM EDT

Episode Date: July 6, 2026

NPR News: 07-06-2026 1AM EDTSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. NATO leaders are meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, this week. A major focus will be on just who should pay the most for European defense. President Trump has insisted that European countries should be paying more. Max Bergman is with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He says the U.S. messaging so far has been confusing. They needed to spend more on defense. That has been clear.

But we have wanted to play the role of quarterback in Europe. And when the Europeans have moved in the past through the European Union, for instance, to develop their own defense capabilities, we have told them not to. So now we are sort of switching gears and saying, why aren't you taking charge? And the Europeans are like, well, how do you want us to do that? And so we are stuck, the United States, of wanting Europe to do more, to be independent, to move on. President Trump will be heading to Turkey for the meetings. The talks begin on Tuesday. China and Russia have kicked off joint naval drills off the coast of eastern China.

As NPR's Emily Fang reports, the exercises demonstrate an increase in military cooperation between the two countries. China and Russia have been holding joint naval exercises since the early 2000s, and these naval drills were first held in 2012. But the scope and frequency of these exercises have increased significantly since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with about a third of Russia-Chinese joint military drills taking place after. Russia's leader Vladimir Putin visited China just over a month ago, and he strengthened economic and political ties with Beijing since the Ukraine war. This week, a number of Chinese and Russian naval vessels gathered in China's eastern port of Qingdao

and the patrol of the Pacific Ocean together to, quote, jointly respond to security challenges, according to China's defense ministry. Emily Fang and Pier News. President Trump spoke this weekend with the president, President of FIFA, which is the World Governing Board for Soccer. He spoke with Johnny Infantino about the red card and one game suspension given to a player on the U.S. men's national soccer team last week. Then on Sunday, FIFA announced the player will be able to play in Monday's match. MPR's Becky Sullivan has more about the controversy. U.S. striker, Filarne-Beligan, was shown the red card in last Wednesday's match against Bosnia-Hertegovina. The referee at first declined to call the foul of any kind. but a video official stepped in after reviewing the play in slow motion. Normally a red card would mean a suspension in the following game.

In the phone call with Inventino, Trump wanted to understand why the red card was given and why a suspension was necessary, according to an official with knowledge of the call who was granted anonymity to discuss a private conversation. The news of the call, coupled with FIFA's decision to allow Balligan to play, has ignited a huge response in the soccer world. Belgium's Football Federation said they were astonished by the decision and would pursue any path to recourse. Becky Sullivan and PR News, Seattle.

And you're listening to NPR News. Major storms have been pounding Southeast Asia this weekend in northern China. At least five people have died from heavy rains while the tropical storm has caused damage in the southern part of that country, submerging cars and knocking down trees. Also, two villagers died in a flash flood Saturday evening in Mongolia. Healthcare costs have surged in recent years with school districts experiencing the same pressures affecting employers, nationwide. A new study shows the difficulty superintendents are facing to make ends meet. NPR's Sequoia Carrillo reports. 98% of school district leaders report that rising health care costs have had a measurable impact

on their budgets. That's according to a new study from the School Superintendents Association. During the 2025-20206 fiscal year, 92% of districts spent nearly a third of their operating budget on employee insurance benefits. More than half of districts were report relying on reserves or rainy day funds to cover premium increases. Many districts report delaying or freezing hiring of staff and reducing or postponing spending on new instructional materials in order to cover the difference. Sequoia Carrillo and PR News.

Erling Holland was the star Sunday as Norway beat Brazil in World Cup action 2-1. The game was scoreless until the 79th minute when Holland punched a header into the right side of the net. Minutes later, he scored a second goal before Brazil scored on a penalty kick as Tom ran out. And in Mexico City, Jude Bellingham scored two goals just 98 seconds apart, and Harry Kane converted a penalty kick as England beat Mexico 3-2 and the U.S. plays Belgium Monday night at 8 p.m. Eastern. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News.