"Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman.
NATO leaders are meeting an Istanbul turkey this week, a major focus will be unjust 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 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 in the United States of wanting to do more, to be independent, to move on.
President Trump will be heading to Turkey for the meetings that 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 exercise has demonstrated 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 Qingzhou, and the patrol, the Pacific Ocean, together, to quote, "droitly respond to security challenges according to China's defense ministry." Emily Fang and Pyrenees President Trump spoke this weekend with the President of FIFA, which is the world governing board for a soccer. He spoke with Johnny Infantino about the red card and one-game suspension given to a player
on the U.S. man's national soccer team last week.
“Then, on Sunday, FIFA announced the player will be able to play in Mondays match.”
There is Becky Sullivan has more about the controversy. U.S. striker Flan-Balligan was shown the red card in Las Winstays match against Bosnia Herzegovina.
The referee had 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 Infantino, 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 ballagant 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 Pierre-News, Seattle.
And you're listening to NPR News. Major storms have been pounding southeast Asia this weekend, and 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 at the flash flood Saturday evening in Mongolia.
Health care 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 Curillo 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 2025-2026 fiscal year, 92% of districts spent nearly a third of their operating
budget on employee insurance benefits, more than half of districts 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. Another quick reload and here it is.
Early in Holland was the star Sunday as Norway beat Brazil in World Cup action to one 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 an up penalty kick as time ran out. And in Mexico City, Jude Bellingham scored two goals just 98 seconds apart and Harry
Kane converted the penalty kick as England beat Mexico 3-2 and the U.S. plays Belgium Monday night at 8 PM Eastern. I'm Dale Wilman and PR News.
