Global Headlines and Breaking Stories - July 7, 2025

Bringing you the latest from around the world, this is NNC, Neural Newscast. From our digital news hub, this is Andrew Lindbeck. Today is July 7, 2025. On this day, in 1928, the first ever solo transatlantic flight by a woman was completed when Amelia Earhart landed in Wales, making history and paving the way for future female aviators and inspiring generations to follow their dreams. Turning to Breaking News. Music A devastating flood in Texas has claimed the life of a nine-year-old relative of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt. Here's Sarah Wheaton with more. The tragedy has deeply impacted the Clark family as rescue efforts continue across affected areas. Authorities warn of ongoing dangers due to rising waters and urge residents to stay vigilant. Emergency services remain on high alert, working tirelessly to assist those affected by the deadly flooding. More updates will follow as the situation develops. Sarah Wheaton, NNC News. Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noam condemns the devastating loss of life amid catastrophic flooding in Texas. NNC's Sarah Wheaton Reports. Describing the situation as horrific, Noam highlights swift federal response efforts led by the Trump administration to aid affected communities. Emergency teams are mobilizing resources to support rescue operations and recovery. Authorities urge residents to remain vigilant as floodwaters continue to threaten safety across multiple regions in Texas. Stay tuned for ongoing updates on this critical disaster response. NNC News, I'm Sarah Wheaton. Roman Starovoyt. Russia's former transport minister has been found dead from a gunshot wound in his car just hours after being dismissed by President Vladimir Putin. NNC's Sarah Wheaton reports. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his sudden death, which comes amid a swift political shake-up. Starovoyt's unexpected removal and subsequent death raise urgent questions about internal tensions within the Russian government. Further details are expected as the investigation unfolds. This is Sarah Wheaton, NNC. A four-year-old boy has tragically died after a gravestone fell on him in a freak accident at a cemetery. Here's Sarah Wheaton with more. The child's identity has now been confirmed, as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Emergency services responded immediately, but the boy was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials are urging families to exercise caution in cemeteries while the investigation continues to determine how the gravestone became unstable. This heartbreaking event raises urgent safety concerns in public burial sites. Sarah Wheaton, NNC News. Now, for the latest on the political front. Music The UK government is set to grant parents the legal right to at least one week of bereavement leave following a miscarriage before 24 weeks under proposed amendments to the Employment Rights Bill introduced by NNC's Cassandra Joyce reports. Supporters argue this change addresses a long-standing gap in workplace protections for grieving families. However, some critics question the potential impact on employers and the scope of statutory leave. This proposal forms part of broader labor efforts to enhance workers' rights, reflecting ongoing debates over balancing employee support with business concerns. The Trump administration announced plans to revoke temporary protected status for more than 70,000 immigrants from Honduras and Nicaragua. Supporters argue this move encourages legal immigration reform and reflects improved conditions in those countries. Critics contend it risks destabilizing vulnerable communities and undermines humanitarian protections. The This policy shift highlights ongoing debates over immigration and the balance between border security and humanitarian concerns. A trial has begun challenging the Trump administration's policy of targeting non-citizen student activists for arrest and deportation, raising First Amendment concerns about free speech on college campuses. Supporters argue this approach protects national security and immigration laws, while critics contend it suppresses political expression and activism. The case highlights ongoing debates over balancing immigration enforcement with constitutional rights in politically charged environments. Cassandra Joyce, Neural Newscast. Now for a look at World News. At the BRICS summit in Brazil, leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa sought to redefine their collective approach to global challenges. The group condemned rising tariffs and recent attacks in the Middle East, emphasizing cooperation amid geopolitical tensions. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared globalization obsolete, highlighting emerging markets as the future. The summit aimed to strengthen collaboration on economic and political issues facing member nations and the wider world. Ukrainian drones targeted a military-linked factory near Moscow, crashing into a Russian oil plant, according to the Kiev Post. The strikes come amid ongoing conflict, with Ukraine also reporting attacks on a Russian air base and a major oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai. These incidents follow Moscow's recent drone attacks on Kiev, highlighting continued military exchanges between the two countries. In Lima, Peru, criminal gangs are targeting schools in poor neighborhoods for extortion. The president of one of the city's largest parent-teacher associations reports that at least 1,000 schools are affected. Many of these schools are reportedly yielding to the gang's demands, raising concerns about the safety and financial stability of educational institutions in the capital. Authorities are facing increasing pressure to address this growing issue. Keith Siegel, a recently released hostage held by Hamas, has called on President Trump to intervene in securing the freedom of those still captive in Gaza. Siegel urged the U.S. president to pressure both Israel and Hamas to negotiate a new ceasefire and a hostage release agreement. His appeal highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of remaining hostages amid the conflict in the region. NNC News, I'm Monica Kellan. Now for an update on health and wellness. After her 2024 cancer diagnosis, Kate Middleton has been carefully managing her energy through a secret healing regimen, experts reveal. The Princess of Wales shared in January 2025 that she is now in remission, marking a hopeful milestone in her journey. Her approach highlights the importance of self-care and resilience in recovery, inspiring many facing similar battles with compassion and strength. Good news for those seeking obesity treatments. Prices for popular drugs like WeGovie and ZepBound are starting to drop. However, many patients still face challenges in securing a steady supply, making consistent treatment difficult. As demand grows, experts emphasize the need for improved availability to support individuals on their health journey. Access remains a critical hurdle despite lower cost, highlighting the ongoing struggle for reliable care. Vaccine decisions have become more confusing for parents recently, especially as health authorities reconsider long-standing recommendations. NPR's Pian Huang talks with a pediatrician and vaccine researcher about the impact of these changes on public health. They also explore how pediatricians are working to rebuild trust during conversations with families, navigating concerns with empathy and clarity to support informed decisions. For more, visit plus.npr.org. Laura Navarro, reporting. Turning to business and finance. U.S. lobby groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and National Taxpayers Union, are urging the White House to consider tariff retaliation against Australia. They argue that Australia's drug price controls and domestic manufacturing incentives unfairly undervalue American innovation, labeling it as free-loading. This comes amid ongoing uncertainty over U.S. trade policies under President Trump. This is Ethan Wells for Neural Newscast. Now for the latest in entertainment news. Kendall Jenner's red and white striped thong bikini has become a vacation must-have, turning heads during her sunny getaway in St. Tropez. Alongside Sister Kylie, Kendall effortlessly nails all the summer trends, soaking up the Riviera sun, and even taking playful dips in their chic swimwear. Summer style goals indeed. This is Lydia Holmes for Neural Newscast. That's our coverage for this hour. For in-depth analysis in the latest headlines, head to neuralnewscast.com and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Andrew Lindbeck, signing off. Neural Newscast fuses real and AI-generated voices for fast quality news. AI creates humans review. We aim for accuracy, but errors can happen. Verify key details. Learn more at ennewscast.com. You've been listening to Neural Newscast. AI-powered, human-reviewed. For past episodes, visit NeuralNewscast.com.