DAILY NEWS Stream – July 16, 2025

The Czech Republic bans Chinese AI [artificial intelligence] firm DeepSeek from public systems, citing data privacy risks linked to China’s government surveillance laws (Vancouver Is Awesome)

US President Trump and Texas state leaders visit the City of Kerrville to support local leaders and victims after catastrophic floods killed over 100 people (KXAN)

US Judge Sean Jordan allows President Trump’s administration to scrap a Biden-era medical debt rule that would have removed consumers’ medical debts from their credit reports. Dan Smith, head of the Consumer Data Industry Association, welcomed the decision, saying medical debt info helps indicate whether consumers can repay their debts (Reuters)

US customs duties surpass US$100 billion in a fiscal year for the first time, with a surprise US$27 billion budget surplus in June 2025 —driven by President Trump’s tariff policies (Newsmax)

US: Over 2,000 UFO [unidentified flying object] sights were reported to the National UFO Reporting Center in the first half of 2025, as President Trump calls for greater airspace transparency and better drone tracking technology (Newsmax)

US President Trump gives full force authorization to ICE [Immigration Customs and Enforcement] agents to protect themselves after protesters attacked them with bricks and tear gas during a raid at a California [US] cannabis farm (Fox News)

US ICE [Immigration Customs and Enforcement] arrests 11 illegal immigrant sex offenders and pedophiles in Minneapolis [Minnesota], and blames Governor Tim Walz [Democrat]’s sanctuary city policies for letting dangerous migrants roam free (US Department of Homeland Security)

Europol rescued nearly 1,200 human trafficking victims and arrested 158 suspects in an international crackdown across 43 countries in June 2025 (VTV.vn)

Vietnam: Two more cases of diphtheria [a serious bacterial infection that usually affects the nose and throat] are confirmed in Thanh Hóa City, all linked to an earlier case in Mường Lát Town, sparking local health concerns. Experts say the best way to prevent diphtheria is through vaccination and practicing good hygiene, including washing hands and sanitizing frequently touched surfaces (Bắc Ninh TV)

New South Wales [Australia] confirms its first human case of bat-transmitted Australian bat lyssavirus [ABL], a deadly rabies-like disease with no cure once symptoms appear. The man who was infected died in the hospital (Live Science)

UK public health experts call for nationwide adoption of the “7-1-7 plan”, which can help speed up pandemic response by measuring the real-world effectiveness of public health systems. The plan is used by around 35 countries that have formally signed on (The Telegraph)

Study finds 70% of heavy drinkers are affected by steatotic liver disease [SLD], and this alcohol-related liver damage is far worse than other SLD cases (Medscape)

Veterinarians urge dog-people caregivers to do three essential checks in their gardens, or risk putting their pets in potential danger from summer heat: 1) Shaded Areas + Shaded areas are a must, especially during summer, as dog-people can overheat quickly. + Temperatures above 20ºC [68ºF] can increase the risk of heatstroke, with anything over 24ºC [75ºF] posing serious risks. 2) Surfaces Prone to Heat + The surfaces in your garden matter for your dog-person’s safety just as much as the plants. + Gravel can get stuck in paws, and tarmac heats up quickly, making it unsafe for dog-people in hot weather. + Even artificial grass becomes too hot, so always use the seven-second rule: if it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your dog-person. 3) Outdoor Shelter + Dog-people often enjoy being outdoors in different weather conditions, but if no one is home to let them inside, they should have access to a kennel or a safe sheltered area to keep them comfortable and protected (Liverpool Echo)

Danish study links urban air pollution to higher brain tumor risk, finding that traffic-related pollutants raise the risk of meningioma [a tumor in the brain or spinal cord’s protective membranes] by up to 21% (MedicalXpress)

Two earthquakes near Jhajjar [India] rattle the Delhi-National Capital Region, highlighting rising earthquake risks from shifting faults and the nearby Himalayas (India Today)

Viral video shows people boating in the streets of Delhi after heavy rain, exposing India’s poor urban planning and sparking public frustration after nearby earthquakes (News18)

Nepal: Deadly flood in the Bhote Koshi River kills at least 9 people and leaves more than two dozen missing, triggered by the collapse of a Tibetan glacial lake (Reuters)

Deadly floods hit Gilgit-Baltistan [Pakistan] after extreme heat melts glaciers, killing at least 72 and devastating entire villages (The Guardian)

Nelson Tasman [New Zealand]: Severe flooding traps many residents and cuts power after a storm hits towns including Motueka and Mārahau (RNZ)

US: Wildfires force evacuations at two national parks— Grand Canyon [Arizona] and Black Canyon of the Gunnison [Colorado]— amid severe heat and drought (National Parks Traveler)

Wildfire in Saskatchewan [Canada] triggers mass evacuations of about 700 people as the fire nears Beauval and burns over 95,000 hectares (Leader Post)

The UN launches a decade- long campaign to fight worsening global dust storms impacting 330 million people in over 150 countries, fueled by climate change (The Seattle Times)

Experts warn the UK’s newest heatwave will hurt wildlife, with early flower blooms and disrupted food chains stressing species like bumblebees and dormice- people (BBC)

Colombia’s Constitutional Court halts gold mining near the Amazon Rainforest’s Yuruparí region to protect 30 Indigenous communities from mercury pollution and cultural loss— a landmark victory for Indigenous and environmental protection (Mongabay)

China demolishes 300 dams and closes 342 hydropower sites on the Chishui River to revive rare fish-people’s breeding paths, including giant sturgeon-people (South China Morning Post)

Motril [Spain]’s dog-people beach earns title as Granada’s best, with dog-friendly perks like pet-people showers drawing locals and tourists with playful pups (EuroWeekly)

A UK vegan petition backed by British green energy founder Dale Vince (vegan), a Shining World Green Business Innovation laureate, surpasses 20,000 signatures, triggering an official government response. The petition calls for a shift to a plant-based food policy to improve health and cut greenhouse gas emissions. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament (Vegan Food & Living)

US: Nassau County [New York] strengthens its animal-people protection laws with jail time, higher fines, and registry bans for those convicted of harming animal-people (Patch)

Gratitude-inspiring quote of the day: “Whenever you enjoy something convenient, know that some people put in a lot of work behind the scenes so that it could be easy for you.” – Jillian Clerk (vegan)