Today's CNN 10 Transcript

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COY WIRE, CNN 10 ANCHOR: What's up, sunshine? Welcome to our first summer episode of CNN 10 for this 2026 season. We are coming to you a day early because tomorrow is a federal holiday, Juneteenth. And if you're watching us, we want to hear from you. Are you watching from home? Are you on vacation? Drop a line on our CNN 10 YouTube channel in the comments section or hit us up on Instagram. We'll have a fresh episode for you every Fri-yay until mid-August. Now, let's get you caught up on the news for this week.

We begin with a diplomatic breakthrough in the United States and Israel's war with Iran. The United States and Iran have reached an agreement that could potentially help end the months-long conflict. The two countries have agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

U.S. President Donald Trump digitally signed the document Sunday, just ahead of spending the week with world leaders at the G7 summit in France, where the news took center stage. While the memorandum is not a peace deal in and of itself, it creates a framework for both sides to discuss contentious issues like Iran's nuclear program over a set period of time. The agreement is set to go into full effect following a formal signing ceremony in Switzerland this Friday.

Vice President J.D. Vance, who will attend on behalf of President Trump, expressed optimism over the agreement this week. Meanwhile, Israel and Hezbollah have continued fighting in Lebanon this week, leading President Trump to publicly criticize Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), U.S. PRESIDENT: Israel's fighting Hezbollah too long and too many people are being killed. And you don't have to knock down an apartment house every time you're looking for somebody.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Netanyahu has made clear he does not intend to withdraw from southern Lebanon, despite Iran's assertion that this agreement includes an end to the conflict there.

For the first time in 20 years, a new kind of sun protection will be available in the United States. And it's an ingredient that's been available in Europe and Asia for decades. It's called BEMT, and experts say it's safer than many chemical ingredients currently in use in the U.S. It's not easily absorbed into the skin.

Plus, there's another benefit. Products on U.S. store shelves now are great at blocking UVB rays, which cause sunburn, but UVA rays, which penetrate deeper into the skin, are associated with premature aging and are a major contributor to skin cancer. Researchers say BEMT offers stronger protection against those UVA rays. The catch? The first products won't be available in the U.S. until later this year after peak sunscreen season. So, until then, don't forget your hats, protective clothing, and shade breaks so your future self may thank you.

Pop quiz, hot shot.

The ancient city-state of Sparta was located in what present-day country?

Italy, Croatia, Greece, or Turkey?

If you said Greece, you're keeping it 300. Sparta, which was renowned for its military might, was located on the vast Peloponnese Peninsula in southern Greece. Say that three times real fast.

I'm really digging this next story. Israeli researchers say they've made a once-in-a-lifetime discovery near Haifa. Two nearly intact marble busts believed to be around 1,700 years old were uncovered during construction tied to a major railway expansion project. The sculptures were found buried in a wine collection pit at a Roman Byzantine wine press. One appears to depict Lycurgus, the legendary lawmaker credited with shaping Spartan society. The second figure has yet to be identified.

Statues like these were often displayed by wealthy Romans hoping to connect themselves to the cultural and intellectual traditions of the ancient world. More than 17 centuries later, these remarkable finds are still telling stories from one of history's most famous civilizations.

Now to an inspiring young author I got to meet. The Under Six Advantage is a roadmap for every athlete who's ever felt overlooked. The book hopes to grow people's understanding that being undersized isn't a weakness. It's something that, with the right mindset, can become a superpower.

I sat down with Lucas Farrington, a 5'8 running back at Jacksonville State University to hear the inspiration behind his book and why these lessons apply not just on the field, but in our everyday lives.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WIRE: All right, let's start from the beginning. When did you first fall in love with football?

LUCAS FARRINGTON, RUNNING BACK, JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY: When I first fell in love with football, I remember I was like probably six years old. And one day I was just at the house just chilling. And I know my dad came to me and he was like, we're going to go to the field today. And we went to the field and spent some time just getting clothes together. And I was just like, where are we possibly going? And he actually took me out to play flag football.

When I was running around just scoring touchdowns and everybody was like, this kid's actually pretty good. So, that's kind of when I explored like my love for the game.

WIRE: And when did it occur to you that maybe your height was going to be an issue or maybe even an advantage?

FARRINGTON: Oh, definitely. I'd say getting into high school because, you know, you have some people out here who's getting heavy looks just because, oh, maybe they might be 6'5". They look apart from everybody.

But I definitely had to figure out like early on that I can control the control booth. There are things that you can control. Your height is not something you really can control. It's genetics, really.

WIRE: When those thoughts came to you, like, man, maybe I'm not cut out for this. Maybe I'm not tall enough. What did you say to that voice?

FARRINGTON: That voice, it definitely gets to you for a second. But at some point you realize if you want to be successful, you're going to have to make a way or find a way. Like one of the biggest things I know is like for me out of my book, I know that one of the biggest things is the will principle. That's actually a principle explaining like the people you have around you. That's something I can control. And one of the biggest quotes I go by is, show me your friends, I'll show you your future.

WIRE: You have higher standards for yourself. You are a full-time student athlete at college. So, you have your classes. You have your tests. You have your projects. You have your studying. Then you have your practice. You have your games. You have your travel for games. What in the world make you want to write a book on top of all this?

FARRINGTON: I feel like it was really important because I know, as I said earlier, my father was definitely a coach when I was younger. And I look up to him like he was inspiring kids to be able to go outside their comfort zone. Maybe whether that's in the classroom, maybe you might not have everything just made out for you, but basically just my passion for giving back. So, that's my biggest reason for writing a book.

WIRE: What's your message out there? Athlete, non-athlete, just anyone out there who feels they have a disadvantage, maybe physically, but they can still find their success.

FARRINGTON: My biggest message is just stay the path you're on. To be honest, if you like, even in the book, there's even parts where you actually have questions. So, you can self-reflect on making sure that you actually be honest with yourself and letting yourself know, like, if I'm trying to do what I want to do, if I really say I really want to do that, am I putting as much work in as I say I am?

WIRE: The most important question I asked you today, is there any school you want to give a shout out to out there?

FARRINGTON: I'm going to start at Ron Clark Academy. They built my whole foundation, just being able to develop social skills. Woodward Academy, that was the first high school I went to, and I had an amazing experience with them.

I went to Walton in my last senior year. I enjoyed that experience and met a lot of great people. Now, I'm at Jacksonville State University, and now that's where I'm starting my college journey. So, every place I actually took my journey is where I want to shout out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WIRE: The first full week of World Cup action is in the books, and already we are getting a reminder of why this tournament captivates billions around the globe. Spain arrived one of the favorites to win it all. Cape Verde, tiny island nation of about half a million people, arrived making its World Cup debut. And Cape Verde held the European champs to a scoreless draw in their first ever World Cup match. The hero? 40-year-old goalkeeper, Vozinha. He was like a bouncer at the world's most exclusive club, checking every Spanish attack at the door saying, not today, seven saves he had.

Back in Cape Verde, the scenes were pure football fairy tale, celebrating like it was a championship trophy. Because for a nation making its World Cup debut, this wasn't just about a point. It was proof they belong. What a match, and what an opening act for host city Atlanta, the so-called soccer capital of America. A packed stadium, then tens of thousands more flooding Centennial Olympic Park.

Our Patrick Snell and Don Riddell were there, soaking it all in and catching up with some of the fans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm ecstatic. I mean, we made history. First game in the World Cup, first clean sheet, first point, first everything.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody thought we was going to get blown out. I didn't. I knew we was going to hold our own.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're a third world country, right? First game of our first time in the World Cup, we tied against Spain. Give me Saudi, give me anybody. We doing that, bro.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Today's story, getting a 10 out of 10. Every World Cup creates an unlikely hero. This year's hero? A duck. Meet Merlin, the feathered football fanatic who has waddled his way into the hearts of Mexico fans and become the team's unofficial mascot. He's posing for photos, drawing crowds. Sports fans can be superstitious, right? So, expect to see a lot of Merlin. The pressure is mounting, but Merlin remains completely unflappable. He's gone from pond life to the prime time and through it all, hasn't quacked under the pressure once. Maybe the most famous duck on earth, not named Donald.

All right, before I make a beak for it, why don't you say we give some shout outs. Mr. Marrero at Southbridge High School in Massachusetts. Rise up. Thank you for subscribing and commenting on our CNN 10 YouTube channel.

And this shout out goes to Mrs. Martin at Northwoods Park Middle School in Jacksonville, North Carolina. This gift is one for the books. Michaela, this is so creative. Don't really know how you did this. Honestly, it's just absolutely incredible and it is going on our wall of friends forever. Top shelf.

Make it an awesome weekend and I'll see you right back here next Friday for a fresh summer episode. Keep turning those pages, writing your own story. I'm Coy Wire and we are CNN 10.

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