US Wins, Hezbollah Ceasefire, & Merlin the Duck

Adam Rogers
June 20, 2026

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Today’s Big Story

The United States men's national team defeated Australia 2-0 on Friday to reach the World Cup knockout stage with a match to spare, becoming the first American team since 1930 to win consecutive World Cup games.
Playing without injured star Christian Pulisic, the US took an early lead on an Australian own goal before Alex Freeman added his first World Cup score. The Americans controlled much of the match and now need only a draw against Türkiye to secure first place in Group D and a favorable path into the knockout rounds.
Pulisic remains sidelined with a calf injury, but the victory showed the U can compete without its biggest star. Coach Mauricio Pochettino said he hopes Pulisic returns soon, while emphasizing that a deep World Cup run will require contributions from the entire squad.

President Trump said he helped broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah on Friday after renewed fighting threatened a broader U.S.-Iran peace deal. Israel and Hezbollah both signaled support for the truce, though clashes continued and U.S. intelligence reportedly warned that further Israeli strikes could jeopardize negotiations aimed at ending the wider regional conflict. (More)

Cuba approved nearly 200 free-market reforms Thursday in its biggest economic overhaul since the 1959 revolution, allowing large private businesses and expanded foreign investment. Communist leaders said the changes are needed to avert economic collapse as the island struggles with severe shortages, blackouts, and mounting pressure from the United States. (More)

The Education Department will temporarily cut interest rates by 1 percentage point for federal student loan borrowers enrolled in automatic payments, starting July 1 through mid-2028. Existing auto-pay users will receive the reduction automatically, while others must enroll by Sept. 30. Officials say the move is intended to boost repayment rates and reduce delinquencies. (More)

President Trump unveiled the Boeing 747-8 that will serve as the new Air Force One, offering the first public look at the $400 million aircraft gifted by Qatar and retrofitted for presidential use. The Air Force said the jet will undergo final testing before entering service, with its first major public appearance planned for Washington's July 4 celebrations. (More)

Legendary television director and producer James Burrows died Friday at 85 after a career that helped define the modern sitcom. Burrows co-created "Cheers" and directed episodes of "Friends," "Frasier," "Taxi," and "Will & Grace," earning 11 Emmys while overseeing more than 1,000 television episodes across five decades. (More)

Canadian doctors used exosome therapy to heal a young woman's severe facial burns in what they believe is a world first, avoiding skin grafts that would have left permanent scarring. The experimental treatment exceeded expectations and could accelerate the development of a promising new approach to repairing severe burns and other traumatic injuries. (More)

A 12-year-old girl saved her friend's life by pulling the unresponsive teen from the sea after she was swept underwater and suffered a seizure. (More)

Rapper French Montana helped raise more than $75,000 for a New York cab driver whose taxi was destroyed during Knicks championship celebrations. (More)

A World Health Organization analysis found Africans gained a decade of life expectancy and nine years of healthy life between 2000 and 2019. (More)

Florida approved the Teddy Bridgewater Act, allowing high school coaches to use personal funds to help underprivileged players with basic expenses. (More)

Don’t make this common mistake with ants in your home.

Meet Merlin the Duck: A Mexico City regular turned World Cup mascot.

Mapping hourly fast food wages by state.

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