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, Junth. And if you're watching
us, we want to hear from you. Are you
watching from home? Are you on vacation?
and 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 Friday 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 monthslong conflict. The two
countries have agreed to a memorandum of
understanding or MOU to reopen the
straight of Hormuse and end the US
blockade of Iranian ports. US 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 JD 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.
>> 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.
>> 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 BEM, and experts say it's safer
than many chemical ingredients currently
in use in the US. It's not easily
absorbed into the skin. Plus, there's
another benefit. Products on US 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 BEM offers stronger
protection against those UVA rays. The
catch, the first products won't be
available in the US until later this
year after peak sunscreen season. And so
until then, don't forget your hats,
protective clothing, and shade break 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, was renowned for its
military might, was located on the vast
Pelpines 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-ina-lifetime discovery near Hifa.
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 Lyus, 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
road map 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 Ferington, 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. All
right, let's start from the beginning.
When did you first fall in love with
football?
>> When I first fell in love with football,
I remember I was like probably 6 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 out
went to the field and spent some time
just uh getting clothes together and I
was just like, "Where are we possibly
going?" And he actually took me out to
play flag football. Went 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.
>> And when did it occur to you that maybe
your height was going to be an issue or
maybe even an advantage?
>> Uh definitely I'd say getting into high
school because you know you have uh 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 uh I can control the
controllables. There are things that you
can control. Your height is not
something you really can't control. his
genetics really.
>> 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?
>> Uh that voice, it definitely gets to you
for a second. But at some point, you
realize if you want to be successful,
you really you're going to have to make
a way or find a way. Like uh 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't control. And
one of the biggest quotes I go by is uh
show me your friends, I'll show you your
future.
>> You had higher standards for yourself.
You are a full-time student athlete in
college. So you have your classes, you
have your test, 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?
>> I 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 looked up to him like as
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
that's my biggest reason for writing the
book.
>> 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.
>> 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. uh making sure that
you're actually being honest with
yourself and letting yourself know like
if I'm trying to do what I want to do,
if if I really say I really want to do
that, am I putting as much work in as I
say I am?
>> The most important question I ask you
today is there any school you want to
give a shout out to out there?
>> I'm going to start at Ron Clark Academy.
They built my whole foundation just
being able to uh develop social skills.
Uh Woodward Academy, that was the first
high school I went to and I had an
amazing experience with them. Uh went to
Walter my last senior year. I enjoyed
that experience and met a lot of great
people. Uh, 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.
>> 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 Vjina. 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 Redell were
there soaking it all in and catching up
with some of the fans. I'm ecstatic. I
mean, we made we made history. First
game in the World Cup, first clean
sheet, first point, first everything.
Everybody thought we was going to get
blown out. I didn't. I knew we was going
to hold our own. We a third world
country, right? First game on. First
time in the World Cup, we tie against
Spain. GIVE ME SAUDI. GIVE ME ANYBODY.
WE DOING THAT, BRO.
>> 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
unflapable. 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
beat for it, what do you say we give
some shout outs? Mr. Morero 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 Koi Wire and we are CNN 10.