"Live from NPR News in Washington.
round of talks between Israel and Lebanon will be held next week in Washington, D.C.
“This will be the fifth round of direct political talks between the two sides and will”
take place at the State Department. And P.R.'s Jackie Northam reports." Secretary Rubio held a phone call with Lebanese President Joseph Ayun during which he reiterated the need to disarm the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah and re-established control over all Lebanese territory. That's according to a State Department readout of the conversation. Hezbollah has in the past rejected any peace deal between Israel and the government of Lebanon.
Rubio also stressed that bilateral negotiations between Lebanon and Israel represent the only feasible path to ending recurrence cycles of violence. Meanwhile, Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire after intense fighting threaten to derail fragile peace talks between the U.S. and Iran. Jackie Northam and P.R. News. The Russian military says its air defenses destroyed several dozen Ukrainian drones on
“approach to Moscow today. The intercepts come a day after Ukraine launched a massive wave”
of drone attacks on the Russian capital. NPR's Charles Mains has more. The Ukrainian drone's primary target Thursday appeared to be Moscow's main oil refinery with several striking storage tanks causing explosions. The one reported fatality in eight-year-old girl came when a drone struck an apartment high-rise nearby. Russian president Vladimir Putin is yet to comment directly on the attacks. It is spoke's mandatory pescove praised performance
of the city's air defenses, saying they'd been robust, despite complaints from city residents of no official warning as the drones approached. Pescove also urged the public to ignore the dramatic pictures of plumes of smoke over Moscow shared widely online, saying people should instead search for images of the damage inflicted by Russian missiles on Ukraine. Charles Mains and P.R. News. Moscow
“The $400 million luxury plane given to the U.S. by Qatar last year was unveiled today as”
the newest Air Force One. President Trump's acceptance of the jet triggered by partisan questions about security risks and conflicts of interest. President Illinois celebrated Juneteenth today with its annual walk for freedom. The two-and-a-half mile walk symbolizes the two-and-a-half years it took for news of the emancipation proclamation of 1863 to reach enslaved people in Texas. The march also honors the legacy of Opa Lee,
who helped lead the movement to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, she's now 99 years old, Evanston's parade was marshaled by her granddaughter Dion Sims. "We were both there on June 17, 2021, when President Biden signed the Juneteenth Independence Day Act in the law." Opa Lee was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Biden in 2024. This is NPR News. At last check, the American team is ahead of Australia and its World Cup match two
nil, despite playing without star Christian Policic, who sat out with a calf injury.
Defender Alex Freeman scored the second goal for USA just before halftime.
The first goal was an "own goal" by Australia. Two of the FIFA World Cup favorites are back in action this weekend as are two of the new combinations to the tournament and Pierre's William Jones reports. "For time, World Cup winner Germany will play Ivory Coast after thumping newcomers Kurosau and their opening game, and for Kurosau the Caribbean island nation who played with real tenacity for much of that 7-1 loss to Germany,
they'll be hoping for a change of fortune as they play Ecuador. On Sunday, European champion Spain will look to build some momentum to their World Cup campaign. They go up against Saudi Arabia. Spain has had to regroup after a surprise tie against World Cup newcomers Cape Verde. If a Cape Verde who captivated global audiences with that stunning underdog performance,
they'll now play Uruguay who won the first Everworld Cup some 96 years ago.
William Jones and Pierre News. For the first time in more than 200 years, visitors to the Acropolis in Athens can see the Parthenon's western side looking intact. A restoration effort unveiled yesterday shows two new marble blocks filling gaps on the temple's western end. It's the first view visitors see when they arrive at the ancient monument, which is 25 centuries old. The project was funded through a European Union program.
This is NPR News. This is our glass. On this American life, when they mean like, it's a good mystery. Sometimes about really big things. But most times, the little mysteries are the best. Our lost and found is currently filled with hands. I don't know
if I've never seen this happen. This is true. Mysteries, if every size each week,
