NPR News: 06-19-2026 2PM EDT
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon have agreed to a ceasefire, according to a U.S. official, but the fighting hasn't stopped. Lebanon's health ministry says at least 47 people, including children, have been killed in Israeli attacks today. Four Israeli soldiers were killed as troops pushed further into southern Lebanon, according to the Israeli military. NPR's Jaina Raff has more.
Israel launched a wave of strikes as its forces moved toward a strategic hill in southern Lebanon. Iran backed Hezbollah, said it targeted tanks and troops as they advanced. Local officials said some of the children were killed when Israeli airstrikes collapsed residential buildings. The U.S. and Iran signed a ceasefire agreement Wednesday, which specified that fighting would also stop in Lebanon. Israel made clear it would not abide by the deal, but a U.S. official tells NPR that both Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a new ceasefire. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said Iran held the U.S. responsible for the Israeli attacks and considered them a breach of its agreement with the United States. Jane Araf, NPR News, Beirut.
Italy's top diplomat has cancelled a scheduled visit to the U.S. after President Trump claimed that Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Maloney had, quote, begged for a photo op with him. NPR's Ruth Sherlock has more.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani abruptly cancelled a planned trip to the U.S. this weekend, calling Trump's comments towards Maloney serious and offensive. Maloney had once been deemed the, quote, Trump whisperer of Europe, having developed a warmer relationship with him than other European leaders. But that has broken down in disagreements over America's support for Israel's actions in Gaza, the Iran war and Ukraine. Trump said he was filmed in conversation with Maloney at the end of a G7 summit in France. because the Italian premier had, quote, begged him for a photo op and that he had felt sorry for her. Maloney immediately responded in a video post on X, calling the claim completely fabricated.
She said, Italy and I do not beg. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News.
The Education Department is offering student loan borrowers a temporary discount on interest if they sign up for automatic payments. NPR's Corrie Turner reports.
hoping to entice millions of borrowers back into regular repayment, the department is offering a full percentage point off their interest rate. So a borrower with a 6% rate on their loans would see it drop temporarily to 5%. The offer begins July 1st, and the rebate would last for two years until summer 2028. Borrowers who are already enrolled in auto pay don't need to do anything. They'll automatically get the discount. The Education Department says borrowers will have until the end of September to sign up and qualify. Corey Turner, NPR News.
You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Today is Juneteenth, marking the day near the end of the Civil War when enslaved people in Texas were finally liberated by Union troops. That was more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. And today, events are taking place around the country, including in Evanston, Illinois. That's where the annual Juneteenth Walk for Freedom parade took place, honoring Opal Lee, who led the movement to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. An exhibit at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff looks at the history of African Americans in the lumberjack industry. Ryan Heintjes with member station KNAU has more.
Artist Chip Thomas led the effort to present lumberjacks who don't resemble the classic Paul Bunyan character, and Northern Arizona University's own mascot served as a natural jumping-off point.
This exhibition is an opportunity to bring the idea of black lumberjacks to the home of Louis the Lumberjack.
It features photography and images of lumbermen who migrated to Northern Arizona from the South. Bernadine Lewis grew up in Georgia with tales of black lumberjacks.
These invisible stories or unheard stories also help create the quilt, the fabric of America's history.
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