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Iran Talks Take Place as Trump Issues Threats Over Hormuz; Far- Right De la Espriella Wins Preliminary Vote Count in Colombia; Heat Wave Brings Extreme Temperatures to Europe; Thousands of Fans Descend on Atlanta for World Cup; Cuba Tourism Dips Under Tensions with U.S. Aired 12-1a ET

Aired June 22, 2026 - 00:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BEN HUNTE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. Wherever you are in the world, you are now in the CNN NEWSROOM with me, Ben Hunte in Atlanta. And it is so good to have you with me.

[00:00:43]

Coming up on the show, mediators in Switzerland are hailing encouraging progress during the first round of high-level negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.

But talks briefly came to a stop after a threat from Donald Trump.

Growing political pressure for the U.K. prime minister, with growing calls for him to step down. Plus, the U.S. president saying the decision has already been made.

And the preliminary results are in from Colombia's presidential run- off. The details and reaction from Colombians on the presumptive winner.

ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Ben Hunte.

HUNTE: Welcome. Let's begin in Switzerland, where negotiations between the U.S. and Iranian delegations have concluded. And the mediators, Pakistan and Qatar, say encouraging progress was made by both sides.

The U.S. and Iran have agreed to establish a high-level committee to provide political oversight on the mediation, and agreed to a roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days.

The two sides have also agreed to create a deconfliction cell involving Lebanon. But Lebanon, Israel, and Hezbollah were not involved during the talks.

The talks were nearly derailed at one point after the U.S. president threatened the Tehran delegation in a FOX News interview, saying, "You close it," referring to the Strait of Hormuz, "and you won't have a country. You won't even make it back to your 'F'-ing country."

Well, CNN's Mike Valerio joins us from Beijing with the latest. Mike, it is good to see you. Where are things at right now?

MIKE VALERIO, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think they're at a constructive and encouraging point. But, you know, Benny, the real question, as we're around lunchtime here Monday on this side of the world, is whether or not these bullet points of the framework are going to stick.

Because we've seen this movie before, where we've had encouraging developments but something happens in the Strait of Hormuz, whether or not there's a U.S. military strike, Iran trading strikes with the United States, or something happens in Lebanon.

So, let's walk you through what we understand. This preliminary talks -- or this preliminary agreement from the talks to have resulted in so far.

I think that line of communication is certainly noteworthy, aiming to avoid incidents and miscommunications in the Strait of Hormuz, a direct line between Iran and the United States, at least according to the mediators of these discussions, Pakistan and Qatar.

This is key to note: that it's only within the 60-day period of this initial memorandum of understanding. But equally big here is that Iran is going to ensure safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge -- with no charge.

That is certainly significant, because we heard President Trump say on FOX, as we were talking about in the introduction to the story, that if things didn't move any faster with these negotiations, he could see a universe of possibility where the United States -- his words, not mine -- takes over the Strait of Hormuz and charges tolls.

The Iranian side, for what it's worth, also said on Saturday that it was going to shut the whole thing down all over again, because talks were not moving.

So, I think where we're looking -- what we're looking towards as the rest of the world wakes up and begins business as usual on Monday, is we're going to be acutely interested to see what happens with technical talks continuing between all four of these parties over the next few days.

And also, there is a high-level committee that has been established between the United States and Iran to talk about sanctions, to talk about Iran's nuclear program and what is the future of it. Because those are the big issues. What's going to happen with the Strait of Hormuz and what is going to happen with the nuclear program? Those are the two big unresolved things, unresolved elements of these conversations as where we stand right now.

Abbas Araghchi, who is Iran's foreign minister, also said, as we wrap up here, that sanctions have been waived and some assets have been unfrozen.

And also, to top it off, he said that a major reconstruction plan for Iran has been launched. Those specifics -- specific bullet points, I should say, lack key details. We're wondering what exactly does he mean by all of those three points?

[00:05:07]

So, as Tehran wakes up on this Monday morning, those will be our main reporting targets: to figure out what exact sanctions have been waived. Have all of the $24 billion in assets been unfrozen in Qatar? And what exactly is this major reconstruction project -- Benny.

HUNTE: All right. Well, thanks for that.

Let's talk markets, too. Oh, no, actually, I think we're actually going to be done with you.

VALERIO: Yes.

HUNTE: Oh, no, we're going to do markets, as well. Let's talk markets.

What are we seeing right now in terms of oil prices? And how are the markets responding? Mr. Valerio, I know you've got this. Tell me about it.

VALERIO: We -- we can't leave without talking about the markets. You know, oil prices are declining. They're hovering, in terms of Brent crude, around $80 a barrel.

And I mean, that's trickling back home, especially to the United States, where gas prices are in front of all voters -- of so many voters' minds as we approach the midterm elections. So around $80 a barrel.

West Texas Intermediate is hovering around $75 and change, trading around that level for the morning hours.

And certainly, these positive developments are making an impact in the Asian markets. Tokyo, up about 2 percent. Seoul, up about one and a fraction percent.

I think that Hong Kong, last time I checked, is the main outlier, down almost about 1 percent. Shanghai also trading a few fractions of a percent higher.

But this is certainly what investors are looking for. Any kind of certainty that there will be some long-term predictability to the Strait of Hormuz, because, as you know, East Asia relies heavily on energy exports coming through that waterway -- Benny.

Now we can be done. Now we can be done.

HUNTE: For now, at least. Mr. Valerio, thank you so much. Speak to you soon.

Joining me now is Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent for "The Economist." He's also the author of "How Long Will Israel Survive the Threat from Within?"

Good to see you, sir. So, from your perspective, how are things looking this morning, and

what surprised you the most about how these talks have unfolded so far?

GREGG CARLSTROM, MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT, "THE ECONOMIST": I think one thing that we should all keep in mind as we're watching this drama play out in Switzerland, is that the Iranians have a domestic constituency that they are speaking to.

There's been a lot of criticism from hard-line politicians in Tehran, who are unhappy that -- that the regime is engaging in these talks, who have been denouncing the foreign minister and other officials for their betrayal for sitting down with the Americans.

So, when we see these reports that Iran threatened to walk out or they refused to take part in a joint photo op, I think that sort of drama is predictable, and we should expect more of that.

And then equally, when we hear the foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, say, as your correspondent said, that, you know, they've agreed to a reconstruction fund and lifting all the sanctions, some of that may be exaggerated. Again, speaking to that same domestic constituency.

So, we don't know how much substantive progress, if any, was made over the past 24 hours. But I think what is significant from this joint statement from the mediators is that technical talks are going to continue throughout the week. That's something we haven't seen before.

The last two times the Trump administration tried to negotiate with Iran, Steve Witkoff would fly in. He would meet with the Iranians for a day, and then he would leave, and nothing would happen for another week.

So, if there is going to be a sustained effort amongst nuclear experts, sanctions experts, you know, the people who can engage in these sorts of technical talks, if they are going to continue to do that throughout the week, I think that's more encouraging than the -- the previous model that we saw the last two times this was attempted.

HUNTE: OK. Well, we saw President Trump publicly threaten Iran earlier. I want your thoughts on that.

But also, that happened while President [SIC] Vance was trying to negotiate. Do you think all of this is part of a coordinated strategy, or could this actually make diplomacy harder?

CARLSTROM: It's Donald Trump, so I'm hesitant to call anything a coordinated strategy. I think sometimes he's -- he's tweeting by the seat of his pants.

I mean, you could argue that, yes, this is often how this administration has approached -- approached diplomacy. You have sort of a good cop/bad cop thing going on. But I think it could also genuinely make diplomacy harder at some point.

I think for now, both America and Iran have an interest in continuing to engage in this process. Neither of them want to restart the war. Neither of them want another round of fighting.

And I think what's likely to derail these talks, if anything, is probably not presidential social media posts. It's probably actual developments on the ground, particularly in Lebanon.

Do we get to a point where the U.S. is on a collision course, either with the Iranians or with the Israeli government over continued fighting in Lebanon? I think that's -- that's more worrisome, at least in the short term, than anything Trump posts on social media.

[00:10:12]

HUNTE: The Strait of Hormuz appears to have become almost as important as the nuclear program itself in these talks. What does that tell us about Washington's priorities right now?

CARLSTROM: It's been clear since quite early in the war, since the strait was initially blocked and oil prices started soaring, that that is the main short-term priority for Washington, not just for domestic political reasons, because they're worried about what high gas prices will mean for the midterms, but because they're also getting a lot of pressure from American allies over that.

Allies in the Gulf who haven't been able to export anything for months, allies in Europe and Asia who are struggling with higher prices. So, I think it's going to remain the focal point for some time now.

We should remember the key question when it comes to Hormuz is not "Does Iran say it's open or closed?" It's "Do shippers believe that it's open? Do insurance companies believe that it's open?"

Will they take the risk of moving tankers in and out of the strait, particularly moving them into the Persian Gulf, knowing there's a risk that the deal might fall apart and those vessels might get stuck?

Uncertainty is bad for that. The more back-and-forth we have about the status of the strait, I think the more reluctant it is going to make these companies to transit the strait.

And we saw that over the past few days. There was a noticeable increase in traffic right after this MOU was signed. But then over the weekend, with some of these statements we heard, ships began turning away from the strait. Ships that had been trying to sail through, made U-turns and sailed away from it.

So, the longer this uncertainty persists, the harder it's going to be, I think, to get traffic moving.

HUNTE: We are hearing discussions on just about the nuclear issue, but also about Lebanon and wider regional security concerns, as well. Is that an acknowledgment that none of these crises can really be solved in isolation?

CARLSTROM: I think what's interesting, listening to the way J.D. Vance has been talking about this -- this final deal in recent days, this -- this final deal, is that he's not viewing this just as a nuclear agreement. He's talking about this as a sort of transformational moment in the American-Iranian relationship.

And he said in an interview a few days ago that he's spoken with Iranian officials who tell him privately that 47 years of hostility between the two countries hasn't worked, and it's time to try something different.

Now, I'm skeptical that's what the regime, writ large, believes. I think there are Iranian officials who believe that, but there are also plenty of other officials who are still committed to ideological hostility towards America.

And if that is the goal, if you want to reach some sort of more transformational agreement, it's also very hard to see how you're going to accomplish that in 60 days. I think even the nuclear stuff is a big lift to try and get done in the next two months.

If you're aiming for something bigger. I think we are in for a much more extended period of negotiations.

HUNTE: OK. Thank you so much for your insight, Gregg Carlstrom. See you again soon.

Ukraine says its drones have successfully targeted oil facilities on both sides of the Kerch Bridge. That is the road that connects Russia to Russian-occupied Crimea.

The commander of Ukraine's unmanned systems forces released this video, saying drones struck an oil depot and a maritime logistics facility used for transporting oil.

The Russian-installed governor of Crimea says four people were killed and 28 were wounded in the attacks.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure from his party to resign as the Labour Party's popularity continues to plummet.

As recently as Friday, 10 Downing Street did say that Mr. Starmer would not, quote, "walk away from the job."

However, on Sunday, British Business Secretary Peter Kyle told the BBC that the prime minister is considering his options.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETER KYLE, BRITISH BUSINESS SECRETARY: He's also making time this weekend to try and reflect on the political challenges that he faces, our country faces, our party faces.

He's also taking the time to think through what the political realities are today, compared to last week, the week before.

(END VIDEO CLIP) HUNTE: Much of the pressure comes from his Labour Party rival, Andy Burnham. He is widely expected to challenge Starmer after he's sworn in as an M.P. later on Monday.

OK, still to come. It's a close race as Colombia chooses its next president. We'll show you just how close the count is, ahead.

And a roundup of Sunday's World Cup matches. Who came out on top and who suffered a defeat? After the break.

[00:15:01]

See you in a moment.

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HUNTE: Colombia's national registry says far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella has won the preliminary count in Colombia's presidential runoff election.

He's in an incredibly tight race against a government-backed candidate, Ivan Cepeda. Official numbers indicate less than 1 percent of votes separate the two.

De la Espriella's showmanship helped grow his support base, along with promises for a more confrontational approach to crime and greater economic independence.

The self-described conservative nationalist came into the race having never held political office. Some of his supporters say he's the change that Colombia needs.

[00:20:07]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We are happy, because change is truly coming. Change for this country, change for children, for families, for business owners, and for young people. This is the government we need. The government of Tige Alvarado, the government we will feel proud of during this four-year term. In Colombia, we stand firm for the homeland.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: Eric Farnsworth joins us now to discuss this. He's a former U.S. State Department official for Latin America and a partner at Continental Strategy. He's also a non-resident senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Good to see you, sir. How significant is this result that we are reporting? Is Colombia simply changing government? Are we witnessing a much bigger political shift here?

ERIC FARNSWORTH, SENIOR ASSOCIATE, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: I think it's a seismic shift. It's going from a leftist governance of Gustavo Petro to a rightist governance of Abelardo de la Espriella.

The Colombian people have spoken. It's a polarized society, and the election results are very, very close. But it's also significant, because it shows the importance of institutionality, not just in Colombia, but across Latin America.

In other words, in other countries where this vote may have been so close, it would have been questioned to a much greater degree. But I think people have confidence in the Colombian electoral authorities. And because of that, I think de la Espriella is going to have a mandate to govern.

HUNTE: De la Espriella has never held elected office before. What was it about his message that resonated with so many voters, do you think?

FARNSWORTH: You know, that's exactly right. He's a nontraditional candidate, for sure, by Colombian standards, by Latin American standards.

He was -- came to prominence relatively recently. He used social media very effectively. He used memes very effectively.

But the message that resonated was one of an attack on cartels, drug cartels, on guerrilla forces, and a return to peace and security.

And the Colombian people have suffered for years, not just under Gustavo Petro, but for years with burgeoning crime and drug trafficking. But it has gotten worse in the last four years. And so, that issue is one that the Colombian people, by and large, really did vote on and are hoping for some real progress on those lines.

HUNTE: With that being said, then, how surprised are you by this current preliminary result?

FARNSWORTH: I'm not surprised. I mean, it's the second round, and he was the top vote getter in the first round. And the right and center- right really did coalesce behind him, as the left and center-left coalesced behind Ivan Cepeda, his opponent.

But this election was really his to lose. And I think he got enough votes to -- to go forward. He did just enough to win.

HUNTE: Let's talk a bit more about crime and security, because it did feature heavily throughout this campaign. To what extent was this election really a referendum on Colombian sense of safety and economic stability, too?

FARNSWORTH: I think it was both a referendum on Colombia's sense of safety and security. I think that's absolutely right.

But there was also a fear factor that came up throughout the campaign, which is to say that there was a perception that opponent Ivan Cepeda was not just from the left, but was from the militant left, and that he would have carried on the mandate of the previous government, the outgoing government of Gustavo Petro, but he would have done it more effectively and, frankly, more radically. And I think the Colombian people are fundamentally conservative

people. Many had grown tired already of the governance of Petro. They didn't want more of it, and they didn't want it to be amplified.

So, it was both a message of hope that security would improve, but also a fear that, you know, we have to vote for somebody so that somebody worse doesn't come in.

HUNTE: How closely do the political styles that we have seen in Colombia now resemble some of the right-wing leaders that we've seen emerge elsewhere in the Americas?

FARNSWORTH: Well, it's really interesting. I mean, people do share examples. They share, in some cases, consultants, and they try to replicate what seems to work. And that's absolutely right.

You know, the people of each country vote on their own circumstances. I don't think somebody votes in Colombia because of what happened next door in Peru or what happened in Argentina.

But there is a through line through all of these recent elections that we've seen right and center-right candidates come to power, and that is, people in Latin America are just sick of insecurity.

And they're willing to take a bet on somebody who promises safer streets, better schools, growing economies, and may give up some civil liberties to do so. And I think that's the trade-off that we're seeing across much of Latin America. But it's the gamble that many voters are taking. And it's the -- the promise that many candidates are making.

HUNTE: That's really interesting. All that being said, what are policy makers in Washington likely to be thinking this morning? Does this result have implications for the U.S.-Colombia relationship?

[00:25:04]

FARNSWORTH: Huge implications. And in fact, senior levels of the U.S. government have already come out and congratulated de la Espriella, both from the executive branch, and also from the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Senate.

I think there's palpable relief, frankly, in Washington, that he won. There is a sense that he'll be a strong partner of the United States.

And don't forget: Colombia, over the last generation, really has been a strategic partner of the United States in Latin America. But the last four years of Gustavo Petro were a bit of an aberration.

And many people in Washington, and I would say Bogota, as well, are looking forward to try to recapture that close security and economic partnership that really did pertain over the last several decades.

It'll take a while to recapture or to rebuild. Trust has broken down, and it will have to be rebuilt. But -- but I do think many people in Washington will welcome this result.

HUNTE: OK. Fascinating stuff. Eric Farnsworth, thank you so much. Speak to you again soon.

FARNSWORTH: Thanks for having me.

HUNTE: Onwards. Bolivian police and military personnel are ensuring secure passage of trucks and cars as part of the state of emergency that is now in effect.

President Rodrigo Paz declared a nationwide emergency early on Saturday following weeks of political unrest and blockades, too. The country is taking its first steps to return to normal after shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies.

Protesters, backed by union workers, have been calling for President Paz's resignation. He's been in office only seven months.

Critics oppose his cuts to fuel subsidies, causing higher gas prices there.

Brazilian authorities have seized a major cocaine shipment that was concealed in timber cargo. Police did a forensic exam of that cargo after finding evidence that narcotics were being smuggled within the wood itself.

They detained about eight trucks carrying about 260 metric tons of timber. Experts say that could hold up to 110,000 pounds of cocaine, and is likely the country's biggest cocaine bust on record.

Teams are beginning to finalize their standings in the group stages of this year's World Cup. In Group H, Spain was able to soundly defeat Saudi Arabia at Atlanta Stadium, 4-0.

Saudi Arabia can still make it out of the group stages if it has a strong showing in its next match.

Japan dominated Tunisia 4-0, making it one step closer to breaking out of the group stages. The match at Monterrey Stadium marked the highest scoring World Cup game for the Samurai Blue.

Meanwhile, at Los Angeles Stadium, Iran battled it out with Belgium, producing a draw. So far, Iran has yet to win a match this tournament.

World Cup underdog Cape Verde stunned the world again by staving off a defeat from two-time world champion Uruguay. The match ended in a draw, 2-2.

The final match of the day saw Egypt come out on top against New Zealand. The final score was 3-1.

All right. Still to come, more details on the talks between the U.S. and Iran and how the two sides plan to take negotiations forward to reach a final deal.

And Europe is sweltering under an intense heat wave, prompting officials across the region to issue public health alerts. We'll take a look at how people are trying to beat that heat, ahead. See you in a moment. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:33:23]

HUNTE: Welcome back. I'm Ben Hunte. Let's take a look at today's top stories.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is considering his political future as his top labor rival, Andy Burnham, prepares to be sworn into Parliament.

Mr. Starmer is facing widespread calls from his Labour Party and from his own cabinet to step down. His government's popularity has plummeted since it won the general election two years ago.

Burnham, a former cabinet minister, is expected to challenge his leadership.

The preliminary count in Colombia's presidential runoff shows far- right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella in the lead. Official results haven't been released yet, and the margin between the candidates is less than 250,000 ballots.

Colombia's president says he will abide by whatever result voting officials authorize.

Mediators Qatar and Pakistan say encouraging progress has been made after U.S. and Iran talks wrapped up, and technical talks will continue this week in Switzerland.

Iran says the two sides discussed the groundwork for negotiations to reach a permanent agreement. According to the mediators, a roadmap has been agreed to reach a final deal within 60 days.

CNN's Julia Benbrook has more from the White House for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Talks took place at a high level this weekend in Switzerland with the United States delegation led by Vice President J.D. Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Now, a reminder that the memorandum of understanding, the agreement that has been signed is really just a starting point. It then kicks off a 60-day time period to work through the details on Iran's nuclear program, including the fate of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

[00:35:12]

As Vance stood with some of the mediators from Pakistan and Qatar, he did express optimism. He said that great progress had already been made, but also looked to set expectations, as he said that all of the disagreements would likely not be fixed immediately. Take a listen. J.D. VANCE, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: What today really represents is the

beginning of a technical negotiation that's not going to solve every disagreement, but it's going to allow us to sit together as teams for the first time, really in history, to figure out what matters most to the respective parties to settle those issues, to solve those issues, and get to a better tomorrow.

BENBROOK: According to sources familiar with the talks, in addition to the focus on Iran's nuclear program, other key areas of interest are the conflict in Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz.

When it comes to the Strait of Hormuz. Trump, in a phone interview with FOX News Sunday morning, shortly after Vance delivered those remarks, Trump said that the United States may take over the strait and even charge tolls itself.

He also appeared to threaten the Iranian delegation, saying this. This is according to FOX reporting. He said, "You close it," referring to the Strait of Hormuz there, "and you won't have a country," adding, "You won't even make it back to your 'F'-ing country."

Iran's chief negotiator responded to Trump's threats, calling them desperate. And he did say that Iran's military would be ready to take action, if needed.

Julia Benbrook, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is signaling Israel will not withdraw its troops from Southern Lebanon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): We will remain in the security zone in Southern Lebanon for as long as necessary to protect the residents of the North, whom we cherish and all of the citizens of the state. As prime minister of Israel, I insist on this firmly and nothing will change it.

And I vow to you, citizens of Israel, the state of Israel will not be a fleeting episode in the history of our people. We stand firm on our vital interest. We have achieved tremendous accomplishments, and we will not give them up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: His remarks are the latest test to the U.S.-Iran agreement, which hinges in part on the ceasefire between Israel and the Iranian- backed Hezbollah.

The leader of Hezbollah pushed back against Netanyahu's statement, saying the group would defend itself. Lebanese state media is reporting that Israeli military raids killed at least seven people in Lebanon on Sunday, and that is including a child. Earlier, CNN national security analyst Alex Plitsas mapped out some of

the complexities surrounding the negotiations with regard to the situation in Lebanon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEX PLITSAS, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Well, it's problematic for a few reasons.

I mean, first, the entire framework is predicated upon a ceasefire in a sovereign country that is Lebanon, while including a terrorist organization that is Hezbollah. And then Israel and the IDF were conducting operations inside of Southern Lebanon in response to Hezbollah continuously launching projectiles into Israel since October 7th.

None of those parties I just spoke about are signatories of the document. Only the United States and Iran are. So, trying to keep them in line will obviously be difficult.

And then second, not to mention the fact that this has been going on for the better part of close to a half century, and no one has successfully disarmed Hezbollah. To date, Israel has conducted military operations. And while the U.S. Did was able to get the parties in a room to try to begin negotiations between Israel and Lebanon for the disarmament of Hezbollah, that still hasn't happened. And Hezbollah has basically said that they don't intend to abide by it.

So, it's definitely a flashpoint and probably one of the biggest risk points of the agreement altogether.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: Europe is sweltering under an intense heat wave this week. Temperatures are expected to top 40 Celsius, or 104 Fahrenheit, in some areas.

Officials are growing concerned over the public health implications and increased wildfire risk this summer. Here's how people across Europe are trying to beat that heat.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE (voice-over): Sunrise at Stonehenge.

Thousands gathered to celebrate the summer solstice, the astronomical beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

But the power of the sun is supercharged over Europe right now because of a heat dome trapping hot air on the ground that's causing stifling conditions.

France's weather agency is warning of an exceptionally intense heat wave, with Paris expected to top 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit, this week. Only about 20 percent of European households have air conditioning.

Too hot to stay home for some people in Paris who took a swim to escape the sweltering heat.

[00:40:04]

LEO AMIOT, PARIS RESIDENT (through translator): It is hardly livable in the housing in Paris. There are not necessarily many buildings or construction made for this kind of heat.

WILLIAM RAMPAL, PARIS VISITOR (through translator): Everyone is going to take refuge in the shops, the supermarkets, where there is air conditioning, where it is cooled. But we cannot accommodate all of Paris in these buildings, unfortunately.

HUNTE (voice-over): The French government temporarily banned alcohol in public spaces in red heat alert areas.

Dozens of intercity trains in Paris have been canceled, and thousands of railway staff have been mobilized to repair tracks and electric cables that could warp in the heat.

Spain is warning of an increased risk of wildfires, and is urging people to take precautions in the sun.

World Cup fans endured the scorching heat at a viewing event near Madrid, but civil protection workers were armed with hoses for a quick cool-down. Shoppers at a popular flea market also tried to escape the sun.

ANA GARCES, MADRID RESIDENT (through translator): The heat really is exhausting all the time, isn't it? And you end up looking for spots where you can relax a little bit more in the shade.

HUNTE (voice-over): Temperatures in Southern England are expected to climb to 38 degrees Celsius, or 100 degrees Fahrenheit, in the next few days.

And while temperatures will shift across Europe, the intense heat wave is expected to persist until later in the week.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: A tornado outbreak is unfolding across the Midwestern United States as severe storms head Eastward.

These images you're seeing there show one of more than two dozen tornadoes reported across the region on Sunday. At least two people have been confirmed dead as a result of a tornado that touched down in Illinois, about 90 miles Southeast of St. Louis, Missouri.

And here is a look at our live radar, tracking the severe storms. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a tornado watch for parts of Indiana and Kentucky overnight.

The World Cup continues this week. We have what to expect after the break.

Plus, Serena Williams returns to Wimbledon after accepting a wild card invitation. All that and so much more, next. See you in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:47:07]

HUNTE: Welcome back. The World Cup continues this upcoming week as teams battle it to make it out of the group stage.

Here is a look at the matches for Monday. Argentina goes up against Austria. That's at Dallas Stadium.

France will take on Iraq. That's in Philadelphia. Norway and Senegal will face off in New Jersey. And Jordan goes up against Algeria in San Francisco.

Well, as the World Cup does continue, visitors are flooding cities all across North America to catch their favorite teams in action.

CNN's Rafael Romo speaks to fans here in Atlanta after Spain soundly defeated Saudi Arabia.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What a difference six days can make for Spanish fans, especially after Monday's very disappointing draw with Cabo Verde in their first game of the World Cup.

After Sunday's 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, they tell us their faith in the team, ranked No. 2 by FIFA, has been restored. And this is a festival, a sporting event, a rock concert, and a day at the park all rolled into one.

ROMO (voice-over): Earlier, we saw massive crowds here at Centennial Olympic Park, but many people left after the second match between Iran and Belgium.

But it was mostly a sea of red here at the Fan Fest, with fans from across the region and all over the world, including Spain. Of course, showing up to support La Roja fans who know the sport not as soccer, but football.

And also, there were many Saudi Arabia fans, as well, wearing the Saudi's team green color.

ROMO: For local fans, this is a moment to remember and to experience welcoming international visitors, telling them "bienvenidos," and being part of it all. This is what some of them told us earlier.

HALEY MEDVED KENDRICK, ATLANTA SOCCER FAN: Not having the World Cup here since I was a child. I want to be part of the fun and action. So came out to get to enjoy some of the fan energy and international interaction and get to celebrate, hopefully, with whoever wins today and just be part of it. ASHLEY LEDOUS, ATLANTA SOCCER FAN: I love it. I'm born and raised

here, you know, and I haven't seen this much excitement, really, in my city in a very long time. So, I'm loving it. That's awesome.

ROMO (voice-over): Atlanta will host eight matches with the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Two have already been played.

Atlanta is one of 16 host cities for the World Cup, played not only here in the United States but also in Canada and Mexico. And the city will also host a semifinal game on Wednesday, July 15th.

ROMO: The FIFA Fan Fest here at Centennial Olympic park was scheduled to operate for 16 days over the course of the World Cup. And fans tell us it's the second best thing to being at the stadium itself.

Rafael Romo, CNN, Atlanta.

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[00:50:03]

HUNTE: Serena Williams is set to make another big return at Wimbledon.

On Sunday, the All England Club announced Williams accepted a wild card invitation to play singles at Wimbledon. The 44-year-old won seven of her 23 Grand Slam titles at that tournament.

She recently returned to competition in doubles after nearly four years away from professional tennis.

Williams had already planned to play at Wimbledon. She accepted a wild card for the doubles competition with her sister Venus, earlier last week.

Wimbledon starts on June 29.

OK. Cuba has been a popular destination for tourists until recently. We will look at what's most likely behind the scarcity of visitors after this short break. See you in a moment.

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HUNTE: Tensions with the U.S. are taking an increasingly heavy toll on Cuba's bottom line.

Fewer tourists have visited Cuba so far this year compared to the previous year. With the Trump administration hinting at possible military action and new sanctions, the situation could worsen. CNN's Patrick Oppmann reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN HAVANA BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): You can look for tourists in Cuba, but good luck finding any these days. The colonial streets and plazas in Old Havana, one of the island's main attractions for foreign visitors, are strikingly empty. OPPMANN: Cuba's tourism sector is enduring the worst moment in years,

if not decades. We've come to an area that should be absolutely full of tourists to see how bad it's gotten.

OPPMANN (voice-over): Rolando is trying to promote the restaurant where he works, but there's hardly anyone to make his pitch to. You don't see any tourists.

ROLANDO, TOURISM WORKER: Maybe in this moment, 10 persons. Ten persons, tourists in -- in this square. That is the best square, is Plaza Vieja and the other square in Havana. Maybe 10 persons. It's nothing.

OPPMANN (voice-over): The oil blockade placed by the Trump administration on Cuba earlier this year has contributed to rolling blackouts and a scarcity of jet fuel for airlines carrying tourists from Europe or Canada, which have canceled flights.

Threats of increased U.S. economic sanctions on international hotel chains is forcing many companies to abandon the island and remove the brands off hotels they used to manage for the Cuban government.

According to official statistics, only 360,000 tourists visited the island in the first five months of 2026. More than 58 percent drop from the previous year.

The Trump administration says it is pressuring the islands communist rulers to open the tightly controlled economy and political system.

But people like Elio and Andres (ph), who have been playing traditional Cuban music on the street corner for nearly 30 years, are among those feeling the squeeze. When we meet them, the guitar duo had earned less than a dollar in tips that day. They told me the economy has never been this bad, even during the pandemic.

ELIO, MUSICIAN: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

OPPMANN (voice-over): "There are no tourists," Elio says. "Maybe they are at home. One comes by only every half hour or hour."

Even the famed Hemingway trail -- the bars where the American writer drank his way across Havana -- has gone cold.

OPPMANN: This is one of the most famous bars in Havana. You can see Hemingway's signature there on the wall. This is one of the many places he drank. He said he came here for his mojito.

[00:55:11]

I've never been able to come here without there being just a crush of tourists. We're the first customers of the day. It's a tourist trap without any tourists.

OPPMANN (voice-over): For the first time, Cuban officials say they may allow Cuban exiles or Cubans still living on the island to manage hotels. But full ownership so far, at least, is still not permitted. The collapse of the tourism economy is a disaster for a government

that spent years pouring scant resources into building hotels.

OPPMANN: This is not only Cuba's largest hotel, it's the tallest building on this island. This is one of the most expensive things this government here has ever built.

Architects who worked on this project told me it cost more than $200 million to build this hotel, which is now empty and closed.

OPPMANN (voice-over): Still, construction continues on even more hotels that are unlikely to see paying customers anytime soon.

Cubans who work in tourism are trying anything to make ends meet.

Alexander tells us he lowered prices to take a carriage ride with his horse, Napoleon, so that Cubans could afford a city tour. He still barely makes enough money to pay for his government license to work as a guide.

More reforms urgently need to take place, he says.

ALEXANDER, TOURISM WORKER: If we don't change our system, if we don't change our economic model, we'll never survive like a human being. Because every day, daily, there are problems and problems and problems. And if we don't solve, if we don't change those things, you will never have a real future.

OPPMANN (voice-over): Cuba's tourism industry has already collapsed under increased U.S. pressure. Now, the fear is the rest of the island's teetering economy could soon follow.

Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: All right. That's all I've got for you. Thanks for joining me and the team. I'm Ben Hunte in Atlanta. There's so much more CNN NEWSROOM after this quick break. See you in a moment.

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