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At Least Five Killed in New Israeli Strikes on Lebanon; U.S.- Iran 14-Point Agreement; Polish President Strips Zelenskyy of Country's Top Honor; Burnham Secures Commanding Win in U.K. By- Election; Record Heat Expected in Europe Through Weekend. Aired 3- 3:30a ET

Aired June 20, 2026 - 03:00   ET

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

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BEN HUNTE, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): 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.

Coming up on the show, sources tell us that U.S. negotiators are headed to Switzerland for Iran talks. That is just as Israel strikes Lebanon again, despite a renewed ceasefire.

Bolivia's president is declaring a state of emergency and that is after weeks of a blockade crisis linked with mass anti-government protests.

And two trains collide in the U.K., leaving at least one person dead. What we're learning about the incident.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from Atlanta. This is CNN NEWSROOM with Ben Hunte.

HUNTE: Let's begin with breaking news. Lebanese state media reports new Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have killed at least five people. That is despite Israel and Hezbollah agreeing to renew a ceasefire on Friday.

Israeli warplanes and drones reportedly carried out a series of strikes early on Saturday, destroying residential buildings and homes, too. U.S. president Donald Trump has urged Israel to stop the fighting as it threatens to derail peace talks with Iran.

This comes as U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and president Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, head to Switzerland for potential negotiations. That is according to a U.S. official. It is still unclear when those talks will actually happen, though. For more, CNN's Leila Gharagozlou joins us from Abu Dhabi.

Leila, thanks for being with me again. What more can you tell us about these strikes in Lebanon and how

concerned will officials be that violence there could derail these talks once again?

LEILA GHARAGOZLOU, CNN PRODUCER: Yes. So as you said, Israeli strikes have hit several towns in southern Lebanon, killing at least five people, according to Lebanese state media. And this is coming off the back of the announcement of that renewed ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

It's also coming off the back of the second deadliest day of the conflict in Lebanon, 47 Lebanese people were killed in Israeli strikes. So this really has the potential to derail the talks between Iran and the U.S.

Now the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is set to take place or take effect at 4 pm local time, 9 am Eastern. So the next few hours are going to be really critical both to that ceasefire but also to these negotiations.

Just yesterday, when Iran and U.S. were supposed to meet in Switzerland, those strikes in Lebanon derailed the talks. They delayed them. And we haven't heard from the Iranians if they're going to be joining Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Switzerland as of yet to begin those technical negotiations.

So things are really fragile. And experts that I've spoken to have had concerns about the fragility of this memorandum because of Israel's actions but also because of this 60-day deadline, which really is putting pressure on the two sides coming together and talking.

Which is why we heard some strong words from both vice president JD Vance and president Trump about Israel's actions this week. Now as I said, the Iranians haven't said whether they are going to be joining the Americans there within this weekend.

But we're hoping to see some forward movement because of that deadline. Now president Trump has been rather optimistic when it comes to the 60-day deadline and actually getting something done. Take a listen.

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TRUMP: And now we have an agreement that was signed last night. And it's 60 days. We have to make a deal. Otherwise, we will do things that won't make them happy. But I don't think it's going to get to that. I think it's going to be very good.

Remember, if we do that, then all of a sudden you're not going to have the oil flowing out of the strait too quickly because people that own billion-dollar ships don't love missiles flying over them, don't love mines all over the water.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GHARAGOZLOU: Now president Trump, as you heard, thinks that something can happen within those 60 days. Again, the experts that I've spoken to have some hesitancy around this, particularly because of Israel's actions but also because the issues on the table are incredibly complex.

Iran's nuclear program requires some really deep technical talks. And 60 days doesn't necessarily feel like enough time to go through all of these.

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So the next few days, the next few hours are going to be really important to watch, to see where things go, Ben

HUNTE: And after so much back-and-forth over whether talks in Switzerland would even happen to begin with, what changed?

How come there's suddenly a difference here?

GHARAGOZLOU: Well, I think, you know, both sides are really looking to make a deal but this has been a red line. Lebanon has been a red line for the Iranians time and time again. So the delay in these talks is likely due to that. They have been very clear that fighting has to stop on all fronts.

It was in the MOU and it's going to be a critical element of this deal. That being said, both sides definitely do seem to have the appetite to make a deal and end this conflict and, you know, really start anew. We've heard quite a few of Iranian officials come out this week talking about the potential for the economic benefits around this deal.

So there is the appetite for it. But the fighting in Lebanon is absolutely going to be a critical element to actually getting things going on this deal.

HUNTE: OK. Leila in Abu Dhabi, thank you so much. Appreciate it.

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HUNTE: Bolivia's president has declared a national state of emergency to end 50 days of sometimes violent anti-government protests. President Rodrigo Paz said in an address to the nation that the new state of emergency clears the way for the military and police to restore order and ensure the country's roads are reopened.

Just hours earlier, a key labor union had signed an agreement with the government to end the road blockades. Protesters have been demanding the government roll back austerity measures. People in Bolivia have faced long lines for fuel and difficulties getting food and medical care. At least 14 deaths have now been linked to the protests.

From diplomacy to deadlock, E.U. leaders are divided over whether to open communication lines with Moscow to protect European interests as efforts to end the Ukraine war do move forward.

The issue dominated a two-day summit in Brussels. French president Emmanuel Macron says Europeans must be at the table for any peace talks.

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EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): We are not mediators. We stand with Ukraine. We are providing it with aid and support and we have imposed sanctions on Russia.

A second point, very simple and very clear that we have always stood up for when negotiations take place, Europeans must be at the table because Europe's interests are at stake, interests that are partly linked to what is happening in Ukraine.

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HUNTE: Ukraine's war with Russia may have created a potential diplomatic rift between that country and Poland. The president of Poland has stripped Volodymyr Zelenskyy of his country's top honor.

The move comes after Ukraine's president renamed an army unit after nationalists who massacred Poles in World War II. However, some Ukrainians believe the army unit in question -- that's the Ukrainian Insurgent Army -- are symbols of Kyiv's struggle for independence from Moscow.

Larry Madowo is following developments for us and joins me now.

Larry, what else is the Polish prime minister saying about this?

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a feud that's more than 80 years old, Ben, and it centers around this unit known as UPA, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. Many Ukrainians consider them heroes. They existed in the 1940s and '50s and they fought against the Soviet army and in Nazi Germany.

And that's why so many revere them in Ukraine. And some of the Ukrainian units right now wear still their colors.

But across the border in Poland, they're seen as people responsible for atrocities that, about 10 years ago, the Polish parliament declared a genocide. And they're responsible for the massacres and atrocities against tens of thousands of Polish nationals in what is now Ukraine but used to be part of Poland at the time.

So that is the difference here. And that is why the Ukraine -- the Poles are stripping president Zelenskyy of this Order of the White Eagle that he was awarded in 2023. There's been criticism from Poland and from Ukraine about this.

But the president says this is something that had to be done. But he explains that that does not mean they're stopping their support for Ukraine. Listen.

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KAROL NAWROCKI, POLISH PRESIDENT (through translator): At this point, I would like to emphasize that this decision is not directed against the Ukrainian people. It does not signify a change in the strategic direction of Polish security policy.

We have supported and continue to support Ukraine because we know that Russian aggression poses a threat to the security of Poland and all of Europe.

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MADOWO: In fact, Poland is hosting a Ukraine recovery conference next week. It's not clear if president Zelenskyy will attend. He's attended previous ones and he has so far not commented on it. But his foreign secretary says that this is this is a wrong move and said he will return an award that he was also issued from Poland -- Ben.

HUNTE: Well, thank you for that.

And what more can you tell us about French president Macron demanding that Europeans have a seat at the table for peace talks?

MADOWO: President Macron believes that the Europeans have to be involved here -- both the European Council president, Antonio Costa, in his role, but specifically European Union members have to be involved in any negotiations.

But he's made it clear that the Europeans are not going to be mediators in any kind of talks. They are on the side of Ukraine. They have supported Ukraine militarily, financially. They've sanctioned Russia. But they have to be involved in any issues of enlargement and issues of the security guarantees that Ukraine will need.

So there's been some disagreement within European leaders about when exactly this diplomacy, these talks can begin. And there's been some reporting in Europe about overtures, reachout from the European Council president, Antonio Costa, that some criticized, notably Emmanuel Macron and the German chancellor.

But there are some within the E.U. who say, yes, it's time to start talking to president Putin directly and to reach out to the Kremlin. And president Macron appears to be on the opposite side of that.

So he's making this very clear distinction that, if there was going to be talks, the Europeans have to be involved but they will not be involved as mediators. They will be involved, because whatever happens in the future of Ukraine directly involves them. Ben.

HUNTE: All right. Larry, thank you so much. Appreciate that.

A comment reportedly made by U.S. president Donald Trump at the G7 summit has led to a diplomatic rift with Italy. An Italian media outlet reports that president Trump claims Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni "begged" him to take a photo with her. As CNN's Barbie Nadeau explains, the prime minister actually denies that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BARBIE LATZA NADEAU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're hearing some very strong words between the U.S. president, Donald Trump and the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni.

Now this is not the first time the two have exchanged barbs, which is especially surprising because Giorgia Meloni was, at one time, Trump's best friend in Europe. She was his strongest ally. Many people called her the Trump whisperer. She flew to Mar-a-Lago after his election to his second term.

But everything started to go drastically wrong back in April when Italy denied the use of the Sigonella Air Base in Sicily for military operations in Iran.

Shortly after that, the U.S. president, Donald Trump, criticized the American pope, Pope Leo, about his anti-war stance. At that time, Giorgia Meloni stood up for the pope and called those comments unacceptable. Donald Trump returned the criticism and called her unacceptable and thought that she had courage but that she didn't.

So all eyes were on the two leaders as they headed into the G7 in France and everything looked, at least on the surface, that it went well. There was a picture taken. They were seen speaking to each other quite cordially.

Then an Italian media outlet got hold of the U.S. president after he returned to the United States and asked him how things went between the two leaders and he said that he didn't really want to take the picture but he felt sorry for her and that she begged for the picture.

And that's what elicited a very strong response from Giorgia Meloni, who went onto her social media and basically said that that wasn't -- that was fabricated. That wasn't how it went down and that she doesn't beg, neither does Italy. Let's listen to what she had to say.

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GIORGIA MELONI, ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): Well, some things deserve an immediate response. Donald Trump's statements are completely made up. I am frankly astonished. I don't know why the president of the United States behaves like this toward his allies.

It's not the first time, moreover. I can only say it is disappointing that he does not show the same determination with the enemies of the West and of the United States, whose leaders he instead treats with far greater indulgence. There is one thing he should remember. Neither I nor Italy ever beg.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NADEAU: Now all of this is actually becoming a diplomatic incident because the Italian foreign minister was supposed to be going to the United States this weekend but he canceled over the comments -- Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE) The British prime minister faces a potential challenge to his leadership. How a local by-election could have huge consequences for Keir Starmer.

And investigators try to determine what caused a fatal train crash during rush hour in the U.K. Details ahead. See you in a moment.

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HUNTE: Welcome back. British prime minister Keir Starmer is facing a new fight for his political survival. A victory by Manchester mayor Andy Burnham in a local by-election now paves the way for Burnham to challenge Starmer as leader of the ruling Labour Party. Clare Sebastian has more for us.

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CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Standing between a fox and a trash can, a surreal picture to end a five-week whirlwind campaign for Labour's Andy Burnham, the man who may now challenge British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his job, making it clear he plans to shake things up.

ANDY BURNHAM, NEWLY-ELECTED BRITISH MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT: Everyone knows that politics isn't working. Everyone can feel that the country isn't where it should be. Tonight could, just could, be the turning point.

SEBASTIAN (voice-over): The scale of that victory may now strengthen his case for change. Burnham secured 55 percent of the vote, a comfortable lead over Robert Kenyon of Nigel Farage's hard right Reform U.K. Party, who came in second place with 35 percent.

It was a campaign fought on the doorsteps of a collection of former coal mining towns in northwest England. BURNHAM: We're doing everything possible. We're not taking anything for granted.

SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Burnham, a former cabinet minister who's been the popular mayor of Greater Manchester for the best part of a decade, talked as little as possible on the campaign trail about his larger leadership ambition.

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Focusing instead on local issues.

NIGEL FARAGE, LEADER, REFORM U.K.: What really happened here is it was vote Burnham, get Starmer out. SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Reform leader Farage admitting Friday he's disappointed in the result. His party beaten at its own game. Meanwhile, uncertainty ahead for Starmer and for Labour as Burnham plots his next move.

KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: If there is a contest, just to be clear with you, then yes, I will run, I will stand. And I've said repeatedly, I'm not going to walk away from that.

SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Another battle may lie ahead for Burnham but first, a victory lap.

BURNHAM: The word Makerfield in the future must be known as a byword for the change that came to British politics.

SEBASTIAN: Andy Burnham, speaking to supporters at a local football club, isn't directly addressing the big question when and how he could challenge

Keir Starmer's leadership. Instead focusing on what the campaign now believes won it for them. That core message of hope and the promise of change -- Clare Sebastian CNN in Ashton-in-Makerfield, England.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: A massive fire at a hotel in the Dominican Republic has left an Italian woman dead. Nearly 1,700 tourists had to be evacuated when the fire broke out on Friday. Three people were hospitalized and six others were treated onsite.

Officials say the flames spread rapidly because of the hotel's straw roof and the cause is now under investigation.

Investigators in the U.K. have begun gathering evidence to determine what caused a fatal train collision near the town of Bedford. A train driver was killed and dozens of people were seriously injured in the crash on Friday afternoon.

British prime minister Keir Starmer says his thoughts are with the family of the person killed and those injured, too.

There is mixed reaction across Cuba after the government signed off on sweeping economic reforms. Cuban lawmakers on Thursday approved more than 175 measures that would open the door to real estate development and private banking.

The changes would also allow companies to hire more than 100 employees for the first time. This marks the biggest shift in Cuba's socialist economic model since the 1959 revolution. The measures were approved as the country grapples with U.S. sanctions and a deep economic crisis.

Europe is bracing for a scorching weekend. Temperatures are expected to reach or break records in some parts of the continent.

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HUNTE: All right, let's talk soccer or football. Friday's group stage matches delivered another day of thrilling World Cup action. American fans are dreaming big after Team USA continued their very impressive run, beating Australia 2-0 in Seattle. Team USA scored twice in the first half and never looked back, maintaining control of the pitch.

That's despite Australia's best efforts. The U.S. has now secured their spot in the upcoming knockout round.

Morocco beat Scotland 1-0 in Boston after scoring in the first two minutes of play. Scotland tried for an equalizer but they couldn't break through Morocco's defenses.

Brazil captured their first win of the tournament, beating Haiti 3-0 in Philadelphia despite a great effort from Haiti in the second half and Paraguay defeated Turkiye 1-0 at their game in San Francisco. And that does mean that Team USA has won their group.

OK, so this is Walter, the orangutan, who is predicting a German victory when they play the Ivory Coast later today. Zookeepers say the very hairy beast used his psychic abilities to untie the knot on a bag holding the German flag and then he ruthlessly thrashed the other bag with the Ivory Coast's flag. Supposedly, that's a clear sign of his choice.

Zookeepers say the orangutan has been predicting football matches for two decades. They call him the best World Cup oracle.

Love that. And that's all we've got for you. Thanks for joining me and the team. I'm Ben Hunte in Atlanta. "MISSION TIGER" is next. I'll be back at the same time with you tomorrow. See you then.