News 08:00

BULLETIN 22 June 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The UN Secretary-General is gravely alarmed by the USA’s attack on Iran
# Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham are released from detention in Equatorial Guinea
# And Prince William celebrates his birthday with a puppy photo

# The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said he was gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran. He was reacting to an attack by American B-2 bombers on three Iranian nuclear sites, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Guterres called it a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge and a direct threat to international peace and security. He said there is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control, with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world.

Iran previously pledged to retaliate if the US joined Israel’s assault, but there has not been any official statement from Tehran’s leaders since the US launched its attack. In his address from the White House on Saturday evening, President Donald Trump thanked the Israeli military and praised American service members for an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in decades:

# The two South African engineers, who had been unlawfully detained in Equatorial Guinea since 9 February 2023, have been released and are safely home on South African soil. Their release follows a pardon from the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Mbasogo. Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham were personally welcomed by the minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, when they arrived at the Lanseria Airport last night. Shaun Murphy, a spokesperson for the families, expressed their deepest appreciation to everyone who worked tirelessly behind the scenes in securing their freedom:

Meanwhile, the government has welcomed the release. The spokesperson for the ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, Chrispin Phiri, said the government appreciated the Government of Equatorial Guinea’s continued provision of consular access and the spirit of constructive diplomatic dialogue that has been maintained throughout this period.

# Soccer:  Mamelodi Sundowns pushed Borussia Dortmund in a gripping 4-3 defeat in their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup group match. Although the result didn’t go the South Africans’ way, they proved that they belong on the global stage. The South Africans scored a total of three goals from the boots of Lucas Ribeiro, Iqraam Rayners and Lebo Mothiba.  Coach Miguel Cardosa said the result is not what they wanted, but he was happy with his team’s display. Sundowns remain second in Group F with three points and will now turn their attention to their match against Fluminense on Wednesday.

# And finally: A photo of the Prince of Wales with a litter of puppies has been posted on social media by Kensington Palace to mark his 43rd birthday. The picture, taken by the Princess of Wales, shows Prince William with their family’s Cocker spaniel, Orla, and three of her four recently arrived puppies. The message for Prince William was signed online “with love”, with the initials of Catherine and their children, plus a paw print emoji. Orla was given to the royal couple by Catherine’s brother, James Middleton, in 2020, shortly after the death of their previous dog Lupo.

Stay tuned for more news………….