Morning News Bulletin 22 June 2025

SBS Australia

21-06-2025

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TRANSCRIPT
Reports the US is relocating B-2 bomber aircraft as Donald Trump considers a potential airstrike in Iran
The grandfather of an Indigenous man who died in police custody writes a letter to the Prime Minister
In cricket, Sam Konstas replaces Marnus Labuschagne ahead of Australia's opening Test match against the West Indies The United States is reportedly moving B-2 bomber aircraft to the Pacific island of Guam - as President Donald Trump weighs whether the United States should take part in Israel's strikes against Iran. According to US media reports and tracking data, multiple B-2 bomber aircraft have left their base in Missouri, headed for Guam. It is unclear whether the bomber deployment is tied to tensions between Israel and Iran. The B-2 is capable of striking Iran's deeply buried nuclear facilities. The Pentagon has not responded to a request for comment. Israel and Iran have exchanged more strikes, as the conflict enters its second week. Israel is claiming it has killed three of Iran's commanders - Saeed Izadi, Behnam Shahryari and Aminpour Judaki. Iran has not confirmed the deaths. This man in Iran says he wants to see the fighting stop. "I'm not in that situation to decide which one has the winning point at the moment. I just think about my family, my people, and that's it. No matter for me the names - Iran, Israel, I don't know, United States. We are thinking about peace and we hope it happens. The only thing that is important is people. People should be safe." The grandfather of a 24-year-old Indigenous man who died in police custody has drafted an open letter to the prime minister calling for the federal government to step in and address problems in the Northern Territory's justice system. The senior Warlpiri leader's grandson Kumanjayi White died after being forcibly restrained by two plain clothes officers inside a supermarket in Alice Springs in May. In the letter, Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves wrote that the justice system in the Territory was "in crisis", telling Prime Minister the federal government has total power over the NT - and saying "this madness must stop." The letter addressed to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese came amid protests in Sydney and Alice Springs demanding justice for Mr White. Pope Leo has recognised the work of South American journalists who uncovered sexual abuse by leaders of a dissolved Catholic group. The Sodalitium Christianae Vitae group, founded by Catholic laity and priests in 1971, was investigated by the Vatican, which concluded in 2017 that its leader, layman Luis Fernando Figari, abused along with three other former members, 19 minors and 10 adults between the 1970s and 2000s. In Lima, Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu read the leader written by the Pope, ahead of the premiere of a theatrical production that exploring the abuse scandal. "I want to thank those who have persevered in this cause, even when they were ignored, disqualified and even legally persecuted. In this time of deep social tensions, defending free and ethical journalism is not only an act of justice, but a duty of all those who long for a solid and participatory democracy." In cricket, Sam Konstas says he is ready to go again after being picked to play for Australia in their opening Test match against the West Indies on Wednesday. The 19-year-old has replaced Marnus Labuschagne in the squad following the latter's poor form in the recent World Test Championship final. Konstas made a stormy entry to the Tests against India at last year's Boxing Day Test match and scored a half century that contained some audacious shots against the world's best fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. The opening batter says he still reflects on the moment but has also been working to further improve his game. "To be honest I've been watching it quite a bit. Even some of my mates still send it to me but yeah I still can't believe it. I don't know what was going through my mind at that time but no I thought it was the right time in the moment and yeah it was good fun. It was my first few Test matches... the emotion probably got to me with the crowd and obviously it was good reflecting having a bit of time off, trying to strengthen my game up and yeah hopefully we get to win the start in the next Test match."
The three-Test series against the West Indies starts this Wednesday in Bridgetown, Barbados.