JUNE 24 (GMT) – JUNE 25 (AEST), 2020

YOUR DAILY TOP 12 STORIES FROM FRANK NEWS

FULL STORIES START ON PAGE 3

NORTH AMERICA UK AUSTRALIA

Students out to support Trump ‘Real risk’ of second virus wave Aussies urge shift from China

It wasn’t quite one of his signature big- Health leaders are calling for an urgent The fragile relationship with China has stadium rallies. But President Donald review to ensure Britain is properly left its mark on Australians, with many Trump drew something closer to the jam- prepared for the “real risk” of a second believing there is a need to reduce the packed audience of political supporters wave of coronavirus. Ministers have been nation’s economic dependence on the he’s been craving as hundreds of warned that urgent action is needed to Asian powerhouse. A new survey has young conservatives filled a Phoenix prevent further loss of life and to protect found as many as nine in 10 people megachurch to hear his call for them to the economy amid growing fears of a (94 per cent) believe the Australian get behind his reelection effort. renewed outbreak over the winter. government should look for other markets to steer the country away from its reliance on its number one trading partner, China.

NORTH AMERICA UK NEW ZEALAND

Voting smooth in primaries Study delves into 2019 election Quarantine regime under fire

Voters have endured 90-minute waits in Low-income voters helped deliver Jacinda Ardern’s government has been Kentucky’s second-largest city, but the Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s election accused of risking the health of New biggest hurdle facing election officials landslide, with Labour trailing the Tories Zealanders after revelations most people seemed to be what wasn’t happening: among poorer Britons for the first allowed to leave COVID-19 quarantine in quick counting of mail-in ballots for high- time, an analysis has shown. A major June did so without tests. Of the 55 Kiwis profile congressional primaries in that report into voting behaviour at the 2019 granted compassionate exemptions to state and New York. Final results seemed election found the Tories established a leave isolation between June 9 and 16, unlikely for days. 15-point lead over Labour among people all but four did so without a coronavirus on low incomes. The study found that the test. Tories were more popular with people struggling to make ends meet than they were among wealthier voters.

1 JUNE 24 (GMT) – JUNE 25 (AEST), 2020

YOUR DAILY TOP 12 STORIES FROM FRANK NEWS

FULL STORIES START ON PAGE 6

ASIA UK AUSTRALIA

China, India agree to disengage Economy faces long recovery Defence force to aid virus fight

Chinese and Indian military commanders Scotland’s economy may not return to its The defence force and other states have have agreed to disengage their forces pre-coronavirus level until summer 2024 been called in to help Victoria’s efforts in a disputed area of the Himalayas if there is a second wave of the disease, to contain coronavirus cases. The state following a clash that left at least 20 economists have warned. A new report has seen a spike in COVID-19 infections soldiers dead, both countries have from experts at the Fraser of Allander in the past week, with 20 more cases said. The commanders reached the Institute think tank said the “Scottish and a death recorded on Wednesday. agreement in their first meeting since the economy is now in its deepest recession The Australian Defence Force, NSW, SA, June 15 confrontation, the countries said. in living memory”. It added recovery could Tasmania and Queensland have been The confrontation in the Galwan Valley, take four years in the worst-case scenario called in to help. part of the disputed Ladakh region along if there was another spike of cases and the Himalayan frontier, was the deadliest stringent lockdown measures had to be between the two countries in 45 years. reimposed.

ASIA UK NEW ZEALAND

N Korea eases military threat Virus hits medical research Last passenger train leaves town

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Research into some of the UK’s deadliest A locomotive and carriages used on has suspended his military’s plans diseases is being “devastated” by the Dunedin’s Taieri Gorge Railway left the to take unspecified retaliatory action Covid-19 pandemic, leading charities southern city this morning for the North against South Korea, state media have warned. The Association of Medical Island. The engine and rolling stock has said, possibly slowing a pressure Research Charities (AMRC) warned that had been leased by the city council- campaign against its rival amid stalled medical research is being hampered owned Dunedin Railways, but they’re no nuclear negotiations with the Trump by the economic challenges posed longer being used as the line has been administration. Declaring relations as fully by coronavirus. Many charities have mothballed with the loss of 50 jobs. ruptured, the North last week blew up an described huge losses in income as they Some of those workers joined a group inter-Korean liaison office in its territory warned that research efforts could be of two dozen supporters to see the and threatened unspecified military impacted for years to come. locomotive off. action against the South.

2 JUNE 24 (GMT) – JUNE 25 (AEST), 2020

Supporters of President cheer as he arrives to a group of young A voter fills out her ballot during the Kentucky Primary at the Kentucky Exposition Center Republicans at Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona. - AP in Louisville, Kentucky. - AP

NORTH AMERICA NORTH AMERICA Students turn out Voting largely smooth to support Trump in election primaries

It wasn’t quite one of his signature big-stadium rallies. Voters have endured 90-minute waits in Kentucky’s second-largest city, but the biggest hurdle facing election But President Donald Trump drew something closer to officials seemed to be what wasn’t happening: quick the jam-packed audience of political supporters he’s been counting of mail-in ballots for high-profile congressional craving as hundreds of young conservatives filled a Phoenix primaries in that state and New York. Final results megachurch to hear his call for them to get behind his seemed unlikely for days. reelection effort. The crowded pews at the Dream City Church for the In the day’s foremost contests, two young African American gathering of Students for Trump offered a starkly different feel candidates with campaigns energized by nationwide compared to Trump’s weekend rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, his protests for racial justice were challenging white Democratic first of the coronavirus era, which drew sparser attendance. establishment favorites for the party’s nominations. Trump hailed the “patriotic young Americans who stand up First-term state legislator Charles Booker was hoping a late tall for America and refuse to kneel to the radical left.” surge would carry him past former Marine fighter pilot Amy “You are the courageous warriors standing in the way of McGrath for the Democratic Senate nomination from Kentucky. what they want to do and their goals,” he told the boisterous And in New York, political newcomer Jamaal Bowman was crowd. “They hate our history. They hate our values, and they seeking to derail House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman hate everything we prize as Americans.” Eliot Engel’s bid for a 17th term in Congress. His address was chock-full of typical Trump lines – boasts Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky easily won the Republican about television ratings, ridicule of his likely Democratic nomination for a seventh Senate term and will be favored in presidential opponent Joe Biden and sharply worded November against McGrath or Booker. resentments over China’s handling of the virus. He also offered A deluge of mail-in ballots prompted by the coronavirus his supporters a dark warning. pandemic and slow-moving vote-counting procedures meant “This will be in my opinion the most corrupt election in the final results in those and other races would probably take days history of our country,” said Trump, who has in recent days or more. That torturous wait seemed a preview of November, stepped up claims that expanded mail-in voting will lead to when numerous states will turn to mail-in voting like never voting fraud. “And we can not let this happen.” before. Officials are already warning that uncertainty over who But throughout his daylong trip to Arizona, which included the next president will linger for days. a visit to the US-Mexico border, the COVID-19 pandemic By late afternoon, there were scattered reports of long lines shadowed Trump. and absentee ballots that voters never received. Yet voting Since late May, Arizona has emerged as one of the nation’s generally appeared smoother than in elections held in recent most active hot spots for the spread of COVID-19. weeks in Georgia and Nevada, where some people stood in Photos of restaurants and bars crowded with unmasked line for hours. patrons ignited controversy. Republican Gov. Doug Ducey Waits lasting 90 minutes were reported at the lone voting reversed himself last week and allowed cities and counties site in Lexington, Kentucky – Kroger Field, the University of to require people to wear masks in public places. Most Kentucky’s football stadium. ■ have, including Phoenix and Yuma and the counties that surround them. ■

3 JUNE 24 (GMT) – JUNE 25 (AEST), 2020

A member of the cleaning team disinfects the inside of a train carriage at Waverley Station, - PA Edinburgh, Scotland. - PA

UK UK ‘Real risk’ of second Research delves into wave of coronavirus 2019 election result

Health leaders are calling for an urgent review to ensure Low-income voters helped deliver Prime Minister Boris Britain is properly prepared for the “real risk” of a second Johnson’s election landslide, with Labour trailing the wave of coronavirus. Tories among poorer Britons for the first time, an analysis has shown. Ministers have been warned that urgent action is needed to prevent further loss of life and to protect the economy amid A major report into voting behaviour at the 2019 election growing fears of a renewed outbreak over the winter. found the Tories established a 15-point lead over Labour The appeal is backed by the presidents of the Royal Colleges among people on low incomes. of Physicians, Surgeons, GPs and Nursing – as well as the The study found that the Tories were more popular with chairman of the British Medical Association. people struggling to make ends meet than they were among It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the wealthier voters. biggest easing to date of the coronavirus lockdown in England. But both parties now face a battle for the support of poorer The Prime Minister said the two-metre social-distancing voters, as they are set to suffer the brunt of the economic rule would be replaced with a “one-metre plus” rule paving fallout from the coronavirus crisis. the way for pubs, restaurants, hotels and cinemas to begin Research for the anti-poverty Joseph Rowntree Foundation reopening from July 4. think tank warned that low-income workers potentially face a In an open letter to the leaders of all the UK political parties “double injustice” as they were less able to isolate themselves published in the British Medical Journal, the health leaders call at home and are now most exposed to the worst economic for a “rapid and forward-looking assessment” of the state of effects of the Covid-19 crisis. national preparedness in the event of a renewed flare-up. The report said: “Remarkably, the Conservatives are now “While the future shape of the pandemic in the UK is hard to more popular among people on low incomes than they are predict, the available evidence indicates that local flare ups are among people on high incomes. increasingly likely and a second wave a real risk,” they said. “The Conservatives are no longer the party of the rich, while “Many elements of the infrastructure needed to contain Labour is no longer the party of the poor. the virus are beginning to be put in place, but substantial “The Labour Party that Sir Keir Starmer recently became challenges remain. leader of is today just as popular among the wealthy as it is “The job now is not only to deal urgently with the wide- among those on low incomes. Both parties have inverted their ranging impacts of the first phase of the pandemic, but to traditional support base.” ensure that the country is adequately prepared to contain The report examined evidence from the British Election a second phase.” Study which found that in 2019, 45.4 per cent of low-income They called for the creation of a cross-party commission with voters backed the Conservatives, with 30.6 per cent backing a “constructive, non-partisan, four nations approach,” to be Labour. established to develop practical recommendations for action Among high-income voters the figures were 40 per cent for based on what had been learned so far. the Tories and 30.8 per cent for Labour. “We believe this will be essential if the UK is to get ahead of The report added that the Conservatives will “need to work the curve,” they said. ■ hard to retain that support”. ■

4 JUNE 24 (GMT) – JUNE 25 (AEST), 2020

- AAP - AP

AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND Australians urge shift New Zealand quarantine from China reliance regime comes under fire

The fragile relationship with China has left its mark Jacinda Ardern’s government has been accused of risking on Australians, with many believing there is a need the health of New Zealanders after revelations most to reduce the nation’s economic dependence on the people allowed to leave COVID-19 quarantine in June Asian powerhouse. did so without tests.

A new survey has found as many as nine in 10 people (94 per Of the 55 Kiwis granted compassionate exemptions to leave cent) believe the Australian government should look for other isolation between June 9 and 16, all but four did so without markets to steer the country away from its reliance on its a coronavirus test. number one trading partner, China. The Ministry of Health admitted the failing in an after-hours Trust in China has also dropped to just 23 per cent – less press release after its Director General of Health spent a week than half of what it was two years ago. unable to answer questions on its testing regime. These were some of the key findings in the Lowy Institute’s Opposition leader Todd Muller seized on the declaration, 16th annual poll of Australian attitudes towards international calling it a “national disgrace” and asking besieged health issues released this week. minister David Clark to resign. “Australians are sceptical of China, disappointed in the “The minister of health ultimately has been accountable (and) , and anxious about the economic downturn,” must step down. The prime minister seems simply incapable of the institute said. showing leadership that New Zealand would expect at a time The poll of 2448 adult Australians was taken between March like this,” Muller said. 16 and 29, before the escalation of friction with China over “If the net effect of all of those lapsed protocols is that we trade issues and the inquiry into the origin of the coronavirus. avoid community transmission, we are indeed a lucky country.” Four out of five Australians also believe the government Clark previously offered to resign after being caught making should sanction Chinese officials associated with human multiple lockdown breaches, only for Ardern to decline it, rights abuses. saying disruption in the portfolio was undesirable during However, when it comes to the way coronavirus has been the crisis. handled, Australians rank China (31 per cent) above the US, The compassionate exemption system was introduced to at just 10 per cent. allow Kiwis to see terminally-ill loved ones or attend funerals That contrasts with the 93 per cent who back the way the after racing home from overseas. Morrison government has tackled the pandemic. The revelation that two women were granted releases Over three-quarters of respondents say the relationship with without being tested – only to test positive last week – the US is important to Australia’s security, although less than a prompted Ardern to pause the exemptions regime and third have confidence in US President Donald Trump to do the conduct a review. right thing in world affairs. Siouxsie Wlies, a University of Auckland microbiologist Trust in neighbours like India and Indonesia were hardly who has become one of New Zealand’s most trusted figures overwhelming at 45 per cent and 36 per cent respectively. ■ through the crisis, said the chances of COVID-19 returning to the community through an exemption was “very low”. “The isolation is our best defence,” she said. ■

5 JUNE 24 (GMT) – JUNE 25 (AEST), 2020

A Chinese soldier, left, and an Indian soldier put a barbed wire fence into place at the - AP international border at Nathula Pass, in northeastern Indian state of Sikkim. - AP

ASIA ASIA China, India agree North Korea eases to disengage forces military threat

Chinese and Indian military commanders have agreed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has suspended to disengage their forces in a disputed area of the his military’s plans to take unspecified retaliatory Himalayas following a clash that left at least 20 soldiers action against South Korea, state media has said, dead, both countries have said. possibly slowing a pressure campaign against its rival amid stalled nuclear negotiations with the Trump The commanders reached the agreement in their first meeting administration. since the June 15 confrontation, the countries said. The confrontation in the Galwan Valley, part of the disputed Declaring relations as fully ruptured, the North last week blew Ladakh region along the Himalayan frontier, was the deadliest up an inter-Korean liaison office in its territory and threatened between the two countries in 45 years. unspecified military action against the South, censuring Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said “the Seoul for a lack of progress in bilateral cooperation and failing two sides had a frank and in-depth exchange of views on the to stop activists from floating anti-Pyongyang leaflets across prominent issues in the current border control and agreed to the border. take necessary measures to cool down the situation.” Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency said Kim The Indian army said in a statement that “commander- presided over a preliminary meeting of the ruling Workers’ level talks … were held at Moldo in (a) cordial, positive and Party’s Central Military Commission, which decided to suspend constructive atmosphere. There was mutual consensus to plans for military action against the South brought up by disengage.” the North’s military leaders. The KCNA didn’t specify why the Zhao denied apparent speculation by an Indian government decision was made. minister that 40 Chinese troops had died in the June 15 clash. The North has a history of dialing up pressure against the “I can tell you responsibly that it is false information,” he said South when it fails to get what it wants from the United States. at a daily briefing. The North’s recent steps came after months of frustration over India has said that 20 of its soldiers died. China has not Seoul’s unwillingness to defy US-led sanctions over its nuclear released any information on casualties on its side. weapons program and restart inter-Korean economic projects Soldiers brawled with clubs, rocks and their fists in the thin that would breathe life into its broken economy. air at 4270 meters (14,000 feet) above sea level, but no shots Nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington were fired, Indian officials have said. The soldiers carry firearms began to implode after Kim’s second summit with President but are not allowed to use them under a previous agreement Donald Trump last year in Vietnam, where the Americans in the border dispute. rejected North Korea’s demands for major sanctions relief in Indian security officials have said the fatalities were caused exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities. ■ by severe injuries and exposure to subfreezing temperatures. The valley falls within a remote stretch of the 3380-kilometer (2100-mile) Line of Actual Control – the border established following a war between India and China in 1962 that resulted in an uneasy truce. ■

6 JUNE 24 (GMT) – JUNE 25 (AEST), 2020

- AP - AP

UK UK Economy ‘may not Virus ‘devastates’ recover until 2024’ medical research

Scotland’s economy may not return to its pre- Research into some of the UK’s deadliest diseases is coronavirus level until summer 2024 if there is a second being “devastated” by the Covid-19 pandemic, leading wave of the disease, economists have warned. charities have warned.

A new report from experts at the Fraser of Allander Institute The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) warned think tank said the “Scottish economy is now in its deepest that medical research is being hampered by the economic recession in living memory”. challenges posed by coronavirus. It added recovery could take four years in the worst-case Many charities have described huge losses in income scenario if there was another spike of cases and stringent as they warned that research efforts could be impacted lockdown measures had to be reimposed. for years to come. In the most optimistic scenario, assuming the easing of The impact of the crisis could lead to a “stall” in making the restrictions goes “smoothly”, it said it is possible the Scottish discoveries that patients “urgently need”, experts said. economy could get back to pre-crisis levels by late 2021 or Even with “best efforts” to save costs – such as putting staff early 2022. on furlough and charity employees taking pay cuts – there are The report comes after figures last week showed GDP in still major shortfalls in cash among the sector. Scotland plummeted 18.9 per cent in April. Fundraising events have been called off and charity shops Although the report said this fall was “unprecedented” it have been shut for months which has caused a “big blow” to added it was “broadly what was expected given the scale of the the income of charities. mothballing of large sectors of the economy”. As a result, some research into illnesses including The number of Scots in receipt of the Universal Credit also heart disease, cancer and Parkinson’s disease have rose to more than 440,000 in May – more than double the total been put on pause. of 185,000 recorded in the same month last year. Even with “best efforts” to save costs – such as putting staff With more than 750,000 people in Scotland either on furlough and charity employees taking pay cuts – there are furloughed or being supported through the UK Government’s still major shortfalls in cash among the sector. self-employment scheme, the think tank fears a possible “raft The AMRC is leading a call for the Government to commit of redundancies and business closures” when this help starts to a matched funding agreement to put the sector on stable to be scaled back. footing. Its latest economic commentary said: “The immediate priority In the first year it is calling for a cash boost of £310 million. for many businesses is survival. Such a boost could put medical research “back on track” and “But expect a spike in closures and job losses as firms mitigate some of the risks faced by the charities, said Michelle look ahead to the rolling back of the furlough support Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK. later in the year.” “We are facing a precipice here, we do not want to make the The report said Government support has provided an cuts we may be compelled to make,” she said. “invaluable safety net” during the crisis, with “around £10 Aisling Burnand, chief executive of the AMRC said: “The billion of funding support for the Scottish economy through current pandemic has put the future of charity funded additional resources for the Scottish Government and various research at significant risk. ■ business support schemes”. ■

7 JUNE 24 (GMT) – JUNE 25 (AEST), 2020

Cars are seen queueing up in a COVID-19 testing site at Craigieburn Health Service in The last passenger train to depart Dunedin seen at the station as it prepares to leave. - Melbourne. - AAP RNZ

AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND Defence force to Last passenger aid virus response train leaves town

The defence force and other states have been called in to A locomotive and carriages used on Dunedin’s Taieri help Victoria’s efforts to contain coronavirus cases. Gorge Railway left the southern city this morning for the North Island. The state has seen a spike in COVID-19 infections in the past week, with 20 more cases and a death recorded on The engine and rolling stock had been leased by the city Wednesday. council-owned Dunedin Railways, but they’re no longer being The Australian Defence Force, NSW, SA, Tasmania and used as the line has been mothballed with the loss of 50 jobs. Queensland have been called in to help. Some of those workers joined a group of two dozen “This support will mean we can get even more tests done supporters to see the locomotive off. and results back quickly – and a stronger effort to remind Among them was Judy Trevathan, who had worked for the Victorians if you are sick, stay home and get tested,” a company for 16 years. government spokeswoman said. “It’s actually quite sad watching our train go past and there’s Community engagement in the local government areas of now a lot of knowledge and qualifications all just disappearing,” Brimbank, Casey, Cardinia, Darebin, Hume and Moreland has Trevathan said. been ramped up, including doorknocking, after they were “We’re a small collective – like a family unit.” identified as coronavirus hotspots. She remained hopeful the company would restart its The areas consist of large migrant populations, with many excursions in future. speaking languages other than English at home. “We just wish and hope that we will be back working Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said engaging with together again.” linguistically diverse communities isn’t as simple as handing out Courtney Kilner, a worker of five years, shared Trevathan’s translated pamphlets. sentiments. “You do need that community leadership, community “The people that they are leaving in charge once we go into champions and all of the modes and methods available the mothball are great,” Kilner said. to you,” he said. “There’s a lot of hope that we’ll be back. The train that left He said conspiracy theories on social media haven’t helped. today, we’re using it to signify the last train, but hopefully it’s While information about the virus has been translated into not. The carriages that are going were leased by the company 55 languages, Health Minister Jenny Mikakos conceded people … but everything else we still own and as far as I’m aware in the hotspots may not engage with traditional media. there’s no intention of selling them. They’re going to try and “We have to worker harder to reach these people,” she said. keep them oiled and moving.” Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government She recently visited Queenstown and saw what the return of has held almost 4500 consultations with migrant and local tourists had meant to that centre. community leaders. “It’s just busy as normal, everything is running. Everyone’s He blamed Black Lives Matter protests held in Australian been set free, we can do things again and I don’t see why we cities over the last two weeks for a “relaxation” of attitudes couldn’t be one of those things that everyone comes to do,” towards social distancing. ■ she said. The pair were thankful for the support of the community. ■

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