JUNE 23 (GMT) – JUNE 24 (AEST), 2020

YOUR DAILY TOP 12 STORIES FROM FRANK NEWS

FULL STORIES START ON PAGE 3

NORTH AMERICA UK AUSTRALIA

Trump: China deal fully intact Lockdown eases, infections drop ‘Significant’ borders closures

President Donald Trump is tweeting that Cinemas, museums and art galleries will Health Minister Greg Hunt says an initial trade agreement with China is be able to begin re-opening their doors Australia’s borders will remain closed still on after a top White House adviser’s from next month in the latest easing of for “a very significant” amount of time. comments seemed to suggest it was the coronavirus lockdown in England. Hunt says coronavirus infection rates over. Trump tweeted: “The China Trade British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is are accelerating around the world. Deal is fully intact. Hopefully they will due to set out the results of a review “For the time being we are an island continue to live up to the terms of the of the two-metre social-distancing rule sanctuary,” he said. The number of global Agreement!” The Trump administration in the Commons – amid a widespread coronavirus infections has exceeded has been critical of China’s efforts to expectation it will be cut to one metre. nine million. Hunt appeared to suggest contain the novel coronavirus early on international borders would be shut until and the president repeatedly blames a vaccine was found. China for the pandemic in his remarks.

NORTH AMERICA UK NEW ZEALAND

Trump to mark border milestone Plasma sought for antibodies Muller slams ‘national disgrace’

President Donald Trump is set to Men appear to produce higher levels Pressure is mounting on the government celebrate 200 miles (322km) of wall of COVID-19 antibodies than women, and health officials to explain how along the southwest border in Arizona, figures suggest. COVID-19 survivors are many people left managed isolation in an area where crews have built being sought to donate blood plasma as without being tested for COVID-19 since dozens of miles of new fencing amid part of a major trial assessing whether it June 9. The Opposition leader says it is a coronavirus breakout and protests could help some of the sickest patients. an absolute shambles and a “national from opponents who say construction The trial is ongoing to assess whether disgrace” that the information is still is destroying important habitats. Trump convalescent plasma donations can unavailable a week since it was first will be accompanied by Acting Secretary be transfused into patients who are asked, despite repeated requests from of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, who struggling to develop their own immune politicians and the media. was in Yuma in January to celebrate the response. competition of 100 miles (161km).

1 JUNE 23 (GMT) – JUNE 24 (AEST), 2020

YOUR DAILY TOP 12 STORIES FROM FRANK NEWS

FULL STORIES START ON PAGE 6

NORTH AMERICA ASIA AUSTRALIA

Triplets born with coronavirus China launches GPS-like satellite Morrison nixes robodebt inquiry

Mexico’s novel coronavirus cases China has launched the final satellite in Calls for a royal commission into the mounted and added their youngest its Beidou constellation that emulates the robodebt scheme are growing louder infections, when triplets tested positive US Global Positioning System, marking but Prime Minister Scott Morrison insists for the virus on the day they were born. a further step in the country’s advance there’s no need because it’s being fixed. Monica Rangel, the health secretary of as a major space power. The launch of Labor and the Greens are demanding the northern state of San Luis Potosi, the satellite onboard a Long March-3 a probe into the discredited robodebt said the triplets were born on May 8 rocket was broadcast live from the scheme, which is also facing a class to a mother who was also positive but satellite launch base of Xichang, deep in action alongside an ongoing Senate asymptomatic. Rangel said the triplets the mountains of southwestern China. inquiry. But the prime minister said the are not believed to be in danger. About half an hour later, the satellite was government is dealing with the issue. deployed in orbit and extended its solar panels to provide its energy.

EUROPE ASIA NEW ZEALAND

Putin uses parade for support Activist floats leaflets to N Korea New virus cases in quarantine

A massive Russian military parade A South Korean activist says hundreds of Director-General of Health Ashley postponed by the coronavirus pandemic thousands of leaflets had been launched Bloomfield has provided an update on will roll through Red Square this week to by balloon across the border with COVID-19 cases in New Zealand. Dr celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end North Korea overnight, after the North Bloomfield said there were two new of World War II in Europe, even though repeatedly warned it would retaliate cases of COVID-19 to report, both in Russia is still registering a steady rise against such actions. The move is managed isolation facilities. One case in infections. President Vladimir Putin’s certain to intensify tensions between the in Wellington was now considered insistence on holding the parade reflects Koreas, after the North abruptly raised recovered, Dr Bloomfield said, so the not only his desire to put Russia’s power its rhetoric against South Korean civilian total number of active cases was 10. on display but also to bolster patriotic leafleting and pushed to resume its sentiments. psychological warfare against the South.

2 JUNE 23 (GMT) – JUNE 24 (AEST), 2020

President Donald Trump. - AP A Customs and Border Control agent patrols on the US side of a razor-wire-covered border wall separating Mexico and Nogales, Arizona. - AP

NORTH AMERICA NORTH AMERICA Trump: Trade agreement Trump set to mark with China fully intact border wall milestone

President Donald Trump is tweeting that an initial trade President Donald Trump is set to celebrate 200 miles agreement with China is still on after a top White House (322 km) of wall along the southwest border in Arizona, adviser’s comments seemed to suggest it was over. in an area where crews have built dozens of miles of new fencing amid a coronavirus breakout and protests Trump tweeted: “The China Trade Deal is fully intact. Hopefully from opponents who say construction is destroying they will continue to live up to the terms of the Agreement!” important habitats. The Trump administration has been critical of China’s efforts to contain the novel coronavirus early on and the president Trump will be accompanied by Acting Secretary of Homeland repeatedly blames China for the pandemic in his remarks, Security Chad Wolf, who was in Yuma in January to celebrate leading to questions about future cooperation in areas such the competition of 100 miles (161 km). Wolf called the wall as trade. system an “undeniable impediment to smugglers, traffickers Peter Navarro, director of trade and manufacturing policy at and other criminals who have exploited our lack of effective the White House, said “it’s over,” when asked a question that border infrastructure.” was focused on the China trade deal. It’s unclear where exactly within the Yuma Sector, which is When contacted by The Associated Press, Navarro said his near the California-Arizona border, Trump will visit, and the comments had been taken out of context and had nothing to Border Patrol declined to give specifics. But Yuma has been an do with the deal. important place in Trump’s promise to build a wall along the “I was simply speaking to the lack of trust we now have of the southern border. The president tweeted that he will celebrate Chinese Communist Party after they lied about the origins of the “212th plus mile of completion,” offering a different the China virus and foisted a pandemic upon the world,” said number than DHS officials gave in a news release earlier. Navarro, a longtime critic of the Asian country. The agency says it has completed 61 miles (98 kilometers) In January, the US and China reached an interim trade deal of border wall and plans on building another 109 miles (175 to reduce tariff tensions. China agreed to buy massive amounts kilometers) in that rugged area of mostly desert. Most of the of US products. new fencing that’s gone up is 30 feet (nine meters) high. United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer The Trump administration has promised to build 450 miles testified on Capitol Hill last week that he is confident China will (724 km) of border wall by the end of the year, aided by live up to its purchase commitments even though its economy relaxed procurement laws that allow the government to award has been weakened by the coronavirus pandemic and the contracts to construction companies without much vetting. lockdowns and travel restrictions imposed to contain it. ■ The government has awarded over $6.1 billion in construction contracts since April 2019, according to a tally by The Project On Government Oversight, a nonpartisan and independent watchdog. The pandemic isn’t stopping plans for more border barriers anywhere. ■

3 JUNE 23 (GMT) – JUNE 24 (AEST), 2020

- PA Health Secretary Matt Hancock donating Covid-19 Antibodies in central London. - PA

UK UK Lockdown restrictions Plasma from survivors ease as infections drop sought for antibodies

Cinemas, museums and art galleries will be able to begin Men appear to produce higher levels of COVID-19 re-opening their doors from next month in the latest antibodies than women, figures suggest. easing of the coronavirus lockdown in England. COVID-19 survivors are being sought to donate blood plasma British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to set out the as part of a major trial assessing whether it could help some of results of a review of the two-metre social-distancing rule in the sickest patients. the Commons – amid a widespread expectation it will be cut The trial is ongoing to assess whether convalescent plasma to one metre. donations can be transfused into patients who are struggling Much of the focus has been on the hospitality sector – with to develop their own immune response. detailed guidance due on how pubs, bars and restaurants can NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), which is collecting the start gradually to re-open from July 4. plasma for the trial, said new analysis had found that men However it is now expected there will be guidance produce more coronavirus antibodies than women, which for sections of the arts and cultural sector on how they makes them better plasma donors. can welcome back visitors under the latest stage of the The new figures show that 43 per cent of male donors Government’s road map for lifting the lockdown. had plasma rich enough in antibodies for their plasma to be It could mean cinemas and museums introducing one-way included in the trial, compared with 29 per cent of women. systems, spaced queuing, increased ventilation, and pre- Professor David Roberts, associate director for blood booked tickets to ensure people can return safely. donation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We’d still like to A No 10 source said: “We are only able to move forward this hear from anybody who had coronavirus or the symptoms. week because the vast majority of people have taken steps to More plasma donors are needed. control the virus. “But we’d especially want to hear from men. We test every “But the more we open up, the more important it is that plasma donation and men have higher antibody levels, everyone follows the social distancing guidelines. We will not which means we’re more likely to be able to use their plasma hesitate to reverse these steps if it is necessary to stop the to save lives. virus running out of control.” “Initially your immune system will try and fight off a virus Details of the review were being finalised at a meeting with white blood cells. If you become more ill, your immune attended by the Government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir system needs to produce more antibodies that neutralise Patrick Vallance, and the chief medical officer for England, or kill the virus. Professor Chris Whitty. “Our studies, and many others around the world, show men Johnson will then brief the Cabinet on the plan for England with COVID-19 are more likely to become seriously ill than before setting out the details in Parliament. women. This makes them better plasma donors once they Earlier, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the Government have recovered.” was able to act now because the numbers of new coronavirus Last week it was announced that anyone who tests positive cases, admissions to hospital, and deaths from the diseases for COVID-19 through the national testing programme will be were all continuing to fall. ■ asked to join a blood plasma trial. ■

4 JUNE 23 (GMT) – JUNE 24 (AEST), 2020

- AAP National leader Todd Muller. - RNZ /Dom Thomas

AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND Borders closed for Opposition slams ‘significant’ time ‘national disgrace’

Health Minister Greg Hunt says Australia’s borders will Pressure is mounting on the government and health remain closed for “a very significant” amount of time. officials to explain how many people left managed isolation without being tested for COVID-19 since June 9. Hunt says coronavirus infection rates are accelerating around the world. The Opposition leader says it is an absolute shambles and a “For the time being we are an island sanctuary,” he said. “national disgrace” that the information is still unavailable a The number of global coronavirus infections has exceeded week since it was first asked, despite repeated requests from nine million. politicians and the media. Hunt appeared to suggest international borders would be The question was prompted by the case of two women being shut until a vaccine was found. given compassionate leave to travel down the North Island on Australia’s top medical adviser on the coronavirus pandemic June 13 to be with a dying parent. says there’s a “lot of luck” involved in the caseload when They later tested positive after being allowed to leave comparing Victoria and NSW. isolation without first getting a test. Victoria’s active cases have more than doubled in a week, Prior to June 9, there was no requirement for those leaving with 16 new infections taking the total to 125. facilities to be tested as everyone had to undergo 14 days of By contrast, active cases in NSW have jumped by 22 in the mandatory isolation. past week, but fallen or remained at zero in every other state. But since then Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Victoria’s case numbers are now the highest they’ve been in Bloomfield’s instructions have been for routine testing more than two months after six days of double-digit growth. to take place. The spike caused the West Australian government to shelve How the border regime was being run has come under a plan to open its borders in August and sparked a warning by harsh scrutiny and led to the prime minister putting Air NSW against visiting Melbourne. Commodore Digby Webb in charge of all quarantine and Asked about the figures, Chief Medical Officer Brendan isolation facilities after countless reports of strict rules not Murphy said: “I think there is a lot of luck in this.” being adhered to. He said NSW had been better at bringing community National Party leader Todd Muller said the team of five transmission under control by using measures such as pop-up million New Zealanders had endured so much during clinics in hotspots. lockdown, including losing loved one, and it was “quite But he said he did not see any reason why Victoria’s cases extraordinary” that the government did not keep up its part should force other states to change their plans. of the bargain to “absolutely make sure the borders are well South Australia will send a team of experts to Victoria on managed competently”. Tuesday to help with contact tracing, spending three weeks “The fact that even today we’re in a position that neither the helping health officials. prime minister, nor [Health Minister] David Clark, nor [Housing WA Premier Mark McGowan has declined to put a date on Minister] Megan Woods can look at anyone in New Zealand when the state’s borders will reopen, but internal coronavirus and say exactly how many people left quarantine or isolation restrictions will be removed by July 18. without being tested is a national disgrace.” Meanwhile, the first results from the clinical trials of several Ardern said there was roughly 4200 people being managed different candidate vaccines should be known by late July. ■ at the border currently. ■

5 JUNE 23 (GMT) – JUNE 24 (AEST), 2020

- AP Russian military vehicles roll down Red Square Red Square during a May rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia. - AP

NORTH AMERICA EUROPE Triplets in Mexico Putin uses WWII victory born with COVID-19 parade to rally support

Mexico’s novel coronavirus cases mounted and added A massive Russian military parade postponed by the their youngest infections, when triplets tested positive coronavirus pandemic will roll through Red Square for the virus on the day they were born. this week to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, even though Russia is still Monica Rangel, the health secretary of the northern state registering a steady rise in infections. of San Luis Potosi, said the triplets were born on May 8 to a mother who was also positive but asymptomatic. President Vladimir Putin’s insistence on holding the parade Rangel said the triplets are not believed to be in danger. She reflects not only his desire to put Russia’s power on display said the case was being studied to see whether the triplets but also to bolster patriotic sentiments a week before a were infected before or after birth was being conducted, but constitutional referendum that could allow him to remain in said it appeared improbable they could have been infected office until 2036. outside the womb so quickly. The Victory Day parade normally is held on May 9, the It is not the first time newborns have tested positive for the nation’s most important secular holiday. This year’s date of virus, but it is rare. Wednesday, June 24, coincides with the day in 1945 when the Nationwide, Mexico’s confirmed coronavirus cases rose first parade was held on Red Square after the defeat of Nazi by 4577 to 185,122, and the confirmed death toll rose by Germany by the Soviet Union and its allies. 759 to 22,584. The Soviet Union lost a staggering 27 million people in what Both numbers are considered significant undercounts due it called the Great Patriotic War and the enormous suffering to Mexico’s very low levels of testing. Officials said that levels and sacrifice of that era has left a deep scar in Russia’s psyche. of infections appear to have stabilised, and held out hopes, Victory Day is a rare event in the nation’s divisive post-Soviet as they have many times before, that the numbers may start history that is revered by all political sides, and the Kremlin has declining soon. ■ used that sentiment to encourage patriotic pride and underline Russia’s role as a global power. The show is particularly important this year for Putin. The Kremlin hopes it will help secure public support a week before the July 1 nationwide vote on constitutional amendments that effectively reset the clock on his tenure in office and will allow him to seek two more six-year terms if he chooses. “For Putin, the parade has a symbolic meaning, a symbol that the epidemic is over and so the vote can be held,” said Dmitry Oreshkin, a Moscow-based independent political analyst. “And even more importantly, Victory Day serves as a positive symbol of people’s unification, economic mobilisation, strong leadership and consolidation – the things that Putin wants to claim credit for.” ■

6 JUNE 23 (GMT) – JUNE 24 (AEST), 2020

A rocket carrying the last satellite of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System blasts off from The inter-Korean liaison office building after being blown up at a shuttered joint industrial the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan Province. - AP park in Kaesong, North Korea. - AP

ASIA ASIA China launches South Korean activist GPS-like satellite floats leaflets to North

China has launched the final satellite in its Beidou A South Korean activist says hundreds of thousands of constellation that emulates the US Global Positioning leaflets had been launched by balloon across the border System, marking a further step in the country’s advance with North Korea overnight, after the North repeatedly as a major space power. warned it would retaliate against such actions.

The launch of the satellite onboard a Long March-3 rocket was The move is certain to intensify tensions between the broadcast live from the satellite launch base of Xichang, deep Koreas, after the North abruptly raised its rhetoric against in the mountains of southwestern China. About half an hour South Korean civilian leafleting and pushed to resume its later, the satellite was deployed in orbit and extended its solar psychological warfare against the South. panels to provide its energy. Police in the South Korean border town of Paju said they An initial launch scheduled for last week was scrubbed after were checking into details about the reported leafleting. checks revealed unspecified technical problems. Activist Park Sang-hak said his organization flew huge The third iteration of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System balloons carrying 500,000 leaflets, 2000 one-dollar bills and promises to provide global coverage for timing and navigation, small books on North Korea from Paju. offering an alternative to Russia’s GLONASS and the European Park, formerly a North Korean who fled to South Korea, said Galileo systems, as well as America’s GPS. in a statement his leafleting is “a struggle for justice for the China’s space program has developed rapidly over the past sake of liberation of” North Korean residents. two decades as the government devotes major resources Calling North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “an evil” and his toward developing independent high-tech capabilities – and rule “barbarism,” Park said he’ll keep sending anti-Kim leaflets even dominating in fields such as 5G data processing. despite worries about his safety. “Though North Korean The first version of Beidou, meaning “Big Dipper,” was residents have become modern-day slaves with no basic rights, decommissioned in 2012. Future plans call for a smarter, more don’t they have the rights to know the truth?” he said. accessible and more integrated system with Beidou at its core, South Korean officials have vowed to ban leafleting and said to come online by 2035. they would press charges against Park, who has sent leaflets In 2003, China became just the third country to toward North Korea for years. independently launch a crewed space mission and has since Authorities said Park’s activities are unnecessarily raising constructed an experimental space station and sent a pair of animosities between the Koreas and potentially endangering rovers to the surface of the moon. residents in border areas. In 2014, North Korean troops Future plans call for a fully functioning permanent space opened fire at propaganda balloons flying toward their station and a possible crewed flight to the moon, with its territory, triggering an exchange of fire that caused no first attempt to send an orbiter and rover to Mars possibly known causalities. coming as early as next month. If successful, it would be the Last week, North Korea blew up an inter-Korean liaison only other country besides the US to land on Earth’s closest office on its territory and threatened to take unspecified planetary neighbor. ■ steps to nullify 2018 agreements aimed at lowering front-line military tensions. Earlier, North Korea’s state media said it had manufactured 12 million propaganda leaflets to be floated toward South Korea. ■

7 JUNE 23 (GMT) – JUNE 24 (AEST), 2020

- AAP Dr Ashley Bloomfield. - RNZ

AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND Morrison downplays New COVID-19 cases in robodebt inquiry quarantine facilities

Calls for a royal commission into the robodebt scheme Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield has are growing louder but Prime Minister Scott Morrison provided an update on COVID-19 cases in New Zealand. insists there’s no need because it’s being fixed. Dr Bloomfield said there were two new cases of COVID-19 to Labor and the Greens are demanding a probe into the report, both in managed isolation facilities. discredited robodebt scheme, which is also facing a class One case in Wellington was now considered recovered, action alongside an ongoing Senate inquiry. Dr Bloomfield said, so the total number of active cases was 10. But the prime minister said the government is dealing with Confirmed cases were at 1165. The Auckland St Maragets the issue. cluster is still open. “We’re aware of what the issue is and we’re fixing the Since June 9, testing in managed isolation facilities has been problem, we’re getting the payments made,” he said. rolled out, there’s been suggestions that people should be “Let’s not forget what this issue is about – the use of income tested at the borders. Dr Bloomfield said the tests performed averaging as the primary reason for raising a debt.” at day three and day 12 were more effective at identifying Morrison has apologised for the scheme and promised to cases than that would be. reimburse more than 300,000 people targeted. “The reason why we don’t test arrival, and we wait till day The repayments will exceed $700 million. three of isolation is because that is about day five of people’s Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese wants the royal journey … and we know testing then is more likely to pick commission to uncover exactly when the government knew the up infection than earlier testing from when people may be program was illegal. incubating the virus but not test positive,” he said. Albanese shared the story of a man from his electorate who The first was a man in 20s who flew from India, the second was on welfare because he was undergoing chemotherapy and was also a man in his 20s travelling from Los Angeles, who was chased for a robodebt. tested positive at JetPark Hotel (which he had been at from the “That added to the traumatic impact on his health. And that’s start) after experiencing respiratory symptoms. just one story – there are thousands of stories just like that,” Monday there were two new COVID-19 cases in managed he said. isolation facilities – one at Novotel Auckland Airport and one at Labor said the inquiry could also examine how much the the Grand Millennium, also in Auckland. scheme cost taxpayers, how many debts were issued and how Since then the government has extended a ban on cruise many people were harmed. ships and updated its health order to clarify that travellers The Greens have welcomed Labor’s support for the probe, must take a test, possibly several, before leaving isolation. with senator Rachel Siewert saying the party will continue Cabinet is also considering a co-payment scheme for campaigning for justice. isolation facilities, while capacity is also being increased “The government has obfuscated and denied what has to meet demand. happened with robodebt for years now and they will continue Minister in charge of isolation and quarantine facilities, to do so unless we have a formal judicial review,” she said. Megan Woods, said the government was looking at a range The scheme matched Australian Taxation Office and of options to manage the flow of travellers. She ruled out Centrelink data to claw back overpaid welfare payments. ■ stopping flights from COVID-19 hotspots or implementing a ballot system. ■

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