February 28 (GMT) – February 29 (AEST), 2020

Your daily Top 12 stories from Frank News

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USA UK AUSTRALIA

Trump makes bid for black vote Wales detects first virus case ‘No audio’ of fatal plane crash

US President Donald Trump has cited The first case of coronavirus has been A preliminary report into the air tanker low unemployment rates for African confirmed in Wales, as two more were accident that claimed the lives of three Americans as an example of how he’s identified in England – bringing the US airmen during the NSW bushfire crisis helping the black community. Trump met total number in the UK to 19. Chief has found the cockpit’s voice recorder with African American supporters as part medical officer for Wales Dr Frank failed to capture any audio from the fatal of the White House commemoration of Atherton confirmed a person had been flight. The Australian Transport Safety Black History Month. “I will not stop. I diagnosed with the virus after travelling Bureau revealed the Lockheed C-130 will not give up until we have delivered back to Wales from Italy. Meanwhile, the tanker was in a “left wing down” position equal and abundant opportunity to every Department of Health confirmed two when it struck a tree and collided with neighborhood across our land,” Trump further cases of coronavirus in England, the ground near Cooma on January 23. said. Before the reception, he met with bringing the total number of cases in A final report could take more than 18 black supporters. England to 17. months to complete, the ATSB said.

USA UK Australia

US claims jet lased by Chinese UK opens trade talks with threat Mum killed in horror cafe crash

A Chinese Navy ship has fired a laser Britain published its opening demands A Sydney mother of two who was at a US surveillance aircraft flying over for trade talks with the European Union, enjoying morning coffee with friends at a the Philippine Sea west of Guam, the delivering a blunt threat to walk away Sydney cafe has died after a car driven by Navy says, acknowledging the incident from the table if there is no progress an elderly man ploughed into them. Liz more than a week after it happened. within four months. The two sides Albornoz and her friends were sitting at The Navy said the People’s Republic of appear headed for a rocky first round of a table outside the North Epping eatery China naval destroyer lased the American negotiations as they try to forge a new when the Holden Commodore drove into P-8A Poseidon aircraft in an act the relationship following the UK’s departure them, pinning at least two people against US deemed unsafe and a violation of from the now 27-nation bloc. Britain and a wall. She was taken to Royal North international codes and agreements. The the EU both say they want to reach a Shore Hospital in a critical condition with statement said the laser was detected by free trade agreement, but have starkly stomach injuries but later died. sensors on the aircraft. divergent views on what that looks like.

1 February 28 (GMT) – February 29 (AEST), 2020

Your daily Top 12 stories from Frank News

Full stories start on page 6

Rest of the world EUROPE Trans-Tasman

World ups its virus response Italy considers return to normal Ardern slams deportations

Saudi Arabia cut travel to Islam’s holiest Authorities in Italy have decided to re- Scott Morrison has stood his ground over sites, South Korea toughened penalties open schools and museums in some of Australia’s deportation policy of criminals for those breaking quarantines and the areas less hard-hit by the coronavirus after New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda airports across Latin America looked for outbreak which has seen the country Ardern bluntly said it was “testing” their signs of sick passengers as a new virus record the most cases outside of Asia. friendship. Ardern delivered a blunt troubled places around the globe. With With Italians yearning to go back to message on the policy, which has seen the number of sick and dead rising, the normal, in the more heavily affected about 2000 people sent back to NZ. crisis gave way to political and diplomatic regions – Lombardy and Veneto in the “Australia is well within its rights to deport rows, concern that bordered on panic in north – authorities were leaning toward individuals who break your laws … But we some quarters, and a sense that no part opening schools. At least 650 people have a simple request – send back Kiwis, of the world was immune. have tested positive in Italy, almost genuine Kiwis,” she said. “Do not deport entirely in the country’s productive north. your people and your problems.” rest of the world EUROPE NEW ZEALAND

Turkish soldiers killed in strike Winter storm hits Germany NZ confirms firsts virus case

Turkey has raised the death toll from a Heavy winds and snowfall have led to The person who has been confirmed Syrian government airstrike on its forces accidents in southern and southwestern to have New Zealand’s first case of the in northwestern Syria to 33 Turkish Germany that killed a woman in a car Covid-19 coronavirus “followed all of troops killed. It was the largest death and injured eight on a bus. The woman the steps you would hope would be toll for Turkey in a single day since it first was killed in an accident on a snowy followed”, says the Health Minister. intervened in Syria in 2016. The deaths, road in Rhineland-Palatinate. Meanwhile, Prime Minister confirmed which came in an attack late on Thursday, A bus from Croatia was tipped over by this afternoon that a suspected case of were a serious escalation in the direct gusty winds in Tomerdingen in Baden- Covid-19 coronavirus had tested positive. conflict between Turkish and Russia- Wuerttemberg injuring eight people, Ardern said the person was in their 60s, backed Syrian forces that has been two of them severely. Several train and was a citizen of New Zealand who waged since early February. The earlier routes were also shut down either as a had recently travelled from Iran via Bali. reported death toll was 29 troops. precaution or by fallen trees.

2 February 28 (GMT) – February 29 (AEST), 2020

African American leaders say a prayer with President Donald Trump. – AP – AP

USA USA Trump ‘won’t give up’ on US claims recon jet lased racial equality by Chinese ship

US President Donald Trump has cited low unemployment A Chinese Navy ship has fired a laser at a US surveillance rates for African Americans as an example of how he’s aircraft flying over the Philippine Sea west of Guam, the helping the black community. Navy says, acknowledging the incident more than a week after it happened. Trump met with African American supporters as part of the White House commemoration of Black History Month. The Navy said the People’s Republic of China naval destroyer “I will not stop. I will not give up until we have delivered equal lased the American P-8A Poseidon aircraft in an act the US and abundant opportunity to every neighborhood across our deemed unsafe and a violation of international codes and land,” Trump said. agreements. The statement from US Pacific Fleet said the laser Before the reception, he met with black supporters who was detected by sensors on the aircraft, but was not visible to complained Trump was not being given enough credit, or that the naked eye. he had been portrayed unfairly as racist. “Weapons-grade lasers could potentially cause serious harm “You attack him, you attack all of us,” Bruce LeVell of Georgia to aircrew and mariners, as well as ship and aircraft systems,” said. the Navy said. The incident took place about 380 miles west of Trump’s re-election campaign has stepped up its outreach Guam. to black Americans as it tries to claw away support from the The Poseidon crew is deployed to Kadena Air Force Base in traditionally Democratic voting bloc ahead of November’s Okinawa, . general election. The squadron conducts routine operations, maritime patrol, Approval of Trump among black Americans has been and reconnaissance in the Pacific Fleet area. ■ consistent at about one in 10 over the course of his presidency. A Pew Research Center analysis of people who participated in its polls and were confirmed to have voted showed Trump won just 6 per cent of black voters in 2016. But the campaign claims it is seeing an uptick of support among black men in particular – and notes that even a small shift in the electorate could decide close races. ■

3 February 28 (GMT) – February 29 (AEST), 2020

Health personnel check the temperature of a guest at the Tenerife hotel. – AP Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak. – PA

UK UK Wales detects first UK opens EU trade talks coronavirus case with threat

The first case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Britain published its opening demands for trade talks Wales, as two more were identified in England – bringing with the European Union, delivering a blunt threat to the total number in the UK to 19. walk away from the table if there is no progress within four months. Chief medical officer for Wales Dr Frank Atherton confirmed a person had been diagnosed with the virus after travelling back The two sides appear headed for a rocky first round of to Wales from Italy. negotiations as they try to forge a new relationship following “I can confirm that one patient in Wales has tested positive the UK’s departure from the now 27-nation bloc. for coronavirus (Covid-19),” he said. “All appropriate measures Britain and the EU both say they want to reach a free trade to provide care for the individual and to reduce the risk of agreement, but have starkly divergent views on how it should transmission to others are being taken. be overseen and what constitutes fair competition between “I can also confirm that the patient had travelled back to their two economies. Wales from northern Italy, where the virus was contracted. I’d The EU says Britain must agree to follow the bloc’s rules in like to take this opportunity to assure the public that Wales areas ranging from state aid to environmental protections, and and the whole of the UK is well prepared for these types of give European boats access to UK fishing waters, if the two incidents.” sides are to strike a good deal. Public Health Wales was working to identify close contacts But the UK is demanding the right to diverge from the bloc’s and reduce any risk to the public’s health, said Dr Giri Shankar, rules in order to strike new trade deals around the world and the body’s incident director for the coronavirus outbreak bolster the British economy. response. “In pursuit of a deal we will not trade away our sovereignty,” Meanwhile, the Department of Health confirmed two further Michael Gove, the minister in charge of Brexit preparations, cases of coronavirus in England. told lawmakers in the House of Commons. “The virus was passed on in Iran and the patients have been Britain’s negotiating mandate insists that “we will not agree transferred to specialist NHS infection centres at the Royal Free to any obligations for our laws to be aligned with the EU’s, or Hospital,” Chief Medical Officer Professor said. for the EU’s institutions, including the Court of Justice, to have EasyJet said it would be cancelling flights as a result of the any jurisdiction in the UK.” continued spread of coronavirus. That conflict will be one of the big hurdles in talks, which are The budget airline said the move will particularly affect “those due to begin Monday in Brussels. into and out of Italy”, and it would adapt its flying programme Britain left the EU on January 31 but remains bound by to best support demand. the bloc’s rules until a post-Brexit transition period ends on Meanwhile, 168 Britons were among hundreds confined December 31. A divorce agreement between the two sides to the H10 Costa Adeje Palace in Tenerife after at least four allows for the transition to be extended for two more years, guests were diagnosed with coronavirus. but British Prime Minister Boris Johnson insists he will not Around 50 of the Britons were expected be allowed to agree to that. leave if they wish. Some holidaymakers were seen leaving Johnson’s Conservative government says the UK will be the hotel wearing face masks after being screened for their leaving the bloc’s structures – including its single market for temperature. ■ trade in goods and services – as of January 1, 2021. ■

4 February 28 (GMT) – February 29 (AEST), 2020

Wreckage is strewn at the crash site of the firefighting air tanker. - AAP People gather at the scene of the crash at a North Epping cafe. – AAP

AUSTRALIA Australia ‘No audio’ of firefighting Mum killed in horror plane crash cafe crash

A preliminary report into the air tanker accident that A Sydney mother of two who was enjoying morning claimed the lives of three US airmen during the NSW coffee with friends at a Sydney cafe has died after a car bushfire crisis has found the cockpit’s voice recorder driven by an elderly man ploughed into them. failed to capture any audio from the fatal flight. Liz Albornoz and her friends were sitting at a table outside the The Australian Transport Safety Bureau revealed the Lockheed North Epping eatery when the Holden Commodore drove into C-130 tanker was in a “left wing down” position when it struck a them, pinning at least two people against a wall. tree and collided with the ground near Cooma on January 23. She was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical ATSB Chief Commissioner Greg Hood said data recovery condition with stomach injuries but later died. analysts successfully downloaded the C-130’s cockpit voice “They were just enjoying a meeting together, having coffee, recorder but no audio had been recorded of the fatal flight. and they were struck by this vehicle,” detective Inspector Mark “Unfortunately, the CVR had not recorded any audio from Christie said. the accident flight. Instead, all recovered audio was from a The 39-year-old worked as an events manager for not-for- previous flight when the aircraft was operating in the United profit organisation Social Ventures Australia. States,” Hood said. She had a husband and two young daughters. A final report could take more than 18 months to complete, “All of us at Social Ventures Australia are shocked and the ATSB said. saddened by the news that our colleague Liz Albornoz was Captain Ian McBeth, first officer Paul Clyde Hudson and killed in a tragic accident today,” CEO Suzie Riddell said in a flight engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr were killed when the tanker statement. crashed. “Liz was a wonderful and valued colleague who shared our The C-130 Hercules was owned and operated by Canadian- commitment to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in based firm Coulson Aviation. ■ Australia. Our thoughts are with her husband, her daughters and her family and loved ones.” Paramedics treated nine others, including four who were taken to hospital in a stable condition. Insp Christie described the scene of the accident as “horrendous and chaotic” for emergency services when they arrived. “It appears that he’s pulled into the parking spot and then there’s been some sort of collision after that but we don’t know the circumstances yet, they’re still under investigation,” he said. “It’s a very tragic set of circumstances that have occurred here today.” The 89-year-old driver was taken to hospital for mandatory testing and will be interviewed at a later stage. ■

5 February 28 (GMT) – February 29 (AEST), 2020

South Korean soldiers spray disinfectant on a street in Daegu. – AP Caption here…

rest of the world rest of the world World toughens up its Turkish soldiers killed in virus response Syria airstrike

Saudi Arabia cut travel to Islam’s holiest sites, South Turkey has raised the death toll from a Syrian Korea toughened penalties for those breaking government airstrike on its forces in northwestern Syria quarantines and airports across Latin America looked for to 33 Turkish troops killed. It was the largest death toll signs of sick passengers as a new virus troubled places for Turkey in a single day since it first intervened in Syria around the globe. in 2016. With the number of sick and dead rising, the crisis gave way to political and diplomatic rows, concern that bordered on The deaths, which came in an attack late Thursday, were a panic in some quarters, and a sense that no part of the world serious escalation in the direct conflict between Turkish and was immune. Russia-backed Syrian forces that has been waged since early Nigeria’s health authorities reported the country’s first case February. The earlier reported death toll was 29 troops. of Covid-19 in Lagos, the first confirmed appearance of the Ambassadors from NATO countries were holding emergency disease in sub-Saharan Africa. The health commissioner for talks at the request of Turkey, a member of the alliance. Lagos, Africa’s largest city, with a population of more than 20 Rhami Dogan, the of Turkey’s Hatay province million people, said an Italian citizen who entered Nigeria on bordering Syria’s Idlib region, said 32 wounded troops were Tuesday from Milan on a business trip fell ill the next day. being treated in hospitals. Turkey has had 54 soldiers killed As outbreaks grew sharply in Europe and the Middle East, air in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province since the beginning of routes were halted and border control toughened. But for an February. illness transmitted so easily, with its tentacles reaching into so Turkey is a main backer of the Syrian opposition while Russia many parts of the world, leaders seemed willing to try anything has been giving military support to the weeks-long Syrian to keep their people – and economies – safe. government offensive in Idlib that has displaced about 950,000 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for schools across people and left hundreds of civilians dead. the country to close for weeks, a decision that impacted 12.8 Russia’s Defense Ministry said that the Turkish troops that million students. Japan’s northern island of declared came under fire in Idlib were deployed among “terrorist battle a state of emergency over the rapid spread of Covid-19. formations.” The Turkish troops were in the area of Behun, Hokkaido Governor said the emergency and according to co-ordinates given to Russia’s Reconciliation would continue until mid-March. Center in Syria, “there were no Turkish military units in the area In South Korea, the hardest-hit country outside China, four … and there weren’t supposed to be”. Busan markets known for colourful silks and a dizzying array of Russian air forces did not carry out airstrikes in the area, it other wares were shuttered while the military sent hundreds of said, and after receiving information about Turkish casualties, its doctors and soldiers to aid in treatment and quarantines. “the Russian side took all the necessary measures in order for The global count of those sickened by the virus exceeds the Syrian forces to stop the fire,” it said. 82,000, with China still by far the hardest-hit country. Recent Shortly after the attack, the UN Secretary-General reiterated days have seen sharp spikes in South Korea, Italy and Iran. his call for an immediate ceasefire and expressed serious South Korea reported 256 additional cases, raising its total concern about the risk to civilians from escalating military to 2022, with most occurring in the region around the city of actions. Daegu. Many cases there have connections to a church and “Without urgent action, the risk of even greater escalation health workers are testing thousands of its members. ■ grows by the hour,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. ■

6 February 28 (GMT) – February 29 (AEST), 2020

A cleaner sanitises a train in Milan. – AP A bus lies on his side after being hit by gusty winds in the southwest Germany. – AP

EUROPE EUROPE Italy considers a return Deadly winter weather to normal batters Germany

Authorities in Italy have decided to re-open schools Heavy winds and snowfall have led to accidents in and museums in some of the areas less hard-hit by the southern and southwestern Germany that killed a coronavirus outbreak which has seen the country record woman in a car and injured eight on a bus. the most cases outside of Asia. The woman was killed in an accident on a snowy road in With Italians yearning to go back to normal, in the more Rhineland-Palatinate. Meanwhile, A bus from Croatia was heavily affected regions – Lombardy and Veneto in the north – tipped over by gusty winds in Tomerdingen in Baden- authorities were leaning toward opening schools. Wuerttemberg injuring eight people, two of them severely. At least 650 people have tested positive in Italy, almost Several train routes were also shut down either as a entirely in the country’s productive north. precaution or by fallen trees. “The aim is to return to normalcy,’’ Veneto Governor Luca The Europa League soccer match between Salzburg and Zaia said. Eintracht Frankfurt was postponed at short notice because of Zaia noted that 79 of the 133 people in Veneto with the approaching storm. COVID-19 “have no symptoms and are in perfect health”. German weather forecasts predicted that the wintry weather While Italy was easing its restrictions, other parts of Europe would be over soon, with temperatures rising again on the were still closing down activities and venues. weekend. ■ Italy’s neighbour Switzerland has banned all events involving more than 1000 people until March 15, putting paid to the Geneva International Motor Show that attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year, and cancelling Basel’s popular carnival. After France saw a sudden jump of 20 new virus cases around the country, authorities were testing a raft of people, limiting some public activities and trying to determine the source of the new cases. So far since Thursday night, new cases with links to Italy have been reported in Nigeria – the first known case in sub-Saharan Africa – United Arab Emirates, Greece, France, Lithuania and the Netherlands. Nevertheless, on Thursday, a tribunal in Italy’s east central region of Marche suspended a regional ordinance that had shut down schools and museums. With only about a half- dozen cases in Marche, students were expected to return to class there next week. In the western region of Liguria, which has reported about 20 cases, local administrators decided that students could resume school, also next week. ■

7 February 28 (GMT) – February 29 (AEST), 2020

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in Sydney. – AAP – RNZ

Trans-Tasman NEW ZEALAND Ardern to Aussies: don’t New Zealand confirms deport your problems firsts virus case

Scott Morrison has stood his ground over Australia’s The person who has been confirmed to have New deportation policy of criminals after New Zealand Prime Zealand’s first case of the Covid-19 coronavirus “followed Minister Jacinda Ardern bluntly said it was “testing” their all of the steps you would hope would be followed”, says friendship. the Health Minister.

Ardern used a media conference in Sydney alongside her Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed this afternoon that a Australian counterpart to deliver a blunt message on the policy, suspected case of Covid-19 coronavirus had tested positive. which has seen about 2000 people sent back to New Zealand. Ardern said the person was in their 60s, and was a citizen of “Australia is well within its rights to deport individuals who New Zealand who had recently travelled from Iran via Bali. They break your laws. New Zealand does the same. But we have a had previously tested negative for Covid-19 twice. simple request – send back Kiwis, genuine Kiwis,” she said. The person was in an improving condition in isolation in “Do not deport your people and your problems.” Auckland hospital. She said many of the deportees “on any common sense test” Minister of Health David Clark said the person “followed all of identified as being Australian. the steps you would hope would be followed.” “They have grown up in Australia, that is their home and that Director-General of Health said the person is where they should stay,” she said. arrived this week from Iran, where the virus had been rapidly “The New Zealand and Australia relationship is being tested.” spreading. But Morrison didn’t budge on Australia’s rules which he said He said the first two samples which were taken from the were very clear. throat, or nasopharynx, were negative but the patient’s “We deport non-citizens who have committed crimes in symptoms were much more suggestive of a lung infection. Australia against our community,” he said. Dr Bloomfield said the risk of widespread infection was low “This policy is applied not specific to one country, but to any at this point. country whose citizens are here.” “Public health officials have begun tracing the patient’s other He said if New Zealanders don’t take up the opportunity to close contacts to ensure that appropriate measures are in become Australian citizens and commit a crime “then you have place and this includes a group of people who were on the no right to stay”. flight involved, particularly for the final leg from Bali to New The Liberal leader said he respected Ardern’s position but Zealand. noted it was not in Australia’s interest. “The people who the public health service will be contacting “It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been here, it doesn’t are the people who were in the same row as this individual or matter whether you turned up yesterday, or many years ago. the two rows ahead or behind.” If you are not a citizen of Australia and you violate our laws, He said they would be required to self-isolate for 14 days then under my government’s policies you will not be allowed to and that self-isolation would be under regular communication remain in Australia,” Morrison said. with the public health units. He added that he expected the same rules to apply if The Ministry of Health said anyone who was on the final Australian citizens committed crimes in another country. ■ leg of the person’s flight – Emirates EK450, which arrived in Auckland on 26 February – and was concerned should contact the Covid-19 Healthline number on 0800 358 5453. ■

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