JULY 8 (GMT) – JULY 9 (AEST), 2020

YOUR DAILY TOP 12 STORIES FROM FRANK NEWS

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NORTH AMERICA UK AUSTRALIA

US withdraws from WHO Recovery plan will focus on jobs PM: We’re all Melburnians now

The Trump administration has formally The Chancellor will announce a £2 Prime Minister Scott Morrison has notified the United Nations of its billion scheme aimed at alleviating vowed to throw everything at stopping withdrawal from the World Health youth unemployment by subsidising Melbourne’s coronavirus outbreak Organization, although the pullout won’t work placements when he sets out his spreading across Australia. The Victorian take effect until next year, meaning coronavirus recovery package. A three- capital has re-entered lockdown for six it could be rescinded under a new point plan to boost the ailing economy weeks, with the state recording 134 new administration or if circumstances by helping job creation will include a plan cases. The prime minister warned the change. The withdrawal notification to help pay for six-month placements highly contagious disease could spread makes good on President Donald for some under-25s facing long-term without tough measures. “It’s happening Trump’s vow in late May to terminate US unemployment. in Melbourne now … there’s always the participation in the WHO. risk it could happen in other cities,” Morrison said.

NORTH AMERICA UK NEW ZEALAND

Grim virus milestone in Texas Brits warned of scam risk MP to leave parliament over leak

Texas has surpassed 10,000 new Households could find themselves A National MP will leave parliament coronavirus cases in a single day for the being pestered by more scam phone after leaking the private details of Kiwis first time, crossing a sobering milestone calls as COVID-19 lockdown measures with COVID-19 to journalists. Hamish rarely seen since the pandemic first ease and illegitimate call centres around Walker, the Clutha-Southland MP, fell on hit the US in March. The record high of the world get back to work, National his sword, hours after National leader 10,028 new cases in Texas on Tuesday Trading Standards is warning. It said the wrote to his party board served as another alarming new measure coronavirus pandemic has provided new asking them to disendorse him. Walker of the swift resurgence of COVID-19 opportunities for telephone scammers to received confidential information from nationwide. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott take advantage of people. a former party boss, , and of Texas aggressively began one of then shared it with at least three media America’s fastest reopenings in May but outlets. has begun reversing course.

1 JULY 8 (GMT) – JULY 9 (AEST), 2020

YOUR DAILY TOP 12 STORIES FROM FRANK NEWS

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REST OF THE WORLD UK AUSTRALIA

Rare gorillas captured on camera Grim forecast for economy Australia mulls HK extraditions

Conservationists have captured the Britain’s economy will not recover to pre- Australia could cancel an extradition first images of a group of rare Cross pandemic levels until 2024 even without treaty with Hong Kong after China River gorillas with multiple babies in a second wave, according to research. cracked down on the city. The federal Nigeria’s Mbe mountains, proof that the A report by accountants BDO and the government is also developing subspecies once feared to be extinct is Centre for Economics and Business resettlement options for Hong Kong reproducing amid protection efforts. Only Research forecasts gross domestic residents who fear political persecution around 300 Cross River gorillas were product (GDP) will fall 11 per cent this under new national security laws. “We are known to be alive at one point in the year – but only if there is no large-scale still considering that matter and will have isolated mountainous region in Nigeria second wave of coronavirus or another more to say on that soon,” Prime Minister and Cameroon, according to the Wildlife national lockdown. Scott Morrison said. Conservation Society, which captured the camera trap images in May.

REST OF THE WORLD UK NEW ZEALAND

Taliban bounty plan ‘worrisome’ Push for ‘flexible’ scheme Warning against complacency

The top US general for the Middle East Labour will urge Chancellor Rishi Sunak Doctors are backing government calls says the intelligence suggesting that to develop a “flexible” furlough scheme to keep doing thousands of COVID-19 Russia may have paid Taliban militants to support businesses forced to close tests each day to ensure the community’s to kill American troops in Afghanistan in local lockdowns and “avoid additional free of the virus. But finding that many was worrisome, but he is not convinced floods of redundancy notices”. Shadow volunteers a day may be an uphill battle that any bounties resulted in US military chancellor Anneliese Dodds will also while the virus is under control. Health deaths. Gen. Frank McKenzie said the press Sunak to spell out how he will fund Minister Chris Hipkins has set a target for US did not increase force protection his coronavirus recovery package without 4000 tests a day, but that number has measures in Afghanistan as a result of hiking taxes or slashing public services. only been achieved once in the last week. the information, although he asked his intelligence staff to dig into the matter more.

2 JULY 8 (GMT) – JULY 9 (AEST), 2020

President Donald Trump. - AP COVID-19 antibody testing and diagnostic testing are administered at a converted vehicle inspection station in San Antonio, Texas. - AP

NORTH AMERICA NORTH AMERICA US to withdraw from Texas records 10,000 new WHO in July 2021 COVID-19 cases in day

The Trump administration has formally notified the Texas has surpassed 10,000 new coronavirus cases United Nations of its withdrawal from the World Health in a single day for the first time, crossing a sobering Organization, although the pullout won’t take effect milestone rarely seen since the pandemic first hit the until next year, meaning it could be rescinded under a US in March. new administration or if circumstances change. The record high of 10,028 new cases in Texas on Tuesday The withdrawal notification makes good on President Donald served as another alarming new measure of the swift Trump’s vow in late May to terminate US participation in resurgence of COVID-19 nationwide. Republican Gov. Greg the WHO, which he has harshly criticized for its response Abbott of Texas aggressively began one of America’s fastest to the coronavirus pandemic and accused of bowing to reopenings in May but has begun reversing course in recent Chinese influence. weeks, ordering bars closed and mandating face coverings. The move was immediately assailed by health officials and New York and Florida are the only other states to record critics of the administration, including numerous Democrats more than 10,000 new cases in a single day. New York hit that who said it would cost the US influence in the global arena. grim total back in April, when New York City hospitals were Former Vice President Joe Biden has said he supports the overwhelmed and hundreds of people were dying every day. WHO and Democrats suggested he would reverse the decision Florida topped 10,000 confirmed cases last week. if he defeats Trump in November. The record mark in Texas partly reflects a lag in testing The withdrawal notice was sent to UN Secretary-General results from the Fourth of July weekend, when newly reported Antonio Guterres on Monday and will take effect in a year, on cases were far below what Texas has seen in recent weeks. July 6, 2021, the State Department and the United Nations said. But Abbott said the numbers should still be “an alarm bell for The State Department said the US would continue to seek everybody” who is skeptical about whether the virus is a threat. reform of the WHO, but referred to Trump’s June 15 response “We have rapid spread of COVID-19 in the state of Texas when asked if the administration might change its mind. “I’m right now,” Abbott said. not reconsidering, unless they get their act together, and I’m Later, Abbott was noncommittal about whether he would not sure they can at this point,” Trump said. attend his own party’s convention next week in Houston, which Guterres, in his capacity as depositary of the 1946 WHO the Texas GOP has remained bent on holding even as the constitution, “is in the process of verifying with the World mayor, doctors and businesses pressure the party to cancel. Health Organization whether all the conditions for such Houston has emerged as one of the nation’s hot zones in the withdrawal are met,” his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said. pandemic. However, Republican activists, some of whom have Under the terms of the withdrawal, the US must meet its called the fears overblown, have resolved to press forward with financial obligations to the WHO before it can be finalized. The the indoor three-day convention. US, which is the agency’s largest donor and provides it with Texas surged past 8000 statewide hospitalisations for more than $400 million per year, currently owes the WHO the first time over the long holiday weekend – a more than some $200 million in current and past dues. quadruple increase on the past month. On Tuesday, the On May 29, Trump announced his administration was leaving number of hospitalisations soared past 9000. Texas also set a the organization due to what he said was its inadequate new high for deaths in a single day with 60. ■ response to the initial outbreak of the coronavirus. ■

3 JULY 8 (GMT) – JULY 9 (AEST), 2020

Chancellor Rishi Sunak. - PA - AAP

UK UK Virus recovery plan Brits warned of scam will focus on jobs risk as lockdown eases

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak will announce a £2 billion Households could find themselves being pestered by scheme aimed at alleviating youth unemployment more scam phone calls as COVID-19 lockdown measures by subsidising work placements when he sets out his ease and illegitimate call centres around the world get coronavirus recovery package. back to work, National Trading Standards is warning.

A three-point plan to boost the ailing economy by It said the coronavirus pandemic has provided new helping job creation will include a plan to help pay for six- opportunities for telephone scammers to take advantage month placements for some under-25s facing long-term of people. unemployment. National Trading Standards said it has already taken Sunak will set out the measures in his summer economic action to stop automated calls in which people have been update in the House of Commons on Wednesday, as he faces urged to purchase face masks and hand sanitiser, with false pressure to assist those who are most at vulnerable to the claims made that the personal protective equipment was a effects of a financial crisis. Government requirement. He will also offer an immediate stamp duty “holiday” to It is offering 700 free call blockers on a first-come-first- temporarily exempt the tax on the first £500,000 of homes served basis for households looking to prevent nuisance calls. purchased in England and Northern Ireland, according to Devices will need to be installed by those applying. reports. Louise Baxter, head of the National Trading Standards scams The Treasury acknowledged that young people are more team, said: “Scam callers are relentless and often leave their likely to be furloughed under the job retention scheme which is intended victims feeling scared, anxious and unsafe in their being wound up and is due to end in October. own homes.” ■ So a “kickstart scheme” hoped by the Treasury to create hundreds of thousands of jobs will be unveiled for 16 to 24-year-olds who are claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term employment. Government funding would cover 100% of the minimum wage for 25 hours a week in the scheme that will be open to all employers across Great Britain, with bosses able to top up wages. Ahead of the announcement, Sunak said: “Young people bear the brunt of most economic crises, but they are at particular risk this time because they work in the sectors disproportionately hit by the pandemic. “We also know that youth unemployment has a long-term impact on jobs and wages and we don’t want to see that happen to this generation. “So we’ve got a bold plan to protect, support and create jobs – a plan for jobs.” ■

4 JULY 8 (GMT) – JULY 9 (AEST), 2020

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. - AAP Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker. - RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND We’re all Melburnians National MP to leave now, Morrison says parliament over leak

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has vowed to throw A New Zealand opposition MP will leave parliament everything at stopping Melbourne’s coronavirus after leaking the private details of Kiwis with COVID-19 outbreak spreading across Australia. to journalists.

The Victorian capital has re-entered lockdown for six weeks, Hamish Walker, the Clutha-Southland MP, fell on his sword, with the state recording 134 new cases. hours after National leader Todd Muller wrote to his party The prime minister warned the highly contagious disease board asking them to disendorse him. could spread without tough measures. Walker received confidential information from a former party “It’s happening in Melbourne now,” Morrison said. boss, Michelle Boag, and then shared it with at least three “There’s always the risk it could happen in other cities media outlets, saying he wanted to show vulnerabilities in the and every step is being taken to seek to prevent that government’s information storage. wherever possible.” No media outlets chose to publish the information. The federal government is looking at slowing down Muller, leader of National, called the behaviour “completely international arrivals to Australia after states called for unacceptable” and wrote to his party’s board asking them to pressure to be eased on hotel quarantine. consider his membership. Morrison will take a proposal to national cabinet to reduce “This is not the National party I lead,” he said. the number of incoming flights. “It’s not the culture I expect from my team and bluntly there He said dealing with the outbreak was a national effort needs to be consequences.” between federal and state governments. Walker appeared set to fight for his political career, getting “We’re all Melburnians now when it comes to the challenges legal advice that he had not committed a criminal offence, but we face,” the Sydney-based prime minister said. then withdrew his candidacy for re-election at the 2020 poll. “We’re all Victorians now because we’re all Australians and “I wish to thank the people of Clutha-Southland who I have that’s where the challenge is right now.” loved meeting, assisting and representing over the past two Victoria is being isolated from the rest of the nation as South and a half years,” he said. Australia and NSW shut borders. “I sincerely apologise for my actions. I will be making no Melburnians and people in the Mitchell Shire north of the further comment.” city are being forced to stay home for another six weeks to The saga is a further setback for National ahead of the stem the spread of the deadly disease. September 19 election, already well behind in the polls as it They will only be allowed out to shop for essentials, for care challenges ’s Labour for government. or compassionate reasons, exercise, work or study. Deepening the party’s woes, Muller attacked the government The harsh restrictions could cost the economy up to for the leak before discovering his own MP was the source, $6 billion. saying it was “a reminder these guys can’t manage important Morrison said he had assured Victorian Premier Daniel things well”. Andrews there would be ongoing federal welfare support. In a further plot twist, Radio NZ also reported Walker leaked JobKeeper wage subsidies and the boosted JobSeeker dole them the advice in an attempt to back up a claim of Walker’s payment are set to expire in September. ■ which was derided as racist. ■

5 JULY 8 (GMT) – JULY 9 (AEST), 2020

A group of Cross River gorillas in the Mbe Mountains of Nigeria. - AP Afghans inspect a vehicle burnt in an attack north of Kabul. - AP

REST OF THE WORLD REST OF THE WORLD Rare gorilla species Taliban troop bounty captured on camera plan ‘worrisome’

Conservationists have captured the first images of a The top US general for the Middle East says the group of rare Cross River gorillas with multiple babies intelligence suggesting that Russia may have paid in Nigeria’s Mbe mountains, proof that the subspecies Taliban militants to kill American troops in Afghanistan once feared to be extinct is reproducing amid protection was worrisome, but he is not convinced that any efforts. bounties resulted in US military deaths.

Only around 300 Cross River gorillas were known to be alive Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of US Central Command, at one point in the isolated mountainous region in Nigeria said the US did not increase force protection measures in and Cameroon, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society, Afghanistan as a result of the information, although he asked which captured the camera trap images in May. More colour his intelligence staff to dig into the matter more. images were recovered last month. “I found it very worrisome. I didn’t find that there was a John Oates, professor emeritus at the City University of New causative link there,” said McKenzie, who is the first Pentagon York and a primatologist who helped establish conservation official to speak publicly at length about the issue. He warned, efforts for the gorillas more than two decades ago, was excited however, that Russia has long been a threat in Afghanistan, about the new images. where there have been many reports that it has backed Taliban “It was great to see … evidence that these gorillas in these fighters over the years with resources and weapons. mountains are reproducing successfully because there have According to US intelligence officials, information that Russia been so few images in the past,” he said. “We know very little offered bounties to Taliban militants for killing American troops about what is going on with reproduction with this subspecies, was included in an intelligence brief for President Donald so to see many young animals is a positive sign.” Trump in late February. The White House, however, has denied Experts don’t know how many Cross River gorillas remain Trump was briefed at that time, arguing that the intelligence in the mountain cluster and have been trying to track the was not credible enough to bring to his attention. subspecies for some time. McKenzie said that while he could draw no direct link About 50 cameras were set up in 2012 and multiple images between any potential payments and US casualties, it’s have been captured in Cameroon’s Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary common that intelligence is not definitive. and in Nigeria’s Mbe Mountains community forest and Afi “We should always remember, the Russians are not our Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary. But Cross River gorillas are friends,” said McKenzie, who is traveling in the Middle East. notoriously difficult to capture together on camera and no “They are not our friends in Afghanistan. And they do not wish images had captured multiple infants. us well, and we just need to remember that at all times when An alliance of nine local communities, the Conservation we evaluate that intelligence.” Association of the Mbe Mountains, has been working with He said there was no need to beef up security for troops the Wildlife Conservation Society since the mid-1990s to help there because the US already takes “extreme force protections protect the Cross River gorillas. Since that time, there have measures” in Afghanistan. “Whether the Russians are paying been no recorded deaths in Nigeria, the society said. the Taliban or not, over the past several years, the Taliban have The gorillas at one point had been thought to be done their level best to carry out operations against us.” ■ extinct, according to the society’s Nigeria country director, Andrew Dunn. ■

6 JULY 8 (GMT) – JULY 9 (AEST), 2020

The Bank of England. – 123RF Chancellor Rishi Sunak. - PA

UK UK Grim forecast on Push for ‘flexible’ economic recovery furlough scheme

Britain’s economy will not recover to pre-pandemic Labour will urge Chancellor Rishi Sunak to develop a levels until 2024 even without a second wave, according “flexible” furlough scheme to support businesses forced to research. to close in local lockdowns and “avoid additional floods of redundancy notices”. A report by accountants BDO and the Centre for Economics and Business Research forecasts gross domestic product Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds will also press Sunak to (GDP) will fall 11 per cent this year – but only if there is no spell out how he will fund his coronavirus recovery package large-scale second wave of coronavirus or another national without hiking taxes or slashing public services. lockdown. Sunak will unveil a £2 billion scheme to subside six-month It warns that another peak in the pandemic and lockdown work placements for under-25s among the measures in his would send Britain’s GDP tumbling 19 per cent this year and Covid-19 recovery package. see exports fall by 23 per cent. But the job retention scheme that has seen the Government The study cautions that the “dual threat” of the pandemic pay up to 80 per cent of furloughed workers’ salaries will be and Brexit to international trade will hammer the UK’s export wound up and is due to come to an end in October. industry in either scenario. Dodds is expected to tell Sunak that the at least £27.4 billion With no second lockdown, exports will still fall by 19 per spent to support 9.4 million jobs “must not have merely served cent this year, which will weigh on economic growth, the to postpone unemployment”. study found. “The scheme must now live up to its name, supporting Exports may recover a little in 2021 before stagnating, employment in industries which are viable in the long term,” according to the report. the Labour MP is likely to add during their House of Commons Business investment will also take a blow, plunging 14 per exchange. cent in 2020 and remaining low next year until gradually “And we need a strategy for the scheme to become more recovering by seven per cent in 2021 as the economy flexible, so it can support those businesses forced to close stabilises. again because of additional localised lockdowns. But in the event of a second wave and lockdown, business “There is still time to avoid additional floods of redundancy investment would plummet 19 per cent, the report said. notices.” BDO said the report highlighted “the longer-term economic Dodds is also set to warn that increasing taxes during the impact of the pandemic and the severity of the economic recovery and cutting back on public services “will damage damage”, though it added there were renewed hopes of a demand and inhibit our recovery”. V-shaped recovery among some experts. “The Tory manifesto committed to no rises in income tax, Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane said earlier National Insurance or VAT and therefore it is for them to set this month that Britain’s economy is on track for a sharp out how any additional spending will be paid for,” she will say. V-shaped recovery thanks to a faster-than-expected rebound. “It’s the Chancellor’s job to make sure the economy bounces His comments came after the Bank recently said it now back from this crisis so there is money in the coffers to protect expects GDP to tumble by 20 per cent in the first half the public finances.” ■ of the year – less than the 27 per cent it predicted in its May forecast. ■

7 JULY 8 (GMT) – JULY 9 (AEST), 2020

Police stand guard on a street earlier this month after clearing a road block during - AAP protests against the new national security in Hong Kong. - AP

AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND Australia may cease Warning against virus Hong Kong extraditions testing complacency

Australia could cancel an extradition treaty with Hong Doctors are backing government calls to keep doing Kong after China cracked down on the city. thousands of COVID-19 tests each day to ensure the community’s free of the virus. The federal government is also developing resettlement options for Hong Kong residents who fear political persecution But finding that many volunteers a day may be an uphill battle under new national security laws. while the virus is under control. “We are still considering that matter and will have more to Health Minister Chris Hipkins has set a target for 4000 tests say on that soon,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. a day, but that number has only been achieved once in the last Beijing recently passed draconian laws that criminalise week. On Tuesday only 1641 tests were reported, however, subversion, secession and collusion with foreign forces in this may have been made up of some tests from the weekend Hong Kong. which often has a reduced number. Pro-democracy protesters have since been charged for Some New Zealanders seem relaxed enough about the holding flags, posters and pamphlets. threat of coronavirus that going into full stadiums and malls Granting visas to Hong Kong residents would most likely is barely given a second thought. inflame tensions with China. Hardly anyone is scanning COVID-19 tracing codes either – Asked about the diplomatic blowback, the prime the seven-day average is just 9600 scans per day. minister described the visa deliberations as a domestic It seems this level of comfort that there is no CPVOD-19 issue for Australia. in the community is also contributing to lower testing rates, “These are decisions for Australia about who we provide according to some members of the public at Westfield St Lukes visas to and on what terms and over what period of time,” shopping centre in Auckland. Morrison said. “I think people are feeling generally less anxious about the “They are Australian sovereign issues, they aren’t about other whole situation. I would get tested if I had symptoms, but I countries, they are about our country. haven’t seen the need to do that at the moment. If it was very “We will make decisions about our visa program and how we much encouraged by the government I don’t see why not,” run that in accordance with the rules that we’ve set.” one said. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has “A lot of people are not too concerned in New Zealand but warned travellers that people charged under the laws could be there’s no need to be complacent either,” said another. deported or transferred to mainland China for prosecution. “We’ve had incredible leadership here. So if they want me to Morrison said the decision to update Hong Kong travel be tested, I will, for the team of five million.” advice was made by officials. At the time of the border bungles there was a sharp spike in “From time to time, travel advisories are changed, and on demand for testing. this occasion the officials have upgraded that advice,” the People queued for hours, and more than 10,000 tests were prime minister said. processed one day. Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus has called on the That was less than two weeks ago, but numbers have been government to urgently re-examine Australia’s extradition falling since. ■ agreement with Hong Kong. ■

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