JUNE 3 (GMT) – JUNE 4 (AEST), 2020
YOUR DAILY TOP 12 STORIES FROM FRANK NEWS
FULL STORIES START ON PAGE 3
NORTH AMERICA UK AUSTRALIA
Trump sets model in DC Boris opens door to Hongkongers Australia ‘is in a recession’
Claiming he is backed by a “silent British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has majority,” President Donald Trump is ready to open the door to nearly confirmed Australia is now in a recession has turned the nation’s capital into a three million Hong Kong citizens if after 29 consecutive years of economic model for the overwhelming force he China imposes a new security law that growth. The Australian economy shrank believes critical to stop sometimes- critics say would rob the territory of its 0.3 per cent in the March quarter amid violent protests that have spread across autonomy. The Prime Minister, writing bushfires and the early stages of the the country in a time of racial unrest. in The Times, has offered to make what coronavirus pandemic. The economic His tactics were decried by some fellow he says would be one of the “biggest shock will be much worse in the current Republicans as well as his presumptive changes” in the history of the British June quarter, when the full impact of Democratic opponent. visa system to allow 2.85 million Hong virus-related shutdowns occurred. Kong citizens the chance of fully-fledged citizenship.
NORTH AMERICA UK NEW ZEALAND
Biden closes in on nomination MPs queue to end online voting Hopes up for sport, concerts
Joe Biden is on the cusp of formally British Prime Minister Boris Johnson New Zealanders could be packing securing the Democratic presidential has survived a Tory revolt over plans to grandstands at sporting events as soon nomination after winning hundreds more end online voting for MPs during the as next weekend should COVID-19 delegates in primary contests that tested coronavirus crisis, as the Government restrictions lift, building hopes for a the nation’s ability to run elections while came under criticism from the equality golden run of trans-Tasman sport. A balancing a pandemic and sweeping watchdog. Senior Conservatives 12th straight day without a new case social unrest. Biden could lock down the including a former Cabinet minister of coronavirus has prompted Prime nomination within the next week as West tabled amendments to Government Minister Jacinda Ardern to unveil plans Virginia and Georgia hold primaries. plans to force parliamentarians into the to step down to baseline, or ‘level one’, Commons in order to vote when they restrictions. returned from recess.
1 JUNE 3 (GMT) – JUNE 4 (AEST), 2020
YOUR DAILY TOP 12 STORIES FROM FRANK NEWS
FULL STORIES START ON PAGE 6
NORTH AMERICA UK AUSTRALIA
Governors mull troop request Prices plunge to tempt shoppers Passengers could pay hotel bill
Some governors are rejecting President Shoppers saw the price of goods tumble Passengers returning from overseas may Donald Trump’s request to send National further last month as clothing and soon have to stump-up for their hotel Guard troops to Washington DC, for furniture retailers increased discounts to quarantine bill with state governments a massive militarised show of force in pull in customers and offset the impact of expected to stop funding mandatory the nation’s capital after several days of coronavirus, according to new data. The isolation. Since March 29, Australians unrest over the death of George Floyd. BRC-Nielsen shop price index for May returning home have had to complete a Several states, including New York and revealed that prices slid by 2.4 per cent mandatory 14-day self-isolation period Virginia, have so far rejected the request, in May, following a 1.7 per cent decline at a hotel in the city they have arrived, with at least one governor citing Trump’s in April. with the tab being picked up by the rhetoric about using troops to “dominate” corresponding state government. protesters as a reason why.
NORTH AMERICA UK NEW ZEALAND
Pompeo slams China over vigil PM to face Starmer on adviser PM outlines plan for alert level 1
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has Boris Johnson is expected to face Sir Keir Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says there marked this week’s anniversary of Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions will still be strict controls on the border, China’s deadly 1989 crackdown on pro- for the first time since news emerged of but all current rules and restrictions democracy protesters in Tiananmen the controversial lockdown trip made on businesses and services will be Square – a day after federal forces used by Dominic Cummings. All eyes will be “essentially lifted” under alert level 1. tear gas to clear peaceful protesters on the House of Commons at midday She said the lower alert level would also from a park in front of the White House. to see how the Prime Minister performs put an end to restrictions for hospitality Pompeo tweeted criticism of China and opposite the Labour leader, with Johnson businesses, and gatherings – including Hong Kong for barring a vigil to mark the likely to be grilled over his support for his funerals and tangihanga – of any size anniversary before he met privately with senior adviser over his decision to take could take place. Physical distancing a group of Tiananmen Square survivors his family 260 miles away to Durham in measures will not be considered at the State Department. March to self-isolate. necessary.
2 JUNE 3 (GMT) – JUNE 4 (AEST), 2020
President Donald Trump. - AP Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden speaks in Philadelphia. - AP
NORTH AMERICA NORTH AMERICA Trump sets model Biden sweeps primaries, in Washington DC closes in on nomination
Claiming he is backed by a “silent majority,” President Joe Biden is on the cusp of formally securing the Donald Trump has turned the nation’s capital into a Democratic presidential nomination after winning model for the overwhelming force he believes critical hundreds more delegates in primary contests that tested to stop sometimes-violent protests that have spread the nation’s ability to run elections while balancing a across the country in a time of racial unrest. His tactics pandemic and sweeping social unrest. were decried by some fellow Republicans as well as his presumptive Democratic opponent. Biden could lock down the nomination within the next week as West Virginia and Georgia hold primaries. The dispersal of peaceful protests near the White House Voters across America were forced to navigate curfews, the night before was a potent symbol of Trump’s policing health concerns and National Guard troops – waiting in line tactics. Moments after historic Lafayette Park was cleared, hours after polls closed in some cases – after election officials Trump walked across to pose with a Bible in front of a church dramatically reduced the number of in-person voting sites to damaged by fire during protests the previous evening. minimise the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. “D.C. had no problems last night. Many arrests. Great job Biden and President Donald Trump easily swept their done by all. Overwhelming force. Domination,” Trump tweeted, respective primary contests that ranged from Maryland to after a night in which heavily armed military forces and federal Montana and featured the night’s biggest prize: Pennsylvania. officers swarmed the city. Trump added: “(thank you President The two men are certain to face each other on the presidential Trump!).” ballot in November, yet party rules require them first to The president wanted to make the aggressive action in the accumulate a majority of delegates in the monthslong state-by- nation’s capital an example for the rest of the country, a senior state primary season. White House official said, speaking on condition of anonymity Trump secured the Republican presidential nomination because the official was not authorised to discuss internal in March. thinking. Trump hoped his personal walk to the church, after Pennsylvania, which offered the largest trove of delegates, federal officials dispersed protesters, would send a message also represented a significant test case for Republicans and about how dominant force could restore law and order. Democrats working to strengthen their operations in a premier The president has threatened that if states do not take general election battleground. tough enough action, he will deploy active duty military across Voters were forced to brave long lines in “militarised zones” the country to quell unrest in the wake of the death of George because officials consolidated the vast majority of polling Floyd in Minneapolis. places in Philadelphia to minimise health risks, according to “SILENT MAJORITY!” Trump tweeted, embracing a phrase Erin Kramer, executive director of One Pennsylvania. She noted popularised by President Richard Nixon decades ago, in that some polling places in African American communities are claiming broad support for his actions. Trump also emphasised in police stations. the political importance of the moment to his supporters “Having to stand in line while police officers are entering on Twitter and declared that “My Admin has done more and exiting the building on police business is not exactly how for the Black Community than any President since Abraham people want to spend their election day,” Kramer said. ■ Lincoln.” ■
3 JUNE 3 (GMT) – JUNE 4 (AEST), 2020
A protester throws back a tear gas canister during a confrontation with police in Hong MPs in the queue to vote in the House of Commons. - PA Kong. - AP
UK UK Boris opens door MPs back plan to to Hongkongers end online voting
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is ready to open the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has survived a Tory door to nearly three million Hong Kong citizens if China revolt over plans to end online voting for MPs during imposes a new security law that critics say would rob the the coronavirus crisis, as the Government came under territory of its autonomy. criticism from the equality watchdog.
The Prime Minister has offered to make what he says would be Senior Conservatives including a former Cabinet minister one of the “biggest changes” in the history of the British visa tabled amendments to Government plans to force system to allow 2.85 million Hong Kong citizens the chance of parliamentarians into the Commons in order to vote when they fully-fledged citizenship. returned from recess. The move, which represents a dramatic escalation in the The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) wrote stand-off between the UK and China, would put Hongkongers to all MPs to “raise our concern” ahead of a vote on the move, “on the route to citizenship”, said the Conservative Party leader. saying it “cannot be right” to exclude elected representatives. China’s ceremonial legislature, the National People’s The watchdog warned it would “place at significant Congress, endorsed a security law for Hong Kong earlier this disadvantage” MPs who are shielding or self-isolating due to week that has strained relations with the UK and the US. age, disability, health or pregnancy, as well as those who will The law will alter the territory’s mini-constitution, or Basic struggle to travel to Westminster. Law, to require its government to enforce measures to be The proposal announced by Commons Leader Jacob Rees- decided later by Chinese leaders. Mogg saw parliamentarians forming queues several hundred Critics have said the law erodes the “one country, two metres long in order to obey social distancing rules – despite systems” framework that promised Hong Kong freedoms not the Lords planning a move online. found in mainland China for 50 years. It was approved by 261 votes to 163, majority 98, while an Protesters have taken to the streets in Hong Kong to amendment to allow remote voting to return was defeated by demonstrate , despite coronavirus social distancing restrictions 185 votes to 242, majority 57, following a 46-minute division. still being in place. A total of 31 Conservative MPs rebelled to support the Johnson said the national security law would breach the amendment, according to the division list. treaty between China and the UK and would “dramatically Ahead of the vote, EHRC chief executive Rebecca Hilsenrath erode” Hong Kong’s autonomy. called on MPs “to show leadership in championing equality and If China chooses to go ahead with its changes for the island, non-discrimination” when voting on the Government plans to the PM said he would effectively upgrade the status of British ensure Parliament “remains inclusive”. National (Overseas) passports, which 350,000 people in Hong “We are concerned by the announcement today from Kong hold and 2.5 million are eligible to apply for, to grant the Leader of the House of Commons which implies that immigration rights beyond the current six month limit. ■ Parliament may proceed without provision for the remote participation of Members who are unable to travel to Westminster because of the pandemic,” she wrote. ■
4 JUNE 3 (GMT) – JUNE 4 (AEST), 2020
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. - AAP - AAP
AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND Treasurer: Australia Hopes up for sport, is in a recession concerts, church
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has confirmed New Zealanders could be packing grandstands at Australia is now in a recession after 29 consecutive years sporting events as soon as next weekend should of economic growth. COVID-19 restrictions lift, building hopes for a golden run of trans-Tasman sport. The Australian economy shrank 0.3 per cent in the March quarter amid bushfires and the early stages of the A 12th straight day without a new case of coronavirus has coronavirus pandemic. prompted Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to unveil plans to step The economic shock will be much worse in the current down to baseline, or ‘level one’, restrictions. June quarter, when the full impact of virus-related A decision will come at next Monday’s cabinet meeting, with shutdowns occurred. all expectations that social distancing and gathering caps will Frydenberg is not waiting for those figures to come out be removed. before confirming Australia is in a recession. “Our churches will be able to return to full service. Our “Well, the answer to that is yes,” he said. sports and concert stadiums can be sold out. And we can “And that is on the basis of the advice that I have from celebrate and we can mourn with one another in groups of the Treasury Department about where the June quarter is any size,” she said. expected to be.” The decision will come in time for round one for New A recession in generally defined as two consecutive quarters Zealand’s Super Rugby Aotearoa competition, beginning of economic contraction. June 13 in Dunedin, and the resumption of Netball’s ANZ The last time Australia experienced a recession was in 1991. Premiership the following weekend. “This long run of growth was created by Hawke and Keating, Sport Minister Grant Robertson said it wouldn’t just be Kiwi defended by Rudd and Swan, and it ends under Morrison and fans relishing that prospect. Frydenberg,” shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers said. “It will be a boon for the people who run our stadia and for “Hundreds of thousands of jobs have already been sacrificed the businesses,” he said. to the first recession in 29 years.” “If we are able to move into level one next week, we’ve got Frydenberg had pledged the first federal budget surplus in the prospect of things like Super Rugby games being able to be 12 years, but an update in July and the next budget in October played in front of full stadiums which will be just terrific.” are expected to confirm deep deficits. ■ The next step, dependent on the establishment of a trans- Tasman travel bubble, would be more Australia v New Zealand matches across a string of codes. Cricket’s governing bodies are well advanced with fixture plans for both men and women. Football Federation Australia has flagged internationals between the high-flying Matildas and Silver Ferns, and fellow Olympic qualifiers the Olyroos and All Whites. And given the postponement of a winter tour by Wales and Scotland, the next international rugby fixture likely to be played is a Bledisloe Cup match in Wellington. ■
5 JUNE 3 (GMT) – JUNE 4 (AEST), 2020
Members of the DC National Guard, US Park Police and US Secret Service watch as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. - AP demonstrators gather to protest the death of George Floyd near the White House. - AP
NORTH AMERICA NORTH AMERICA Governors mull request Pompeo slams China to send troops to DC over Tiananmen
Some governors are rejecting President Donald Trump’s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has marked this week’s request to send National Guard troops to Washington anniversary of China’s deadly 1989 crackdown on pro- DC, for a massive militarised show of force in the nation’s democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square – a day after capital after several days of unrest over the death of federal forces used tear gas to clear peaceful protesters George Floyd. from a park in front of the White House.
Several states, including New York and Virginia, have so Pompeo tweeted criticism of China and Hong Kong for barring far rejected the request, with at least one governor citing a vigil to mark the anniversary before he met privately with a Trump’s rhetoric about using troops to “dominate” protesters group of Tiananmen Square survivors at the State Department. as a reason why. All of those states are led by Democrats. A senior department official confirmed the meeting took place Meanwhile, several other states around the country are but could not say how many survivors attended or what was sending troops to Washington with more expected in coming discussed. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss days. the meeting and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Trump administration has asked multiple states to President Donald Trump has threatened to call in the military send troops to Washington at the same time as the president to quell violent protests in the United States. derided many governors as “weak” for not using the National The Trump administration has stepped up its anti-China Guard more aggressively in their own states. rhetoric over Beijing’s response to the coronavirus outbreak Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam rejected a personal appeal and its moves to impose greater control over Hong Kong. from Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to send thousands Trump and Pompeo last week said Hong Kong is no longer of the state’s National Guard members to Washington DC, autonomous and will be stripped of its preferential trade and the governor’s office said. Northam said he was concerned commercial status. that the Trump administration would misuse the troops to Pompeo began the day by firing off a tweet criticizing China escalate tensions. for blocking the annual Tiananmen Square vigil in Hong Kong Trump has declared himself to be the “president of law on June 4, the anniversary of the assault on protesters by and order” and has vowed to deploy the US military to the People’s Liberation Army. The decision to bar the vigil America’s own cities to quell a rise of violent protests, including ostensibly on health grounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic ransacking stores and burning police cars. comes just a week after China’s rubber stamp parliament Floyd died last week after a white police officer pressed enacted a new security law for the former British colony that his knee into his neck for several minutes. The death set off many fear will be used to curtail freedoms the territory has protests that spread across the US. enjoyed since it reverted to Chinese rule in 1997. Delaware Gov. John Carney’s office said the state did not “It starts; so soon,” Pompeo said in a tweet. “For the first time send troops because Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser did not in 30 years, Hong Kong authorities denied permission to hold request “additional assistance,” a reason Northam also cited. the Tiananmen Vigil. If there is any doubt about Beijing’s intent, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he was unaware of any it is to deny Hong Kongers a voice and a choice, making them request to send New York’s Guard to Washington but said the same as mainlanders. So much for two systems.” he wouldn’t have granted such a request because they are The Hong Kong vigil draws a huge crowd to an outdoor needed at home. ■ space every year. ■
6 JUNE 3 (GMT) – JUNE 4 (AEST), 2020
- PA UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. - PA
UK UK Shop prices plunge Johnson to face Starmer to tempt buyers questions on Cummings
Shoppers saw the price of goods tumble further last Boris Johnson is expected to face Sir Keir Starmer at month as clothing and furniture retailers increased Prime Minister’s Questions for the first time since news discounts to pull in customers and offset the impact of emerged of the controversial lockdown trip made by coronavirus, according to new data. Dominic Cummings.
The BRC-Nielsen shop price index for May revealed that All eyes will be on the House of Commons to see how the prices slid by 2.4 per cent in May, following a 1.7 per cent Prime Minister performs opposite the Labour leader, with decline in April. Johnson likely to be grilled over his support for his senior Experts said the fall in prices was driven by non-essential adviser over his decision to take his family 260 miles away to retailers, who were forced to shut their doors in March due to Durham in March to self-isolate. the coronavirus pandemic. The leaders will come face to face on the day the UK Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail coronavirus death toll could reach 50,000, having passed Consortium (BRC), said: “Shop prices in May fell at their fastest 49,800 earlier this week. rate since 2006, which was largely driven by the drop in non- Meanwhile, new quarantine restrictions on travellers food prices. arriving in the UK will be set out by Home Secretary Priti Patel, “Clothing and furniture saw the biggest drop as retailers ran including requiring the majority of visitors to Britain to self- promotions to encourage consumer spending and attempted isolate for 14 days. to mitigate recent losses.” Starmer said Johnson “has got to get a grip” and expressed Non-food retailers saw prices slide by 4.6 per cent in May – concerns that the Government is now “winging it”. the sharpest decline since December 2006 – compared to a “I am putting the Prime Minister on notice that he has got to decline of 3.7 per cent in April. get a grip and restore public confidence in the Government’s Meanwhile, food inflation also slowed down, easing to a handling of the epidemic,” Starmer said. 1.5 per cent increase from 1.8 per cent in April. “If we see a sharp rise in the R rate, the infection rate, or a Fresh food prices also moved marginally higher, with inflation swathe of local lockdowns, responsibility for that falls squarely slowing to 0.5 per cent from 1 per cent in the previous month. at the door of No 10. Dickinson added: “Year-on-year food prices increased slightly “We all know the public have made huge sacrifices. This due to higher business costs, implementing social distancing mismanagement of the last few weeks is the responsibility of measures and the upward pressure from labour shortages, the Government.” but were down on the previous month as more home-grown Starmer added: “My (worry) is that after a week or more of produce became available. mismanagement, I’m deeply concerned the Government has “We expect to see continued upward pressure on food made a difficult situation 10 times worse. There is a growing prices from the effects of the pandemic in the coming months, concern the government is now winging it. while non-food prices are likely to remain deflationary with “At precisely the time when there should have been subdued sales.” ■ maximum trust in the Government, confidence has collapsed.” The quarantine rules to be published include powers to refuse entry to foreign travellers who disobey UK authorities. ■
7 JUNE 3 (GMT) – JUNE 4 (AEST), 2020
Australian passengers from overseas arrive at a hotel in central Perth after flying into Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. - AP Perth International airport. - AAP
AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND Passengers could pay Ardern outlines plan hotel quarantine bill for shift to alert level 1
Passengers returning from overseas may soon have Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says there will still be to stump-up for their hotel quarantine bill with state strict controls on the border, but all current rules governments expected to stop funding mandatory and restrictions on businesses and services will be isolation. “essentially lifted” under alert level 1.
Since March 29, Australians returning home have had to She said the lower alert level would also put an end to complete a mandatory 14-day self-isolation period at a hotel in restrictions for hospitality businesses, and gatherings – the city they have arrived, with the tab being picked up by the including funerals and tangihanga – of any size could corresponding state government. take place. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk hinted that Physical distancing measures will not be considered arrangement was about to end with state governments soon necessary. expecting people returning from overseas to “pay that bill”. “Community sport can start without physical distancing “We, the governments have, at a national cabinet level, restrictions,” she said. we have agreed that state governments would pay for that,” Contact tracing efforts will remain and the government will Palaszczuk said. be encouraging contact diaries. “Now, we are looking at in the future, for people who are Ardern said it was the government’s “strong desire” to get to returning back from overseas, for them to pay that bill. level 1 as soon as it was safe and possible. “There’s work happening across jurisdictions about that.” “Within the last week we removed restrictions on bars and by The national cabinet will meet again on June 12. ■ Monday we’ll have a good view on whether that’s led to more cases,” she said. She paid tribute to the efforts made in the fight against the coronavirus so far. “Lives have been saved, hospital protected from overflow and the job of economic recovery will be able to start faster.” Yesterday, Ardern announced that Cabinet will consider moving to alert level 1 on June 8, earlier than previously indicated. She had said the country would be given a period of time to transition, but it was possible that we could be at alert level 1 by 10 June. “As long as we kept seeing the results that we’re seeing now [then it is possible to move to level 1] … if we see cases at the border then that also shouldn’t derail our progress, because those of course are cases of individuals who are in quarantine.” Ardern said she would continue to advocate for distancing rules and had been in “awkward situations” where she had needed to reject close contact with people. ■
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