June 19 (GMT) – June 20 (AEST), 2020

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USA UK AUSTRALIA

Warning signs despite toll decline Virus alert level lowered Australia under ‘cyber attack’

The number of deaths per day from The UK’s chief medical officers have Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the coronavirus in the US has fallen in agreed to downgrade the coronavirus Australian private and public sector recent weeks to the lowest level since alert level from four to three after a organisations are being targeted in a late March, even as states increasingly “steady” and continuing decrease in cases sophisticated cyber attack by a foreign reopen for business. But scientists are in all four nations. Localised outbreaks entity. “We know it is a sophisticated, concerned the trend may be about to of Covid-19 were still “likely” to occur, the state-based cyber actor because of the reverse itself. “For now, it’s too soon advisers warned, and the virus remains in scale and nature of the targeting and to be reassured that deaths are going general circulation. But the downgrading the tradecraft used,” Morrison said. “The down and everything’s OK,” said Dr – recommended by the Joint Biosecurity Australian government is aware of and Cyrus Shahpar of Resolve to Save Lives, Centre – means transmission of alert to the threat of cyber attacks.” a nonprofit organization that works to coronavirus is no longer considered to be Morrison said these were not new risks prevent epidemics. “high or rising exponentially”. but they are specific, targeted activities.

USA UK AUSTRALIA

Klobuchar drops out of VP race £1bn plan to help pupils catch up Bid to stop brumby cull fails

Amy Klobuchar says she is dropping out Boris Johnson has revealed a £1 billion Victoria’s brumby cull has again been of the running to be vice president and plan to help pupils catch up with their given the green light, but a cattleman urging Democrat Joe Biden to select education before September after has pledged to take his fight to save the a woman of color instead. The white spending months out of school during horses to the highest court in the land. Minnesota senator, who had seen her the coronavirus lockdown. The scheme Omeo man Philip Maguire lost his bid to prospects fall as racial tensions swept the will see the most disadvantaged children stop the state from killing the brumbies nation, said she called the presumptive in England given access to funds to pay in the Alpine National Park at the Court presidential nominee and made the for personal tutors, while the majority of of Appeal. “We’re going to the High suggestion. Biden had already committed the funding will allow schools to step in to Court even if we have to sell our two to choosing a woman as his running mate. cover lost teaching time. properties,” Mr Maguire said. He said “I think this is a moment to put a woman of he was “disgusted and angry” about the color on that ticket,” Klobuchar said. decision to reject the appeal.

1 June 19 (GMT) – June 20 (AEST), 2020

Your daily Top 12 stories from Frank News

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rest of the world EUROPE NEW ZEALAND

China charges Canadian ’spies’ Leaders mark historic broadcast Man charged over cop shooting

Chinese prosecutors have charged two British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and A man has been charged with murder detained Canadians with spying in an French President Emmanuel Macron after the fatal shooting of a police apparent bid to step up pressure on spoke of the coronavirus economic officer in New Zealand. On Friday two Canada to drop a US extradition request recovery during the French president’s officers attending a routine traffic stop for a Huawei executive under house visit to London, which marked the in the west Auckland suburb of Massey arrest in Vancouver. Michael Kovrig 80th anniversary of a historic wartime were confronted by a man with a long- was charged by Beijing on suspicion of broadcast. The Prime Minister held barrelled firearm, who shot both of them, spying for state secrets and intelligence. bilateral talks with Macron at Downing according to police. One later died in Michael Spavor was charged in Dandong, Street, while they watched a flypast Auckland hospital. The other was still a city near the North Korean border, on to commemorate General Charles de recovering with serious injuries but in a suspicion of spying for a foreign entity Gaulle’s address. stable condition. and illegally providing state secrets. rest of the world EUROPE NEW ZEALAND

South’s unification minister quits EU to move on quickly on recovery Flight with virus case ‘crammed’

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has European Union leaders have found A woman who was on the same flight accepted the resignation of his point man that a quick deal on the bloc’s future as New Zealand’s latest confirmed case on North Korea, who had asked to quit long-term budget and a multibillion-euro of Covid-19 says there was no social after the North destroyed a liaison office post-pandemic recovery plan remained distancing on board and many people while ramping up pressure against Seoul. beyond their reach as the coronavirus weren’t wearing masks. The man, in his Kim Yeon-chul, whom Moon appointed ravages their economies. Following a 60s, arrived from Melbourne on 13 June as unification minister in April last year as four-hour video summit aimed at paving on Air NZ flight 124 and started showing talks between the Trump administration the way for a compromise this summer, signs of illness two days later while in and Pyongyang began falling apart, leaves there was common ground on the need quarantine. Yesterday, the Ministry of the job without having a single meeting for a quick response but divergences Health said he had tested positive. with the North Koreans. persisted among the leaders of EU member nations.

2 June 19 (GMT) – June 20 (AEST), 2020

Signs remind patrons to wear masks in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. – AP Amy Klobuchar at a rally for Joe Biden’s campaign in Dallas. – AP

USA USA Warning signs despite Klobuchar drops out of US toll decline Biden VP race

The number of deaths per day from the coronavirus in Amy Klobuchar says she is dropping out of the running the US has fallen in recent weeks to the lowest level to be vice president and urging Democrat Joe Biden to since late March, even as states increasingly reopen for select a woman of color instead. business. But scientists are concerned the trend may be about to reverse itself. The white Minnesota senator, who had seen her prospects fall as racial tensions swept the nation, said she called the “For now, it’s too soon to be reassured that deaths are going presumptive presidential nominee and made the suggestion. down and everything’s OK,” said Dr Cyrus Shahpar of Resolve Biden had already committed to choosing a woman as his to Save Lives, a nonprofit organization that works to prevent running mate. epidemics. “I think this is a moment to put a woman of color on that Deaths from Covid-19 across the country are down to about ticket,” Klobuchar said. “If you want to heal this nation right now 680 a day, compared with around 960 two weeks ago. – my party, yes, but our nation – this is a way to do it.” A multitude of reasons are believed to be at play, including the Biden praised Klobuchar, citing her “grit and determination” advent of effective treatments and improved efforts at hospitals and saying, “With your help, we’re going to beat Donald Trump.” and nursing homes to prevent infections and save lives. Klobuchar’s chances at getting the VP nod diminished But already there are warning signs. after the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in For one thing, the number of newly confirmed cases a day Minneapolis. Klobuchar was a prosecutor years ago in the has risen from about 21,400 two weeks ago to 23,200. county that includes Minneapolis, and during that period, And in Florida, Georgia, Texas and Arizona – states that more than two dozen people – mostly minorities – died during loosened their stay-at-home restrictions early – daily deaths encounters with police. have been quietly rising since early June, said Ali Mokdad, Floyd’s death last month set off days of protests across professor of health metrics sciences at the University of the country and criticism that as the county’s top prosecutor, Washington in Seattle. Klobuchar didn’t charge any of the officers involved in citizen “These are not numbers. These are human beings,” Mokdad deaths. Officer Derek Chauvin, who was charged with Floyd’s said. “We’re going to see a rise in deaths in many places.” murder, had been involved in one of those cases, the fatal The outbreak has killed about 118,000 people in the US and 2006 shooting of a man accused of stabbing people and nearly a half-million worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins’ aiming a shotgun at police. count, though the real numbers are believed to be higher. Klobuchar, 60, was among a large field of Democrats who Potential vaccines are in early stages of testing, and it is unlikely had sought the 2020 presidential nomination, running as a any will be ready before early next year. pragmatic Midwesterner who has passed over 100 bills. She Experts note that a rise in deaths could take awhile to dropped out and threw her support behind Biden before the show up in the US statistics. Stay-at-home orders imposed in crucial March 3 “Super Tuesday” contests after struggling to March, combined with the use of face masks and other social- win support from black voters, who are crucial to Democratic distancing measures, have been bringing down the daily death victories. Her best finish of the primary was in overwhelmingly toll since mid-April, and the US as a whole is still seeing the white New Hampshire, where she came in third. positive effects, even though people are starting to work, shop Biden has said he will announce his VP decision by and eat out again. ■ August 1. ■

3 June 19 (GMT) – June 20 (AEST), 2020

– PA – PA

UK UK Virus alert level lowered PM’s £1bn plan to help as cases fall pupils catch up

The UK’s chief medical officers have agreed to Boris Johnson has revealed a £1 billion plan to help pupils downgrade the coronavirus alert level from four to three catch up with their education before September after after a “steady” and continuing decrease in cases in all spending months out of school during the coronavirus four nations. lockdown.

Localised outbreaks of Covid-19 are still “likely” to occur, the The scheme will see the most disadvantaged children in advisers warned, and the virus remains in general circulation. England given access to funds to pay for personal tutors, while But the downgrading – recommended by the Joint the majority of the funding will allow schools to step in to cover Biosecurity Centre – means transmission of coronavirus is no lost teaching time. longer considered to be “high or rising exponentially”. The Prime Minister said last week that school pupils would Health Secretary said moving to a lower alert undergo a “massive catch-up operation over the summer and level was a “big moment” for the UK, and showed the country beyond” to get up to speed on work they have missed, with was getting “back on her feet”. thousands of youngsters having been out of class since March. England’s Professor , Northern Ireland’s Dr Announcing the fresh wave of summer funding before his Michael McBride, Scotland’s Dr Gregor Smith and Wales’ Dr visit to a school in Hertfordshire, Johnson said: “This £1 billion Chris Jones agreed with the JBC’s recommendation. catch-up package will help head teachers to provide extra “The Joint Biosecurity Centre has recommended that the support to children who have fallen behind while out of school. Covid-19 alert level should move from Level 4 (a Covid-19 “I am determined to do everything I can to get all children epidemic is in general circulation; transmission is high or rising back in school from September, and we will bring forward exponentially) to Level 3 (a Covid-19 epidemic is in general plans on how this will happen as soon as possible.” circulation),” they said in a joint statement. The money will mean the most disadvantaged children “The CMOs for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will have access to tutors through a £350 million national have reviewed the evidence and agree with this recommendation programme for the 2020-21 academic year, to prevent the to move to Level 3 across the UK. There has been a steady attainment gap from widening further. decrease in cases we have seen in all four nations. A further £650 million will be shared across state primary “It does not mean that the pandemic is over. The virus is and secondary schools over the 2020-21 academic year to help still in general circulation, and localised outbreaks are likely children from all backgrounds who have lost teaching time, the to occur. We have made progress against the virus thanks to Department for Education said. the efforts of the public and we need the public to continue to While head teachers will decide how the money is spent, the follow the guidelines carefully.” government expects it to be used for small group tuition for Hancock said the UK moving to a lower alert level was a big whoever needs it. ■ moment for the country, and “a real testament to the British people’s determination to beat this virus”. “The government’s plan is working. Infection rates are rapidly falling, we have protected the NHS and, thanks to the hard work of millions in our health and social care services, we are getting the country back on her feet.” ■

4 June 19 (GMT) – June 20 (AEST), 2020

Prime Minister Scott Morrison – AAP – AAP

AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA Australia under foreign Cattleman’s bid to stop ‘cyber attack’ brumby cull fails

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australian private Victoria’s brumby cull has been given the green light, and public sector organisations are being targeted in a but a cattleman has pledged to take his fight to save the sophisticated cyber attack by a foreign entity. horses to the highest court in the land.

“We know it is a sophisticated, state-based cyber actor because Omeo man Philip Maguire lost his bid to stop the state from of the scale and nature of the targeting and the tradecraft killing the brumbies in the Alpine National Park at the Court of used,” Morrison said. Appeal. “The Australian government is aware of and alert to the “We’re going to the High Court even if we have to sell our two threat of cyber attacks.” properties,” Mr Maguire said. Morrison said these were not new risks but they were He said he was “disgusted and angry” about the decision to specific, targeted activities and he wanted to advise Australians reject the appeal. and these organisations so they could take action to protect “They don’t need to be shot,” he said of the horses. themselves. Mr Maguire argued the shoots were not humane and said He said the investigations conducted so far had not revealed the horses could be relocated instead. any large-scale personal data breaches. Parks Victoria should have consulted about changes to the Australia’s security agencies were working closely with allies control method which included a new “kill policy”, his lawyer and partners to manage it. Anthony Strahan QC said. “I spoke to (British Prime Minister) Boris Johnson last night It was a controversial decision and not engaging in about a range of matters, including this one and there are a community consultation did not allow for a “depth of views” to number of engagements with our allies overnight,” Morrison be expressed, he said. said. Mr Maguire had a “special interest” and should have been He would not say which country was behind the attacks. consulted about the change in plans because he owns land Asked if it was China, Morrison said: “The Australian abutting the national park, the brumbies graze on his land and government is not making any public attribution about these the cull threatens this amenity. matters. But the judges rejected the argument. “We are very confident that this is the actions of a state- “The applicant lacks standing and consequently leave to based actor. appeal is refused,” Chief Justice Anne Ferguson said. “We have not gone any further than that. I can’t control what Mr Maguire was ordered to pay the costs of Parks Victoria. speculation others might engage in.” ■ Parks Victoria chief executive Matthew Jackson welcomed the decision. “Parks Victoria has an obligation to control invasive species in Victoria’s national parks, including feral horses, which cause long-term and large-scale damage to native alpine plants and animals,” he said. The state government organisation says the animals damage the fragile alpine environment, including moss beds and fens. ■

5 June 19 (GMT) – June 20 (AEST), 2020

Michael Spavor. – AP Flags of North and South Korea, flutter in the wind on the border. – AP

rest of the world rest of the world China charges Canadians South Korea’s unification with spying minister quits

Chinese prosecutors have charged two detained South Korean President Moon Jae-in has accepted the Canadians with spying in an apparent bid to step up resignation of his point man on North Korea, who had pressure on Canada to drop a US extradition request for asked to quit after the North destroyed a liaison office a Huawei executive under house arrest in Vancouver. while ramping up pressure against Seoul.

Michael Kovrig was charged by Beijing on suspicion of spying Kim Yeon-chul, whom Moon appointed as unification minister for state secrets and intelligence. Michael Spavor was charged in April last year as talks between the Trump administration in Dandong, a city near the North Korean border, on suspicion and Pyongyang began falling apart, leaves the job without of spying for a foreign entity and illegally providing state having a single meeting with the North Koreans. He said he secrets. wanted to resign to take responsibility for tensions between The charges were announced by China’s highest prosecutor’s the rivals. office. The North in recent months has virtually cut off all co- Asked what evidence China had against the two, Chinese operation with the South while expressing frustration over foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said only that each Seoul’s unwillingness to break away from ally Washington and is charged with “secretly gathering state secrets for overseas restart inter-Korean economic projects held back by US-led forces with particularly serious consequences”. sanctions over its nuclear weapons program. “The facts are clear and the evidence solid and sufficient,” Kim offered to resign after North Korea in a made-for-TV Zhao said. Zhao gave no details. demonstration Tuesday used explosives to destroy the building Both men have already been held for 18 months. They were in its border town of Kaesong. detained shortly after the December 2018 arrest of Meng The North has also declared it will cut off all government and Wanzhou, a top executive at Chinese tech giant Huawei. The military communication channels and abandon a key military daughter of Huawei’s founder was arrested at the request of agreement reached in 2018 to reduce conventional threats, US authorities who want her on fraud charges related to trade which experts say elevates risks of skirmishes in border areas with Iran. in land and sea. A Canadian judge ruled this month that the US extradition It wasn’t immediately clear who Moon was considering case against Meng could proceed to the next stage. as Kim’s replacement. There are calls that Moon should China has denied any explicit link between her case and overhaul his foreign policy and national security personnel the lengthy detention of the two Canadian men, but outside amid deteriorating relations with the North and Seoul’s fading experts see them as tied and Chinese diplomats have strongly role as mediator in the nuclear talks between Washington implied a connection. and Pyongyang, which have faltered over disagreements in Meng has been released on bail while her extradition case exchanging sanctions relief and disarmament steps. proceeds in court and is residing in one of her two Vancouver Moon’s government had been credited for co-ordinating mansions where she is reportedly working on a graduate a diplomatic push to defuse the nuclear standoff with North degree. Kovrig and Spavor are being held at an undisclosed Korea, with his envoys shuttling between Pyongyang and location and up to now, have been denied access to lawyers or Washington to help set up the first meeting between the family members. ■ North’s leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump in in Singapore in June 2018. ■

6 June 19 (GMT) – June 20 (AEST), 2020

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, and French President Emmanuel Macron French President Emmanuel Macron. – AP watch a joint flypast of the Red Arrows and La Patrouille de France. – AP

EUROPE EUROPE Macron, Johnson mark EU leaders to move on historic broadcast quickly on recovery deal

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French European Union leaders have found that a quick deal on President Emmanuel Macron spoke of the coronavirus the bloc’s future long-term budget and a multibillion- economic recovery during the French president’s visit to euro post-pandemic recovery plan remained beyond London, which marked the 80th anniversary of a historic their reach as the coronavirus ravages their economies. wartime broadcast. Following a four-hour video summit aimed at paving the way The Prime Minister held bilateral talks with Macron at Downing for a compromise this summer, there was common ground Street, while they watched a flypast to commemorate General on the need for a quick response but divergences persisted Charles de Gaulle’s address. among the leaders of EU member nations. Macron gave a passionate speech thanking London for giving A French diplomatic source said after the European Council his countrymen and women a voice and platform to fight Nazi meeting that a summit conducted in person would be needed tyranny during World War II. for more exchanges. He marked the anniversary of the broadcast, which rallied The meeting was the first step in intense discussions on the French people in the aftermath of the occupation of France, by European Commission’s plans for a €1.1 trillion seven-year visiting the city – his first foreign visit since the outbreak. budget and a €750 billion ($825 billion) recovery fund. During their meeting inside Number 10, Johnson and Devised to help member states’ economies cushion the Macron were expected to discuss the UK’s current two-week impact of the coronavirus, the package is far from being quarantine for all arrivals, amid reports that the French unanimously welcomed and more time will be needed to find a president would urge the government to revisit the decision. deal, possibly in July during an in-person summit. A Downing Street spokeswoman said both reflected on the To tackle the economic crisis, European Commission sacrifices made in World War II and the “enduring strength of president Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a revised long- the UK-France relationship”, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic. term budget for the 2021-2027 period that would represent “The Prime Minister welcomed French President Emmanuel around 1.1 per cent of European GDP after the UK’s departure, Macron to Downing Street this afternoon to commemorate coupled with the temporary reinforcement of the €750 billion the 80th anniversary of General de Gaulle’s ‘Appel’,” the set aside to combat the virus. The whole package represents a spokeswoman said. huge €1.85 trillion stimulus for the bloc’s struggling economies. “They agreed that the partnership between our countries will A blend of debt mutualisation, grants and loans, the aid plan be crucial in overcoming the coronavirus pandemic.” has over failed to gain the approval of a group of countries As part of the visit to Number 10, the two leaders viewed known as the – the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria artefacts documenting General de Gaulle’s time in London and and Sweden. They oppose issuing too much common debt to his partnership with Sir Winston Churchill. support the hardest-hit countries and argue that the money Both leaders maintained as they discussed should mainly be handed out in loans instead of grants. ■ the items, which included a letter from General de Gaulle thanking Britain’s wartime leader for his support. The Red Arrows and their French equivalent, La Patrouille de France, then performed a flypast to mark the anniversary, observed by both leaders. ■

7 June 19 (GMT) – June 20 (AEST), 2020

Photo: RNZ / Simon Rogers The flight back to New Zealand during the Covid-19 pandemic. – RNZ / Alexa Cook

NEW ZEALAND NEW ZEALAND Man charged over fatal Flight with coronavirus police shooting case was ‘crammed’

A man has been charged with murder after the fatal A woman who was on the same flight as New Zealand’s shooting of a police officer in New Zealand. latest confirmed case of Covid-19 says there was no social distancing on board and many people weren’t On Friday two officers attending a routine traffic stop in the wearing masks. west Auckland suburb of Massey were confronted by a man with a long-barrelled firearm, who shot both of them, according The man, in his 60s, arrived from Melbourne on 13 June on Air to police. NZ flight 124 and started showing signs of illness two days later One later died in Auckland hospital. The other was still while in quarantine. Yesterday, the Ministry of Health said he recovering with serious injuries but in a stable condition. had tested positive. A 24-year old has been charged with murder, attempted Former RNZ reporter Alexa Cook is in quarantine at the murder and dangerous driving causing injury. Novotel Auckland Airport, having arrived from the UK. She was He will appear before the Waitakere District Court on concerned after learning she was on the same flight as the man. Saturday. “There was no social distancing. We were sat in the middle of Police were unable to rule out the possibility of other people a row of four people – we had people right up against us,” she being charged. said. Earlier on Friday, Police Commissioner “Masks were not compulsory, the flight attendants were announced the death and that officers had detained two only wearing a mask and no other PPE … and the flight itself people of interest. seemed to be very crammed, very busy.” “This was a fast moving, unpredictable and tragic event,” On Air NZ’s website it says that under alert level 1 social Coster said. distancing is no longer a requirement. And yesterday Director- Both Coster and Prime Minister said the General of Health Dr said masks would death was devastating. be compulsory for every passenger on board flights from “To lose a police officer is to lose someone working for all Australia, for the duration of the flight. of us, but also a family member, someone’s loved one and Air NZ said it was not treating the masks as compulsory but friend. My condolences go to them and to their police whanau,” that they would be offered to passengers on trans-Tasman Ardern said, using the Maori word for family. flights. Superintendent Naila Hassan said the officer, whose identity Ms Cook was tested for Covid-19 yesterday and was had not been made public, had not been in the force for long. expecting to get the results on Saturday. The offender also struck a member of the public in his “We finally got tested [yesterday, which is] day five. We were vehicle, seriously injuring them. told we’d be tested on day three and day 12 as per those new Massey resident Elaine Taniela said she heard gunshots from regulations that came in last week,” she said. her home, and a friend “saw a cop on the ground. He looked “We had to ask a few times, ‘When’s our test going to be? Can like he was having a seizure”. we please get tested?’ Because I wanted that peace of mind Police put cordons in place, locked down schools and raided before going back to my family.” a property in nearby West Harbour during their large-scale The government has bolstered its quarantine procedures operation. ■ after two women were allowed to leave quarantine without being tested and later were found to be infected. ■

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