January 24 (GMT) – January 25 (AEST), 2018

Your daily Top 12 stories from Frank News

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NORTH AMERICA UK + Europe AUSTRALIA

Trump delays State of the Union Chance of second vote soars Blackouts hit amid heatwave

President Donald Trump said he is The likelihood of a second referendum Thousands of houses across Victoria postponing his State of the Union being held to break the political deadlock are without power as the state swelters address until the partial government over Brexit has “risen sharply”, according through an “oppressive” night of hot and shutdown ends, yielding after a weeklong to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). humid weather. About 5800 properties showdown with House Speaker Nancy The forecasting group put the probability were without power, a spokesman for the Pelosi. Trump conceded that “no venue of another poll at 50 per cent, up from State Control Centre said, with the cause that can compete” with the House 30 per cent in a similar analysis less than of the outages under investigation. The Chamber” and that he was not looking for a fortnight ago, and said it expects the blackouts came after Energy Minister Lily an alternate option after Pelosi said he Government to delay Britain’s exit. D’Ambrosio urged households to ration won’t be allowed to deliver the address to their non-essential electricity use. a joint session of Congress next week.

Dems’ border security proposal Cold snap prompts ice warning Thai cave divers vie for honour

House Democrats, feeling pressure to Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians have Two mates thrust into the global spotlight display their vision for border security, been urged to remain cautious after for their heroic roles in rescuing a Thai are preparing a package that would the cold snap brought ice to many parts junior soccer team could be crowned ignore President Donald Trump’s of the country. An overnight low of -9C joint winners of Australian of the Year. demand for $5.7 billion for a wall with was recorded in Aboyne, a village on the South Australian anaesthetist Richard Mexico and would instead pay for other edge of the Highlands in Aberdeenshire, Harris and West Australian retired vet ideas aimed at protecting the border. while Cavendish in Suffolk was hit by Craig Challen took out their state awards Details of the Democrats’ border security temperatures of -5C. The Met Office for their part in July’s daring salvage of plan and its cost remained a work in meteorologist warned that showers and 12 young boys and their coach from a progress, though some said it might freezing rain could bring treacherous flooded cave in Thailand. match Trump’s $5.7 billion figure. travel conditions throughout the day.

1 January 24 (GMT) – January 25 (AEST), 2018

Your daily Top 12 stories from Frank News

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Rest Of The World EUROPE NEW ZEALAND

US backs Maduro rival Sala search turns to recovery Queenstown in clean-up mode

Venezuelans are headed into Police have resumed their Queenstown and Central Otago are uncharted political waters, with the search for the missing plane carrying new cleaning up after wild southerly change young leader of a newly united and Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala, but the swept through the area, downing trees combative opposition claiming to hold man in charge of the search said it was and cutting off power to thousands. the presidency and socialist President unlikely that Sala or pilot David Ibbotson Dozens were still without power in Nicolas Maduro digging in for a fight would be found alive. Guernsey Police pockets of the Queenstown Lakes and with the Trump administration. Violence said that they would begin a coastal air Central Otago districts after power was flared again during big anti-government search, focusing on the small islands of cut to about 4500 customers as strong demonstrations across Venezuela, and Burhou, and Sark, as well as the winds and heavy rain lashed the area. at least seven protesters were reported Casquets rocks, and the north coast of killed in the escalating confrontation. the Cherbourg Peninsula.

Kim prepares for second summit Union chiefs say ‘no’ to no-deal Ardern pitches wellbeing budget

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda ordered preparations for a second has repeated her call for Theresa May Ardern has pitched what she says will summit with President Donald Trump, to take a no-deal Brexit off the table, as be the first-ever “wellbeing” budget by saying he’ll “wait with patience and in she emerged from Downing Street saying a government. Her administration has good faith” to work toward a common she had not received the guarantees vowed to this year take a new approach goal, the North’s state media reported. unions are seeking on jobs and workers’ to its finances, saying it would no longer Despite Kim’s determination for another rights. The Prime Minister was meeting just crunch numbers on economic data meeting with Trump, the two remain at union bosses as one of Britain’s largest but also a variety of social indicators. “I odds over fundamental issues. manufacturers, Airbus, issued a stark think it’s the beginning of doing things warning of the potential damage to jobs differently,” Ardern said at the World from a no-deal departure. Economic Forum in Davos.

2 January 24 (GMT) – January 25 (AEST), 2018

US President Donald Trump. – AP House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. – AP

NORTH AMERICA NORTH AMERICA Trump delays State Dems prepare own of the Union border security package

President Donald Trump said he is postponing his State House Democrats, feeling pressure to display their vision of the Union address until the partial government for border security, are preparing a package that would shutdown ends, yielding after a weeklong showdown ignore President Donald Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. for a wall with Mexico and would instead pay for other ideas aimed at protecting the border. Following a high-stakes game of dare and double-dare, Trump conceded that “no venue that can compete with the history, As the government slogged through a record 33rd day of its tradition and importance of the House Chamber” and that partial shutdown, details of the Democrats’ border security he was not looking for an alternate option after Pelosi served plan and its cost remained a work in progress, though some notice earlier that he won’t be allowed to deliver the address to said it might match Trump’s $5.7 billion figure. Party leaders a joint session of Congress next week. said it would include money for scanning devices and other Pelosi had taken the step after Trump said he planned to technological tools for improving security at ports of entry and show up in spite of Democratic objections to the speech taking along the boundary, plus funds for more border agents and place with large swaths of the government shut down. immigration judges. Denied that grand venue, Trump promised to come up with “If his $5.7 billion is about border security, then we see some sort of alternative event. The White House scrambled ourselves fulfilling that request, only doing it with what I like to to find a site matching the gravitas of the traditional address call using a smart wall,” said No. 3 House Democratic leader Jim from the rostrum of the House to lawmakers from both Clyburn. parties, Supreme Court justices, invited guests and a television The Democrats’ movement toward producing a plan, which audience of millions. they said they expected to unveil this week, was significant “As the Shutdown was going on, Nancy Pelosi asked me to because it underscored a growing uneasiness with letting give the State of the Union Address. I agreed,” Trump tweeted. Trump cast them as soft on border security. It came as the “She then changed her mind because of the Shutdown, Senate prepared for votes on rival plans for reopening federal suggesting a later date. This is her prerogative – I will do the agencies and paying 800,000 federal workers who are days Address when the Shutdown is over.” from missing yet another paycheck. Fireworks over the speech shot back and forth between Republicans would couple ending the shutdown with the Capitol and the White House as the month-long partial financing Trump’s wall and revamping immigration laws. government shutdown showed no signs of ending and about Democrats would reopen agency doors through February 8 800,000 federal workers faced the prospect of going without while bargainers seek an accord. their second paycheck in a row. A poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Pelosi told Trump the House wouldn’t approve a resolution Affairs Research released Wednesday was the latest indicator allowing him to address Congress until the shutdown ended. that the shutdown is hurting Trump with the general public. Trump shot back that Pelosi was afraid of hearing the truth. While his approval among Republicans remains strong, just “I think that’s a great blotch on the incredible country that we 34 per cent of Americans like his performance as president all love,” Trump said. “It’s a great, great horrible mark.” ■ and 6 in 10 assign a great deal of responsibility to him for the shutdown, around double the share blaming Democrats. ■

3 January 24 (GMT) – January 25 (AEST), 2018

British Prime Minister Theresa May. – PA An early morning runner during a frosty sunrise in Primrose Hill, London. – PA

UK + EUROPE UK + EUROPE Chance of second Brexit Cold snap prompts vote soars ice warning

The likelihood of a second referendum being held to Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians have been urged to break the political deadlock over Brexit has “risen remain cautious after the cold snap brought ice to many sharply”, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit parts of the country. (EIU). An overnight low of -9C was recorded in Aboyne, a village on The forecasting group put the probability of another poll at the edge of the Highlands in Aberdeenshire, while Cavendish in 50 per cent, up from 30 per cent in a similar analysis less than Suffolk was hit by temperatures of -5C. a fortnight ago, and said it expects the Government to delay Becky Mitchell, a Met Office meteorologist, warned that Britain’s exit. showers in predominately eastern parts of the country, as And it predicted that the Prime Minister’s “plan B” for Brexit well as freezing rain in the south east, could bring treacherous will not be sufficient to secure parliamentary approval, and travel conditions throughout the day. placed the chance of it succeeding at 20 per cent. She added that cold temperatures across northern, central The EIU had previously said there was a 40 per cent chance and eastern parts had led to a yellow weather warning for ice of May getting a version of her deal approved by Parliament being put in place across large parts of the nation until 11am eventually. on Thursday. It said a second poll would give popular legitimacy to the Discussing the impact that this could have, she said: “In next course of action, be it adopting a version of May’s deal, these sorts of conditions, ice is normally going to form on any leaving with no deal or stopping Brexit. unattended roads, pavements and cycle paths. The analysis also predicted a 15 per cent probability for a “We’d advise motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to take extra soft Brexit option, a 10 per cent chance of a general election care for much of the morning and the day.” and a 5 per cent likelihood of a no-deal outcome. She added that the potential for freezing rain in the south Danielle Haralambous, UK analyst at the EIU, said May’s “plan east – including in north and east Greater London areas – B” for her Brexit deal is “unlikely to do much to revive it”. could bring “instant ice”, creating hazardous travel conditions. “As before, a lot depends on how much the EU is willing to Wintry showers, including sleet and hail, are also expected in bend on the Irish backstop arrangement, and as before, the EU eastern parts, but Mitchell said that milder temperatures were has made clear that it will not,” she said. likely to arrive later on Thursday. “With the deal unlikely to be revived, the Brexit options However, colder conditions are expected to return later in have narrowed, and in our view the probability of a second the week with the potential for snow at the weekend, especially referendum being held to break the political deadlock has over northern and western areas, as well as heavy winds in risen sharply. many places. “We still think that when it comes down it, Mrs May and The tricky conditions meant that the Driving Standards her government are not prepared to run down the Article 50 Agency was forced to cancel many driving tests across the clock and leave the EU without a withdrawal agreement and nation. transition arrangements in place.” Despite having a good service on most of its network, She added: “We therefore expect the Government to request Merseyrail ran a replacement bus between Hooton and an extension that avoids a cliff-edge situation, and in our view a Ellesmere Port due to “thick ice” on the rails. ■ second referendum is the most likely next step.” ■

4 January 24 (GMT) – January 25 (AEST), 2018

– AAP Australian of the Year finalists Craig Challen and Dr Richard Harris. – AAP

AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA Blackouts as Victoria Thai cave divers vie faces ‘oppressive’ heat for honour

Thousands of houses across Victoria are without power Two mates thrust into the global spotlight for their as the state swelters through an “oppressive” night of heroic roles in rescuing a Thai junior soccer team could hot and humid weather. be crowned joint winners of Australian of the Year.

About 5800 properties were without power, a spokesman for South Australian anaesthetist Richard Harris and West the State Control Centre said, with the cause of the outages Australian retired vet Craig Challen took out their state awards under investigation. for July’s daring salvage of 12 young boys and their coach from The blackouts came after Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio a flooded cave in Thailand. urged households to ration their non-essential electricity use. “For two good mates to share the award would be While “absolutely confident” there was enough energy supply tremendous,” Harris said ahead of Friday’s ceremony. to get through Melbourne’s minimum overnight temperature It’s been a whirlwind six months for the two cave divers. of 29C – just shy of the 30.6C record – D’Ambrosio suggested Worldwide media attention, movie and book deals, and turning off dishwashers, kitchen appliances, washing machines Australia’s highest civilian honour – the Star of Courage. and pool pumps. Harris wants to use his platform to encourage kids to get “What we are asking Victorians to do is just be aware and be outdoors and find their inner explorer. mindful that the activities we undertake when we’re home do “Maybe get a few grazed knees and stub their toes. Climb a put that further pressure on our energy system,” she said. tree, get off their screens and get outside,” Harris said. “Where you can, if you want to, put off doing that load of Challen believes the rescue effort is a metaphor for seizing washing.” opportunities in life. “Australia is a place that presents us with Australian Energy Market Operator CEO Audrey Zibelman so many opportunities. It’s up to all of us to step up and take it, said an extra 400 megawatts had been added to the grid. give it a go,” he said. “We are going forward and reactivating our reserve power Champion athlete Kurt Fearnley has been nominated for (of) 400MW of additional energy.” the national award after a glittering 20-year wheelchair racing “The system is being utilised to its maximum – what we need career. The NSW Australian of the Year, who was born without everyone to do is just be aware of that and over this peak part of his spine, has also been an advocate for people with period make sure that you are not wasting energy.” disability, campaigning for greater access. Victorians have been told to brace for an “oppressive” night Queensland’s finalist is Detective Inspector Jon Rouse. following a top of 40.8C in Melbourne about 5.30pm. Former Essendon AFL star Michael Long’s work in The Bureau of Meteorology has revised its Melbourne reconciliation and efforts to stamp out racism have earned him forecast to 44C for Friday – the hottest maximum temperature a shot at the major award after taking out the NT prize. since it hit 46.4C on Black Saturday in 2009. Tasmanian Bernadette Black, who founded the BRAVE “Northern Victoria (is) in record territory potentially with foundation, is in the running for the national gong, along with some forecast temperatures around 46C in places like Swan ACT women’s advocate and journalist Virginia Haussegger for Hill, Shepparton, Mildura, the whole of northwest Victoria, in her work with a foundation striving for gender equality. particular, is hot,” the BoM’s state manager Andrew Tupper Victorian Australian of the Year Mark Sullivan, is the said. founder and managing director of not-for-profit Medicines “Heat is a killer,” Dr Tupper added. ■ Development for Global Health. ■

5 January 24 (GMT) – January 25 (AEST), 2018

An anti-government protester covers her face with a Venezuelan flag. – AP North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump. – AP

Rest Of The world rest of the world US backs power claims Kim prepares for second of Maduro’s rival summit with Trump

Venezuelans are headed into uncharted political waters, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered with the young leader of a newly united and combative preparations for a second summit with President Donald opposition claiming to hold the presidency and socialist Trump, saying he’ll “wait with patience and in good faith” President Nicolas Maduro digging in for a fight with the to work toward a common goal, the North’s state media Trump administration. reported.

Violence flared again during big anti-government Despite Kim’s determination for another meeting with Trump, demonstrations across Venezuela, and at least seven the two remain at odds over fundamental issues. Experts protesters were reported killed in the escalating confrontation say a major sticking point is what denuclearization steps Kim with Maduro, who has been increasingly accused of should take to move forward stalled nuclear negotiations and undemocratic behaviour by the United States and many other what rewards Trump should provide to push Kim to take those nations in the region. measures. Juan Guaido, the new leader of the opposition-controlled The Korean Central News Agency said Kim received a letter National Assembly, turned up the heat by declaring himself from Trump from a North Korean envoy who met the US interim president before a mass of demonstrators in Caracas. president in Washington last week. After meeting Kim Yong He said it was the only way to end the Maduro “dictatorship” Chol, Trump said he and Kim Jong Un will probably meet in Venezuela, which has seen millions flee in recent years to around the end of February but did not say exactly when and escape sky-high inflation and food shortages. where the summit would take place. “We know that this will have consequences,” Guaido shouted Kim reportedly expressed satisfaction with his envoy’s to the cheering crowd, then slipped away to an unknown meeting with Trump and spoke highly of the US president location amid speculation that he would soon be arrested. for “expressing his unusual determination and will for the In a united and seemingly coordinated front, the US, Canada settlement of the issue with a great interest in the second and another dozen mostly Latin American countries, including summit.” Brazil, Colombia and Argentina, quickly announced that they “We will wait with patience and in good faith and, together supported Guaido’s claim to the presidency. Sweden and with the US, advance step by step toward the goal to be Denmark also publicly backed the opposition leader. reached by the two countries,” Kim was quoted as saying. President Donald Trump promised to use the “full weight” of Kim also “set forth tasks and orientation for making good US economic and diplomatic power to push for the restoration technical preparations” for the second summit high on the of Venezuela’s democracy. “The people of Venezuela have agenda, according to KCNA. ■ courageously spoken out against Maduro and his regime and demanded freedom and the rule of law,” he said. Maduro fired back by breaking diplomatic relations with the US, the biggest trading partner for the oil-exporting country, and ordering American diplomats to get out of the country within 72 hours. Washington said it would ignore the order. ■

6 January 24 (GMT) – January 25 (AEST), 2018

Missing Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala. – AP TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady. – PA

UK + EUROPE UK + EUROPE Search for Sala turns Union chiefs say ‘no’ to from rescue to recovery no-deal after May meet

Guernsey Police have resumed their search for the TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady has repeated missing plane carrying new Cardiff City striker Emiliano her call for Theresa May to take a no-deal Brexit off the Sala. table, as she emerged from Downing Street saying she had not received the guarantees unions are seeking on The force had suspended their operation in the English jobs and workers’ rights. Channel. Guernsey Police said that they would begin a coastal air The Prime Minister was meeting union bosses as one of search, focusing on the small islands of Burhou, Alderney and Britain’s largest manufacturers, Airbus, issued a stark warning Sark, as well as the Casquets rocks, and the north coast of the of the potential damage to jobs from a no-deal departure. Cherbourg Peninsula. The aerospace giant’s chief executive Tom Enders branded “We are commencing a coastal search using a Channel the Government’s handling of EU withdrawal a “disgrace” Islands Air Search plane of Burhou, the Casquets, Alderney, the and warned the company could pull out of the UK if Brexit north coast of the Cherbourg Peninsula, north coast of Jersey undermines its ability to compete. and then back over Sark,” it said. Chancellor Philip Hammond was preparing to tell leaders at Cardiff’s record signing Sala and pilot David Ibbotson were the World Economic Forum in Davos that post-Brexit Britain on board the Piper PA-46 Malibu plane which disappeared will still be a “great place to do business”. from radar en route from Nantes in France to Cardiff on But Enders said the UK’s multi-billion pound aerospace Monday evening. sector was “standing at a precipice”. John Fitzgerald, Channel Islands Air Search chief officer, said “Brexit is threatening to destroy a century of development it was unlikely that Sala or Ibbotson would be found alive. based on education, research and human capital,” he said. Asked if that operation was now more about recovery than “If there’s a no-deal Brexit, we at Airbus will have to make rescue, he said: “I think it is very much that sort of recovery potentially very harmful decisions for the UK.” stage now.” Speaking after talks in Downing Street, O’Grady said: “The Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman described Sala’s Prime Minister should do the right thing and take a no deal off disappearance as a “tragic accident” but said the light aircraft the table so that genuine dialogue can take place.” was not organised by the club. Also taking part in discussions with the Prime Minister and He also said the sister of the £15 million Argentinian striker her team were Len McCluskey of Unite, Dave Prentis of Unison was on her way to South Wales. and Tim Roache of the GMB. “We continue to collect data to try to understand what The discussions are part of May’s bid to try and get happened from this end. Everything points towards a tragic widespread political backing in finding a Brexit agenda that accident, it really does,” Dalman said. would command a majority in the Commons after her plans Sala was on his way back to Wales after saying goodbye to were heavily rejected by MPs. his Nantes teammates on Monday night having signed a three- With 64 days to go until the scheduled date of Britain’s EU and-a-half-year deal to join the Bluebirds two days earlier. withdrawal on March 29, House of Commons Brexit Committee Cardiff’s chief executive, Ken Choo, described Sala as a “great chairman Hilary Benn demanded that the Government rule out person” and revealed that the player had described joining the no-deal “to stop the slow haemorrhage” of business from the club as “one of the best days of his life”. ■ UK. ■

7 January 24 (GMT) – January 25 (AEST), 2018

- Aurora Energy / RNZ New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. – AP

NEW ZEALAND NEW ZEALAND Queenstown, Central Ardern pitches world Otago in clean-up mode first ‘wellbeing’ budget

Queenstown and Central Otago are cleaning up after New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has pitched wild southerly change swept through the area, downing what she says will be the first-ever “wellbeing” budget by trees and cutting off power to thousands. a government.

Dozens were still without power in pockets of the Queenstown Her administration has vowed to this year take a new approach Lakes and Central Otago districts after power was cut to about to its finances, saying it would no longer just crunch numbers 4500 customers as strong winds and heavy rain lashed the on economic data but also a variety of social indicators in area. search of long-term solutions. Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said the storm was out of “I don’t think it’s the end of GDP, I think it’s the beginning the blue. of doing things differently,” Ardern told a panel at the World “We’ve had wind for 10 days,” he said. Economic Forum in Davos. “It’s just been quite relentless and it seemed to peak itself “It’s about bringing kindness and empathy to governance … into a bit of a frenzy.” our people are telling us that politics are not delivering and “And even snow on the hills. I was driving home from meeting their expectations. This is not woolly, it’s critical.” a meeting in the Maniototo and there was sleet on the While the concept of a wellbeing budget was floated to windscreen. I thought this is ridiculous for January but it was the New Zealand public last year, the 38-year-old Labour four seasons in one day – which we often don’t get in Central.” leader used the forum to make the case to other leaders. She Temperatures plummeted and hale hit some areas. also penned a Financial Times opinion piece talking about It wreaked havoc on the roads as trees came down – cutting a need for an “economics of kindness” as an alternative to off some highways and leading the Queenstown Lakes District protectionism. Council to advise against non-urgent travel. The plan reflects growing discussion in the Organisation for But the Central Otago District escaped relatively unscathed Economic Co-operation and Development and International with no reports of injuries or roofs coming off, Cadogan said. Monetary Fund about looking at outcomes beyond the The small township of Glenorchy, about 50km from economy. Queenstown, was cut off after a tree came down across the The UK, Austria, Mexico and Korea have all in various forms only road connecting the towns. mulled “wellbeing” frameworks for government, and experts The wild weather cleared just as quickly as it arrived, leaving say New Zealand may serve as a case study. OECD officials are contractors to clean up the mess. planning to visit New Zealand this year to report on the plan. Queenstown Lakes District Council’s general manager of “Other countries, for a number of years, have had property and infrastructure Peter Hansby said the area’s roads scorecards, they have done analyses. But what we’re doing had reopened, but motorists should still be cautious. with the wellbeing budget is we’re trying to embed it in the way MetService said the worst was over and a settled and we make decisions,” Ardern said. warmer weekend laid ahead for the region. “Maybe, if we can prove it can be successful, others can look However, it might be no easier to sleep in inland Otago with to it.” ■ hot, muggy nights replacing the howling winds. ■

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