APRIL 21 (GMT) – APRIL 22 (AEST), 2020

YOUR DAILY TOP 12 STORIES FROM FRANK NEWS

FULL STORIES START ON PAGE 3

NORTH AMERICA UK AUSTRALIA

Trump to ‘suspend immigration’ Labour pushes for exit plan PM backs pandemic inquiry

President Donald Trump says that he will A veteran Labour politician will press the Australian Prime Minister Scott sign an executive order “to temporarily UK government on its COVID-19 exit plan, Morrison has backed the need for an suspend immigration into the United saying the public need to know “there international inquiry into the origins States” because of the coronavirus. is some light at the end of the tunnel”. of the coronavirus. The prime minister “In light of the attack from the Invisible Labour peer Lord Foulkes will raise the said all countries should cooperate with Enemy, as well as the need to protect issue with ministers when the House of any inquiry. “It’s important the (World the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, Lords stages its first virtual sitting. He Health Organisation) acts and all parties I will be signing an Executive Order to accused UK ministers of “avoiding the that are part of the WHO, act with great temporarily suspend immigration into the issue completely” when asked about a transparency,” he said. United States!” Trump tweeted. possible exit from the lockdown.

NORTH AMERICA UK NEW ZEALAND

Virus hits pork farmers, industry Fuel prices at ‘rip-off levels’ NZ could pull off bold goal

After enduring extended trade disputes The cost of fuel remains at “rip-off levels” While most countries are working on and worker shortages, US hog farmers despite a crash in the price of oil, a ways to contain the coronavirus, New were poised to finally hit it big this year campaigner has claimed. Howard Cox, Zealand has set itself a much more with expectations of climbing prices amid founder of FairFuelUK, said the average ambitious goal: eliminating it altogether. soaring domestic and foreign demand. prices for litres of petrol and diesel And experts believe the country could Instead, restaurant closures due to the should be 98p and 106p respectively, but pull it off. The virus “doesn’t have coronavirus have contributed to an they are around 10p higher. Cox claimed superpowers,” said Helen Petousis- estimated $5 billion in losses for the that even before Monday’s oil price Harris, a vaccine expert at the University industry, and almost overnight millions collapse, the UK’s fuel supply chain had of Auckland. “Once transmission is of hogs stacking up on farms now have “dishonestly held back” falls in wholesale stopped, it’s gone.” little value. costs which took place last month.

1 APRIL 21 (GMT) – APRIL 22 (AEST), 2020

YOUR DAILY TOP 12 STORIES FROM FRANK NEWS

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REST OF THE WORLD REST OF THE WORLD AUSTRALIA

South Korea probes Kim’s health Shooting toll expected to rise Virgin enters administration

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Police have fanned out across more than has entered voluntary appeared to be handling state affairs as a dozen crime scenes after a rampage administration and frozen its Velocity usual, South Korea’s government said by a gunman disguised as a police program for four weeks as suitors begin after unconfirmed rumours described officer left at least 18 dead across Nova to circle the battered airline. Big Four him as in fragile condition after surgery. Scotia in the deadliest mass shooting accounting firm Deloitte was unveiled The presidential Blue House said no in Canada’s history. Officials said the as the voluntary administrator of the unusual activity has been detected in suspect, identified as 51-year-old Gabriel nation’s number two carrier and will North Korea and it had no information Wortman, also died in the weekend now comb through its books to identify about the rumours on Kim’s health. attack. Authorities did not provide a potential asset sales to pay down debt, or motive for the killings. an outright sale of the carrier to another party.

REST OF THE WORLD REST OF THE WORLD NEW ZEALAND

WHO warns on restrictions UN calls for global response Ministers quizzed over lockdown

The World Health Organisation (WHO) The UN General Assembly has approved Small Business Minister , has said rushing to ease coronavirus a resolution calling for global action Employment Minister Willie Jackson restrictions will likely lead to a resurgence to rapidly scale up development, and Finance Minister of the illness. The warning comes as manufacturing and access to medicine, have faced questions over COVID-19 governments across the world start vaccines and medical equipment to restrictions. New Zealand will move to rolling out plans to get their economies confront the new coronavirus pandemic. alert level 3 from 11.59pm on Monday, up and running again. Dr Takeshi Kasai, The Mexican-drafted resolution meaning five more days in lockdown the WHO regional director for the requests UN Secretary-General Antonio than originally planned. National Party Western Pacific, said: “This is not the Guterres to work with the World Health leader said he had “very time to be lax. Instead, we need to ready Organization and recommend options significant” questions about the impact ourselves for a new way of living for the to ensure timely and equitable access to the extension will have on the economy. foreseeable future.” testing, medical supplies and drugs.

2 APRIL 21 (GMT) – APRIL 22 (AEST), 2020

President Donald Trump. - AP - AP

NORTH AMERICA NORTH AMERICA Trump says he will Pork farmers panic as ‘suspend immigration’ virus hits industry

President Donald Trump says that he will sign an After enduring extended trade disputes and worker executive order “to temporarily suspend immigration shortages, US hog farmers were poised to finally hit it into the United States” because of the coronavirus. big this year with expectations of climbing prices amid soaring domestic and foreign demand. “In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I Instead, restaurant closures due to the coronavirus have will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend contributed to an estimated $5 billion in losses for the industry, immigration into the United States!” Trump tweeted. and almost overnight millions of hogs stacking up on farms He offered no details as to what immigration programs now have little value. Some farmers have resorted to killing might be affected by the order. The White House did not pigs because plunging sales mean there is no room to hold immediately elaborate on Trump’s tweeted announcement. additional animals in increasingly cramped conditions. Trump has taken credit for his restrictions on travel to the “One producer described it to me the other day as a US from China and hard-hit European countries, arguing it snowball rolling downhill, and every additional disruption that contributed to slowing the spread of the virus in the US But we have just kind of adds to that and how fast and how big it’s he has yet to extend those restrictions to other nations now going to be when it finally hits,” said Mike Paustian, who farms experiencing virus outbreaks. 2400 acres of corn and soybeans and sells 28,000 pigs a year Due to the pandemic, almost all visa processing by the State near the small eastern Iowa community of Walcott. Department, including immigrant visas, has been suspended COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, has for weeks. created problems for all meat producers, but pork farmers More than 750,000 Americans have come down with have been hit especially hard. COVID-19 and more than 42,000 have died. ■ They entered this spring in shaky financial condition because tariffs had drastically reduced sales to China and Mexico. Many operations have struggled to get enough workers, in part due to federal immigration policies. Then demand plunged because the virus forced the closure of restaurants, hotels and other businesses that buy about 25 per cent of pork, including nearly three-quarters of bacon produced in the US. The biggest problem could be getting worse as additional giant slaughterhouses that can process more than 20,000 hogs a day have had to close at least temporarily as the virus spreads among workers. The industry slaughters from 10 million to 12 million pigs a month. Whereas poultry producers can slow production by not hatching baby chicks and ranchers can keep cattle on pastures longer, pork farmers don’t have good options. Hogs are raised inside barns with limited space, and it takes time to stop the birthing cycle for pigs. ■

3 APRIL 21 (GMT) – APRIL 22 (AEST), 2020

A jogger runs on Westmister Bridge as the country continues its lockdown in an attempt to - PA control the spread of the coronavirus, in London. - AP

UK UK Labour pushes for Fuel prices at ‘rip-off lockdown exit plan levels’ despite oil crash

A veteran Labour politician will press the UK government The cost of fuel remains at “rip-off levels” despite a crash on its COVID-19 exit plan, saying the public need to know in the price of oil, a campaigner has claimed. “there is some light at the end of the tunnel”. Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK, said the average prices for Labour peer Lord Foulkes will raise the issue with ministers litres of petrol and diesel should be 98p and 106p respectively, when the House of Lords stages its first virtual sitting. but they are around 10p higher. He accused UK ministers of “avoiding the issue completely” Cox claimed that even before Monday’s oil price collapse, when asked about a possible exit from the lockdown. the UK’s fuel supply chain had “dishonestly held back” falls in The former MSP said Nicola Sturgeon’s Scottish Government wholesale costs which took place last month. is performing better on the issue after the First Minister He said: “Even with 70 per cent less fuel being sold, pledged to treat the public like adults when setting out how the dishonesty from these faceless businesses, using restrictions could be eased. the coronavirus crisis as a smokescreen to maintain their Sturgeon told Scots: “You all watching this are grown-ups so profits, beggars belief. you can be trusted with the information that is guiding us, and “It’s time the Government really looked after the highest we will discuss this in a very open and inclusive way.” taxed drivers in the world and our vital haulage industry, and Lord Foulkes said: “I think for once, which is unusual for me, introduce PumpWatch as a matter of emergency. the Scottish Government has given the right signals.” “An independent pricing watchdog is vital to protect our While he stressed the public must continue to remain economy and allow essential workers to fill up their vehicles at home as part of efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19, with the fairest and most honest prices at the pumps.” he said the UK Government must provide people with the On Monday, traders were being paid more than $US40 to “assurance that they have a plan”. buy a barrel of West Texas Intermediate, the benchmark for He said: “My concern is the Government appears to be US oil, partly due to a quirk of the market as falling global treating the public as if we are all stupid and we can’t deal with demand pushed the price into negative territory for the first two messages at the same time. time in history. “They think if they start talking about the arrangements, the They were keen to offload their barrels to avoid being timetable, for an exit strategy it will undermine the message of obliged to take delivery when the deadline for May contracts staying at home. expired on Tuesday. “I think that is the opposite of the truth. The reality is that Normally traders have no problem selling their contracts to a if we know the Government is giving serious and sensible refinery, or other business that wants oil. thought to an exit strategy people will be more inclined to stay But international demand has dropped significantly in recent at home and continue with the lockdown.” weeks, while Saudi Arabia ramped up production after a falling The peer, who will ask ministers when they expect to out with Russia. announce the arrangements and timetable for the removal of Although Saudi Arabia and the rest of oil producing cartel coronavirus restrictions, argued it is important to show people Opec has now committed to slashing production again, these there is “light at the end of the tunnel, so that they know what cuts have yet to make an impact on a market flooded by oil. ■ they are doing is worthwhile”. ■

4 APRIL 21 (GMT) – APRIL 22 (AEST), 2020

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. - AAP Tourists queue outside the terminal at Christchurch Airport as they prepare to check in for a charter flight back to Germany from New Zealand. - AP

AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND Morrison backs New Zealand could pull pandemic inquiry off bold coronavirus goal

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has backed the While most countries are working on ways to contain need for an international inquiry into the origins the coronavirus, New Zealand has set itself a much more of the coronavirus. ambitious goal: eliminating it altogether.

The prime minister said all countries should cooperate with And experts believe the country could pull it off. any inquiry. The virus “doesn’t have superpowers,” said Helen Petousis- “It’s important the (World Health Organisation) acts and all Harris, a vaccine expert at the University of Auckland. “Once parties that are part of the WHO, act with great transparency,” transmission is stopped, it’s gone.” he said. Geography has helped. If any place could be described as “I think this is important regardless of where a virus may socially distant it would be New Zealand, surrounded by stormy break out – if it happened in Australia, if it happened in China, seas, with Antarctica to the south. With five million people if it happened in parts of Africa or the Pacific or the Middle East spread across an area the size of Britain, even the cities aren’t or wherever it would happen to be.” overly crowded. China has rejected the calls for an examination of the And Prime Minister has taken bold steps, disease’s origins in its Wuhan region, saying Australia is dancing putting the country under a strict lockdown in late March, to the tune of others. ■ when only about 100 people had tested positive for the new virus. Her motto: “Go hard and go early.” New Zealand has so far avoided a widespread outbreak, and new cases have dwindled from a peak of about 90 per day in early April to just five, leaving the goal tantalizingly close. Only 13 people have died so far, and Ardern has been personally briefed on each death. “We have the opportunity to do something no other country has achieved: elimination of the virus,” Ardern said. “But it will continue to need a team of five million behind it.” Petousis-Harris said the country had managed to avoid the confusion and half-measures that have hampered the response in many other places. “New Zealand got everything right,” she said. “Decisive action, with strong leadership and very clear communications to everybody.” Ardern announced the country would stay in lockdown for another week before slightly easing some work restrictions to help restart the economy. Most of the social restrictions will remain in place. ■

5 APRIL 21 (GMT) – APRIL 22 (AEST), 2020

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. - AP - AP

REST OF THE WORLD REST OF THE WORLD South Korea probes WHO warns against Kim Jong Un’s health easing restrictions

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appeared to The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said rushing be handling state affairs as usual, South Korea’s to ease coronavirus restrictions will likely lead to a government said after unconfirmed rumours described resurgence of the illness. him as in fragile condition after surgery. The warning comes as governments across the world start The presidential Blue House said no unusual activity has been rolling out plans to get their economies up and running again. detected in North Korea and it had no information about the Dr Takeshi Kasai, the WHO regional director for the Western rumours on Kim’s health. Pacific, said: “This is not the time to be lax. Instead, we Speculation often surfaces about North Korea’s leadership need to ready ourselves for a new way of living for the based on attendance at important state events. foreseeable future.” Kim, who is in his mid-30s, missed the celebration of his He said governments must remain vigilant to stop the late grandfather and state founder Kim Il Sung on April 15, the spread of the virus and the lifting of lockdowns and other country’s most important holiday. social distancing measures must be done gradually and strike But he had presided over a meeting April 11, discussing the right balance between keeping people healthy and allowing coronavirus prevention and electing his sister as an alternate economies to function. member of the political bureau of the ruling Workers’ Party. Despite concerns from health officials, some US states have And state media have since reported Kim sent greetings to announced aggressive reopening plans, while Boeing and at Syrian president Bashar Assad and Cuban president Miguel least one other American heavy-equipment manufacturer Diaz-Canel as well as “birthday spreads” to two North Korean resumed production. officials and a new centenarian. Elsewhere around the world, step-by-step reopenings are “We have no information to confirm regarding rumours under way in Europe, where the crisis has begun to ebb in about Chairman Kim Jong Un’s health issue that have places such as Italy, Spain and Germany. been reported by some media outlets. Also, no unusual Australia said it will allow the resumption of non-urgent developments have been detected inside North Korea,” Blue surgeries from next week as health authorities grow more House spokesman Kang Min-seok said. confident that hospitals there will not be overwhelmed by The Blue House later said Kim was believed to be staying at COVID-19 patients. an unspecified location outside of Pyongyang with some of his The reopenings come as politicians grow weary of soaring close confidants. unemployment and the prospect of economic depression. The office said Kim appeared to be normally engaged Asian shares followed Wall Street lower after US oil futures with state affairs and there were not any unusual movement plunged below zero because of a worldwide glut as factories, or emergency reaction from the North’s ruling party, military with cars and aeroplanes not being used. or cabinet. The cost to have a barrel of US crude delivered in May A US official said the White House was aware before the plummeted to negative $US37.63 as traders run out of places reports appeared that Kim’s health might be precarious. to store it. It was at roughly $US60 at the start of the year. ■ The US official would not elaborate on where the information came from or when it had been received. The White House and State Department had no comment. ■

6 APRIL 21 (GMT) – APRIL 22 (AEST), 2020

Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers surround a suspect at a gas station in Enfield, A cyclist passes the United Nations headquarters, in New York. - AP Nova Scotia. - AP

REST OF THE WORLD REST OF THE WORLD Mass shooting death UN calls for worldwide toll expected to rise response to fight virus

Police have fanned out across more than a dozen crime The UN General Assembly has approved a resolution scenes after a rampage by a gunman disguised as a calling for global action to rapidly scale up development, police officer left at least 18 dead across Nova Scotia manufacturing and access to medicine, vaccines and in the deadliest mass shooting in Canada’s history. medical equipment to confront the new coronavirus pandemic. Officials said the suspect, identified as 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman, also died in the weekend attack. Authorities did The Mexican-drafted resolution requests UN Secretary-General not provide a motive for the killings. Antonio Guterres to work with the World Health Organization Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Superintendent and recommend options to ensure timely and equitable access Chris Leather said police expect to find more victims once to testing, medical supplies, drugs and future coronavirus they are able to comb through all the crime scenes, some vaccines for all in need, especially in developing countries. of which were houses set ablaze as victims were inside, It reaffirms the fundamental role of the United Nations adhering to government calls to stay at home because of system in coordinating the global response to control and the coronavirus pandemic. contain the spread of COVID-19 and in supporting the 193 UN Leather said police teams were spread out at 16 locations member states, “and in this regard acknowledges the crucial across central and northern Nova Scotia. He said some of the leading role played by the World Health Organization.” victims knew Wortman, and some didn’t. US President Donald Trump suspended funding to the World “We’re relatively confident we’ve identified all the crime Health Organization earlier this month, accusing the UN agency scenes,” Leather said. “We have had five structure fires, most of failing to stop the virus from spreading when it first surfaced of those being residences, and we believe there may be in China, saying it “must be held accountable.” But the United victims still within the remains of those homes which burnt States did not block adoption of the resolution. to the ground.” Under new voting rules instituted because the General The dead included Constable Heidi Stevenson . Assembly isn’t holding meetings during the pandemic, a draft Another police officer was wounded by gunfire and was resolution is circulated to member nations. If a single country recovering at home, Leather said. objects before the deadline, the resolution is defeated. “The 18 innocent lives lost will be remembered throughout Normally, assembly resolutions are adopted by majority Canada’s history,” Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said . votes or by consensus. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau noted how close-knit General Assembly President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande sent the small province of Nova Scotia is. a letter to the 193 UN member states saying there were no “The vast majority of Nova Scotians will have a direct link with objections to the resolution. one or more of the victims. The entire province and country is It calls on all countries “to immediately take steps to prevent grieving right now as we come to grips with something that is … speculation and undue stockpiling that may hinder access unimaginable,” Trudeau said. to safe, effective and affordable essential medicines, vaccines, “The pandemic will prevent us from mourning together in personal protective equipment and medical equipment.” person, but a vigil will be held virtually to celebrate the lives Co-sponsored by about 170 countries, the resolution also of the victims,” Trudeau added. ■ encourages all countries to work in partnership to increase research and funding for vaccines and medicine. ■

7 APRIL 21 (GMT) – APRIL 22 (AEST), 2020

- AAP - AAP

AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND Virgin confirms it has Officials questioned on entered administration lockdown extension

Virgin Australia has entered voluntary administration Small Business Minister Stuart Nash, Employment and frozen its Velocity program for four weeks as suitors Minister Willie Jackson and Finance Minister Grant begin to circle the battered airline. Robertson have faced questions over COVID-19 restrictions. Big Four accounting firm Deloitte was unveiled as the voluntary administrator of the nation’s number two carrier and will now New Zealand will move to alert level 3 from 11.59pm on comb through its books to identify potential asset sales to pay Monday, meaning five more days in lockdown than originally down debt, or an outright sale of the carrier to another party. planned. Deloitte said as many as 10 parties were interested in buying National Party leader Simon Bridges said he had “very the debt-laden firm and that a sale process would likely be significant” questions about the impact the extension will wrapped up within “a matter of months”. have on the economy. It is unclear what will happen to Virgin’s 10,000 staff but Some in business sector had called for the lockdown to be chief executive Paul Scurrah said the company was focused on lifted this week, while some health advocates wanted a two- “preserving as many jobs as we can”. week extension. Deloitte told Virgin staff there were no plans for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the decision took into redundancies or changes to their employment. account health, the economy and public sentiment. The restructuring specialist said its aim was to help Virgin Minister for Small Business Stuart Nash said the emerge “in a stronger position on the other side of the government’s first priority was to mitigate the risks of the COVID-19 crisis” . coronavirus and mitigate the economic risks. The shape, size and function of Virgin would depend on what He also wanted to make clear what the move to level 3 next the eventual buyers want, Deloitte said. week meant. Velocity Frequent Flyer business will be offered to buyers as “Alert level 3 is not a return to pre-COVID days,” he said. part of the sale. “Level 3 is really a waiting room or recovery room.” Velocity, while owned by the group, is a separate company Nash said there are no set rules for responding to a crisis of managed by a trust and is not in administration. this kind but that our strong health system and relatively low Millions of dollars worth of Velocity rewards are currently in government debt put the country in a good position. limbo but customers have been assured frequent flyer points “New Zealand is a trading nation … there was never a way to and customer credit for cancelled flights will be protected stop job losses and business impacts.” during the airline’s sale process. He said it is important to pay invoices on time and keep Velocity told members their points “aren’t going anywhere”. cashflow moving. Members reportedly crashed the Velocity website. The wage subsidy scheme has paid out to nearly 1.6 million Customers will no doubt be hoping to avoid a repeat of 2001, people at a cost of $10 billion. when an estimated $700 million worth of Ansett Australia He said additional $4 million is being put into helplines for global rewards points were rendered worthless when the businesses seeking support. airline collapsed. ■ Nash was grilled by the committee chair Simon Bridges and National MP Todd McClay over what analysis the government had done on the impact of the lockdown on businesses. ■

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