February 21 (GMT) – February 22 (AEST), 2020 YOuR DAILY TOP 12 STORIeS FROM FRANK NEWS FuLL STORIeS START ON PAGe 3 USA UK AUSTRALIA Russia ‘boosting Trump 2020’ Corbyn up for shadow cabinet gig Speed maybe caused derailment Intelligence officials say Russia is Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says he A train that crashed north of Melbourne, interfering with the 2020 election to try would serve in his successor’s shadow killing two people, was reportedly to help President Donald Trump get cabinet if they asked him to. The outgoing speeding before it derailed on a reelected, The New York Times reports. leader would remain in the frontline of notorious section that had caused The paper said intelligence officials told British politics if Labour’s new leader trouble for drivers in the past. lawmakers about the interference in a wanted him as a member of their top Passengers described being thrown February 13 closed-door briefing to the team. Leadership contender Rebecca violently around inside the train when House Intelligence Committee. It said Long-Bailey, the shadow business the Sydney to Melbourne XPT diesel the disclosure angered Trump, who secretary, has suggested she would offer locomotive and five carriages came off complained the Democrats would use Corbyn a job if she becomes Labour’s tracks near Wallan Station, 60km north the information against him. new leader in April. of the city. The train’s driver and his pilot died at the scene, while 11 were injured. USA UK AUSTRALIA Paraglider lands in power lines Scotland a ‘divided nation’ Inquiry visits fire-hit regions A paraglider spent three hours trapped Former prime minister Gordon Brown An independent NSW inquiry into the in power lines before being rescued has claimed that Scotland is at risk summer’s unprecedented bushfires is in northern California. The paraglider, of becoming “one of the West’s most well underway with visits to affected who was not immediately identified, divided countries”. Brown made the regions about to kick off in earnest. The was facing the ground with the wires as claim after a YouGov poll of 2500 Scots inquiry, announced by Premier Gladys his only support when first responders suggested that only 16 per cent believe Berejiklian in January, received more than arrived, according to officials with the the country is united. Commissioned 70 submissions within a week. Former Olivehurst Fire Department. Olivehurst by the Our Scottish Future think tank, NSW Police deputy commissioner Dave is about 40 miles (64km) north of the poll also found that 47 per cent of Owens, who is leading the inquiry with Sacramento. He got stuck while trying to respondents believe Scots will always former NSW chief scientist Professor land at the Yuba County airport during a be divided on the issues of Brexit and Mary O’Kane, said they were doing a training exercise, officials said. independence. flyover of the Snowy Mountains area. 1 February 21 (GMT) – February 22 (AEST), 2020 YOuR DAILY TOP 12 STORIeS FROM FRANK NEWS FuLL STORIeS START ON PAGe 6 REST OF THE WORLD EUROPE NEW ZEALAND South Korea ups virus response ‘Frugal four’ refuse to budge Chinese restaurants struggle South Korea has reported 100 new virus Major contributors to the european Some Chinese restaurants are crying out cases, bringing the country’s total to union’s budget have blocked progress at for customers following the coronavirus 204, many of them clustered around a an emergency summit, insisting that they travel ban on visitors from China. The southeastern city, and raising fears that would not stump up more funds for the travel ban has been in force since the outbreak is getting out of control. In bloc’s next long-term spending package, February 3 and local diners are becoming the capital, Seoul, officials banned major worth around €1 trillion. The so-called more cautious and avoiding Chinese downtown rallies and shut down a big “Frugal Four” of Austria, Denmark, the food. Dragon Restaurant is one of many park to avoid mass public gatherings Netherlands and Sweden believe the eu’s restaurants across the country begging where the virus could spread. Workers in 2021-2027 budget, which is meant to people to come back to eat their food. protective gear also sprayed disinfectant fund ambitious climate change and digital Store manager Shuping Chen said they in the city’s subway. economy policies, should amount to 1 per had been losing about $5000 a week in cent of the bloc’s gross national income. what should be peak season. REST OF THE WORLD EUROPE NEW ZEALAND Thai court disbands popular party Varadkar, Martin to talk Milford Road reopens for tourists Thailand’s Constitutional Court has Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin have Dozens of tourist coaches have been ordered the popular opposition Future agreed to meet for exploratory talks next allowed to travel the Milford Road for Forward Party dissolved, declaring that it week as efforts to form a government the first time since a storm closed the violated election law by accepting a loan intensify in Ireland. The leaders of Fine road. The popular tourist area was hit from its leader. The court also imposed Gael and Fianna Fail will get together by heavy rain and slips, forcing it shut. a 10-year ban on the party’s executive next week after TDs failed to elect a new While essential vehicles like fuel tankers members holding political office. The taoiseach on the first day of the new Dail. and food trucks got access last weekend, ruling against the party comes just ahead Varadkar has tendered his resignation to businesses and tourists alike have been of a no-confidence debate in parliament President Michael D Higgins but he will counting the days down until the road against Prime Minister Prayuth Chan- remain in place as caretaker taoiseach could be opened again. Coach driver ocha and several of his Cabinet until a new one is elected. Reece Hay said he had never seen the members. road like this before. 2 February 21 (GMT) – February 22 (AEST), 2020 Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, with President Donald Trump. – AP a paraglider was trapped in power lines in California.– AP NORTH AMERICA NORTH AMERICA Russia ‘boosting Trump Paraglider gets caught in 2020 candidacy’ power lines Intelligence officials say Russia is interfering with the A paraglider spent three hours trapped in power lines 2020 election to try to help President Donald Trump get before being rescued in northern California. reelected, The New York Times reports. The paraglider, who was not immediately identified, was The Times said intelligence officials told lawmakers about the facing the ground with the wires as his only support when first interference in a February 13 closed-door briefing to the responders arrived, according to officials with the Olivehurst House Intelligence Committee. It said the disclosure angered Fire Department. Trump, who complained the Democrats would use the Olivehurst is about 40 miles (64km) north of Sacramento. information against him. He berated the outgoing director of He got stuck while trying to land at the Yuba County airport national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, the next day. during a training exercise, officials said. No major injuries were uS intelligence agencies say Russia interfered in the 2016 reported. election through social media campaigns and stealing and Power was cut to the surrounding area for a few hours while distributing emails from Democratic accounts. They say Russia crews worked to save the man, authorities said. was trying to boost Trump’s campaign and add chaos to the “Our main focus was letting him know to stay in contact American political process. Special counsel Robert Mueller with the aircraft and not to reach out and touch us so that concluded that Russian interference was “sweeping and the aircraft stayed still,” said Randy York of the Yuba City Fire systematic,” but he did not find a criminal conspiracy between Department. Russia and the Trump campaign. Trump has doubted the “He’s exhausted but all his vitals seem to be stable.” ■ findings of Russian interference. In the House briefing, Trump’s allies challenged the DNI’s chief election official, Shelby Pierson, who delivered the conclusions, saying Trump has been tough on Russia, the Times reported. But Trump has also spoken warmly of Russian leader Vladimir Putin and withdrawn troops from areas like Syria where Moscow could fill the vacuum. He delayed military aid last year to ukraine, a Russian adversary – a decision that was at the core of his impeachment proceedings. The Times said Trump was angry that the House briefing was made before the panel’s chairman, Rep. Adam Schiff, who led the impeachment proceedings. At an open hearing this month, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Judiciary Committee that Russia was engaged in “information warfare” heading into the November election, but that law enforcement had not seen efforts to target America’s infrastructure. He said Russia was relying on a covert social media campaign to divide the American public and sow discord. ■ 3 February 21 (GMT) – February 22 (AEST), 2020 Outgoing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. – AP – AP UK UK Corbyn open to joining Scotland risks becoming shadow cabinet ‘divided nation’ Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says he would serve in his Former prime minister Gordon Brown has claimed that successor’s shadow cabinet if they asked him to. Scotland is at risk of becoming “one of the West’s most divided countries”. The outgoing leader would remain in the frontline of British politics if Labour’s new leader wanted him as a member of Brown made the claim after a YouGov poll of 2500 Scots their top team.