north america europe australia + new zealand · for north korea, stephen biegun, was to join pompeo...

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November 6 (GmT) – November 7 (AeST), 2018

AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALANDEUROPENORTH AMERICA

Democrats retake the House

The Democrats took back the House with a surge of fresh new candidates and an outpouring of voter enthusiasm, breaking the GOP’s monopoly on power in Washington and setting the stage for a multitude of investigations of President Donald Trump that could engulf his administration over the next two years.

Pompeo, N Korea meeting delay

A senior North Korean envoy’s meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been delayed, throwing already deadlocked diplomacy over the North’s nuclear weapons into further uncertainty. The State Department said that officials would meet later “when our respective schedules permit”. It offered no reason, and the North’s propaganda services had not mentioned the meeting.

Libs avoiding inner-Melbourne

Victorian Labor’s battle with the Greens for four marginal and high-profile inner-Melbourne seats has been dealt a potential blow with the Liberal Party so far failing to field candidates. State Liberal headquarters on Wednesday lodged the party’s nomination list with the Victorian Electoral Commission for 77 lower house seats.

Cabinet poised for Brexit talks

Theresa May’s Cabinet is on standby for fresh talks to agree a Brexit deal amid claims by Tory Leavers she has already reached an agreement. Documents apparently setting out how the Prime Minister would sell an exit package to the public were published by the BBC. Downing Street distanced itself from the blueprint but the document fuelled claims among Tory Brexiteers that a deal has secretly been secured.

Elderly have ‘no-one to turn to’

Millions of pensioners feel they have no-one to turn to for help and support, a charity has warned. Age UK estimates that 2.65 million people over the age of 65 face their problems alone. When asked: ‘Do you ever feel like you have no-one to go to for help or support?’, 23 per cent of over 65s answered ‘always, often or sometimes’, according to a poll of more than 1000 British adults aged 50 and over.

Family flee burning home

A neighbour of a family who escape their burning state home in Hastings said she heard screams and thought someone was being attacked. A mother, her father and two children fled their Grove Road home in the suburb of Mayfair after it became engulfed in flames. Three fire engines were called to the scene and an investigation by Fire and Emergency into the cause of the fire that gutted the home would be carried out.

YouR DaILY Top 12 SToRIeS fRom FRANK NEWS

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AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALANDEUROPENORTH AMERICA

Aid arrives for migrant caravan

Humanitarian aid converged around a stadium in Mexico City where thousands of Central American migrants winding their way toward the United States were resting after an arduous trek that has taken them through three countries in three weeks. Mexico City Mayor Jose Ramon amieva said 4,500 migrants have arrived at the Jesus Martinez stadium, and city officials are bracing to attend as many as 5,500 at the site.

Wild weather leaves one dead

Severe storms swept across the South with tornadoes killing a person and injuring at least two others, knocking down trees and leaving thousands without power, officials said. The weather disrupted Election Day voting in some places, forcing citizens to use paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines.

Dust descends on farmers

Drought-hit western NSW farmers have now had to contend with a horrendous dust storm rolling across the region. The walls of dust descended on Tuesday ahead of thunderstorms which brought between five and 15mm of rain, providing some relief for graziers but well short of drought-breaking falls. Louise Turner, who runs a sheep property near White Cliffs, east of Broken Hill, said the storm also brought winds up to 140km/h.

21 found in lorry at UK port

Fifteen children as young as 12 and six adults were found inside a refrigerated lorry entering the UK, it is understood. Thought to be from Vietnam, the group were found concealed in a shipment of sparkling water at the Port of Newhaven in Sussex. The children were cold but are said to have not needed medical treatment and have been taken into the care of social services.

Warning over drivers’ eyesight

almost half (44 per cent) of uK optometrists have seen a patient in the last month who drives despite being told their vision is below the legal standard, according to new research. The association of optometrists (aop), which commissioned the survey of 1246 of its members, claimed the findings show the Government must toughen the law on vision testing for motorists.

Boxer hurt in charity match dies

The man seriously injured in a charity boxing match in Christchurch on the weekend has died. Kain Parsons, a former builder turned project manager, was knocked unconscious during Saturday’s fight in Christchurch. mr Parsons, 37, was taken to Christchurch Hospital with serious brain injuries and was unable to recover, police said.

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NORTH AMERICA

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. – AP

Pompeo, N Korea meeting delayedA senior North Korean envoy’s meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been delayed, throwing already deadlocked diplomacy over the North’s nuclear weapons into further uncertainty.

The State Department said that officials would meet later “when our respective schedules permit”.

It offered no reason, and the north’s propaganda services had not mentioned the meeting.

After last year’s fears of war, North Korea and the United States are trying to revive stalled diplomacy meant to rid the North of its nuclear weapons.

There was much talk of the possibility of success following a meeting in June between president Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but in the months since there has been little to quiet sceptics who believe the North will never give up weapons it has described as necessary to counter a hostile Washington.

Pompeo was supposed to travel to New York to meet with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Yong Chol.

South Korea’s presidential office said the government will later announce its stance over the postponed meeting.

The US State Department earlier said that the top US envoy for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, was to join Pompeo and Kim to discuss how to get to what it calls “achieving the final, fully verified denuclearisation” of north Korea.

Last week, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry criticised the US for its continued support of sanctions and hinted it may resume nuclear development.

The North Korean statement warned North Korea could bring back Kim Jong Un’s trademark “byongjin” policy of simultaneously advancing its nuclear force and its economic development if the United States does not change its stance.

The North stopped short of threatening to abandon ongoing nuclear negotiations with Washington. ■

- EPA

NORTH AMERICA

Democrat gains set up divided governmentThe Democrats took back the House with a surge of fresh new candidates and an outpouring of voter enthusiasm, breaking the GOP’s monopoly on power in Washington and setting the stage for a multitude of investigations of President Donald Trump that could engulf his administration over the next two years.

ending eight years of Republican control that began with the tea party revolt of 2010, Democrats picked off more than two dozen GOP-held districts in suburbs across the nation on the way to securing the 218 seats needed for a majority.As of early Wednesday, two dozen races had yet to be decided, meaning the tally could grow slightly larger. But the final count is likely to leave Democrats with a narrow majority that could be difficult to manage and preserve.

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, who is seeking to reclaim the gavel as House speaker, called it a “new day in America”.

She saluted “those dynamic, diverse and incredible candidates who have taken back the House for the American people”.

With the Republicans keeping control of the Senate, the outcome in the House could mean gridlock for Trump’s agenda on Capitol Hill – or, conversely, it could open a new era of deal-making.

As the majority party, the Democrats will chair important committees and will have expansive powers to investigate the president, his business dealings and the inner workings of his administration, including whether anyone from the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians to influence the 2016 presidential election.

They will have authority to request Trump’s tax returns and subpoena power to obtain documents, emails and testimony.

However, any attempt to impeach Trump is likely to run headlong into resistance in the GOP-controlled Senate.

Pelosi, meanwhile, is likely to face a challenge for the speakership from newer or younger members later this month. ■

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EUROPE

- PA

Older people have ‘no-one to turn to’Millions of pensioners feel they have no-one to turn to for help and support, a charity has warned.

Age UK estimates that 2.65 million people over the age of 65 face their problems alone.

When asked: ‘Do you ever feel like you have no-one to go to for help or support?’, 23 per cent of over 65s answered ‘always, often or sometimes’, according to a poll of more than 1000 British adults aged 50 and over.

Using population estimates, the charity has calculated that millions have no-one to turn to.

actress Dame Judi Dench said the figures were “heartbreaking”.

Among those who felt they had no-one to turn to, almost a quarter (24 per cent) said this left them feeling lonely and 22 per cent said they felt isolated.

The charity released the findings to mark its new campaign to encourage people to support their services for the elderly, such as its Age UK Advice Line.

It said that last year it helped 210,000 callers deal with issues including bereavement, tackling loneliness, getting social care support and managing health problems like dementia.

Backing the new campaign, Dench said: “We all know that ageing is inevitable, but it’s heart-breaking to think of older people who feel they have no-one they can turn to.

“Age UK is working hard to change this, and by supporting their ‘No-one should have no-one to turn to’ campaign you can help them to be there for older people who might have no-one else.”

Age UK’s charity director Caroline Abrahams added: “We have a rapidly ageing population and it is heart-breaking to think that more than two and a half million older people feel they have no-one to go to for help – that’s more than the entire population of Birmingham.

“The fact is that getting older can be really tough, and however resilient you are it’s important to know someone will always be there for you, come what may. ■

UK Prime Minister Theresa May. – PA

EUROPE

Cabinet poised for Brexit talksTheresa May’s Cabinet is on standby for fresh talks to agree a Brexit deal amid claims by Tory Leavers she has already reached an agreement.

Documents apparently setting out how the Prime Minister would sell an exit package to the public were published by the BBC.

Downing Street distanced itself from the blueprint but the document fuelled claims among Tory Brexiteers that a deal has secretly been secured.

Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer, meanwhile, is heading to Brussels to warn of the dangers of Britain and the European Union striking a loose agreement on future relations.

The shadow Brexit secretary claims Tory divisions have stalled progress on trade links and will mean years of further negotiations.

May told senior ministers that she would not agree a withdrawal deal with the EU “at any cost”.

The PM assured her top team that there would be another Cabinet before any agreement is settled.

No extra meeting has yet been scheduled ahead of the regular weekly gathering but ministers could gather sooner than that.

May will give a “we have delivered on the referendum” speech to the CBI conference on November 19, according to documents supposedly setting out plans to win over support for a Brexit deal.

The “grid” document said MPs would be told to put personal interests aside to back an agreement on November 27.

Former Brexit minister Steve Baker said: “It looks like exactly the kind of back-of-the-envelope post-exit plan to sell a rubbish deal I would have expected.

“For months we have expected an orchestrated campaign following a fabricated row over the backstop.”

Jacob Rees-mogg, chairman of the european Research Group of Tory Eurosceptics, said: “There are rumours a deal has been done without keeping the Cabinet properly informed … the Chequers proposals undermined trust. ■

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AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALAND

a family was forced to flee their Hastings home after it became engulfed in flames. – RnZ

Family flee home engulfed by flamesA neighbour of a family who escape their burning state home in Hastings said she heard screams and thought someone was being attacked.

a mother, her father and two children fled their Grove Road home in the suburb of Mayfair after it became engulfed in flames.

Three fire engines were called to the scene and an investigation by fire and emergency into the cause of the fire that gutted the home would be carried out.

Karen Spurgen, who lives next door, said she was woken at about 2am by her neighbour who fled her house screaming.

“We wondered if someone was being attacked, she was really distraught,” she said.

“Then we came out and saw the flames, they were huge.”Her neighbour bundled her children into her car across the

road to keep them safe and then they called the emergency services, Spurgen said.

“She was really calm, really good after that. All she knew was that it started in the kitchen and her fire alarms went off.”

The family were unharmed and were now staying with relatives, Spurgen said.

The cause of the fire is still unknown.Housing new Zealand said it met with the tenants and was

working with the family to ensure they’re given alternative housing as soon as possible.

“We are pleased the tenant and family are safe and that the smoke alarms did their job and alerted the family to the fire,” a spokesperson said.

“We’ve met with the tenant and we will continue to support them in any way we can.”

Housing new Zealand said it would link the family with support agencies to help them replace furniture and other possessions lost in the fire. ■

Vcitorian Shadow Treasurer Michael O’Brien. – AAP


Liberals avoiding inner-Melbourne contestVictorian Labor’s battle with the Greens for four marginal and high-profile inner-Melbourne seats has been dealt a potential blow with the Liberal Party so far failing to field candidates.

State Liberal headquarters on Wednesday lodged the party’s nomination list with the Victorian Electoral Commission for 77 lower house seats.

But there were no candidates for the Greens-held Melbourne and Northcote electorates or incumbent-Labor seats of Richmond and Brunswick.

Inner-Melbourne seats have traditionally gone to Labor but the party has increasingly needed Liberal preferences to get over the line.

The Liberals, in coalition opposition with the Nationals, are also not contesting seats held by its country partner.

Despite the candidate list being submitted, nominations don’t officially close until midday Thursday.

Shadow Treasurer Michael O’Brien said there was still time for candidates to be finalised.

“You have the far left in the Greens, you have rorters in Labor, for a Liberal voter it’s between the devil and the deep blue sea,” he said.

“What I think Liberal supporters want is for the Liberals to win this election.”

On the campaign trail, Liberal MPs spent Wednesday attacking Premier Daniel Andrews over his secret infrastructure deal with China.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison led the charge on Sydney radio Wednesday, followed by Opposition Leader Matthew Guy.

Guy promised to make the deal public if he becomes premier after the november 24 election.

But Andrews remained steadfast on the belt-and-road initiative memorandum of understanding and pointed to backing from federal Trade Minister Simon Birmingham and Foreign Minister Marise Payne. ■

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NORTH AMERICA

A home rests on its side after a deadly tornado in Tennessee. – AP

Wild weather leaves one deadSevere storms swept across the South with tornadoes killing a person and injuring at least two others, knocking down trees and leaving thousands without power, officials said. The weather disrupted Election Day voting in some places, forcing citizens to use paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines.

In Tennessee, crews responded to a collapsed home where one person was confirmed dead, Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services spokesman Patrick Miller said. Two others were injured when a nearby mobile home rolled over, he said.

an ef-2 tornado with winds of about 135 mph (217 kph) hit the area, the National Weather Service said after surveying the damage. at least three other twisters were confirmed, two in Alabama and another in Tennessee, the agency said, and teams were still assessing others sites.

The Storm Prediction Center said nine possible tornado strikes were reported.

Tennessee Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins said the polling places that had electricity knocked out are operating on generators and have emergency ballots ready for voters. He said the paper ballots would be counted Tuesday. He said the largest area of power outages was in Knox County, where nearly 20,000 customers were without power.

Crews worked to restore power to thousands of residents from Louisiana to South Carolina.

parts of Tupelo, mississippi, were closed off as debris, downed trees and power lines blocked roadways, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reported. Tupelo Communications Director Leesha Faulkner said there also was a gas leak in a residential area.

In Rutherford County, fire and Rescue spokeswoman Lisa Sloan said crews responded to a house blaze early Tuesday that appeared to have started from a lightning strike. She said there was heavy damage, but no injuries. ■

A migrant covers himself from the cold at a shelter in the Jesus Martinez Stadium. – AP

NORTH AMERICA

Aid arrives for migrant caravanHumanitarian aid converged around a stadium in Mexico City where thousands of Central American migrants winding their way toward the United States were resting after an arduous trek that has taken them through three countries in three weeks.

mexico City mayor Jose Ramon amieva said 4,500 migrants have arrived at the Jesus martinez stadium, and city officials are bracing to attend as many as 5,500 at the site. Hundreds of city employees and even more volunteers were on hand to sort donations and direct migrants toward food, water, diapers and other basics.

Migrants searched through piles of donated clothes, grabbed boxes of milk for children and lined up to make quick calls home at a stand set up by the Red Cross as uS voters went to the polls for midterm elections in which President Donald Trump has made the migrant caravan a central issue.

Employees from the capital’s human rights commission registered new arrivals with biographical data – such as age and country of origin – and placed yellow bracelets on wrists to keep count.

Rina Valenzuela wore one of the yellow bracelets as she sat attentively listening to aid workers from the nonprofit Institute for Women in migration explain the difficulties of applying for and securing asylum in the US. Valenzuela, who is from El Salvador, decided she’s better off applying for refuge in mexico.

“Why go fight there, with as much effort and as much suffering as we have gone through, just for them to turn me back? Well, no,” she said.

The aid workers explained that the asylum process in the US could take years, with no guarantee of approval.

Honduran Antonio Perez listened to the warnings but said he remains determined to continue north.

“This is interesting but tough news,” he reflected. “But neither this nor Donald Trump is going to stop me.” ■

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EUROPE

Warning over drivers with poor eyesightAlmost half (44 per cent) of UK optometrists have seen a patient in the last month who drives despite being told their vision is below the legal standard, according to new research.

The association of optometrists (aop), which commissioned the survey of 1246 of its members, claimed the findings show the Government must toughen the law on vision testing for motorists.

Under current rules, the only mandatory examination of a driver’s vision takes place during the practical test, when learners must read a number plate from 20 metres.

Once someone has obtained their licence, it is up to them to tell the DVLA if they have a problem with their eyesight.

The AOP wants drivers to be required to take a comprehensive vision check to prove they meet the legal standard when they first apply for a licence and every subsequent 10 years.

a survey of 1386 drivers found that 42 per cent said they would continue to drive even if they were told their vision could not be corrected to meet the legal standard.

Optometrist and AOP spokesman Henry Leonard said: “It is shocking that so many drivers are overlooking the importance of good vision.

“Sight change can often be gradual, and people may not notice changes that could affect their ability to drive.

“This campaign is about reminding drivers that regular visits to their optometrist are the best way to make sure they meet the legal standard for driving and help make our roads safer.”

Some 262 people were injured in crashes on Britain’s roads last year where uncorrected or defective eyesight was a contributory factor, Department for Transport figures show.

A crackdown on drivers with defective eyesight by roads police officers from three forces in September saw every motorist who was pulled over having to pass the number plate vision test.

Anyone who failed had their driving licence immediately revoked. ■

EUROPE

21 people found in lorry at UK portFifteen children as young as 12 and six adults were found inside a refrigerated lorry entering the UK, it is understood.

Thought to be from Vietnam, the group were found concealed in a shipment of sparkling water at the Port of Newhaven in Sussex.

The children were cold but are said to have not needed medical treatment and have been taken into the care of social services.

The lorry was stopped on its arrival from the French port of Dieppe.

a Romanian man, believed to be the driver, was arrested and charged with assisting unlawful entry into the UK.

A man aged 18 and a woman aged 27 have been removed from the UK, while the remaining four – a woman and three men – are at immigration detention centres. ■

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Boxer injured in charity match diesThe man seriously injured in a charity boxing match in Christchurch on the weekend has died.

Kain Parsons, a former builder turned project manager, was knocked unconscious during Saturday’s fight in Christchurch.

Mr Parsons, 37, was taken to Christchurch Hospital with serious brain injuries and was unable to recover, police said.

members of his family have thanked staff at the hospital.one said mr parsons’ selfless attitude and gentle nature

would leave a void in the lives of many people.Meanwhile, the event promoters have started a detailed

review of the match.The bout was approved by the new Zealand professional

Boxing Association, which approves or promotes about 50 corporate bouts each year.

Association president Pat Leonard said the boxers had a pre-bout medical check by a registered doctor and were told by the supervisor about the risks. ■


- Kain Parsons

Dust descends on drought-hit farmersDrought-hit western NSW farmers have now had to contend with a horrendous dust storm rolling across the region.

The walls of dust descended on Tuesday ahead of thunderstorms which brought between five and 15mm of rain, providing some relief for graziers but well short of drought-breaking falls.

Louise Turner, who runs a sheep property near White Cliffs, east of Broken Hill, said the storm also brought winds up to 140km/h, causing damage to sheds and shearing quarters on nearby stations.

Her own property received about 10mm of rain and while that was welcome to soak the dry ground it was not enough to fill dams or start water flowing.

There was some suggestion of further falls next week which could grow desperately needed feed for their remaining 2000 head of stock.

Turner said their own situation remained quite “dire” but another 10 to 20mm of rain could allow them to stop hand feeding.

“It will sort itself out. I just don’t know if it will be the outcome we want,” she said.

“everyone has a different story to tell.“You just take comfort in the fact that there are other people

going through the same thing.”Records show nSW has experienced its fourth driest January

to October since records began in 1900.A few locations in western NSW have experienced their

driest year-to-date in more than a century. ■

A dust storm sweeps across Western NSW. – AAP
