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april 8 (GMT) – april 9 (AEST), 2019Your daily Top 12 stories from Frank NewsFull stories start on page 3NORTH AMERICAEUROPEAUSTRALIA NEW ZEALANDTrump puts pressure on IranFrench PM calls for tax cutsAussie spies help after shootingIn an unprecedented step to rampup pressure on Tehran, the Trumpadministration is planning to designateIran’s Revolutionary Guard a “foreignterrorist organisation”. The move isexpected to further isolate Iran and couldhave widespread implications for USpersonnel and policy in the Middle Eastand elsewhere.France’s prime minister has called forquick tax cuts to respond to the angerexpressed through the yellow vestsprotests across the country. PrimeMinister Edouard Philippe unveiled theresults of a three-month “grand debate”launched by President EmmanuelMacron in response to the protests soordinary people could express their viewson France’s economy and democracy.Australian spies have been answeringall requests for assistance from theircolleagues in New Zealand in theaftermath of the Christchurch massacre.Duncan Lewis, the director-generalof the Australian Security IntelligenceOrganisation, has told senators of thesupport during a budget estimateshearing in Canberra. “We are givingassistance to our New Zealandcolleagues,” he said.Sanders holds on as front-runnerPolish teachers strike over payHead of terror inquiry announcedVermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is quietingcritics who questioned whether he couldrecapture the energy of his upstart 2016campaign, surpassing his rivals in earlyfundraising and establishing himselfas an indisputable front-runner for theDemocratic presidential nomination.Less than two months into his secondWhite House bid, no other declaredcandidate in the crowded Democraticfield has amassed so many advantages.Teachers in Poland have gone on anationwide strike to demand higher payafter days of talks with the governmentfailed to meet demands by the majorityof teachers unions. The open-endedstrike by school and kindergartenteachers is the first such widespreadaction by Poland’s chronically underpaideducators since 1993.Supreme Court Justice Sir William Youngwill head the Royal Commission of Inquiryinto the Christchurch terror attack, PrimeMinister Jacinda Ardern has announced.The inquiry is due to start consideringevidence from May 13, and to reportto the Governor General within eightmonths, with a deadline of December 10.1
april 8 (GMT) – april 9 (AEST), 2019Your daily Top 12 stories from Frank NewsFull stories start on page 6worldukAUSTRALIA NEW ZEALANDSoldier killed at Sudan sit-inNo-deal Brexit ‘simply crazy’PM slams ‘green-collar criminals’Sudanese security forces attemptedto break up an anti-government sit-inoutside the military headquarters in thecapital on Monday, setting off clashesin which a soldier was killed while tryingto protect protesters, activists said.Thousands of people rallied in front ofthe compound in one of the biggestdemonstrations since protests eruptedin December calling for President Omaral-Bashir to step down.With a chaotic exit of Britain from theEuropean Union potentially only daysaway, EU commissioner Phil Hogan saysthat the UK leaving the bloc without adeal in place “is simply crazy.” EU FarmCommissioner Hogan was setting outcontingency plans in the agriculturesector for a no-deal Brexit to makesure that it impacts farmers as little aspossible.Aussie farmers are doing it toughenough without the added hassle of“un-Australian” animal activists and“green-collar criminals”, Prime MinisterScott Morrison says. Vegan protesterslaunched a cross-border campaigntargeting a busy Melbourne street, plusabattoirs and farms in Victoria, NSW andQueensland.Mozambique battles hungerNew laws guarantee payslipsFew changes to firearms billMozambique’s first disaster was acyclone. The second has been cholera.Now hunger could be the third. Theraging floodwaters that made a large partof central Mozambique a vast inland seaare draining, laying bare a severe lack offood for the months ahead.Almost 300,000 workers will startreceiving payslips for the first time undera package of new employment lawscoming into force, ministers have said.The new right came into effect this weekand ensures all employees who did notreceive a payslip, including people oncasual and zero-hours contracts, will doso.The Finance and Expenditure SelectCommittee has recommended onlyminor changes to the government billbanning semi-automatic rifles.The committee finished its deliberationstoday and published its report on the billthis evening. The report recommendschanging the bill so pest controllers canuse semi-automatic rifles on private land,rather than only in areas managed by theDepartment of Conservation.2
april 8 (GMT) – april 9 (AEST), 2019Donald Trump. - APVermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. - APNORTH AMERICANORTH AMERICATrump puts newpressure on IranSanders holds courtas front-runnerIn an unprecedented step to ramp up pressure onTehran, the Trump administration is planning todesignate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a “foreign terroristorganisation”.Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is quieting critics whoquestioned whether he could recapture the energy ofhis upstart 2016 campaign, surpassing his rivals in earlyfundraising and establishing himself as an indisputablefront-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination.The move is expected to further isolate Iran and could havewidespread implications for US personnel and policy in theMiddle East and elsewhere.The Trump administration has escalated rhetoric againstIran for months, but this will mark the first such designation byany American administration of an entire foreign governmententity. Portions of the Guard, notably its elite Quds Force, havebeen targeted previously by the United States.Two US officials and a congressional aide confirmed theplanned move. They were not authorised to discuss the matterpublicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Iran’s foreignminister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, seemed to anticipate thedesignation, saying in a tweet aimed at President DonaldTrump that Trump “should know better than to be conned intoanother US disaster”.This would be just the latest move by the Trumpadministration to isolate Iran. Trump withdrew from theObama administration’s landmark nuclear deal with Iran in May2018 and in the months that followed, reimposed punishingsanctions including Iran’s oil, shipping and banking sectors.The Revolutionary Guard designation comes with sanctions,including freezes on assets the Guard may have in USjurisdictions and a ban on Americans doing business with it orproviding material support for its activities.Although the Guard has broad control and influence overthe Iranian economy, such penalties from the US may havelimited impact.The designation, however, could significantly complicate USmilitary and diplomatic work, notably in Iraq, where many Shiitemilitias and Iraqi political parties have close ties to the Guard.And in Lebanon, where the Guard has close ties to Hezbollah,which is part of the Lebanese government. Less than two months into his second White House bid, noother declared candidate in the crowded Democratic fieldcurrently has amassed so many advantages: a 28 million warchest, a loyal and enthusiastic voter base and a set of clearlydefined policy objectives.That puts Sanders on markedly different footing thanduring his first White House run, creating new challenges fora candidate whose supporters relish his role as an underdogand an outsider.He now carries the weight of high expectations and willface heightened scrutiny over everything from the cost andfeasibility of his government-funded policy proposals to his taxreturns, which he has not yet released.He initially blamed “mechanical issues” for the delay, and hiscampaign now says he wants to wait until after the April 15 taxfiling deadline to fulfill his promise to release a decade worthof returns.Sanders has largely embraced his new front-runner status.More than any other candidate, he draws explicit comparisonswith President Donald Trump in his campaign remarks,previewing his approach to a general election face-off with theincumbent Republican.Behind the scenes, Sanders is also building out a larger,more diverse campaign operation, responding to criticismthat his 2016 organisation skewed too heavily white and male.Campaign officials say the 2020 campaign staff – roughly100 people and growing – is majority female and 40 per centpeople of colour. 3
april 8 (GMT) – april 9 (AEST), 2019A rally in Paris, France. - APAn empty classroom in central Warsaw, Poland. - APEUROPEEUROPEFrench PM callsfor quick tax cutsPolish teachersstrike over payFrance’s prime minister has called for quick tax cuts torespond to the anger expressed through the yellow vestsprotests across the country.Teachers in Poland have gone on a nationwide striketo demand higher pay after days of talks with thegovernment failed to meet demands by the majority ofteachers unions.Prime Minister Edouard Philippe unveiled the results of athree-month “grand debate” launched by President EmmanuelMacron in response to the protests so ordinary people couldexpress their views on France’s economy and democracy.Philippe says “the debate clearly indicates the direction: wemust cut taxes and cut them more quickly.” At the same time,however, he said the government must cut public spending.Macron is expected to unveil a series of economic measuresnext week.The yellow vest movement, prompted by a fuel tax hikein November, has expanded into a broader revolt againstMacron’s policies, which protesters see as favouring the richand big businesses. The open-ended strike by school and kindergarten teachersis the first such widespread action by Poland’s chronicallyunderpaid educators since 1993.It comes at a sensitive time, just days before crucial end-ofschool exams in primary and middle schools, and weeks aheadof elections to the European Parliament that are key for thegovernment.The go-ahead for the protest was given after last-ditch talkswith the government failed on Sunday night. Only the smallSolidarity union accepted the government proposals and is noton strike.Many schools are closed to students. 4
april 8 (GMT) – april 9 (AEST), 2019Australian white supremacist Brenton Tarrant. - AAPPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern. - RNZ / Ana ToveyAUSTRALIA NEW ZEALANDAUSTRALIA NEW ZEALANDAussie spies helpafter NZ shootingHead of terrorinquiry announcedAustralian spies have been answering all requests forassistance from their colleagues in New Zealand in theaftermath of the Christchurch massacre.Supreme Court Justice Sir William Young will head theRoyal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch terrorattack, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced.Duncan Lewis, the director-general of the Australian SecurityIntelligence Organisation, has told senators of the supportduring a budget estimates hearing in Canberra.“We are giving assistance to our New Zealand colleagues,” hesaid. “We are doing everything that we can and answering allrequests for assistance at this stage.”The spy chief said he could not detail the support that hisagency has provided.Australian white supremacist Brenton Tarrant has beencharged with murder after 50 people were killed in shootingsat two mosques in Christchurch on March 15.Asked whether ASIO is concerned after the attack that rightwing extremism is increasing, Lewis said such groups are moreorganised now than they have been in the past.But he said ASIO has been keeping a close eye on right-wingextremists for about 40 years.Following the events in Christchurch, the agency is assessingwhether it may need to increase its focus on such extremism,but Lewis expects they will not.“There is no early evidence to suggest to me that there willbe some dramatic reset around all this.”Of the seven terrorist attacks carried out in Australiasince September 2014 and the 15 thwarted in that time,only one has been linked to right-wing extremism, Lewisnoted.“It’s important this be seen in context, in the longterm.” The inquiry is due to start considering evidence from May 13,and to report to the Governor General within eight months,with a deadline of December 10.The Royal Commission’s inquiry into the March 15 attackshas a very wide brief and will look at issues ranging fromthe attacker’s past activities, background, connections toother people and online activity, to the role of New Zealand’sintelligence and security agencies.Ardern today released the terms of reference for the inquiryand said it would make sure “no stone is left unturned” as itlooked into the cause of the attacks and what could have beendone to stop it.“The Royal Commission plays a critical role in our ongoingresponse to fully understand what happened in the lead up tothe attack and to ensure such an attack never happens again.”She said the Commission would look at: 5The individual’s activities before the attack, including:Relevant information from his time in Australia;His arrival and residence in New Zealand;His travel within New Zealand, and internationally;How he obtained a gun licence, weapons andammunition;His use of social media and other online media;His connections with others in NZ and globally;What relevant state sector agencies knew about thisindividual and his activities before this attack; whatactions (if any) they took; and whether there were anyadditional measures that could have taken;Whether there were any impediments to relevantstate sector agencies gathering or sharing informationrelevant to the attack, or acting upon such information,including legislative impediments.
april 8 (GMT) – april 9 (AEST), 2019Sudanese protesters gather near military headquarters in the capital Khartoum. - APAid materials are distributed in the remote village of Bopira, Mozambique. - APworldworldSoldier killed duringSudan sit-in protestMozambiquebattles hungerSudanese security forces attempted to break up ananti-government sit-in outside the military headquartersin the capital, setting off clashes in which a soldier waskilled while trying to protect protesters, activists said.Mozambique’s first disaster was a cyclone. The secondhas been cholera. Now hunger could be the third.The raging floodwaters that made a large part of centralMozambique a vast inland sea are draining, laying bare asevere lack of food for the months ahead.Cyclone Idai swept in from the Indian Ocean on March 10,shortly before thousands of subsistence farmers planned tobring in the harvest. Mozambique’s government said that morethan 1.7 million acres of crop fields were flooded.A narrow window of time for farmers to put a shorter-termcrop into the ground such as beans or green corn is quicklyclosing, with about two weeks left.Such a “second harvest” normally accounts for just 10 percent of annual food production, the UN World Food Programsaid. Thousands of people rallied in front of the compound over theweekend in one of the biggest demonstrations since protestserupted in December calling for President Omar al-Bashir tostep down.The protesters set up tents in what appeared to be an effortto replicate the mass sit-ins of the Arab Spring uprisings of2011.Security forces have used tear gas, rubber bullets andlive fire to try to disperse the protesters, according to theSudanese Professionals Association, which is spearheading thedemonstrations.The Sudan Doctors Committee, an affiliate of the SPA, saidthe soldier was wounded while trying to protect the protestersand later died of his wounds.The medical group said another man died elsewhere inKhartoum after being beaten and tortured by security forces.Footage posted online by activists showed soldiers inuniform moving peacefully among the protesters, raisingthe possibility that some troops were intervening to halt theviolence.During the 2011 uprising in neighbouring Egypt, the armystepped in to prevent clashes between protesters and police,and ultimately forced President Hosni Mubarak from power.It was unclear whether such a scenario was underway inSudan, where media access to the demonstrations has beenheavily restricted.Protesters said security forces in pick-ups, mostly from thefeared National Intelligence and Security Service, attacked thesit-in, firing tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition. 6
april 8 (GMT) – april 9 (AEST), 2019European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan. - PAukukNo-deal Brexit‘simply crazy’New laws guaranteeworkers’ payslipsWith a chaotic exit of Britain from the European Unionpotentially only days away, EU commissioner Phil Hogansays that the UK leaving the bloc without a deal in place“is simply crazy.”Almost 300,000 workers will start receiving payslips forthe first time under a package of new employment lawscoming into force, ministers have said.The new right came into effect this week and ensures allemployees who did not receive a payslip, including people oncasual and zero-hours contracts, will do so.Payslips will also have to include the number of hoursworked to make it easier for employees to see if they arebeing paid in full and at the correct rate, the Department forBusiness, Energy and Industrial Strategy said.The department said the new law formed part of theGovernment’s Good Work Plan – the biggest package ofworkplace reforms for more than 20 years.Around 120,000 agency workers will also benefit fromscrapping the Swedish Derogation – a legal loophole thatenabled some companies to pay agency workers less thanpermanent staff – the department added.The other reforms include a new entitlement to a “dayone statement of rights” setting out a new employee’s leaveallowance and pay and the quadrupling of the maximumemployment tribunal penalty from 5,000 to 20,000.Business Secretary Greg Clark said the package of reformswas the cornerstone of the government’s commitment to builda labour market which rewards hard work, celebrates goodemployers and boosts the productivity and earnings of workers.He added: “The UK has a labour market that it can be proudof and we are committed to continue leading the way inworkers’ rights.“On top this, the legislation approved by Parliament is asignificant milestone in our concerted effort to deliver thelargest upgrade in workers’ rights in over a generation.“This all forms part of the Good Work Plan, which is thecornerstone of our commitment to build a labour marketwhich rewards people for hard work, celebrates goodemployers and boosts productivity and earning power ofworkers across the UK.” EU Farm Commissioner Hogan was setting out contingencyplans in the agriculture sector for a no-deal Brexit to make surethat it impacts farmers as little as possible.The Irish commissioner was still hoping the ongoing crossparty talks between Prime Minister Theresa May and Labouropposition leader Jeremy Corbyn could yield a result.Hogan said that “despite the madness of Brexit, I still believethat common sense might prevail”.British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said that PrimeMinister Theresa May “is leaving no stone unturned to try toresolve Brexit”.Hunt said of the other 27 EU leaders that “they want Brexitto be resolved as quickly as possible. So do we”.As a last resort, May has even started cross-party talks withLabour leader Jeremy Corbyn, but there have been no resultsso far.“For Theresa May to open talks with someone like JeremyCorbyn is not at all easy but she is doing that because sheis totally and utterly determined to deliver Brexit,” Hunt saidbefore a meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers. 7
april 8 (GMT) – april 9 (AEST), 2019Police move in on animal rights protesters in Melbourne. – AAPPolice demonstrate firearms to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee. - RNZAUSTRALIA NEW ZEALANDAUSTRALIA NEW ZEALANDMorrison slams‘green-collar criminals’Few changesto firearms billAussie farmers are doing it tough enough without theadded hassle of “un-Australian” animal activists and“green-collar criminals”, Prime Minister Scott Morrisonsays.The Finance and Expenditure Select Committee hasrecommended only minor changes to the governmentbill banning semi-automatic rifles.The committee finished its deliberations today and publishedits report on the bill this evening.The report recommends changing the bill so pest controllerscan use semi-automatic rifles on private land, rather than onlyin areas managed by the Department of Conservation.It also calls for an exemption allowing people to keepheirloom weapons, so long as they are made inoperable byremoving a vital part to be stored at a separate location keptsecure by police.The Green Party noted it considered this exemption tobe at odds with the purpose of the amendment, and calledfor collectors’ firearms to be made permanently inoperable,despite the reduction in value this would entail.The committee rejected calls to exempt competitiveshooters from the ban because that would allow more semiautomatic firearms to remain in circulation.The main groups representing gun-owners have refused tocomment on the report until they have considered it.The ACT Party restated its leader David Seymour’s positionthat the bill was rushed through parliament.“We share the view of the Law Society, which submitted thatsuch a process is likely to result in bad law,” the party said.“We hoped to be proven wrong, that the officials would behighly informed and be able to answer questions. In somecases they not only could not, but would not. In particular, theywere unable to reassure us that the law would actually work.“Added to the erosion of parliamentary sovereignty that wesaw in this bill, we see no reason why it should continue.”The Committee said it had considered 13,062 submissionsand heard oral evidence from 22 submitters. About 60 percent supported the bill, 26 per cent were opposed and 14 percent expressed another view. Vegan protesters launched a cross-border campaign targetinga busy Melbourne street, plus abattoirs and farms in Victoria,NSW and Queensland.It resulted in scores of arrests and a renewed call for farmersto take action, with the federal government committing tounderwrite legal claims.“If there are pastoralists and farmers that are in a positionto actually bring a civil action against these groups then theCommonwealth is totally open to supporting them in a testcase,” Morrison said.“State and territory governments should ensure that the fullforce of the law is brought against these green-collar criminals.”Earlier in the day, the prime minister slammed the actions ofAussie Farms, the group allegedly behind the protests.“It is shameful, it is un-Australian,” he said.Privacy laws were changed last Friday which exposes AussieFarms’ website to significant penalties for publishing farmers’addresses and contact details.Attorney-General Christian Porter went a step further, writingto the Australian Information and Privacy Commissioner, askingfor an investigation.“There are strong grounds to conclude that Aussie Farmsis engaging in a systematic effort in collecting, using anddisclosing personal information to the detriment of farmersand agricultural producers,” he wrote.A popular cafe in West Gippsland announced it has closed,blaming “threats from the abusive vegan activists”.Morrison said it was wrong that farmers should be targetedwhen they are doing it tough during the drought. 8
strike over pay Teachers in Poland have gone on a nationwide strike to demand higher pay after days of talks with the government failed to meet demands by the majority of teachers unions. The open-ended strike by school and kindergarten teachers is the first such widespread action by Poland's chronically underpaid educators since 1993.
