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MAY 19 (GMT) – MAY 20 (AEST), 2019

AUSTRALIAEUROPENORTH AMERICA

Biden calls for united approcah

His party may be enraged by Donald Trump’s presidency, but Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden insists that Democrats will not defeat the Republican president if they pick an angry nominee. Facing thousands of voters in his native Pennsylvania for the second time as a 2020 contender, the former vice president offered a call for bipartisan unity that seemed far more aimed at a general election audience than the fiery Democratic activists.

Tornadoes tear through South

A spate of tornadoes has raked across the Southern Plains, leaving damage and causing few injuries, and parts of the region were bracing for more severe thunderstorms and possible flooding. Tornadoes touched down in Kansas and rural parts of Nebraska, tearing up trees and power lines, and damaging some homes and farm buildings, according to the National Weather Service.

Morrison praises ‘miracle win‘

Re-elected Prime Minister Scott Morrison will get down to business as soon as possible – but not before going to church and watching the Cronulla Sharks. Morrison has given thanks to Australians after pulling off an extraordinary election win. The prime minister went to church with wife Jenny on Sunday morning after the miracle victory. “I give thanks to live in the greatest country in all the world,” he said outside the Horizon Church.

May to make ‘bold’ Brexit offer

Theresa May is preparing to make a “bold offer” to MPs in a final attempt to get her beleaguered Brexit deal through Parliament and onto the statue book before she leaves office. Minister will begin discussions on Monday on a package of measures to be included in the forthcoming Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) aimed at securing cross-party support.

Tories risk being ‘overtaken’

The Conservative party faces the risk of being “overtaken by a divisive and populist movement” after being divided by Brexit, a group of Tory MPs have said. The One Nation caucus of Conservative MPs – which includes Nicky Morgan, Sir Nicholas Soames and George Freeman – said Theresa May’s successor as Prime Minister needs to unite both Remainers and Leavers.

Visa woes to continue

There’s limited chance that New Zealanders living in Australia will be able to get a better deal under the Coalition’s continued leadership, a group advocating for Kiwis’ rights there says. The Coalition’s Scott Morrison retained the position of Prime Minister in an election victory that defied the expectations of polls and pundits alike, which had Labor’s Bill Shorten billed to lead the country.

NEW ZEALANDEUROPENORTH AMERICA

YOUR DAILY TOP 12 STORIES FROM FRANK NEWS

FULL STORIES START ON PAGE 3

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MAY 19 (GMT) – MAY 20 (AEST), 2019

AUSTRALIAEUROPEREST OF THE WORLD

Saudis say they don’t want war

A top Saudi diplomat says the kingdom does not want war but will defend itself, amid a recent spike in tensions with archrival Iran. Adel al-Jubeir, the minister of state for foreign affairs, spoke a week after four oil tankers were targeted in an alleged act of sabotage off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and days after Iran-allied Yemeni rebels claimed a drone attack on a Saudi oil pipeline.

End in sight for Indian elections

Indians are voting in the seventh and final phase of national elections, wrapping up a six-week-long campaign with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party seeking reelection for another five years. The voting on Sunday also covers Modi’s constituency of Varanasi, a holy Hindu city where he was elected in 2014.

Albanese to seek leadership

Anthony Albanese has declared he will put his name forward to replace Bill Shorten as federal Labor leader. Albanese lost a historic ballot of caucus and grassroots members to Shorten in 2013. “What you see is what you get with me, for better or worse,” the NSW MP said. Tanya Plibersek says she is considering whether to stand for the leadership.

Jets make emergency landings

Poor weather conditions have forced seven French navy fighter jets taking part in a training exercise to make emergency landings in northern Indonesia, an Indonesian air force official says. The crews of the seven Dassault Rafale combat planes landed safely at Sultan Iskandar Muda air force base in Aceh province, 90 minutes after taking off from their aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Indian Ocean.

Swiss voters approve gun laws

Swiss media are reporting that early exit polls show voters have approved a measure to tighten Switzerland’s gun laws, bringing the Alpine country in line with many of its European partners over the objections of some law-abiding gun owners. Switzerland’s public broadcaster said preliminary estimates show a solid majority nationwide has voted to align with a European Union directive on firearms adopted in 2017.

Ardern congratulates Morrison

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has rung Scott Morrison to congratulate him on his election victory and says he has an “affinity” with her country. “New Zealand and Australia have the strongest of ties and they will continue. I look forward to continuing to strengthen the relationship between our two countries in the coming years,” Ardern said.

NEW ZEALANDEUROPEREST OF THE WORLD

YOUR DAILY TOP 12 STORIES FROM FRANK NEWS

FULL STORIES START ON PAGE 6

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MAY 19 (GMT) – MAY 20 (AEST), 2019

NORTH AMERICA

A man lifts a chair out a window of the home of his father in Abilene, Texas, where a

tornado struck in the early hours. – AP

Tornadoes tear through South, destroy homesA spate of tornadoes has raked across the Southern Plains, leaving damage and causing few injuries, and parts of the region were bracing for more severe thunderstorms and possible flooding.

Tornadoes touched down in Kansas and rural parts of Nebraska, tearing up trees and power lines, and damaging some homes and farm buildings, according to the National Weather Service. More twisters destroyed at least two homes and left one person with minor injuries in southwestern Oklahoma early Saturday, KWTV television reports.

In Abilene, Texas, a city 150 miles (240 kilometers) west of Fort Worth, strong winds prompted the evacuation of a nursing home and left numerous homes and businesses damaged . A spokeswoman for the city said no deaths or serious injuries were reported.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch until 8 p.m. Saturday for the western half of Arkansas. Portions of North Texas were under a tornado watch until 5 p.m. and a flash flood warning was issued in the Dallas area until 4:45 p.m.

Forecasters warned of heavy rain, lightning, pingpong ball-sized hail and flooding as a line of storms moves west to east through afternoon, covering an area from south of Killeen, Texas, to north of the Oklahoma state line.

In Oklahoma City, thunderstorms prevented workers from securing and removing glass from Devon Tower, which was damaged Wednesday when a scaffolding holding two window washers banged against the building, The Oklahoman reported. Officials said the rain and winds blew broken glass from the tower and compromised the integrity of other panes.

Fire officials in Comanche County, Oklahoma said that two people escaped from a home destroyed by a tornado without injury Saturday, and another person was taken to a hospital as a precaution. ■

Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden. - AP

NORTH AMERICA

Biden calls for united approcah for democratsHis party may be enraged by Donald Trump’s presidency, but Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden insists that Democrats will not defeat the Republican president if they pick an angry nominee.

Facing thousands of voters in his native Pennsylvania for the second time as a 2020 contender, the former vice president offered a call for bipartisan unity that seemed far more aimed at a general election audience than the fiery Democratic activists most active in the presidential primary process. He acknowledged, however, that some believe Democrats should nominate a candidate who can tap into their party’s anti-Trump anger.

“That’s what they are saying you have to do to win the Democratic nomination. Well, I don’t believe it,” Biden declared. “I believe Democrats want to unify this nation. That’s what the party’s always been about. That’s what it’s always been about. Unity.”

Biden’s moderate message highlights his chief advantage and chief liability in the early days of the nascent presidential contest, which has so far been defined by fierce resistance to Trump on the left and equally aggressive vitriol on the right. Biden’s centrist approach may help him win over independents, but it threatens to alienate liberals who favor a more aggressive approach in policy and personality to counter Trump’s turbulent presidency.

“I want aggressive change. I’m not hearing that from him yet,” said 45-year-old Jennifer Moyer of Blandon, Pennsylvania, who attended Biden’s rally and said she’s 90 per cent sold on his candidacy. “I don’t want middle of the road.”

The event was the culmination of a three-week campaign rollout that began and ended in Pennsylvania, home to Biden’s campaign headquarters and where he was brought up. The 76-year-old native of working-class Scranton, Pennsylvania, has climbed to the front of the crowded primary field, in part by ignoring his Democratic rivals and focusing on his ability to compete with Trump head-to-head next year. ■

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MAY 19 (GMT) – MAY 20 (AEST), 2019

EUROPE

Prime Minister Theresa May. - PA

Tory party risks being ‘overtaken by populism’The Conservative party faces the risk of being “overtaken by a divisive and populist movement” after being divided by Brexit, a group of Tory MPs have said.

The One Nation caucus of Conservative MPs – which includes Nicky Morgan, Sir Nicholas Soames and George Freeman – said Theresa May’s successor as Prime Minister needs to unite both Remainers and Leavers.

In a letter, the group said: “We have all seen the growing tide of extremism gripping the Republican party in America.

“We would be naive to think something similar couldn’t happen in this country. In many places, it already has.”

The letter added that the nation – and the Conservative party – was “at a crossroads”.

“The next prime minister must redefine Brexit as a One Nation project. If they do not, the door will be wide open for Britain’s first-ever Marxist government and a likely decade of decline,” it said.

Cross-party discussions over the Withdrawal Agreement Bill between the Tories and Labour have collapsed, with May set to call a fourth vote on the subject next month.

Regardless of how the vote goes, she will then meet the chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, to agree a timetable to elect her successor as party leader, paving the way for her departure from No 10. ■

Prime Minster Theresa May speaks at a EU election campaign event in Bristol. – AP

EUROPE

May preparing to make ‘bold’ Brexit offer to MPsTheresa May is preparing to make a “bold offer” to MPs in a final attempt to get her beleaguered Brexit deal through Parliament and onto the statue book before she leaves office.

Minister will begin discussions on Monday on a package of measures to be included in the forthcoming Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) aimed at securing cross-party support.

The weekly meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday will then consider plans for a series of “indicative votes” in the Commons to establish which proposals could command a majority in the House.

The move follows the final collapse on Friday of cross-party talks with Labour aimed at finding an agreed way forward that would allow Britain to leave the EU with a deal.

The WAB – which is needed to ratify the deal with Brussels – is expected to include new measures on protecting workers’ rights, an issue where agreement with Labour was said to have been close.

However, Government sources made clear the package would not just be aimed at Labour MPs but would seek to secure the widest possible support across the Commons.

It is expected to include provisions on future customs arrangements with the EU and on Northern Ireland, including the use of technology to avoid the need for border controls with the Republic.

It will not, however, seek to re-open the Withdrawal Agreement - which included the controversial Northern Ireland “backstop” - after the EU repeatedly made clear it could not be re-negotiated.

Writing in The Sunday Times, May said: “I still believe there is a majority in Parliament to be won for leaving with a deal.

“When the Withdrawal Agreement Bill comes before MPs, it will represent a new, bold offer to MPs across the House of Commons, with an improved package of measures that I believe can win new support. ■

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MAY 19 (GMT) – MAY 20 (AEST), 2019

NEW ZEALAND

- 123RF

Visa woes to continue for Kiwis in AustraliaThere’s limited chance that New Zealanders living in Australia will be able to get a better deal under the Coalition’s continued leadership, a group advocating for Kiwis’ rights there says.

The Coalition’s Scott Morrison retained the position of Prime Minister in an election victory that defied the expectations of polls and pundits alike, which had Labor’s Bill Shorten billed to lead the country.

New Zealanders who arrived before February 2001 are classified as permanent residents, but those who arrived after – even long-term residents raising children and paying taxes – have been able only to get Special Category Visas.

They get little support from the Australian government: most are ineligible to vote, access social security or student loans and have no pathway to citizenship.

Lobby group for New Zealanders in Australia Oz Kiwi has been working to get New Zealanders in Australia a better deal, but committee chair Tim Gassin said major change was probably off the table for the next three years.

While there was still a great freedom of access for New Zealanders to Australia, for many of those who settled there and had a job there was often no problems with the 2001 changes until something went wrong.

“People can lose their jobs, circumstances change, they might become ill and that’s where things really hit people and often when that reality hits them it’s too late to sort out their situation.”

Despite that, he said some tweaking of existing laws may be possible and was something the New Zealand government would have to focus on. ■

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. - AAP

AUSTRALIA

Scott Morrison gives thanks after miracle winRe-elected Prime Minister Scott Morrison will get down to business as soon as possible – but not before going to church and watching the Cronulla Sharks.

Morrison has given thanks to Australians after pulling off an extraordinary election win.

The prime minister went to church with wife Jenny on Sunday morning after the miracle victory.

“I give thanks to live in the greatest country in all the world,” he said outside the Horizon Church.

“Thanks again to all Australians all across the country.”Hugging members of the church congregation, Morrison

praised the people of the Sutherland Shire in his home seat of Cook, and his team of local volunteers.

“They have stayed with me ever since I was first elected to parliament in 2007,” he said.

“You don’t get to be prime minister and serve in that capacity unless you are first a member of your local electorate.”

Pastor Andrew Evans, a former South Australian state politician who founded the Family First party, ministered the service.

Overnight, the prime minister received a rapturous reception after defying the pundits in a come-from-behind victory.

“I have always believed in miracles,” he told jubilant Liberal supporters in Sydney on Saturday night, with his wife and two daughters by his side.

“I’m standing with the three biggest miracles of my life here tonight and tonight we have been delivered another one.”

Hundreds of Liberal diehards who packed into the ballroom of the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel erupted in deafening delight when Mr Morrison entered the room around midnight.

But the prime minister declared the surprise election result a victory for “quiet Australians”.

“It’s always been about them.”Liberal diehards had come expecting a funeral but somehow

found themselves at a coronation. ■

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MAY 19 (GMT) – MAY 20 (AEST), 2019

REST OF THE WORLD

An Indian woman casts her vote at a polling station in village Sawaal, Uttar Pradesh, India.

– AP

Indian elections near end after six weeks of votingIndians are voting in the seventh and final phase of national elections, wrapping up a six-week-long campaign with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party seeking reelection for another five years.

The voting on Sunday also covers Modi’s constituency of Varanasi, a holy Hindu city where he was elected in 2014.

The election is seen as a referendum on Modi’s five-year rule. He has adopted a nationalist pitch in trying to win votes from the country’s Hindu majority by projecting a tough stance against Pakistan, India’s Muslim-majority neighbor and arch-rival.

The Congress and other opposition parties are challenging him over a high unemployment rate of 6.1 per cent and farmers’ distress aggravated by low crop prices.

Counting of votes is scheduled for May 23. ■

The USS Abraham Lincoln sails in the Arabian Sea. - AP

REST OF THE WORLD

Saudis ‘don’t want war, will defend themselves’A top Saudi diplomat says the kingdom does not want war but will defend itself, amid a recent spike in tensions with archrival Iran.

Adel al-Jubeir, the minister of state for foreign affairs, spoke a week after four oil tankers were targeted in an alleged act of sabotage off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and days after Iran-allied Yemeni rebels claimed a drone attack on a Saudi oil pipeline.

Saudi Arabia has blamed the pipeline attack on Iran. Gulf officials said an investigation into the tanker incident is underway.

A-Jubeir said: “We want peace and stability in the region, but we won’t stand with our hands bound.”

Ministers from major oil-producing countries were to meet in Saudi Arabia this week. ■

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MAY 19 (GMT) – MAY 20 (AEST), 2019

EUROPE

- AAP

Switzerland votes to approve tighter gun lawsSwiss media are reporting that early exit polls show voters have approved a measure to tighten Switzerland’s gun laws, bringing the Alpine country in line with many of its European partners over the objections of some law-abiding gun owners.

Switzerland’s public broadcaster said preliminary estimates show a solid majority nationwide has voted to align with a European Union directive on firearms adopted in 2017.

The Swiss proposal would, among other things, require regular training on the use of firearms, special waivers for possession of some semi-automatic weapons and serial-numbering of major parts of some guns to help track them.

Supporters, including the Swiss parliament and executive branch, say similar measures adopted by the European Union after deadly extremist attacks in France are needed to ensure strong police cooperation and economic ties with Switzerland’s partners in Europe’s Schengen zone of visa-free travel.

Switzerland is not an EU member, but is in Europe’s Schengen visa-free travel zone. ■

Indonesian military personnel walks past one of seven French Navy Rafale jet fighters. - AP

EUROPE

French fighter jets make emergency landingsPoor weather conditions have forced seven French navy fighter jets taking part in a training exercise to make emergency landings in northern Indonesia, an Indonesian air force official says.

The crews of the seven Dassault Rafale combat planes landed safely at Sultan Iskandar Muda air force base in Aceh province, 90 minutes after taking off from their aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Indian Ocean, said Aceh air force base commander Col. Hendro Arief.

“We had to open our base to them to land as they were in an emergency state due to bad weather,” Arief said.

He said air force radar confirmed that the planes were initially flying out of Indonesian territory when fog and bad weather forced them to land immediately as they were trying to return to their aircraft carrier, located 100 nautical miles west of Sumatra’s exclusive economic zone.

Arief said Indonesian air force personnel had completed an inspection of the planes.

Five of the seven jets later returned to their carrier, while the other two were still having technical problems, Arief said.

French diplomats in Indonesia were informed of the incident. ■

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MAY 19 (GMT) – MAY 20 (AEST), 2019

Ardern congratulates Morrison on election winNew Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has rung Scott Morrison to congratulate him on his election victory and says he has an “affinity” with her country.

“New Zealand and Australia have the strongest of ties and they will continue. I look forward to continuing to strengthen the relationship between our two countries in the coming years,” Ardern said.

She said she phoned Morrison and offered him and his wife Jenny her congratulations on his election victory “in what was a close and hard fought election.”

“Prime Minister Morrison has an affinity to New Zealand having lived and worked here. He understands us, which is very helpful to the Trans-Tasman relationship,” Ardern said.

She said she had also contacted Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

“Bill has done a great job in unifying the Labor Party and fought a strong campaign. I wished him and Chloe the best of luck for the future.” ■

NEW ZEALAND

Prime Ministers Scott Morrison and Jacinda Ardern. - AP

Albanese announces bid for Labor leadershipAnthony Albanese has declared he will put his name forward to replace Bill Shorten as federal Labor leader.

Albanese lost a historic ballot of caucus and grassroots members to Shorten in 2013.

“What you see is what you get with me, for better or worse,” the NSW MP said.

Tanya Plibersek says she is considering whether to stand for the leadership.

“I’m certainly considering it ... I’ll talk to my colleagues today,” Plibersek said.

“My deterzination is to ensure that we’re in the best place to win in three years’ time, that we continue the discipline and the unity that we’ve shown in the last six years, and that we continue to offer Australians real options.”

Shorten said while he will remain in the parliament he would step down as the leader after holding the position since the 2013 federal election.

After Labor’s leadership debacle when it was last in power under Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, the party set a new set of rules when choosing leader.

One is that a leader has to have the support of the party room and also party members.

Asked how she would go in that respect, Plibersek said: “I have loved campaigning in this election campaign.”

“I have loved campaigning with our loyal and dedicated party members, who have consistently said to me that they are so happy that Labor has been united and disciplined under Bill’s leadership, with the team that you’ve seen.” ■

Anthony Albanese. - AAP

AUSTRALIA