NORTH AMERICA UK AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALAND · 1 OCTOBER 11 (GMT) OCTOBER 12 (AEST), 2018 NORTH...

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OctOber 11 (GMt) – OctOber 12 (AeSt), 2018

AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALANDUKNORTH AMERICA

Michael’s trail of destruction

Hurricane Michael’s battering waves swamped streets and docks and shrieking winds splintered trees and rooftops. The most powerful hurricane on record to hit Florida’s Panhandle left wide destruction and at least one person dead and wasn’t nearly finished as it crossed Georgia toward the Carolinas, which are still reeling from epic flooding of Hurricane Florence.

Trump on the campaign trail

As Hurricane Michael pounded Florida, President Donald Trump took shelter at a campaign event in Pennsylvania, where he sought to boost Republicans before the midterms. Trump acknowledged the hurricane at the top of his rally in Erie, offering his thoughts to those in the storm’s path and promising to “spare no effort” in the response. He promised to travel to Florida “very shortly”.

Home Affairs raided over leak

Federal police have raided the Department of Home Affairs office in Canberra, as officers investigate a leak related to the au pair saga. Internal emails leaked to the media showed minister Peter Dutton’s office demanded an au pair detained at Brisbane airport be given urgent consideration for a visa, preferably within an hour.

Biden warns of Brexit impact

Brexit could mean the US is no longer able to remain a “major player” in the security of the West, the country’s former vice president has warned. Joe Biden, who served as deputy to Barack Obama during his two terms in the White House, told an event in London that the UK-US special relationship thrived when Britain was “totally integrated” with Europe.

Pilot died after losing control

A helicopter pilot died following a crash in which his instructor failed to regain control of the aircraft after an aborted landing, an accident report has found.They were among three men on board the Airbus AS350 helicopter when it came down at Wycombe Air Park near High Wycombe on May 5 last year. They were all seriously injured in the crash, with one later dying, according to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

Potato virus testing widened

Eighteen farms are on the suspect list for a new potato virus, Biosecurity New Zealand says, and testing has been widened to the North Island. The potato mop-top virus, or PM-TV, affects potatoes used to make chips. It was found for the first time in New Zealand on two properties in Canterbury last month.

YOUR DAILY TOP 12 STORIES FROM FRANK NEWS

FULL STORIES START ON PAGE 3

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AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALANDREST OF THE WORLDASIA

Deadly quake destroys homes

An earthquake has collapsed homes on Indonesia’s Java island, killing at least three people, and shook the tourist hotspot of Bali, two weeks after a major quake-tsunami disaster in a central region of the archipelago. Indonesia’s disaster agency said the quake was centered at sea, 55km northeast of Situbondo city, and was also felt in Lombok. The US Geological Survey said it had a 6.0 magnitude.

India cyclone kills at least two

Two people are dead after a severe cyclone hit eastern India, damaging homes, trees and power poles and forcing nearly 300,000 moved to higher ground. Cyclone Titli had winds blowing up to 150km/h when it came onshore, the India Meteorological Department said. It spread rain widely in coastal districts of Orissa state and also hit northern parts of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh state.

Uncertainty over donations

Uncertainty surrounds around $50 million in charitable donations meant for struggling farmers, with the federal government unsure how many properties are affected. National Drought Co-ordinator Major General Stephen Day said he didn’t know how many farms were drought-stricken, but had a “pretty good handle” on the number of regions feeling the pain.

Longest flight set to take off

Singapore Airlines is scheduled to premiere a non-stop flight from Singapore to New York that will cover 16,700km and last a whopping 18 hours and 45 minutes. The flight, on an Airbus A350-900ULR, will unseat Qatar Airways from the current record for the world’s longest flight – a 17 hours and 40 minutes marathon journey from Doha to Auckland.

Russian town hires cat chief

It was an unusual job advert. Wanted: Cat chief. Location: Zelenogradsk, Russia: Duties: Tending to the town’s approximately 70 stray cats. Some 80 applicants applied for the new role with the municipality in the small town in the Kaliningrad region, which has also erected a cat statue and added a feline to its emblem in a bid to rebrand itself as Russia’s foremost cat-loving community.

Census to be reviewed

Statistics New Zealand has asked two independent experts to review the low turnout for this year’s census, which followed a ‘digital first’ model. Fewer New Zealanders than expected completed this year’s census after the process was moved online, Stats NZ confirmed earlier this year. Statistics New Zealand received full or partial information for at least 90 per cent of people from this year’s census.

YOUR DAILY TOP 12 STORIES FROM FRANK NEWS

FULL STORIES START ON PAGE 6

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NORTH AMERICA

President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania. – AP

Trump on the campaign trail as Michael hitsAs Hurricane Michael pounded Florida, President Donald Trump took shelter at a campaign event in Pennsylvania, where he sought to boost Republicans before the midterms.

Trump acknowledged the hurricane at the top of his rally in Erie, offering his thoughts to those in the storm’s path and promising to “spare no effort” in the response. He promised to travel to Florida “very shortly”.

He added: “We will always pull through … We will always be successful at what we do.”

Then Trump turned back to politics. With weeks to go before the critical November elections, Trump and his fellow Republicans are engaged in an all-out midterms blitz. They have been invigorated by the successful nomination of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and are seeking to use the contentious moment to unify the GOP and stave off Democratic energy at the polls.

That Trump kept his appointment in Erie underscored the importance of this effort to Republicans. Earlier, Trump received a hurricane briefing at the White House on the Category 4 storm. He told reporters he faced a “quagmire” about whether to attend the Pennsylvania rally because “thousands of people” were already lined up for the event.

He ultimately decided to attend, a move he criticized President Barack Obama for six years ago after Superstorm Sandy hit the East Coast.

“Yesterday Obama campaigned … while Hurricane Sandy victims across NY & NJ are still decimated by Sandy. Wrong!” Trump tweeted on November 6, 2012.

Trump touted two Republican congressmen, Mike Kelly and Lou Barletta. Kelly is facing a challenge from Democrat Ron DiNicola, while Barletta is mounting an uphill campaign to unseat two-term Democratic Senator Bob Casey. The president, who attended a fundraiser before the rally, also praised GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner. ■

Heavy damage caused by Hurricane Michael in Panama City, Florida. – PA

NORTH AMERICA

Hurricane leaves trail of destructionHurricane Michael’s battering waves swamped streets and docks and shrieking winds splintered trees and rooftops. The most powerful hurricane on record to hit Florida’s Panhandle left wide destruction and at least one person dead and wasn’t nearly finished as it crossed Georgia toward the Carolinas, which are still reeling from epic flooding of Hurricane Florence.

Authorities said at least one person has died, a man killed by a tree falling on a Panhandle home. Search and rescue crews were expected to escalate efforts to reach hardest-hit areas and check for anyone trapped or injured in the storm debris.

A day after the supercharged storm crashed ashore amid white sand beaches, fishing towns and military bases, Michael was no longer a Category 4 monster packing 155mph (250km/h) winds. Downgraded to a tropical storm over south Georgia, it continued to weaken but was still menacing the Southeast with heavy rains, blustery winds and possible spinoff tornadoes.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said the eye was about 30 miles (48km) south-southwest of Macon in central Georgia. The storm had top sustained winds of 70mph (112km/h) and was moving to the northeast at 17mph (27km/h).

Residents of north Florida are just be beginning to take stock of the enormity of the disaster.

Damage in Panama City near where Michael came ashore was so extensive that broken and uprooted trees and downed power lines lay nearly everywhere. Roofs were peeled away, sent airborne, and homes were split open by fallen trees. Twisted street signs lay on the ground. Palm trees whipped wildly in the winds. More than 380,000 homes and businesses were without power at the height of the storm.

Vance Beu, 29, was staying with his mother at her home, a complex of single-story wood frame buildings where they piled up mattresses around themselves for protection. A pine tree punched a hole in their roof and his ears even popped when the barometric pressure went lower. ■

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UK

– AAP

Pilot died after instructor failed to regain controlA helicopter pilot died following a crash in which his instructor failed to regain control of the aircraft after an aborted landing, an accident report has found.

They were among three men on board the Airbus AS350 helicopter when it came down at Wycombe Air Park near High Wycombe on May 5 last year.

They were all seriously injured in the crash, with one dying “some weeks later from injuries sustained in the accident”, according to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).

The crash happened during a training flight which simulated a hydraulic system failure.

As the victim initially attempted to land, the instructor became concerned and took control to abort the manoeuvre.

When the victim made a second attempt to land, the instructor again took control late in the approach.

As he turned the helicopter left it rolled 90 degrees, descended rapidly and crashed, coming to a rest on its left side.

The AAIB stated: “No technical issues were identified and a definitive reason why the instructor was unable to roll the helicopter back to a level attitude could not be determined.”

None of the men involved were named in the report.The investigation concluded that clearer instructions in

the AS350 flight manual for hydraulics-off flights “would help prevent similar accidents in future”.

Airbus responded to the crash by amending the manual, including the addition of a warning not to conduct low-speed manoeuvres without hydraulics “due to the danger of loss of control”. ■

Former United States Vice President Joe Biden. – AP

UK

Biden warns of Brexit impactBrexit could mean the US is no longer able to remain a “major player” in the security of the West, the country’s former vice president has warned.

Joe Biden, who served as deputy to Barack Obama during his two terms in the White House, told an event in London that the UK-US special relationship thrived when Britain was “totally integrated” with Europe.

The intervention of the seasoned former senator comes amid speculation that he could mount a presidential run against Donald Trump in 2020, having previously vied to be the Democrats’ nominee in 1988 and 2008.

Biden said he met Prime Minister Theresa May during his visit this week and appreciated Brexit was an “intractable” problem.

He made an impassioned case for unity between the US and Europe in a speech to Chatham House, rallying against the spectre of authoritarianism cast by states such as Russia and China.

Western values of “democracy, freedom, openness” face “unprecedented challenges” from both hostile international forces and swelling populist movements, he claimed

Asked about the issue of Brexit, Biden said he would have voted against it if he were a British MP, continuing: “US interests are diminished with Great Britain not an integral part of Europe and bringing to bear influence well beyond the economy, on the European attitudes towards a whole range of subjects.

“It seems to me that there is a growing awareness in Europe as a whole and around the world that Britain played a role in Europe over the last 30 years that went well beyond the notion of open borders, trade and all these other things – being able to influence attitudes about things that have nothing to do with the elements of the EU state,” he said. ■

5


AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALAND

– 123RF

More farms may have potato virusEighteen farms are on the suspect list for a new potato virus, Biosecurity New Zealand says, and testing has been widened to the North Island.

The potato mop-top virus, or PM-TV, affects potatoes used to make chips. It was found for the first time in New Zealand on two properties in Canterbury last month.

But the latest industry stakeholder update showed that as well as the two confirmed cases there were now a further 18 suspected cases, also in the Canterbury region.

The virus’ response controller, David Yard of Biosecurity New Zealand, said they were testing seed potatoes, plus samples from manufacturers and growers in the North Island.

He said the suggestion at the moment was there were not a lot of “highly symptomatic potatoes” – such as those with large purple streaks across them. “That’s not to say we’re being dismissive of the disease – our focus at the moment is on finding out how far this disease has spread, and on working with industry to help manage the disease.”

Yard said the disease did not present a food safety risk and that it was purely a production impact.

He said the discovery had come exclusively from processing plants. “But, clearly, if the processors have potatoes with symptoms, they have come from infected farms, and our job is to trace back.”

Yard said it was akin to searching for a needle in a potato stack.

“We have two confirmed farms but 18 suspect farms – that doesn’t mean we suspect all 18 farms where these potatoes may have come from are all suspect,” he said. “They’re only suspect because the way the processing industry works – there’s a huge mixing of potatoes at the plant.”

He said they could find an infected potato but the industry was only able to narrow it down to one of three or four farms.

Yard said the opinion of global experts on the disease was that eradication was not feasible. ■

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton. – AAP


Home Affairs raided over au pair leakFederal police have raided the Department of Home Affairs office in Canberra, as officers investigate a leak related to the au pair saga.

Internal emails leaked to the media showed minister Peter Dutton’s office demanded an au pair detained at Brisbane airport be given urgent consideration for a visa, preferably within an hour.

Dutton told parliament last month he did not know the people she was planning to work for.

It was later revealed her intended employer was an old Queensland Police colleague of Dutton’s, Russell Keag, who emailed the minister’s office to say it had been a “long time between calls”.

Dutton said he had not spoken to Keag in 20 years before he was approached for help with the visa.

The emails also show the department expressly disagreed with Dutton’s push to give a visa to another au pair detained in Adelaide in November 2015.

He intervened after AFL boss Gillon McLachlan got his office to contact Dutton’s office to ask for help.

Asked about the raids, an AFP spokesman said it had received the Home Affairs leak referral on August 30.

“The matter has been accepted for investigation,” the spokesman said.

“The AFP has undertaken enquiries and conducted a number of activities in relation to this investigation.”

It was reported the AFP had agreed to hand over seized documents to the Clerk of the Senate, after a request from Labor.

Labor justice spokeswoman Clare O’Neil said Dutton himself had serious questions to answer over the au pair issue and should not be pursuing whistleblowers.

“He told us that he didn’t have any connection with the two families for whom he gave an au pair arrangement and we know that that ultimately wasn’t the case,” she said. ■

6


ASIA

– AP

Cyclone hits east Indian coast, kills at least twoTwo people are dead after a severe cyclone hit eastern India, damaging homes, trees and power poles and forcing nearly 300,000 moved to higher ground.

Cyclone Titli had winds blowing up to 150km/h when it came onshore, the India Meteorological Department said. It spread rain widely in coastal districts of Orissa state and also hit northern parts of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh state.

A woman was fatally hit by an uprooted tree and a man was killed when his house collapsed in Srikakulam district following heavy rains, said Kinjarapu Acchan Naidu, the Andhra Pradesh labour minister.

Schools were closed and air and train travel curtailed in the region. Authorities also set up more than 800 cyclone and flood shelters stocked with food and relief materials.

Electricity and telephone links were lost in several towns and villages in Gajapati district and some roads were blocked, Orissa disaster relief official B.P. Sethi said.

The cyclone was likely to weaken further and become a deep depression, the meteorological department said.

Orissa state is prone to cyclones, which develop in the Bay of Bengal. In 1999, a devastating cyclone killed more than 15,000 people.

Bangladesh’s coastal districts were also warned to prepare for possible storm effects there. Boats were ordered ashore and inland ferries were told to suspend services. ■

A local stands near the ruins of a home at Central Sulawesi. – EPA

ASIA

Deadly quake destroys homes in IndonesiaAn earthquake has collapsed homes on Indonesia’s Java island, killing at least three people, and shook the tourist hotspot of Bali, two weeks after a major quake-tsunami disaster in a central region of the archipelago.

Indonesia’s disaster agency said the quake was centered at sea, 55km (34 miles) northeast of Situbondo city, and was also felt in Lombok. The US Geological Survey said it had a 6.0 magnitude.

The agency said the worst-affected area was in Sumenep district, East Java, where three people died in one village and several homes were damaged.

“The earthquake was felt quite strongly by people in Sumenep and Situbondo for 2-5 seconds,” it said.

“People poured out of their houses. In other areas the earthquake was felt to be moderate.”

The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank were holding annual meetings on Bali.

Some tourists and residents on Bali went outdoors as a precaution but then back to sleep when there was no tsunami warning.

The country is still working to recover from the earthquake and tsunami that killed more than 2000 people and left perhaps thousands more buried deeply in mud in some neighborhoods of Palu city in central Sulawesi.

Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the death toll from the double disaster on September 28 had risen to 2045, with most of the fatalities in the coastal city of Palu. More than 80,000 people are living in temporary shelters or otherwise displaced, he said. ■

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REST Of THE WORLD

– Mary Evans Picture Library

Russian town hires cat chief for straysIt was an unusual job advert. Wanted: Cat chief. Location: Zelenogradsk, Russia: Duties: Tending to the town’s approximately 70 stray cats.

Some 80 applicants applied for the new role with the municipality in the small town in the Kaliningrad region, which has also erected a cat statue and added a feline to its emblem in a bid to rebrand itself as Russia’s foremost cat-loving community.

In the end, local resident Svetlana Logunova was appointed guardian of the town’s felines. To help her with the task, she was given a bicycle and uniform, including a bright green jacket, black bow tie and hat.

She has been given a budget of 5700 roubles ($A120) a month to ensure all the seaside community’s cats are happy, dishing out food, strokes and free rides in the basket on her bike.

“I alone cannot care for every single one and a helping hand would go a long way,” Logunova said. ■

– EPA

REST Of THE WORLD

New world’s longest flight set to take offSingapore Airlines is scheduled to premiere a non-stop flight from Singapore to New York that will cover 16,700km and last a whopping 18 hours and 45 minutes.

The flight, on an Airbus A350-900ULR, will unseat Qatar Airways from the current record for the world’s longest flight – a 17 hours and 40 minutes marathon journey from Doha to Auckland.

But passengers on the Singapore Airlines flight need not fret over cramped economy seats during the ultra-long-haul flight. The plane has been configured in a two-class layout that features only 67 business class and 94 premium economy class seats.

A cursory check on the Singapore Airlines website showed that one-way tickets from Singapore to Newark were going for $US2594 in premium economy and $US5560 in business class.

Newark Liberty International Airport is in New Jersey but it is just 19km outside New York City and is one of three major airports serving the New York metropolitan area.

The route will initially be served three times a week, with daily operations expected to start on October 18.

This is not the first time the airline has flown from Changi Airport to New York.

The relaunch comes after Singapore Airlines suspended services on the route in 2013 after climbing fuel prices made the use of four-engine Airbus A340-500 jets an economic liability.

However, the flight may not hold the mantle of world’s longest for long. Qantas chief Alan Joyce announced plans in August to introduce a direct flight between Sydney and London within the next four years that would take a total of 20 hours. ■

8


Census to be reviewed after low turnoutStatistics New Zealand has asked two independent experts to review the low turnout for this year’s census, which followed a ‘digital first’ model.

Fewer New Zealanders than expected completed this year’s census after the process was moved online, Stats NZ confirmed earlier this year.

Statistics New Zealand received full or partial information for at least 90 per cent of people from this year’s census, compared with 94.5 percent during the last census in 2013.

It has now called on the services of management consultant Murray Jack and Canadian census expert Connie Graziadei, who has recently retired as assistant chief statistician in her own country, to review the turnout.

Government statistician Liz MacPherson said the agency had asked the pair for a final report by next July.

“We want to know what worked well and what did not work well, and why. We need to be clear about what we should have done better.”

She said she was sure Jack and Graziadei would “leave no stone unturned”.

“We know how important census information is for decision-makers across New Zealand, and so it is vital that we maintain public trust and confidence in the census. I’m determined to do that, and the independent review, as well as the external data quality panel, announced in early September, are key steps on the way,” MacPherson said. ■


– 123RF

Uncertainty over drought donationsUncertainty surrounds around $50 million in charitable donations meant for struggling farmers, with the federal government unsure how many properties are affected.

National Drought Co-ordinator Major General Stephen Day said he didn’t know how many farms were drought-stricken, but had a “pretty good handle” on the number of regions feeling the pain.

He said drought charities had received $50 million in donations, with $30 million doled out to farmers so far.

Asked where the donations were, Day said: “It’s not my money, it’s money owned by charities.”

“There are a lot of charities. I actually don’t know how many there are, I don’t know if anyone does.”

Day admitted information on drought assistance program wasn’t reaching farmers in an adequate way.

“That’s one of the key problems we face across the country – there’s a lack of fidelity of information at the ground level to advise governments at all levels as to what they should be doing,” he said.

He said his role included trying to identify gaps in policy and getting charities together.

Farmers in NSW and Queensland are worst affected by the drought, which is sweeping large swathes of eastern Australia.

“There’s no doubt there are some people who are doing it very tough out there,” Day said.

“This one’s got on top of them. There is something a bit different about this one.” ■

A baby sheep in a drought-hit paddock in New South Wales. – AAP


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NORTH AMERICA UK AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALAND · 1 OCTOBER 11 (GMT) OCTOBER 12 (AEST), 2018 NORTH...

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