TRANSCRIPT
Police say a German backpacker who has been missing for two weeks in Western Australia's wheat belt, likely got lost in dense bushland after her car broke down.
W-A police have escalated a national search for 26 year-old Carolina Wilga [[vill-guh]] yesterday, after her van was discovered about 100 kilometres north of where she was last seen in the small Wheatbelt town of Beacon.
Carolina was last seen on the 29th of June in Beacon, northeast of Perth.
Police say the van appears to have suffered mechanical issues.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is emphasising the importance of engaging with China.
He will embark on a six-day visit to the country, starting tomorrow [[Saturday]], and will meet with the country's leadership, including President Xi Jinping.
Mr Albanese will be accompanied by business leaders, as he tries to further enhance trade ties between Australia and China.
25 per cent of Australian exports go to China, making it by far Australia's most significant trading partner.
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Concerns are being raised that the new national plan to combat antisemitism in Australia could stifle free speech.
One recommendation made to the federal government by antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal is to strip funding from organisations that fail to address hatred against Jews.
Some, including the National Union of Students and the Australian Jewish Council, are worried about the impact on those making legitimate criticism of Israel, particularly amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Speaking with SBS Arabic, a Board Director of Palestine Australia Relief and Action, Reem Borrows, is concerned advocacy for Palestinians will be deemed antisemitic.
Ms Segal says these concerns are misplaced, and only those calling for the elimination of the state of Israel will be deemed to be antisemitic.
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U-S President Donald Trump says he'll impose a 35 per cent tariff on goods from neighbouring Canada- and is threatening to make the rate even higher if Canada retaliates.
The tariff will go into place on the 1st of August, much like Mr Trump's proposed tariffs against Brazil, and other countries.
But Brazilian President Lula da Silva says he is not intimidated by Mr Trump's threats against retaliation, saying he will impose reciprocal tariffs on U-S goods, if a diplomatic solution cannot be found.
Mr Trump has threatened 50 per cent tariffs on Brazilian goods, and has linked his decision on tariffs against the country to the treatment of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is on trial on charges of plotting a coup against Mr da Silva in 2023.
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In finance news,
The Australian dollar has increased to its highest price since November.
The Aussie dollar now is currently buying 65.94 U-S cents.
Local shares lifted today, after news overnight that the U-S Defense Department is buying more than A$600 million [[S400 million USD]] worth of preferred stock, in rare earths miner M-P Materials .
That purchase boosted local mining companies in early trade, with Iluka minerals surging 25 per cent and Lynas up 17 per cent.
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In cycling,
Irishman Ben Healy has won the sixth stage of the Tour de France, becoming the first Irishman in five years to win a stage at the world's most-famous cycling event.
Michael Storer finished third - the best finish by an Aussie in the race so far this year.
Matthieu Van der Poel [Pool]] is now the overall race leader, snatching the yellow jersey from reigning champion Tadej Pogocar [[today pa-ga-cha]].
