PM says China trip has been successful
The Prime Minister wraps up his trip in China
Australia's highest civilian honour handed to the family of late Gumatj clan leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu
Tadej Pogacar regains the overall lead of the Tour de France Anthony Albanese says his six-day tour of China has been successful, resulting in outcomes that will boost the bilateral relationship. The prime minister is ending his trip in the regional city of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, before he flies out of the country to return to Australia. Mr Albanese says it has been a productive trip, including the meeting with China's President Xi Jinping. "One of the theme of our discussions was improving people-to-people and cultural links between people in Australia and China. And I can think of no better way then through the sporting engagement at what is the iconic sporting event in Australia - our Australian Open. Indeed the last Australian prime minister to visit Sichuan was Bob Hawke in 1986. And that time he launched an annual Australia-China tennis challenge. A gesture of goodwill between our nations." Russia says it won't accept the 50-day deadline announced by US President Donald Trump to reach a ceasefire to end fighting in Ukraine - or face sanctions. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned the move, calling it blackmail. The US also promised more missiles and other weaponry for Ukraine. Russia's all-out war against Ukraine in February, 2022, has led to Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War Two, with the United States estimating that 1.2 million people have been injured or killed. Doctors at the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City say two women have died - and several others are injured, following a strike that hit a Catholic parish in the Gaza Strip. The strike damaged the Holy Family Church, the only Catholic Church inside the Palestinian enclave. The Israeli Defence Forces says it is looking into the matter. The Vatican has not yet responded to a request for comment. The late Yolngu Elder and land rights pioneer, Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu, has been officially awarded the nation's highest civilian honour, two years after his death. The Companion of the Order of Australia was accepted by his eldest daughter, Binmila, from Governor-General Sam Mostyn, who travelled to northeast Arnhem Land to present the award - in accordance with the wishes of the Yunupingu family. Ms Mostyn says Dr Yunupingu would have viewed the award in his own way. "But I am also aware that in the 50th year of the Australian honours and awards system, this may be an award that Dr Yunupingu may not have really seen as necessary. Or seen as adding to the way he lived his life. In a way it is an important thing that we are doing in acknowledging his life through a system that must sit alongside something else that Dr Yunupingu said in his essay. He spoke of an allegiance to each other, to land and to ceremonies that define Yolngu." The award was announced earlier this year, recognising Dr Yunupingu's eminent service to First Nation Peoples, in particular traditional land ownership, to leadership in economic development initiatives, to fostering reconciliation and respect, and his role as a custodian of culture and ceremony. Binmila Yunupingu says her father's legacy is something that will burn on forever. In cycling, Tadej Pogacar has regained the overall lead of the Tour de France, after winning stage 12. On the first major mountain of the race, the three-time Tour winner went clear early on the 13.5-kilometre ascent - going on to win the stage by two minutes 10 seconds from Jonas Vingegaard. Pogacar dedicated the stage win to 19-year-old Italian cyclist Samuele Privitera who died after a crash in the opening stage of the Giro della Valle d'Aosta in Italy on Wednesday. "I think this stage can go for (be a tribute for) somehwhere - and to all his family because it was really sad. The first thing I read in the morning and yeah, it was just... I was thinking in the last kilometre about him and yeah, how tough this sport can be - and how much pain it can cause."
In a statement, Privitera's cycling team, Australian outfit Jayco AlUla, paid tribute to the 19-year-old, describing him as the life and personality of the team; and his loss is felt deeply.
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