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Craft brewers in China celebrate the return of Australian barley

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The craft brewing industry is raising a toast to the resurgence of Australian barley imports, heralding a potential cost-saving boon amidst recent economic challenges.

Over the past three years, the burgeoning craft beer sector in China faced multiple setbacks, including the pandemic’s impact on bar attendance and heavy anti-dumping tariffs imposed by the Chinese government in 2020 on Australian barley and wine.

The removal of the barley tariffs in the previous month, following an easing of trade tensions, is expected to lower production costs for brewers across China. This development is particularly welcomed by craft beer brewers who rely on pure malt without additives like broken rice or starch, which had made their products more expensive.

Prior to the tariffs, Australian government data indicates that China consistently purchased between 86% and 91% of Australia’s malting barley exports, occasionally accounting for over half of Chinese malting barley demand.

Miller Meng, brewmaster at Shanghai’s The Brew, expressed optimism about the return of Australian barley, stating, “Australian malt’s return to the market will restore prices to a more reasonable level.” He highlighted the surging prices of alternative malts in the absence of Australian supplies.

With over 13,000 craft beer-related businesses in China, the craft beer industry had been a thriving segment in the world’s largest beer market, worth an estimated $125 billion this year. However, the absence of Australian malting barley forced many Chinese craft brewers to explore alternatives, often at a higher cost due to global supply chain disruptions.

The hope now is that the reintroduction of Australian imports will help stabilize profit margins for craft brewers. Australian malting barley is currently offered at a competitive $350 per metric ton compared to $390 for French barley, with more favorable freight costs from Australia to China. Approximately 300,000 tons of Australian malting barley have already been contracted for sale to China since the tariff removal.

For Australian barley farmers, this revival of the Chinese market is a welcome development, as it restores an essential export channel. The barley that had previously been destined for Chinese beer production had been diverted to other markets at lower prices in recent years. Brewers in China anticipate a resurgence in demand for Australian malting barley over the next two years, signaling a brighter future for the craft beer industry in the country.

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LIVE: Record early turnout marks Election Day 2024

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Millions of Americans have already cast their ballots, with battleground states seeing record numbers; minor disruptions are met with resilience as officials prepare for Election Day.

Election Day 2024 has arrived, and tens of millions of Americans have already cast their ballots, with a significant surge in early voting across key battleground states.

Georgia, a pivotal swing state in recent elections, saw over 4 million voters participate early, prompting state officials to suggest that traditional polling locations might feel like “ghost towns” on Election Day itself.

North Carolina also saw impressive numbers, with 4.4 million voters—nearly 57% of registered voters—casting ballots early, including in areas still recovering from Hurricane Helene.

Early voting

Nationwide, early voting surpassed 82 million ballots as of Monday, a number already exceeding half the total ballots cast in 2020.

A notable shift this election season is the increased early turnout among Republicans, spurred by campaigns from former President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee to counter Democratic dominance in early voting.

Despite long lines and minor disruptions, early voting has proceeded without major issues.

Local officials in hurricane-affected regions of North Carolina executed remarkable efforts to facilitate voting, even amid power outages and damaged infrastructure.

Additionally, while isolated arson incidents in Oregon damaged drop boxes, authorities swiftly responded to minimize the impact.

Trump and the RNC, however, continue to raise concerns over election security, citing instances like an investigation in Pennsylvania into potential fraudulent voter registrations.

These claims, often unsubstantiated, may signal upcoming challenges as the nation awaits the final results.

Controversy Over Elon Musk’s $1 Million-a-Day Sweepstakes Sparks Legal Battle in Pennsylvania

Philadelphia DA claims Musk’s political action committee misled the public, while Musk’s lawyer argues winners were chosen as “spokespeople,” not by chance.

A legal dispute erupted in Philadelphia on Monday over Elon Musk’s $1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes, as a lawyer for Musk’s political action committee (PAC), America PAC, clarified that recipients are selected deliberately—not by chance as originally claimed.

GOP attorney Chris Gober stated that winners of the giveaway, which targets key swing states, were handpicked based on personal stories and signed contracts to act as “spokespeople” for the PAC, challenging initial promises of a “random” selection process.

The giveaway, announced on October 19 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at an event alongside Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, was pitched by Musk as a daily, random $1 million award to petition signers.

Violates the law

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner contends that Musk’s approach may violate Pennsylvania election law, arguing the selective process contradicts the terms Musk publicly stated.

On Monday, Krasner’s lawyer scrutinized a PAC official over the language used to promote the giveaway, particularly Musk’s repeated use of “chance” and “randomly” when describing the selection.

Gober, however, defended the PAC’s approach, stating, “The $1 million recipients are not chosen by chance. We know exactly who will be announced as the $1 million recipient today and tomorrow.”

As recipients in Arizona and Michigan await their awards, the legal argument over Musk’s promises and the selection process could intensify, especially as Election Day draws near in Pennsylvania.

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump Make Final Appeals in Pennsylvania as Polls Show a Dead Heat

With record-breaking early voting and razor-thin polling margins, both candidates make last-minute pushes in battleground Pennsylvania.

In the final hours before Election Day, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump each delivered their closing pitches in must-win Pennsylvania, a state that could decide one of the closest races in recent history.

With most pundits calling the race too close to predict, both candidates focused on rallying support in key counties to secure an edge.

Polls and betting markets reflect the tight nature of the contest, with Harris holding a slight late surge after out-fundraising Trump nearly five to one throughout her campaign.

The latest projections from prominent statistician Nate Silver point to a razor-thin advantage for Harris. In his simulation models, Harris emerged as the likely victor in 40,012 of 80,000 simulations.

However, a few hundred votes in key battleground counties could easily swing the result in Trump’s favour, especially amid expectations of close tallies and potential disputes over ballot integrity.

Unprecedented outcomes

This election could bring unprecedented outcomes.

A Harris win would make her the first female president and the first woman of South Asian and African-American descent in the Oval Office.

For Trump, a victory would mean a non-consecutive second term, making him only the second president in U.S. history to achieve this feat.

Harris has focused on energizing young and female voters, centering her platform on generational change and reproductive rights.

Meanwhile, Trump has attracted support among men and white women by addressing concerns over inflation, immigration, crime, and limiting U.S. military interventions abroad.

With around 78 million Americans having already cast early votes, all eyes are on Pennsylvania as the nation braces for a potentially historic and hard-fought election outcome.

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It’s Election Eve in the race for the White House

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It’s Election Eve in the United States and the 2024 Presidential race is neck-and-neck.

The 2024 Presidential Race is proving to be one of the closest and most contentious in recent history, with the candidates seemingly neck and neck in key battleground states.

But, the big question is whether or not these polls are accurate?

Will the election results be a story of former President Donald Trump pulling off the greatest comeback in American political history or will Vice-President Kamala Harris deliver an unprecedented victory after her late entrance into the race?

Oz Sultan, the Chief Strategist with the Sultan Interactive Group joins Veronica Dudo to discuss.

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POLLS: presidential race is neck-and-neck

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Both candidates rally in Pennsylvania as over 77 million Americans have already cast their votes.

On the eve of Election Day, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are making their final campaign stops in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania.

With over 77 million Americans already casting ballots, both candidates are seizing their last opportunity to appeal to undecided voters in a state that could sway the 2024 election outcome.

Trump, the Republican candidate, is holding rallies in Reading and Pittsburgh, focusing on issues like the economy, job growth, and border security.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, is also dedicating her last campaign day to Pennsylvania, underscoring the state’s critical role in securing a path to victory.

Harris’s events span from Allentown to Pittsburgh and include a high-energy concert in Philadelphia with celebrity appearances aimed at mobilizing young voters.

Both candidates are delivering messages that underscore their visions for the future, hoping to capture last-minute support in the final hours.

With both campaigns converging in Pennsylvania, all eyes are on the state as the nation awaits the results of one of the most pivotal elections in recent history.

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