Top Stories this PM: France accuses Biden of acting like Trump; Gabby Petito's family begs for help in letter

Good afternoon. Here are the top stories so far today.

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What happened today:

• France accuses President Biden of "a stab in the back." France's foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also compared Biden to former President Trump after Australia launched a lucrative new security partnership with the US and UK amid concerns about China's growing threat. As part of the deal, Australia's new nuclear-powered submarines are to be built domestically, bringing an abrupt end to France's submarine contract with Sydney.

• A plea to Brian Laundrie's parents. The family of van-life blogger Gabby Petito, who disappeared earlier this month, pleaded with the parents of the missing woman's boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, to help them find their daughter if they have "any decency left." Laundrie has refused to speak to authorities about Petito's disappearance. Follow our live coverage here.
• An unexpected find. A search-and-rescue crew looking for a missing man at Grand Canyon National Park found the human remains of another person. The incident happened this summer, and the remains are believed to be of Scott Walsh, who was last seen at the park's South Rim in 2015, a park spokesperson told the Associated Press this week.
• Kansas students protest alleged rape. Students at the University of Kansas have been protesting outside the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house after reports that a member of the fraternity sexually assaulted another student there, according to the Kansas City Star. "Phi Kappa Psi takes these allegations very seriously and will fully cooperate with law enforcement," a statement from the fraternity's spokesperson said.
• Getting vaccinated = $$$. Southwest Airlines is giving staff 16 hours extra pay if they show proof they're fully vaccinated. The airline also said that it would soon cut quarantine pay protections for unvaccinated people who catch the coronavirus. The protections gave employees full pay for up to 10 days if they were exposed to or contracted COVID-19 on the job, per Bloomberg.

That's all for now. See you tomorrow.

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