Oz police call off search for German tourist

AN EXTENSIVE aerial search for a German tourist missing in the vast Australian outback for almost two weeks has been called off, police said. Monika Billen, 62, was reported missing last week after leaving her resort in Alice Springs. She is believed to have hitched and walked her way to the Emily Gap, a site popular with tourists in a remote nature park famed for its rocky ravines and gorges. Police had launched land and aerial searches for Billen, including the use of drones. They believe a motorist may have seen her looking dehydrated and disorientated as early as January 2. “Despite our efforts, no further evidence has been found to indicate Monika is still out there,” Northern Territory Police Superintendent Pauline Vicary said on Saturday.