SYDNEY -- A bushfire in Australia's Victoria state more than trebled overnight and authorities urged residents in a remote part of Tasmania state to evacuate as a spring heatwave fanned fires across the country's southeast. Around 17,000 hectares (66 square miles) were ablaze on Tuesday in the eastern part of Victoria state's Gippsland region after high winds spread fires overnight, according to state fire authorities, who had deployed some 650 firefighters. "We moved in strike teams in the very early hours of this morning," said Jason Heffernan, chief officer at Country Fire Authority Victoria. "It is quite a large fire spread across a large area. ... It's proving to be quite difficult, burning in private property but also some pine plantations." New South Wales Rural Fire Service firefighters walk through a hazard reduction burn in Sydney, Australia, September 10, 2023. Photo: Reuters Across the Bass Strait in Tasmania state, residents on the northern edge of … [Read more...] about Bushfires in parts of southeast Australia amid spring heatwave
When will ban be lifted in australia
California governor vetoes bill banning robotrucks without safety drivers
SAN FRANCISCO -- California Governor Gavin Newsom late on Friday vetoed a bill to prevent heavy-duty driverless trucks from operating in the state, in a relief for companies developing autonomous technology to haul goods across the U.S. The labor-backed Assembly Bill 316, which requires a trained human driver to be present in autonomous vehicles weighing over 10,001 pounds, was passed by a heavy majority in both houses of the state legislature. "Considering... the existing regulatory framework that presently and sufficiently governs this particular technology, this bill is not needed at this time," Newsom said in a veto message on Friday. A veto by the governor can still be overturned if the legislature chooses to vote in favor of the bill with a two-thirds majority in each house. This, however, is rare and has not happened in California since 1979. While many states, including Texas and Arkansas, have allowed the testing and operation of self-driving trucks, California - home … [Read more...] about California governor vetoes bill banning robotrucks without safety drivers
China’s e-commerce discount race to the bottom puts incumbents under pressure
Platforms in China, the world’s largest e-commerce market, have recently described a "value-for-money battle" stoked by economic insecurity and a slower-than-expected retail recovery following the lifting of Covid-19 curbs late last year. In much of the rest of the world, meanwhile, from Southeast Asia to North America and Europe, consumers are in the thrall of fast-growing platforms, like PDD Holdings'PDD.OTemu and Bytedance-owned TikTok Shop, which ship cheap goods from China at a time when cost-of-living is front of mind for many. China has long been a major exporter of a host of consumer products, but this latest export trend, of its e-commerce marketplace dynamics to the rest of the world, has shaken up online shopping globally. Low-cost platforms in China, as well as multinational companies shipping from the country, look set to shape the year's final quarter - one that included the all-important holiday season, as well as China's largest shopping festival. "These … [Read more...] about China’s e-commerce discount race to the bottom puts incumbents under pressure
New challenges and opportunities for Việt Nam’s rice exports
Since the beginning of August, export prices have risen to more than US$660 per tonne. — VNA/VNS Photo Việt Nam is looking to increase the volume and revenue of rice exports in the remaining months of this year, but a wide range of hindrances are looming on the horizon. Last July, India banned rice exports, a move that is widely seen as a golden opportunity for Việt Nam to bolster rice shipments abroad. As of August, the country had exported nearly six million tonnes of rice, the highest amount ever recorded, up 20 per cent year-on-year and accounting for 89 per cent of the target set for the whole year, according to the General Department of Việt Nam Customs. This brought Việt Nam's total rice export turnover in the first eight months to almost US$3.2 billion, a year-on-year increase of 34 per cent. China, Ghana, Indonesia and the Philippines were the largest buyers of Vietnamese rice. However, along with exports, Việt Nam needs to ensure food security in the domestic … [Read more...] about New challenges and opportunities for Việt Nam’s rice exports
Mekong Delta provinces step up efforts to combat illegal fishing
Mekong Delta provinces have stepped up efforts in the fight against IUU fishing. (Photo: VNA) Kien Giang (VNA) – Mekong Delta provinces have intensified their efforts to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in a bid to have the European Commission (EC)’s “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood lifted. Kien Giang province reported no fishing boats violating foreign waters in recent months, according to the provincial steering board for IUU fishing prevention and control. The result was attributed to the local authorities’ application of drastic and synchronous measures against IUU fishing, with a wide range of inspections and enhanced communications work to raise local fishermen’s awareness of current regulations on IUU fishing prevention put in place, said Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Quang Trong Thao, who is also deputy head of the steering board. To date, the vessel monitoring system … [Read more...] about Mekong Delta provinces step up efforts to combat illegal fishing