Briefly

CHINA

Vice-president to attend forum in Astana

Vice-President Wang Qishan will lead a delegation to Kazakhstan and attend the Sixth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia from Wednesday to Thursday in Astana. The announcement was made by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning at a daily news briefing on Tuesday. Kazakhstan holds the presidency of the CICA this year.

UNITED STATES

Hurricane Ian death toll tops 100 in Florida

The death toll from Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the United States, soared above 100 in Florida alone on Monday, officials said. Homes, restaurants and businesses were ripped apart when Ian roared ashore as a powerful Category 4 hurricane on Sept 26. The confirmed number of storm-related fatalities rose to 102 statewide, the Florida Medical Examiners Commission confirmed in its latest report, with the majority located in the state's southwest.

NEW ZEALAND

Farmers condemn tax on burping livestock

New Zealand's government on Tuesday proposed taxing the greenhouse gas that farm animals make from burping and peeing as part of a plan to tackle climate change. The government said the farm levy would be a world first, and that farmers should be able to recoup the cost by charging more for climate-friendly products. But farmers quickly condemned the plan. Federated Farmers, the industry's main lobby group, said the plan would "rip the guts out of small-town New Zealand" and see farms replaced with trees. Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard said farmers have been trying to work with the government for more than two years on an emissions reduction plan that would not decrease food production.

Agencies - China Daily