Topic “In the News News” — Exporter Magazine

The six planned models will expand Toyota’s hybrid engine range of vehicles that run on petrol and electricity at a time when rivals such as Nissan are developing all-electric vehicles. Surfing the internet rather than snacking on the couch seems to be the Aussie thing these days. Vegemite, Tim Tams and Coca-Cola have given way to technology companies Google, Apple and Sony as the nation’s most loved brands, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. According to a UPS Asia Business Monitor survey 78% of Chinese SMEs currently conduct their business in the Asia-Pacific, compared to 6% in the United States and 10% in Europe. Due to the strong recovery of China’s imports and exports, the Port of Shanghai’s total container throughput in the first eight months of 2010 stood at more than 19 million standard containers, making it the largest container port in the world, according to People’s Daily.com. Robots from MARRS could one day run automated farms in Australia, a researcher from the University of Queensland was quoted saying in the Sydney Morning Herald. The first genetically modified animal aimed at consumers’ dinner plates faces an uncertain future following a federal advisory panel on Monday that gave a mixed assessment on whether such food – a salmon – is safe to eat, according to Emirates24/7.com. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Tuesday more than tripled its forecast for airline industry profits this year as demand picked up but warned earnings would ease back next year, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.