Drivers into New York CBD to face $15 tolls

United States: New York is on track to become the first US city with congestion tolls on drivers entering its Central Business District after transit officials approved a $15 (£11.87) fee for most motorists heading to the busiest part of Manhattan.

Members of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board voted to give the green light to the congestion pricing plan, to go into effect in June.

The board approved only minor changes to a plan presented to the public months ago, and brushed off requests for exceptions by dozens of groups of commuters.

The vote authorises a $15 toll on most commuter passenger vehicles that drive into Manhattan south of 60th Street, a zone that is south of Central Park, during daytime hours.

Supporters of the new toll say it will push more people to use public transport, reduce congestion to speed up public buses and emergency vehicles, reduce pollution, and raise money needed to improve the subway system.

Opponents say the fees are a burden on workers and will increase the prices of staple goods that are driven to the city by truck.

Hawaii: Hawaii

Governor Josh Green said 3,000 people displaced by wildfires in Lahaina are still living in hotels more than seven months after the blaze, but up to 30 people are moving to longer-term housing each day.

Mr Green said the state and federal government have lined up sufficient long-term rental units to shelter everyone currently in one of 11 hotels still housing survivors.

State and federal governments are also building modular transitional housing units for displaced residents and Mr Green wants everyone to leave the hotels by July 1.

Nearly 8,000 Lahaina residents were living in 40 hotels in the days immediately after the fire.

Maui has a severe housing shortage. In West Maui, much of the existing housing has been used as vacation rentals for tourists.

In December, Mr Green threatened to use the “hammer” of emergency orders to impose a moratorium on Maui short-term rentals if enough property owners didn’t make their units available to Lahaina residents.

China: China yesterday said it will lift tariffs placed on Australian wine more than three years ago, in a sign of improving ties between the two countries.

China’s Ministry of Commerce said the decision will take effect today.

China imposed tariffs on Australian wine in 2020 during a diplomatic feud over Australia’s support for a global inquiry into the origins of Covid-19. The duties on Australian wine skyrocketed above 200%.

Australian wine producers took a heavy hit from the tariffs, as China was Australia’s top wine export destination.

The Australian government welcomed the decision, saying the tariffs were lifted at a “critical time for the Australian wine industry”.

He Yadong, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce, said China and Australia are “each other’s important trade partners”.