Participants of the World Solar Challenge, the world championship in solar energy racing, had to deal with a large forest fire along the course on the first official day of racing. However, the race did not have to be interrupted on Sunday. "It was very intense to witness it up close," said Ben Onland, driver of the Delft car. He speaks of an impressive experience: "We often see smoke on the road, but now it was quite a lot. We could see the smoke from several kilometers away. As a result, my visibility was getting worse. In the distance, I suddenly saw real flames as well."
A german machine will lead away the World Solar Challenge on Sunday, while the much-fancied University of Michigan car was stalled by an electrical fault during qualifying for the big event.
First Nations people, farmers and communities across the Northern Territory have condemned NT Labor’s decision to approve exploration permits for shale gas fracking in the Beetaloo Basin. Pip Hinman reports.