Independence movement wins majority in New Caledonia government Independence movement wins majority in New Caledonia government Feb 18, 2021
In a major transformation, the incoming government of New Caledonia will be led by the first pro-independence leader in nearly forty years. Members of the independence coalition Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) won six of eleven positions in the multi-party government, during a secret ballot in New Caledonia’s 54-member Congress.
The ballot on Wednesday afternoon came after the collapse of the New Caledonia government two weeks ago. On 2 February, the presidency of Thierry Santa was cut short after the resignation of the five FLNKS members. Any minister who resigns must be replaced by a member of the same parliamentary group. If no successor is nominated, the government loses office and Congress must choose new members for the executive. These government ministers in turn elect a new President
Tropical System Could Ease Bushfire Danger in Bone-Dry Western Australia
Written by AZoCleantechFeb 8 2021
Bushfires have forced some Australians to flee COVID-19 lockdowns in the Perth area in what s being called an unprecedented situation. A tropical system off the coast could ease fire concerns but may trigger other problems.
In this photo provided by Department of Fire and Emergency Services, a firefighter attends to a fire near Wooroloo, northeast of Perth, Australia, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. An out-of-control wildfire burning northeast of the Australian west coast city of Perth has destroyed dozens of homes and was threatening more. Image Credit: Evan Collis/DFES via AP
The La Nina weather pattern is expected to bring more rain to break up the dry periods. NIWA meteorologist Ben Noll said with the country experiencing a La Nina weather pattern in 2021, there was a god chance the region would break the drought pattern of the past three years. “[La Nina] typically brings good rainfall to the North Island and the top of the South Island. This time around it’s a bit on the dryer end of the scale, which is a different flavour to what we would typically get.” Noll said the dry weather from 2020 was felt right throughout New Zealand and Australia and all the way to the Chatham Islands.
Photo: AFP
10,000 vaccinated in the CNMI
The Northern Marianas continues its Covid-19 vaccine rollout with over 10,000 residents already vaccinated as of Wednesday, according to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC).
The CHCC said a total of 10,644 residents on Saipan, Rota, and Tinian have been vaccinated with either the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or the Moderna vaccine.
Broken down, 7,267 residents have already completed their first dose, while 3,337 have completed their second dose.
The leadership of Governor Ralph Torres during the pandemic has also been praised in an article by RealClear Health.
Meanwhile, an additional Covid-19 case was reported in the CNMI last Monday bringing the U.S. territory s total coronavirus cases to 133.
Cyclone Lucas is now weakening back to a tropical storm.
Plenty of cloud streaming off the low in Western Australia is now extending right across the country. The large cloud band will produce more inland rain.
It is quite a scene on the synoptic chart, with lows now encircling the country; it’s rare to have four active lows encircling the nation.
Onshore winds will dominate the coast in the afternoon for another day. It will be fine and hot across the majority of the region.
Hot and mostly sunny, with North-West to North-East winds.
A weekend change is on the way.