Energy News
WATER WORLD
Bad weather delays forming of Tuvalu government
Bad weather delays forming of Tuvalu government
by AFP Staff Writers
Funafuti, Tuvalu (AFP) Feb 9, 2024
Stormy weather has delayed the forming of a new government in Tuvalu, with freshly-elected lawmakers still unable to reach parliament Friday, weeks after the Pacific nation went to the polls.

Senior electoral officer Semi Malaki told AFP that around half of the 16 elected members remained stranded on outer islands and were having trouble reaching the capital Funafuti due to high winds and rough seas.

"Hopefully, by next week we have all the MPs here on Funafuti and proceed with the election of the prime minister," Malaki added.

Tiny Tuvalu's January 26 vote was closely watched in Beijing, Washington and Taipei, amid rumours a new government could switch diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China.

But since the vote, a low-pressure trough has brought heavy rain and high winds that have kept boats in port and MPs-elect at home.

Until a new government can be formed, ousted pro-Taiwan Prime Minister Kausea Natano, who lost his seat in the Funafuti constituency, remains in charge in a caretaker capacity.

Once a new prime minister is elected, there is speculation that Tuvalu -- one of just 12 states including the Holy See that still formally recognise Taiwan -- could switch allegiance to China.

Neighbouring Nauru recently severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of China, fuelling rumours Tuvalu could be next.

Beijing has been methodically poaching Taiwan's Pacific allies, convincing Solomon Islands and Kiribati to switch recognition in 2019 before Nauru did the same.

Before the election, Natano's finance minister Seve Paeniu had floated the idea of Tuvalu reviewing its Taiwan ties.

With no formal political parties, the process of MPs selecting a new prime minister and potentially changing government had already been expected to be slow, before bad weather forced further delays.

Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WATER WORLD
PNG PM vows close Australia ties in face of Chinese courtship
Canberra (AFP) Feb 8, 2024
Papua New Guinea's prime minister on Thursday became the first Pacific Island leader ever to address Australia's parliament, vowing close ties despite ever-louder overtures from China. Hailing long relations and Australia's pivotal role in his country's 1975 independence, James Marape said nothing would come between the two nations. In recent years, Beijing has tried to chip away at US and Australian influence across the South Pacific, including in Papua New Guinea. The Pacific Islands, w ... read more

WATER WORLD
Greenhouse gas repurposed in University of Auckland experiments

Inexpensive, carbon-neutral biofuels are finally possible

Watching the enzymes that convert plant fiber into simple sugars

Microbial division of labor produces higher biofuel yields

WATER WORLD
Decoding thermophotovoltaic efficiency

Activist fund urges BP to hit brakes on green energy

EagleView's Geospatial Data Transforms Solar Industry with Rapid, Detailed Bidding

Revolution in low-light imaging with integrated photovoltaic and photodetector organic device

WATER WORLD
Leaf-shaped generators create electricity from the wind and rain

European offshore wind enjoys record year in 2023

Danish firm to build huge wind farm off UK

UK unveils massive news windfarm investment by UAE, German firms

WATER WORLD
EU bets on carbon capture to smooth bumpy green transition

UK's opposition Labour Party ditches climate change pledge

EU eyes 90% cut to greenhouse gases by 2040

EU strikes deal on clean tech to compete with China, US

WATER WORLD
Europe Invests in Thermal Energy Storage Innovation

Scientists in UK set fusion record

New calcium-doping strategy surpasses platinum catalysts in hydrogen fuel cells

Rwanda signs lithium deal with Rio Tinto

WATER WORLD
London Metal Exchange faces 'dirty metals' lawsuit

Agent Orange policy change highlights progress for vets, civilian military expert says

World's biggest flying lab comes to Asia on air pollution mission

Biden strengthens US soot regulations, angering industry

WATER WORLD
Gas booming for UN COP29 host Azerbaijan

Vessel reports missile attack off Yemen's coast: security firms

COP hosts UAE, Azerbaijan, Brazil announce climate 'troika'

Energy transition spurred Saudi halt to oil expansion: official

WATER WORLD
Confirmation of ancient lake on Mars builds excitement for Perseverance rover's samples

NASA helicopter's mission ends after three years on Mars

New Year, New images from Perseverance on Mars

Polka Dots and Sunbeams: Sol 4078

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2026 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.