UN commends Maldives for peaceful presidential polls
Xinhua, Male
The United Nations on Tuesday commended the authorities and political leaders in the Maldives for ensuring that last Sunday’s Presidential Election had been peaceful and orderly.
In a statement, the United Nations also commended the Maldivian voters for their commitment to democracy after opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih defeated incumbent President Abdulla Yameen in the presidential polls.
Sweden’s PM loses confidence vote
AP, Stockholm
Sweden’s prime minister lost a vote of confidence in parliament on Tuesday after an election this month stripped him of his majority.
Stefan Lofven, the leader of the Social Democratic Party who has been prime minister for four years, will continue in a caretaker role until a new government can be formed that has the command of the Riksdagen.
Lawmakers voted 204-142 against Lofven, while three abstained. The vote was mandatory after the Sept. 9 general election delivered a hung parliament.
Nepal revives hydro power plant project deal with China
PTI, Kathmandu
Nepal has revived a deal with a Chinese state-owned firm to construct a $2.5 billion hydroelectric plant, that had been scrapped by the previous government, officials said.
Prime Minister KP Oli’s government last week decided to hand over the Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project to the China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC), reversing the former Sher Bahadur Deuba government’s decision to develop the 1200 MW project with internal resources.
Huge blaze forces hundreds from homes in Italy
AFP, Calci
A vast forest fire has forced the evacuation of hundreds of people from their houses in Tuscany, with firefighters Tuesday battling to extinguish flames fanned by fierce winds.
Around 600 hectares in total had been consumed by the blaze, chief Pisan firefighter Ugo D’Anna told a local television, adding that while it was now contained it would take some hours to put out.
S. Sudan doctor wins UN refugee prize
AFP, Geneva
A South Sudanese doctor who runs an overcrowded hospital with a dimly-lit surgical theatre and no regular supply of general anaesthesia on Tuesday won the UN refugee agency’s prestigious Nansen award.
Evan Atar Adaha’s Maban hospital in the South Sudanese town of Bunj serves more than 144,000 refugees from Blue Nile state in neighbouring Sudan, UNHCR said.
UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi said Atar’s “profound humanity and selflessness” had saved thousands of lives.
