French presidential elections: France faces bruising runoff after Macron and Le Pen top first-round

 PARIS, April 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France faces a brutal two-week campaign over the country’s future, as the centrist incumbent, Emmanuel Macron, faces the far-right Marine Le Pen for the presidency, positioning himself as a pro-European “progressive” against what he calls her anti-Muslim, nationalist programme and “complacency” about Vladimir Putin. Macron topped…

The Gambia votes for a new National Assembly

Gambians are voting for the election of 53 legislators for a five-year term, with incumbent President Adam Barrow picking five others BANJUL, April 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Gambians have gone to the polls to vote for a new National Assembly in an election set to consolidate a young democracy. Polls opened…

Colombia: 3 soldiers killed in guerrilla attack

BOGOTA, April 10 (NNN-Xinhua) — At least three soldiers were killed and six others wounded in an ambush while patrolling near the municipality of Ituango in Antioquia department, the Colombian army said. “On the night of Friday, April 8, a military vehicle … was attacked by explosives embedded along the…

Spain: Favourable breezes boost wind power sector

   VILLAR DE LOS NAVARROS (Spain), April 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Buoyed by a surge in investment and new projects, wind power has become Spain’s main source of electricity generation just as Europe seeks to curb its energy imports from Russia.    “We are on suitable ground here,” said Joaquin Garcia…

UNICEF denounces child abuse during raids in El Salvador

SAN SALVADOR, April 10 (NNN-TELESUR) — The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that imprisoning children is not the solution to gang violence in El Salvador. UNICEF said that the increase in gang violence in El Salvador is a worrying issue, noting that the policy of President Nayib Bukele, consisting…

Paraguay: Electric cars almost sold out amid increase in price of fuel

ASUNCION, April 10 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Paraguayan traders of electric cars have nearly run out of stock as demand grew above projections due to the increasing price of fuel, it was reported in Asunción. Dealers also said they were expecting new shipments with several vehicle models in approximately 45 days. A…

20 killed in Karamoja, 4 soldiers injured during security crackdown on cattle rustlers

KARAMOJA (Uganda), April 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least seven civilians are among 20 people shot dead in the ongoing security crackdown targeting cattle rustlers, who are partly being blamed for the emerging pockets of insecurity within the greater Karamoja region.  Security agents shot 13 armed rustlers in a robust joint security…

Covid-19: Vaccine supply outstrips demand, access inequity remains

After two years of racing to vaccinate the world against Covid-19, the number of available doses now surpasses demand in many areas PARIS, April 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — After two years of racing to vaccinate the world against Covid-19, the number of available doses now surpasses demand in many areas. Yet…

Covid-19: ECOWAS member states agree to ease restrictions

LAGOS, April 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The 8th meeting of the COVID-19 ministerial Coordinating Committee (MCC) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has ended with health ministers agreeing to minimize public health measures taken against the pandemic.The virtual meeting was to ensure minimal socio-economic distortions across the West…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Mexico says it does not accept Russian invasion of Ukraine

MEXICO CITY, April 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that Mexico does not accept the Russian invasion of Ukraine in a video message released to coincide with a global event in support of Ukrainian victims of the conflict. “We do not accept Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,…