The past days have brought alarming news about the Covid-19 pandemic from around the globe. Record new infections have been recorded in some East Asian countries, including South Korea and Thailand. Germany, previously admired for its Covid-19 response, has lost control of the numbers and entered a new hard lockdown on 16 December. Australia has imposed new restrictions following an outbreak in the Sydney urban region. Last Thursday, Brazil recorded more than 1,000 new cases in one day for the first time in three months. In countries that celebrate Christmas, authorities are concerned about the potential for large movements of people, travelling to be with relatives in indoor spaces (especially in the mid-winter northern hemisphere), to spread the virus beyond its current hotspots. On Saturday, Boris Johnson – citing a new strain of the virus that seems to spread especially fast – imposed a new lockdown in London and much of south-east England. Since then, a succession of
Ruling party candidate and former minister Mohamed Bazoum won the first round of Niger's presidential vote, the electoral commission announced on Saturday with a runoff set for next month. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) said the close ally of outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou garnered 39.33 percent of the votes at last weekend's election. Bazoum will face former president Mahamane Ousmane, who won 16.99 percent, for the.
Niger Presidential Favourite Wins First Round, Heads For Runoff By Boureima Hama with Patrick Fort in Abidjan
01/02/21 AT 8:10 AM
Ruling party candidate and former minister Mohamed Bazoum won the first round of Niger s presidential vote, the electoral commission announced on Saturday, with a runoff set for next month.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) said the close ally of outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou garnered 39.33 percent of the votes in last weekend s election.
Bazoum will face former president Mahamane Ousmane, who won 16.99 percent, in the February 20 runoff in the West African country, which is fighting a bloody jihadist insurgency.
Former prime ministers Seini Oumarou and Albade Abouba came third and fourth respectively with 8.95 percent and 7.07 percent of the ballots.
Yearender 2020: Top 2020 awards, books, rankings, achievements jagranjosh.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from jagranjosh.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Niamey: Voters queue at a polling station on Sunday during Niger’s presidential and legislative elections. AFP
NIAMEY: Voters went to the polls in Niger on Sunday for an election that could seal a first peaceful handover between elected presidents, against the backdrop of a bloody jihadist insurgency.
The West African country, unstable since gaining independence from France 60 years ago, is ranked the world’s poorest country according to the UN’s Human Development Index.
Around 7.4 million people are registered to vote for the ballot for presidency, which coincides with legislative elections.
“I expect the Nigerien president to put security, health, progress and democracy first,” Aboubakar Saleh, a 37-year-old launderer, said in Niamey without revealing who he voted for.