World briefs

WORLDWIDE

Minigrids sought for Africa

Power grids that work at a fraction of the scale of a traditional utility have gained support from banks and developers as a way to bring power to the 620 million people across Africa who lack access to electricity. From Kenya to Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, companies including General Electric Co. are building minigrids that distribute power to villages instead of whole nations. A plunge in the cost of renewables has opened a new source of power for minigrids. While these smaller electricity networks deliver only a trickle of electricity, they're demonstrating a way to bring energy to the poorest areas without lifting pollution. Africa has more than 620 million people who lack access to electricity, and consumption per capita is less than what's needed to keep a 50-watt lightbulb going continuously, according to International Energy Agency data.

ARGENTINA

Presidential election today

Argentina holds an election today to determine who will be president for the next four years. The election will end 12 years of Peronist government by the Kirchners: first Nestor Kirchner and after his death in 2010, by his wife, Cristina Fernandez. Fernandez's movement backs former Vice President Daniel Scioli, a 58-year-old businessman. Leading in recent polls is Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri, 56, also a businessman and former president of the Boca Juniors soccer club. Scioli promises to continue the Kirchners' welfare-state policies while making corrections to get the economy back on track. Macri has campaigned on promises to make large reforms to Argentina's economy while retaining key welfare benefits. He says he'll lift controls on use of U.S. dollars and will distance the country from Venezuela's leftist leadership. Both candidates say they will try to solve a long-standing dispute with U.S. bondholders that has frozen the country out of international credit markets.

GREECE

Migrants protest at border

About 1,300 migrants gathered in the Greek town of Idomeni protested yesterday against the decision by Macedonian authorities across the border to turn away migrants who are not from war zones such as Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. Most protesters were from Morocco, but some were also from Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Lebanon, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Congo. They demanded to be allowed in, and some have gone on hunger strike.