More NEWS in brief

 Gunman opens fire in newspaper lobby

PARIS (AP):

A gunman opened fire in the lobby of a French newspaper office in Paris yesterday, gravely wounding a photographer's assistant before fleeing.

The daily newspaper Liberation said the 27-year-old victim was in serious condition. Fabrice Rousselot, editor of Liberation, said witnesses reported the gunman said nothing during the brief time he was in the lobby yesterday morning.

The government positioned police at all major media organisations in Paris, according to Interior Minister Manuel Valls. BFM-TV said authorities were comparing yesterday's surveillance footage with video taken Friday, when an armed man threatened journalists in the news network's lobby before fleeing.

Michelle Bachelet favourite in Chile's presidential election

SANTIAGO, CHILE (AP):

Moderate socialist Michelle Bachelet romped to an easy top finish in the first round of Chile's presidential election, and heads into a run-off next month as the strong favourite to resume the office after a four-year break.

The highly popular Bachelet is widely expected to win December 15 over her childhood friend and conservative Evelyn Matthei, the number two-ranked candidate in Sunday's nine-person field. But she will face a tough second term.