Briefly

COLOMBIA

Presidential race sparks dispute

Preliminary results released on Sunday night showed Colombia's independent candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the far-right Defenders of the Homeland movement leading the country's presidential runoff, though the early vote count was immediately questioned by President Gustavo Petro and the governing coalition's candidate. With 99.97 percent of votes counted, de la Espriella had 49.66 percent of the vote, compared with 48.70 percent for Ivan Cepeda of the left-wing governing Historic Pact coalition, a gap of about 250,000 votes. Petro said on social media on Sunday that no candidate could yet be declared president. He alleged irregularities during the election process but said he would abide by the decision of judicial authorities and called on citizens to remain calm. Cepeda, speaking after the preliminary vote count, said the figures would not be treated as official or legally binding.

UNITED STATES

Chicago shootings kill 8 over the weekend

At least eight people have been killed and 38 others injured in a series of shootings across Chicago during the extended Juneteenth Holiday weekend as of Sunday, local police said. At least two dozen shooting incidents had been reported since 5 pm on Friday. The victims ranged in age from 14 to 70, according to the Chicago Police Department. At least 12 people were wounded on Friday night when two gunmen opened fire from an SUV into a crowd gathering on Chicago's Far South Side, the department said. In response, US President Donald Trump on Sunday renewed his call for military intervention in the city.

XINHUA