Colombia's Abelardo de la Espriella, an independent candidate associated with the far-right Defenders of the Homeland movement, and Ivan Cepeda of the ruling left-wing Historic Pact coalition, advanced to the presidential runoff after emerging as the top two candidates in Sunday's first-round vote, according to preliminary results released by the National Civil Registry.
With 97.58 percent of the ballots counted, de la Espriella received 43.77 percent of the vote, while Cepeda garnered 40.88 percent, according to the preliminary results. Paloma Valencia, representing the right-wing Democratic Center party, ranked third with 6.91 percent.
Colombians voted on Sunday to elect a president and vice president for the 2026-2030 term. More than 41.4 million registered voters were eligible to cast ballots at around 13,000 polling stations across the country. Polls opened at 8:00 local time (1300 GMT) and closed at 16:00.
Under the country's electoral system, a candidate must win more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round to be elected outright. As no candidate crossed that threshold, de la Espriella and Cepeda will face each other in a runoff on June 21. The winner will take office on Aug 7.
De la Espriella, Cepeda advance to runoff in Colombia's presidential election
The crisis in Yemen has upturned the lives of children across Yemen, disrupting education during their formative years and leaving many in a state of constant fright.
Millions of minors in the Middle Eastern country face a childhood defined by displacement, hunger, and survival. After more than a decade of conflict that has led to severe malnutrition and the collapse of essential services, young people are growing up knowing more about survival than stability.
In Yemen's capital city Sana'a, 11-year-old Rafiq Ahmed Abdo was forced to leave school because his family could no longer survive without his help.
Now, he spends his days selling prickly pears under the scorching sun on the streets of Sana'a. On a good day, after an exhausting 12 hours of work, he earns around 1,500 Yemeni riyals, or less than seven U.S. dollars.
"The war prevented us from continuing our education. I regret leaving school, but the situation forced me to do it. I want to return to school so that I can achieve my dreams to become a doctor," Abdo said.
His story, echoed across the country, reflects the reality facing an entire generation of Yemeni children whose lives have been shaped by conflict, deprivation, and uncertainty.
According to United Nations estimates, around 7.4 million children across Yemen are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection.
"There are still children dying today -- a slow death today caused by the effects of the war. They are also suffering due to the lack of medicine, the closure of Sanaa Airport, and the closure of land crossings, which have prevented access to medicine for Yemenis," said Ahmed Abu Hamra, head of the Ayn Al-Insaniya Center for Rights and Development in Sanaa.
Apart from physical ailments, the anxiety of living in a war-torn environment has left an equally devastating psychological impact on many young Yemenis.
"A large number of children suffer from bedwetting. Some suffer from sleep disorders. Others live in fear of loud sounds because of aircraft, bombs, and explosions," said Ali Taysir, head of the National Authority for Human Rights in Sanaa.
Millions of Yemeni children still endure displacement, hunger after years of war
Millions of Yemeni children still endure displacement, hunger after years of war
