Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, June 22

BOGOTA -- Independent candidate Abelardo De la Espriella, associated with the far-right Defenders of the Homeland movement, led the presidential runoff election on Sunday and is set to become Colombia's next president for the 2026-2030 term, according to preliminary results released by the National Civil Registry.

With 98.22 percent of the ballots counted at the time of press, De la Espriella secured 49.77 percent of the votes, while his rival Ivan Cepeda garnered 48.59 percent. (Colombia-Election)

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NEW YORK -- At least eight people have been killed and 38 others injured in a series of shootings across U.S. Chicago during the extended Juneteenth Holiday weekend as of Sunday, local police said.

At least two dozen shooting incidents had been reported since 5 p.m. Friday. The victims ranged in age from 14 to 70, according to the Chicago Police Department.

At least 12 people were wounded Friday night when two gunmen opened fire from an SUV into a crowd gathering on Chicago's Far South Side, the department said. (U.S.-Chicago-Shootings)

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BEIRUT -- Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said Sunday that any Israeli military presence on Lebanese territory is unacceptable, stressing that the Lebanese army is the "only party authorized to protect national sovereignty."

"There is no place for security zones or Israeli military positions inside Lebanon," Qassem said in a televised speech on al-Manar local TV channel.

He accused Israel of attempting to redefine the Nov. 27, 2024 ceasefire by maintaining freedom of military action inside Lebanon while demanding full compliance from Hezbollah. (Hezbollah-Israel-Military Presence)

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ADDIS ABABA -- The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) on Sunday declared the ruling Prosperity Party (PP) the winner of the country's seventh general election, clearing the way for it to form a new government.

Announcing the official results in Addis Ababa, the NEBE said the PP secured 438 of the 486 contested seats in the House of Peoples' Representatives (HoPR), the lower chamber of Ethiopia's parliament, in the June 1 general election. (Ethiopia-General Election) Enditem