Colombia Runoff & Education Stakes: Colombians vote Sunday in a presidential runoff that could reshape the country’s decades-long armed conflict, with far-right Abelardo de la Espriella facing left senator Iván Cepeda—an outcome that will likely affect school safety, displacement, and public spending priorities. Higher Ed for Self-Reliance: Indonesia’s higher-education minister urged professors to drive national self-reliance through science and technology, pushing universities to align research and innovation with energy security and industrial “downstream” goals. Public Health & School Readiness: New research highlights vaccine hesitancy in Brazil and South Africa as a multi-cause problem, with coverage drops since 2015/2016 that could raise risks for measles and other preventable diseases. Regional Memory & Research: Venezuela hosted an international colloquium in Caracas examining the legacy of the Panamanian Amphictyonic Congress, framing it as a foundation for regional cooperation and defense. Caribbean Education Loss: Emeritus UWI professor John Agard, a major climate-change advocate and educator, died at 71.