SRI LANKA: Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was the guest of honour today at Sri Lanka’s 76th Independence Day celebrations, as the island nation struggles to emerge from its worst economic crisis.

Mr Srettha joined Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe at a ceremony near the country’s main seaside esplanade that included a military parade and parachute jumps. 

The holiday commemorates Sri Lanka’s independence from British rule in 1948.

EL SALVADOR: Salvadorans voted today in presidential and legislative elections that experts say are largely about the trade-off between security and democracy.

With soaring approval ratings and virtually no competition, Nayib Bukele is almost certain to win a second term as president.

El Salvador’s constitution prohibits re-election. Nonetheless, about eight out of 10 of voters support Mr Bukele, according to a January poll from the University of Central America. 

CHILE: Intense forest fires burning around a densely populated area of central Chile have caused at least 46 deaths, Chile’s president said on Saturday evening, and officials said at least 1,100 homes had been destroyed.

In a nationally televised address, President Gabriel Boric warned that the death toll could worsen as four large fires burn in the region of Valparaiso, where firefighters have struggled to reach the most threatened neighbourhoods.

INDONESIA: Tens of thousands of Indonesians flocked to presidential campaign rallies on Saturday to air their concerns over the state of democracy in the country.

President Joko Widodo is accused of having a conflict of interest after he threw his support behind frontrunner Prabowo Subianto, who has picked Mr Widodo’s son as his running mate.