EAST TIMOR: Former independence fighter Xanana Gusmao was sworn in on Saturday as prime minister of Asia’s youngest country after his party won the parliamentary election in May.

Mr Gusmao and the members of his new Cabinet were sworn into office by President Jose Ramos-Horta, his fellow independence fighter during Indonesia’s occupation.

The new government is a coalition between Mr Gusmao’s National Congress of the Reconstruction of East Timor and the Democratic Party.

KENYA: The Kenya Red Cross Society said on Saturday that at least 51 people were killed and another 32 injured after a truck rammed into several other vehicles and market traders in western Kenya.

The incident on Friday evening occurred at a location known for vehicle crashes near the Rift Valley town of Londiani, which is about 125 miles north-west of the capital, Nairobi.

SRI LANKA: Parliament voted on Saturday to support the restructuring of a staggering domestic debt of more than $83 billion (£65.3bn).

The parliament’s approval enables the government to go ahead with the proposed restructuring plan which is part of the prerequisites of a bailout package approved by the International Monetary Fund.

MYANMAR: The Supreme Court has scheduled hearings for this month to consider appeals from ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi against her conviction in cases that saw her receive a total of 33 years in prison, legal officials said on Saturday.

Ms Suu Kyi was arrested in February 2021 following the military takeover and tried on a variety of charges that supporters and rights groups say were concocted to legitimise the coup.