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BBC News. Hello, I'm Jerry Smit.

Sir Lanka's controversial former wartime Defense Chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa has claimed victory in the presidential election. The election commission has yet to release official results, but his main rival Sajith Premadasa has conceded. It's been a polarizing vote. From Colombo, here's Jill McGivering. Gotabaya Rajapaksa comments passionate support among many in the Buddhist Sinhalese majority in Sir Lanka. He and his brother Mahinda, who was president here for ten years, are credited with bringing an end to the country's long civil war. Now, his supporters want him to restore stability in the aftermath of the Easter attacks by Islamic militants. He's a controversial figure who denies claims of ruthlessness and human rights abuses. His main rival, Sajith Premadasa was strongly supported by the Tamil and Muslim minorities here. He offered a more liberal and inclusive vision, but may have been damaged by his links to the current government.

Saudi Arabia state oil company has announced a share price for its initial public offering, likely to be the biggest in financial history. Saudi Aramco said its preliminary evaluation was about 1.7 trillion dollars. The Saudi authorities are amounting a huge campaign to encourage citizens to invest. From Riyadh, Sebastian Usher. The stakes are not only astronomically high financially, but politically too for Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman. His vastly ambitious project to transform Saudi Arabia economically needs a big injection of cash. Selling 1.5 percent of Saudi Aramco shares on the local market will provide this. But plans for a bigger sale on the international market appear to be on hold. It's reported that the super rich have had it made clear to them, but they have no choice but to invest, while the middle class is being told not to miss out and offered a variety of incentives.

The incumbent Democratic governor John Bel Edwards has won an unexpected victory in the American state of Louisiana. He's narrowly beaten the Republican Eddie Rispone in a context marked by direct interventions from President Trump. Speaking at his party headquarters in Baton Rouge, Mr. Edwards said the result was a victory for unity and justice. I have criss-crossed this state from Bastrop to Houma, from Sulfer to Saint Joseph and no matter where I go, whether it's the barrooms, or the union halls, the classrooms, church pews, festivals, or football fields, I am reminded that there is far more that unites us than divides us. The results coming after another gubernatorial electoral defeating in Kentucky and losses in the Virginia legislative race seems likely to damage Republicans as they head into the 2020 presidential election.

South Korea and the United States have postponed their annual combined aerial exercises to try to encourage talks with North Korea. The US Defense Secretary said the move was not a concession, but an effort to enable peace.

BBC news.