*) President Erdogan says Turkey's ultimate goal is full EU membership

Turkey’s President Erdogan held talks with top officials in Ankara on a range of issues including the refugee crisis, trade, visa liberalisation, and a revamp of ties.

President Erdogan told EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council chief Charles Michel, that Ankara's ultimate goal is to attain full membership into the bloc.

The EU Commission says it will soon make a proposal to Turkey to ensure the flow of funding for refugees.

*) Iran says initial talks with world powers ‘constructive'

Iran says negotiations aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal are heading in the right direction.

Top diplomats from all the signatories to the original agreement are in Vienna for talks.

While Iran says it will not directly negotiate with the US until all sanctions are lifted, Washington hopes to rejoin the accord abandoned by the Trump administration in 2018.

*) US says Ukraine needs to be more free for NATO membership

The US says it will support Ukraine's candidacy for NATO membership-- but only if the country becomes more stable, democratic, prosperous and free. Ukraine’s president asserts that a spot in NATO could discourage Russian aggression on its border.

But Moscow calls the assertion hostile, and warned any presence of NATO troops will worsen the situation.

*) UN says death toll from clashes in Darfur at least 56

At least 56 people were killed in clashes in Sudan’s Western Darfur, prompting the government to impose a state of emergency in the region.

The UN says almost 4,000 people have fled to neighbouring Chad, amid the recent escalation of violence.

The clashes are the latest in a resurgence of violence, since the signing of a peace agreement late last year and the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers.

And finally …

*) Mrs. Sri Lanka contest ends in onstage drama

A beauty contest in Sri Lanka ended in onstage drama, with the winner reporting head injuries.

After being awarded the Mrs. Sri Lanka title, Pushpika De Silva had her crown seized moments later by its 2019 winner, Caroline Jurie.

Jurie took the microphone and said there’s a rule which says participants must be married, not divorced. She then attempted to remove the crown from the winner’s head.

Organisers say there’s no such rule and kept De Silva as the new winner.