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Beijing (AFP) – China says it hopes that peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine — the first direct talks in more than three years — would reach a “fair, lasting” deal.

Tirana (AFP) – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk talk to the media in Albania following a call with US President Donald Trump. They discuss Russia ignoring demands for a ceasefire in Ukraine. Chancellor Merz says their diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine “unfortunately failed”, while President Macron says that it is “unacceptable” for Russia’s President Putin to ignore ceasefire demands, and to have excluded the US at ceasefire talks in Istanbul.

Barcelona (AFP) – FC Barcelona fans gather on Las Ramblas to celebrate their team’s 28th La Liga title, after they defeated local team Espanyol 2-0. The win means second place rivals Real Madrid won’t be able to gain enough points to reach the title spot. A goal by 17-year-old star player Lamine Yamal helped Barcelona secure the win.

Romania (AFP) – In the villages of Romania’s Danube Delta, near the border with Ukraine, frustration with the authorities and a sharp decline in tourism have led many locals to voice their support for far-right leader George Simion. Simion advocates for Romania becoming “neutral” in relation to the Ukraine war, and has said he would cut military aid to Kyiv. Simion gained almost 41 percent of votes in the contest’s first round — double the score of his rival in Sunday’s run-off, pro-EU centrist candidate Nicusor Dan.

Poonch (India) (AFP) – Global fears that nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan were on the brink of a full-blown war reached fever pitch this month as the two sides exchanged missiles, drones and artillery strikes over four days. A ceasefire has since brought relative calm to the region and families are starting to return to their homes while schools are reopening.

Montevideo (AFP) – The coffin of former president Jose “Pepe” Mujica leaves for a private cremation ceremony, after two days of lying in state at Montevideo’s Legislative Palace. Mujica died on May 13 at the age of 89, after a year-long battle with cancer. IMAGES

Tammun (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Palestinians recover a body from a house demolished by the Israeli army in Tammun, in the north of the occupied West Bank. Israeli troops killed five Palestinians in Tammun, the mayor said, in a raid the army described as targeting buildings it suspects of being used to plan terror attacks.

Bangkok (AFP) – Footage released by Thai police shows two infant orangutans — one about a year old, the other just one month — inside plastic baskets wearing diapers. Thai police have arrested a man suspected of smuggling the two baby orangutans into the kingdom in a case linked to an international wildlife trafficking network.

Kyauktaw (Myanmar) (AFP) – People in Myanmar’s western state of Rakhine rush for cover while a military jet circles overhead and explosions are heard. An air strike hit Kyauktaw a day earlier on May 14, killing three civilians, according to residents, who try to salvage belongings from destroyed houses in the aftermath.

Montevideo (AFP) – Lucia Topolansky, 80, wife of the former Uruguayan president Jose “Pepe” Mujica — who died on May 13 — arrives at the Legislative Palace in Montevideo, where his body will lie in state for three days. The 89-year-old erstwhile leftist guerrilla, who spent a dozen years behind bars for revolutionary activity, lost a year-long battle against cancer. Topolansky and President Yamandu Orsi, Mujica’s political heir, led a funeral procession on May 14 with the former leader’s coffin, draped in the Uruguayan flag, on a simple horse-drawn carriage. IMAGES