Izmir, pro-Kurdish group claims responsibility for fires: at least two victims

Today's headlines: Moscow accepts Afghan ambassador's credentials; The Burmese junta has “dismissed” 93 child soldiers; An hour-long phone call between Putin and Trump fails to bring “any progress” on a truce in Ukraine; North Korean crosses border into South in demilitarised zone, questioned by Seoul intelligence.

TURKEY

The self-styled group “Children of Fire”, with alleged links to Kurdish militants, has claimed responsibility for “dozens of fires” in six Turkish cities, which have left two people dead and devastated entire areas of the western province of Izmir. The second victim is an excavator driver who died while fighting the flames. An 81-year-old man had previously died in a fire that engulfed his home.

AFGHANISTAN - RUSSIA

Moscow said yesterday that it had accepted the credentials of the new Afghan ambassador, becoming the first country to complete the formal recognition of the Taliban government (others, including China, have so far only sent their ambassadors to Kabul). The Russian Foreign Ministry spoke of good prospects for developing ties and assured Kabul of its support on security, counter-terrorism and the fight against drug trafficking, as well as commercial and economic opportunities in energy, transport, agriculture and infrastructure.

MYANMAR

The Burmese junta has discharged 93 minors from military service, responding to a United Nations report last month that accused the military and its allies of recruiting over 400 children, in many cases in combat roles. The news was published in an official organ of the regime, in a rare admission about the use of child soldiers.

RUSSIA - UKRAINE - UNITED STATES

The telephone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump lasted about an hour. Few details emerged, but the central theme was the war in Ukraine - in addition to Iran and, more generally, the Middle East - with the Kremlin leader maintaining his position and confirming: “We will not give up our goals”. The Russian leader also said he would continue negotiations, even though “no progress has been made”, as the White House tenant admitted.

KOREA

A North Korean man who crossed the heavily militarised land border separating North Korea from South Korea has been identified and detained, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed today. The man crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) - the land border dividing the two Koreas - yesterday and is now being held by Seoul's intelligence services for questioning.

CHINA - THAILAND

A Chinese citizen who disappeared after accepting a job for a photo shoot has been rescued, according to the embassy in Bangkok, which is urging its citizens not to accept similar offers. The diplomatic mission has released only the surname (Zhong) and speaks of a joint effort in the rescue. State media had reported that a 23-year-old man had been deceived and taken to Myanmar after arriving in Thailand for a photo shoot.

ARMENIA

The National Assembly has approved by a majority vote a bill to nationalise the assets of the company “Electricity Networks of Armenia”, owned by Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, who was arrested for supporting the leadership of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Yerevan will enter into an agreement with Cyprus, where the offshore company that acquired the assets is based.

TAJIKISTAN - AFGHANISTAN

Agents of Tajikistan's Gknb security services, together with border police, carried out an operation to capture a group of drug traffickers from Afghanistan. The firefight in the border area left two Afghans dead as they tried to cross the territory led by 50-year-old Azarkhon Sajdumar. Sixty kilograms of opium and methamphetamine were confiscated.