SOUTHEAST EUROPE: A new wildfire in Greece prompted evacuations in coastal areas south of Athens today, as firefighters in Turkey remained locked in a battle to contain flames tearing through forested hillsides in the west of the country.

Wildfires that broke out in at least five locations across the province of Izmir on Turkey’s Aegean coast, fuelled by soaring temperatures, strong winds, and low humidity, have killed two people, forced the evacuation of tens of thousands and damaged some 200 homes.

AFGHANISTAN: Russia has became the first country to formally recognise the Taliban’s government since it seized power in 2021, after Moscow removed the Islamist movement from its list of outlawed organisations.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that it had received credentials from Afghanistan’s newly appointed ambassador Gul Hassan Hassan.

Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry called it a historic step and quoted Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi as welcoming the decision as “a good example for other countries.”

UNITED STATES: The Supreme Court has cleared the way for the deportation of several immigrants to South Sudan, a war-ravaged country to which they have no ties.

Thursday’s decision followed the court finding that immigration officials can quickly deport people to third countries. Its judges halted an order that had allowed immigrants to challenge any removals to countries outside their homeland where they could be in danger.

CZECH REPUBLIC: A temporary power cut hit the country, including the capital Prague, today, bringing public transport and trains to a standstill.

Prague’s entire Metro network was inoperative at noon, the city’s transport authority said, though service was restored within half an hour.

The CEPS power grid operator acknowledged problems in parts of four regions in the northern and eastern Czech Republic. It said a fallen electricity line in the north-west of the country had been identified as a possible cause.