Two people have died and hundreds of residents and visitors were evacuated after two wildfires broke out almost simultaneously on the Greek island of Salamina, near Athens, on Sunday.

Around 200 firefighters were deployed to prevent the two fires from joining together and creating a much larger blaze, as strong winds made firefighting efforts more difficult.

The first fire was reported at about 14:40 local time (11:40 GMT) near the island’s southern coast. It spread quickly through the area, with another fire breaking out around 20 minutes later in the eastern part of Salamina. Authorities have not yet established what caused either blaze.

The first fire began in a forested residential area in Peristeria, in the southern part of the island. Fire official Vasilios Vathrakoyannis said firefighters responding to the incident discovered two bodies at the scene.

The local mayor told Greek media that the victims were believed to have been a couple.

By Sunday evening, one of the fires had been brought under control and evacuation operations had been completed, according to Greek media reports. About 500 people were evacuated from the island by sea as authorities worked to keep the flames from spreading.

The second fire, which started in the eastern town of Selinia, was later reported to have “no active front”, although firefighters continued monitoring scattered areas of fire.

Authorities kept two coast guard vessels and a fire department vessel in the area to provide surveillance and emergency assistance.

At least 10 other people suffered burns or experienced “symptoms of smoke inhalation”, according to Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiades. Five of those affected were taken to local medical facilities for treatment.

Firefighting operations involved 50 fire engines, water tankers, construction machinery and several aircraft. The scale of the deployment reflected concerns that strong winds could push the flames across the island and cause the two separate fires to merge.

Salamina Deputy Mayor Thodoris Zannis said earlier that firefighters were working to prevent the fires from crossing a mountain on the island and joining together to form a single, potentially more dangerous blaze.

Several patrol boats and private vessels were also sent to the area to assist with evacuation and emergency operations.

Salamina is located just west of Athens and has a population of around 37,000 people, many of whom are elderly, making evacuation and emergency response particularly important during a major wildfire.

The fires on Salamina were part of a wider series of wildfires affecting parts of Europe over the weekend.

In Belgium, firefighters were battling a wildfire for a third consecutive day in Hautes Fagnes, the country’s largest nature reserve. The fire has been described as the largest in Belgium’s recent history and reportedly more than doubled in size within 24 hours.

Croatia’s coastline was also affected by a major wildfire that killed at least one person and injured dozens of others. Around 1,200 residents and tourists were evacuated, with Croatia’s fire chief, Slavko Tucakovic, describing it as “one of the worst” fires in the country’s history.

The latest fires come amid growing concerns over extreme heat and wildfire conditions across Europe. The EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service has reported that western Europe experienced its hottest June-to-July period on record, adding to concerns about the increasingly difficult conditions faced by firefighters during the summer wildfire season.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham exchanged messages with an individual who was pretending to be Susie Wiles, US President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, in a security incident that has reportedly been referred to the appropriate authorities.

The incident was first reported by Politico, which said Burnham communicated with the person claiming to be Wiles before becoming suspicious that the contact was not genuine.

Sources said only a few messages were exchanged and that “No messages of significance” were involved.

A UK government spokesperson declined to provide further details, saying: “We do not comment on national security matters.”

It is understood that the communication took place entirely through text messages and that Burnham did not have a conversation or call with the person impersonating Wiles.

Sources said the messages were “quickly reported to the appropriate authorities” after officials became concerned that the contact was suspicious.

The latest incident comes against the background of an earlier security breach involving Wiles.

The BBC previously reported that the FBI investigated the hacking of Wiles’ phone in May last year. Wiles said her personal phone had been compromised after one or more impersonators obtained access to her contacts and used them to contact senior US officials.

Although the incident involved Wiles’ personal phone rather than an official government device, the people targeted included US senators, governors and prominent business executives.

Wiles, one of Trump’s closest political allies, was also previously targeted by a cyber-espionage group linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in 2024.

The latest impersonation incident highlights the potential security risks created when attackers use the identities and contact information of senior government officials to establish apparently legitimate communication with political leaders.

According to Politico, Burnham exchanged the messages with the person posing as Wiles before becoming suspicious about the authenticity of the contact.

The limited nature of the exchange means there is currently no indication that sensitive information was disclosed.

However, the fact that the communication involved a senior UK political figure and someone impersonating a senior White House official makes the incident significant from a security perspective.

Officials are understood to have acted after the messages were considered suspicious, with the matter being passed to the relevant authorities.

The Burnham incident is not the first time a senior British politician has been targeted by someone pretending to be a foreign leader or official.

In 2024, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed that then-Foreign Secretary David Cameron had been targeted in a hoax communication involving someone impersonating former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

Cameron also exchanged several text messages with the impersonator.

The Foreign Office subsequently made details of the incident public because of concerns that the communication could be “manipulated”.

Cameron had previously dealt with Poroshenko on several occasions while serving as prime minister, including during international summits, which may have helped make the impersonation appear credible.

Other UK government ministers have faced similar attempts.

In 2022, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and then-Home Secretary Priti Patel were targeted by an individual impersonating Denys Shmyhal, who was Ukraine’s prime minister.

The communications were conducted through Microsoft Teams, with Wallace blaming Russian “dirty tricks” for the attempted deception.

A Ministry of Defence source described the video call as “fairly sophisticated”, noting that it had come through another government department, which increased its apparent credibility.

The incidents demonstrate how impersonation attacks can exploit existing political relationships and trusted communication channels rather than relying solely on traditional hacking techniques.

The Burnham episode underscores the growing security challenge facing politicians and senior government officials, particularly as political communication increasingly takes place through personal phones and messaging platforms.

An attacker does not necessarily need to gain direct access to a government system to cause concern. By impersonating a trusted official, obtaining access to a contact list or exploiting an existing relationship, they can attempt to create a credible channel of communication with influential decision-makers.

In Burnham’s case, officials say the exchange was limited and that the messages contained nothing significant. Nevertheless, the incident has been reported to the relevant authorities, while Downing Street has declined to discuss the details because of the national-security implications.

Six people were killed and four others injured after Ukrainian missile strikes hit Russia’s Belgorod region overnight, according to the region’s acting governor, Alexander Shuvaev.

A 14-year-old child was among those injured, Shuvaev said in a Telegram post on Monday. The reported strikes came amid a sharp escalation in long-range attacks between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides continuing to target locations away from the front lines.

Ukrainian officials, meanwhile, said Russian drone strikes killed two people in Ukraine’s Sumy region, which borders Russia and has frequently come under attack.

The latest exchange followed what Russian officials described as the “largest-scale” Ukrainian attack of the year. At least seven people were reportedly killed in that attack. Russian strikes on Ukraine also killed at least seven people and injured more than 39 others on Saturday night.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently controls roughly a fifth of Ukrainian territory.

In Belgorod, the latest strikes reportedly caused a building to catch fire and damaged a vehicle in the village of Koloskovo, in the Valuysky district near the Ukrainian border. Shuvaev said the injured teenager was taken to hospital, while two other injured people received medical attention.

A separate Ukrainian drone strike in Russia’s southern Astrakhan region also killed a woman, according to regional Governor Igor Babushkin. He said the attack targeted an industrial facility, although the facility itself was not damaged.

The violence also continued on the Ukrainian side of the border. In the Black Sea port city of Odesa, a Russian overnight attack damaged a civilian vessel and injured four people, according to regional governor Oleh Kiper.

Moscow has increasingly targeted Ukraine’s ports and coastline, while Kyiv has stepped up its long-range drone campaign against targets deep inside Russia.

Ukraine has significantly increased its use of drones against Russian territory in recent weeks.

During Saturday night’s attacks, Ukraine launched about 822 drones towards Russia, according to Russian officials, who said approximately 600 were directed towards the Moscow region. The Moscow regional governor described the assault as “one of the most massive drone attacks in recent memory”.

The attacks caused deaths and damage in several parts of Russia.

Five people were killed in the southwestern Rostov region, according to its governor. In Belgorod, officials reported that a woman was killed in an attack on a civilian bus, while an 83-year-old man was killed in a drone strike in the Moscow region.

A warehouse belonging to Russian online retailer Wildberries was also hit.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted the company since July, accusing it of supporting Russia’s military logistics. Ukraine’s defence ministry said the latest strike meant that seven of the company’s 10 largest logistics centres had been “disabled”.

While Ukraine has expanded its attacks on Russian territory, Russia has also intensified its missile and drone strikes across Ukraine.

Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz said on Monday that Russian forces had attacked its facilities 13 times during the previous week.

During Saturday night’s Russian attacks, a man and a woman were killed after a private home in the Zaporizhzhia region was hit by a guided aerial bomb, according to Ukrainian officials. Five other people were reportedly killed in attacks elsewhere in the country.

Russia said its strikes on Kyiv were aimed at a FirePoint facility involved in producing components for Ukrainian Flamingo missiles and a factory manufacturing drone components.

The Russian attacks also damaged a book market in Kyiv’s Pochayna district, where burnt books were seen scattered across the ground.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 13 regions of Ukraine had come under attack during the week.

According to Zelensky, Russia launched more than 1,550 attack drones, nearly 1,560 guided aerial bombs and 62 missiles during the period.

The figures underline the scale of the aerial campaign being conducted by both countries as the war enters another increasingly intense phase.

The United Nations recently reported that civilian casualties in Ukraine rose sharply in July, with at least 437 civilians killed and 2,610 injured. The UN said the figures represented the highest monthly civilian death toll in Ukraine since May 2022.

Russia and Ukraine continue to accuse each other of attacking civilian areas, while both governments deny deliberately targeting civilians.

The latest strikes demonstrate how the conflict has increasingly expanded beyond traditional front-line fighting. Long-range drones and missiles are now regularly being used to hit military, industrial, energy and logistics targets deep inside both countries, while civilian areas are also suffering damage and casualties.

The escalation comes as Ukraine seeks to impose greater costs on Russia’s military and economic infrastructure, while Moscow continues its campaign of missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.

Recent attacks have also raised concerns beyond the two countries. A major Ukrainian strike on Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk earlier in August damaged naval assets and disrupted grain terminals, with fears over possible effects on global wheat supplies.

The latest exchange therefore points to an increasingly dangerous phase of the Russia-Ukraine war, with both sides expanding the range and intensity of their attacks while diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain unresolved.

US President Donald Trump has instructed the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” joint military exercises with South Korea, citing the cost of the drills, Seoul’s position on the US conflict with Iran and his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The announcement came as the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises began on Monday, August 17, despite Trump’s call for them to be scaled back. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that the drills had started as scheduled and are expected to run until August 27, with about 18,000 South Korean troops participating.

Trump said on Truth Social that the exercises were expensive and argued that they sent an inappropriate and hostile signal to North Korea, while pointing to what he described as his “very good relationship” with Kim.

“These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile,” Trump posted.

He also linked his decision to South Korea’s refusal to participate in US efforts concerning Iran.

“While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, ‘No thanks!’”

South Korea’s government said it was reviewing Trump’s remarks but indicated that it wanted to preserve close military coordination with Washington. The presidential Blue House also expressed hope that Trump’s relationship with Kim could eventually create an opportunity for meaningful dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang.

Ulchi Freedom Shield is designed to strengthen the ability of US and South Korean forces to operate together in the event of a conflict on the Korean Peninsula. This year’s exercises incorporate training for threats including drones, GPS disruption, cyberattacks and other capabilities that have become increasingly important in modern warfare.

The exercises are not simply about large-scale troop movements. Over recent years, the allies have increasingly shifted towards computer-simulated exercises and scenarios designed to test command, communication and responses to missile and cyber threats.

About 28,500 US troops remain stationed in South Korea, making the American military presence an important part of Seoul’s defence strategy.

North Korea, meanwhile, routinely describes the exercises as preparations for an invasion. Pyongyang recently condemned the latest drills as particularly provocative and warned that it would strengthen its nuclear deterrence.

Trump’s announcement comes against a backdrop of heightened military activity from Pyongyang.

North Korea launched a ballistic missile from the Wonsan area towards the sea off its eastern coast on August 11, just days before the US-South Korea exercises. The launch followed another missile test from the same area on August 6.

North Korea has also continued developing its nuclear and missile programmes and has strengthened military ties with Russia, including sending troops to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine. US officials have warned that North Korean forces returning from the conflict may bring battlefield experience that could influence Pyongyang’s military capabilities.

Trump’s latest position is not entirely new.

During his first presidency, Trump suspended major US-South Korean military exercises following his 2018 summit with Kim Jong Un. At the time, he described the drills as “provocative” and argued that cancelling them would save the United States money.

The exercises were later scaled back during the COVID-19 pandemic before eventually returning in a larger form as diplomacy with North Korea stalled.

Trump has continued to emphasise his personal relationship with Kim since returning to office. His latest comments suggest that he may once again see reductions in military exercises as a possible way to create space for negotiations with Pyongyang.

However, analysts have questioned whether reducing the exercises would actually produce meaningful diplomatic gains.

“US-South Korea combined defence exercises are essential for military forces to be ready and capable of doing their jobs,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

“Scaling them back can damage alliance coordination, slow the process of South Korea taking on greater responsibility for its own defence, and weaken deterrence against possible conflicts in Asia.

“The cost savings from downsizing drills are marginal, while the diplomatic benefits for relations with North Korea are doubtful.”

For President Lee Jae Myung’s government, Trump’s announcement presents both an opportunity and a challenge.

Seoul has previously encouraged greater engagement with Pyongyang, and Lee recently called for renewed talks aimed at replacing the Korean War armistice with a lasting peace arrangement.

That means Trump’s willingness to use his relationship with Kim could potentially support Seoul’s push for dialogue.

At the same time, South Korea remains heavily dependent on the US security alliance and has to ensure that any reduction in exercises does not undermine its military readiness.

South Korean officials have therefore signalled that they intend to continue consultations with Washington on the combined defence posture and military exercises.

Trump’s reference to Iran adds another layer to the disagreement.

The president said South Korea had declined to participate in US efforts aimed at the “denuclearisation” of Iran. Seoul, however, has indicated that discussions over possible military contributions need to take into account its defence responsibilities on the Korean Peninsula as well as domestic legal procedures.

Trump has also criticised other US allies for being reluctant to become directly involved in the Iran conflict.

This suggests that Washington’s expectations of its allies are increasingly being tied not only to their commitments in their respective regions but also to whether they support broader US military priorities.

The immediate question is how far the proposed reduction will go. The current exercises began as planned, and it remains unclear what specific elements of future drills the Pentagon would cut.

Any significant reduction could affect the readiness and coordination of US and South Korean forces, particularly at a time when North Korea is expanding its missile and nuclear capabilities and adapting lessons from modern conflicts.

There is also a diplomatic calculation. Trump may believe that reducing what Pyongyang considers hostile military activity could make Kim more willing to return to negotiations.

But North Korea has so far shown little indication that it is prepared to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Its recent criticism of the exercises and threats to strengthen nuclear deterrence suggest that Pyongyang continues to view military strength as central to its security strategy.

For Seoul, the challenge will be to pursue Trump’s preferred diplomatic approach without weakening the military alliance that has underpinned South Korea’s security for decades.

The latest development therefore leaves the US-South Korea relationship at an important crossroads: Trump is signalling greater emphasis on diplomacy with Kim Jong Un and a reduced appetite for expensive military exercises, while South Korea must balance the prospect of renewed dialogue with the continuing security threat posed by North Korea.

Somali federal troops pushed opposition fighters out of Baidoa, one of the country’s largest cities, on Monday, following hours of intense fighting that left a significant number of people dead, according to residents who spoke to Reuters.

Baidoa, home to hundreds of thousands displaced by conflict and hunger elsewhere in Somalia, endured hours of combat between federal forces and fighters loyal to Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, the former president of South West state. Residents described the city-centre battle as the most intense since March, when federal forces took control of Baidoa after Laftagareen’s administration announced it was cutting ties with Mogadishu — a move that led to his resignation.

The clashes reflect mounting pressure on Somalia’s federal government, which is already battling a two-decade insurgency by al Shabaab militants and working to prevent famine, while facing growing armed pushback from regional state authorities. Several states have rejected the federal government’s involvement in state-level elections and opposed constitutional amendments they argue would centralize power under the executive.

Somalia’s defence ministry said its troops in Baidoa were attacked before dawn by fighters using explosive-laden vehicles, and that federal forces repelled the assault, killing roughly 30 attackers. Four residents confirmed that federal troops had driven opposition fighters out of the city and said they had seen bodies in the streets. Local elder Farah Ibrahim told Reuters he counted ten dead, including four civilians and six fighters from both sides.

Laftagareen’s camp, which had claimed early Monday on Facebook that its forces had seized the city centre, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The humanitarian toll in Baidoa remains severe, a July survey by Médecins Sans Frontières found that one in four children at the city’s displacement sites is severely malnourished.