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North Korea-South Korea Relations
Lavrov Praises North Korea: Creating a “New World Order”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has praised the country for working with Russia to create a "new and just world order," according to North Korean television, Reuters reports.

The choice of words is said to be in a message that Lavrov sent to his North Korean counterpart Choe Son-hui. It is described as a thank you for Russia's support in the war against Ukraine, where North Korea has sent thousands of soldiers and large amounts of military equipment.

Lavrov is reported to have written that the cooperation is "clear evidence of the tradition of military friendship" that exists between the countries.

The information about the message comes just days after US President Donald Trump spoke positively about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with whom he says he has a "very good relationship."

Forest fires in Europe
Belgium tries to contain worst fire in 100 years

After several days of fighting, Belgian firefighters hope to be able to contain the country's biggest forest fire in over 100 years on Tuesday, AFP reports.

Hundreds of firefighters are working to bring the fire under control in the Hohes Venn nature reserve, near the German border. About 3,000 hectares have burned since the fire broke out on Friday.

The extinguishing work is being hampered by difficult terrain with heather moors and peat bogs, where heavy rescue vehicles risk sinking. Firefighting planes and helicopters from several European countries have been called in, but rain, low clouds and strong winds have made the aerial effort difficult.

Local farmers have also stepped in. In shifts, they are driving a steady stream of tractors that are fetching tankers of water from a nearby lake.

"We will fight to the finish line," one of the farmers told AFP.

Political situation in the UK
Burnham on the fake chat: “I did everything right”

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham does not think it was embarrassing that he recently chatted with someone who claimed to be Donald Trump's advisor. He tells British media.

– All politicians are exposed to this type of pressure and challenges, but I did everything right, he says according to the BBC.

Liberal Democrat MP James Cleary has demanded that Parliament's security committee investigate what he calls a “huge security breach”.

According to Burnham, few messages were exchanged, nothing of importance was discussed and he was quick to report the incident.