Friday, August 6 2021

*) Heatwave fans wildfires across Europe Severe heatwaves, dry weather and hot winds are fanning wildfires across Europe. Hundreds of thousands of hectares of land have burned in Italy, Spain, Greece, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Russia and Turkey. Thousands of firefighters and volunteers backed by aerial support are still fighting these fires. Forecasters say the hot weather will continue in these countries for at least another week. *) Efforts continue to control forest fires in Turkey Meanwhile, Turkey has contained 191 forest fires in more than 40 provinces over the last nine days. Special equipment, crews and firefighting aircrafts have all been deployed by neighbouring and EU countries. Up until Friday morning, firefighters were still trying to bring 13 blazes under control along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. *) Raging Dixie fire leaves California town in ruins In the US, families are picking up the pieces after a wildfire tore through California's Greenville leaving nearly every home and business in ruins. The deadly Dixie Fire has been raging for three weeks, and is over 1,300 square km in size. Firefighters are trying to outpace winds and dry conditions that have caused Dixie to grow so large. *) US Covid-19 cases hits six-month high Coronavirus cases have jumped dramatically in the US as the country records a six-month high, with case numbers up by over 43 percent. The highly infectious Delta variant now accounts for the majority of new cases. States with the lowest vaccination rates have the most cases, with Florida, Texas and Louisiana hit particularly hard. And finally ... *) Barcelona fail to give new deal to Leo Messi Free agent footballer Lionel Messi has opened talks with other clubs because Barcelona has failed to give him a new contract. The 34-year-old was expected to extend his time at the club by penning a new five-year deal. Messi had even agreed to a salary reduction of 50 percent, but Barcelona failed to restructure financially in order to get the deal ove