me this in, ah. flames and golf suburbs, north of the great capital is europe's heat. wave continues to generate record temperatures. ah, hello, i'm mary. i'm was in on the you're watching al jazeera, also coming up on the program. historic site reviewed by christians for centuries. now under the control of rebels in ethiopia, north message of unity and reconciliation from iran, new president, but major domestic and foreign policy challenges lie ahead. and we look at the drive to go electric in america, president joe biden on vowels. plans make off of all cause 0 emission by the year

2030, but can you treat it? ah, what's dry winds and high temperatures and keeping fires burning across southern europe. thousands of act as a forest have been reduced to ash and several countries with ancient sites in greece. now risk. meanwhile, in turkey, more than a 100 ac separate places, there have been recorded with one that threatened a coal fired power station at mil last. that blazes on the control, but 36000 people have been evacuated, fires of laid waste more than 20000 actors of land on the italian island of sardinia with blazes. continuing calabria insistently. government minister now says 70 percent of them of the fault of human action. and then temperatures of 45 degrees celsius in greece, finding flames that came perilously close to the site of the ancient olympics that

blazes for back. but another in the northern suburbs of athens has been rekindled. well, 3 significant blazes are also burning on the island of f via have been no doubt or injuries, but there is widespread destruction of buildings and the countries already shrinking forests. the prime minister is warned of difficult days ahead with winds forecast to strengthen and the heat wave intensify. evacuation orders have been made on thousands of villages out there is zane bas ravi is following the story for us. he is in a phony these near athens. were here just above the national road, a major highway, a corridor that runs north and south along the length of the country and fire rescue teams have been using it as a kind of trench to try to fight the fire to try to keep the fire from crossing this line, to try to hold it back from spreading across the highway and into dry parts of the area here on the other side of the highway and spreading into the greater athens

area for our rescue team so far have been successful. however, we've seen that these fires seem to have an unsafe level appetite, at least on one occasion since we've been up here, we've seen the fire jump across the highway. immediately rescue workers reacted down the flames. a helicopter came in and dropped water over the flames. and pushed it back, but we have to say that the temperatures over these fires are so hot that helicopters had to start flying lower and lower and has have had to start of flying. well, past sun down even though conditions are dangerous. and that's because the water that they were dropping simply evaporated before it hit, it would hit the ground. and so we've seen helicopters making lower and lower flights to try to keep these flames from crossing the national highway. however, it has to be said as soon as they put out the flames on one side of the foothills, the fire seems to spread and grow in another as it comes further and further down the hills. people here are just watching and waiting, worried that their homes might be next. and there's definitely concern that fire

rescue teams definitely have another long night ahead of them to try to keep the blaze under some kind of control. or as he mentioned, a fire in southern turkey that reached the compound of coal feud. thermal power plant has been brought under control. and that's ease fears of air pollution in the region. but there are strong winds, driving the fi towards cur mccoy power plant in a more glove. and that's triggered the evacuation of residents there. and tourists as well. turkey even listed navy vessels to ferry people from the region. according to state media, the power plants hydrogen tanks had been emptied before the fire reached its grounds on wednesday evening. at least 8 people have died in turkey fires so far. we've also been following the blazes in the united states, and particularly in a small town in northern california. it's been really, it's a great deal of destruction. most of greenville central business district has been destroyed. street lights even melted because of the extreme heat. it's known as the

dixie fire. it's in burning for about 3 weeks. being fed by high temperatures, strong winds, and low humidity. john henderson is just outside the town of greenwell greenville, and i spoke to him earlier. he has more on the dixie fire. we are very close to greenville that is the town that this dixie fire just in gold 24 hours ago. what happened was high winds checked up, winds of over 65 kilometers per hour, and this is the outskirts of greenville you can see a car burning over here, some 1st responders responding to that scene. and then if you just look behind me here, this is a helicopter that has been dropping either water or fire retarded on some of these fires because they've crossed it over to both sides of the road. and if we keep moving over this way, that town that's sign, they're welcome due to the town of greenville. and as we move on here,

you can see those 1st responders going into the town, which has been just absolutely decimated. and then over here, these are vehicles that were apparently abandoned outside of down as people left. and you can see they have been, several of them are on fire. and this is just the entry way to the town inside that town. pretty much everything has been devastated. it was a down gold rush era town for the 18 forties and it at 800 people who lived here in those people appear to have evacuated safely. and today, one after the other we've been receiving evacuation. notice is on our phones talking about other towns nearby here, but that is the road into greenville there. there's very little left and you've got 5000 firefighters who've been working on this fire fire. that is in goldstein area,

the size of new york city. it's been fueled by high winds and you can see some of that wind right now. if you just see the close whipping around us, that is not the way it is several miles away from here. it is up in these regions here where that wind is fueled these fires and we should, this is one of about a 100 fires. in 13 western states that are being battled by tens of thousands of firefighters, it just happens to be here. it's really looks like one of the worst awe growing rebels in northern ethiopia of seize control of the ancient town of wiley baylor. this is a significant holy sites and millions of orthodox christians. and recent days and weeks you seen the conflict in that part of europe spread and at 4th, tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. g p l,

a fighters of targeted these strategically important a fall region of ethiopia. they've also been focusing on m hara. this is where the town of lally baylor is located for the rebels. it's a symbolic victory, but it's also a major and caution south. leslie baylor is unesco world heritage site and it said could for a few in europe in orthodox christians, its fame for 12 century rocking churches. while the vines initially broke out in november, when the if europe prime minister had sent troops to fight the 2 great people's liberation front, the group had dominated national politics before b. a had came to power. by the end of that month, the prime minister declared victory saying the government had captured the regional capital mckelly, but the t p l f. forth on the conflict took a turn in june. when the to grind forces took back control of mckelly and government soldiers were forced to withdraw. since then, the rebels have pressed into

a far region in the east and i'm horror in the north. displacing more than 250000 people and once become a worsening humanitarian crisis. malcolm web is following the story now from nairobi. resident and others have told us that fighters from the degree region of entered the historic town lot better. there were rumors that they were closed on local residents over the last week, some of the residents that they've had gunfire at night, but they say it's normal to to have some gunfire at night there. but in just in the last few hours, resident said they could see the, the gray and people's liberation from finances getting close. and then just to show a while ago, they say, can control of the town to town with a population of 20000 people. but it couldn't be of greater religious and cultural and historical significance is a 100 years old, full of ancient church and in a holy site for years,

millions of orthodox christine. but it is also, as will appears to be a significant incursion on the part of the grand people's liberation funds from the north, coming into the territory of the enemy. they've been fighting with a mar of militia to the south, and now it seems they could taken control of the town as well inside the enemy, parents. even careful to remember that in this conflict there on contingent front lines to speak of the people control town here and the other control the town that we can't we can't get how much territories taken. but certainly this is as far as we've known, they've take taking the town into the enemy's territory so far that conflict could have been spreading into the m r afar regions in the last few weeks. we go to chad . now $24.00 soldiers are been killed in an attack by suspected buck around fights as it happened on an island in the lake chad region book, a ram and

a rival spin to group have been using the area to launch attacks in chad and neighboring countries. as well, sir, east 100 chinese troops were killed in an assault by the armed groups from a chinese president interest. they b died in april during fighting against rebels in northern chat. now iran, the new president, his pledge that his country's nuclear program will always be peaceful and won't produce weapons. shortly after being inaugurated abraham rice, he said that he would take steps to lift the sanctions which have devastated his country's economy. out there is alley hush, him has more from tap, ron this was a brilliant right. you see his final step to becoming the new president of iran, the ceremony, and early indication of what his foreign policy might look like. there was only one delegation representing us from the european union, but many leaders and officials from south america and africa. and more significantly, the countries out on iran, racy, says dots

a priority. they're going to be government. more security torn interference in the region won't resolved any problems. it's a problem itself. i extend the hand of friendship and brotherhood own regional countries, especially our neighbors. how many days he criticized us sanctions on his country. up to former us president donald trump pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal. what he stressed iran nuclear program is completely peaceful. that's the policy of threats and sanction. can't prevent iranians from seeking their legal rights, including the right to develop nuclear energy sanctions must be nullified and we support any diplomatic effort that fills that goal tardy sanctions are adding to your own hardships. andrade, he says, rebuilding the economies and main priority is appealing for cooperation from all iranians to get the country back on its feet and says, his government will wage a war on collection. it's not going to be an easy task for, therefore,

engaging others. if physical to what he aims, cheap, it's submitting it's kevin is in a few days and then the parliament will have to get each minute stuff a separate board conference. i should just do that on most an ad for you on the program. my grandmothers call me and say you can come back home and pick sprinter who ran from that room to tell her side of the story and convicted of embezzlement. the american who was one of the biggest foreign investors in russia, says it's a political that john ah, hello there. let's have a quick look at the weather in australia and new zealand before we go to the main where the story, which is in east asia,

things looking rather fine and dry with rock as sunshine for much of a trailer. but the wet weather is going to kick in for perth on saturday. if the head of that we have got sunshine on friday, but that weather system moves in on saturday, bringing with it the wet and windy weather, the southern areas, we are going to see a few showers, but they do dry up as we go into sunday. and from monday they will be sunshine, much of the wet and windy weather can be found in victoria and in tasmania. as we move over the tasman sea to new zealand, it's going to be rather wet and windy or we can particularly for northern areas of the south island. we've got another system sweeping in on saturday, bringing bit of a wintery mix to the south, because we go to east asia. it's here that we're seeing a rush of tropical systems. you can see them there. in particular. we've got tropical storm loop in. that's bringing some really wet and windy weather to parts of china. it's moving across one done province. we could see up to 250 millimeters

to 500 millimeters in isolated places. and we could see some flash flooding with that will keep you updated the weather bag energy and changes to every part of our universe or small to continue the change all around the shape, my technology and human ingenuity. we can make it work for you and your business. ah, ah

ah! back i'll top story this out. 5 fuel by heat wave of raging and grease with 3 significant places burning on the island of via a prime minister is worn to difficult days ahead with winds forecast to strengthen in our headlines rebels from if europe is water, we don't have to have taken control of the baylor unesco world heritage site and take replace of christians in the north of the country. fighting and to cry spilled out into neighboring regions in recent weeks, driving thousands from now and then chad 24 soldiers have been killed in an attack by suspected book r. i'm fighters. it happened on an island in the lake chad region. now in all the news, the bite administration says that it's going to offer a temporary, safe haven to potentially thousands of hong kong citizens car in the us in response

to china. crack down on human rights. president joe biden signed a memo that will allow their visas to be extended by up to 18 months old will. and jordan has more from washington from its 1st days in office. the by the ministration has been very critical of the way that china treats the residents of hong kong damaging. in the bio administration's view, hong kong experienced with democracy. now, the administration has decided to allow those hong kong residents who happen to be here or the united states, to live and work here for the next 18 months. the state department spokesperson, net price explained why on thursday p r c. authorities seek to use the tools that they have given themselves and that includes of course, the national security law and other legislation to make arbitrary arrests, politically motivated prosecutions, of opposition candidates, and politicians,

activists and peaceful protesters with the goal. it seems, or certainly the end result of creating an atmosphere of fear of self censorship, of repression among the general populace. and our measures to day are a response to these and other actions by the p. r. c. and other, hong kong and hong kong authorities to undermine again what was promised to the people of hong kong. and that is the high degree of autonomy state department officials awhile that this may not be the only time that this program is put into effect for hong kong residence. and they also say that people who come to the united states after august 5th could possibly be added to the scheme. but they say, what's really important is trying to ensure that beijing does not continue its repression of political opponents and hong kong or crush hong kong experience with democracy. well,

in other stories are following half of all cars and trucks sold in the us are going to be electric by 2030. if you target set by president joe biden, a mat. these include hydrogen fuel cell and plug in hybrid vehicles. there are hurdles to achieving this goal as our white house correspondent, kimberly how kit explains the it's an announcement geared towards changing the way americans drive their vision to the future. that is now beginning to happen. a future of the automobile industry that is electric. the executive order signed by president biden sets a target for 0 mission cars to account for half of all vehicle sold in the united states by the year 2030 biden's goal to shift americans toward cleaner electric vehicles and compete with china. right now. china is leaving the race is one of the largest and fastest growing electric vehicle markets in the world. electric

vehicles accounted for just 2 percent of car sales in the past 3 years. in the united states, china has more than doubled the number of electric vehicles on the road. auto companies in the u. s. are also unfailing similar goals for electric vehicles to account for at least half of all car sales by 2030. but biden's electric vehicle revolution faces a big problem. infrastructure. it's a priority and biden's, $1.00 trillion dollar bipartisan infrastructure bill still being worked out in congress. the legislation includes 7500000000 for a network of electric vehicle charging stations. but it's just half of what byte and called for and fall short of what's needed to support so many electric vehicles on the road. we haven't had the, in the investment in infrastructure that we've really needed to, to grow the market. and to really demands that these vehicles are available for,

for consumers biden is under pressure to act. you set a goal of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. wildfires on the west coast of the united states are only highlighting the problem on track to burn big again in 2021. as a result of historic drought and heat waves, president biden's executive order also rolls back trump era emission standards. the environmental protection agency's new standards will reduce 200000000000 metric tons of carbon pollution. kimberly held him al jazeera, the white house. now, global crone of ours cases of past the 200000000 markers, the infection numbers rise access to vaccines depends on where you live. while health organization is concerned that well, few nations of administered

a 100 doses by 100 people when poor countries have just one and a half doses per 100. well, it's urging rich countries to pause on their plans to roll out loose to vaccine shots. despite this, germany and france are working on rolling alpha doses to the elderly and vulnerable from september. i'm the u. s. is also said it's preparing to give boost as if needed. meanwhile, in indonesia, the coven 19 death toll there has passed 100000 in the southeast asian country, recorded nearly 1800 deaths in the latest 24 hour reporting period. that's more than any other country. and the health system is struggling as jessica washington reports from jakarta. as alarming as that figure of surpassing 100000 sounds. it's only a partial picture of the situation on the ground. some months ago, the indonesian government pledged that it would seek to scale up p c r, testing and endeavor to test around $400000.00 people each day. and that still has

not happened. so the reality is, is that at this point, we cannot be certain how many people died as a result of the virus. in particular, as more deaths have happened at home, what we do know is that 40 percent of the current death, tall, 40 percent of those people died in july and august alone. we also know that as jess at home has increased, as people were turned away from hospitals, we've seen more cases of multiple deaths within the same family. now, as some local groups, some independent data groups are trying to get a more accurate picture of the scale of the crisis on the ground. and according to some estimates, they put the confirmed death toll in recent weeks at around 3 to 5 times higher than the official numbers indicate. now the government is keen to stress that they are seeing signs that the crisis is easing in some cities, in particular in the capital, but epidemiologist say it is too soon to be optimistic. and in fact they are

concerned that fall from the situation easing. they are seeing signs that the crisis is spreading into provinces into remote areas with even lower rates of vaccination, with low rates of testing and with health care facilities that struggle under normal circumstances. in japan as anger of errors, current of ours infections rise faster than ever. the olympics host, city toko, is recorded 5000 daily cases for the 1st time i. richardson has more from tokyo. the numbers are escalating very quickly. i was standing hit a few days ago talking about the fact that daily tases wedding 3000 for the 1st time now we're up to 5000 and the state of emergency here in so care has already been extended until the end of the month. that's significant. from a supporting perspective, at least because they were hoping to allow fans and spectators in after the start of that event, it's still possible. they could get them in the final few days because apparently picks runs until september, but it's looking increasingly unlikely. and the reason covet 19 figures have been

relatively low until this point. a lot of people think is because of their personal sacrifices and nots government policy. the vaccine rollout was slow. the back story there was that in the 990, the japanese government was found liable for the side effects to 2 other inoculations. so there was a very slow process of approving the vaccine. and then you have this state of emergency as we've discussed, although it sounds extremely dramatic. it's a request for people to stay at home and not go to the office. it's a request for restaurants and bars to close early. it's not a law or an old us i with it with a bit of pandemic fatigue setting. and it's perhaps not surprising that some people are following those rules quite as closely as they might once have done, particularly when that same government is also allowing the olympics to continue. so this line that the organism, it's happening that there's no provable link between what's happening within that's quote unquote, by a secure bubble of the lympics in the wider community is increasingly difficult to

maintain the batter, rush and sprints refuse to teams order to fly home early from tokyo has spoken publicly for the 1st time since arriving in poland. christina, similar to sky, i refused to fly home on sunday, telling japanese please, she was being sent against her will better. ruth says she was removed from the limpid team because of her emotional state with the 24 year old. and since she was singled out for criticizing her coaches on the instagram, she's now in poland on humanitarian visa. when i was in some code, sure. and from my, from our teams, they come from my room and they say that they should say that they have some injury and come back home. if i will not do it, then it can get some problem in my country. and they don't know which one problem, but after this day is able to come to my room to say that i have no chance to run 20 meters. and i said to come back to home and it's not their decision to, to do it. and when i got my closest and go to the car,

my grandmother called me to see you come back home because on the tv, this is a lot of for, but worst about use it. you have some mental health problems and maybe you can go to the hospital and maybe you know, i feel myself much better here. 750. and a lot of people support me here. and my husband, he is already in a road bike, hard to support. and so i will read him today and he will be here, maybe with me. i just want to wash his most prominent foreign businessman has been found guilty of embezzlement by a court. in moscow, american michael calvin was arrested in 2019 on charges that his supporters, they were brought by a politically connected business rival verdicts and sentencing proceedings will continue. on friday, joan hall reports michael. calvin once flew high as one of russia's biggest foreign

investors. now the us business man stands convicted of embezzlement. the verdict of moscow court. so far, the judge as the prosecutor did earlier, has simply repeated the phrases and arguments from the december 2019 preliminary accusation. ignoring hundreds of documents, testimonies, an expert witnesses that were presented during the trial over the last 7 months. but it's not over yet. i hope tomorrow the judge will address the real facts. hope died last, as i say, in russian call. these arrest and free trial detention in 2019 shopped, rushes business community already reeling from western sanctions and, and economic slump support has claimed. the charges against calvin company bearing vos stock lacked evidence. and that the country's judicial system was being used by

a politically connected rival. even prominent russian business executives voiced concerns that the jailing of one of russia's few remaining major foreign investors might deal a fatal blow to business confidence in the country. a sentiment echoed by calvin himself as the trial war on in march. i think it raises a lot of questions because people who know me know that i've been one of the most positive foreign investors about russia and always defending rush does image in the international investment community. and so many people felt like if this happened, michael calvin could happen to anyone. but question mark. so over the case and it's motivation, we're no bar to success. it was backed by president vladimir putin himself, who publicly supported cal these opponent in the banking dispute that form the background to the case. during the trial, michael calvin had said he hoped to remain in russia and that he was positive about

the investment environment. a view that will likely now have changed. jonah, how al jazeera ah quite look at the headlines, the sour now and 5 fueled by a heat wave of raging and grease with 3 significant blazes burning on the island of via there's been no decile injuries, but widespread destruction of buildings and the countries already shrinking forests have been affecting the country, greece as prime minister as want of more difficult days had with the winds for cost to strengthen. i've also been 5 in the us with one blaze, wiping out much of a small town.