this is the briefing. i'm ben bland. our top story: officials in greece say at least 20 people have been killed as deadly wildfires burn near the capital, athens. translation: we will do whatever is possible in order to control the fires. i'm very concerned at the outbreaks around athens. north korea appears to de dismantling part of a key rocket testing site in the north—west of the country. as the world's first ivf baby celebrates her fortieth birthday, we look at the work of pioneers who made her birth possible. exceeding expectations. google wracks up stellar earnings as it shrugs off a record eu fine. also in the programme: fancy a holiday in the remote desert in a tent? we'll find out how indian companies are making that prospect much more

attractive than it sounds courtesy of glamping. a warm welcome to the programme, briefing you on all you need to know in global news, business and sport. and you can be part of the conversation, counting the cost of the hot weather, a heatwave is gripping countries across europe, africa and asia. and we want to know what impact it's having on your business or where you work? let us know, just use the #bbcthebriefing. we start in greece, where at least 20 people have died and dozens more taken to hospital after forest fires broke out. the authorities there have called for international help to tackle the flames, but the high temperatures are continuing to cause problems in dozens of other

countries around the world. andrew plant reports. homes engulfed in flames on the outskirts of athens as greece fights some of its worst forest fires for years. prime minister alexis tsipras has declared a state of emergency here, with several people killed and dozens more injured. translation: we will do whatever is possible in order to control the fires. i'm very concerned at the outbreaks around athens. we will do whatever it takes. roads have been clogged by cars as people leave their homes and flee. police are now searching for a boat with ten tourists on board to set sail to escape the fire. in the height of the tourist season, hundreds of firefighters are battling to control the blaze here.

above the acropolis, as countries across the globe bake in soaring summer temperatures. meteorologists, meanwhile, are warning that most places sweltering in the heat will see no significant rainfall for the next two weeks. andrew plant, bbc news. sweden is threatening to prosecute anyone lighting a barbecue in the open. norway has had its hottest may on record and the uk is seeing its driest summer for more than half a century, with some areas recording zero rainfall for several weeks. emergency services in greece say

they're working around the clock to fight the fires. sweden is threatening to prosecute anyone lighting a barbecue in the open. meteorologists, meanwhile, are warning most places altering in the heat will see no significant rainfall for the next two weeks. andrew plant, bbc news. north korea has begun dismantling a rocket—engine testing facility seen as instrumental in the development of the country's ballistic missile programme. satellite images of the sohae station in the north west of the country seen by the monitoring group 38 north suggest kimjong—un may be fulfilling a promise made to president trump injune. north korea has always said the site was used to launch satellites for its space programme but the us has always suspected it was used to test ballistic missiles. we will hear from our correspondent,

laura bicker, in seoul sold later on the programme. —— in seoul. let's brief you on some of the other stories making the news. the white house has denied that president trump's plans to revoke the security clearance of six former top officials, are an attempt to punish his critics. those targeted include an ex—chief of the cia, john brennan, who had described mr trump's performance at the helsinki summit with vladimir putin as treasonous. the nicaraguan president has blamed paramilitary gangs for the killing of around three hundred people in anti—government protests since april. in a rare interview with fox news, daniel ortega said the gangs were financed by groups in the us and drug—trafficking cartels. he denied allegations by the un that his government was arming the gangs in order to crack down on the demonstrations. five days after being released from hospital, ii of the 12 boys and their football coach who were trapped in a thai cave are preparing to enter a monastery for a short period. in the coming hours, they are due to have their heads shaved and take part in a washing ceremony before

entering the retreat. bhuddists go through the ritual if they've experienced a traumatic event. one of the boys, who is a christian, won't be taking part. google's parent company, alphabet, has surprised analysts with a bigger than expected jump in second quarter earnings. revenues rose by 26% to around $33 billion. so what's behind this performance? andrew tuck, the editor of monocle, joins me now. this is pretty impressive, they have grown their revenues, particularly from advertising, and it seems as though that's fine from the european commission has not really upset investors very much at all. investors seem very confident, it's taken $4 billion off the profit this

time but analysts have been looking at the numbers and there's a huge growth in advertising revenue that has won them over and that the moment there doesn't seem anything to them that, facebook and google are dominating the market and anyone running a media company trying to compete, they know in most markets they take 50%, 60% or 70% of all online advertising revenue. what's being said about the fine is not so much the amount, it has taken this $4 billion out of its profits for this year, although it will appeal, it's more the longer term impact of it's more the longer term impact of it and whether it has to change the way it uses its android operating system and whether it can continue to give itself that advantage for search results, for example, which are what keeps bringing in this revenue. you're right, they can appeal but it seems there will be some changes over the coming months and the market is cautious. they wa nt to and the market is cautious. they want to know what will happen. will they say that... will they work with

other phone manufacturers, will be therefore not demand chrome is preloaded and they won't be bundling all of these apps when you get the phone. —— will be therefore. will be get a choice of browser —— will they. others took a bit of a hit in profits, but when you're making such massive profits across the group, you can take that hit —— will they get a choice. google has looked at other projects, they are building a whole neighbourhood. they are looking at other opportunities but when it comes back to it, when you're making so much revenue from advertising, and it is so simple to generate that revenue, you have to do so little for it, that's where the core strength of the company remains. andrew, thanks for the moment. andrew will be back with us

to go through the papers later in the programme. stay with us for that. the world's first ivf baby is celebrating her 40th birthday this week. the arrival of louise brown at oldham general hospital in the north of england stunned the world. it was a defining moment in fertility medicine and paved the way for around eight million ivf births across the globe. our reporter fiona lamdin has been to a new exhibition at the science museum in london looking at the challenges faced by ivf pioneers. the most public of arrivals into this world. at five lb and i2 the most public of arrivals into this world. at five lb and 12 oz, louise joy brown this world. at five lb and 12 oz, louisejoy brown proved for the very first time in vitro fertilisation actually worked. i was actually down in town christmas shopping when the post came. four decades on, i met her in the science museum in london, an exhibition charting the journey of

ivf, one which louise brown has been on all her life. it's all here, louise's hospital tags, the letter sent to her mother telling her she was in the early stages of pregnancy and the veryjar which held the petri—dish with the embryo that was to become louise. i mean, out of all those people that was in the room when i was born, there's only two of us when i was born, there's only two of us still alive so i feel it's sort of my duty to go around and prove to people that i am normal, prove that there is no problem with ivf children. the other person still alive is 82—year—old doctorjohn webster. he helped deliver louise. it was all done under a certain amount of secrecy, only the essential people involved had been told. 0h, told. oh, she cried straightaway, which was great when any baby is born, that's the first thing you're listening for, whether delivered by

vagina or caesarean section but she cried instantly. as the browns return home as a family of three, a flood of congratulations over her birth. over 400 cards, letters and telegrams from all over the world. hgppy from all over the world. happy birthday, dear louise... the bbc filmed with louise 30 years ago on her 10th birthday. even then she could explain the science of mind her life. an egg got took out, thenit mind her life. an egg got took out, then it was put in this funny dish. then he put it back in and told money to go in and here i am —— mummy. as she approaches her 40th, despite the attention at every milestone of her life, she is thankful to the tea m her life, she is thankful to the team who brought her into the world. very special. without them, i

wouldn't be here, my sons wouldn't be here, 6 million of us wouldn't be here. i owe my life to those three people. they are just fantastic. for most people, it takes two to make a baby. in louise's case, cou ntless make a baby. in louise's case, countless other people and history went into making her. fiona lamdin, bbc news. let's return to the story i mentioned earlier of the reports that north korea is dismantling an important testing facility. we can join laura bicker, our correspondent, in seoul now. laura, does this suggest kim jong—un is making good on that promise that he made to president trump? well, he made a promise to president trump that he would dismantle the site, the site was identified as this one based in the north—west of the country near the border with china. in the past it has launched

satellites as part of the north's space programme but the us has a lwa ys space programme but the us has always believed ballistic missile is an fuel were tested here. so when it was identified, many have been watching it closely, including 38 north, a very reputable site —— missiles and fuel. they say this has been happening in the last two weeks. they say this is progress. this was a promise made and it appears at this stage that this is a pledge mr kim is now willing to act on. however, when it comes to the greater pledge of denuclearisation of the korean peninsular, this is a very small step indeed because none of the major nuclear testing sites, none of the major nuclear material has yet to be identified not removed from north korea and there's still no plans to do so. in terms of the promise kept between kimjong—un no plans to do so. in terms of the

promise kept between kim jong—un and donald trump, yes, this is significant. in terms of the wider goal, this is a very small step but it isa goal, this is a very small step but it is a welcome one. and how reliable can we assume this assessment to be of the dismantling of the test facility? because i thought one of the big issues was north korea was reluctant to allow independent monitors and investigators in to witness these things? you've hit the nail on the head there, ben. when it comes to the dismantling of these sites, and we've had one of the other nuclear sites being destroyed in front of journalists, and here we have the other site being dismantled, we have to rely on satellite imagery. unless independent inspectors are allowed into the country, that will be the first sign north korea is willing to denuclearise and take part in this disarmament programme. but remember what they've signed up to do, the denuclearisation of the korean

peninsular. that doesn't necessarily mean they will act alone, they will wa nt to mean they will act alone, they will want to have the us act as well. laura bicker in seoul, thank you very much indeed. stay with us on the briefing, still to come: not so much hot, hot, hot, but more, ho, ho, ho. why thoughts are turning to christmas despite the record temperatures. ok, coming down the ladder now. that's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. a catastrophic engine fire is being blamed tonight for the first crash in the 30—year history of concorde, the world's only supersonic airliner. it was one of the most vivid symbols of the violence and hatred that tore apart the state of yugoslavia. but now, a decade later, it's been painstakingly rebuilt,

and opens again today. there's been a 50% decrease in sperm quantity, and an increase in malfunctioning sperm, unable to swim properly. thousands of households across the country are suspiciously quiet this lunchtime, as children bury their noses in the final instalment of harry potter. you're watching the briefing. our headlines: north korea appears to be dismantling part of an important rocket engine testing site in the north west of the country. and our top story, officials in greece say at least 20 people have been killed as deadly wildfires burn near the capital athens. let's stay with that now. kostis jheropoulous is a journalist with the new europe newspaper

and hejoins me now from athens. how much of the fire and smoke can you see? the smoke has cleared quite a bit. it was all over the athens region, yellow smoke almost covering the sand completely. this morning is just overcast. it looks like there might be some rain which is good news. also, the wind has subsidence that also has helped. aeroplanes flying from six o'clock this morning. there is talk about getting some eu help. cyprus has responded positively. some of the planes

already been in northern europe. a major issue, most people have been evacuated with smaller boats. in the port has started operating again. yesterday, from noon until late at night, from the national road to the south of greece, it was closed off because the fire had started from the mountains and had already moved all the way down. it was it difficult for people coming back. into the city. and as far as

containing the fire is concerned, has it stopped spreading via their worries it could spread to other areas? the fire is creating its own microclimate. it has been contained but there are pockets of fire that could start at any minute. we are advising people who want to go back and check on their property to be extremely careful because it could start again at any time and fired creates its own climate conditions because it's been burning for nearly 24 hours now. thanks forjoining us. now it's time to get all the latest from the bbc sports centre. keeping you posted on the fallout from ozil's retirement. the final

week of the 2018 tour de france begins. geraint thomases and the leader's yellow jersey. begins. geraint thomases and the leader's yellowjersey. chris froome says it is a dream scenario. we started our professional cycling together back in 2008.” started our professional cycling together back in 2008. ijoined started our professional cycling together back in 2008. i joined the team. our careers have followed each other ever since. this is an absolute dream scenario for us both. tuesday marks exactly 2 years to go until the start of the 2020 olympic games in tokyo. and the japanese capital is hoping

to use the games as motivation to improve its environmental sustainability. tokyo governor yuriko koike, who was previously japan's minister of the environment, has made lowering emissions and plastic litter prevention some of her main objectives for the city and the games. germany's football association emphatically rejected allegations of racism from arsenal's mesut ozil, but says it could have done more to protect him from abuse. the midfielder has dramatically retired from international football after receiving hate mail and threats, blaming him for germany's disappointing world cup. he also received criticism for meeting vontroversial turkish president recip tayan erdogan. before the world cup, he would have been my first candidate to drop from this quad and after what happened with erdgoan, it was untenable.

this quad and after what happened with erdgoan, it was untenablem wasn't wise to be photographed with erdgoan but everything has been hyped up because we sell weapons to turkey, nobody talks about that, thatis turkey, nobody talks about that, that is even worse than a photo with erdgoan. rangana herath took six wickets as sri lanka beat south africa by 199 runs in the second test in colombo on monday to seal the series 2—0. theunis de bruyn held out for much of the day, reaching his maiden test century before falling to herath for 101. herath is 40 and due to retire later this year. eventually, south africa were bowled out for 290 — well short of the target, with sri lankan spinners taking all 20 wickets in the match. a cautionary tale now for all you instagrammers, think before you gram, or you might find yourself out of a job. that's exactly what happened to 6—time olympic gold medallist swimmer and winner of stupidest social media post of the week ryan lochte. the american was banned for 14 months for a doping violation after posting this picture where he's receiving an intravenous infusion

of permitted substances, however it still triggered an investigation. athletes cannot usually receive ivs unless related to a hospitalisation or via an exemption and the 33—year—old was found to have taken a higher than permitted dosage. you can get all the latest sports news at our website — that's bbc.com/sport. from the sport team, goodbye. as we've been reporting — much of the world is experiencing a heatwave. therefore, thoughts of the festive period may seem a little inappropriate. but if you happen to be in denmark at the moment — christmas is something you won't be able to avoid — as the bbc‘s tim allman reports. not so much hot, hot, hot... more ho, ho, ho. multiple father christmases, more than 150 of them, in fact, parading through copenhagen.

this, the 61st world santa claus congress, a chance for saint nick to mingle with kris kringle or gel with pere noel. we are needed more than ever in a world that is divisive, that is torn over all sorts of issues, and so santa brings out love for everyone, no matter who you are or where you live. sa nta's more needed than ever before. the parade is only one element in the multi—day event. there's the santa obstacle course world championships, santa pentathlons and even a children's party. it's good, nice. very interesting. which one is the real santa? spoilers? none of them.

but they're trying their best in many different languages. merry christmas! speaks danish: glaedelig jul! merry christmas and... speaks cantonese: ..sing daan faai lok. speaks japanese: sore do hayai tadao. ho, ho, ho! and, all together now... all shout ‘merry christmas': tim allman, bbc news. stay with me on bbc news, i'll be back with the business briefing in just a few moments — we'll have more on those alphabet results. also, why investors are not too concerned. and tell me what you think about our talking point today — counting the cost of the hot weather, a heatwave is gripping countries across europe, africa and asia and we want to know what impact it's having on your business or where you work? let us know — #bbcthebriefing. the

largely dry pretty hot theme of the weather will continue. temperatures 33.3 celsius in suffolk. not quite as hot on tuesday particularly across the north—western half of the country but we are still drawing in this flow of suddenly were across parts of england. couple of cold fronts moving in from the north—west. not as hot here as it was yesterday. it got this line of cloud which is a week with a front. heading down into wales. too much of scotla nd heading down into wales. too much of scotland stays dry in the sunshine. one should —— 12 showers pushing into the western isles. most places

looking drive. 21 in the sunshine in belfast. a bit more cloud the northern england into north wales, just the chance of a few spots of rain. it is another hot day with temperatures you are likely to reach around 30 degrees once again. it remains pretty hot and humid through tuesday evening and overnight into wednesday. there, temperatures staying in the mid, possibly high teens overnight, not as hot further north—west. into wednesday, a similar day. most places, pretty warm and dry with plenty of sunshine, just the odd shower in the far north—west and a small chance of a few showers popping up across parts of eastern england. temperatures between around 21— 31 celsius on wednesday, still pretty hot for the time of year. thursday, low pressure trying to move in from the atlantic. high—pressure holding

on towards the east. still drawing that warm humid air into friday but cooler conditions, not too far away. it does look like we will start to see things cooling down a touch as we head towards the weekend. for northern ireland, wales and scotland, and that pressure towards this is the business briefing. a successful search earnings. google's pa rent successful search earnings. google's parent company successful search earnings. google's pa rent com pa ny posts better—than—expected results. starts a new investigation after a vaccine scandal. and on the markets, in asia, some shares seem to get a bit of a boost from news that beijing would adopt a more vigorous fiscal policy including company tax cuts. those google shares rising to add a little bit of interest.