this is bbc news — i'm victoria fritz with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. a wildfire menace — the greek prime minister urges people to unite, as emergency services tackle the blazes threatening dozens of towns and villages across greece. one of the world's greatest footballers, lionel messi, is leaving barcelona after more than 20 years. vocal protests across italy as covid vaccine—passes become mandatory for restaurants, sporting events and live performances. i come icome up i come up to the venue and question, present my green pass, a vaccination certificate, it is verified, this device doesn't save the

data, i present my id card and i am allowed in. i am sarah mulkerinns. live in tokyo on day 14 of the game, where the ioc says its ordered two coaches to leave the olympic village in order to protect the well being of the belarusian athletes still in tokyo. the virtual you—tubers earning millions by using 3d character models to influence their audiences — we have a special report. hello and welcome to the programme. the greek prime minister says days of heatwaves have turned the country into a powder keg. days of heatwaves. he predicts the worst is yet to come with strong westerly winds expected to fan

the flames of wildfires on friday. villagers are coming under pressure to abandon their homes, as mark lobel reports. as villages like these in the peloponnese burned, extreme caution is age. houses can be rebuilt, trees can grow, but human life cannot be replaced. but, abandoning your home is never easy and your 70s. translation: never easy and your 705. translation:— never easy and your 705. translation: leave and go where? let _ translation: leave and go where? let my _ translation: leave and go where? let my house - translation: leave and go where? let my house burn?| translation: leave and go i where? let my house burn? if translation: leave and go - where? let my house burn? if we had left this place would have burned. we told the women and elderly and kids to go, and whoever was able stayed to help, howeverthey whoever was able stayed to help, however they could. crops are at risk _ help, however they could. crops are at risk too, _ help, however they could. crops are at risk too, so _ help, however they could. crops are at risk too, so far _ help, however they could. crops are at risk too, so far 6000 - are at risk too, so far 6000 hectares of land have burned and three days off wildfires. over half last year total.

translation:— over half last year total. translation: ., . ., translation: the agricultural wealth of the neighbourhood i wealth of the neighbourhood has been decimated. nothing is left. olive trees, sheep, goats, stables — everything. westwood wins have blown new life into these fires north of athens. with temperatures well over a0 celsius, 100 fahrenheit, last week has been been the worst for greece since the 1980s. politicians have denounced a lack of resources. the army is doubling its efforts, but is our changing environment to blame? climate change is producing hotter temperatures and making droughts more frequent. conditions that can fuel wildfires. translation: ~ ., ., wildfires. translation: ., ., , ., translation: we have a debt to shield the country _ translation: we have a debt to shield the country against - translation: we have a debt to shield the country against the - shield the country against the reality of climate change. i am not looking for excuses. we have made important strides in

organising the country, but these are not enough when you are faced with the phenomenon of such magnitude. for those that believe such talk is merely a smokescreen, the prime minister invites them to visit the fires for themselves. fires now spreading across southern europe, where many, including italians, spaniards, turks, albanians and north macedonians are also asking, what is behind this summer heat wave that is causing familiar seasonal fires to act in such extreme ways? mark lobel, bbc news. anthena is a freelance journalist in ekali. it is a suburb just north of athens. her area is under threat from the wildfires. how far away are the fires from your home? iam i am roughly five miles from the front—line of these fires.

i am on standby evacuation mode. i have my bag ready to go encase these fires get out of and start streaming our way. we have been off the entire night — in and out of the front line. everyone is concerned that this could easily — and unchecked fire could easily get out of control. as authorities have said, today is a very bad day, as they say, the worst is yet to come. we are expecting gale force winds to whip up these freak flames and this massive front, and it will be very, very hard for the authorities to tackle and beat these flames in these conditions, but, that said, water dropping plans have

just resumed and joined this all—night fight that firefighters have been leading in the area. you say you are an evacuation mode — what have you been told to do? evacuation mode basically means we have to kind of keep our doors shut, our chimney covered, and also there was a nationwide border that was issued after the prime minister, kyriakos mitsotaki, came out and made this televised appeal that we should refrain from circulating a lot and going into wooded areas or parks, and refrain from engaging in any kind of activity that could spark a fire. steep fines have been ordered, and that basically we

should be ready to act for the worst. why is it proving so difficult to contain these fires? where you were, there was hope that a fibro could be provided by a highway with trees but that hasn't happened, has it? the? hasn't happened, has it? they have - that — hasn't happened, has it? they have - that is _ hasn't happened, has it? they have - that is actually - hasn't happened, has it? tue: have — that is actually fanning a another battle, a political battle, it is fanning a lot of political debate because it isn't the first time greece has seen harrowing and destructive fires of this sort. just a couple of years ago, greece saw more than 100 people killed in forest fires just outside of athens. there was huge discussion, debate, in effect, state mechanism, and that is what is going on right now on the sidelines of what is this attempt to douse out the fire. as the prime minister said in

his address yesterday, he said criticism and self—criticism will be dealt with in an appropriate time, but for the time being, you know, the priority is to get these fronts check. of course, a huge factor here has been the fact that greece has been undergoing, like much of the southern mediterranean and the balkans — has been experiencing its hottest days in nearly a0 years, and that has created conditions that has been very difficult for firefighters to deal with. antree carassava, deal with. antree ca rassava, thank deal with. antree carassava, thank you very much for your time and stay safe. thank you. let's get some of the day's other news. the dixie fire had torn through the historic mining town of greenville in california, engulfing everything in its path. the massive fire started last month but exploded this week. it's been fueled by high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds.

it now covers more than 300,000 acres. extra flights have been scheduled from mexico to help hundreds of britons return to the uk ahead of new quarantine rules which come into force on sunday morning. anyone arriving after aam will need to pay for the hotel where they self—isolate. the country is being added to the red list as part of changes to the uk's traffic light system. president biden has announced that hong kong residents who are currently in america will be granted temporary safe haven. they will be allowed to stay for 18 months in the us and could also work there. mr biden said the move was a response to china's continuing assault on hong kong's autonomy and the repression of political and press freedoms. apple has revealed new safety tools will be introduced in the united states, which can scan photos and messages on people's phones to check for material showing child sex abuse. the company insists the measures will protect users' privacy, but some

security experts are concerned. barcelona have announced their all—time top—scorer, lionel messi, will be leaving this summer, after failing to agree the terms of a new contract. messi has been at the club since he was thirteen. during that time, he helped the team win more than 30 trophies and forged a reputation as one of the greatest players of all time. tanya dendrinos reports. in the eyes of many, he is the greatest footballer of all time, a god amongst men for those who view the beautiful game as somewhat of a religion. in barcelona, this is their temple. it didn't take long for despondent fans to gather outside as news of lionel messi's departure hit home. translation: it messi's departure hit home. translation:—

messi's departure hit home. translation: , ., ., translation: it is a soap opera from our summer _ translation: it is a soap opera from our summer to _ translation: it is a soap opera from our summer to this - translation: it is a soap opera i from our summer to this summer. it has finished and a harsh way forfans and the it has finished and a harsh way for fans and the barca club members. it should have finished in a year without a pandemic, with people filling the stadium and thousands applauding his presence. he has been a free agent since july one when his contract expired. two weeks later he agreed to a new dear with reduced wages but it was dependent on buses selling players to afford his salary. the shocking blow came on thursday when barcelona announced messy—mac's 20any association with the club would be ending, blaming financial and structural obstacles imposed by lolita. translation: it imposed by lolita. translation: , ., , translation: it is a big loss and football _ translation: it is a big loss and football will _ translation: it is a big loss and football will generate - translation: it is a big loss| and football will generate less money, we will have less important players. we will notice that. so where will messi be heading? he does have the money. i think the most — he does have the money. i think the most likely club to sign him — the most likely club to sign

him will_ the most likely club to sign him will be paris saint germain. other clubs that might afford _ germain. other clubs that might afford him appear to not want to. , , ., . ., , afford him appear to not want to. , , ., to. this is a course the end of the road. _ to. this is a course the end of the road. it — to. this is a course the end of the road, it appears, - to. this is a course the end of the road, it appears, but- the road, it appears, but others are not so sure. i think barcelona could make a pretty convincing case that it is on the interest of spanish football as a whole to bend the rules a little bit and retain the services of the man who could well be the greatest player — someone argued that the greatest player in the history of the world. nothing is certain until this messiah signs on the dotted line. for now, masterfans are left hoping their dreams will be resurrected. —— barca. venues across italy are introducing an obligatory covid green pass from today, meaning access will only be allowed with either a vaccination certificate, a negative test or proof of recovery from the virus. the measure will be extended to universities and transport next month. our correspondent, mark lowen reports from verona.

a night at the opera. tickets. temperature checked. and, from today, the mandatory green pass — a covid vaccination certificate, negative test or proof of recovery, as italy tightens its rules from theatres to restaurants, gyms to cafe is. this is now a work in practice. i come into the venue, i present my green pass, vaccination certificate that is verified. this device doesn't save the data. i present it and i am allowed to enter. it is a big change and be change for those involved. nobody told us how to face covid, so at the beginning we were afraid, we were nervous, were afraid, we were nervous, we were anxious. and, month by month we saw a new problem giving you solution, and after 18 months we built a little self—confidence, so let's say now that the situation is — it

is not a problem. this is another problem regarding covid. tonight's treat — aida. the treat of verde. the amphitheatre in a new era. verona's arena has already adapted to covid. fewer performers, masks, and half capacity. but, with the green pass, the drummer has moved stage as well. parliament had to be suspended due to protesting from far right and peers. most italians have been found to be in favour but roglic demonstrations have broken out.

translation: , ., �* broken out. translation: �* ., translation: we shouldn't have to olice translation: we shouldn't have to police this. _ translation: we shouldn't have to police this, it _ translation: we shouldn't have to police this, it is _ translation: we shouldn't have to police this, it is not _ translation: we shouldn't have to police this, it is not our- to police this, it is not our job, and we shouldn't deal with sensitive data. the government will make us argue with customers who want to sit inside without the past, we will have to comply but we have already had cancellations. are you anti—vaxxer? absolutely not, i am are you anti—vaxxer? absolutely not, iam neitherfor or against, i am a restaurant. it has gotten nasty for medics supporting the green pass. this woman received a death threat through what's up, evoking the nazi trails in nuremberg. other messages came from her colleagues. translation: i from her colleagues. translation: ., , translation: i really felt in dancer. translation: i really felt in danger. what _ translation: i really felt in danger. what upset - translation: i really felt in danger. what upset me - translation: | really felt in| danger. what upset me most translation: | really felt in - danger. what upset me most was that the threats were health workers. they, like ours, where heroes of the pandemic and now some of them are novavax. i felt broken and like i should give up everything. i thought, i should show them that they are the ones at fault.

at the arena, the show will go on, but with new checks for the opera lovers. it italy is beginning another act and its story, but the unity built last year is fading. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: more on the skateboarding, a breakout success and the tokyo games. the question was whether we wanted to save our people — and japanese as well — and win the war or whether we wanted to take a chance on being able to win the war by killing all our young men. the invasion began at two o'clock this morning. mr bush, like most other people, was clearly- caught by surprise. we call for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all iraqi forces. 100 years old and still full

of vigour, vitality and enjoyment of life — no other king or queen in british history has lived so long, and the queen mother is said to be quietly very pleased indeed that she has achieved this landmark anniversary. this is a pivotal moment for the church as an international movement. the question now is whether the american vote will lead to a split in the anglican community. this is bbc news, the latest headlines: a wildfire menace — the greek prime minister urges people to unite as emergency services tackle over 150 blazes threatening towns and villages across greece. one of the world's greatest footballers, lionel messi, is leaving barcelona after more than 20 years.

olympic officials say two coaches from belarus have been stripped of their accreditation and asked to leave the olympic village in tokyo, over their alleged attempt to force an athlete, krystsina tsimanouskaya, to return home. for more on this, we can now cross live to tokyo and sarah mulkerrins. just remind us of the background to all of this? this has been ongoing _ background to all of this? ti 3 has been ongoing all this week and as you say, it started with the athlete from belarus, krystsina tsimanouskaya, when she alleges she was forced to board a plane back home and this she had competed in the 100 metres and you to compete in the 200 metres. her coaches, she said, asked her to compete in the four x a00 metres relay and criticise that in a public

post on instagram and she said subsequently to this, she said two belarusian officials told her to pack your bags and go to the airport and bought a flight home. when she was at the airport she requested help. we have since found out that she did that through translation services when she was at the airport, asking the police for protection, saying she did not want to board the plane back home to belarus. that she was in fear for home to belarus. that she was in fearfor her home to belarus. that she was in fear for her safety. subsequently, she had police protection and we now know that she has arrived in warsaw on a humanitarian visa. the ioc have been investigating on the latest update was the removal of accreditation of two belarusian delegates and bela rusian delegates and removal of belarusian delegates and removal of them from the olympic village, and that is where the athletes stay, the belarusian athletes are staying. olympic games finish on sunday. the ioc say there will be a chance and opportunity for the delegates to have their say but they wanted to remove them from the

olympic village in order to protect the welfare of the belarusian athletes still at the olympic games. i unless you have been living under a rock, rather than climbing up it, you know that climbing is the new branch, everyone is doing it! everyone has been absolutely hooked on the sport climbing, the surfing, the skating, the karate. �* , the surfing, the skating, the karate. v , the surfing, the skating, the karate. ., . ., karate. it's been fantastic to watch the — karate. it's been fantastic to watch the new _ karate. it's been fantastic to watch the new sports - karate. it's been fantastic to watch the new sports and i karate. it's been fantastic to l watch the new sports and they have found new fans right across the world, haven't they? it's been brilliant, hasn't it, victoria? it's captured so many new fans and so entertaining and the atmosphere with all the competitors during each other on and supporting each other on. the ioc brought in a lot of this was to bring the younger generations with them for the future of the olympic games and it's certainly looking like it has a successful and shrewd move from them. let us speak to someone who has been covering

at for bbc sport, in tokyo. tim, you must be loving the olympics so far because you have been, i've seen you at the surfing, the skateboarding, you have recently been at the bmx, being good? it have recently been at the bmx, being good?— being good? it looks a common holida , being good? it looks a common holiday, essentially! _ being good? it looks a common holiday, essentially! what - being good? it looks a common holiday, essentially! what i - holiday, essentially! what i consider all the best spot, i have — consider all the best spot, i have to _ consider all the best spot, i have to be careful how i say that — have to be careful how i say that it's _ have to be careful how i say that. it's brilliant and to happen— that. it's brilliant and to happen on the world stage, the sports — happen on the world stage, the sports i— happen on the world stage, the sports. i have been a fan for years— sports. i have been a fan for years and _ sports. i have been a fan for years and years, since i was ten — years and years, since i was tent— years and years, since i was ten i got _ years and years, since i was ten i got my first skateboard. debakey— ten i got my first skateboard. debakey not as a competitor but as a fantasy the sports is brilliant _ a5 a fantasy the sports is brilliant.— a5 a fantasy the sports is brilliant. ~ , ., , ., ~' brilliant. why do you think they have _ brilliant. why do you think they have resonated - brilliant. why do you think they have resonated so i brilliant. why do you think i they have resonated so much of they have resonated so much of the people? i they have resonated so much of the pebble?— the people? i think it is the drama. you _ the people? i think it is the drama. you get _ the people? i think it is the drama. you get everything | the people? i think it is the i drama. you get everything on screen, — drama. you get everything on screen, the tricks, the magnitude, the speed, it comes across— magnitude, the speed, it comes across but also the colourful characters that these sports bring — characters that these sports bring to _ characters that these sports bring to the olympic games, people — bring to the olympic games, people like pedro barros, the brazilian, he sounds like he is

turning — brazilian, he sounds like he is turning into godzilla after doing _ turning into godzilla after doing his rounds and charlotte weddington, who was a chef a couple — weddington, who was a chef a couple of— weddington, who was a chef a couple of years ago and now she is lifting — couple of years ago and now she is lifting a — couple of years ago and now she is lifting a gold in the bmx! so many stories and angles to it and — so many stories and angles to it and it — so many stories and angles to it and it comes alive on the screen _ it and it comes alive on the screen for— it and it comes alive on the screen for the viewer. in one ofthe screen for the viewer. in one of the big — screen for the viewer. in one of the big things _ screen for the viewer. in one of the big things is _ screen for the viewer. in one of the big things is because i of the big things is because you are around the sport, is a little bit different to the elite sports and the competitive nature and it is transferred into the olympics? very much so and it's not a case — very much so and it's not a case of— very much so and it's not a case of square sports being fit into a — case of square sports being fit into a square olympic hole. it is the — into a square olympic hole. it is the case _ into a square olympic hole. it is the case of we are at the 0lwaits— is the case of we are at the olympics but here is skateboarding in its absolute daily— skateboarding in its absolute daily guys and this is what skateboarding is and here it is at the — skateboarding is and here it is at the olympics are no different. we spoke about it earlier— different. we spoke about it earlier that in between the rounds. _ earlier that in between the rounds, in between these gold—medal attempts, the other competitors dropping in practising, having extra practice. the guyjust putting down — practice. the guyjust putting down the best run is not moaning because this is what skateboarding is. conversely,

we have — skateboarding is. conversely, we have seen guys knocked off the top — we have seen guys knocked off the top spot and they are the first— the top spot and they are the first person to congratulate the guy— first person to congratulate the guy or girl who was not them — the guy or girl who was not them off— the guy or girl who was not them off the top spot. a weird culture, — them off the top spot. a weird culture, completely different. it's different. completely different. it'5 different. completely different.— different. brilliant stuff, tim. different. brilliant stuff, tim- we _ different. brilliant stuff, tim. we appreciate i different. brilliant stuff, j tim. we appreciate your different. brilliant stuff, i tim. we appreciate your time and energy and enthusiasm for these new sports that had been so successful. victoria, when we talk about these new sports and in the streaming and downloading and watching, they were five out of the top ten watched and most viewed for the ioc of the games so far has certainly gone down a treat with viewers all over the world wife and i'm certainly one of them! we will see you a bit later on. —— — and i am certainly of them. a new kind of content creator is emerging on youtube. so—called virtual youtubers are people who use 3d character models to engage with their audience anonymously on the video—sharing site. these v—tubers, as they're called, are becoming more and more popular with some

reportedly earning millions. our reporter miles emmanuel spoke to two of them using their online personas. hello. you are watching the bbc. ~ ., ., hello. you are watching the bbc. ~ ., , ., bbc. meat two british women, aued bbc. meat two british women, a . ed 22 bbc. meat two british women, aged 22 and — bbc. meat two british women, aged 22 and 23 _ bbc. meat two british women, aged 22 and 23 workers - bbc. meat two british women, aged 22 and 23 workers online| aged 22 and 23 workers online content creators and is animated avatars to replace their identity. some youtube is, v—tubers, his body tracking technology to animate the characters while others have a similar set characters while others have a similarset up. characters while others have a similar set up. but the industry only started in 2016 and some need convincing it is and some need convincing it is a viable career choice. though my friend was doing the numbers and she was definitely not happy about me leaving university to pursue my career online. i took a year off of university and that is when my career blew up quite with a host of colourful characters and accessibility and an amenity can play a key part instrument taking the digital plant. forthis

instrument taking the digital plant. for this one, instrument taking the digital plant. forthis one, it instrument taking the digital plant. for this one, it was after she contracted a viral infection which ruptured his spleen and made her stay in her bedroom for six months. v—tubers are now amongst the highest and in content creators, with some receiving up creators, with some receiving up to £2 million in the last 1.5 years. now, major companies are looking into using 3d mascots for customer facing roles. it mascots for customer facing roles. , ., ., mascots for customer facing roles. ., ., , roles. if you are asking this as a future, _ roles. if you are asking this as a future, i _ roles. if you are asking this as a future, i see _ roles. if you are asking this as a future, i see us - roles. if you are asking thi5| a5 a future, i see us moving as a future, i see us moving towards it as his art styles are being seen as engaging and more attractive to them, right? you do not have to hire make up artist to have someone talking about your wares. you canjust run a game engine and have it fully rendered. find run a game engine and have it fully rendered.— fully rendered. and although v-tubers — fully rendered. and although v-tubers can _ fully rendered. and although v-tubers can be _ fully rendered. and although v-tubers can be subject i fully rendered. and although v-tubers can be subject to l v—tubers can be subject to abusive and sexist comments, these two say their careers have allowed them to learn important life skills. i have allowed them to learn important life skills.- important life skills. i grew out of my _ important life skills. i grew out of my social _ important life skills. i grew out of my social anxiety i out of my social anxiety through being a v—tuber. i

would _ through being a v—tuber. i would be _ through being a v—tuber. i would be afraid to speak in english _ would be afraid to speak in english classes. if a kid has a dream, — english classes. if a kid has a dream, i_ english classes. if a kid has a dream, ithink english classes. if a kid has a dream, i think everyone should try to _ dream, i think everyone should try to pursue that. really freaky! business is coming up. hello. lots of talk about heavy showers in this forecast, but it is important to point out it won't be raining all the time. there will be some drier, sunnier moments, too, but, yes, some areas on friday will be dealing with heavy, even intense thundery downpours, particularly across northern parts of the uk. whereas further south, there'll still be some heavy showers to contend with, but they'll tend to move through more quickly. more in the way of sunshine, more of the day dry compared with to the north, because to the southern flank of this area of low pressure which has come in, the winds are strongest, so the showers move through more quickly. but if you're close to the centre of this area of low pressure — that's really across scotland, northern ireland, northern england, north wales, too — the showers just hang around for longer, the rain totals mount and these intense downpours

could well cause some flooding and some disruption in some spots. parts of eastern scotland will be dealing with more persistent rain here. again, rain totals mounting with a risk of flooding. still some sunny spells in between the heavy showers, but with the stronger winds across south wales and southern england — these are average speeds, maybe gusting a0—a5 mph — the showers will tend to move through more quickly. and there may be some places that avoid them altogether, and more in the way of sunshine to end the day here as well. up to around 22 in east anglia. most places not getting that high. you can see the swirl of winds and the circulation of the showers around this area of low pressure continuing, then, on through friday night and into saturday morning. temperatures holding up into the mid to low teens. nothing really changes on saturday. for the bulk of the uk, there'll be some sunshine around at times, but there'll be heavy, thundery showers. looks like, though, there is a greater chance of picking up some heavy and thundery showers across southern areas compared with friday. and as for temperatures, well, some spots just creeping into the low 20s, though many won't. and then on sunday, well, the area of low pressure's still here. it looks to be centred close to scotland. this is where there could well be the most prolonged thundery downpours, but you can see they're flaring up

elsewhere across the uk. but it may well be towards south wales and southern england that we're back to a picture of fewer showers and more in the way of sunny spells. this area of low pressure looks to finally get out of the way by tuesday to allow us a couple of fine days before another area of low pressure comes in later next week.

this is bbc news — i'm victoria fritz with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. ona charge! president biden says half of all cars sold in the us must be electric by 2030. we have a playbook and it's going to work. today, i'm announcing steps we're taking set a new pace for electric vehicles. no pass, no entry. italy and france to start enforcing covid vaccine certificates for restaurants, cinemas and public transport, but will it hit tourism? blasting the bro—culture. does the video game business need a reset? plus, leaving a sour taste. how a $10 billion—corporation sued a family—run farm and lost.