nomsa, live with us in pietermaritzburg, thank you very - pietermaritzburg, thank you very much.ada have been enduring another blistering heatwave. las vegas recorded 47 degrees. death valley in california is predicted to reach over 52 degrees, and this extreme heat is having a range of them sitting consequences. —— devastating. wildfires have been burning in six states on the west coast. from los angeles, our correspondent sophie long reports. wildfires in northern california grow in size and intensity, destroying homes in multiple communities as increasing winds complicate already dangerous firefighting conditions. this fire is raging out of control in southern oregon, as millions of people across the western united states are hit by another round of scorching temperatures. i'm on the west side... more than 60,000 acres are currently burning. california is no stranger to wildfires, but scientists say they're becoming more frequent and more intense as global temperatures rise. the national weather service recorded temperatures of 130 degrees in california's death valley, some of

on friday, the pietermaritzburg high court dismissed zuma's application to have his arrest overturneds rule of law. sings. mr zuma's imprisonment has laid bare deep divisions in the governing african national congress. the former president still has a large support base in his home province. the zuma faction of the anc has been the most potent internal force opposing president ramaphosa. mr zuma will probably be released from the estcort correctional centre after serving four months of his 15—month term for contempt of court, but that will not be an end to the controversy — former president zuma's actual corruption trial is yet to get under way. gail maclellan, bbc news. two of international football's biggest rivals, brazil and argentina, have been playing in rio for the copa america. argentina won the game, one goal to nil. it was the first major international trophy for one of the world's best players, lionel messi. from rio dejaneiro, here's the bbc�*s tim vickery. it is the world's oldest continental cup competition. it has been played since 1916. this was the 47th version. one o

nomsa maseko, bbc news, pietermaritzburg.italy in the euros final at wembley has been dominated not so much by the performance itself, as by the racist abuse aimed at three players who missed their penalties at the end of the match. the manager gareth southgate described the highly offensive language as "unforgivable". the prime minister said those responsible should crawl back under the rock they came from. one of the players targeted, marcus rashford, said he will never apologise for who he is. our sports editor dan roan reports. it had all started so well. having waited more than half a century for their first major final, england took the lead afterjust two minutes. but then suffered the cruelty of an all—too—familiar fate against italy. losing once again on penalties. a tournament that had lit up the summer, ending in tears. as the team left their hotel this morning, the manager left to reflect on what might have been. the fact that we've had, you know, the first signs of consistency, semifinal, final, has to be a step i

nomsa maseko, bbc news, pietermaritzburg.jamin fogel, journalist and writer, contributing editor to jacobin magazine and the website africa's a country, which provides analysis on african politics, economics and culture. thanks very much forjoining us. we have such a list here, the looting and violence is going on day by day at the moment. obviously the damage being inflicted through the covid pandemic. and the sense of corruption on top of which are the splits within the anc. is there one part of this you can tackle that might improve the state of play of the rest of the country?— of the country? well, it's a very complicated _ of the country? well, it's aj very complicated situation. what you effectively have is a set of social discontent in south africa which is related to sky what again —— to skyrocketing unemployment, over 40%, skyrocketing unemployment, over a0%, austerity and cuts to social grants, full of social tensions. it only needed something to like the match, and in this case it was the campaign by pro—zuma forc

nomsa maseko, bbc news, pietermaritzburg. let's get some of the day's other news.n killed in a fire at a hospital treating coronavirus patients in the iraqi city of nassiriya. health officials say the fire at the al—hussain hospital has now been brought under control and a search operation is being carried out. many of the patients are said to be missing. dutch prime minister mark rutte has apologised for what he called "an error ofjudgment" in scrapping most coronavirus restrictions in the country. authorities eased measures three weeks ago, which led to a spike in cases. on saturday, more than 10,000 new covid cases were reported, the highest number in a single day since december. curbs on bars, restaurants and nightclubs were reimposed on friday. france is to make it compulsory for all health staff to be vaccinated against covid i9. announcing the new rules, president emmanuel macron said workers in retirement homes and other healthcare settings would have until september to get themselves vaccinated. just over half of france's population, 35 and a half million

nomsa maseko, bbc news, pietermaritzburg. let's bring you some breaking news.have been killed in a fire at a hospital treating coronavirus patients in the iraqi city of nassiriya. a spokesman from the health ministry said the victims died of burns at the al—hussain hospital. health officials say the fire has now been brought under control and a search operation is being carried out. many of the patients are said to be missing and the number of dead could rise. british prime minister boris johnson has confirmed a reopening plan for england, even as he warns of further covid deaths to come. starting next monday, legal restrictions on mask wearing and social distancing will be lifted. but people will still be encouraged to use masks in crowded places. mrjohnson is still urging caution, as the government's science advisers have warned that covid infections could peak again next month. it is absolutely vital that we proceed now with caution, and i cannot say this powerfully or emphatically enough — this pandemic is not over. this disease, coronavirus, continues to c

nomsa maseko, bbc news, pietermaritzburg.efuse to be vaccinated against covid—i9 will not be paid. greece is also following suit, after italy unveiled similar measures back in april. mark lobel reports. to france's healthca re to france's healthcare workers, a message from the president. get vaccinated in the next two months or risk not being paid. translation: it is months or risk not being paid. translation:— months or risk not being paid. translation: it is the only way to return to _ translation: it is the only way to return to normal— translation: it is the only way to return to normal life. - to return to normal life. initially for healthcare staff in hospitals clinics and retirement homes, institutions for people with disabilities, for people with disabilities, for all professionals or volunteers who work in contact with the elderly or frail including their home. clinician will be made compulsory without delay. will be made compulsory without dela . , ., will be made compulsory without dela. , delay. president macron s

nomsa maseko, bbc news, pietermaritzburg.ew voting bill in the republican—controlled legislature. 51 of the 67 house democrats say they will exit the state tonight on a pair of chartered flights from austin, to prevent texas republicans from attaining a quorum, which is required to conduct state business. the republican governor greg abbott had convened a special legislative session to push through new laws that would ban ballot—drop boxes, or outlaw 24—hour polling booths, and empower partisan poll watchers. the bbc�*s anthony zurcher is with us. get the sense this is not an attempt to block the bill in the texas state house but to shine a light nationally on a problem that many texas democrats don't think the white house is doing enough about. i think that is exactly it and the fact that they are coming here to washington, dc to engage in demonstrations to try to call attention to what is going on in texas and to push for national laws that would limit what states, republican controlled state like texas or to income tells y