The US, Germany and France have asked citizens to avoid travel to Moscow as Russia struggles to battle wildfires which have claimed 52 lives and choked the capital.

Germany closed its embassy until further notice and advised citizens against "non-essential" travel to the affected regions. The US State Department asked nationals to seriously review travel plans.

The French foreign ministry also asked citizens to avoid travel to nine affected regions and announced it was sending experts to determine "the most adequate aid" it could offer.

Moscow's iconic landmarks such as the spires of the Kremlin towers or the onion domes of Orthodox churches were rendered invisible as a heavy smog hung over the city after the worst heatwave in decades broke out in July.

President Dmitry Medvedev called on Moscovites to show patience, although he acknowledged "we're suffocating, you can't breathe".

"We all want this heatwave to pass but this is not in our hands, it is decided above." Medvedev said.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20100807/twl-moscow-suffocates-due-to-wildfires-41f21e0.html

Pakistan's Prime Minister has described the floods devastating his country as the worst in its history. There are fears that flood waters are affecting up to 12 million people in the two worst affected northern provinces alone.

In the southern province of Sindh, at least half a million people have been evacuated from areas at risk of more flooding.

An estimated 650,000 homes have been destroyed and 1.4 million acres of crop land ruined. The cost of rebuilding roads, dams and power infrastructure has been put at £60million.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, addressing the nation for the first time since the disaster struck after visiting flooded areas, said: "At this time of crisis I would like to appeal to the international community to support Pakistan to help alleviate the suffering of the flood affected people.

"Let me at the same time appreciate the quick response by some members of the international community who have immediately rushed goods and provided other support. I would take this opportunity to appeal to overseas Pakistanis to extend support to the people of their homeland in coping with their losses and suffering,"

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20100806/twl-up-to-12m-hit-by-pakistan-floods-41f21e0.html

The death toll from Pakistan's floods has risen to 1,400, with the situation worsening as raging river waters move from the northwest part of the country to the Punjab--the nation's agricultural heartland--and to Sindh, Reuters AlertNet reported. Hundreds of villages have been submerged (AP)


Thank God for saving Naija from this kind of situations; i wonder how we could have coped. God Bless Nailja.