Wildfires rage as heatwave scorches Russia

INTERNATIONAL NEWS : Russia's worst heatwave for decades shows no sign of relenting, officials warned Tuesday, as firefighters battled hundreds of wildfires in a national disaster that has claimed at least 40 lives. President Dmitry Medvedev has declared a state of emergency in seven Russian regions over the fires which have left tens of thousands of hectares of land ablaze and uprooted hundreds from their homes.