Dozens Killed in Algeria Forest Fire

At least 42 people have been killed in a forest fire that hit a mountainous region east of the capital Algiers on Tuesday. 25 of those people were members of the military who were trapped by the fire while trying to fight it. Dozens of separate fires have raged across northern Algeria since Monday night. The Interior Ministry says they were deliberately started. Residents have been using tree branches to try to smother burning patches of forest. Others have been using what water they can find to douse the flames. Several houses have been burnt, with families escaping to hotels, youth hostels and university residences. The Prime Minister says he’s working the phones to bring in fire-fighting crews from other countries.

Record Drought Hits Chile

A decades-long drought in Chile has gone from bad to worse. Usually a wet month, with winter showers and snow, it was a record-dry July with just 78mm of rain falling, compared to the average of over 250mm. Dam levels are dropping and rivers have completely dried up. Officials say it’s now the worst drought in the country’s history. The towering and usually snowcapped Andes above the capital Santiago are mostly bare. The government says its clear evidence of global warming. It says the steady decline in water reserves is now a national priority. Severe water restrictions are now in effect across the country, with hundreds of outlying villages already relying on water deliveries by truck.

Delta Robot Brings Smiles to Indonesian Quarantiners

A university project designed for entertainment has become a lifesaver in the capital of East Java. The homemade robot is bringing food, and a smile, to self-isolating residents who have contracted Covid-19 in Surabaya. Made from a range of household items like pots and pans and even an old television, it’s been renamed the "Delta Robot" after the highly contagious variant of coronavirus that has ripped through Indonesia. The robot is remote controlled and has a battery life of about 12 hours. It has also been modified to spray disinfectant to stop the spread of the virus. After making its deliveries it wishes residents “assalamu'alaikum" or “peace be with you”.