Portugal placed on wildfire alert
Lisbon: Authorities in Portugal put the entire country on a state of alert on Monday due to the high possibility of wildfires.
High temperatures in recent weeks have left many forested areas bone dry, and declaring a state of alert allows officials to place firefighting assets on standby for quick deployment.
Portugal is deeply wary of the threat of wildfires after two major blazes killed 106 people three years ago. Major wildfires occur each year, with poor forest management is blamed for repeated outbreaks. (AP)
Iraq to impose curfew on Eid
Baghdad: Iraqi health authorities have decided to impose a full curfew during the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday.
In a statement on Sunday, the Higher Committee for Health and National Safety, headed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, said that it decided to extend the weekly full curfew from July 30 to August 9, including the Eid al-Adha holiday, reports Xinhua news agency.
The Committee will discuss the curfew situation after the holiday, the statement said. It also decided to reopen the private clinics, provided that they abide by the Health Ministry’s preventive measures and instructions. (IANS)
Lack of tourists cost Italy $3.5 bn
Rome: A lack of foreign tourists in Italy this month has cost the country more than 3 billion euros ($3.5 billion) in lost revenue in the hospitality, food, transportation, entertainment and retail sectors, according to a report.
The report released on Sunday by the National Confederation of Farmers (Coldiretti) said that in July 2019, “over 8 million foreign citizens stayed overnight in Italy” but that in July 2020 “they were effectively zeroed out due to the spread of the coronavirus”, reports Xinhua news agency. (IANS)
Danish prince undergoes surgery
Copenhagen: Prince Joachim, the youngest son of Queen Margrethe of Denmark, has undergone emergency surgery for a blood clot in his brain, the royal palace said.
The 51-year-old prince, who had been on vacation in France, was admitted to the Toulouse University Hospital late on Friday and was immediately operated on. The palace said he is in a stable condition and that his French-born wife is by his side.
Joachim married Marie Cavallier, with whom he has two children, in 2008, and she became Princess Marie. (AP)