Firing up the price of wheat
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The Russian wildfire crisis is now taking its toll on other parts of the world. Bread prices are set to soar after the country began its ban on grain exports this weekend. The wildfires roaring through Russia have destroyed crops, and the government has decided that what's left, needs to stay.
The temporary ban is designed to keep domestic prices under control, but will likely hit the pockets of people in places like the Middle East.
Russia is one of the world's largest producers of wheat, barley and rye, with Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Iran and Libya its largest markets.
According to the Russian Agriculture Ministry this year's crop is unlikely to even meet domestic demand. The government is eager to meet demand and control inflation as rising bread prices have traditionally stoked popular unrest.
The record temperatures, which caused the fires to go out of control, did show signs of relenting at the weekend. On Saturday, rain provided some brief relief for Muscovites who have struggled with the heatwave and the smog clouds from the surrounding fires.
But with dozens of fires still burning around the capital and an estimated 500 wildfires continuing throughout the country, the financial costs and health risks of the disaster could still be felt for some time.
