Today is inextricably linked with the United States. Of course the pandemic has changed commemorations but still they were held and still the grief process continues.

Much focus stateside is on the fires that are oh-so reminiscent of Australia's Black Summer. Multiple mega fires are burning through more than three million acres. Millions of residents are being smothered in toxic air, the blackouts are continuous just like the triple-digit heatwave and homes by the hundreds are being destroyed.

The San Francisco Chronicle's fire map and tracker gives you an idea of what they're facing while the stricken state of Oregon is well covered at oregonlive.com. These images from the Los Angeles Times from the Bay Area and other parts of Northern California may also be hauntingly familiar for some Aussies.

On the COVID-front, India reported another record daily jump of 96,551 coronavirus cases, taking its case load to 4.5 million, data from the federal health ministry showed. Infections are growing faster in India than anywhere else in the world.

Yesterday France recorded almost 10,000 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours ahead of a key meeting to decide whether to toughen the country's coronavirus measures.

Back in our part of the world, Victoria announced 43 new cases overnight, and nine more deaths; NSW 10 new cases; Queensland two; and the national death toll approached 800.

The politicking, the finger-pointing and some of the shoutiness of life pre-COVID seemed to return to parts of Australia this week but let's not dwell on that but rather end with a positive - from Sweden.

COVID cases hit a new low in the "Scandinavian super-power" this week. But wait, there's more. The Swedes also hit their goal of over 100,000 tests a week for the first time. Great stuff. It'd probably be a shame to mention the goal was set in mid-April ...

Stay safe.

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