Russia doubles compensation payments for wildfire victims

The Russian government has doubled the amount of money paid out to victims of wildfires. Immediate material assistance will now be 10,000 roubles, (some $330) rather than 5,000 roubles. Compensation for property destroyed in the blazes will now be 100,000 for each member of the family, and 1,000,000 for a family member who died in the fires, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said at a Cabinet session on Monday.