Record heatwaves sweep across Europe, US and Asia

News Snapshot:

Tens of millions of people are battling dangerously high temperatures around the world as record heat forecasts hung over parts of the United States, Europe and Asia, in the latest example of the threat from global warming. In Europe, Italy faces weekend predictions of historic highs with the health ministry issuing a red alert for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence. The weather centre warned Italians to prepare for "the most intense heatwave of the summer and also one of the most intense of all time". The thermometer is likely to hit 40C in Rome by tomorrow and 43C...