Italy's Red Heat Alerts Reach Basilicata's Interior

Italy is to place all of its 27 major cities, from Trieste in the north to Palermo in the south, under the highest heat alert as the fourth heatwave to hit the country this summer intensifies, according to the Guardian.

The red alert, a measure reserved for the most extreme conditions, comes as temperatures in some areas edge close to 40C. The alert covers every major urban centre, reflecting a summer that has already seen three previous heatwaves strain the country's infrastructure and health services.