18th July - Today's News: Record High Temperatures & Deadly Wildfires in Scandinavia

Record-breaking heat hits Norway, Finland and Sweden as Sweden asks for more EU water bombers to combat wildfires and Norway calls in military to relieve exhausted fire service as one dies fighting forest blaze - as in Britain, most of the fires have been started by wholly irresponsible morons lighting BBQs and campfires.

The MetO assess the summer so far across the UK 

The Scottish government promises water help for communities 'running dry' after heatwave - mind, I recall Highland burns running almost completely dry in summer '99 .... and whilst the article specifies NE and SW Scotland, it's in the Highlands where most rural properties take their water direct from a burn.  Though they have seen somewhat more rain there than most of us.

British couple hit by lightning during violent storm in France

Rare funnel cloud forms over New York harbor during violent Northeast storm

Hundreds of Arctic glaciers shrinking, disappearing into 'city of icebergs,' study says

How does the sun's rotational cycle influence lightning activity on earth?

A dozen new moons of Jupiter discovered, including one 'oddball' bringing the total up to 79

And welcome to the Meghalayan Age - a new phase in history.  Or maybe not.  Seems not everyone agrees on the new geological periods.