Europe bakes as Germany hits 41.5C and Denmark, Czech Republic set records

Europe endures a record-breaking early heatwave, with Germany reaching 41.5C (a second consecutive national record), Denmark hitting 37C, and the Czech Republic at 40.8C, affecting about 150 million people with temperatures above 35C; the World Meteorological Organization warns of major health and ecological impacts as authorities deploy cooling measures and heat-related deaths rise, with scientists attributing the unusual intensity to a persistent heat dome and climate change, and some relief expected later in the week.