China heatwave leads to record power use

POWER use in Beijing has hit a record high as millions of people in northern China turned up the air conditioning amid a heat wave that is scorching the region with temperatures up to 42ºC.

Hospitals said the numbers of children being treated for heat-related ailments was up sharply, while construction workers building a new subway line in the Chinese capital were told to take the middle of the day off.

The government advised the public to stay indoors during the hottest hours of the day.