Sweden, Jan. 14 -- Summer temperatures continue to establish new records. The capital clocks up an unprecedented 44 degrees celcius, a more familiar figure in Middle Eastern cities. Bush fires have continued to burn for months, destroying hundreds of thousands of acres of forest and farm land (an area bigger than Scotland has been consumed by the fires so far) and thousands of houses.

Farm animals by the thousands have perished in the intense heat and insurance claims are expected to exceed one billion Dollars. Millions of native animals have also been wiped out. Thick smoke caused by the fires blankets major cities, turning day into night in this normally sun swept land of clear skies, raising fears of possible long term health implicat...