Portugal breaks hottest May day record as Europe swelters in heatwave

Portugal has set a new hottest day in May with 40.3C recorded in the central town of Mora, as countries in western Europe grapple with sweltering-hot weather.The temperature recorded on Wednesday bests Portugal's previous record of 40C set in May 2001.Ministers in France are meeting to assess the country's preparedness for heatwaves, while tennis number one Jannik Sinner bowed out of the French Open after suffering from the heat. Meanwhile, Italian authorities have issued a red heatwave alert for the capital, Rome, where it could top out at 32C on Thursday.The heatwave is forecast to continue into the weekend, with Germany, Spain and Switzerland having also faced unusually hot conditions.Parts of Portugal will peak above 35C on Thursday and Friday before the heat begins to recede, according to the nation's meteorological office.French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu chaired a ministerial meeting on Thursday afternoon to develop a readiness plan for extreme heat events, including combatting forest fires and ensuring adequate water supplies over the summer.Baccalaureate exams - the French equivalent of A-levels - will continue during the heatwaves, despite some schools having to shut their doors due to inhospitable temperatures inside.A primary school in Souston, in the Landes region, will remain shut on Thursday and Friday after it reached 53C inside earlier in the week, a local official told French media.