World runs hot and cold

Scores of Russians have died of cold and record snowfall has caused the death of more than 100 in Japan while parts of Australia's southern states are ablaze as extreme weather hits around the world.

Russia's coldest winter in a quarter of a century has left at least 76 people dead, bridges across the country have cracked and cash machines frozen up.

One man was frozen to his door bell by a Siberian freeze which has seen temperatures plunge to -50C.

In Italy rain is undermining some of Rome's most important monuments. The city is on alert in case the Tiber bursts its banks.

In Japan the Army has been mobilised to clear roads of snow nearly 3m deep in places.

In Australia, bushfires were yesterday raging in parts of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania as a three-day heatwave pushed temperatures above 40C.