Japan swelters in heatTOKYO: Japan sizzled under sweltering, life-threatening heat Wednesday, with temperatures expected to top 40Celsius in some cities in what govt has newly designated as a "brutally hot day". Authorities urged residents to use air conditioning liberally, hydrate regularly and avoid spending long hours outdoors.Japan has experienced increasingly severe summers in recent years, with the country recording its all-time high temperature of 41.8C last year. Even before this week's extreme heat, 4,580 people were taken to hospitals between July 6 and 12, including seven who later succumbed, according to the data available from the fire and disaster management agency.(This is a Reuters story)