nine-year war began. 60 americans died in afghanistan in june. and so far, at least 37 have died this month. it is a difficult battle for firefighters in southern california. as they try to control dozens of w lightning strikes from severe thunderstorms sparked most of the fiterd evns hbee but up to 80 homs ag threatened. the fires are being pushed by unpredictable winds and crews have digt tture the mercury has been rising worldwide. the first half of 2010 has been the warmest ever record from january to june, the average temperature climbed to 57.5 degrees. that's more than 1 degree higher than any year since 1880 when records were first kept. el nino was blamed but some say scientists of course say it's actually due to global warming. brace yourself, we've got another mini heat wave starting up. we're feeling the heat from coast to coast. hot and sticky in the northeast. 70-mile-an-hour winds, hail, heavy rain and flash flooding in