The Loop: UK reaches record temperatures, RBA up for review, Putin visits Iran and test yourself in our 90th anniversary news quiz

Good morning, it's Wednesday, July 20. Here's what you need to get going today.

One thing to know right now: the UK is facing record temperatures

Here's the lowdown:

• Temperatures in the UK have passed 40 degrees Celsius for the first time in history as a heatwave grips Europe. 

• The previous record was 38.7C.

• A large fire engulfed homes in the village of Wennington. 

TV footage showed fire engulfing several homes in the village of Wennington, east of London. (BBC News)

• Large grass areas around London were also on fire, blowing smoke over major roads and nearby areas.

• London Fire Brigade declared a major incident and urged people to stop having barbecues.

The London Fire Brigade deployed dozens of firefighters to in and around the city, including 30 to a grass fire in east London. (AP: Yui Mok)

• The record-breaking temperatures have forced train tracks to buckle in some parts of London.

• Mass electricity outages have also been reported across the city.

One thing you’ll be hearing about today: the Reserve Banks is up for review

The core objectives of the Reserve Bank of Australia, what it tells the public and who sits on its board will be scrutinised in an independent review this year. 

It's the first review of the RBA in decades and will specifically focus on: 

• Board structure, experience and expertise, composition and its appointments process
• The "appropriateness of the inflation-targeting framework" and how the RBA's moves interact with government spending
• The RBA's conduct "during crises and when monetary policy space is limited", which opens the door to an examination of quantitative easing. 

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the RBA had "served Australia well" but the review was about "ensuring we have the world's best and most-effective central bank into the future".

"This is an important opportunity to ensure that our monetary policy framework is the best it can be, to make the right calls in the interests of the Australian people and the economy," the Treasurer said.

News while you snoozed

Let's get you up to speed.

• Russian President Vladimir Putin has travelled to Iran to meet with leaders and deepen ties as part of Moscow's challenge to the US and Europe. It's Putin's second trip abroad since Russia invaded Ukraine. He met with Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on regional issues, including the conflict in Syria and a UN-backed proposal to resume exports of Ukrainian grain to ease the global food crisis. He also met with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

Vladimir Putin (left), Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (middle) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP: Sergei Savostyanov/Sputnik)

• Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska has met with US first lady Jill Biden at the White House. Ms Zelenska met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday where he assured her of the US commitment to Ukraine. At the White House on Tuesday, Ms Zelenska and Dr Biden discussed how the US is helping Ukrainians suffering mentally and emotionally from the war.

Jill Biden (second from the left) and Olena Zelenska (in yellow) were joined in the Blue Room by US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield (fourth from the left), Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Toria Nuland (third from left), and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. (AP: Andrew Harnik)

​​​​​​​

One more thing: give our 90th anniversary news quiz a go

You might have seen that the ABC is celebrating 90 years this year.

Well there has been a lot of news over the years.

So we thought we would quiz you to see how much you remember about some of the biggest events of the past nine decades.

Tap here to go to the quiz.

That's it for now

We'll be back later on with more.

ABC/wires