Be certain of this: it's going to stay hot. There's no respite forecast for today. Temperatures above 40 degrees are promised (or threatened, depending on your point of view).

So enjoy the pool if you're a kid on holiday - but spare a thought for people who can't escape the heat - the people working outdoors.

The beautiful five-year-old girl who moved the hearts of all who knew her in Canberra has died after a desperate search for treatment for her highly aggressive brain tumour.

A Facebook posting by Annabelle Potts' mother said: "This morning our hearts were shattered to pieces when we lost our darling Annabelle. She left us quickly and peacefully."

More on this heart-breaking story here.

Construction workers building Canberra's light rail network have been forced to work in near-40 degree heat this week, as the construction union pushes for a deal for workers to stop when temperatures reach 37 degrees.

On Tuesday, workers endured temperatures over 39 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday this week on the light rail project, as the government-funded project seeks to prevent further delays to completing the first stage from Gungahlin to the city.

It follows WorkSafe ACT commissioner Greg Jones on Wednesday hitting radio waves urging all businesses and employees to take care of themselves and each other in the extreme temperatures, particularly in construction and other exposed sectors.

Daniel Burdon has the details.

The territory government has ordered that tonnes of recyclable material be dumped in landfill with other waste following WorkSafe's shutdown of the Hume recycling centre last week.

On Wednesday, it was estimated that between 200 and 250 tonnes of "co-mingled material" were dumped into the active tip face and landfill site in Hume, rather than being kept at the facility for processing.

A spokeswoman for the Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate (TCCS) said the recyclables were dumped as a "stop gap" solution.

Cassandra Morgan has the full story.

Police are investigating after a Canberra man was shot at "point-blank range" with a potato fired from a moving car.

Danny McCormack was waiting on the side of William Hovell Drive, in north Canberra, about 9am on Tuesday, when he was hit in the groin.

He was taken to hospital in excruciating pain, although said he felt lucky he wasn't more seriously injured.

Jasper Lindell reports police are urging anyone with information to come forward.

There's no escaping the heat. The capital's heatwave could derail Canberra United's moment in the national spotlight as extreme weather forces officials to consider postponing the club's W-League match on Thursday night.

Canberra is set to sweat through its third consecutive day of 40-degree heat on Thursday, triggering concerns for player welfare for United's clash against table-toppers Melbourne Victory at Seiffert Oval.

FFA officials are considering a delay to the kick-off time or postponing the game until Friday.

Eamonn Tiernan has the story.