PARIS — Temperatures were climbing on Sunday as Europe braced for a blistering heatwave with the mercury set to hit 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) as summer kicks in on the back of a wave of hot air from North Africa. Europeans are set to bake in what forecasters are warning will likely be record-breaking temperatures for June with the mercury set to peak mid-week. Hot and humid nights can be expected, officials say, with many issuing guidelines for surviving the scorcher, and local authorities and hospitals on high alert for a surge in cases of dehydration, heat-stroke and other weather-related conditions. After summer got off to a slow start, Europe looks set to bake in a week-long heat wave — AFP Photo They are also warning that the extreme heat could bring on violent storms. Spain's AEMET weather agency issued a "yellow alert" for severe weather on Sunday, but said it expected the heat to peak later in the week with temperatures soaring over 40 degrees … [Read more...] about Mercury climbs as Europe braces for summer scorcher
Belgium weather forecast
BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 18/11
Edelweiss launches Zurich-HCMC air service Vinalines to auction shares of its subsidiary Viet Nam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) will auction over 13.44 million shares of its holding in Viet Nam Transport and Chartering Joint Stock Company (Vitranschart) on December 5, the Ha Noi Stock Exchange has announced. The shares, accounting for a 22.03 per cent stake of Vitranschart, will be auctioned at the Ha Noi bourse at the starting price of VND1,200 (5 US cents) a share. Vinalines is currently Vitranschart’s parent shareholder with a total of 35.4 million shares, equivalent to 58 per cent of the firm’s voting shares in circulation. Currently, Vitranschart is trading at VND700 per share, and there is almost no matched stock in recent sessions. Vitranschart reported a loss of more than VND182 billion in the first nine months of 2018. Although this figure was VND40 billion lower than in the same period last year, the loss contributed to raising the accumulated … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 18/11
BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 15/11
Mai Linh launches cooperative to attract idle cars Mai Linh Group on November 15 will officially introduce and start the operation of Hoa Binh Xanh Taxi Cooperative in HCMC, which will call for the participation of owners of idle cars. According to the group’s press release, the cooperative is expected to offer more choices to the group’s customers. Early joiners of Hoa Binh Xanh Cooperative will be exempt from the management fee until December 31. They will also receive a uniform, free training courses and practicing certificates. After that, they will have to pay the management fee of only 13.9% of revenues for the duration of their contracts. Hoa Binh Xanh Cooperative will share Mai Linh’s taxi booking app and use call center 1055. The cooperative’s taxicabs will not be forced to have bright colors or be repainted in green, the traditional color of Mai Linh. However, they will have a lightbox highlighting the word “Taxi,” the Hoa Binh Xanh logo … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 15/11
Europe bakes again in near-record temperatures
As people come to terms with what may prove to be the region's new normal in an era of climate change, here is a roundup of recent developments: Kids cool off in Madrid as a heatwave sweeps across Europe with near-record temperatures. Photo by AFP France nearing a peak Temperatures were expected to peak at around 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) in southern France on Monday, while the north is due to be hotter on Tuesday. On Saturday, they hit their highest levels since a 2003 heatwave killed thousands of mainly elderly people. Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said people had to take proper care to cope with the heat and warned that everyone had to adapt. "You need to drink a lot, but also to eat and take salt," Buzyn said. "We are probably going to adapt our warnings in the coming years, because this is something we haven't been seeing until now." Young western lowland gorilla Richard eats frozen fruits to cool off in Prague. Photo by AFP Spain fires under control In Spain … [Read more...] about Europe bakes again in near-record temperatures
Rescuers race to find survivors after Japan floods kill over 100
Rescuers in western Japan dug through mud and rubble on Monday, racing to find survivors after torrential rains unleashed floods and landslides that killed more than 100 people, with dozens missing. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe cancelled an overseas trip because of the disaster, a ruling party source said. The trip would have taken him to Belgium, France, Saudi Arabia and Egypt from Wednesday. Rain tapered off across the region battered by the downpour, revealing blue skies and scorching sun forecast to push temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), fuelling fears of heatstroke in areas cut off from power or water. "We cannot take baths, the toilet doesn't work and our food stockpile is running low," said Yumeko Matsui, whose home in the city of Mihara has been without water since Saturday. "Bottled water and bottled tea are all gone from convenience stores and other shops," the 23-year-old nursery school worker said at an emergency water supply station. Nearly 13,000 … [Read more...] about Rescuers race to find survivors after Japan floods kill over 100