Extreme heat and wildfires ravage Europe

Published

3 years ago

July 19, 2022

Europe swelters as a heatwave causes wildfires, leading to evacuations, extreme heat warnings and fatalities

Wildfires are causing damage to much of southern Europe.

France, Spain and the UK have issued red alerts and extreme health warnings because of the soaring temperatures.

Hundreds of firefighters in Portugal, Spain, Italy and France were tackling multiple blazes on Monday.

The heatwave is pushing temperatures well above 40 degrees celsius, with Spain recording a high of 46 degrees.

According to Maroš Šefčovič, the European Commission’s vice-president for inter-institutional relations, the droughts and prolonged heatwave on the continent “could become the worst ever.”

Water bombing aircraft criss cross the skies above southwestern France, Spain and Portugal, with the EU taking other measures to assist fires in other countries.

Fires in the southwestern region of France have now spread over 14,800 hectares.

In southern Europe there were some signs conditions were starting to ease following hundreds of heat realated deaths across multiple countries.

But the heatwave is sweeping northwards, leaving even the traditionally colder countries of northern Europe dangerously exposed.

In the UK, train companies have urged people not to travel, as the heat causes overhead wires to sag and railway tracks to buckle.

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailCML/status/1548955864207396864?s=20&t=LgPuYMdPeIPVWCrqIBQdzQ

Train company LNER went as far as to cancel services between York and London on Tuesday because of the heat.

While no UK-wide heat record has been set, Wales broke its own highest ever recorded temperature.

Hawarden in Wales reached 37.1 degrees celsius.

A very hot day across the whole country with temperatures widely into the thirties, with Wales having is hottest days on record.#Heatwave2022 #heatwave pic.twitter.com/JtbjfZUNUi
— Met Office (@metoffice) July 18, 2022

Luton Airport, north of London, was temporarily closed to flights as faults were detected in the runway because of the extreme heat.

But a spokesperson for the airport later confirmed all flights had resumed.

Tuesday is set to bring even higher temperatures to the United Kingdom.

The Met Office – the UK’s national weather service – predicts temperates that could reach 40 degrees celsius.

If that occurs, it will be the highest temperature in the United Kingdom since records began.

RBA holds rates as investors shift from property to stocks

RBA holds rates at 3.6%, shifting investor focus from property to potential stock market gains amid persistent inflation pressures.

Published

3 hours ago

November 26, 2025

Harvey Vargas

RBA holds rates at 3.6%, shifting investor focus from property to potential stock market gains amid persistent inflation pressures.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has held interest rates at 3.6 percent, signalling a steady approach as inflation pressures persist and prompting investors to reassess their strategies in an uncertain climate.

The decision has shifted attention away from the property market, with experts suggesting the stock market may offer stronger opportunities, especially for those looking to outpace inflation over the long term.

We speak with Dale Gilham from Wealth Within about what the RBA’s call means for investors, why confidence in housing is changing, and what smarter financial choices look like in 2025.

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#RBA #Interestrates #AustraliaEconomy #StockMarket #InvestingTips #WealthWithin #FinanceNews #TickerTV

News

U.S. retail sales slowdown sparks new fears ahead of Fed decision

U.S. retail sales weaken, raising concerns about consumer spending and economic resilience ahead of the holiday season.

Published

3 hours ago

November 26, 2025

Harvey Vargas

U.S. retail sales weaken, raising concerns about consumer spending and economic resilience ahead of the holiday season.

Retail sales in the U.S. have unexpectedly weakened, raising new questions about consumer strength and the resilience of the economy. As Americans pull back on spending, analysts are watching closely to see whether this signals a broader shift toward caution in the lead-up to the holiday shopping period.

The slowdown has amplified uncertainty around the Federal Reserve’s next move on interest rates, as policymakers weigh mixed economic signals against cooling demand. With some categories falling sharply, economists warn that faltering retail activity could ripple into GDP forecasts and overall market confidence.

Brad Gastwirth from Circular Technologies joins us to break down which categories were hit hardest, why shoppers are becoming more value-conscious, and what this means for the economy heading into 2025.

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#RetailSales #USEconomy #FederalReserve #ConsumerSpending #EconomicOutlook #MarketUpdate #InterestRates #TickerNews

News

xAI’s $15 billion raise, deadline pressure and Grokipedia launch

Elon Musk’s xAI plans $15 billion funding round, reaching $230 billion pre-money, amid fierce AI sector competition.

Published

3 hours ago

November 26, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Elon Musk’s xAI plans $15 billion funding round, reaching $230 billion pre-money, amid fierce AI sector competition.

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI is preparing to close a huge $15 billion funding round next month, valuing the company at $230 billion pre-money. The raise highlights the intense investor appetite for advanced AI platforms as competition heats up across the sector.

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#xai #elonmusk #ai #startupnews #grok #grokipedia #technews #fundinground