Scorching temperatures plague Tajikistan amid global heat wave

Residents of Tajikistan and many other countries have been grappling with exceptionally high temperatures in recent weeks, with the mercury soaring as high as 40 degrees Celsius.

According to forecasts, this summer could be the hottest on record globally. In Tajikistan, the prolonged heatwave has caused significant inconvenience for the population, with a surge in patients seeking treatment for food poisoning, dehydration and sunburns.

"My advice is not to eat greasy food in hot weather and not to dine in public eating places. It is the season for fruits and vegetables. You can have salads with fresh yogurt, watermelon, cantaloupe and other fruits. Avoid using cold carbonated drinks to cool down - green tea is a much better option. I will choose Chinese tea. Room temperature water is also a choice," said nutritionist Saidamir Mukhiddinzoda.

Doctors warn that those with chronic illnesses, such as hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory conditions, are the most vulnerable to the extreme temperatures.

"The hot weather is putting a lot of strain on the heart, and diabetes patients can experience severe dehydration. The heat is also dangerous for asthma patients due to the accompanying dust. It's best to stay indoors in air conditioning during the hottest parts of the day, take steps to increase the indoor humidity, and drink enough water. It's safe to walk only before 10:00 and after 17:00," said Rustam Kurbonalizoda, deputy chief physician at the Third Comprehensive Hospital in the capital Dushanbe.

As the scorching heat persists, the demand for taxis has increased in Dushanbe, with electric vehicles from China proving particularly popular.

"When the weather is hot, the air conditioning in gas-powered cars often malfunctions due to overheating. But we don't encounter this problem in the electric cars we drive. Orders have also increased, but passengers' waiting time for accepting orders is 10 to 15 minutes longer than before," said a local taxi driver, Jamoliddin Kabirov.

Residents say that electric taxis provide a more comfortable ride, with drivers more willing to keep the air conditioning running during the scorching conditions.

Scorching temperatures plague Tajikistan amid global heat wave

Scorching temperatures plague Tajikistan amid global heat wave

Crowds gathered in central London on Saturday to express their anger towards U.S. President Donald Trump and his policies, in particular the latest "reciprocal tariffs".

Amid widespread opposition, Trump announced the new set of levies on Wednesday, imposing a 10 percent baseline tariff on imports from all trading partners and higher rates on certain nations.

Affected countries, including France, the UK, Italy, Australia, Singapore, South Africa, and Bolivia announced their opposition to the U.S. move on Friday, with several preparing retaliatory measures.

The organizers behind the campaign against the U.S. policies, named "Hands Off", said their message is simple: “Hands off our rights, our resources, and our democracy”.

Thousands of people participated in the gathering.

"You only have to look at what's going on this week with the tariffs to know that when Trump does something brain-dead, we are all impacted. It's incredibly important to understand his impact goes beyond poor America, who I'm afraid we have to turn our back on," said a protester.

"I think the impact will affect the cost of living for most of us. Those of us with limited incomes are going to feel it. I think people with pensions and other kinds of investments are going to feel it. I heard earlier today that already 9 trillion (British) pounds or perhaps more were knocked off the stock market. That's going to have a ripple effect around the world," said another protester.

As well as the protests in London, similar marches have taken place across various European cities including Berlin, Lisbon and Paris.

Demonstrators gather in London against Trump's "reciprocal tariffs"