2026-07-03
8 分钟A big birthday, a big wedding and big temperatures.
It's a big weekend in the United States.
It's World Business Express from the BBC World Service.
I am Bisi Adebayo.
America celebrates its 250th birthday as a heat wave sends electricity demand soaring
while New York prepares for one of the year's biggest celebrity events.
Also, Russia takes more steps to tackle its growing fuel shortages.
A very big weekend indeed for businesses in the United States as the country celebrates its 250th birthday.
In New York in particular, it's even bigger with the rumoured
wedding later today of singer Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelsey.
But the weather is causing problems.
We're talking 40 degrees heat, which is pushing power usage to its limits,
with people being urged to reduce how much they use at certain times.
The cost to buy electricity by the power grid is 68% higher.
Than what it was a year ago because of the demand.
Mayor Zoran Mamdani said New Yorkers have been told to take extra care in the heat.
If the forecast holds, this could be the hottest 4th of July since 2010. I've activated the city's heat emergency plan
and we will issue targeted warnings through our city's advanced warning system to protect vulnerable New Yorkers.
But I tell you what, that heat isn't stopping many fans from gathering in New York,
hoping to catch a glimpse of the bride and groom today.