Iraq tells workers to take day off work due to scorching heatwave

The Iraqi government has declared Thursday a day
off work across the country due to scorching heat, dpa quoted local
media as reporting.
The current heatwave coincides with the Muslim holy month of
Ramadan when Muslims have to abstain from eating, drinking and
smoking from dawn to dusk.
Temperatures sometimes exceed 50 degrees Celsius in summer in
Iraq, mainly in the central and southern areas.
"It has been decided to suspend work in (the capital) Baghdad and
other provinces on Thursday because of the high temperatures," the
Iraqi website Alsumariya News quoted the cabinet as saying in a
statement.
The Iraqi government made a similar decision in August last year.