South Korea records hottest day as global heatwaves persist

South Korea recorded its highest temperature since national records began more than a century ago, as Yangsan reached 42.5°C (108.5°F) on Sunday — the fifth consecutive day above 40°C. Emergency heatwave alerts covered more than 20 localities amid a year of climate extremes worldwide. Scientists attribute intensifying heatwaves to human-driven climate change, as Japan, Europe, North Africa and the western U.S. also endure extreme weather.