Shoaib Akhtar calls for transparent probe into PIMS tragedy

South Korea has recorded its highest temperature since weather records began more than 100 years ago, as an intense heatwave continues to grip the country and authorities urge people to avoid outdoor activities. The Korea Meteorological Administration said the southeastern city of Yangsan reached 42.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday afternoon, setting a new national temperature record. Yangsan has remained at the centre of the prolonged heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius for five consecutive days. Other major cities, including Daegu and Busan, have also experienced temperatures climbing into the upper 30s. The extreme weather has forced many people to seek shelter in air conditioned shopping centres, cafes and other indoor spaces. In Seoul, residents gathered in public places with cooling facilities to escape the dangerous heat. Office worker Ju Dong Yeol said staying outdoors had become almost impossible and that spending time in air conditioned buildings was the only practical way to cope with the soaring temperatures. Authorities have issued emergency heatwave alerts in more than 20 areas across the country. The warning system, introduced this year, is activated when the expected heat index reaches 38 degrees Celsius or when actual temperatures are forecast to climb to at least 39 degrees Celsius. Weather officials advised residents to stop all outdoor activities immediately, remain in cool locations and drink plenty of water to reduce the risk of heat related illnesses. The Korea Meteorological Administration also warned that indoor spaces without air conditioning could become dangerous during the ongoing heatwave. Officials encouraged people, particularly children, older adults and those with health conditions, to use designated cooling centres whenever possible. Weather data show that South Korea has experienced a sharp increase in the number of extremely hot days over recent decades. During the past five years, the country has recorded an average of 19 heatwave days each year, compared with only eight days annually during the 1970s. A heatwave day is officially defined as one in which temperatures reach at least 33 degrees Celsius. The severe weather has also disrupted sporting events. South Korea’s professional baseball league cancelled a second consecutive game in the city of Changwon after temperatures climbed to 39.5 degrees Celsius. The Korea Baseball Organisation said the decision was made to protect the health and safety of players, officials and spectators while the heatwave warning remained in effect. Scientists have repeatedly warned that human induced climate change is making extreme weather events such as heatwaves more frequent and more intense around the world. Experts also point to the return of the El Nino climate pattern this year, which increases sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean and can contribute to unusually hot weather in many regions. South Korea is not alone in facing extreme heat. Several European countries have also experienced prolonged heatwaves this summer, with temperatures rising above 40 degrees Celsius in parts of southern and central Europe. Governments across the region have issued health warnings, battled wildfires and advised residents to avoid outdoor activities during the hottest hours of the day. Italy has also placed many of its major cities under the highest level of heat alert as temperatures continue to rise.

France has strengthened security checks along its border with Spain following the recent migrant influx into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced on Tuesday. The enhanced border measures were introduced over the weekend on the instructions of French President Emmanuel Macron after tens of thousands of migrants crossed into Ceuta from Morocco over two days, triggering one of the region’s largest migration emergencies in recent years. Spanish authorities said the vast majority of migrants who entered the enclave had already been returned to Morocco. Officials also confirmed that at least 75 people died while attempting the dangerous crossing, highlighting the human cost of the crisis. Speaking after an emergency video conference with European interior ministers, Laurent Nunez said European Union member states had unanimously expressed solidarity with Spain and pledged support in managing the situation. He said France remained ready to provide additional assistance through Frontex, the EU’s border management agency, if required. The French minister noted that Ceuta operates under special rules within the Schengen Area and stressed that strict border controls had prevented the migration crisis from spreading to mainland Europe. Nunez also praised the cooperation between Spain and Morocco in responding to the situation, saying close coordination between the two countries had been vital in managing the large-scale arrivals. Rejecting calls from some political groups in France to suspend Spain from the Schengen free-movement zone, he said EU member states agreed that the Schengen system remained part of the solution rather than the cause of the crisis. He emphasized that the Schengen Area had not been threatened despite the surge in migration and reaffirmed France’s commitment to coordinated European efforts to address irregular migration.