Japan swelters in record heatwave

Japan has experienced its highest temperature since records began as a heatwave continued to grip large parts of the country as well as neighbouring North and South Korea.

The mercury hit 41.1C in Kumagaya, a city in Saitama prefecture about 40 miles north-west of Tokyo, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

This broke the previous record of 41C in Ekawasaki on the island of Shikoku on August 12 2013.