Typically, the mountain's snowcap begins to form around October 2, with last year's first snowfall detected on October 5.

This year, however, unusually warm weather has prevented any snowfall, with meteorologist Yutaka Katsuta from the Kofu Local Meteorological Office noting that this year’s record-setting date surpasses the previous latest snowfall date of October 26, which occurred in 1955 and again in 2016.

Katsuta attributed the delay to persistently high temperatures during the summer, which have lingered into September, inhibiting the arrival of the cold air necessary for snow formation. This summer was one of the hottest on record in Japan, aligning with global heatwaves exacerbated by climate change.

Mount Fuji typically remains snow-covered for most of the year, and during the July-September hiking season, it attracts over 220,000 visitors who often trek overnight to witness the sunrise from its 3,776-meter (12,388-foot) summit.

This year, however, visitor numbers have declined following the introduction of an entry fee and a cap on daily visitors aimed at managing overtourism.

The mountain, celebrated in countless artworks, including Hokusai's famous "Great Wave," last erupted approximately 300 years ago and continues to be a symbol of Japan's natural beauty and cultural heritage.

China recorded its hottest August on record last month, with several provinces, including Shanghai and Jiangsu, facing unprecedented temperatures, correlating with Japan's warmest summer documented so far. The extreme heat event, driven predominantly by climate change, has led to an increase in heat days across major urban centres while concurrently causing catastrophic flooding in other areas. The meteorological agency in China noted that July was the hottest month since records began in 1961, indicating an alarming trend. As forecasts predict that 2024 could be the hottest year globally, the ramifications of escalating temperatures are becoming increasingly evident, VOA reports. 

Leaders arrive for China-Africa forum

The China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, marking the largest convening since the COVID-19 pandemic, has welcomed over a dozen leaders and delegations. China, the second largest economy in the world, is Africa’s largest trade partner. The nation has provided billions in loans for infrastructure and development in Africa, including securing natural resources like copper, gold, lithium, and rare earth minerals.

China-Singapore joint naval exercise

China and Singapore have activated a comprehensive joint naval exercise, dubbed Exercise Maritime Cooperation 2024, taking place in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province. The exercise encompasses coordinated anti-surface strikes, replenishment operations at sea, and search and rescue initiatives which are designed to enhance further trust and operational synergy between the allied forces. It comes alongside heightened regional tensions, notably recent confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coastguard vessels near the contested waters of Sabina Shoal, South China Morning Post reports.

Green tech exports to Africa

China is poised to enhance its promotion of green technology exports to African nations during the impending China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit involving 50 countries in Beijing. This initiative aims to stimulate demand for environmentally friendly technologies, particularly electric vehicles and solar panels before anticipated Western export restrictions materialise, according to the Business Standard . African leaders are expected to actively seek clarification regarding China’s previous commitment to a $300 billion goods purchase and the status of ongoing infrastructure developments. In transitioning its focus from substantial funding towards the marketing of advanced green technologies, China plans to revise its loan conditions to prioritise investments in solar energy, EV production facilities, and 5G infrastructure.

Members of Chinese firm jailed espionage

China's Ministry of State Security disclosed that members of a Chinese technology firm have faced imprisonment for allegedly supplying sensitive railway data to a foreign entity under the guise of market research. This foreign company had to circumvent personnel restrictions imposed by COVID-19 measures by outsourcing data procurement to domestic vendors. Investigators revealed that the foreign firm's connections to intelligence and military sectors heightened the risk associated with the data exchange. According to the South China Morning Post , the Chinese firm, drawn by lucrative prospects, collected an extensive 500 gigabytes of data over a month, encompassing sensitive communications and Internet of Things (IoT) signals, demonstrating a significant breach of national security protocols.

These record-breaking temperatures provide a glimpse into some regions' intense heat, often highlighting the impacts of climate change and the challenges those living in these areas face.

This compilation of the highest temperatures ever recorded on Earth showcases the extraordinary heat events that have been documented over the years:

For instance, this week, it was reported that Delhi, India's capital, is experiencing an intense heatwave, pushing the power demand to an unprecedented high of 8,647 megawatts (MW). Weather experts report that temperatures have been sizzling at around 44-45°C across parts of northern India for several weeks.

The scorching temperatures have led to a surge in the use of cooling devices like air conditioners, which in turn has strained the power supply, resulting in frequent electricity cuts throughout Delhi.

Just this Tuesday, the capital set a new record for power consumption, just one day after the broader northern region of India reached a peak power usage of 89,000 MW. Earlier in the season, on May 22, Delhi's power demand first surpassed 8,000 MW. Adding to the woes, the city's airport recently experienced a power failure that lasted several minutes, disrupting operations at the terminals.

Moreover, Delhi is facing a critical water shortage. Social media is awash with videos of residents clamouring around water trucks, buckets in hand, desperate for a supply. The weather department has warned that the heatwave blanketing northern India shows no signs of abating in the coming days.

Since March, when the summer began, there have been numerous fatalities due to heat-related illnesses. In the first week of June alone, over 50 people succumbed to the heat within just three days in the northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Odisha. The ongoing crisis underscores the severe environmental and infrastructural challenges India must address.