Japan recorded the highest ever temperature of 41.2 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, beating the previous high of 41.1 C marked in 2018 and 2020. Authorities are strongly urging people to take precautions to avoid risks of heatstroke.
The mercury hit the above-human temperature of 41.2 C in the city of Tanba, Hyogo Prefecture, at 14:39, while two cities — Fukuchiyama in Kyoto and Nishiwaki in Hyogo — also recorded extremely high temperatures of 40.6 C and 40 C, respectively.
We are on the trajectory that has been foreseen by climate scientists quite well. The problem is that a rise in average temperature does not just mean where it used to be 35°C max. it will be 36.5°C max. but rather the extremes will increase much stronger, so you get 40°C or more even though the average only increased by 1.5°C
As for methane leaks, we can detect them quite well nowadays using satellite imaging. You are correct, that the US, Russia and China show substantial leaks, India, Iran and a bunch of others are also in the mix.
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Trio_of_Sentinel_satellites_map_methane_super-emitters