China's meteorologists on July 31 renewed a yellow alert for high temperatures as a persistent heat wave continued to scorch some parts of China.

Vast areas of central and southern China, including Chongqing, Hubei and Fujian, will see temperatures ranging from 37 to 39 degrees Celsius, with some areas expected to suffer from temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said.

The largest wildfire in California's recorded history expanded to almost 300,000 acres on August 7, postponing the start of the school year as ash choked the air and thousands of people remained driven from their homes.

n recent days, the outskirts of Redding have been ravaged by the Carr wildfire, and scientists have directly connected the blaze, which has claimed six lives and dozens of properties, to climate chang

Polar bears could be sliding towards extinction faster than previously feared, with the animals facing an increasing struggle to find enough food to survive as climate change steadily transforms their environment.

With previous studies showing recent drops in polar bear numbers, survival rates and body condition, scientists said the new research suggests the species is facing an even worse predicament than was feared.