Sydney sweltered through scorching temperatures topping 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, with beaches packed, bushfire warnings issued and people urged to stay hydrated.

Six people died in Poland over a 24-hour period as temperatures plunged across Europe, bringing the toll of hypothermia deaths in the country to 71 since November, authorities said Tuesday.

Police urged people to aid those most vulnerable to hypothermia, especially the homeless, as the mercury sank to below minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 Fahrenheit) in some regions. 

A cold snap gripping Europe has killed 10 more people in Poland, stranded thousands in snow-covered Turkey and brought fresh misery for both migrants and the homeless.

Heavy snowfall in Istanbul paralyzed traffic and grounded hundreds of flights for a third straight day Monday, while the Bosphorus closed to shipping traffic.

Heavy snow blanketed Istanbul for a second day on Sunday, resulting in the cancellation of hundreds of flights and more disruption for thousands of travelers.

A reported pause in global warming between 1998 and 2014 was false, according to US-British research published Wednesday that confirmed the findings of a controversial US study on ocean warming.

The private ownership of wild animals has been outlawed in the United Arab Emirates, where keeping exotic creatures as pets is a status symbol for some, reports said Wednesday.

Almost 300 tonnes of oil spilled into Malaysian and Singaporean waters after two container ships collided in a Malaysian port, officials said Wednesday.    

The sun sets in eastern Spain and dozens of ancient olive trees cast long shadows on the ground.

Once dug up and sold as luxury items for the wealthy, they are increasingly protected as farmers and authorities realise these trees, some of which were planted by the Romans, are an invaluable part of Spain's heritage.

Floods in two northeast Malaysian states have now forced almost 23,000 people from their homes and extra relief centres have been opened, rescue officials said Wednesday.

Seasonal flooding hits Malaysia's east coast states every year and regularly results in mass evacuations.