Storm Isha strikes the UK and Ireland, causing widespread travel disruptions. The Met Office issues a rare wind warning with gusts potentially reaching 90mph, posing a danger to life. Dublin airport witnesses chaos with 102 flights cancelled, 24 aborted landings, and 27 diversions. Ireland issues an orange weather warning, anticipating significant impact on people and property. Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport preemptively cancels 130 flights due to expected strong winds. In Scotland, train services are halted, and Network Rail imposes speed limits to prevent incidents amid fallen trees and debris. Storm Isha adds to a series of storms affecting the region since fall.            

A spiritually uplifting discussion on the monumental earth restoration project, Africa's Great Green Wall, was held at the Brahma Kumaris headquarters in London on Saturday, January 20. Attended by BK Jayanti Kirpalani and Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami, the event highlighted humanity's shared duty to heal and revitalize the planet. Originally envisioned as an 8000 km tree belt across Africa's arid Sahel region, the Great Green Wall has evolved into a movement regenerating landscapes, biodiversity, food security, and livelihoods for local communities. Truly a planetary-scale collaboration, it demonstrates the power of collective action grounded in spiritual values of oneness, service, and care for Mother Earth. Such green initiatives aligned with yogic agriculture principles kindle hope for restoring balance across the world. 

Dense fog has blanketed North India, causing delays and cancellations of flights and trains in Delhi. The IGI Airport recorded zero visibility since 3 am, impacting air travel. The cold wave has intensified, with the India Meteorological Department predicting continued dense to very dense fog conditions for the next two days. The cold spell, prevailing since December 29, 2023, has led to temperatures dropping 5-8 degrees Celsius below normal. While a brief respite occurred on January 7 and 8, the cold conditions returned, affecting various regions. Minimum temperatures are expected to fall by 2-3°C in Central India.

North India is set to endure a relentless cold wave and dense fog for the next 5 days, warns the India Meteorological Department. The latest bulletin predicts dense to very dense fog and cold to severe cold day conditions, with the plains of Northwest India experiencing cold wave to severe cold wave conditions for the next 3 days. Flight and train delays persist due to poor visibility, affecting travel plans across the country. While Delhi's IGI airport sees a slight improvement, most parts of North India continue to grapple with chilling temperatures and disrupted transportation. The prolonged cold spell since December 29, 2023, shows no signs of immediate relief.

Tamil Nadu's Ooty experiences an unusual cold spell with temperatures near zero degrees, affecting both locals and agriculture. Frost-covered lawns and dense fog create visibility issues. People resort to bonfires for warmth. Official data shows temperatures as low as 1 degree Celsius in some areas. Environmentalists link the unusual cold to global warming and El-nino effects. Tea plantations and vegetable farms face challenges, impacting production. Residents cope with health issues like difficulty breathing and headaches. The delayed onset of cold poses a significant challenge, prompting concerns about the region's climatic shifts.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts an enduring cold wave gripping northern India, with dense to very dense fog disrupting states like Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab for the next four days. Travel, especially train journeys, is expected to face disruptions due to limited visibility. IMD's alerts include predictions of Cold Day to Severe Cold Day conditions in Haryana, Chandigarh, West Rajasthan, West Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The chilling weather is set to persist, prompting residents to prepare for an extended period of cold and foggy conditions in the region.

Dense fog and persistent cold wave conditions continue to wreak havoc in parts of North India, including Delhi and neighboring states. The India Meteorological Department reports very dense fog in isolated areas of Punjab, Haryana, West Rajasthan, and Bihar. Visibility drops to a mere 25 meters in several locations, impacting transportation. As of today, 18 trains to Delhi are delayed, and flights at the Delhi airport are affected. The IMD issues a caution, advising against unnecessary travel. Cold wave conditions persist in Punjab and Haryana, with temperatures below normal levels. The weather department predicts dense to very dense fog for the next five days, further disrupting daily life and travel.      

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit Mindanao, Philippines, as reported by the German Research Centre for Geosciences. The quake, at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles), occurred on Wednesday. No immediate reports of damage or casualties are available. Authorities are monitoring the situation, and residents are urged to stay alert. Earthquakes are common in the Philippines due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates meet. The depth of the quake, as stated by GFZ, provides insights into its origin within the Earth's crust.

A sudden arctic blast blankets North-West England, causing road and school closures. Lancashire Police shut Grane Road and Elton Road in Belthorn due to hazardous conditions after a crash. Merseyside grapples with 20 closed schools as Liverpool faces a snowy morning rush hour. Merseyrail adapts to the cold, running initial services without passengers for safety checks. Traffic issues persist despite overnight gritting efforts by Liverpool City Council. Lancashire experiences dangerous conditions, leading to the closure of major roads. Gritting teams and snow ploughs are deployed across the region, but uncertainty looms over the duration of closures. Motorists are urged to stay vigilant amid challenging weather conditions.    

The Met Office has extended snow and ice warnings across the UK as an Arctic blast plunges the country into freezing conditions. Over 100 schools are forced to close, with yellow warnings for snow and ice until Thursday causing travel disruption and power cut concerns. Temperatures are predicted to plummet to as low as -15C in some regions. Rail operators, including South Western Railway and ScotRail, warn of service disruptions. London Fire Brigade issues a hypothermia risk warning. Residents in Cheshire and northern England wake to snow, and the freezing weather is expected to persist throughout the week.