A strong earthquake struck off the coast near Japan’s Noda city on New Year’s Eve, the US Geological Survey said. The quake measured magnitude 6 and hit about 91 km east of Noda at a depth of 19.3 km. The epicentre was located at 40.112 degrees north and 142.889 degrees east. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The tremor came weeks after a magnitude 6.7 quake on December 12 near Iwate prefecture, when a tsunami advisory was issued. Earlier on Wednesday, a separate magnitude 3.4 quake was recorded in Tibet, Indian agencies said. (PC: HT)

Thick fog disrupted flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport for a second day on Tuesday. Officials said that by about 9.30 am, 118 flights were cancelled, over 200 were delayed, and 18 were diverted. The India Meteorological Department reported visibility of 350 metres at the airport at that time. Train services in the capital were also affected. The Airports Authority of India issued an advisory for several north India airports, warning of delays due to low visibility. Airlines, including IndiGo, asked passengers to stay in touch for updates and to allow extra time at airports as fog continues. (PC: HT)

Dense winter fog and severely reduced visibility across Delhi and northern India have significantly disrupted flight operations at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport and other airports, forcing pilots to rely on advanced CAT III landing systems. Multiple flights were delayed, cancelled, or diverted, leaving many passengers stranded and prompting urgent advisories from IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Air India to check flight statuses before travelling. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for very dense fog, while airlines activated special measures including rebooking options and refund flexibility to help travellers cope with the weather-related chaos. (PC: HT)

The India Meteorological Department has placed Delhi under an orange alert for dense fog on December 29. Night and morning fog is likely across Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and west Uttar Pradesh till December 31. East Uttar Pradesh may see low visibility till January 1. IMD also warned of cold day and cold wave conditions in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana. Several cities, including Amritsar, Agra and Gwalior, reported near zero visibility. A fresh western disturbance is expected from December 30 and may bring rain or snow to the western Himalayas and nearby plains. (PC: HT)

A strong winter storm disrupted travel across New York City and the northeast United States during a busy holiday weekend. About four inches of snow fell in New York on Saturday. At least 1,500 flights were cancelled or delayed since Friday night, flight tracking data showed. JFK, Newark and LaGuardia airports issued snow warnings and said more delays were possible. New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency. The storm also affected travel in Florida, San Francisco and Orlando. In California, heavy snowfall triggered avalanches. Two ski patrollers were injured at Mammoth Mountain, and a backcountry skier was rescued near Mount Rose. (PC: HT)

Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano on Sicily’s east coast, erupted on 27 December 2025, casting dramatic plumes of lava, ash and smoke into the winter sky against a backdrop of snow-capped slopes. Scientists issued a red Volcano Observatory notice warning aviation authorities of potential air travel risks, though Catania-Fontanarossa Airport remained open with no immediate disruptions reported. Volcanic ash has been carried by winds over nearby towns and ski resorts, creating striking contrasts between fiery eruptions and snowy terrain while drawing attention from residents and visitors alike. 

A strong winter storm covered New York City with its heaviest snow in nearly four years. National Weather Service said Central Park recorded 4.3 inches of snow. Some areas of the state saw over seven inches. Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in many counties. Nearly 700 flights were cancelled in the region, data from FlightAware showed. Thousands more were delayed nationwide. Roads were slippery and temperatures stayed below freezing. Authorities activated a code blue to shelter homeless people. Meanwhile, California faced damage from severe storms and flooding. (PC: AFP via Getty Images)

A strong earthquake of magnitude 7.0 struck off the northeastern coast of Taiwan late Saturday night. The quake hit near Yilan county at a depth of about 73 km, according to the Central Weather Administration. Strong tremors were felt in Taipei, where buildings swayed. Authorities said the quake reached intensity four, which may cause minor damage. The fire department began checks for damage and injuries. No major destruction was reported. Over 3,000 homes in Yilan briefly lost power. Taiwan is prone to earthquakes due to its location near tectonic plates. (PC: News18)

Satellite-tagged Amur falcons from Manipur have completed remarkable long-distance migrations to Africa, covering up to 6,100 km in about six days. Three tagged birds — Apapang, Alang and Ahu — flew nonstop across India, the Arabian Sea and the Horn of Africa to reach countries like Zimbabwe, Kenya and Somalia. Apapang’s journey is one of the longest uninterrupted flights recorded for a small raptor. Their epic journey highlights the endurance of these tiny birds, the interconnectedness of global ecosystems, and the importance of conserving migratory routes across continents. (PC: India Today)

An American resident in Delhi shared how she manages dangerous seasonal pollution, especially in winter months. Kristen Fischer posted on Instagram that while outdoor air quality often reaches unhealthy levels, she keeps her indoor air safe by running four air purifiers, drastically reducing indoor AQI compared to outside readings. She emphasized that controlling indoor air is crucial for health, as outdoor pollution cannot be changed easily. Fischer noted that Delhi’s worst pollution is seasonal (November–January) and that limiting time outside helps her family cope with the city’s hazardous air.