Chennai Airport has resumed operations after being temporarily shut down due to heavy rains that caused flooding and waterlogging on the runways.

According to a statement released by the airport authorities, the rains have stopped, and the water has receded. However, there is a lot of slush and filth on the runways and taxiways, which is being cleared by four Civilian Firearms Teams (CFTs) and additional manpower.

Meanwhile, 8 people have lost their lives while multiple roads and subways are closed due to waterlogging in the wake of the Severe Cyclonic Storm 'Michaung', which is expected to make landfall on the southern coast of Andhra Pradesh between Nellore and Machilipatnam  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on  Dec 4  said that Indian Navy’s ranks will be renamed in line with Indian traditions and its epaulettes will also be changed similar to the naval ensign. Inspired by the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Prime Minister said, the India of today is moving forward abandoning the “slavery mentality”.

He expressed happiness that the new epaulettes donned by naval officers will now highlight the heritage and legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as they will be similar to the naval ensign. The PM also recalled unveiling the new naval ensign last year which was inspired by the maritime prowess of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and contains the octagonal seal of the Maratha kingdom.

Emphasizing the strengthening of Nari Shakti in the armed forces, Modi congratulated the Indian Navy on the appointment of the country’s first woman commanding officer in a naval ship. The PM attended the programme marking Navy Day celebrations at Sindhudurg in Maharashtra on Monday. He also witnessed the operational demonstrations by Indian Navy’s ships, submarines, aircraft and special forces from Tarkarli beach, Sindhudurg.

Reflecting on India’s history, the PM emphasized that it is not about slavery, defeats and disappointments alone, but also comprises the glorious chapters of India’s victories, courage, knowledge and science, art and creative skills, and maritime capabilities.

The event saw participation of more than 15 major and minor warships (mostly indigenous) along with over 40 aircraft comprising MIG 29 K, indigenous LCA Navy and Advanced Light Helicopter, as well as the newly inducted multi-mission helicopter MH 60 R.

The event also included the unveiling of a spectacular 43 feet high statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the Rajkot Fort by the PM. The statue was conceived and conceptualised by the Indian Navy and funded by the government of Maharashtra. The Indian Navy celebrates December 4 as Navy Day every year to acknowledge the role of the force and commemorate its achievements in ‘Operation Trident’ during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Dec 2 proposed to host the UN climate conference in 2028 or COP33 in India and launched the Green Credit Initiative focused on creating carbon sinks through people's participation.

Addressing the high-level segment for heads of states and governments during the UN climate conference in Dubai, he said India has presented a great example to the world of striking a balance between development and environment conservation.

India is one among only a few countries in the world on track to achieve its Nationally Determined Contributions or national plans to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the guardrail to avoid worsening of climate change impacts.

Modi was the only leader to join the opening plenary along with COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber and UN Climate Change President Simon Steill.

The prime minister called for maintaining a balance between mitigation and adaptation and said that energy transition across the world must be "just and inclusive".

He called for rich countries to transfer technology to help developing nations combat climate change.

The prime minister has been championing the Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE movement), urging countries to adopt planet-friendly living practices and move away from deeply consumerist behaviours.

He cited a study by the International Energy Agency, saying this approach can reduce carbon emissions by 2 billion tonnes.

Modi said everyone's interest must be protected and everyone's participation is necessary in the fight against climate change.

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan emerged as the uncontested choice for the new chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), succeeding the imprisoned former prime minister.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) conducted the intra-party elections held on the directives of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) with voters utilising an online app to cast their votes.

Nominated by the PTI founder a few days prior, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan assumed the top leadership position unopposed.

South Korea launched its first military spy satellite into space  on Dec 2, a little over a week after North Korea claimed to put its own spy satellite into orbit for the first time as tensions rise between the rivals.

Launched from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, it was the first of five spy satellites South Korea plans to send into space by 2025 under a contract with SpaceX. The event had been scheduled for earlier in the week but was pushed back because of weather conditions.

South Korea had no military reconnaissance satellites of its own in space and has partially resorted to the United States’ spy satellites to monitor moves by North Korea.

South Korea’s Defense Ministry described the launch as successful, saying the satellite had communication with an overseas ground station.

Ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck three commercial ships  on Dec 3in the Red Sea, while a US warship shot down three drones in self-defense during the hourslong assault, the U.S. military said. The Iranian-backed Houthis claimed two of the attacks.

The strikes marked an escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war, as multiple vessels found themselves in the crosshairs of a single Houthi assault for the first time in the conflict. The US vowed to “consider all appropriate responses” in the wake of the attack, specifically calling out Iran, after tensions have been high for years now over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program.

Billionaire Gautam Adani-led Adani Group is planning to spend `7 lakh crore ($84 billion), mainly on infrastructure, over the next decade, said Jugeshinder Singh, Group chief financial officer of Adani Group on Dec 2

This is the biggest investment announced by the port-to-power conglomerate after the stock rout caused by a report by US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research earlier this year.  About 80% of the group’s long-duration capital comes from the global capital market, while the remaining 20% of shorter-duration capital comes from the domestic market.

The CFO said Adani Group will take a call on the divestment of its stake in the Adani Wilmar joint venture within the next three months. As per reports, the Group is in talks with various multinational consumer goods companies to divest its entire 43.97% stake in Adani Wilmar. The FMCG firm, which retails Fortune edible oil, is a JV between Adani and Singapore’s Wilmar group.