Cyclone Michaung intensifies its impact as it makes a forceful landfall in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. Urgent rescue efforts are underway in Chennai, where Navy and IAF's Chetak helicopters are deployed to assist those affected. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy directs all departments to be on high alert. A red alert is issued in eight vulnerable areas. NLC India contributes by sending high-capacity pumps for water drainage in inundated Chennai. Despite challenges, Chennai airfield reopens, and relief supplies are dropped. Political criticism arises as Chandrababu Naidu accuses the state government of inadequate response. Heavy flooding persists, prompting continuous rescue operations. Tamil Nadu seeks ₹5,000 crore central assistance for extensive flood relief efforts.

In a heartening tale of perseverance and love, Karachi resident Javeria Khanum successfully crossed the Wagah-Attari International Border to reunite with her Kolkata-based fiancé, Sameer Khan. Overcoming two visa rejections and a five-year pandemic-induced delay, Khanum, now on a 45-day visa, expressed immense joy upon reaching India. She remarked, "I can't believe I have got the visa after five years. It is a happy ending and a happy beginning." Sameer Khan, expressing gratitude, said, "My mother is very happy now that we will be getting married in January next year." The couple, departing for Kolkata, eagerly anticipates the presence of friends from Sameer's international network at their upcoming wedding celebration. The couple is excited to finally be together in India.

In a pivotal development, Punjab Police detained Paramjit Singh, suspected associate of the deceased Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode, at Amritsar airport. Rode, recently passing away in Pakistan, was affiliated with anti-India activities. Paramjit Singh, also known as Punjab Singh or Dhadi, faces charges related to "terror funding and other subversive activities in Punjab," as per the Punjab's Director General of Police. The Director General termed the arrest a "major blow" to the terrorist network aiming to destabilize regional peace. Ongoing investigations, he added, aim to "unearth and expose the terrorist network" and bring them to justice.

Severe Cyclone Michaung rain forced over 1000 flight cancellations since yesterday with Chennai airport shut. IndiGo scrapped 550 flights across India due to the closure while Vistara suspended 10 Chennai flights. With the deluge stopping currently, Chennai struggles to drain floodwaters and gauge damage from the extreme rain. The airport halted services after its runway was flooded on Monday, but resumed operations on Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, Visakhapatnam airport also closed as the cyclone shifted towards Andhra. IndiGo declared 60 cancellations today despite reopening of the Chennai airport. The airlines will waive change fees for affected travelers along with Vistara reaching out to impacted flyers after the havoc.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated Cyclone Michaung has completed its destructive landfall after wreaking havoc in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The severe cyclone claimed 12 lives in Chennai despite relentless efforts by the NDRF personnel to rescue citizens amid heavy floods. DMK MP NR Elango said: "It has affected normal life but since yesterday evening, the TN CM, ministers, mayor are on the streets with people...They saw to that there is no loss of life or non-supply of essentials." IMD scientist HR Biswas expects the storm to weaken soon after it slammed the Andhra coast earlier as a severe cyclone. Essential supplies continued despite transportation disruptions from the cyclone in Chennai. After the system unleashed savage winds and flooding over southern states leading to loss of lives, officials worked overnight to aid citizens through the Michaung havoc falling at the peak of its intensity. [Video Courtesy: ANI]

The UK government introduced a 5-point immigration plan promising the largest-ever reduction after net migration hit an unprecedented peak of 745,000 in 2022. Home Secretary James Cleverly hiked the minimum salary for skilled foreign workers from 26,200 pounds to 38,700 pounds. He claimed 300,000 fewer people would now qualify to come, also raising family visa income requirements to 38,700 pounds. Cleverly told Parliament, migration "needs to come down" after "years of abuse" of health and care visas, asserting "Enough is enough." The new plan also aims to ban health and care workers from bringing family dependants, end the practice of paying workers below market rates, and review the graduate visa route to prevent misuse. The Conservative government faces immense pressure to curb arrivals after repeatedly vowing to cut immigration since 2010 and "take back border control" post-Brexit. With the issue shaping up as a key factor for the 2024 elections and Labour leading in opinion polls, PM Rishi Sunak insists on doing "what is necessary" to slash migrant inflows to redeem pledges. 

Byju Raveendran, the founder of cash-crunched edtech giant Byju's, pledged his own home and properties of family members as collateral to raise $12 million, which was paid out as salaries to 15,000 employees on Monday. Two homes owned by the former billionaire's family in Bengaluru and his under-construction villa in Epsilon - a plush gated community in the city - were offered as collateral to borrow the $12 million. Raveendran, who also infused proceeds from his past share sales into Byju's, has reportedly raised $400 million in personal debts by mortgaging all his stock in the parent firm. The former billionaire has pulled out the stops to ease financial pressures as Byju's battles creditors amid attempts to sell assets. 

Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi, the chief of the right-wing group Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena, was murdered in his own house today. The killers of Gogamedi first had tea with him in his Jaipur residence before opening fire, a chilling CCTV footage revealed. The video shows the men suddenly shooting Gogamedi from close range as he checked his phone, unaware of the imminent attack. Despite one guard attempting to intervene, the gunmen kept firing - pumping five bullets into Gogamedi including a final one to his head. Gogamedi and two aides were rushed to the hospital where he was declared dead. A member of the Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar's gang has claimed responsibility for the murder. "We take full responsibility for Sukhdev Gogamedi's murder," Rohit Godara Kapurisr wrote in a Facebook post.

Kolkata retained its tag as India's safest metro for the third straight year in the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2022 report, registering just 86.5 cognizable crimes per lakh population - the lowest among big cities. Cognisable crimes are those for which cases are registered under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and SLL (Special and Local Laws). Pune followed at 280.7 cognisable offences per lakh people with Hyderabad recording 299.2. In 2021, Kolkata's cognisable crime rate was 103.4, and 129.5 per lakh in 2020, indicating an improving trend in 2022.  However, crimes against women rose from 1,783 in 2021 to 1,890 in 2022. The analysis covered 19 cities with over 20 lakh residents. This year, the eastern metropolis also witnessed a drop in violent crimes with only 34 murder cases being reported, down from 45 last year. 

The fourth theatrical trailer of Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming "Dunki" helmed by Rajkumar Hirani opens with SRK's signature train motif. In this trailer, SRK's lead character Hardy introduces us to his 4 friends - who mean the world to him. The gang including Vicky Kaushal, who is lost in translation, and Taapsee Pannu as Hardy's love interest Mannu, decides to reach London despite many hurdles. While Mannu fights the world to take a stand for Hardy, Boman Irani the English teacher takes on the tough job of preparing the gang for London. The trailer resonates with thousands of immigrants who struggle to overcome the language barrier while in search of a better life abroad. Sharing the film's trailer on social media, Shah Rukh Khan wrote on Instagram: "Yeh kahani maine shuru ki thi, Laltu se! Isey khatam bhi main hi karunga... apne Ullu de patthon ke saath. Dunki's trailer will show you a journey that began with Raju Sir's vision. It will take you through a madcap ride of friendship, the comedy and tragedy that life is and a nostalgia for home and family." We will have to wait till December 21 to see if Hardy makes good on a promise.